WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2019

Analysts Advocate Expansionary Budget, FG Estimates N9.7tn in 2020 N614bn states’ bailout to be deducted from September FAAC allocations Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos Economic analysts yesterday expressed reservations over the federal government’s projected

budget of N9,789,243.466 for 2020, saying the figure ought to be more in the region of N12trillion.

The federal government had unveiled the draft

2020-2022 Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) with a projected total budget of N9,789,243.466 for next year.

It also expressed concern that the country faces significant medium term fiscal challenges, especially with respect to revenue generation and rapid growth

in personnel costs.

The total budget (excluding that of government-owned enterprises, GOEs) is N8.907,940,657.001.

The Minister of Finance,

Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who unveiled the 2020-2022 Medium Term MTEF/FSP, which guides government's Continued on page 8

Insurgents Not in Control of Any Nigerian Territory, Buratai Insists... Page 8 Wednesday 11 September, 2019 Vol 24. No 8920. Price: N250

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12 Feared Killed as Police, Shiite Clash During Marches We acted professionally, say police Clarify ban on procession applied to IMN only Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano No fewer than 12 people were feared dead and many others injured as the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), known as Shiite, clashed with policemen in Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Gombe and Bauchi States, when the Muslim sect defied government’s order not to hold a procession to mark the annual Ashura parade commemorating the day in Islamic tradition when Prophet

Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussein, died in a battle.

However, the various state police commands have debunked the allegation that their men killed IMN members, saying that the Shiite were professionally dispersed.

But the sect blamed the order issued by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adamu Mohammed, for the alleged killing of its members in some states.

The IG on Monday had directed commissioners of Continued on page 8

Buhari, Atiku Camps Upbeat as Tribunal Delivers Judgment Today Alex Enumah in Abuja Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, were yesterday upbeat with the

news that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal would deliver its judgment in the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP against the victory of Buhari and the All Progressives Party (APC) today in Abuja.

Continued on page 9

SAVING LIVES...

L–R: Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Faruk; President, International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Goeffery Onyeama, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday godwin omoigui

Access Bank Reaping Benefits of Merger, Says Afrinvest CEO... Page 9

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Insurgents Not in Control of Any Nigerian Territory, Buratai Insists Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, said yesterday that the Nigerian military had denied Boko Haram and Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) physical presence in any part of the Nigerian territory.

Buratai also said the deployment of troops during internal operations was in support of the police as the lead security agency.

Speaking in Abuja at a summit tagged: Terrorism,

Insurgency and Incidence of Electoral Violence in Nigeria: Role of Security Agencies,� organised by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Buratai said the military had made significant progress in protecting lives and property, especially in the North-east where it denied terrorists physical presence.

The position of the army chief, however, contrasted with the recent position of the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zullum,

and some communities in the state who had faulted the super camp war strategy of the Nigerian Army prompting the declaration of loss of confidence in the military.

The military has also countered the declaration, saying that it liberated 22 local government areas of the state since 2015. “We have made significant progress in ensuring that lives and property of the citizens are secured, particularly in the North-east where the Boko Haram terrorists have been denied physical presence in

any Nigeria territory. “The Nigerian Army understands fully the fact that keeping the peace either at the national level and international level requires that we adhere to the extant rules of engagement. Where there are infractions or violations of human rights of the citizens, appropriate disciplinary measures are applied,� Buratai added.

He said the measure was aimed at upholding and maintaining the trust and confidence of the populace as well as the dignity of the

Nigerian Army.

The army chief said many officers and soldiers had been killed and would continue to be killed in order to protect the country.

On deployment of troops during internal operations, Buratai said troop deployment was done in support of the police as the lead security agency. “As you are all aware, security and development are like Siamese twins and they move in the same direction.

We therefore continuing to dissipate our energy, some

of us have paid the supreme price and would continue to do so if need be in upholding the sanctity and integrity of our nation. “We rely on the oath of allegiance we all swore at different points of our lives while joining the service.

Let me therefore use this platform to say that the personnel of the Nigerian Army are deployed in all the geopolitical zones of the country to assist the police and by extension the civil authority to keep the peace,� he said.

6am and finished our activities within a few minutes to avoid casualties.�

However, the police spokesman in Kano, Mr. Abdullahi Haruna, told THISDAY: "We only got report of about six to 10 people came out at Kurna Asabe but when they sighted policemen, they ran away.�

But a statement by Musa, said two persons were killed in Sokoto State while one person was killed in Malumfashi, Katsina State.

Musa said the casualty figure might rise due to gunshot wound sustained by members in different states.

It said the procession was successfully held in all the

state capitals in the North and Abuja.

He said: “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has confirmed the killing of at least a dozen of Ashura mourners across the nation during the peaceful Ashura mourning procession today (yesterday). “At least three people were confirmed killed by the police in Kaduna and 10 others injured, some fatally, when thousands of Muslim brothers and sisters trooped out in the early hours of today, Tuesday, commemorating the tragic events of Ashura. “In Bauchi, reports also have it that three people were killed during the Ashura

procession when the police attacked the mourners.

Likewise, three other people were killed by the police in Azare, also in Bauchi State. “Another three people were killed by the police in Gombe, Gombe State. “One person was reportedly killed by the police in Illela, during the Ashura procession there, and another person was killed in Goronyo all in Sokoto State. “This year's Ashura procession was held in all the state capitals of the North and Abuja. It ended peacefully in Abuja, Jos, Kebbi, Minna, Lafia, Yola, Gusau, Zaria, Kano, Jalingo, Damaturu, Hadejia and Potiskum.�

and we are going to start this remittances by the next FAAC, so there will be no requirement for us to consider the FSP (Fiscal Strategy Paper) implementation,� Ahmed explained and added: "We do that as a matter of wanting the states to stay on the path of fiscal sustainability but it will not be a condition for the deduction. We will deduct direct at source and remit to the CBN." The bailout was given to the states to help them pay salaries, gratuities and pensions. The CBN provided N614 billion in loans at 9 per cent with a grace period of two years.

inflation adjusted as well as in terms of forex, the budget has been getting smaller and smaller every year, since this government came into office,� he explained.

But, the Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Assets Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said what the country needs at this moment is to review its fiscal plan.

According to Chukwu, the current fiscal structure is not sustainable.

12 FEARED KILLED AS POLICE, SHIITE CLASH DURING MARCHES police in the 36 states to ensure that the procession did not take place in view of the subsisting court order that outlawed the group.

A police statement yesterday, however, clarified the earlier statement, saying the ban on procession was only applicable to the sect members and no other Muslims observing the procession.

IMN alleged in a statement that three of its members were killed in Kaduna, three in Bauchi, another three in Gombe State, two killed in Sokoto State while one person was killed in Malumfashi, Katsina State.

The Islamic group also said

10 others sustained injuries during the procession, which started about 6am along the Eastern Bypass, Kaduna.

The police were alleged to have opened fire to disperse the marchers.

Spokesman of the IMN, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the police started shooting as the Shiite members were moving by the side of the highway.

He said the procession started by 6am, only to be stopped by the police as they were approaching Bakin Ruwa in Rigasa area.

However, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mr. Yakubu Sabo,

denied the allegations, saying the IMN is being mischievous.

He said the protesters were dispersed professionally and the police did not kill anyone.

THISDAY gathered that a few of their members were seen at Kurna Asabe Quarters in Kano, but when they sighted policemen, they ran away.

Kurna Asabe quarters in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, is one of the strongholds of the Shiites but it was quiet for the whole of yesterday due to the presence of security personnel.

A member of the IMN in Kano, who spoke with THISDAY under anonymity, said: "We came out as early as

ANALYSTS ADVOCATE EXPANSIONARY BUDGET, FG ESTIMATES N9.7TN IN 2020 fiscal plan, in Abuja, Tuesday, disclosed that the 2020 budget is predicated on certain key assumptions, including oil production of 2.18 million barrels per day (mbpd), a benchmark oil price of $55 per barrel, an exchange rate of N305 per dollar, and a projected revenue of N7.6 trillion.

It is also to be based on an inflation rate of 10.81 per cent, 2.93 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate and nominal GDP of N142.96 trillion While the 2019 Budget is predicated on 2.3mbpd oil production and $60 per barrel benchmark, that of 2020 will have a lower daily oil production target and benchmark oil price.

Explaining, the minister said: “Oil production volume is projected to average 2.18mbpd for 2020. Although this is lower than the projected oil production volume of 2.3mbpd for 2019, we believe that this is a more realistic projection. For 2021 and 2022, the projections are 2.22mbpd and 2.36mbpd respectively "Actual daily crude oil production and exports have been well below budget projections since 2013 despite installed capacity of up to 2.5mbpd, for a number of reasons. For 2018, actual production was 1.84mbpd and for the first half of 2019, it was 1.86mbpd (base production).

"A lower benchmark oil price of $55/b (against $60/b for 2019) is assumed considering the expected oil glut in 2020 as well as the need to cushion against unexpected

price shock."

According to her, there are strong indications of an oversupplied market in 2020, adding that all three of the major forecasters-- the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), International Energy Association (IEA) generally see non-OPEC production growing by around 2mbpd in 2019 and even more in 2020.

Giving more highlights on the 2020 budget proposals, the minister put personnel cost (inclusive of pension costs) at over N3 trillion.

She noted that the federal government was, however, taking steps to contain the rising personnel costs, noting that all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that are not hooked on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information Systems ((IPPIS)) will have their staff salaries stopped at the end of October.

Giving details of the 2020 budget proposals, Ahmed put the total revenue target at N7.6 trillion compared to 2019 revenue figure of N7.5 trillion.

The 2020 budget's capital expenditure will also decline from 32 per cent (N2.9 trillion) in 2019 to 21 per cent (N1.7 trillion).

She also hinted that in 2020, deficit is projected at N1.7 trillion to be financed from domestic and foreign borrowing shared equally at N850 billion apiece.

Details of the 2020-2022 (MTEF/FSP also indicate that capital expenditure will witness successive cuts

for the three-year period to N1.76 trillion, N1.70 trillion and N1.68 respectively.

On the other hand, recurrent expenditure is expected to increase from N4.3 trillion in 2019 to N4.7 trillion in 2020.

The minister listed sources of additional revenue financing for 2020 budget proposal to include privatisation proceeds of N126.5 billion as against N201 billion in 2019; multilateral /bi-lateral projects tied to loans, N328.1 billion compared to the 2019 figure of N92.8 billion; new borrowings N1.7 trillion as against N1.6 trillion comprising domestic and foreign borrowing.

On expenditure, the federal government proposed statutory transfer stands at N526.4 billion as against N502 trillion figure of 2019; debt service of N2.4 trillion as against N2.1 trillion in 2019; and a sinking fund of N296 billion compared to the 2019 figure of N110 billion.

The federal government is also proposing a recurrent (non-debt) of N4.7 trillion compared to N4.3 trillion in 2019.

Of the amount, personnel cost (MDAs) is proposed at N2.6 trillion compared to N2.2 trillion in 2019.

The personnel costs of GOEs is put at N218.8 billion as against N160.5 billion in 2019 while overheads for MDAs is N280.2 billion compared to N268.1 billion in 2019.

Pensions, gratuities and retirees’ benefits are to gulp N536.7 billion as against N528 billion provided in 2019.

The minister noted that the creation of five new ministries

would shoot up recurrent expenditure in 2020 due to personnel cost and overheads.

On waiver and tax incentives, the minister said government was bothered about increasing waiver requests, adding that there would be a review, going forward.

She said: "We agree from the finance side that we have too many incentives and too many waivers. But our partners in the trade will not necessarily agree with us. We also agree that there has to be a review of the Pioneer Status Certificate issuance process because the waivers and the incentives are really costing us a lot.

"But when a decision has been made and approvals have been given, and a private business makes an investment decision based on those incentives, you can’t pull it out overnight.

So, there has to be a period within which the commitments that have been made are allowed to exit before you impose new conditions. But we are currently reviewing the quantum of waivers."

On the N614 billion bailout fund, which the federal government advanced to the states in 2016 as budget support facility, the minister said deductions would be made from source during the next Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in about two weeks and remitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “The recovery process for us is to deduct from the FAAC allocation to the states and then we remit to the CBN

Analysts Express Divergent Views Reacting to the government’s projected target, analysts yesterday expressed divergent opinions over its viability.

While some argued that an elevated budget was necessary to enhance capital formation and productivity, others said instead of increasing the budget, the government should pay more attention to its dwindling revenue.

For instance, a former Chief Executive Officer, Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, told THISDAY that the projected budget was not expansionary, considering that the 2019 budget was N8.916 trillion. “We should be looking at a budget of at least N12 trillion. So, I think this is not expansionary for me. In fact, if you look at it in real terms,

Continued on page 9

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WEDNESDAY, ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Court Rules on Rejig of Panel on Wike’s Election Friday Ernest Chiawo The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt will on Friday rule on whether or not it is proper for the President of the Court of Appeal to constitute another panel to examine the merit and substance of the case brought by Mr. Awara Festus and the African Action Congress (AAC), against the election of the Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, had in conformity with the Court of Appeal decision in APPEAL NO: CA/PH/376/2019 recently halted the erstwhile panel from

continuing with the matter.

The directive was preceded by the displeasure expressed by the Appeal Court against the erstwhile ttribunal’s decision in refusing to entertain the petition as filed by a party in the case, and its dismissal of the petition which is purported to have been withdrawn by a faction of the party.

The AAC had ran into a leadership crisis wherein another Chairman, Mr Leonard Ezenwa, was said to have been named as new helsman.

A faction of the party had also claimed that Ezenwa, without consultation with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the AAC, hired

Wike another lawyer, Mr Henry Bello, to represent it in court.

Bello was the same lawyer that represented a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, led by

Senator Magnus Abe. Until the sudden emergence of Bello as the AAC lawyer, the party and Awara, were represented by Mr. Tawo Tawo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Following the dispute in the party, leading to the purported suspension of its presidential candidate, Mr Omoyele Sowore, Ezenwa emerged as the acting chairman of the party.

The Sowore faction of the party in the state believed that Ezenwa failed to diligently prosecute the petition, leading the tribunal to dismiss it, describing it as “abandoned�, even as the law prescribes that

any objection to pre-hearing matters, has to be addressed after the substantial issues have been dealt with.

The Sowore faction subsequently filed an appeal as its chieftains believed that the division within its rank was manipulated and orchestrated by a political interest group.

The Appeal Court subsequently directed that in deference to the petition filed by the Sowore faction of AAC, another panel be set up to review the substance of the case.

But Bello, representing Ezenwa faction approached the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to obtain an

order stopping the setting up of another panel.

Although the order was not granted by the judge, the court reserved ruling on the propriety of setting up the election panel to re-examine the issues in the suit.

One of the issues the court is expected to decide is the alleged double age declaration of Wike purportedly certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was alleged that the governor had declared a different age while he was chairman of Obi Akpor Local Government Area, from that which he declared when he became governor.

Access Bank Reaping Benefits of Merger, Says Afrinvest CEO Obinna Chima The Group Managing Director of Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ike Chioke, yesterday said the recently released first half 2019 results

by Access Bank Plc showed that the bank has started reaping its benefits with former rival, Diamond Bank.

Chioke, said this in an interview on Arise Television Global Business Report, which he featured alongside the Executive Director, Risk Management, Access Bank, Dr. Greg Jobome.

The bank’s recorded improved performance in the half year(H1) ended June 30, 2019, as its audited results showed gross earnings of N324.4 billion, indicating a growth of 28 per cent from N253.0 billion in the corresponding period of 2018.

The growth in gross earnings was driven by 46 per cent increase in interest income on the back of continued

growth in its core business and 22 per cent non-interest income underlined by strong recoveries.

In addition, the bank posted a jump of 62 per cent in profit before tax, to N74.1 billion in 2019, compared with N45.8 billion recorded during the same period in 2018, while profit after tax rose 59 per cent to N63.01 billion, up from N39.6 billion in 2018.

Total assets went up by 31 per cent to N6.48 trillion as at June 2019, in comparison to N4.95 trillion in December 2018, while Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained solid at 20.8 per cent, well above the regulatory minimum.

Access Bank and Diamond Bank became an entity on April 1, 2019.

Commenting on the performance, Chioke said: “I think we were pleasantly surprised with the results and the dividends of the merger has come true. If you see the top-tier banks that had

announced their earnings, top line growth was quite modest in the single-digit region, but Access Bank recorded 26 per cent growth, to N320 billion for the half-year 2019, which was a massive jump. “We have seen a massive jump in deposits. Indeed, the diversity of the bank’s deposit base is becoming much stronger. At some point, the funding of the bank was driven by borrowings, including Eurobonds and from the commercial paper market, but now you have a much deeper pool of deposits. “With that, the borrowing mix has gone up from 58 per cent deposit ratio, to about 71 per cent ratio.�

Owing to this, the financial market analyst said investors should be delighted, adding that the 25 kobo interim dividend its board declared was reassuring. “There are six tier-one banks in the market as you know and I would say Access Bank

is presently ranking number one or number two, depending on the parameters you are looking at. “In terms of efficiency, there is still work to do, but that comes from a sense of scale.

In terms of assets, the bank would be number two now, behind Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI). “So, if you take away ETI, they are number one among the traditional Nigerian banks.

Obviously, having digested an entity like Diamond Bank, you will still need time, probably about 18 months, to really bring the cost containment, back in alignment and then begin to reap the full benefits of the merger. So, in terms of efficiency ratio, there is still work to do,� he explained.

Responding to a question, Jobome said the management and board of the bank were confident that there was value to be nurtured in the merger.

This, he said was why due diligence was done to ensure

that it offer value accretion for shareholders and stakeholders. “What we are seeing now is just the beginning because there is still so much to be reaped from that merger. If we are already showing this kind of numbers, I think there is so much to come in terms of the future and how the growth trajectory is going to go. In the short-term, we would be doing all the cleaning up that we need to do. “We have to get the work culture, people and customer base optimised and if we are showing this kind of number, then the future is bright,� he added.

He disclosed that Access Bank’s non-performing loans (NPLs) stood at 6.4 per cent, which he said was a massive reduction, considering the 10 per cent it was after the merger. “So, we are doing more cleaning up and if at the end of the year we are able to achieve five per cent, that would be

fantastic. Even though that is a tall order, we would do our best to achieve that. “Access Bank has always had the lowest NPL ratio in the industry, so it is a place we are heading to. But in the meantime, there is the cleaning up and recoveries and the loans that went bad in Diamond Bank, we are pursuing. So, all the numbers are in the right direction.�

Jobome said the bank was deploying all apparatus of the law to recover the bad debts from recalcitrant debtors and that there had also been write-offs. “Of course there are the good ones and we have kept those ones on a nice relationship scale. In most cases, if you were a borrower before the merger and you were borrowing at different rates in the two banks, we decided that you are now going to borrow from the lower end of the two interest rates,� he added.

Director/Chief Executive Officer, Afrinvest Securities Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, stressed that raising the budget was not going to be sustainable.

He said: “To continue to increase our expenditure on a year-on-year basis, while we continue to struggle in terms of growing our actual revenue is not the way to go.

We shouldn’t be looking at our budgeted revenue, but instead we should be looking at the actual. “So, if government needs to see how to bring down its expenditure because recurrent

expenditure as a result of the new minimum wage is still high. When you look at it, capital expenditure has always been at the receiving end, while total expenditure has continued to increase. “Our actual revenue is lagging behind and that is what I think we should focus more on. The government needs to review the Private Public Partnership law that would give more comfort to foreign investors to bring in funds and they need to come up with policies to attract foreign direct investments.�

to challenge the president’s victory.

In their joint petition, they insisted that they, and not Buhari and APC, won the election.

According to them, INEC connived with Buhari, APC and agents of the federal government, including the military, to rig the election in favour of the president.

They, therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify the victory of Buhari and declare them winner of the election.

Equally, the petitioners asked the tribunal to nullify Buhari's participation in the election on the grounds that he did not possess the necessary academic qualifications for the office of president and that he submitted false information to the INEC to

aid his qualification for the said election.

Though the petitioners had planned to call about 400 witnesses within the 10 days allotted to them to substantiate their claims, they were able to call 62 witnesses and tendered over 50,000 documents in their efforts to prove their case of alleged rigging, over voting, non- compliance with the electoral guidelines in 10 states of the federation, including Niger, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa.

While INEC and APC chose not to call any witness or tender any documents, Buhari called in seven witnesses, who testified that the election was not only free and fair but that he was constitutionally qualified to participate in the poll.

ANALYSTS ADVOCATE EXPANSIONARY BUDGET, FG ESTIMATES N9.7TN IN 2020 He said a situation whereby most of the expenses in the budget are funded from borrowing is not the best for the country and is not something that is sustainable in the long-run.

According to him, “If you look at the performance of the 2018 budget, federal government’s recurrent expenditure was N5.85 trillion, while total revenue earned same year was N3.86 trillion, leaving a deficit of about N2 trillion. I believe 2019 budget would be same. “So, increasing the budgeted

figure without necessarily expanding the revenue base, for me, is not the fundamental issue for now. We are only going to end up borrowing more. If we continue this way, we are going to get to a point whereby debt service may even be as high as our revenue. “So, I think we need to review our fiscal plan. I think the best way to go about this is for the government to step back from funding commercially viable infrastructure and develop a legal framework that would allow the private sector to fund some of those

infrastructures that would enhance revenue in the country.�

In his contribution, the Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, argued that the projected N9.789 trillion for 2020, was not even enough. “It is a move in the right direction, but it is not enough.

We should be talking about N12 trillion,� he said.

According to Rewane, to increase capital formation and productivity in the country, an expansionary budget would be required.

He argued: “We need a minimum of N12 trillion annual national budget. We need N1.5 trillion for works; N1.5 for transport and we need enough funding for everything to do with infrastructure. If you don’t do N1.5 trillion for transportation, you can’t complete the railways and you will not get the productivity gain, if you don’t do about N2 trillion on Works and Housing, you will not complete the road projects across the country.

So, we have to be bold about this.�

However, the Managing

BUHARI, ATIKU CAMPS UPBEAT AS TRIBUNAL DELIVERS JUDGMENT TODAY The main opposition party and its candidate’s camp expressed optimism that the judgment of the tribunal would favour them.

The tribunal, which heard the petition against the reelection of Buhari, yesterday served notice to parties in the petition that it would deliver its verdict today.

However, the APC was more restrained in its expectations, saying today’s judgment would decide the fate of the petitioners and the appellants.

Atiku and PDP on March 18 petitioned the tribunal to challenge the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Buhari as winner of the February 23 presidential election. Besides INEC, others named as respondents in the petition,

in which Atiku and the PDP are seeking the nullification of the election, were the president and the APC. Atiku and PDP are seeking the nullification of Buhari's election over alleged nonqualification for the election, electoral malpractices and violence, among others.

The five-man panel headed

by Justice Mohammed Garba on August 21 reserved judgment in the petition after all lawyers in the matter adopted and argued their final written addresses.

With just five days to the expiration of the life of the suit, the tribunal yesterday announced that judgment has been fixed for today.

According to the law guiding electoral matters in the country, a court must

hear and make its findings and decision in an election petition within 180 days, as any decision made outside the 180 days becomes null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

A short message released yesterday by the Information Officer of the Court of Appeal, Hajia Sa’adatu Kachalla, read: “Presidential Election Petition Tribunal: Please be informed: notice has been given for judgment to be delivered tomorrow September 11, 2019 by 9a.m."

Also one of the senior lawyers to the petitioners and another senior lawyer in the camp of the APC confirmed the date for judgment.

The APC counsel, however, declined to express his expectations on the outcome of the judgment.

He said: "We have done all we could do in court; when the judgment is delivered we shall all know where we belong."

However, in his own reaction to the announcement, one of the lead lawyers to Atiku and PDP, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), said they expected nothing short of victory.

Uche said outside the petitioners and their supporters, all Nigerians are also looking forward to what he described as justice.

"We expect to win. The whole nation is waiting for the manifestation of justice," he said.

Following the declaration of Buhari as winner of the February 23, presidential election by INEC on February 27, Atiku and his party approached the court

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

FBI: 20,737 Victims of Scam Mails Lost $1.2bn 167 suspects nabbed in joint operation

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) yesterday disclosed that 20, 737 victims of Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Email Account Compromise (BAC) lost $1.2 billion.

This is coming as the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said 167 suspects have so far been arrested in the joint operation involving the FBI and the EFCC on cybercrime across the country , while N153 million was recovered from the suspected perpetrators of cybercrimes.

The operation tagged “wirewire” was launched in 2018 and continued in 2019 as “operation rewired,” which led to the indictment of 77 Nigerians in the United States on cybercrime and other related crimes.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Legal Attaché, FBI Office in Nigeria, Uche Ahamdi, said the agency received 20,373 Business Email Compromise and Email Account Compromise (BEC/EAC) complaints with losses of more than $1.2 billion.

“In a coordinated effort to dismantle international fraudulent BEC transactions and pursue bad actors and organised criminal enterprises, including money mules that engage in BEC and fraud schemes that target and harm American businesses, the FBI and law enforcement partners in the US and abroad implemented a strategy to target and disrupt these scammers and illicit actors,” he said.

He further stated that money

mules were usually employed by fraudsters to launder their ill-gotten gains by draining the funds into other accounts that were difficult to trace.

“The sweep ran from May to September 2019, with an uptake of focused law enforcement activity during a four-week period, primarily in the US, Nigeria, Ghana, Turkey, France, Italy, UK, Japan, Kenya and Malaysia.

“The FBI-led operation involved multiple US law enforcement partners, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), US Secret Service (USSS), US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),” he explained.

He said “the operation benefited greatly from the work of our law enforcement partners around the world”.

He also disclosed that “more than 37 FBI field offices and US Attorney’s offices participated in law enforcement activity, including executing arrests, search warrants, interviews, and serving money mule warning letters.

“The goal of this operation is to send a message to all who participate in the BEC scheme that they will be caught and prosecuted, regardless of where they are located.”

Ahamdi further stated that the collaborative operation leveraged resources from across the FBI, which enabled the agencies to bring the sum total of the FBI’s cyber, organised crime, and money laundering expertise to bear on computer-based frauds.

He, therefore, urged

Buhari Alleges Politicisation of Security as Group Plans Summit Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja As some concerned citizens announced plans to organise a security summit next month, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja deplored what he described as “undue politicisation” of the security situation in the country.

A group, Global Initiative for Leadership Success (GILS), led by a traditional ruler, Major Gen. Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman (retired) had informed the president of the group’s plan to convoke a security summit conceived to draw participants across the continent next month.

Buhari, while receiving the group in the State House, alleged that no matter how much the revisionists try to distort history, “the records show where we were in terms of security in 2015, where we are now, and we also know where we want to be.”

According to a statement by his the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari, the president said the relative successes of the administration since 2015 were clear, adding that “what remains in areas of security are also clear, despite the politicisation.”

Adesina said the president lauded the plan to convene a

high-powered security summit aimed at bringing together some African leaders, defence attaches, embassies and high commissions, leadership of the defence community in the country, among others.

The statement quoted Buhari as commending the chairman of the security summit initiative.

“I am glad that you are well experienced, and know the implications of this high-powered conference. It will be a great test for you and members of your committee. You will be dealing with professionals in security, defence and diplomacy. We will do our best to support you,” he said.

According to the statement, Mamman appraised the security situation in the country now and what it was in 2015 and commended Buhari.

“We share in the conviction of the administration to address the problems of the country. At assumption of office in 2015, parts of the country had been acquired

by Boko Haram insurgents.

“Your seriousness and committed efforts have made us to now be able to worship in peace. Boko Haram has been truly degraded, and other forms of criminalities are being addressed,” Mamman was quoted as saying.

national and international law enforcement partners to develop a strategy that “focuses on dismantling the most significant cyber-criminal enterprises.”

In his remarks, Magu said the operations had resulted in the arrest of 167 Nigerians for alleged computer-related frauds and recovery of four exotic cars, plots of land in choice areas in

Lagos and a property in Abuja.

Speaking at a joint FBI/ EFCC media briefing in Lagos, Magu, who spoke through the Director of Operations, EFCC, Mohammed Umar Abba, said: “being an international model operation targeted at the varied forms of computerrelated frauds, the EFCC/ FBI collaborative operations

spanning three weeks was designed to intercept and interrupt the global network of the internet fraudsters.

“However, before now, as you are all aware, we had relentlessly launched intensive investigative actions against the infamous Yahoo yahoo boys culminating into various strategic raids, onslaught on criminals’ hideouts,

prosecutions and convictions”.

“I am happy to inform you that our efforts in coordinating the EFCC/FBI joint operations in Nigeria recorded tremendous successes leading to a number of arrests, seizures and recoveries.

The suspected fraudsters arrested in the course of this operation will be persecuted accordingly.”

SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS...

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; His Royal Highness, Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman (retired); High Chief Sunny Chukwumele; Brig. Gen. Lonsdale Adeoye; and Alhaji Khalipha Abubakar, during a meeting on proposed African Security Leadership Summit held at the State House Abuja... yesterday

APC May Disappear With Buhari, Says Okorocha Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja A former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has expressed fears that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), may not be a force to reckon with after President Muhammadu Buhari finishes his second term.

While commenting on his political battles during his tenure as governor, Okorocha said he suffered a lot of attacks and almost lost the election for sharing the same political platform with President Buhari.

Regarding the allegations that he misappropriated funds during his tenure as the governor of Imo State, Okorocha said that apart from leaving a whooping sum of N45.5 billion in state’s

coffers, he can also challenge anyone who can beat his record of development projects.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Okorocha blamed his travails on some unnamed top leaders of the APC, whom he accused of conniving with opposition elements in his state to try to undermine him politically.

He said that despite all his contributions towards setting APC structures in the South-east, the party leadership repaid him with evil for his good deeds.

Okorocha who expressed bitterness over the ill-treatment allegedly meted out to him by his party, claimed he was instrumental to bringing in Adams Oshiomhole, as national chairman

of the APC. “If anything, the party repaid me evil for good. There was no challenge I did not face or bad name I was not called in my state. They brought in people who fought me when I was building the party at state level to fight me over the control of the party. I don’t want to talk about it but my party did not treat me well.

“I have never thought of leaving the party; but what happens next will be determined by time. My only worry is that the party may disappear with the exit of President Buhari, if the ongoing injustices are not addressed,” he said.

Speaking on his current travails in the hands of the Economic

and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), especially the various allegations of maladministration levelled against him by his successor, Governor Emeka Ihedioha, the senator, who is representing Orlu senatorial district, said he believed he had not done anything wrong to warrant such treatment.

He said that at present the antigraft agency is investigating three of his organisations, including Eastern Palm University and Rochas Foundation Schools.

Okoroacha said that as far as he is concerned, the Imo State governor is only chasing shadows, adding that no one has been able to match his developmental strides in the state since the creation of the state

Fashola: BPP’s Claim of N26bn Contract Savings Misleading Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has faulted a recent claim by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) that the agency saved about N26 billion for the federal government from allegedly inflated public contracts awarded by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Fashola, in a statement from his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, yesterday said that BPP’s cost-saving claims were subjective.

Expressing doubts on whether the BPP even knows its own rates for public procurements, Fashola called on the agency to make public its rates for public contracts, so that it could be determined if indeed any savings were made.

“The attention of the minister of

works and housing has been drawn to headlines from reports credited to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) about its having saved over N26 billion for the federal government in the year 2018 by revising down ‘inflated’ contract sums by government contractors some of which emanated from the erstwhile ministry of power, works and housing.

“Being a department of the same government, ordinarily this should not warrant a reply; however, the misleading nature of the reporting in the media and the statements credited to BPP compel a response for the purposes of clarification and enlightenment of the public,” Fashola said in the statement.

According to him, any person who read the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, which created the BPP will understand

that no contract can be awarded until the BPP certified it with a certificate of ‘no objection’.

He said on the basis of this that, “there was no inflated contract because the BPP clearly stated that it reduced the costs.

“And this is the heart of the matter, because BPP’s savings can only be a subjective assessment based on rates quoted by contractors, reviewed by the ministry and sent to BPP for certification.”

Fashola explained that: “Until BPP publishes its rates which the then ministry of power, works and housing has demanded in writing, there can be no objective basis for determining whether any savings were indeed made if only BPP knows its own rates for procurement.”

He stated that once such

procurements rates are published and designs known, it would be easier for contract quantities to be ascertained and their costs equally determined.

The minister noted that this was the job of quantity surveyors and construction economists, adding that he has not hidden his call for a revision of the Public Procurement Act to resolve such gaps in the law.

According to him, during the first term of this administration, the ministry of power, works and housing had commissioned the compilation of a service-wide rate of major items of procurement from the largest to the smallest for BPP to consider, adopt or amend and publish, adding that this was the type of reform he had advocated to improve uniformity, transparency, accountability and value for money in public procurement.

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NEWS

Buhari: Corruption a Gross Violation of Human Rights Magu refutes allegations of selective investigations Nigerians not yet fed up with corruption, says Lumumba James Emejo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rid the country of corruption, adding that the menace constitute a gross violation of human rights.

This coming as the acting Chairman, Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, also dismissed allegations that the agency had continued to adopt a selective approach in the fight against corruption.

He said contrary to insinuations, the agency will never shield or block any corrupt official from prosecution irrespective of his

or her party affiliation.

Buhari and Magu spoke in Abuja at the opening of the 49th annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), themed:”Building Nigeria for Sustainable Growth and Development”.

Buhari who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the federal government recognised the damaging impact of corruption on the economy, and vowed that his administration will do all within the powers to curtail the menace.

He reinforced his administration’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the

Again, Osinbajo Defends Livestock Transformation Plan, Says Scheme Not RUGA Daji Sani in Yola Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) programme is not RUGA but a scheme tailored to build peace and prevent herder/farmers’ clashes in Nigerian communities.

The vice-president disclosed this yesterday at the flagging off of the NLTP at Gongoshi Grazing Reserve in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Osinbajo further explained that the programme is a well thought out scheme for effective use of land and water in a peaceful atmosphere and to boost the economy of the state.

He maintained that the plan was drawn up in the height of the crisis to find a lasting solution to it.

According to him, the federal government has designed the plan in such way that each state will determine its own model, stressing that this is not RUGA. The vice-president said the federal government had not come to take any land in Adamawa State, rather it had allowed the state to decide on its own what land to allocate to the programme and how the programme would run.

Also speaking at flagging-off ceremony, the state Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said NLTP has nothing to do with RUGA, but a project he is convinced has the answers to perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

He said he constituted a six-man

committee in his first month in office to implement the programme in the state because of his belief in the potential of the programme to promote co-existence and grow the economy of the state.

The Chairman of the state committee for the implementation of the Livestock Transformation Plan, Prof Alikidon Voh, who spoke earlier during the flaggingoff ceremony, disclosed that out of Nigeria’s 415 grazing reserves, Adamawa State has the highest number-69 out of which 38 had been gazetted.

He added that of the gazetted number, five had been earmarked for the implementation of the NLTP in the state, including the Gongoshi Grazing Reserve and reserves in Jada, Song, Gombi, and Maiha However the ceremony was trailed by mixed feelings in the state with many residents still believing that the NLTP is just a changed in the nomenclature of Ruga Settlement Scheme, which was suspended by the federal government due to the controversies surrounding it.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued in Yola, the Pene Da Bwatiye, a socioeconomic and cultural association of the Bwatiye, has said its initial reaction as a people to the NLTP was to give it a wide berth because it was seen as a continuation of the implementation of the RUGA scheme, but for the sincerity of purpose and commitment demonstrated by the vice-president to the actualisation of the plan.

Nasarawa SUBEB Chairman Faults Report The Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universial Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Muhammad Musa Dan’azimi, has faulted a report which claimed that he was queried

by Governor Abdullahi Sule for being ignorant of the staff strength of the agency.

Dan’azimi said when the governor undertook a visit to the state SUBEB, on September 2, 2019, at no point did he query him of ignorance on any issue.

In a letter of complaint

written to THISDAY and dated September 6, 2019 and signed by Isa Muhammad Danliti of the Maina Law Office, Dan’azimi said the story caption: ‘Nasarawa Governor Queries SUBEB Chairman for Ignorance of Staff Strength’, was intended to tarnish his name and integrity and the office he occupies.

He added that the story disparaged him and lowered his hard-earned reputation in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the public.

developmental challenges facing the country.

BuharI stressed that corruption remained the greatest enemy of his administration, adding that “Corruption will certainly fight back, but we must continue to fight to effect a change to our value system”.

He further described the ICAN accountability index as a crucial initiative, which would support the government to rid the country of corruption.

He said: “Corruption and impunity becomes widespread when accountability is disregarded.

Disrespect for accountability also strives when people get away with all manner of questionable things and accountants are unable to check them.

“I urge you now to always see corruption in its true colour as a gross violation of human rights.

For the majority of our people, the millions that are in hardship, the sick, the helpless, corruption is the major reason why they cannot go to school, why we have few equipment and doctors in our hospital.”

According to the president: “Corruption diverts public resources thereby causes much suffering, deprivation and unnecessary death in the country.

“Viewed this way, we can begin to appreciate the gravity of the destructive nature of corruption.

This should provoke us to fight it with the same zeal and doggedness we deeply deploy in the difference of fundamental human rights.

“If we do not slay corruption with the passion it deserves, we will not get the result that we need.

On our path, we will continue to provide the desired leadership and I am certain and optimistic that the glorious day we all long for will not be long in coming.”

On his part, Magu insisted that the agency had never been biased in the performance of its duties.

However, the EFCC boss could not provide an answer to a question on the luxurious lifestyle of some of its officials and the need for self-regulation of the agency.

One of the participants had asked about the luxurious vehicles at the disposal of the agency, wondering if the agency had regulatory mechanism to check

abuses and further corruption within its ranks.

But Magu, in a rather weak response, said some of the vehicles whose costs he estimated at about N150 million, were recovered from internet fraudsters, popularly called “Yahoo Boys”.

Also, a former Director of the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Agency, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, in a keynote address said that the reason why corruption still thrives in the country was because the people are not yet tired of the menace.

He said in a society such as Nigeria where people still celebrate those that fraudulently enrich themselves, corruption was like to thrive except there is a united solution to confront it head on.

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT…

L-R: Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu; Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; President, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, Mr. Nnamdi Okwuadigbo; and a guest speaker, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, during the 49th Annual Accountants Conference in Abuja…yesterday JULIUS ATOI

Tribunal Sacks Senate Spokesman, Adeyeye, Declares Olujimi Winner in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti A National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in AdoEkiti, Ekiti State has nullified the election that produced Senator Dayo Adeyeye of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the National Assembly election in Ekiti South Senatorial District.

Subsequently, the tribunal in a unanimous verdict declared former Minority Leader and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Biodun Olujimi, as the authentic winner of the February 23 election in the district.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeyeye as winner of the election, but Olujimi approached the tribunal craving that she should be declared the actual winner of the election.

She submitted that she scored the highest number of lawful votes cast during the keenly contested poll.

In the alternative, Olujimi prayed the tribunal to outrightly

nullify Adeyeye’s victory and order a supplementary election accordingly in the district.

In her written address, the petitioner claimed that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, having been allegedly fraught with all manners of irregularities.

She prayed the tribunal to annul votes in areas that were found to be incredibly marked with irregularities like over-voting, multiple thump printing, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing and improper ballot counting and others, so as to know the actual winner of the poll.

The petitioner also accused the INEC of dereliction of duties, saying most of the documents used for the conduct of the election were not duly signed by party agents.

But the respondents countered the submission, saying INEC did what was right and constitutional, by declaring the candidate of the APC the winner having found to have got the highest number

of lawful votes.

Delivering the judgement, the three-man tribunal led by Justice D.D. Adeck, nullified elections in some polling units to declare Olujimi the authentic winner of the polls.

Eventually, Olujimi polled a total of 54,894 to emerge victorious over the Senate Committee Chairman on Media and Publicity, who polled 52,243.

Justice Adeck added that apart from the nullification in some units, the outcome of the tribunal’s verdict was predicated on the recount of the ballots by the contending forces as granted by the court.

The tribunal chairman said for the petitioner to be so declared, she must prove those cases of criminal allegations of noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and other corrupt practices raised in her petition beyond reasonable doubt, which, he said, she did.

The tribunal said in Ikere, Gbonyin and Emure local government areas of the state,

the petitioner was able to prove cases of over-voting and votes in those units were expunged from the ballots.

On the voting patterns, the tribunal said: “It is not tenable to say that marked ballots were not properly deposited in the boxes because when this did not happen, then it will lead to overvoting and will affect counting at every level of collation.

“To avoid this pitfall, those elections must be expunged in order not to vitiate the electoral process. Therefore, after those votes were deducted, PDP was left with 54,894 while the respondent polled 52,243.

“The petitioner having polled the highest number of lawful votes should be declared the winner of the election.

“We hereby declare the petitioner the winner and he is hereby returned elected.

“We hereby direct the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return from the respondent and issue same to the petitioner,” he said.

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NEWS

Over 1,400 Killed By Gunmen Within Six Months in Nigeria, Says UN The United Nations yesterday lamented over the spate of killings in Nigeria noting that over 1,400 people have been killed as a result of kidnapping and banditry within

a period of six months.

The UN Country Director, Edward Kallon disclosed this in Makurdi, the Benue State capital at a meeting with Governor Samuel

Ortom.

Kallon added that killings by armed herdsmen and bandits outweigh killings by the Book Haram terrorist in the country.

In the Spirit of Dialogue, Katsina Releases Six Detained Bandits Four others surrender two AK47 rifles Francis Sardauna in Katsina Four repented bandits in Katsina State have handed over two AK47 rifles and ammunition to the state government after denouncing their heinous crimes that led to the death of many people in the state.

Also, no fewer than six bandits arrested and detained by the police in the state have been released in fulfillment of the state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari’s pledge at a dialogue meeting with leaders of the bandits across the eight frontline local government areas of the state.

The development is part of the ongoing effort to ensure peace and reconciliation, an initiative of the state governor, to ensure sustainable peace in the state.

The repented bandits, Abdullahi Mairafi, Audu Danda, Ardo Nashawali, and Sale Dangote, handed over the sophisticated weapons to state government yesterday in Shinfida village of Jibia Local Government Area at a dialogue meeting between them and the governor.

They assured the state government that the disarmament phase of the reconciliation meeting has just started, adding that more firearms in the custody of their remaining members “are going to be surrendered.”

One of the bandits, Abdullahi Mairafi, said: “We will make sure that the peace process doesn’t stop at releasing captives, but all weapons and ammunition in our custody and other militia group are surrendered to the state governor.

“Governor Masari is an indefatigable and courageous leader who has the interest of his people at heart. Therefore, we promised to work tirelessly to ensure that the people of the state sleep with their eyes closed.”

He, however, urged the state government to provide basic social amenities such as health centres, dams and schools to make life comfortable for those in the rural areas, particularly the herdsmen.

Masari, who received the repentant bandits and the weapons surrendered by the ex-hoodlums, said the state government would ensure that lives and property of herdsmen and other citizens in the state are protected.

He called on other repentant bandits in eight frontline local government areas of the state to lay down their arms for the sake of the people in the state.

In his remarks, the outgoing Army Commander of 17 Brigade in Katsina, Brigadier-Gen. Aminu Bande, said the army would not relent on its operation in the

Yobe, UNDP Partner on Education, Healthcare, Others The Yobe State Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will collaborate further to support the development of education, healthcare, and agriculture in the state and the rebuilding of communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

This was the outcome of the meeting Governor Mai Mala Buni had with the new Country Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Yahaya.

The meeting, which took place at the Yobe Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro Abuja, followed a courtesy visit that Yahaya paid on the governor yesterday.

Buni observed that the UNDP has been assisting Yobe State in its developmental strides since it was created over 28 years ago.

The governor also noted that given the current challenges the state was facing, the UNDP can do even more on the basis of the Regional Stabilisation Facility for Lake Chad Basin Countries affected by the Boko Haram crisis that was launched by the UNDP in Niamey, Niger Republic two months ago.

“The Stabilisation facility demonstrates the commitment that you expressed during your meeting with our country’s foreign

minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama to support the country to achieve the sustainable development goals and to meet the security challenges in the North-east”, the governor said.

He expressed hope that with the $36 million earmarked for Nigeria from the Stabilisation facility within the first two years of implementation, the UNDP would help Yobe make progress in key areas that state government is currently working on.

Buni listed these areas to include education, healthcare, water supply and sanitation, youth empowerment and the rebuilding of communities ravaged by the Boko Haram crisis.

On his part, the UNDP Country Representative, Mr Mohammed Yahaya, said after his meeting with the Minister of Foreign, Geoffrey Onyeama, yesterday, Governor Buni was the first Nigerian official he has met since he resumed office recently.

“I wanted to have an opportunity to discuss how the UNDP can continue to support and increase its involvement under your leadership in Yobe State and this is why I’m here and, again, I want to thank you and thank your entire leadership.

Thank you very much Your Excellency,” he said.

state until the state is cleared of banditry.

According to him, “Either the bandits like it or not, banditry must stop in Katsina State.

Therefore, it is better for you (bandits) to renounce banditry and surrender your weapons now or forced to do so.”

“Pockets of conflicts and insecurity in the country at large especially where I am today (Benue), the herders and farmers crisis and also kidnapping and banditry. This is now really getting out of hand.

“The last statistics I saw from the government was that over 1,400 people were killed as a result of kidnapping and banditry since the elections.

“This is not a pleasant statistics,” he said.

Kallon also claimed that institutional failure at all levels of governance is responsible for the killing of over 1,400 persons since March 2019, particularly by armed herdsmen, bandits, and kidnappings.

He, therefore, called on the government to pay attention to issues of insecurity.

“We all know the statistics and the menace of herders/farmers problems. There were more people killed by the herders and farmers crisis than the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria.

“When I said this in Abuja, it was not being welcomed but that was one statistics we have. These are all due to weak institutions and governance deficit at the Federal, state and local level,” Kallon said.

Ortom, at the event claimed that those responsible for fashioning out a solution to herdsmen attacks choose to politicise the issue.

According to him, adopting the position of the National Economic Council, which recommended ranching is the best solution to animal husbandry.

Kallon is in the state to follow up on earlier commitment by the UN to support the rehabilitation and resettlements programme for victims of herdsmen attacks in the state.

After signing the visitor’s register at the end of the meeting, the UN delegation moves to Gbajimba in Guma local council to take possession of the land donated to them by the state government for the rehabilitation projects to ensure these IDPs are properly reintegrated back to the society.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COMMENT

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

ATIKU, AMBITION AND THE ENDGAME President Buhari is qualified to run for the presidential election, writes Louis Odion

S

o, after all his thunderous imprecations and venomous profiling of the Wazirin Adamawa as “hopelessly corrupt�, OBJ could not resist the temptation of a N50m “egunje� from the same “tainted� hand. Perhaps, our ever sanctimonious patriarch never reckoned the secret would leak.

No less amusing was the explanation offered by the giver when the EFCC hound uncovered an assortment of fingerprints and footprints of beneficiaries of a staggering 150m Euros (N60b) allegedly laundered ahead of the 2019 polls of which a consortium of local and foreign marabouts were said to have assured, with oracular certainty, of a landslide victory. If the last hurdle to Aso Rock was cash, the free-spender from Jada was ready to break the bank, whether in local or hard currency.

Without the least regard for logic, Atiku’s spin doctors told us the strange N50m found in the account of Obasanjo Library was only “a donation� to a “non-profit organization� involved in humanitarian work.

The gods are surely wise.

Of course, only kindergarten pupils would buy that. Coming after OBJ had literally declared war on APC and virtually parlayed any forum available to hurl personal insults at President Mohammadu Buhari, it must have finally dawned on the more discerning why prescient Professor Wole Soyinka chose to christen Obasanjo’s mammoth Ota edifice “a Laundromat� at its founding more than a decade ago.

How tragic then that those who now wish to be looked upon as the harbingers of Nigeria’s ethical rebirth are, alas, still unable to prove to the nation they had in any way outgrown their old vice of money-sharing rackets.

Well, the danger of astrology is its addictiveness. In his most recent autobiography entitled “My Watch�, OBJ had, based on stated “research and observation�, characterized his deputy (while president for eight years) as both perennial captive and slave to sorcerers.

So, once assured of the presidential crown by fortune-tellers, it would appear Atiku has become rather obsessed with becoming king, even if that meant sedating himself into a nirvana and dreaming up a magicrealist kingdom in which he is both lord and lone inhabitant.

Only such fixation could indeed explain the desperation lately of Atiku and his enablers - mostly lurking in the shadows of cyberspace - to foist the fable of a coming coronation, not based on facts but sheer fantasy.

This psychosis partly manifests in the juvenile twisting of facts by a mob who, apparently scarred by the prospects of languishing another four years in the political wilderness, now conveniently choose to not only inhabit that fantasyland, but also luxuriate in its numbing make-believe.

It explains their desperation last weekend to exhume the light-hearted words uttered by Lai Mohammed in 2015 as APC spokesman on the needless controversy around Buhari’s certificate, package and re-present same in a totally different context, just to prop their lame argument which similarly failed to fly five years ago.

It is also the reason the Atiku people would lie shamelessly before the election tribunal that the otherwise thoughtful and compassionate TraderMoni and MarketMoni schemes initiated by the Buhari administration was a bribe to induce voters ahead of the 2019 polls.

Apparently failing to do their research properly, they even declared, with a ring of authority, that the funds being disbursed to market women and the vulnerable in our society were extra-budgetary spending. Seriously? But the last time I checked, the twin programmes were approved by the Federal Executive Council and duly funded by the Appropriations Acts of 2017 and 2018.

To be sure, it is quite within the democratic rights of the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party to contest the outcome of the February polls which gave APC 15,191,847 votes as against his own distant 11,262,978.

But it is debatable if the arguments marshaled so far in the past few months by his legal team are convincing enough.

Given the cold letters of the law and legal precedents, it would be herculean indeed to prove the claim of electoral malpractices in a presidential poll. That means the petitioner is saddled with the arduous task of producing witnesses to give testimony proving such infraction in more than 100,000 polling units where the exercise took place.

This requirement is already well stated in the decision of the Supreme Court in Buhari v. Obasanjo (2005) thus: “The very big obstacle that anyone who seeks to have the election of the President or Governor upturned is very large number of witnesses he must call due to the size of the respective constituency. In a country like our own, he may have to call about 250,000 - 300,000 witnesses. By the time the court would have

ON THE ISSUE OF BUHARI’S ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS, IT IS PERHAPS A MEASURE OF PDP’S INFINITE CAPACITY FOR MISCHIEF THAT THE BOGEY OF “NO SCHOOL CERT� IS STILL BEING RETAILED TILL DATE, HAVING FAILED WOEFULLY TO GAIN TRACTION BACK IN 2015

heard from all of them with the way our present law is couched, the incumbent would have long finished and left his office and even if the petitioner finally wins, it will be an empty victory bereft of substance.�

So, PDP’s present case at the presidential election tribunal is anchored primarily on two main legs viz INEC server and Buhari’s “lack of school certificate�.

But rather than persuade, the argument on the server has been most amusing. From the outset, no one disputes that the entire polls were premised on the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Relentless pressures mounted on President Mohammadu Buhari to assent to a raft of amendments proposed by the Bukola Saraki-led Senate seeking electronic transmission of results did not succeed.

The President’s action was informed by the superior argument that for the purpose of the 2019 polls, much as desirable as electronic transmission would conduce to the sanctity of the ballot, the sad reality was that a considerable ratio of the over 100,000 polling units in 774 councils across the federation and Abuja was yet to be covered by digital networks to experiment with such innovation.

What’s more, an authority no less than the nation’s chief electoral umpire himself did attest, before hand and without ambiguity, that only manual transmission of results was applicable in the exercise.

Despite all these unassailable facts, it remains a big puzzle why the Atiku people still chose to gamble with the theory of electronic server.

By the curious calculations of the fictive server, PDP polled 18,356,732 votes ahead of APC’s 16,741,430.

Fine. But the devil is actually in the details. It turned out the Kenyan the petitioner had touted as possessing the “smoking gun� himself admitted, under cross-examination, that the data he tendered was gleaned from the website created two weeks after the results were announced by a faceless “whistle-blower�.

Worse, it was discovered that the IP address of the website is a commercial one patronized by all manner of businessmen in many countries across the world.

More comedy. Again invoking the same “server� like a talisman, the Atiku people had pooh-poohed the INEC results announced in Borno in favor of Buhari on the grounds that the high numbers were unjustifiable given the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the area.

But wait a minute - it turned out that the figures allocated to Atiku in the same Borno by the all-knowing “server� are far higher than those of Buhari which they had faulted vigorously as impossible because of security issue!

However, the “server� was not bold enough to discredit the figures from Atiku’s own polling unit in his native Adamawa where Buhari entered a symbolic victory by polling 186 to the former’s 167.

On the issue of Buhari’s academic credentials, it is perhaps a measure of PDP’s infinite capacity for mischief that the bogey of “no school cert� is still being retailed till date, having failed woefully to gain traction back in 2015. To begin with, isn’t it amazing that a nation could even be beguiled into entertaining such a doubt about a man who records clearly confirm had not only attended numerous official courses conferring higher academic status during a career spanning over three decades, but also had the uncommon privilege of leading the country as head of state between 1984 and 1985?

Perhaps the easiest way to validate history is to cite witnesses. Luckily, some of Buhari’s classmates at Provincial Secondary School, Katsina in 1961, are still alive. To prove doubters wrong, the President has even gone the extra mile by making public a black-and-white photograph showing him then in company of classmates including now retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi.

This truth has not been disputed, nor has Justice Abdullahi denied.

On the contrary, it is open secret today that, in their last-ditch effort to rake up muck but in abject ignorance of the confidentiality principle of English system, PDP’s agents had approached University of Cambridge in the U.K. to ascertain whether Buhari actually sat for school certificate.

But seen as “busy-bodies�, the authorities at the British institution declined the applicants. The request was only granted when Buhari’s representative duly applied for the results which was later tendered before the court.

Against this overwhelming backcloth, the rationally minded cannot but wonder what may be giving Atiku and his crowd confidence.

Maybe, it is the metaphysics of the marabouts.

Odion is Senior Technical Assistant (Media) to the President

SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

Hakuna M. Adamu writes that the issue of qualification is strictly a matter of law

O

ne of the five grounds of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal against the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23, 2019 Presidential Election is that, President Buhari was not qualified to contest the election.

The second most important ground of the PDP and Atiku/Obi’s Petition is lying on oath, providing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification. President Muhammadu Buhari lied in his affidavit that his certificates were with the Army. He also lied that he attended institutions that

were not in existence as of the time of his claims.

Lastly, President Buhari presented a suspicious Cambridge Certificate International Statement of Result.

President Buhari contested four different elections between 2003 and 2015 and won in 2015. In all the elections, President Buhari could not attach his certificates as claimed in his form CF001, which is a major requirement in the Electoral act, 2010 (as amended).

Section 131 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides that: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if ...(d) he has been educated up to at least school certificate levels or its equivalent.�

To be qualified, President Buhari must produce his Primary School Certificate or his West African School Certificate or Officer Cadet Certificate (Whatever that means), since those were the qualifications he claimed in his form CF001.�

Some have argued that President Buhari can speak and write in English language, that he was former President of Nigeria. Some people have also argued that, if he was not disqualified in previous elections for failing to present his certificates as required by law in previous contest, why now?

The simple answer to this question is: “shall we continue in sin so that Grace May abound?�

We cannot continue in sin so that Grace May abound. The issue of qualification is strictly a matter

of law and there is nothing ambiguous about it in Section 131 (d). The decision of the court in this matter will greatly enrich our electoral process and also enhance the quality of our elected representatives.

The more we elect people without the necessary constitutional requirements into sensitive offices, especially the office of President, the more the country will remain backward.

The Nigerian judiciary is the only institution that can salvage this situation and set a precedent for future elections.

The expectation of Nigerians and the international community is that the rule of law prevails.

Adamu is a civil society activist based in Kano

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

EDITORIAL ARRESTING NIGERIA’S MODERN-DAY SLAVERY Government should make a determined effort to empower the people

T

his year’s marking of the United Nations-declared International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Its Abolition on August 23 produced an added significance in the form of President Muhammadu Buhari’s opinion on the subject. According to him, it was not enough to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the heinous business, rather, it should also be an opportunity to eradicate it in all its present modes and the world to plan to achieve true, lasting freedom for everyone.

No human being deserves to be a slave at any time, going by the definition of modern slavery. The Slavery Convention of the League of Nations adopted in 1926 put it succinctly thus: “The status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised. It refers to the situation of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power.” By this WHAT MAKES THE classification, someone NIGERIAN CONDITION does not have to be MORE WORRISOME IS ITS in chains and ferried IGNOBLE RECOGNITION across the Atlantic AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S Ocean or Sahara Desert to be a slave. He or LEADING CULPRITS IN she becomes one when THREE CRITICAL AREAS OF SOURCE, TRANSIT AND transaction is made with him or her as DESTINATION commodity. To worsen the impact of the practice, the exchange could be with or without the victim’s prior knowledge, usually unaware of the full extent of the predicament at the beginning.

The case of Nigeria is indeed pathetic and needs greater attention than it attracts at the moment. The Global Slavery Index (GSI) released by the Walk Free Foundation (WFF) the other day presents embarrassing and disturbing statistics. Like its general population, the country is also host to the highest number of enslaved people in sub-Sahara Africa. The inclusion of 875,000 Nigerians in the estimated global figure of 40 million should be

Letters to the Editor

alarming enough to trigger both government and nongovernmental action.

The breakdown of that sum shows that majority of the affected persons are forced into domestic, industrial and commercial labour, marriages or are simply given out to relations under innocuous circumstances. Not surprisingly, the shameful Nigerian profile is a reflection of the severity of the scourge across the African continent.

Various relevant organisations have identified it as home to the largest prevalence of slavery on earth, with more than seven per cent of every 1000 people as victims, according to the 2017 report of WFF and International Labour Organisation (ILO), a situation that has not changed.

W

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

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

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

AFRICA AND CULTURAL COLONIALISM

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e have had Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyeyere, Alpha Oumar Konara, Samora Machel, and Desmond Tutu, among others. Their services were characterized by selfless sense of duty; they put the rights and needs of others above theirs. But today in Africa, most of our leaders had mopped our resources to enrich themselves and plunged millions of people into despair. Apart from the above names, different cranes have come to the fore to lift us up from the valley of underdevelopment, yet we are still in the valley of misery, crying for help. A rich continent well-endowed with abundant natural resources and a young dynamic population is deeply rooted in cultural colonialism.

Yes the past can be remembered, it is an industrial-scale cruelty of human being that must be condemned in its entirety.

Yes the bonfire of slave trade is still smoldering in most heart of Africans, yes we were not asked how our countries should be structured territorially; yes they made our ‘’articles’’ to undress and shake their bums and if they could dance salsa on their bum, a deal is brokered; yes they made us drink our own urine to sate hunger, yes we might be tagged culturally inferior, without any civilization worthy of emulation because most of our achievements were not written and therefore not known to the rest of the world. But it is high time African countries stopped whining and complaining that colonization is impeding our progress.

Today, some African countries are beset with strife, war, terrorism, inequality, corruption and other social ills. Today,

hat makes the Nigerian condition more worrisome is its ignoble recognition as one of the world’s leading culprits in three critical areas of source, transit and destination.

Europe and North Africa, in particular, have continued to benefit from the growing incidence of emigration among Nigerians in search of the proverbial greener pastures.

But instead of actualising their dreams, many of them end up being sexually exploited - one of the most widespread forms of present-day captivity - or trapped in other ways.

Sadly, not even stories of the tortuous and precarious journeys through the Sahara to Libya and, then, less frequently to Europe have been able to dissuade our young men and women from gambling with their lives. Consequently, many of them have caused themselves harm, brought sorrow to their relations and further tarnished the nation’s already battered international image.

Interestingly, the WFF gives the main factors promoting this contemporary bondage as poverty, economic crises, physical conflicts and environmental disasters.

The abundant presence of these evils in Nigeria today requires bold, well-designed and executed government interventions which could hopefully serve as catalysts for more productive involvement of the private sector in this campaign. Only concerted, collaborative efforts aimed at empowering the populace and restoring the dignity of the citizenry can effectively curb or eliminate the current manifestations of servitude.

some rulers collude with foreign firm to heap its treasures away.

Today, our novea riche are getting richer with little to the poverty ravaged population.Today, we cannot get accurate and credible data to work with. Today we routinely hail and congratulate those who illicitly acquired wealth and treat them as tin gods.

Today the lust for power prevails over love and care of the people governed. Today our leaders have left us in the lurch and most of us have continually cried to the church, mosque and other places in search of solution.Today, it is a society that takes away from the have-nots in order to give to the haves.

Oh Africa, where knife goes through a mountain as if it’s a bread. Where elephant is afraid of the rat. Where bribery, kickbacks and criminal activity intertwine as one family. Where so many families ration foods as if they are beggars. Where corruption saunters elegantly at the threshold of honesty as if they are Siamese twins. Where leaders yearn to stay in power perpetually. Where electoral process are marred by the harassment and arrest of opposition candidates. Where piles of scandal and shame are lobbed at the threshold of equity.

Perhaps the time has come for our leaders not to brood at the leaden skies but find what’s compatible with it. It is time for us to discard the culture that are suppressing our development, the modern culture of endemic corruption, the culture of dignified ineptitude and greed, the culture of tribalism and nepotism.

Despite the aforesaid challenges not a modicum of doubt has seeped into my resolve that the future looks limitless and bright for Africans.

Olusanya Anjorin, Olusanyaanjorin@gmail.com

AN ODE TO DORIAN

D

orian, And so came pouring rains, Awninged clouds and comingled winds, An alchemy; ruthless, with ominous potency. August’s cruelty seemed passé, As Dorian’s awesome squall arrived, Unto September it stalled to connive, Wobbling its eye over island divides, Before brandishing its high Category Five, Uncontrollable Nature pelting rain pebbles, As if in rebuke for abounding iniquities, Battering the archipelago; bombing Abaco, Decimating Grand Bahama to a pall, Vesting a generational devastation, With unfettered burst that made all fall. Dorian, Dorian, and so came the strains, Its shattering ill-winds truly alive, Wreaked havoc in its turbulent hive, Trafficking disaster like Gloria of eighty-five, Atypical, unlike its ilk; Hugo, Katrina and Sandy, Gritty Dorian gifted a dreadful message; I’m the enemy you can feel, but cannot fight, I’m from He, the author and the finisher, Save the earth, or risk Nature’s chock-full rage, Stop your tomfoolery; admit climate change. In awesome wonder, Nature’s wrath did unfold, Hurricane Dorian is a sight to behold, With vengeance yet untold, As crested wave romance floating Bruins, And the islands nether is cratered in ruins, Where to hide; what to hold, is naught.

Oseloka H. Obaze is a diplomat, author and poet

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Court Orders Forfeiture of Alison-Madueke’s N14.4bn Jewellery to FG Davidson Iriekpen A Federal High Court in Lagos has finally ordered the permanent forfeiture to the federal government of jewellery valued at $40 million (about

N14.4 billion), recovered from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke.

The jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, include “419 expensive bangles and 315 expensive rings”.

Others are 304 expensive earrings, 267 expensive necklaces, 189 expensive wristwatches and 174 expensive necklaces and earrings.

The rest are 78 expensive

bracelets, 77 expensive brooches and 74 expensive pendants.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Nicholas Nicholas Oweibo held that Diezani, through her lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to show

cause why the items should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had told the judge that the jewellery

and iPhone were reasonably suspected to be acquired with fraud proceeds.

The anti-graft agency said the items were beyond Diezani’s legitimate earnings.

One Feared Dead, Cars Burnt as Protesting Students Attack Fayemi’s Wife’s Convoy Victor Ogunje in Ado-Ekiti Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, yesterday escaped physical attack from protesting students of the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Though the protest was described as peaceful by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, it was said to have been hijacked by hoodlums, leading to the death of one person.

It was alleged that some hoodlums yesterday afternoon hijacked the protest staged by students of FUOYE in Oye-Ekiti and attacked the convoy of the First Lady of the state, who was in the town on a tour of some local government areas of the state to dish out empowerment items to the indigenes and residents.

THISDAY gathered that Fayemi’s wife was ferried with police vehicle to escape to Ayegbaju Ekiti after two police vans were allegedly burnt by the students, who wielded sticks, bottles and other dangerous weapons.

Unconfirmed report said two persons were killed as police and students engaged in confrontation.

It was gathered that the hoodlums went on rampage upon realising that the First Lady was around, a few hours after the students staged another protest over incessant power outage on the campus. The protest, according to the students, was to call on the federal government’s attention to their plights.

The students were alleged to have also engaged the security operatives in violent clashes and allegedly vandalised vehicles in the convoy of the First Lady.

Some policemen allegedly lost

their rifles after being overpowered by the students.

Sources said the students of FUOYE had gathered as early as 6.39 a.m. yesterday in front of the gates of the twin campuses of the institution in Oye and Ikole respectively.

It was gathered that the students had dispersed after a few hours and normalcy had returned on the campuses and their environs.

But, some miscreants later allegedly regrouped to take advantage of the occasion to unleash violence on innocent people.

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the attack on the governor’s wife.

Ikechukwu explained that the students protested in the morning and blocked the Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo Highway and prevented free flow of vehicles.

“The students did not allow vehicles to move freely and they vandalised the property of Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

“When police went there to dialogue with them, they resisted them. And the wife of the governor who went on local government tour ran into the barricade mounted on the road.

“The students were reported to have been violent, destroying cars and smashed the windscreens of vehicles.

“We want to warn that the command won’t tolerate hooliganism under any guise.

We want to assure the public that the police are on top of the situation and our people should go about their normal businesses,” he said,

Oyo South: Ajimobi Loses at Tribunal Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The bid by the former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to return to the Senate again suffered a major setback yesterday as Senator Kola Balogun of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared the winner of the Oyo North senatorial district election by the State and National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

The tribunal dismissed the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ajimobi.

The unanimous decision was reached by the panel led

by Justice Anthony Akpovi (Chairman), Justice Chinyere Ani and Justice Sambo Daka.

Balogun had scored 105, 720 votes to defeat Ajimobi

who polled 92,213 leaving a margin of about 13, 102 votes, as announced by the electoral umpire.

The judgment, which lasted for about three hours was as read by Justice Akpovi on behalf of other members of the panel.

Justifying the decisions of the panel to throw out the petitioners’ prayers, the panel held that the APC failed to prove the petition beyond reasonable doubt arguing that only 11, 759 votes were in contention out of the total votes score recorded in the election.

Also, it added that even if all the prayers of the petitioner were granted and the votes in contention added to its score, the respondent would still have won the election with about 1,743 of the total votes cast.

LET PEACE REIGN…

L-R: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Committee on House of Representatives’ Minority Leadership Crisis, Senator Iyorcha Ayu; Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin; and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, when the committee submitted its report to the BoT in Abuja…recently

Kidnapped Ondo University Don Found Dead James Sowole in Akure Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUTECH) in Okitipupa has been thrown into mourning following the report of the discovery of decomposing body of the institution’s Professor in the Department of Mathematical Science, Gideon Okedayo.

Okedayo was reportedly kidnapped along with his driver last week by unknown gunmen on their way to Igara in Edo State.

The driver was, however,

later released by the gunmen and later he reported the matter to the police.

Edo State Police Command had also announced that it had recovered Okedayo’s official vehicle, a Toyota Corolla car with registration number, 06X47OD, few hours after the abduction.

Union leaders in the university disclosed that Okedayo’s decomposing body was found on Monday in the bush, where he was captured by his abductors.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the late lecturer was killed by the

abductors or not as at the time of filing this report.

The Chairman, Joint Action Committee of Staff Unions of the university, Mr. Temidayo Temola, who confirmed the discovery yesterday, said the incident saddened all members of OSUTECH staff.

The labour leader, who described the late don as a peace-loving and generous person, said the sad news had thrown the OSUSTECH campus into mourning.

He said: “In fact the death of Prof. Okedayo is a big loss to

this institution. We will really miss him.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the OSUSTECH branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Dipo Akomolafe, said the ASSU and the entire university community had been thrown into disarray and were saddened by the development.

“His decomposing body was found in the bush. This is so sad to ASUU and his family members because the abductors never called anybody, whether ASUU or Okedayo’s family for ransom,” he lamented.

Conditions of Nigeria’s IDPs Pathetic, Buhari Tells ICRC President Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja decried the conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, saying they were pathetic.

The president made the lamentation while receiving the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, in the State House, Abuja.

A statement by the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president told the ICRC president that some children could no longer locate their parents neither could they recall their nativities.

According to Adesina, Buhari applauded the support of the ICRC and other humanitarian organisations to Nigeria, stating that the country is currently focusing on education, healthcare and infrastructure development.

“The situation of the displaced persons is very pathetic. Some

children don’t know where their parents are, neither do they know where they come from.

“We are focusing on education and healthcare, along with rebuilding of infrastructure.

The agency formerly under the leadership of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retired) and now headed by Major-General Paul Tarfa (rtd) is quietly making an impression. We are dedicating lots of resources to the area,” he quoted the president as saying.

Adesina also said Buhari told his guest that Boko Haram had been degraded and described insurgents as bandits who must be treated as such.

“Boko Haram has been degraded, but its members are still a nuisance around Lake Chad and surrounding islands.

“That is why we are cooperating with Chad, Cameroon, Niger Republic, and other countries.

We are also using the Air Force quite effectively. They are bandits, and we will continue to treat them

as such,” he was further quoted.

The statement said Buhari disclosed that the government was concentrating on repairing damaged infrastructure, rehabilitation of internally displaced persons and securing their communities to enable them return home.

It also said the president disclosed that notable progress had been made in assuaging the minds of people that insurgency is not a religious affair.

“How can you kill people, and say ‘God is great?’ It’s either you don’t know that God, or you don’t know what you are talking about.

God is God of justice. And the people have understood the message well, so recruiting is now difficult for the insurgents,” the phone was quoted.

According to the statement, Maurer in his remarks, described Nigeria as the fifth largest operation of ICRC worldwide, adding that the organisation would continue to render

humanitarian services to victims of violence.

It also said Maurer spoke on the recent killings of two ICRC officials in the North-east, saying, “we are shaken by the killing of our staff, but not discouraged.

Humanitarian assistance should continue, and we applaud the hospitality of Nigeria.”

Adesina also said Maurer told Buhari that ICRC’s relationship with Nigeria would be further strengthened, submitting that “the more we see activity from Nigerian authorities, the easier it is for us to add here and there.”

Briefing State House reporters later, Maurer who said he had visited the North-east, disclosed that the group would continue to pursue the release of Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and other persons held captive by Boko Haram.

He also lamented the conditions of IDPs, adding however, that Nigeria’s humanitarian laws are relevant globally.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

A N A LY S I S

Undertanding Okonwko’s Dream for a Greater Anambra

David-Chyddy Eleke writes that Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, a businessman, an intellectual and philanthropist, who is a contender for the governorship position in the 2021 election in Anambra State is brimming with great ideas for his home state

I

t will take only a short conversation with Dr. Obiora Okonkwo for one to deduce that he is a sound intellectual whose ideas are out of this world.

Yet he relays them with a touch of reality. As lofty as his dreams are, they also come with set plans.

Though he has not declared his intention to run for the governorship position in Anambra State, formally, many stakeholders in the state have already started tipping him for the contest, knowing that he has the capacity to move the state to a whole new level. Okonkwo admitted in a chat with our correspondent that his interest in the governorship position was still at the level of making consultations with diverse stakeholders in the state.

Okonkwo, a major stakeholder in Anambra State and a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while chatting with THISDAY gave insight into his dream for Anambra State. He said, “If you ask me, I think we are going backwards as a state. For a high flying state like Anambra, we have no reason to do so.

“We already had Onitsha main market, noted as the biggest market in West Africa at a time when Dubai was a desert. Can’t you ask yourself how come Dubai grew to have the biggest malls in the world, when we already had a market that only needed to be developed into a model, and complemented with malls, since we already had a large population of people that can feed the market?”

As magnificent as Okonkwo’s ideas are, one cannot fail to see a touch of reality in them as he also does not fail to use current realities to illustrate the future dreams he has for the state, and what could be done to achieve them. For example, Okonkwo wondered why Anambra which was in the old Anambra State, with very well planned housing estates could not develop over the years, especially after it was carved out to stand as the current Anambra State.

His thinking is inspired by the Lagos example. What used to be the greatest slum in Lagos State, Maroko, has today grown to be a high brow area of Lagos, and also serving as a residential area for elite citizens of the country. “The difference between the two is policy.” He said, “I am not saying that I am the best for Anambra State, because the best is not yet born. But I have this dream of growing the state.

I feel this is the time to do it, because If I don’t do it now, posterity will never forgive me.

“I schooled outside the country. I was in Russia for my studies, and I have travelled around the world. God has also blessed me with wealth, so what else can I be seeking. As a young boy, I was a trader in Onitsha main market before I went to study abroad. The main market was already a full-fledged market then. As at that time, Dubai was still a desert, with just one road running through one end of Dubai to the other. Today, can you compare the two cities?

“By every standard that wealth is measured, I am a rich man. The two things that occupy my mind these days is how to make heaven and how to impact on my society. What will I say after now, if I had the opportunity to change the story for my people and did not do so? I want to show the people that policies of government is what moves the society forward, and I want to demonstrate it to the people.”

Okonkwo will be contesting for the position of the governor of the state for

Okonkwo

the first time when he eventually makes up his mind. It was also revealed by a source that he had the opportunity of becoming the senator representing Anambra Central zone, but despite an earlier attempt, he

His thinking is inspired by the Lagos example.

What used to be the greatest slum in Lagos State, Maroko, has today grown to be a high brow area of Lagos, and also serving as a residential area for elite citizens of the country.“The difference between the two is policy.”He said, “I am not saying that I am the best for Anambra State, because the best is not yet born. But I have this dream of growing the state. I feel this is the time to do it, because If I don’t do it now, posterity will never forgive me

changed his mind, settling for the contest for the governorship of the state, convinced that it is a better position to make the changes he craves after in the society.

The businessman who hails from Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government area of the state, which falls in the central senatorial zone also spoke on a recent argument on the zoning formula in the state which favours the southern zone. He cautioned his party, the PDP to concentrate on fielding a candidate that can win back the governorship position rather than zoning it to any part of the state.

He said the state was predominantly a PDP state, and the party should rather be concerned about how to return executive power to the party, as it has been out of power for16 years now. “Zoning has never worked in the state (Anambra) before.

Those who are shouting zoning now are doing so because they happen to come from a part of the state that is favoured by the argument.

“If you look carefully, you will see that there has never been a time when the zoning arrangement worked, because, if we have to zone, then we have to stop people from other zones from contesting, but that has never happened, and every politician in the zone has been contesting election when they wish, so there is no zoning in Anambra State.”

He said it was wrong to canvass zoning, just because some people have made up their mind on certain politicians who incidentally hail from the zone being favoured.

As the days draw near for the contest, Okonkwo will be faced with a motley of other aspirants in his party, the PDP, both from southern and central senatorial zone. Among those that Okonkwo will

be up against in his party for the ticket are Senator Mrs Uche Ekwunife, former Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka, a business mogul, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, a House of Representatives member, Hon Chris Azubogu, among many others.

The contestants may be in their numbers, but Okonkwo believes that he stands in his own world among them all. Very cerebral, Okonwo is a man who grew from a humble beginning to an enviable status. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the Russian Academy of Science Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Moscow, and a professional fellowship doctorate from the Institute of Chattered Economists of Nigeria, among others.

His dealing with many business people and other allies have produced great testimonies about his person. Chukwuemeka Dike (PhD) of the Nigeria Immigration Service, who is a close friend of Okonkwo said, “I have known Dr. Okonkwo for about two decades. I have taken time to study him. I have also discovered so many qualities in him. An observation from a distance may give most people a skewed impression of Okonkwo as difficult, unfriendly, but when you get closer, you will be amazed at the simplicity of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo. He is simply a model and a special human being. He is a perfect gentleman who keeps his words and his promises. He is a man of vision and mission, he sets achievable targets with timelines. He ensures that targets and objectives are met to the benefit of all participants, in strict compliance to the soviet socialist principle of production; to each according to his ability and to each according to his contribution.”

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ANALYSIS

Free and Compulsory Education Ranks High on Ganduje’s Agenda Ibrahim Shuaibu writes that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has identified education as a major driver to shape the legacy of his administration in its second tenure

Ganduje

S

ince he was returned to office for a second term, by popular vote, Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has recorded tremendous positive results in the primary and secondary education sector.

The free and compulsory education project was launched by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The event was witnessed by important dignitaries from within and outside the country who declared their total support for the state government’s efforts to overcome this challenge of Almajiris roaming the streets.

Ganduje may have succeeded in working out modalities to ensure that the Almajiri system of education is woven into the conventional Western education learning curriculum, designed to take the Almajiris off the street as beggars and also give them sound and adequate education that can give them access to quality and qualitative education.

According to the Governor, the objective of the summit was to discuss, analyze, and generate ideas towards the implementation of the vision for free and compulsory basic and secondary education in the state.

“On the assumption of office for a second term on the 29th of May, 2019, we made a policy statement and commitment to provide free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary level. This is in recognition of the pivotal role of education as the primary agent of change in our society.

“It is disturbing to note from available statistics that Nigeria has over 10.5 million out-of-school children, it is also more alarming to note that 60 percent of that figure represents the girl-child.

“Also, eight million of those outof-school children are in 10 northern states of Nigeria with Kano having the lion share. Regrettably, available

figures indicate that over three million of these out-of-school children are in Kano.

“However, a recent survey revealed that most of these children are Almajiris from other northern states and children from the Republic of Niger, Chad and northern part of Cameroon.”

Ganduje further called for regional coordination and legislation that will enable the control of the influx of Almajiris from neighbouring countries and also from one state to another.

He added to tackle the challenge, “This

Ganduje may have succeeded in working out modalities to ensure that the Almajiri system of education is woven into the conventional Western education learning curriculum, designed to take the Almajiris off the street as beggars and also give them sound and adequate education that can give them access to quality and qualitative education

government has set up a committee to conduct a census of all out-of-school children with a view to update the available data and ensure adequate planning in preparation for the implementation of this all-important education policy. “ This will further consolidate the commitment of government to the ‘Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), a UNICEF programme which aims at ensuring equitable access to basic education for out-of-school children.”

Ganduje also revealed that plans are on the way to streamline about 13, 619 Qur’anic schools with 2.5 million pupils across the state and integrate them into the free and compulsory education programme, adding that already, the government has set up Qur ’anic and Islamiyyah Schools Management Board.

He further stated that in line with the free and compulsory basic and secondary school education, his administration has commenced direct funding of primary and secondary schools numbering 1180 with a total student population of 834, 366 at a total cost of about N200 million per month or N2.4 billion per annum.

He added that, “Similarly, the government has provided school uniforms to 779, 522 newly enrolled pupils (boys and girls) at the total cost of N381 million. In a bid to reduce teaching deficiency in the sector, government is in the process of engaging 3000 volunteer teachers to teach in the various public and Quranic schools across the state.

“Other challenges inherent in this policy include massive rehabilitation and construction of new classrooms, provision of instructional materials, training and restraining of teachers, provision of instructional materials, provision of water, toilets, and electricity in schools and strengthening of our Institutions quality assurance.”

The Governor of Kano state has also sent a bill to the State House

of Assembly, seeking for a law that will back the arrest and prosecution of parents who refused to take their children to school.

Within the last 100 days, Kano state Governor has also been able to set up a Committee that will see to the establishment of one of the largest RUGA settlement in Africa at Falgore forest.

Ganduje said he took the step to contribute his quota in putting to rest the controversy generated by the Federal Government RUGA proposal across the country; make the Fulani herdsmen economically viable; boost Kano’s economic potentials; end the farmers/herders clash and as well modernize the cattle rearing and insemination business.

Within the first 100 days period, Ganduje succeeded in creating four additional emirates of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, Gaya by increasing the emirate to five including Kano emirate led by Muhammad Sanusi II. The Governor ’s motive for the creation of additional emirate is to bring the traditional institution closer to the common man and improve the traditional heritage of the state.

Another achievement of the Ganduje administration is boosting supply of portable water. Over N300 million has been committed in less than two months of his second-term administration to this important service.

The administration is also targeting N300 million monthly revenue generation from the state water board.

While these appear very commendable, Kanawas are now anxious to see the formation of his cabinets which is yet to be announced. From all indications, some former commissioners who served in his first term will be reappointed because of their good record and contribution to the development of the state.

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FEATURES

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

South Africans and the Burden of Hate

As the dose of hatred dished out to Nigerians in South Africa reached threatening proportions, Chiemelie Ezeobi concludes that the recent strings of xenophobic attacks have become one too many

Some South Africans looting stores belonging to foreigners

T

he Nigerian social media platforms were pretty normal last week with the usual trolling and bickering between opposition parties and even fans of the ongoing Big Brother Nigeria reality Tv show.

That all but lasted until the video of a man being burnt alive with glee by some South Africans with their police watching in amusement, surfaced online.

In the gory video that went viral, the deceased was seen attempting to douse the flames on his body but the angry mob would not let him. Brandishing fat sticks, they hit him at each turn while some threw things at him.

The fire coupled with the brutal beatings saw to his end. He died!

In that moment, all divisive lines became blurred as the warring factions morphed into one, their sole target being the utmost condemnation for the vile act, anger at the incessant xenophobic attacks by South Africans and the initial laxity of the government to find a lasting solution.

Often times, the plight of Nigerians in the Diaspora can be described as downright deplorable and pathetic as shown by countless cases of abuse, xenophobic attacks and odium meted out to the citizenry. In fact, they have resorted to crude means in escaping such hate attacks from their host and even the long hands of the police. From Senegal to Ghana, South Africa, and most of others African nations, the stories are similar; the utter disregard for Nigerians sprinkled with unflinching hate.

For Nigerians living in South Africa, theirs are no different. Their tales drip of pain, suffering and sorrow. Although structured in ethnic communities; Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Nigerians in SA are unified by their common pain despite their differences in culture, language and ideologies.

It is therefore not surprising that xenophobia in South Africa has assumed alarming proportions, occasioned by cruel murders. The attacks didn’t start today, infact, way before the 1994 quoted by many, but it exacerbated in that year. In SA, between 2000 and 2008, at least 67 people were killed in several xenophobic attacks. That of May 2008 accounted for 62 people from the 67 figure. The attack was targeted at Nigerians.

In 2015, another xenophobic attack occurred

Some of the burnt cars and this one was exacerbated by the pronouncements of Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, who lamented that foreigners were making life difficult for South Africans.

Unfounded Grouse There are three unfounded reasons backing the grouse of the average South African against Nigerians; claims of prostitution and drug cartels, their flashy lifestyles and allegations of taking their jobs.

For each time South Africans attack Nigerians, their major grouse has always been that the latter runs a drug cartel and a prostitution ring. In each attack, they not just torch cars, but they also vandalise houses belonging to Nigerians.

Secondly, another grouse for many unemployed South Africans is that Nigerians keep taking their jobs. It is yet unclear what informed the basis of this allegation because every nation

is known to give premium to its citizens over foreigners. Thirdly, the flashy lifestyle of the average Nigerian in SA has become another sore point. Apparently the flashy lifestyle is what one cannot take away from Nigerians whether home or abroad.

Recent Attack In the past two weeks, some South Africans had taken the law into their hands and carried out xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals including Nigerians. Their source of livelihoods were not left out; at the last count, over 200 shops belonging to foreigners had been looted and vandalised in some parts of SA. According to reports, several shops were looted and burnt down in Pretoria, and this triggered of a chain reaction that stretched to the Gauteng province.

The first salvo was drawn after an alleged drug dealer shot and killed a South African

taxi driver. The South African taxi drivers and locals took the laws into their own hands and instantly retaliated. They attacked foreign nationals and asked them to leave the country, just as they looted and burnt their shops.

Following that attack, it drew wide condemnation, prompting the police to swing into action and arrest the perpetrators. At the last count, the SA police said they have arrested more than 100 people arrested.

In Gauteng, the incident escalated with the shooting of a yet-to-be identified immigrant.

The raging South Africans also looted and burnt their properties. The xenophobic attack soon spread to parts of Johannesburg. In fact, looting, burning of cars and shops occurred in Hillbrow, Tembisa and Turfontein in Johannesburg and Jeppestown, Malvern, Ekurhuleni and Sunnyside in Pretoria. It was bad that the Police Minister, Mr Bheki Cele, described the chaotic scenes in Johannesburg as a “national

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FEATURES emergency.�

After foot dragging, the South African president finally reacted. Yet days after, the attack resurged and this time, claimed two lives.

According to him, the xenophobic violence is a crime against the nation’s prosperity and stability. In condemning the act, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Government will not allow sporadic lawlessness and violence to disrupt the safety and livelihoods of millions of South Africans and the majority of foreign nationals in our country who are law-abiding and have the right to conduct their lives and businesses in peace.�

United Stance Although South Africans have carried out series of xenophobic attacks in the past, this recent one triggered a chain reaction from affected countries. Reprisals were carried out in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

In Nigeria, the South African embassy was temporarily closed following violent reprisals against South African businesses from Shoprite to Pep, MTN among others. The looters had a field day until the police dispersed them and arrested some of the looters.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, protesters smashed the windows of the South African consulate in Lubumbashi and attacked South African-owned stores. Tanzania’s national carrier, on the other hand, suspended its flights from Dar-es-Salaam to Johannesburg.

Also, the presidents of Nigeria, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi boycotted the World Economic Forum (WEF) hosted in Cape Town during the attacks. Nigeria also recalled its high commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala.

Hot FM, a popular radio station in Zambia also stopped playing South African music in protest against the xenophobic attacks.

The Zambian football team also cancelled its football match against South Africa. The Zambian national men’s team Chipolopolo and South African team were scheduled to clash at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, but the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has cancelled the match.

The Zambians also raided South Africanowned shops in Lusaka in retaliation for the xenophobic attacks. Same also happened in Mozambique where South African trucks were barred from crossing the borders to neighbouring countries.

In Zimbabwe, reprisal attacks were carried out too with the Cross Borders Transport Association (ZCBTA) threatening to stop all South African cross-border transport.

High ProďŹ le Enablers One of the reasons why such xenophobic attacks keeps reoccurring is that successive South African authorities have not shown sufficient will or capacity in dealing with the problem, what with some of its high profile personalities openly or subtly endorsing the attacks.

Earlier in 2017, former Deputy Minister of Police in South Africa, Bongani Michael Mkongi, also subtly endorsed the attacks. Today, the video has gone viral with many South Africans drawing their inspiration from it.

In the video he said: “The question arises.

And you must investigate also, what the law of South Africa says. How can a city in South Africa be 80 per cent foreign nationals?

That is dangerous. That means that that in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas, South Africans have surrendered their own city to the foreign nationals. The nation should discuss that particular question. “You won’t find South Africans in other countries dominating your city to 80 per cent. Because if we do not defend that, that necessarily mean that the whole South Africa, could be 80 per cent dominated by the foreign nationals, and the future president of South Africans could be a foreign national. “We are surrendering our land, and it is not xenophobic to say the truth. We fought for this land from the white minority. We cannot surrender it now, to the foreign nationals. That is a matter of principles. We fought for this country not only for us, but for the generations of South Africans. The arms that are being used here in ‘Nibro’ are arms of war, which are unlicensed. “The hijacking of buildings here in Nibro, is a sign of taking over power. The question of dominance of foreign nationals in illegal trading and also businesses that are here in Nibro, is an economic sabotage that is taking

we have TSTV, we have GLO and we have Ebeano. They can't be killing us yet generating huge income off Nigerians. I think it's time we boycott DSTV, MTN and Shoprite. We need to also stop them from attending Synagogue church. We can't be praying and healing them while they're killing us.� @GidiOracle said: “I just called off a contract with a South African based company this morning. Your people can't be killing my people and you want my company in business with you...

South African trip cancelled !!!! #Xenophobia #SAShutdown #XenophobicAttack

South Africans looting a store

South Africans breaking into a store

South Africans beating a foreigner place against our people, that are supposed to be those that are running those particular businesses.�

Also, another of such video surfaced online.

This time around, it was the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, who re-echoed what the average South African thinks about Nigerians. She said there are many Nigerians in the country involved in drug and human trafficking.

She said this last Thursday while responding to criticisms that South Africa’s security agencies are not doing enough to protect foreigners in the wave of xenophobia rocking the country.

In the interview with eNCA, she said: “ South Africans believe many Nigerians are harming our young people. I believe that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices. These kind of assistance of ensuring that such persons do not come to our country will be of great assistance to our nation.�

Calls for a Boycott At the climax of the attacks, Nigerians called for a boycott of South African-owned businesses

in the country, especially in the face of the seeming laxity of the federal government in addressing the issue.

Buttressing their stance, they noted that if they boycott the over 120 SA-owned businesses in Nigeria, it would drive home the point that the country would henceforth no longer tolerate the ill treatment meted out to its citizens.

Chief among the companies they were canvassing for its boycott are MTN, Woolworths, PEP Stores, Mr. Price, DSTV, Stanbic IBTC and Shoprite.

Championing the cause, Twitter favourite and popular philanthropist @Mathewamad said: “I have just asked our accountant to close all our accounts in Stanbic IBTC. What are you still waiting for?� @Vykon said: “I'm sure getting a Glo line today. Once my DSTV expires, no subbing again. Shoprite has never been my thing so I will stick to Next cash and carry.“ @Favvyevy said: “I have spoilt my @DStvNg card and I am not @MTNNG user. I have told all my siblings and family to join me.

Enough is Enough.� @ClassicNedu said: “Fellow Nigerians,

Principle of Retortion Also on the Arise Morning Show monitored

by THISDAY, former Director General, Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa, said one must understand the underlying factors responsible for xenophobia before coming up with solutions.

He said: “My position is that, you cannot come up with any recommendations if we do not understand clearly and in context, what is responsible for xenophobic attacks. “There are failures at various levels; whether at the level of responsibility, or the level of perception of Nigeria. “If the issue is to simply prescribe on the basis of what I am trying to say, the first approach should be the application of the rule of responsibility, especially in terms of retortion. “When Gbenga Ashiru was foreign minister, why did South Africa accept to comply, and give us minimum respect? There was a time that 175 Nigerians were deported from South Africa because of non-possession of yellow cards, when we reciprocated, what happened? “When we talk about reciprocity, I have always explained that there are two sides to it, retortion and reprisal. Retortion yes; but reprisal, not now, reprisal would involve the use of force. “But as it is, especially when I was talking about xenophobia for Nigerians, September 1, 2019, just two days ago, DSTV came up with cut in prices in many countries of Africa, Nigeria was not included. “The argument was pegged on inflation in Nigeria and environmental conditions in Nigeria are different. There is nothing any South African business in Nigeria would consider Nigeria in terms of favour that is conceded to all others. “This same DSTV had problem with the consumer protection council in Nigeria. The matter was referred to court; the court ruled that DSTV should comply, but it didn’t. And nothing has been done at the level of foreign policy. MTN we know what happened. “The point I am making is that, you don’t talk about the principles of good neighbourliness that does not go along with reciprocal treatment.

We have seen the case of Donald Trump issue of visa with Nigeria. That is how international relations is managed and conducted. “Now, let’s go beyond reciprocity which is at the level of the state of Nigeria. At the level of the African Union, it has become necessary to prevail on all other African countries to deport, or send back all South Africans in other African countries. Let them go back to their land. “The reason is this, you cannot be preaching the sermon of regional continental integration on the one hand; Tagbo Mbezki cannot be talking about African renaissance on the one hand, and at the end of the day, the Africans that are coming, and integrate to stay in South Africa on the basis of being African compatriots, you send them away. “And even if you want to send them away, if you do not want them, why should you destroy, why should you kill them. Why must you attack their properties. So this is the issue.�

NANS’ Ultimatum The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in a video that has gone viral, gave a seven-day ultimatum to SA businesses to leave Nigeria. The seven days would soon be over.

NANS President, Danielson Bamidele Akpan, said the ultimatum stands if the government does not urgently handle the extreme conditions against the foreign nationals.

He said: “Nigerian students are not joking about it, and we are giving a seven days ultimatum for this action to be carried out.�

As things stand now, the onus lies on the Nigerian government to wade into the matter decisively, especially with the resurgence of such xenophobic attacks in South Africa that has claimed two lives this week.

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

A T S E T E M B E R

REPO 3.86 3.21

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

4 7.25 9.25

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

408.05% - 0.09% -0.48%

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

6 ,

2 0 1 9

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

1.94% 14.31%

EXCHANGE RATE N306.95/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes NSE Elects New Executives

AGRICULTURE SUMMITAFRICA

L-R: Cluster Procurement Director, West Africa, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thomas Mwanza; Vice President/ Head of Sub-Sahara Africa Region, Arla Global Dairy Products Limited, Steen Hadsbjerg, and General Manager, Gail, Agro Allied Division Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Mr. Olusegun Falade, at the Sterling Bank AgricultureSummitAfrica,heldinAbuja‌recently

TheNigerianSocietyofEngineers,VictoriaIslandBranchhaselected new executives that will run the aairs of the society for the next two years.

They are Mr. John Audu, who was elected as Chairman; Mr. Emeka Ibeh, Vice Chairman; Christian Okwori, General Secretary; Major Danol Adeniyi, Ex OďŹƒcio one; Patrick Nwogu, Financial Secretary, and Babatunde James, Publicity Secretary.

Othersare:AustyneDuru,InternalAuditor;MaryAnneEgbe,Welfare Secretary;AyoolaOlufemi,AssistantTechnicalSecretary;IsraelUtho, Assistant Financial Secretary; Sunday Egbiki; Assistant General Secretary; Oby Obiageli, Treasurer; Aristo Bulus Tauna; Assistant Publicity Secretary as well as Rose Madaki as Ex OďŹƒcio two.

In his acceptance speech at the society’s Annual General Meeting held recently, the new Chairman, Audu, who is the Manager , Gas and Facilities Engineering and Major Capital Project Relations, Chevron Nigeria Limited promised his administration’s readiness to consolidate and build on the gains of the outgoing exco.

He added that it would also proer solutions to some of the fundamental issues confronting the country. According to him, “SustainingwhattheimmediatepastchairmanhasstartedisdiďŹƒcult enough, surpassing her achievements is almost impossible. “But with her assistance as immediate past chairman and that of the new exco, we could make a dierence.â€? Audu listed some of the achievements of the past administration to include registering the branch as consultant with Total Plc, school empowerment programmes, embarking on projects for young engineers tag ‘ job fair ‘ for engineers for employment, among others.

Wema’s ‘ALAT’ Wins Award

Banks’Credit to Economy Rises to N21trn Obinna Chima Banks’ credit to the domestic economy increased slightly by 0.6 per cent to N21.074 trillion at the end of June 2019, compared with the level at the end of the preceding month, data provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed.

The central bank disclosed this in its monthly economic report for July 2019, obtained recently.

The development was attributed to the rise in claims on the federal government.

Also, the report showed that total assets and liabilities of the banks amounted to N39.623 trillion at the end of June 2019, showing a 0.2 per cent increase, compared with the level at the end of the preceding month.

Funds were sourced, mainly, from foreign liabilities, mobilisation of time, savings and foreign currency deposits and reduction in claims on central bank.

The funds were used mainly, to acquire foreign assets, shore

ECONOMY up capital accounts and pay off demand deposits.

According to the report, total specified liquid assets of banks stood at N13.880 trillion at the end of June 2019, representing 59.7 per cent of their total current liabilities. “At that level, the liquidity ratio was 1.5 percentage point below the level at the end of the preceding month, but was 29.7 percentage points above the stipulated minimum liquidity ratio of 30 per cent. “The loans-to-deposit ratio, at 57.64 per cent, was 0.3 percentage point higher, compared with the level at the end of the preceding month and was lower than the maximum ratio of 80 per cent by 22.4 percentage points,� the report stated.

In terms of money market developments, during the review period, major financial market indicators remained relatively stable, “due to efficient

liquidity management strategy of the Bank in both the domestic and foreign exchange markets.�

It stated that the net liquidity position and interest rates in the economy reflected the impact of liquidity injections and the Bank’s liquidity management operations. Also, movements in domestic money market rates were influenced, largely, by the level of liquidity which was triggered, mainly, by inflow through fiscal disbursements, maturing CBN securities and Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) securities, as well as, outflow arising from provisioning and market participants continued access to the Bank’s discount window.

In all, the total value of money market assets outstanding in July 2019, was N12.39 billion, showing an increase of 1.2 per cent, in contrast to the decline of 1.9 per cent in the preceding month.

The development was attributed to the four per cent and 17.2 per cent increase in

the FGN Bonds and Commercial Paper outstanding, respectively. “Money market rates were generally stable and moved in tandem with the level of liquidity in the review period.

Provisional data indicated that movements in banks’ deposit rates were mixed, while lending rates generally trended upwards in July 2019. “With the exception of the 6-month, 12-month and over 12-month deposit rates, which rose to 10.31 per cent, 10.42 per cent and 9.78 per cent, respectively, from its preceding month’s levels of 10.24 per cent, 10.36 per cent and 9.72 per cent, all other rates of various maturities, fell from a range of 3.64 per cent – 9.24 per cent in the preceding month to a range of 3.58 per cent – 9.19 per cent in July 2019. “The weighted average prime and maximum lending rates rose by 0.61 percentage point and Continued on page 24

SON Seeks Return to Seaports The Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, has reiterated the need for the agency to be returned to the seaports.

He said this during a meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo and the Minister of State in the Ministry, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, recently.

Aboloma, while enumerating the organisation’s challenges, stressed the dangers SON’s absence from the seaports were causing the nation. According

MARITIME to him, SON’s presence at the seaports would enable it undertake quality verification and prevent the influx of substandard and life threatening products.

In addition, he said lack of funding for the completion and equipping of the National Metrology Institute in Enugu and improved staff to strengthen the 42 state and six regional offices, were other challenges the agency was facing.

However, he listed SON’s achievements to include a

robust development process for market-driven standards as well as championing the harmonisation of standards within the West African Region and the continent to promote seamless trading across borders.

He listed some other achievements to include near completion of an ultra-modern laboratory complex in Lagos as well as a National Metrology Institute in addition to an existing Engineering Laboratory at Enugu and a Textile and Leather Laboratory located in Kaduna as part of the development of the National Quality Infrastructure.

Aboloma, hailed the ministers on the Mandatory Conformity Assessment program (MANCAP) for certification of locally manufactured products and the offshore Conformity Assessment program (SONCAP) for imported products as part of measures to promote the competitiveness of made in Nigeria and protect the Nation from imported substandard and life-endangering products.

According to him, the recent revalidation of international accreditation of the SON Food Continued on page 24

ALATbyWema,afullydigitalbank,hasemerged‘BestDigitalPlatform in Nigeria 2019,’bestowed on the bank by the International Business Magazine, a global journal that promotes agship talent bearers from across the globe.

Having met the award criteria for the year under review, the banking platformpoweredbyWemaBankwasjudgedthewinnerbyadeciding panel in recognition of its simplicity and refreshing service delivery.

ALAT by Wema is a borderless banking app that oers an easy signup process, exciting saving options and other beneďŹ ts to help customers achieve their personal and ďŹ nancial goals.

Createdin2017,ALAThascontinuedtoattractinternationalrecognition as a unique digital banking platform in the country. The platform is part of Wema Bank’s vision to be the ďŹ nancial institution of choice in service delivery and superior returns.

In March 2019, the bank hosted Hackaholics, its maiden hackathon, after taking proactive steps towards converging traditional and digitalbankingservices.WithatechnologyBootcampcominguplater in September, the bank is establishing strategic partnerships with several ďŹ ntechs to improve ďŹ nancial service delivery and double its proďŹ tbytheyear2020.“WemaBankispoisedtomaintainitsposition as a leading innovative ďŹ nancial service provider and is continually passionate about creating wealth for its customers through the delivery of value-driven and seamless banking services in Nigeria,â€? the statement added.

Lumumba,Others for ICAN Conference

A former Director of Kenya Anti-corruption Commission, Professor Patrick Lumumba, will lead other national and global eggheads to speak at the 49th annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) which opened in Abuja yesterday.

Lumumba, who has been a leading voice on anti- corruption in Africa, is expected to shed light on strengthening institutional framework to support anti-corruption drive in Africa and how African leaders could deploy and implement revised anti-graft frameworks and models without fear or favour. Also, former Executive Chairman of theFederalInlandRevenueService,OmoiguiOkauruandcurrentacting ChairmanoftheEconomicandFinancialCrimesCommission,Ibrahim Magu, are expected to chair session at the week-long conference.

The incumbent FIRS Chairman, Tunde Fowler, is also expected to speak on the legality or otherwise of the tax agency’s substitution or lien on bank accounts of defaulting companies/ taxpayers.

“There is no way you can boost the real sector without lending.

So, this is just to give the banks comfort to be able to grow their loan books and not worry too much about the non-performing loans that happened as a result of that growth�

MD/CEO, GTBank,

Mr. Segun Agbaje

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

BANKS’ CREDIT TO ECONOMY RISES TO N21TRN 0.08 percentage point to 16.82 per cent and 30.94 per cent, respectively, in July 2019. “Consequently, the spread between the average term deposit and the maximum lending rates widened by 0.12 percentage point to 22.24 percentage points at end-July 2019. “Similarly, the spread between the average savings deposit and maximum lending rates widened by 0.11 percentage point to 27.01percentage points at end-July 2019,� it added.

According to the report, the average inter-bank rate, which stood at 8.38 per cent at end-June 2019, rose by 0.79 percentage point to 9.17 per cent at end-July 2019. The Open-buy-back (OBB) rate, which stood at 8.71 per cent in the preceding month, rose by 2.36 percentage points to 11.07 per cent at end-July 2019.

Similarly, the Nigerian interbank offered rate (NIBOR), for the 30-day tenor, fell to 11.93 per cent in the review period, compared with 12.10 per cent at end-June 2019. With headline inflation estimated at 11.13 per cent in July 2019, all deposit rates remained negative in real terms, while lending rates were positive in real terms.

SON SEEKS RETURN TO SEAPORTS Technology Laboratories for biological and chemical testing with increased scope of parameters were aimed at supporting the economic diversification agenda of the federal government and timely for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade agreement.

Furthermore, he stated that the sustained fight against the influx and circulation of substandard and life-endangering products through the setting up of a rapid response squad and prosecution of standards infractions with capacity support from the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation would support the development and growth of MSMEs. He disclosed that SON has streamlined its processes to facilitate Ease of Doing business in compliance with the Presidential Executive Order.

Lagos Seeks More Private Sector Support Hamid Ayodeji The Lagos State Government (LASG) has called for more support from the organised private sector (OPS) to help bridge the infrastructure gap in the state.

The state stressed that it is open for credible partnership that would impact the lives of people and the Lagos business community positively.

The Governor, Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, disclosed this at the inauguration of the renovated Resettlement Community Primary Healthcare Centre and Resettlement Community Junior Secondary School, courtesy of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s(RCCG) Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) projects at the Ajah area of Lagos state.

He said the ceremony was a testament of a credible partnership that works With the private sector. “Today’s commissioning is not about me, not about the church, it is about the children, the community that will use the facilities.

This is also a testament of how partnership can work. “It is about understanding what governance is truly about. Governance is about giving opportunities to help people govern. “I want to reach out to other corporate organisa-

tions, religious bodies to use what the church has done today as a testimony for others to also identify what they can do in their community. “It is not all about what government can do for the people, but what we can do to support government. We are not going to shy away from our responsibilities. “Our main responsibility is to ensure that we provide security of lives and property for every citizen that is staying in our state,� he said.

According to him, “We must also give people the opportunity to do well, create a better future for our children. “We are going to be very big in education and health and that is why when we see opportunities like this, when the private sector is partnering with us, we will not shy away from it. We will make sure that every child that is of school age will be provided the opportunity to attend a school right next to them.�

Earlier, the assistant Pastor-in-Charge, RCCG Region20 and Pastor-inCharge, Lagos Province 46, Kayode Pitan, said the projects worth over N180 million was aimed towards improving the quality of living in the Ajah community.

He said the projects included the rehabilitation of the Resettlement Community Primary Healthcare Centre, stocking the centre with drug supplies, and employment

and remuneration of staff of the centre for one year; as well as the design and construction of 12 standard classroom blocks at the Resettlement Community Junior Secondary School, among others. “The decision to build the school was in response to the lack of any public schools in the area, which made children to travel considerable distances to attend school, exposing them to dangers like road accidents,� he added.

PROMOTING FINANCIAL INCLUSION

L-R: An official of Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Funwa Akinmade; Programme Specialist, EFInA, Mr. Henry Chukwu; Head, Distribution/Engagement, SANEF, Mrs. Uche Uzoebo; officials of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Daramola Atanda and Mr. Shuru Kabiru, during financial services agents forum, held in Abuja‌ recently

Group Urges Buhari, Others to End Poverty, Unemployment Peter Uzoho A group, under the aegis of Nigerian Economic Society (NES), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assemble a team of versatile economists who are vast in policy formulation and implementation to tackle poverty and unemployment ravaging the country.

The NES made the call in Abuja, during a press briefing ahead of its 60th Annual Conference slated for September 16, 2019. They noted that it was high time ministers, judicial officers, National Assembly\

members and other government functionaries came together to find lasting solution to varying degrees of challenge facing the country.

The President of NES, Prof.

Tamunopriye Agioberebo, who was represented at the briefing by a member and lecturer at the University of Abuja, Prof. Sarah Anyanwu, expressed concern of members about the increase in poverty and unemployment rate in Africa.

Agioberebo, explained that the conference with the theme: “Economic Policies and Quality of Life in

Africa�, has been structured in a way that would proffer solutions to numerous challenges facing African countries particularly Nigeria.

He expressed concerns about how quality of life has been a mirage in most African countries, saying, “the burgeoning rate of unemployment, all largely serve to corroborate the argument of an existence of huge and significant disconnect between the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and the quality of life indicators.�

According to him, “The

country’s low life expectancy at birth, which averaged a mere 53 years between 2010 and 2017, low adult literacy rate, which averaged 66.9 per cent between 2010 and 2017, high and disturbingly rising incidence of poverty which averaged about 77.6 per cent between 2010 and 2017, the burgeoning rate of unemployment, all largely serve to corroborate the argument of an existence of huge and significant disconnect between the growth rate of GDP per capita and the quality of life indicators. “Sixty years down the line since the first Annual

Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society, and with the African Development Bank’s renewed interest in rekindling the theoretical and empirical discourse on Quality of Life indicators, coupled with the bank’s renewed interest in the practice of using Quality of Life indicators to evaluate the socio-economic outcomes of developmental policies, programmes and financing as encapsulated in the fifth of the bank’s high five priority areas which is aptly captured as “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa�.

that operated in the northcentral zone had intercepted 600 drums of petroleum products and 16,000 empty drums in Chikanda, 629 bags of rice in Ilorin both in Kwara state. He said 20 vehicles loaded with imported rice were seized in Niger state, while another consignment of rice were seized in Afikpo in Bende local government of Benue state.

Speaking on the alleged breaking into the warehouse of Mount Olive Nigeria Limited, Ojatuntun in Baboko area, Ilorin, the ACG said the task force acted on intelligence report it received before entering the warehouse

adding, “we have the right to break into any premises and we have the power to search and seize anything we found there.�

Dahiru, said the taskforce seized 659 bags of rice, 29 brunch,32 empty bags and sealing machine. “ We are operating professionally, but after the operation at the warehouse, there was a protest where they labelled our men as armed robbers and an allegation that we collected money from them, Customs headquarters is investigating the allegations and if the allegations are not true, they will be prosecuted,� the ACG said.

‘Why FG Closed Nigeria’s Borders’ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Comms/e-Business Editor

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

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

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Finance) ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? åÙÔÓ (Insurance) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ě™(Energy) Reporters

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

The Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG), Aliyu Dahiru, has shed more light on the recent closure of Nigeria border posts by the federal government.

According to him, the initiative was to check insecurity, boost economy by protecting nation’s industries and health of the people.

He, however, vowed not to spare anyone caught in acts of smuggling goods into the country.

Dahiru, who is ACG in charge of Customs Inspection, Investigation and Enforcement, Abuja and head of

special task force on Joint Border Operation Drill(JBOD) for north- central zone of the country disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital while addressing newsmen on the state of the nation recently.

He also said all the goods including the rice seized from Mount Olive Warehouse in Ilorin, by the Special Task Force recently werre presently being investigated at the Customs headquarters.

He explained that the special task force set up to mount surveillance in the six zones of the country was to check proliferation of arms that made the

nation unsecured, check illegal importation of rice and second hand clothes as well as exportation of petroleum products out of the country. “Nigeria has played the role of big brother and this is making the country stagnant and that is why the special task force comprised of men and officers from different security forces including the Army, Airforce, Customs, Immigration and State Security Services is set up to check proliferation of arms, illegal importation of banned goods like rice, second hand clothes and other banned products.�

Dahiru, said the task force

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ​ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

Empowering Salary Earners Polaris Bank Limited has introduced a product that provides a quick finance solution to salary earners, writes Goddy Egene

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Feeling Stuck

Abiru

The economic situation of Nigeria today has made financial planning difficult for many people. Even those who are employed and get salaries at the end of the month, find it hard to meet up with their financial obligations and commitments.

Due to the eroding purchasing power of many, the salaries are not enough to last throughout the month, most times, leaving many stranded half way. Although personal finance success is subject to consistent balance between what is earned and what is spent, most people fail in the aspect due to economic difficulties.

The most disciplined spenders still run into unexpected financial emergencies.

Without time to plan for the expense or enough cash to face an untimely financial challenge, emergency spending can strain one’s finances.

In the face of uncertainty and mounting bills that do not really know calendars, the challenge of securing the needed cash and its attendant stress, is better overcome if there is a reliable source of financial intervention with less hassles.

But in recent times, Nigerian banks have made a strong showing in provision of credit solutions to address emergency spending needs which hitherto has been a playfield of fintechs offering Nigerians, especially those in formal employment access to quick cash to help with unexpected bills that were not envisaged.

They offer these access with attendant sweeteners, which beneficiaries cannot have enough of when required.

In this line, Polaris Bank Limited has introduced the Polaris Salary Advance (SALAD), which provides a quick finance solution.

It is designed to address emergency spending needs such as: household bills; health expenses; repairs & replacements; unexpected travels and moving expense, for example. The essence, it is said, is to help with uneven cash flow by allowing customers get a salary advance to deal with pressing financial obligations.

The Polaris SALAD enables their customers get up to 50 per cent of their monthly salary.

Observers are of the belief that this solution is in line with the lender’s commitment to

creating innovative financial solutions which requires no collateral to take advantage of.

Benefits of Polaris SALAD Polaris SALAD is an easy-to-use customerled product that enables employees to get up to 50 per cent of their net monthly salary to meet basic needs before their next payday.

The product is designed to provide short term financing to customers via convenient and accessible digital channels such as the mobile phone.

What is more interesting is the duration between time of loan request and approval.

According to the bank, it is done in less than a minute, without any physical visit to the bank or paperwork.

Requirements/modalities According to the Bank’s Group Head, Products & Markets Development, Adebimpe Ihekuna, the product is designed to provide leverage for consumers to meet pressing financial needs such as paying their child/ ward school fees, emergencies requiring funding, bill payments, amongst other needs.

Ihekuna, said the loan can be activated in a simple step-by-step process, “All you need do is to dial *833*12# to connect to Polaris USSD Banking, a dialog box appears showing customer’s eligible loan amount and option to input required loan amount; next menu shows the requested loan amount with the pricing, with an option to select ‘1-Accept’ or ‘2-Decline and the customer selects ‘1 –Accept’, and loan amount is immediately disbursed into customer’s salary account.

She said: “Beyond the financial empowerment that Polaris Salary Advance offers to our customers, getting such soft loans improve consumer lifestyle and help them be in charge of their resources, rather than banking on uncertain sources.”

Commenting on the new product, Managing Director/CEO, of Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru said it was in line with the bank’s mission to delight her customers with easy product that enhances their lifestyles.

“We do not want our esteemed customers to get stranded due to paucity of funds in attending to critical needs. That is the spirit that berthed Polaris SALAD,” Abiru said.

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ÖËÞÏÜËÖ ×ÙàÏ ÍËØ ËÖÝÙ ÒÏÖÚ áÒÏØ Ë ×ÙÜÏ ÝÏØÓÙÜ ÚÙÝÓÞÓÙØ ÏàÏØÞßËÖÖã ÙÚÏØÝ ßÚ˛ ËàÓØÑ ÎÓàÏÜÝÏ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÙÜÑËØÓäËÞÓÙØ ÝÒÙßÖÎ ÑÓàÏ ãÙß ˫Ë ÖÏÑ ßÚ ÙØ ãÙßÜ ÐÏÖÖÙá Ï×ÚÖÙãÏÏÝˬ áÒÏØ ÓÞ ÍÙ×ÏÝ ÑÏʵÓØÑ Ë ÚÜÙ×ÙÞÓÙØˬ˛

ÏÏÚ ãÙßÜ ÏãÏ ÙØ ÚÙÝÞÓØÑÝ ÓØÞÏÜØËÖÖã ËØÎ ËÝÕ ÍÙÖÖÏËÑßÏÝ ÓØ ÑÜÙßÚÝ ãÙß ËÜÏ ÓØÞÏÜÏÝÞÏÎ ÓØ ÞÜËØÝÐÏÜÜÓØÑ ÞÙ áÒÏÞÒÏÜ ÞÒÏÜÏ ËÜÏ ÙÚÏØÓØÑÝ ßÚÍÙ×ÓØÑ ÞÒËÞ ×ÓÑÒÞ ØÙÞ ÌÏ ÚÙÝÞÏβ Þ ËÖÝÙ ÚËãÝ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ ÞÒÏ ÞÏ×ÚÏÜËÞßÜÏ ÙÐ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÞËÜÑÏÞ áÙÜÕ ÑÜÙßÚ ̐ ×ËÕÏ ÝßÜÏ ÞÒÏ㘠ÞÙÙ˜ ÎÙ ØÙÞ ÐÏÏÖ ÝÞßÍÕ ÓØ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÔÙÌݲ Back to school

ÕØÙá ×ËØã ÚÏÙÚÖÏ áÒÙ ÒËàÏ ßÝÏÎ ÑÙÓØÑ ÌËÍÕ ÞÙ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ËÝ ËØ ÏÝÍËÚÏ ÜÙßÞÏ˛ ËØã ÌÏÖÓÏàÏ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÏËÝÓÏÝÞ ËØÎ ÌÏÝÞ áËã ÞÙ Ôß×ÚÝÞËÜÞ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÍËÜÏÏÜݲ ßÞ ÞÒËÞ ÓÝØ˪Þ ËÖáËãÝ ÞÒÏ ÍËÝϘ ÝËÓÎ Ö ÞÏáËÜÞ˜ ÐÙßØÎÏÜ ÙÐ ßÝÓØÏÝÝ ÏØÞÙÜÝ ˫ áËÞÍÒÏÎ ×ËØã ÓØÎÓàÓÎßËÖÝ ÏØÜÙÖÖ ÓØ ÍÙßÜÝÏáÙÜÕ ÞÒËÞ áËÝ ÑÙÓØÑ ÞÙ ÎÙ ÖÓʵÖÏ ÐÙÜ ÞÒÏ× ËʰÏÜ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÑÜËÎßËÞÓÙؘˬ ÒÏ ÝËÓβ ÒÏ ×ËÓØ ÚÜÙÌÖÏ×˝ ×ËØã ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÎÙ ØÙÞ ÎÙ ÍÜÓÞÓÍËÖÖã ÜÏÝÏËÜÍÒ ÌÏÐÙÜÏ ÏØÜÙÖÖÓØÑ ÓØ Ë ÚËÜÞÓÍßÖËÜ ×ËÔÙܲ ˫ Ø Ë ×ËÜÕÏÞ áÒÏÜÏ ÞÒÏÜÏ ËÜÏ ÐÏá ÔÙÌݘ ÏàÏØ ËØ ËÎÎÓÞÓÙØËÖ ÎÏÑÜÏÏ ÎÙÏÝØ˪Þ ÒÏÖÚ ÓÐ ÞÒÏ ×ËÜÕÏÞ ÓÝ ÝÞËÑØËØÞ ÙÜ ÝÖÙá˜ˬ ÒÏ ÝËÓβ ÒËÞ˪Ý ØÙÞ ÞÙ ÝËã ÑÙÓØÑ ÌËÍÕ ÞÙ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ ÐÙÜ Ë ÎÏÑÜÏÏ ÚÜÙÑÜË× ÙÜ Ë ÍÏÜÞÓʨÍËÞÏ ÓÝ ØÙÞ Ë ÑÙÙÎ ÓÎÏ˲ ÒÏ ÕÏã ÓÝ ÞÙ ÐÙÍßÝ ÙØ ʨÏÖÎÝ ÞÒËÞ ËÜÏ ˫ÒÙÞˬ ËØÎ ÓØ ØÏÏÎ ÙÐ ÞËÖÏØÞ˛

Ý ÞÒÏ ÑÜËÝÝ ÑÜÏÏØÏÜ ÝÙ×ÏáÒÏÜÏ ÏÖÝÏˣ ØÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ×ÙÝÞ ÎÓÜÏÍÞ áËã ÞÙ ÑÏÞ ãÙßÜ ÍËÜÏÏÜ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ßÚÝáÓØÑ˝ ʨØÎ Ë ÔÙÌ áÓÞÒ ËØÙÞÒÏÜ ÍÙ×ÚËØã˛ Ùß áÙßÖÎ ØÙÞ ÌÏ ËÖÙØÏ˛ ÍÍÙÜÎÓØÑ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ͰͮͯͰ ËØÎÓÎËÞÏ ÏÒËàÓÙÜ ÞßÎã ÐÜÙ× Ï×ÚÖÙã×ÏØÞ ÝÓÞÏ ËÜÏÏÜÌßÓÎÏܲ ÍÙט ͵Ͳϱ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ͯ˜ͮ͵Ͷ áÙÜÕÏÜÝ ÝßÜàÏãÏÎ áÏÜÏ ÏÓÞÒÏÜ ËÍÞÓàÏÖã ÝÏËÜÍÒÓØÑ ÐÙÜ Ë ØÏá ÔÙÌ ÙÜ áÏÜÏ ÙÚÏØ ÞÙ Ë ØÏá ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞã˛ ÏÞ ãÙßÜ ÜÏÝß×Ï ÙÜ ÙßÞ ÞÒÏÜÏ˛ ÏÞ ÚÏÙÚÖÏ ÕØÙá ãÙß ËÜÏ ËàËÓÖËÌÖÏ ÐÙÜ ØÏá ÙÚÚÙÜÞßØÓÞã˛ ËÕÏ ÝßÜÏ ãÙß ËÜÏ ßÚ ÞÙ ÎËÞÏ ËØÎ ÜÏʮÏÍÞ ÞÒÏ ÝÙÜÞÝ ÙÐ ÝÕÓÖÖÝ ãÙß áËØÞ ÞÙ ßÝÏ ÓØ ãÙßÜ ØÏâÞ ÔÙÌ˛ ˫ Þ˪Ý Ó×ÚÙÜÞËØÞ ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ ÙØÞÙ ãÙßÜ ÔÙÌ ßØÞÓÖ ãÙß ÑÏÞ ÞÒÏ ØÏâÞ ÔÙÌ ÝÙ ÞÒËÞ ãÙß ËÜÏ ÚÏÜÍÏÓàÏÎ ËÝ ×ÙÜÏ àËÖßËÌÖÏˬ ÝËÓÎ ËØ ÍÒËáÌÏÖ˜ ËßÞÒÙÜ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ßÚÍÙ×ÓØÑ ÌÙÙÕ ÜÙ×ÙÞÏ ÙßÜÝÏÖÐ˝ ÒÏ Ïá ßÖÏÝ ÐÙÜ ËÜÏÏÜ ßÍÍÏÝݲ Start a Business and Become an Entrepreneur Ùß ×Ëã ËÖÝÙ ÎÏÍÓÎÏ ÞÙ ÞßÜØ ãÙßÜ ÚËÝ̋ ÝÓÙØ ÓØÞÙ Ë ÌßÝÓØÏÝݲ ÜÏËÎ Ë ÛßÙÞËÞÓÙØ ÙØ ÞáÓʵÏÜ Ë ÐÏá ÎËãÝ ËÑÙ˜ áÒÓÍÒ ÝËÓΘ ˫ Ùß áÓÖÖ ØÏàÏÜ ÌÏÍÙ×Ï ÓØÍÜÏÎÓÌÖã áÏËÖÞÒã Ìã áÙÜÕÓØÑ ÐÙÜ ÝÙ×ÏÙØÏ ÏÖÝÏ˛ ØÎ ãÙß áÓÖÖ ØÏàÏÜ ÌÏÍÙ×Ï ÓØÍÜÏÎÓÌÖã áÏËÖÞÒã Ìã ÖÓàÓØÑ Ë ˫ÝËÐÏˬ˜ ˫ÚÙÝÓÞÓàÏ áÙÜÕ̋ÖÓÐÏ ÌËÖËØÍϘ ˫ÞÓ×Ï̋ ÍÖÙÍÕ ÚßØÍÒÓØÑ ÚÜÙÐÏÝÝÓÙØËÖ ÖÓÐÏ˛ˬ Ù˜ ×ËãÌÏ ÞÒËÞ ÐÏÏÖÓØÑ ÙÐ ÌÏÓØÑ ÝÞßÍÕ ÓÝ ÙÎ˪Ý áËã ÙÐ ÞÏÖÖÓØÑ ãÙߘ ÓÞ ÓÝ ÞÓ×Ï ÞÙ ÑÏÞ ÜÓÍÒ˜ ÌÏÍÙ×Ï ËØ ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßÜ ËØÎ ÖÏËàÏ Ë ÖÏÑËÍã ÐÙÜ ÑÏØÏÜËÞÓÙØÝ ßØÌÙÜØ˛ ËØã ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßÜÝ áÒÙ ÒËàÏ ×ËÎÏ ÑÜÏËÞ Ó×ÚËÍÞ ÓØ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÍÒÙÝÏØ ÏØÎÏËàÙßÜÝ ÝÞËÜÞÏÎ Ìã ÐÏÏÖÓØÑ ÝÞßÍÕ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ËÍÞÓàÓÞã ÞÒÏã áÏÜÏ ÏØÑËÑÏÎ ÓØ ÌÏÐÙÜÏ ÝÞÜÓÕÓØÑ ÙßÞ ÞÙ ÝÞËÜÞ ÞÒÏÓÜ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝÏݲ ÒÏÞÒÏÜ ãÙß ÎÏÍÓÎÏ ÞÙ ×ËÕÏ Ë ÖËÞÏÜËÖ ×ÙàϘ ÑÙ ÌËÍÕ ÞÙ ÝÍÒÙÙÖ˜ ÝÏÏÕ Ë ÚÙÝÓÞÓÙØ ÏÖÝÏáÒÏÜϘ ÙÜ ÝÞËÜÞ Ë ÌßÝÓØÏÝݘ ãÙß˪ÖÖ ØÏÏÎ ÞÙ ÞËÕÏ Ë ×ÙÜÏ ÚÜÙËÍÞÓàÏ ËÚÚÜÙËÍÒ ÞÙ ÞÒÙÝÏ ÞÒÓØÑÝ ãÙß ÍËØ ÍÙØÞÜÙÖ ÞÙ ÖÏÝÝÏØ ãÙßÜ ÍÒËØÍÏÝ ÙÐ ÐÏÏÖÓØÑ ÝÞßÍÕ ËÑËÓØ˛ ˾Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012 TeL: 08090158156 (text only)

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Stanbic IBTC Delights Investors with N10.2bn Dividend Having posted a profit of N36 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2019, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has rewarded shareholders with an interim dividend of N10.2 billion, writes Goddy Egene

When investors buy shares of companies, one of the ways to get returns is dividend payment. Some companies pay dividend twice a year, a situation that always boost the liquidity of investors. The challenging operating has affected the dividend paying ability of many companies. However, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has announced an interim dividend of 100 kobo per share for half year ended June 30, 2019 despite a decline in the bank’s bottom-line.

Financial performance The audited results of the bank showed an increase of three per cent to N117.4 billion, from N114.2 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2018.

Net interest income went down from N40.2 billion to N39.3 billion, while non-interest revenue increased by two per cent to N54.9 billion, from N53.8 billion in 2018.

Profit before tax fell by 12 per cent to N44.7 billion, from N50.7 billion, while profit after tax stood at N36.2 billion, down 16 per cent compared with N43.1 billion in the corresponding period of 2018.

The board has declared an interim dividend of 100 kobo in line with its commitment to delivering returns to its shareholders Gross loans & advances improved by five per cent to N479.7 billion, from N458.9 billion, deposit mix improved to 68.9 per cent. In terms of capital and liquidity, the group’s total capital adequacy ratio remained strong at 27.3 per cent, which is significantly higher than the 10 per cent minimum regulatory requirement.

The group maintained its strong liquidity position within approved risk appetite and tolerance limits. Its liquidity ratio closed at 81.4 per cent, above the regulatory minimum requirement of 30 per cent and indicates the group’s sound position to continue meeting its liquidity obligations in a timely manner.

CEO’s explains performance Speaking on the results, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Yinka Sanni, said the group’s business segments were profitable, despite the challenging business and regulatory environment.

He said: “Our financial results in the first half of 2019 reflected similar trends encountered in the first quarter. The operating environment remained muted, regulatory changes coupled with the highly competitive landscape continued to impact overall returns. “Still, our diversified business model continues to set us apart. Our business segments remained profitable and resilient although at a slower pace when compared to prior year.�

Sanni, disclosed that there has been a return to growth in the second quarter,

with Fintech players to position us for early adoption of innovative solutions.

Our liquidity and capital positions remain robust and well above regulatory limits.

Sanni

mainly from the communication and oil and gas sectors.

He further added that the gross nonperforming loan to total loan ratio which was 3.91 per cent, was within acceptable regulatory limits.

Speaking on other areas of the mid-year results in which the Group experienced growth, he noted that assets under custody rose to N7 trillion (representing a 42 per cent growth) while assets under management grew by eight per cent to N3.5 trillion.

Sanni highlighted three areas through which Stanbic IBTC Holdings achieve growth targets as: EZ cash loan/advance, a recently launched instant credit solution; enhanced migration of customers to digital platforms and the launch of RetireWell Individual Retirement Savings Account, a retirement savings account targeted at self-employed individuals. “To further drive credit growth, in the retail space, we launched an instant credit solution named EZ cash loan/advance, which gives access to loans in less than a minute to pre-approved customers. This, among other initiatives, will enable us achieve the targeted loan growth for the year,� he said. “The disciplined execution of our digital strategy has seen customers increasingly adopting and transacting on our digital platforms. The number of transactions performed by customers on our digital channels was up 26 per cent between H1 2019 and H1 2018.

“This translated into a year-on-year growth of 71 per cent in electronic banking fees.

Moreover, we instituted a digital academy targeted at equipping staff with digital skills at various levels while also driving collaboration with Fintech players to position us for early adoption of innovative solutions.� “Following the launch of the micro pension initiative by the government earlier in the year, we deployed the RetireWell Individual Retirement Savings Account. “We have put in place strong agency network in key locations to drive growth in this area and we have made good progress in this regard,� Sanni added.

The CEO noted that the continued strategic drive to reduce cost of funds resulted in a further release of expensive deposits in the second quarter leading to low-cost deposits ratio of 68.9 per cent.

He said loans and advances returned to growth in the second quarter mainly from the communication and oil& gas sectors. “The disciplined execution of our digital strategy has seen customers increasingly adopting and transacting on our digital platforms. The number of transactions performed by customers on our digital channels was up 26 per cent between H1 2019 and H1 2018. “This translated into a year-on-year growth of 71 per cent in electronic banking fees.

Moreover, we instituted a digital academy targeted at equipping staff with digital skills at various levels while also driving collaboration

Analysts’ assessment Looking at the results, analysts at WSTC Research, said the decline of 12 per cent was informed by a lower impairment credit write-back for the period and an increase in operating cost. PAT declined by 16 per cent on the back of a higher effective tax rate.

WSTC noted that higher funding cost depressed net interest income. The bank explained that interest income grew mildly by one per cent from N59.92 billion to N60.78bn in H1 2019, on the back of relatively flat growth in interest on loans and investment.

Although credit and advances increased by seven per cent from N412.13 billion to N470.9 billion in H1 2019, the lower average yield on loans muted growth in interest income.

On the flip side, interest expense rose faster by faster from N19.76 billion to N21.47 billion in H1 2019 despite a 15 per cent decline in customer deposits. Customer deposits decreased from N967.96bn to N822.48 billion due to the liquidation of some ‘expensive’ term and call deposit, which fell by 37 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively,� the analysts said.

They added that nonetheless, the spike in interest on borrowed funds by 77 per cent to N6.93 billion, and the increase in interest on savings and current accounts by 33 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, dampened management effort in the funding cost optimisation strategy. “As a result, cost of fund rose by 150bps to five per cent and net interest margin declined by 30bps to per cent. Non-interest income grew by two from N53.83 billion to N54 billion a two decrease in net fees and commission revenue. Net fee and commission revenue declined from N36.69 billion to N35.97 billion due to the impact of regulatory fee reduction on assets under management. However, the 10 per cent growth recorded in both the trading and other revenue informed the growth in non-interest revenue. On the back of lower net impairment reversal on financial instruments of N557 million in H1 2019 compared with N5.51 billion in H1 2018 amid three per cent rise in operating cost from N48.78 billion to N50.07 billion, PBT print lower at N44.65 billion (H1 2018: N50.73 billion) and PAT settled at N36.25 billion (H1 2018: N43.08 billion)for the period,� WSTC added.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Sanusi: Private Sector-friendly Policies Required to Spur Economic Growth Director/Group Head, Investment Banking at Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Abiodun Sanusi, in this interview advises the federal government to address challenges in the power sector, end its fuel subsidy policy and introduce private sector-friendly policies so as to stimulate economic growth in the country. Obinna Chima provides the excerpts: than capital raising and insurance players would reduce from 59 to 25. If M&A dominates and the number of players reduces to 25, we are going to see more follow on offerings and more initial public offerings in the capital market. With the follow on offerings it can also be a catalyst to what we have seen in the capital market in the past four years. So, the insurance consolidation is going to have a positive impact on the capital market. When there is consolidation, we would have bigger players and investors would be more confident to invest. As we speak, there are lots of pension funds that have not been invested in the insurance sector.

What is your assessment of the performance of the economy in the past nine months?

This is an election year and it is usually a slow year because a lot of focus was on the political landscape rather than the economy.

As you know, in terms of economy it is about cumulative impact. If your first quarter is slow, your second quarter will be slow too.

So, generally the economy has not grown. The population growth of Nigeria is three per cent per annum. Any growth below three per cent means we are decelerating on a per capita income basis. Although, we are growing but we are not growing as fast as our population growth, which is what we have witnessed in the past two years and what it means is that government policies have not fully impacted on the economy. But we are seeing a lot of progress being made now that the government has settled down; the ministers have been approved and assigned portfolio and also the 2020 budget is being prepared. So, we should see an increased growth in 2020. But so far, the economy has been flat. We have not grown up to the potential we are expected to grow.

The banks are also key players in growing the economy. Does this mean they are not effectively playing their part which some have said was responsible for the 60 per cent loan-to-deposit ratio that the CBN introduced?

If you look at the structure of our economy, you need to do a deep root analysis of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture contributes about 23 per cent; oil and gas 10 per cent and telecoms is about eight to 10 per cent.

Unlike what people think in terms of major economic activities, oil and gas is not contributing as much to the GDP. I think some private sector Sanusi policies should be taken, especially in the power sector. The power sector has not lived up to challenging for the banks to lend at single-digit expectations after the privatisation. Also, we rate. However, I also understand the challenges need private sector-friendly policies to stimulate of the CBN as it needs to ensure it maintains economic activities. That is needed grow the forex stability. So it has to be a collective effort economy. Also, fuel subsidy is a drag on the with the government playing their part effectively economy. In other parts of the world, they without interfering in private sector transactions. subsidise production not consumption, thus the We need to diversify our economy which means government needs to tackle issues like this in order both the private sector and government need for there to be adequate distribution of capital to implement policies that would reduce our for them to be able to develop infrastructure. consumption of imported products so that we Security has also been an issue as there have demand less foreign currencies. We also need been reports of kidnapping on key trade routes to focus on boosting our production rate. which have affected production and business Do you think CBN’s directive on 60 per activities of farmers. The banks are mediators so they do the best they can and you need cent loan-to-deposit ratio will push up to also consider that none of the banks have banks’ non-performing loans?

It depends on the stance the banks take. There delivered double digit growth rate. Technically a lot of policies need to be implemented to are two position on this matter. One of them open up the economy. The revival of the telco is, if I am falling short of the loan to deposit industry was immense and we need to see that ratio which most banks are, I would increase in the power sector, oil and gas downstream loans which is, convert my investments in sector and other sectors, then you would see treasury bills and bonds to high risk; which that the banks would support the economy means areas that you considered risky. In that because banks are interested in making profit. instance, there is more possibility that the loan In addition, what is also limiting the banks is the high interest rate we have in Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria is saddled with two things: stabilising the currency and reducing the interest rate. Stabilising the currency requires attracting foreign investments. As we speak, there are about $17 to $20 billion of foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria which is a huge volume of our reserves. We need to keep that large volume of dollars in Nigeria, which requires us offering attractive interest rate to investors on a risk-adjusted basis, which is what the CBN is trying to do. Once you have a high interest rate regime at the risk-free level, it affects the entire economy because the bank buys their credit based on what the risk free rate is. If it is 15 per cent, definitely they would lend to corporates higher than that because of the credit risk premium they need to get for extending credit to the corporate sector. That is why it has been

In terms of insurance consolidation, there are two things, either the insurance companies raise capital through right issues or through an M&A. Our view is that M&A would dominate more than capital raising and insurance players would reduce from 59 to 25

How is Coronation Merchant Bank strategising to take advantage of these investment opportunities that may emanate from this?

Coronation Merchant Bank is an investment bank; one of our key service offering is investment banking, we offer both capital raising services and M&A advisory. We are seeing it as an opportunity to awaken a sector that has been flat over the years. So, we are already positioning to advice a lot of insurance companies on M&A, either through acquisition, merger, or reverse takeover and we have started working with a lot of insurance companies in the industry, to give them our best advisory banking services, so that at the time this consultation happens and the deadline closes in June 2020. A lot of our team members were in the middle of the banking consolidation in 2004, so we are going to bring our experience and knowledge from the banking consolidation ensuring that we deliver our services so that this consolidation becomes a success.

ratio would increase. The other strategy is, if I am happy with my risk asset and I do not want to increase, I would shed my deposit rate which we have started seeing. Banks have started shedding their deposit by reducing the deposit rates they give to institutional investors, the pensions and the likes. However, they cannot control the retail deposit because the citizens need to keep their money in the bank.

But deposits from treasury bills, institutional investors, corporates, the banks can reject such.

So, you can reduce your risk asset which can likely increase your non-performing loan ratio if you loan to sectors or assets that are good.

If you are sceptical of the risk, you can reduce your deposit to reduce your loans and you still maintain your non-performing loan ratio. But the overall impact is that banks want to give out more loans due to this policy. We have also started seeing instances whereby companies that are struggling to pay back their loans banks have started restructuring their loans because the banks want to keep the loans rather than write them off, which is good for the economy.

A lot of manufacturing companies suffered interest rates at 23 per cent before the end of recession that affected a lot of the profitability and capability to payback their loans and default rate increased. With this policy, banks have started to create a restructuring and create a longer-term loan that those businesses deserve.

So, overall there is a huge positive gain in this 60 per cent loan-to-deposit ratio, which means more loans would be given at longer maturity tenor.

Looking at the insurance sector recapitalisation and the performance of the capital market, do you think investors would react to this positively?

In terms of insurance consolidation there are two things, either the insurance companies raise capital through right issues or through an M&A. Our view is that M&A would dominate more

Earlier you talked about the need for the country to consume what it produces.

Considering the CBN’s plan to stop forex for importation and also the talk about the plan to ban forex for food importation, do you think that is the way to go are as country?

There are many ways to achieve many things. So, in my opinion there is no best way to achieve any policy, what matters is the effective implementation of those policies.

For example; looking at the strategy that was done in the cement industry, the strategy was to force import substitution through investment rather than through banning. The government worked with key industry players, offering a lot of palliatives and a lot of support, such as, tax waivers in order to increase investment in that sector. In addition, they give a deadline concerning when we would stop the banning of bag cement importation into Nigeria. With the work the did for Nigeria to become an exporter of cement today, which is an approach that has worked, this approach of the government banning the supply of forex for food importation into Nigeria has to be supported with investment and infrastructure development as well. That is because if not, it can lead to short-term scarcity of food or even worse. I think the combination of providing investment support for the food sector like it was done in the cement industry, would be key in ensuring the sustainable growth of the economy, whilst reducing our food importation and boosting exportation.

Also, I think the focus should be more on gearing policies towards investment such as, creating a productive investment climate, providing a lot of tax waivers, intervention loans on core food production and also giving timeline on the bans of food products. For example, if you are going to ban the importation of tomato or rice.

So, stakeholders need to be given a timeline they would be able to adapt with so that their production capacities would be enhanced and we won’t be faced with scarcity and inflation.

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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Onuoha: Our Target is 65 Million Customers by 2022 The Head, Business Development, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Chinedu Onuoha, in this interview, says the bank aims to grow its customer base to 65 million by targeting the unbanked Nigerians. Nume Ekeghe presents excerpts: What is Access Bank doing in terms of increasing ďŹ nancial inclusion in Nigeria?

What we are trying to do is to ensure that every Nigerian and every adult who can earn a living has access to financial services. More and more, we see statistics showing that a good number of Nigerians don’t still have access to financial services. So, what we do from time to time is to tweak the way it is being done today to induce these Nigerians to financial services and also to bring these services closer to them. Accessibility is a key issue.

Can you speak about Access Bank’s Money Wallet and how it would impact your ďŹ nancial inclusion drive?

The Access money wallet is a different type of account which we designed for customers who for some reasons do not have all that is needed to provide for KYC for other types of bank account. You know there are some accounts you would want to open and they would demand utility bills, address and all of that. But we know the peculiarity of our country Nigeria. Some Nigerians are good citizens who work every day to earn a living, but they don’t live in those houses that have all these documentations such as address and all of these things. So, what we have done with our money wallet is to say, ‘just come, give us your name, phone number, date of birth, and gender, and once you are an adult and a legitimate citizen, we would give you the wallet.’ And the wallet is not a physical wallet, it’s like an account, but most of the transactions on it would be through mobile phone, and also by going to our agent outlet across the country.

So that is what we are trying to do with Access mobile wallet to deepen financial inclusion.

What impact has Access Bank made in reaching the unbanked population?

Onuoha Cumulatively, we have in the market today, about the highest number of customers, roughly around 18 million customers. What we discovered over time is that due to the way the market is operated, and some regulations that have come from time to time, a good number of these customers could not meet some of the requirements to operate a proper account in the way accounts ought to be operated.

Hence, some of them pulled back. Our recent campaign is that we have the solutions to some of those things that made them pull back, and to make them get reactivated. We know that the country is hard; we know that there is recession; we know that people for some reasons took out the little they had in the bank and are using it to survive. We are also saying that, that lifestyle of trying to survive; i.e. paying the mechanics, paying the bricklayers, paying for water etc, you can do all of that through our mobile wallet in a safe and cost-effective manner.

How does one access and operate this money wallet?

So, once you dial *901# today, you would see the normal menu. One of the things you can do is to even check your balance, in case you brought any money into the account before, you can check the balance. Otherwise, you can do simple things like, you want to buy airtime, send money to your brother, transfer money to your sister, or even go to shops and pay for items. There are some shops that have started accepting merchant codes, to also be able to pay. In fact, that is the next wave of what we are going to do, to make sure that every shop, Mallam shops, corner shops, are able to accept payments through these means. But the phase we are now is to ensure that the customers are able to fund in his position, and you can do that funding by going to agents wherever you see them. Today, there are close to 20,000 of them across the country, or wherever you even see a SANEF agent. SANEF agents are over a 100,000. You can go there and present your wallet number, which could be your phone number or your account number. Each of those

wallets also has an account number at the back of it. You will present it and state the amount you want to put into it, and you would have that. You can even go to our branches across the country, and then you would be able to fund your position. And once the money is in your position, and then you can use it to do whatever you want to do. And of course, you are safer, having that money in the wallet than having it in your pocket which could be prone to one chance, or one problem or the other that can make you lose that fund.

What are the limitations to this service and is the wallet in USSD or internet banking?

The wallet is USSD driven, through *901#.

Talking about the limits, you know we said we are dealing with financial inclusion. So these are not the Dangote’s of this world or the people who have so much money. The central bank has noted that these people may not have all these documentations that we require from other customers, so let’s create something like this for them. So, on a typical day, these class of customers can do up to N50,000 in terms of withdrawals. And this their wallet can hold as much as N300,000.

And that covers a large number of Nigerians since our minimum wage is at N30,000.

What we are trying to do is to ensure that every Nigerian and every adult who can earn a living has access to ďŹ nancial services. More and more, we see statistics showing that a good number of Nigerians don’t still have access to ďŹ nancial services

What is your target in the next four years?

We have turned out to be the largest bank in terms of customer base. Cumulatively, we have about 31 million customers. By 2022, we intend that this should give us a minimum of 65 million customers. We also came up with what we called, ‘Awoof Bruekete’. It intends to encourage those that have funds and abandoned it for a long time for whatever reasons, to start transacting on it. If you do transfers, your first sets of transfers, we would be able to reward you back with 20 per cent. And of course, there is a maximum to it. So if you transfer, for instance, N5000, we would give you 20 per cent of your N5,000 back, instantly. And of course, it is not an open-ended amount, because we are also targeting people who are at a certain segment of the society. So you would be able to get that N1,000 back from your transfer. What we are essentially trying to is to incentivise them, and help them create that habit. Sometimes, you pay transport of N200 to the bank just to go and pay somebody N2,000. But we are saying, from where you are, in your home or other comfort zones, you can do that transfer, and that market woman on her way back would pass through your house and drop the vegetables for you. Those kind of things can happen. And it also helps promote efficiency, and enable people to live a better life.

What is the place of agent banking in this?

We realised that not everybody live close to the city. Most banks today, for good economic and financial reasons have centred themselves around cities and satellite towns. Realising that, the central bank opened up the agent framework. Forthwith, we are one of the leading banks in agent network expansion. Today, we have close to 20,000 agents across the country.

And our desire as we do that is that we want to place ourselves as close as possible

to the customers, so that if he needs to do transactions, all he needs to do is to work into wherever he sees ‘Access Closer.’ But in the case, he doesn’t see an ‘Access closer’, if he sees a SANEF, he can go in there and also do those basic transactions. Which includes, deposit, withdrawal etc. We have enabled customers, so once they have points in their positions, they can do other things like transfers, pay electricity bills, DSTV, GOTV and the rest. But in the event that they can’t do it themselves, they can still go back to these agents, and they will assist you to carry out the transactions.

What are you doing to ensure a seamless experience, and solve service disruption challenges?

We cannot run away from the fact that we have infrastructural challenges in this country.

Knowing that as an institution, one of the things we do is that we make a lot of investment in our technology. You would agree with me that, the way transfers are today, generally in Nigeria, we have made some remarkable improvements than it was five years ago. It would continue to get better. On our own front, we make investments by making sure that we have the best equipment, making sure that we partner with the best telcos, making sure that we employ the right people also, so make sure that we are always available and to ensure that we are able to service our customers. But if all of these fail, we have one of the best and largest contact centres in the country today. So the customers can always call in there and get mediation. About two years ago, Access Bank took the bold step, to be the first bank to have what we call ombudsman. What it does is that, in the event that you call, and there is an issue that looks complex, it is resolved for you instantly, while we are at the back trying to sort out what the issue is. So we do all this just so you have some level of confidence within the financial community and for people that use our services.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NSIA Insurance Pays NAICOMTasks Operators onTimely Completion of Recapitalisation Plan N3bn Claims NSIA Insurance has said prompt payment of claims is part of its commitment to its customers, just as it disclosed that between 2017 and 2018, it paid over N3 billion claims to its various customers.

A breakdown of this showed that the company in 2017, paid a total of N2.4 billion claims, while in 2018, it paid N679 million claims.

NSIA’s Insurance Managing Director, Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, who disclosed this, said in 2018, the company paid a total of N224.3 million on General Accident Insurance N257.8 million on Motor Insurance policies and N15.1 million on Engineering Insurance policies while a total of N65.6 million was paid to policy holders for Fire insurance and N46.7 million on Marine policies.

Nwachukwu, said Claims paid on Oil & Gas insurance policies was N69.9 million. “Our commitment to paying genuine Claims promptly is part of the characteristics of NSIA Insurance Limited. Our claims process is seamless and pacifying as the requirements are easy and not far-fetched,�

Nwachukwu said.

She said NSIA Insurance had been equipped technically and financially to handle all classes and volume of insurance risks, with the required capital base for Life and General Insurance business.

According to her, backed by outstanding re-insurers as well as a highly competent and efficient board, NSIA Insurance was poised to meet up with the challenges of the 21st century Nigerian insurance industry.

She said the company’s policy documents are explicit and concise, adding that the company had been equipped with branches nationwide and other unrestrained communication channels, to ensure it is always at clients’ beck and call to provide clarifications and guidance through processes, when there is a need. “This is in keeping with the commitment to render customer service to clients and in line with quality objectives to pay claims within 48 hours following the receipt of the signed discharge voucher.

Stories by Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has urged insurance operators to work towards timely completion of their respective recapitalisation.

The acting Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Sunday Thomas, who stated this at a one-day conference organised for the directors of insurance firms in Lagos, said the commission was impressed by the recapitalisation plans so far submitted by the various firms.

He added that the commission has engaged relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies for possible palliatives that would reduce the cost of recapitalisation.

He said so far, the response the commission got on this has been impressive. “The recapitalisation exercise is on and the reports submitted by the companies on their recapitalisation plans have been good.

I can only encourage sustained efforts for early completion of the plans. “Meanwhile the Commission is engaging other relevant regulatory bodies and agencies of government for possible palliatives that will reduce the cost of recapitalisation and the response is looking good,�

Thomas said.

The one-day conference organised by NAICOM for members of board of directors of insurance companies had the theme: “Corporate Governance: The Panacea for Sustainable Growth and Development of Insurance Business in Nigeria�

The commission, told the directors that their position was key in achieving a high level of corporate governance in the industry.

Thomas, noted that the low level of effectiveness of corporate governance oversights in the insurance sector had remained one of the major concerns of NAICOM.

He explained that the failure of corporate governance in the year’s past had played a prominent role in the death or distress of most corporate organisations the world over, Nigeria inclusive.

According to him, over the years, the Commission, has made attempts at entrenching corporate governance culture in the insurance sector.

He added that the development and issuance of corporate governance code in 2009 and the market conduct guidelines in 2014, were among efforts of the commission in this direction. “Let me state here for emphasis that the primary role of the board either in a private or public entity remains the oversight of management to ensure the corporate goals, vision, mission and values of the entity are strictly upheld at all time. “The board is also expected to ensure the financial soundness

and general well-being of the organisation by monitoring the management, to guarantee effective and efficient deployment of human and capital resources in the overall benefit of all stakeholders,� he said.

He noted that observing the role had been lacking in some companies, which he said had contributed in no small measure to the challenges facing the companies up till today.

He expressed belief that members of the board could effectively perform their roles without necessarily interfering in management functions, adding that the commission desires to work with all stakeholders including members of the board of directors to reverse the trend.

Thomas, also reminded the directors that their companies were in the business of insurance, primarily to settle genuine claims made by policyholders and appealed to them to ensure prompt settlement of claims.

NAIC Advises Farmers to Guard against Flood Risk The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), has advised farmers under its coverage to take heed of the recent ‘Red Flood Alert’ issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NHISA) with respect to some states and prepare against the effects of coming rain.

NAIC’s Managing Director, Mrs. Folashade Joseph, who gave the advice in a statement to the farmers underscored the need for them to be abreast of the impact of the heavy rains, expected to peak between the months of August and October, 2019. She advised all farmers, especially those covered by the corporation to strictly adhere to

best agricultural practices, which the corporation taught them during various farmers’ sensitisation programs it organised.

She recalled that the farmers had been taught how to maintain sound house-keeping on their insured projects, thereby closing gaps of risk occurrence.

Folashade, reminded the farmers that the NAIC was specifically set up to indemnify farmers that insured their farms with the corporation, adding that given the nationwide spread of NAIC branches which are located in the 36 states of the federation including the FCT, it was wise for every investor across the agricultural value chain to take a NAIC cover.

REWARDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY

L-R: Senior Administrative Officer, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Ehujve Godson; Marketing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Funmi Sanni; Star prize winner,Titus Adesola Jegede; Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Olakunle Alake; Regional Sales Director, Lagos/Ogun, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Tunde Mabogunje, and National Sales Director, Adeyemi Fajobi, during the star prize presentation in the ongoing Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies National Consumer Promotion in Isolo, Lagos‌recently

‘Undercapitalised Firms Should Be Converted to Micro-underwriters’ Insurance and Actuarial expert, Dr Pius Apere, has advised the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), to consider converting insurance firms that may not be able to scale through the recapitalisation hurdles to micro insurance underwriters instead of allowing them to die, thereby resulting to job losses.

Apere, who is also the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Achor Actuarial Services Limited, stated this while speaking at the national insurance and pension conference organised by the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents(NAIPCO) in Lagos recently.

He insisted that it would be better to have firms with N2 billion and N3 billion engaged in micro insurance business, which would help increase the number of micro-insurance providers and accelerate the insurance penetration at the grass-roots in the country.

“It will be appropriate to revisit the tiered-minimum capital base approach for micro-insurance by encouraging existing conventional insurance companies that will not be able to recapitalise under the new recapitalisation regime to register as national micro-insurers in order to serve the low-income segments (downscaling), thereby supporting the evolution of more inclusive insurance systems. “This would no doubt increase the number of micro-insurance providers needed significantly which in turn would accelerate the insurance penetration at the grass-roots in the country. “Such un-recapitalised conventional companies would leverage more on their existing IT infrastructure, quality staff and with relatively lower expected strain on resources,� he added.

Apere, disclosed that the micro-insurance guidelines state that, “registered insurance companies shall be granted

national micro-insurer licence upon application�, which is in line with and/or similar to the concept proposed above.

He, however, said allowing the recapitalised conventional insurance companies to enter the micro-insurance market has its implications and consequences, in terms of unethical business practices, undue price competition (e.g. rate cutting) at the detriment of other micro-insurers.

He noted that the success of the micro-insurance market was largely dependent on the regulatory activities, particularly the implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the micro-insurance guidelines being operated by all relevant stakeholders.

According to him, “it is observed that the solvency margin for non-life micro-insurance business (not less than 25 per cent of premium income as stated in micro-insurance guidelines) is definitely more onerous than

the solvency margin for non-life conventional insurance business (not less than 15 per cent of premium income as stated in section 24(2) of Insurance Act 2003). “It is unclear if a different micro-insurance solvency margin would need to apply to a registered General Insurance company which is granted a national micro-insurer licence.

Such ring-fenced arrangement carries additional operational burden. “It is also not clear why the above discrepancy is not applicable to life insurance business.

Risk-based supervision, is more likely that the regulator would develop or propose a different framework for risk-based supervision that will be suitable for the recapitalised conventional insurance companies in the insurance industry next year, reflecting a level playing field in business acquisition and the minimum level of capital based on overall level of risk retained

which may be measured in terms of risk exposure, or by size of premium income or technical provisions/reserves. “When the foregoing is being implemented for the conventional insurance companies, the regulator should also ensure that the principle of proportionality be applied in the supervisory regime for the micro-insurance market.�

On their actuarial valuation, Apere, said the micro-insurance guidelines state that an actuarial valuation should be carried out for life micro-insurance business once in every period of five years by an appointed Actuary.

He, however, noted that section 27(1) of Insurance Act 2003 states that an actuarial valuation for conventional life insurance business should be carried out once in every period of three years. “The choice of inter-valuation period of five years for life micro-insurance portfolio is quite reasonable if the high

cost of actuarial valuation of the conventional life insurance portfolio being charged by the actuary is the overarching consideration. “However, all things being equal, the above decision would require that the regulator needs to scrutinise the micro-insurer’s risk management activities and operations on more regular basis, in order to ensure that solvency is being maintained during the inter-valuation period.�

According to Apere, in practice, an actuarial valuation for the non-life conventional insurance business has been carried out once a year in order to estimate the Liability Adequacy Test (LAT) in line with IFRS requirements.

He, however, said there was no actuarial valuation guideline for the non-life micro-insurance business equivalent provided in the micro-insurance guidelines, adding that the above needs clarification, even if it is obvious, for the purpose of consistency.

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EDUCATION Dan’azumi: N5bn UBEC Matching Grant Will Touch All LGs The Chairman of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Mohammed Dan’azumi, in this interview with Igbawase Ukumba, confirmed that the board has accessed N5 billion matching grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission. He said the funds will have a positive impact on all local government areas, just as he highlighted his achievements so far. Excerpts:

R

is your take on that?

That is an allegation, but for every building, we have a plan of the building and everything. After all, consultants are engaged in all the buildings we do.

They are consultants to the state not only SUBEB. We have a consultant who has been a lecturer in the polytechnic. If you go we show you every plan about every building and you will see what is provided there. I want to tell you that I do go out for supervision myself.

There can never be any storey building without pillars and it stands.

When you say some contractors did substandard job, it is different from a building with no pillar. The unfortunate thing is that this thing happened when I was not here. And we came, we got the report, we directed for every test of all the buildings. Some failed the test, and these are the ones you are talking about now. So by that time, every money meant for the contractors was paid. So you have nothing to do about it than to just take rehabilitation. And that was what we did so that we can maintain the buildings for our children to use.

ecently, Governor Abdullahi Sule at a public function disclosed that the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has accessed N5 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Can you confirm that?

Confirmed; we have received N5 billion as matching grant for the last quarter of 2016. Because in the last administration, we received a matching grant that had been outstanding for 2012 to the third quarter of 2016. So following the directive of the president, as you are all aware, all states with outstanding matching grants, the president directed that monies should be deducted from the Paris Club and matched to the money available at UBEC to the states that do not pay for these monies.

In my state, as directed by the president, we can confirm to you that we are in receipt of that fund. As of now, we are in process because the utilisation has to be in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007. Any moment from now, we will advertise, calling for tenders and we finalise the process and do the award.

How would you react to rumours making the rounds that your office has been on the watch of the EFCC for some time now on allegations of inflating contracts?

Well, I think we can see that as a mere allegation or people trying to smear the administration because the way we do our contracts, we go by the guidelines by UBEC. And if you access any fund, before you access it you must at least do your needs assessment to provide an action plan which will be approved by UBEC. And for you to go by it religiously, you must sign an agreement. So the money for each contract is contained in the action plan.

There is no way you will inflate it or reduce it. So for anyone to come and say we inflated money for contract or short changed somebody, I think it is a blunted lie.

Since I came to this office, anti-graft organisations come here on their routine assignment just as UBEC comes to check our books to see whether we do things in compliance with the guidelines, that’s all. For anybody to say something outside what I am saying, I think that is their own issue. But I think if EFCC is in the state, I don’t know. I have not seen anyone.

Have you embarked on transformation of schools since your assumption of office? If yes, what are the cost implications?

Before this administration, the last administration intervened may be two times by matching the available force and then accessed so that we take on infrastructures in our various schools.

The first was in 2011. We couldn’t access founds in 2010, but the then governor came and released some grants that we were able to match. And the second was in 2012, as I said earlier. Put together, we have close to about N11 billion.

And I think a number of new classroom constructions, including storey buildings; for the first time we are having storey buildings in primary schools in our state. We have four-classroom blocks, three-classroom blocks, two-classroom

Dan’azumi

blocks with offices. Also there were renovations of all structures that were highly dilapidated. Boreholes were also constructed and toilets. These are across the state totalling over 500 or there about. I know the people of Nasarawa State really appreciated the ex-governor for what he has done to this state and these things are evenly distributed.

There was no kind of discrimination in the spread of the projects. If you go to every nooks and crannies, you will see new buildings courtesy the past administration.

I think the present administration is in line with what the then governor did and I think it is going to be continuity.

Even this intervention that we have just received N5 billion, it is going to be in every local government area. There is going to be new constructions, renovations, toilet provisions and boreholes under this intervention that we are going to embark on very soon. So there are a lot of transformations. It is just like innovation that has come to the state.

It is in the public domain that Nasarawa SUBEB trained 1,000 teachers with N45 million in one week. Therefore, is it true that the training took place and such amount of money was expended on the training?

This training is not sponsored by the state, it is sponsored by UBEC. It is

something that is done annually. We were only given the money, but before the money is released to you, you must have an action plan because you make those things according to standard; World Bank standard. They don’t just release money to you. You must prepare an action plan; the number of people to attend the training; how the training will be conducted; feeding throughout the training, who are the vendors. You are going to spell out everything and give them for approval. And then during the training, they come down to supervise for themselves and then report back.

So any state that defaults what is there in the action plan stands to lose those for training. So I think since the state has been benefiting from this year in year out, I don’t think the state defaulted in that respect. There are different types of trainings based on teacher development training; it is not a single training. It is across the state; every local government area you go, you will see teachers having different types of training. Well, you cannot just say one week, the training is more than one week.

Talking about standard, there were reports that the storey building built for schools across the state were substandard as they were built without contract specifications. What

Governor Abdullahi has repeatedly announced his intention to withdraw the Almajiris from the streets of the state. What role would SUBEB play to actualise the governor’s plan considering the availability of a bilingual programme in the state which could serve as an important avenue for that purpose?

Even before the coming of bilingual programme, there has been this Almajiri programme in UBEC vis-Ă -vis SUBEB with particular reference to northern Nigeria. With this, schools were built such that Almajiris will be taken off the streets. Here in Nasarawa State, a clear example is that of Rinze where the Command Secondary School is now.

When that school was built, I think I was not here then, but the then chairman made a clear statement in taking statistics of Almajiris within those areas; the Akwanga areas and they were transferred to that school.

Unfortunately and for reasons best known to mallams (instructors) after the children were taken to those schools; they were being fed so that they can be receiving their Koranic education in line with the western education. But along the line, the children just disappeared one by one, the place was left empty.

And the unfortunate thing is that most of these children are not children from Nasarawa State, so control over them sometimes used to be very difficult.

I used to have meetings with them.

Sometimes if I go out to observe my prayers, I sit down with them, discuss with them. You will see that the children want to enrol in our conventional schools, but it appears the instructors would not allow them because they are used as source of revenue which is very pathetic.

But I am happy the government is taking very serious measures to see that these children are taken off the streets.

At least plans are in the pipeline here in Nasarawa, I think it is right from the federal government; we are in discussion even though things are not concluded, but serious measures are been taken in addition to what the bilingual programme would be doing for the nation to see that these children are no longer on our streets.

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EDUCATION

Lagos Tasks Schools on UniďŹ ed Academic Calendar

Group Seeks more Support for 2.2m Displaced School-age Children in North-east

The Lagos State government has reiterated the need for public and private schools in the state to keep date with the unified school calendar, as schools resume on September 9.

While welcoming pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff back to school for the 2019/2020 academic session, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo said the adoption of a uniform academic calendar will enable proper planning and ensure that students attend school for the number of days required in the term.

She commended the concerted efforts of teachers (teaching and non-teaching) towards preparing pupils for a successful academic session and promised that the state government will not relent in its commitment towards capacity building/training,

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

staff welfare and reward for excellence.

While speaking on the need for schools to adhere to the resumption date, Adefisayo advised students in the state to “devote more time to your studies, shun all vices, including internet fraud, thuggery, hooliganism, rape, examination malpractice, alcoholism, drug abuse and cultism.�

She said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in line with themes and focus on education will continue to do everything possible to improve teaching and learning in all public schools.

The commissioner expressed her dis-satisfaction with private schools that resume a week before or after the unified date and warned that any school found in the breach of the rules will be sanctioned accordingly.

A non-governmental organisation, Save the Children has stated that there are 2.2 million school-age children and teachers in the north-east in need of emergency educational support.

The Save the Children Ambassador, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, who disclosed this while briefing journalists recently in Abuja, also called on everyone to join the fight to create a conducive and safe environment for children to

learn.

She revealed that over 800 schools in Borno State are non-functional mainly due to inaccessibility as a result of insecurity, adding that basic education in the region is under attack and this is the time to change that. “The Humanitarian Needs Overview estimates that 2.2 million school age children and teachers in north-eastern Nigeria need immediate education in emergency support. These children’s education cannot wait. “This morning, I was able

to observe and learn about childhoods that come to an early end, significantly because of ill-health, malnutrition, exclusion from education, child marriage, early pregnancy and violent death. Around Nigeria, there are millions of ‘young DJ Cuppys’ who do not know their own strength and their ability to change the world because of where they are born.�

Otedola, who shared her experience after her trip to the stabilisation centre operated by the Save the Children in Maiduguri, stressed the need

to create conducive environment for children to learn, be protected and grow up healthy.

This she said could be a reality when proper polices and strategies are in place, adequately funded with government and development partners better coordinated and collaborated to accelerate positive changes for children.

She stressed that the future should be better, bright, for the children in the north-east and across the country. “We can act to make a difference today.�

Nation Building: UNIPORT Honours Amaechi The management, staff and students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have commended the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for his contributions to nation building.

The institution also thanked the minister for his donations and the impact made during his tenure as governor of the state.

Speaking at the 2019 UNIPORT International Conference on Language and Literature with the theme, ‘Language, Literature and Governance: The African Experience’, held at the school premises, the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi described Amaechi’s contributions to the school as remarkable.

Welcoming the minister to the university, Fawehinmi said as governor, Amaechi made contributions that improved the overall wellbeing of the university, adding, “for us this is another home coming because we know the formidable role you played as a student and as a Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and then later as the Governor of Rivers State. “Your name must be mentioned towards the development of this university. We are happy to have you as our guest and a formidable alumnus, one of the major benefactors of the university. The university community is indeed elated to have you in our midst.

We are proud that you have a deep sense of commitment to the University of Port Harcourt.�

The VC added: “It’s common knowledge that you have made so many donations to UNIPORT and we are still tapping from your milk of kindness. We are aware that the English House, the faculty build-

ing and many others were donated by you,� he said.

Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Femi Shaka described Amaechi as their own and commended him for his outstanding performance in the position he occupies.

According to Shaka, “we know that Amaechi is one of the key personalities of the present government.

Amaechi represents not just the English Department, he represents the whole of the South-south. Amaechi is doing his best in the rail sector and I have no doubt he will perform better than he did in the last political dispensation.�

Responding, Amaechi said: “I am glad to associate with my alma mater and I will be glad to associate with the English Department. What makes a university is the quality of academic staff and I believe that you should source for them.�

Amaechi, who also acknowledged the role played by lecturers in human capital development, advised students to always pay back to their teachers in good coin. “If any of you (lecturers) are in need of anything please call my attention.

That is one way I can pay back to the school. For me, that is more important than anything. I am required by society to respond to the needs of my people.

You don’t need to be a governor or minister to assist the university or lecturers; you can make your own contribution in your own way. Please when you graduate, call your lecturers and assist where necessary. “The first and most important thing we should do is the assessment of our former lecturers, we must care for their medical conditions,� Amaechi added.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi (right) being decorated by the acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, during the institution’s International Conference on Language and Literature‌ recently

Orange Academy’s Immersion Ceremony to Address Impact of Fake News Africa’s first practical school of integrated brand experience and idea management, Orange Academy, with a focus on shaping local minds that will build global brands, is set to hold the 2019 Art of Positive Thinking Exhibitions and Annual Immersion Ceremony with the theme ‘Footprints’.

The ceremony will afford Orange Academy the opportunity to showcase some of the students’ creative works done for social causes. Recent graduates of the academy’s class of 19th, 20th and 21st session of its coveted programme, the School of Integrated Brand Experience, will be inducted having fulfilled all that is required to be a graduate and thereafter be referred to as

an ‘Orange mind’.

The immersion ceremony is an annual rite of passage for every graduating brand experience specialist and an induction into the Art of Positive Thinking (APT) through the exhibitions of creative works from students that will conscientise the public on topical societal issues.

The 2019 APT immersion will attract stakeholders, opinion shapers and decision-makers in Nigeria’s marketing industry on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. At the event, graduates are expected to exhibit some of their creative works focused on ‘fake news’ as a part of this year’s APT initiative.

With over 5,000 alumni scattered within and beyond Nigeria,

Orange Academy in technical partnership with CoolBrands House of the Netherlands, has for over a decade been at the forefront of discovering, nurturing and positioning bright minds for Nigeria’s commercial arts industry.

Events at this year’s immersion are expected to kick off at 5pm with an open exhibition which will be followed up with a series of outlined activities.

The spokesperson for Orange Academy, Femi Odukoya in his reaction stated that “our annual immersion ceremony is in recognition and celebration of our students after experiencing the IBX curriculum which is to enable them to find a voice of their own. It is in the same vein

that we also choose to reckon with messages and communication that have left an indelible mark in the annals of our history.

This year’s APT is to further emphasise the adverse effect of promoting news or information that is not verifiable or credible in our polity.�

He said interested participants can visit www.cluborangeng.com for enquiries on the immersion, participation and exhibition at the event.

Africa’s 1st Practical School of Integrated Brand Experience Orange Academy is a pioneering practical school in Africa to put emphasis on creating memorable brand experiences through unique storytelling that reaches humankind.

1,320 Schools in Bauchi to Get World Bank Grant Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi About 1,320 schools in five local government areas of Bauchi State are to benefit from the 2019 schools’ improvement project grant, a World Bank project.

Speaking shortly after presenting a cheque of N500,000 to each of the benefiting schools, Governor Bala Mohammed pledged to improve the funding of education as part of efforts to tackle the menace of out of school children in the state.

He said his administration is already bent on improving the standards in primary and secondary schools in line with the planned education reforms, through the provision of additional infrastructure, rehabilitation, training and retraining of teachers.

According to him, the present administration is redirecting the education sector to achieve the desired focus in order to harness the potential of children in public schools, and pledged

his readiness towards providing equal education opportunity to all citizens of the state.

The governor urged the benefiting schools to use the disbursed funds to improve their infrastructures to ensure a better teaching and learning activities, as well as to enhance the learning process of the pupils.

He appealed to relevant stakeholders to assist in supporting youths to apply their creativity and create innovations

that will enable the state to compete favourably as no society will develop without sound education.

On his part, the State Coordinator of the project, Muhammad Datti Umar, who listed the benefiting local government areas as Zaki, Shira, Ganjuwa, Katagum Darazo and Toro, said the project was designed to finance minor issues in schools in the areas of renovation, rehabilitation of twin desk and repairs of water points.

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World Literacy Day: NGO Dresses 500 Children for School Resumption Ayodeji Ake As part of plans to commemorate the 2019 World Literacy Day, JAKIN NGO has kitted over 500 primary and secondary school students for the new academic session which commenced on Monday.

Speaking during its 10th annual ‘Dress a Child for School Project’ in Lagos recently, the President, Mrs. Bukola Adebiyi said the idea behind the project was to ensure that vulnerable children are not disadvantaged when they resume for the new academic session, as this will not only relief parents of extra expenses, but will aid in eradicating illiteracy in Nigeria. “Over 500 children, including 255 males and 245 females across nine local government areas in Lagos State are beneficiaries of the project. 234 are in

primary schools, while 266 are in secondary schools. “This is a programme we started in 2010 because we spotted the inability of poor parents to kit their wards for school and this was also telling on the education of the children. We started with 200 orphans and vulnerable children across government primary and secondary schools in Lagos. With the help of our dependable and committed partners, this number has grown yearly from the initial 200 to 3,750 orphans and vulnerable children with this 10th edition.�

Adebiyi added: “Partners like Falcon, the Gamesville Foundation, Blue Gate, Maryland Mall, Mariteam, School kits, First Bank Insurance, Robert Johnson Holdings, and IJI, have been of immense support to this project; and together, we are making the dreams of our

children come true.�

She said the school kits include two uniforms, a school bag, one pair of sandals, two pairs of socks, a dozen of exercise books, a mathematical set for secondary school students only, and branded pencils.

In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo described the move as a welcome development as it is in line with the state government’s drive to boost the education sector. “Lagos State is bringing in initiatives in the education sector that will discourage parents from admitting their children into private schools,� she said, adding that it is important that children are trained to enable them speak both English and indigenous languages. “We are doing well in the area of education. We want our people to believe

in us such that they will know we are extremely competitive; hence there will be no need for parents to take their children to private schools. We need the communities to work with us as well. People like us went to public schools and we did well enough which is what we are trying to recreate.�

A parent, Mrs. Bunmi Jegbati, whose children have been benefiting from the initiative since the past three years, commended the NGO for assisting parents to ensure that children are educated. “The NGO is trying; annually they give out school items to children especially in September when children are set to go back to school.

Many of us find it difficult to pull funds together to kit our children. But this assistance has made things easier,� she said.

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL’S NULL CURRICULUM? ĂœĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ÞãÚÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂžĂ™ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ě‹Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă?Ë› Ó×ÚÖã ĂšĂ&#x;ĂžËœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ˪Ă? Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă— Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÞËĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ë› Ă˜ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă— Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ˪Ă? Ùà Ă?ĂœĂž Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă—Ë› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă— Ă“Ă? ÙʰĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?ĘŽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞËĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? ÞÙ ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă™Ă? ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ù×ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžË› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂŒĂ? ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ù×ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ě™Ă?Ěš ĂĄĂ‹Ă?˚åĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽË› Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽËœ ÞËĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ˪Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă— ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ù×ÓʾĂ?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă? Ù×ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ËŞ Ă‹Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă?ÓÞã˛ ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ù×ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂŒĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ‹Ě‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ̙ËÖĂ?Ă™ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ù̋Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂœĚš Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă—Ă“ĂœĂœĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă—Ë› Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? ĂœĂ?ĘŽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ÞÖã Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă?Þã ÞÙÎËã˛ Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă— Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÞãÚĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? à ÓÙÖĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă“Ă™Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙÎËã˛ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ËÒÙÙ̋ãËÒÙÙ ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă˘Ě‹ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă?Ăœ ĂŽĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Þ˛ Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ëž Ă‹ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽ ĂœĂ™ĂŒĂŒĂ?ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă? Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖĂ? Ă‘Ă™ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• ÞÒÓĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă˘ĂžËœ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ĘŽĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ˪Ă? Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă–Ă–Ě‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă—Ë› Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?âĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ù×Ă? ÞÙÑĂ?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă— ÞÙ ĂŽĂœĂ‹ĂĄ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓÞã ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ùà Ă?ĂœĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĘľĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă&#x;Ă— ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă—Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂ Ă? ĂŽĂ?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ù̋Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă’Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ë? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“ĂšĚ‹ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëž ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÓ×Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă?Ëž ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË›

Mrs Kehinde Omoru writes from the UK

Centre4Tech, Total Coop Partner on Young Inventors Camp L-R: General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa; the Senior Manager, Youth and Teens Segment, Omotayo George; the Chief Marketing OďŹƒcer, Rahul De and the Chief Operating OďŹƒcer, MTN Nigeria, Mazen Mroue during MTN ‘Mpulse Planet’ where over 5,000 children were given a glimpse of the future, in Lagos‌ recently

Maths Contains Life’s Secrets, Says Cowellpedia Contestant “Mathematics is very important to man because it is the foundation and secret of the development of man and society.�

This was the submission of Master David Olaiya, a contestant in the on-going season five of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored

by Cowbell Milk, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

Olaiya, who is representing Loyola Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, explained to journalists in Lagos that mathematics helps one to think analytically about the world around him and have better reasoning abilities. “Analytical and reasoning skills are important because they help us solve problems and look for solutions. It contains the secrets of life and living which is very

important in everyday life as it helps us to do the calculations easily and correctly,� he said.

In the senior category preliminary Group E contest, Olaiya alongside Miss Favour Williams of Loyola College, Abuja proceeded to the semi-final stage.

They defeated Babakura Zanna of Elkanemi College, Maiduguri, Borno State; Paul Iginla from Divine Covenant Academy, Igbogene- Yenegoa, Bayelsa State; Goodness Olarewaju of the Incubators Secondary School, Kaduna State and Rilwan Najib of the Caliphate International School, Sokoto State.

The junior category battle was also exciting as Michael Enechizma of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State and Yakubu Yunusa of Nigerian Tulip International College, Yobe State emerged victorious.

Those who did not make it to the semi-final were Daniel Edeki from Gloryland Secondary School, Igarra, Edo State; Kaeto Ozioko of Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje-Awka, Anambra State; and Musa Saadu of International Secondary School, Atbu, Bauchi State.

Enechizma, who scored 125 points after the two rounds, prayed for more grace and speed in the battle ahead so as to realise his ambition of emerging as the 2019 champion.

The quiz show, which will run for 13 weeks, is divided into nine preliminary stages and three semi-finals before the grand finale in November 2019. The organisers also promised that this year ’s edition would be more educative and fun-filled as Cowbellpedia is committed to “nurturing great

inventors.�

Aside the N2 million grand prize, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson disclosed that the winner in each category (junior and senior) will enjoy an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country at the end of the initiative.

In addition, the first and second runners-up in each category will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500,000. Those of the first and second runnersup will receive N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.

The TV quiz will continue this weekend and will be aired on DSTV Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.

Oluchi Chibuzor The Centre4Tech, in collaboration with Total E&P Multipurpose Cooperative Society, has organised a young inventors’ summer camp, aimed at stimulating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to encourage children to take up science-based subjects.

Speaking at the Young Inventors Tech Expo 2019 in Lagos recently, the President, Total E&P Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mr. Olawale Olasoji said it is important to acquire technological skills at an early age.

He disclosed that the camp was structured as a tech expo where designs and inventions would be on display for students to have a chance to tell the world what their inventions do, the challenges they encountered and a brief run-through on how they work.

He said the society focuses a lot of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives on education that have good impact on the sector, adding that the cooperative has collaborated with similar organisations such as the REEL Foundation and P413 Foundation, among others.

“Through these effects, we have set the ball rolling for a series of initiatives that would take our education system to the next level, and we are blessed that one of such initiatives is the young inventors summer camp. “The training, which involves mobile games design and coding, electronics circuits design and coding, mobile apps design and coding, web design and coding, 3D animation, TV and media production, drone programming, renewable energy and tech discovery, had students from ages five to 17 exposed to technology courses coordinated by skilled professionals,� he said.

The summer camp, which also took place in some locations like Abuja and Port Harcourt, had on display inventions like mobile games, obstacles avoidance robots, electronic rain alarms, clap activated electronics, floor sweeping robots, among others.

Meanwhile, representatives of Centre4tech commended the cooperative society for keying into the mantra of coops4development being a clarion call to all cooperatives about their ever-increasing role in the development of their society.

35

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Babcock Celebrates Founders Day, as VC Bemoans Govt’s Stringent Policy Funmi Ogundare The Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Professor Ademola Tayo has stressed the need for the government to relax its stringent policy on the number of programmes universities must offer, as it tends to stifle creativity and autonomy.

Tayo, who made this known recently while briefing journalists on plans by the university to hold its 60th founders day and two decades as an institution, expressed concern about the corruption in the system, adding that the Nigerian economy also tends to stifle creativity. “In spite of global economic recession and dwindling faith in the efficacy of the Nigerian education system, Babcock University remains committed to raising and sustaining the bar of academic excellence and leadership training.�

The VC, who reacted to the clamour by private universi-

ties in the country to access TETFund, said he believes that if the fund will be given to promote research, innovation and capacity building to allow people to go for their doctoral programme, such move will be welcomed by his institution.

He said he is optimistic that providing cutting-edge education and skills to empower its graduates remain top burner issues as it celebrates its landmark anniversary. “Babcock’s novel educational strategy of integration of faith and learning gives our graduates an extra advantage in the global market and meets the growing demand on employee deliverables and productivity.

We also fulfil our responsibility to human capital development by aspiring to making the world a better place than we found when the institution was established,� he stressed.

Tayo, who spoke against the backdrop of the institution charging high tuition and being

non-profit making, affirmed that its fees are consolidated in terms of students’ accommodation, feeding and insuring their health, adding that when compared to what students spend in public institutions in the country, Babcock’s fee is cheaper.

Asked why private universities seem to be a dumping ground for retired professors, the VC said, “Babcock is not, but we believe that some professors are still agile because you

cannot buy experience in the market. Before we engage any professor, we must be sure that he is in good state of health not a liability but someone that can add value to the system. “We believe that its takes time to groom professors and if you are retiring professors at the time when they are still alive and still have wealth of experience and they can impact on the younger generation, then it will not be nice. “If we discover at the point of

entry that the professor will be a liability rather than an asset, then we would rather not go for those kinds of professors. I can say that some professors are still very much intellectually alert, so rather than throw away the baby with the bath water, we find out through objective medical test of those we engage here. “ On the activities lined up to mark the anniversary, he said it will kick-off with a church service on September 14,

medical outreach within Ilishan Community on September 15, an anniversary lecture with the theme ‘Journey of Grace’ to be delivered by its former ViceChancellor, Professor Kayode Makinde on September 16.

The VC said the programme will feature long service awards for staff and corporate bodies, alumni interaction, football match, as well as a high Sabbath, which will mark the climax of the anniversary on September 21.

Ezekwesili, Others Bag Weizsäcker Fellowship in Germany Former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has been awarded a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin from September 2019 to February 2020.

Other recipients are an international mediator from South Africa, Brian Currin; former Irish Ambassador, David Donoghue; and former Mayor of the City of Wroclaw, Rafał Dutkiewicz.

Among others are a Professor of Science and Engineering at the Harvard Kennedy School, Sheila Jasanoff; Furosemide Manji; and Natalie Nougayrède.

Since its foundation in 2014, more than 65 decision-makers and experts from around the world have spent a residency at the academy.

While announcing Ezekwesili’s award, the academy said: “She will design a pathway for Nigeria out of its stagnant politics� after the programme.

Ezekwesili, an economic policy expert and Senior Adviser at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, is a co-founder of the global anti-corruption group, Transparency International, and formerly a Vice-President of World Bank’s Africa Programme. She was a former Minister of Solid Minerals and later of Education in Nigeria.

The academy, in a statement, said the fellowship was offered to her and others for being “decision-makers, opinion leaders and experts who are solution-oriented on global affairs.�

It also read: “The Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship was established in honour of the former President of Germany. “The fellowship offers a residency of several months in Berlin to outstanding personalities from around the world.

Residencies at the Robert Bosch Academy provide fellows with

the intellectual and physical space to pursue individual research and outreach activities on topics beyond their normal professional commitments. “During her fellowship, Ezekwesili, a technocrat, who recently ventured into politics and ran for the office of President of Nigeria in the 2019 election, will investigate the nexus between politics and the unsatisfying results of economic management and nation-building process of Nigeria and more broadly, Africa.�

The statement added: “Drawing immensely from her experiences in the 2019 election and her years as an economic reform expert, she plans to propose as well as execute a rescue plan to structurally change politics and political outcomes in her country, Nigeria and Africa widely. “Combining analytics, work study group, case studies, experimentations and experiential activities during her fellowship, Ezekwesili will interrogate political incentives, political institutions and the standard of political actors necessary to raise the quality of governance in her country, Nigeria and Africa broadly.�

The statement added: “Ezekwesili is convinced that setting Africa’s politics and political landscape right is fundamental to instituting a strong pattern of good governance that will help convert her country and the continent’s huge endowment of natural and human resources into lasting assets for equitable economic growth and development. “The presidential candidate in the 2019 election considers her mission of fixing Nigeria’s and Africa’s politics a creditable pathway for attaining good governance, inclusive and shared economic prosperity, harmony and political stability.�

L-R: The Head, Lubricants Marketing, OVH Energy, Tokunbo Olukunle; Chairman, National Automobile Technician Association (NATA), Jacob Fayehun; Chairman, Motormechs and Technician Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Morufdeen Arowolo; and Chairman, Automedics, Mr. Gbola Oba, at the Oleum Academy alumni reunion in Lagos‌ recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Cambridge College Ikeja to Boost Education with Overseas Programme Mary Nnah To create a platform for young Nigerians to study and play professional football in the United Kingdom, a unique collaboration has been launched between Cambridge College Ikeja and Brooke House College in England. The programme comprises four-week preparatory course in Lagos after which the students will progress to Brooke House College Football Academy in England to complete three terms between October and June of the academic year.

Based in the outskirts of Market Harborough, the facilities at the academy include 3G and 4G artificial full-sized training pitches, grass pitches and changing and relaxation areas. The students are tutored by certified coaches and playing sessions are

attended by scouts from various professional football clubs across England for trials to join their teams.

Speaking on the rationale behind the move, the Proprietor of Cambridge College, Ikeja, Wale Odunlami stated that “we recognise that a lot of our youngsters want to study and hope to have careers in football, so we decided to launch the programme in Lagos to enhance academic and technical training that provides them with such opportunity. This way, the children will have all-round development physically and mentally.�

To keep the students engaged at all times, there are competitive fixtures in the local league and cup competitions. The academy also plays friendly matches with youngsters from Newcastle

United, Manchester City, Hull City, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Reading FC and Stoke FC. The performance and playing statistics of participants is managed through a professional data system to evaluate each player’s performance and can be accessed by the parents and students. The academy also boasts of competent sports therapists who work closely with it to ensure that the students are protected from injuries that can deter their career. “It is important that we create a luminous future for our children and overtime, students have not been encouraged to study and play football at the same time because people believe one might affect the other. However, this programme will ensure that they can learn

from both disciplines and have a positive impact on themselves and the society.�

With upgraded facilities at their location in Ikeja, catering for modern learning and a conducive environment, Cambridge College is set to pave the way to an exciting career as they also offer secondary education and prepare students for A’Level examinations. The school also boasts of boarding facilities which ensure that the students are exposed to minimal distractions while getting used to independent life away from their parents.

With admission on-going, the school also offers sixth form programmes, as well as A’ Level courses, IGSE and university foundation programme which qualifies students for entry into over 44 universities in the UK and other parts of the world.

Professional Bodies Partner NigerianVarsities on Power Generation Kuni Tyessi in Abuja A set of professional bodies under the auspices of Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineering (IEEE), has concluded plans to partner Nigerian universities on power generation.

The move is designed to close the gap between Nigerians that are connected to the national power grid and those yet to.

The General Chairman and Head, Power Africa, Mr.

Tunde Saliu said at the group’s meeting recently at the Central Bank of Nigeria Institute in Abuja, that after realising that 46 per cent of Nigerians do not enjoy adequate power supply despite new trends in the energy sector, tertiary institutions must be involved for positive output.

He said the promotion of new energy techniques in the academia will bring immediate change in the power sector and will boost students’ capacity towards entrepreneurial skills,

adding that the sector is a goldmine to be explored. “Our goal is to improve electricity for Africa’s 500 million people who are without it. With this, there is need to promote knowledge and technical skills in the academia which will bring immediate change as these are some of the benefits of the programme. “There is a big opportunity to make money in the power sector and there is need to encourage youths to invest in the power and energy sector

as there are huge benefits for everyone, everywhere. “While the rest of the world is moving and transforming, Africa can join by starting and that is a major advantage especially for villages, towns and cities which have turned out to be no longer safe to live in,� Saliu said.

He also stressed the need to have a robust session with the federal government on the sector, adding that the programme should be a pet child of the African Union.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CITYSTRINGS

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă? äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ë›Ă?äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͙͖͓͓͖͓͔͓͖͑͒

Habitation of Hope for the ‘Unreachable’ Over 12 years ago, thousands of boys and girls lived in Kuramo Beach, struggling daily to eke a living while reveling in crime and drug abuse. Their lives were limited to the ugly reality of their existence at the beach. But that was soon to change. For as many that were willing, their lives were transformed by the Habitation of Hope Care Ministry, a faith-based and voluntary organisation, Mary Nnah reports

E

stablished in August 2006, Habitation of Hope, a faith-based and voluntary organisation, is an outreach arm of the Redeemed Christian church of God (RCCG) founded to bring hope to the hopeless street children in Lagos.

Founded by divine orchestration but entrusted into the care of the mother-in-Israel, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, wife of the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor E.A Adeboye, the organisation has a mission to rescue depressed and destitute boys from the street, transform, empower and give them the opportunity to develop into self-reliance and responsible citizens.

Habitation of Hope is dedicated to the care and protection of street boys to overcome poverty and give them a hope for the future. It works to make a serious and sustainable impact on poverty and its causes, especially as they affect children.

Established to provide accommodation, healthcare and education to children and young people of ages 7-18 years in need especially the deprived, destitute and the homeless, the organisation has over the years reconciled street children back to Christ, improved the quality of life of the street boys nationwide, and promoted the care, wellbeing and development of these street boys among others.

Habitation of Hope has further provided a holistic support including tuition, housing, healthcare, counselling and a range of vocational training such as shoe making, carpentry, painting, decoration, block making, sewing etc to build self confidence in the boys as well as to totally remove the street children from the society by reconciling them back to their family and helping them to settle down in their homes.

Speaking with journalists recently at the rehabilitation premises in Mowe, Ogun State, on its achievement so far, the Administrator, Pastor (Mrs) Grace Adetutu Balogun, who said that the Habitation of Hope Ministry is “a child of evangelism�.

The Journey On how it came into existence she said: “I was a minster in the church doing my own thing before God said I should come and do this. So, I grew to have passion for this work and when God called me, He equipped me ahead for this task and when I talked to our Mother-in-Israel about the vision, she took up the vision almost solely on herself with huge support from the church. In fact the church has taken over the project while Lagos State is partnering us.�

Explaining further, she said, “As a parish pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God then, I heard God tell me clearly to go to Kuramo Beach. I never knew where Kuramo Beach was because I lived in at Ebute Metta then. So, I asked my prayer partner who used to live in Ikoyi where Kuramo Beach was. She told me and so we went there. When we got there what I saw was beyond imagination. It was beyond human reasoning. It was an area of 10 kilometres on the beach side with hoodlums and girls who practise commercial sex. “The one that actually attracted me was a pregnant 13-year old girl who was still into prostitution.

I called her and said to her: ‘how can you be a prostitute and yet pregnant and you are just 13?’ She replied that a friend introduced her. And then I said to her: ‘do you mean you still sleep with men in this condition?’ And she said yes.

I was forced to ask how many men she sleeps with in a day. “Her response was shocking. She said about eight men have sexual intercourse with her on daily basis even with her pregnancy and she didn’t even know who own the pregnancy she was carrying. Her condition made me cried like a baby and that was what brought about the driving force to come up with solution to these young people whose lives were being wasted away. I felt strongly that God wanted us to do something about this set of people�, Balogun recalled with so much sentiment in her voice.

That signaled the beginning of what tuned out to beHabitation of Hope Care Ministry today. Within two months, a handful of boys and girls were

Somehow I was able to present my challenge to Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. Since I got in touch with our Mother-in-Israel, she took up the vision solely on herself. First she asked that the children be given a hostel where feeding and clothing were provided. “The children were so spoiled like never before within the seven days of the Congress so much that they refused to leave the camp on the last day of the Congress. Consequently, the ministry started in 2006 with our mother in Israel providing a comfortable place out of the camp premises for the children�, Balogun said.

Trainees in the building and block making section

Habitation of Hope... Some of the boys during training

Products by the trainees in the leather work section gathered to be offered help. Balogun with her team didn’t relent in their efforts to ensure these boys and girls were given the reformation they needed with prayers and encouragement from the community leaders who gave them the go ahead to come at any time to talk to the boys and girls.

Even though Balogun was more attracted to the girls who were mostly young and vulnerable and yet were deep into prostitution, it was the boys who responded in large number to her admonitions. “We started going there on Thursdays with clothing and food and within two months we had reached a bigger number of people than when we just started. There were about 500 of them who surrendered their lives to Christ. So, we took it from there and invited them to our headquarter parish in Ebute Metta, Lagos. And they came. What surprised me most was that it was mostly the boys that came. And for one and half years, I kept bringing them from Lagos Island to Ebute Metta. “To my amazement, all of the adults in the church then left saying they could not cope with them because they were always dirty, unkempt and unruly. But I heard God and I really wanted

to do something for these homeless and helpless children. So, I kept bringing them to the church.

I would bring barbers to the church to barb their hair and I will go to friends to give me cloths and other things for them. “After about a year, exactly in 2006, it was Congress time. I took them to the camp; about 70 of them out of those that have been coming to church followed me. In fact, I discovered those were the only congregation I had then in the church in the next one year. I was proud of the transformation they went through. When you look at whom they were when you brought them from the beach and what they were after few months - they can sing and recite the Bible verses and these are things they never practised before.

So, I was beginning to love the transformation I saw in them. “While we were at the Congress, it was a big challenge for me trying to carter for them. And along the line somebody met me and said: what are you doing with this kind of children? I told her that these were my congregation in Lagos.

And the person laughed and said why you don’t go to our Mother-in-Israel and seek for assistance.

Continuous Expansion Mrs. Adegboye, who is fondly called Motherin-Israel, took their case up as being led by God without the slightest idea of where the funds would come from. She rented a four-bedroom apartment to house them and with God’s help she moved them to a piece of land with two buildings hostels in Mowe, Ogun State.

Further development came with the addition of a chapel and a dining hall, which also serves as a classroom. Later, the centre had a primary school, Hope Academy, vocation centre and an additional two storey hotel with capacity to accommodate 150 boys, learning various vocational skills, studying in various educational institutions or working in various business units and ministries in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. According to Balogun, the RCCG Habitation of Hope, Ogun State has seen immense growth in recent years with the support of the visionary leadership of Mrs Adeboye alongside the Lagos State Government. Along the line, a vocational centre was created within the ministry to equip wards that are vocationally oriented.

Launched in February 2013, the department offers training in block making and interlock paving stones production; aluminium fabrication; welding and iron fabrication; computer engineering, GSM engineering; tailoring; photography; leather works (shoemaking) as well as poultry and farming.

The success rate on the live of the internees, Balogun attested has been wonderful, adding, “the children have embraced the vocational skill training while also undergoing formal education.

Within the last two years alone, we have had two wedding of our boys and so many of them have graduated from their various vocational training programmes. We have had 19 graduates from the Redeemer’s University while 11 are still in the university. Nine are ready now to graduate in this month of September.�

Initial Challenges While reminiscing on the challenges she had encountered in trying to bring about reformation in the lives of these street kids, Balogun said, “I was taught by the Holy Spirit more than anybody as regards their reformation. It wasn’t an easy task.

When we started, it was tough. While still at the camp for the short period they resided there, they became a problem. They still fought and steal people’s things. We had to move from the camp to a rented four-bedroom apartment at Mowe.�

She was quick to note that the centre deals with only boys between the ages of 7 and 18, as it was the boys that had always turned out in large numbers than the girls at each programme the church held at the start.

Vision Balogun’s vision for the Habitation of Hope still remains as it was from the beginning – to totally remove the street children from the Nigeria society by reconciling these children back to their family and helping them to settle down. “There are too many homeless boys on the streets of Nigeria; they are increasing day by and honestly, this is not good for the nation. We are working very hard to rid the streets of Lagos of hopeless and homeless boys but we cannot bite more than we can chew, so we are soliciting for more support from the government and other individuals and organisations so that we can reach out to more children on the street of Lagos and other parts of the country,� she added.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY

Oil Theft: JTF Hits Notorious Delta Cartel Hard in Delta r Destroys multi-million naira equipment at illegal refineries Sylvester Idowu in Warri

O

peratives attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Christened Operation Delta Safe, Sector One, Effurun, have raided the hideouts of a notorious cartel that specialises in illicitly refining vandalised petroleum products in Delta State.

During the coordinated operations that lasted for several hours, the soldiers, drawn from 3 Battalion, Effurun, crushed all equipment, running into millions of naira seen at the creek’s operational base of the cartel.

Major facilities, including giant reservoirs, drums and generating sets used by the Otumara-based cartel in Warri South-West Local Government Area were destroyed by the special operatives.

Other items destroyed included hoses, pipes, tanks, makeshift shelters and Cotonou boats used by the owners of the illegal refinery in transporting their stolen products.

The Deputy Director, Army Public

Relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, in a chat with reporters said, “The location has been particularly notorious as an illegal refinery.�

He disclosed that the location has been raided at different times by operatives of various security agencies within the spate of 11 months. “Today’s own is the third. Anytime such an operation is conducted, the place is being destroyed. “Troops will keep monitoring activities in the place and will still come back to what you have seen. The last discovery of activities in this place was done six days ago,� the army spokesman said.

Iliyasu indicated that the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Major General Jamil Sarham, was at the location on Friday, August 30, for an on-the-spot assessment of the general area.

According to Iliyasu, “Immediately he saw the level of carnage, he directed the Commander, Sector 1, to deploy more troops to destroy equipment that are here and not only that, but also to occupy,

with soldiers, this place permanently. “Now, you have to appreciate this and I want to let you know that despite all our efforts that there are still some people that think they can subvert whatever the country or the leadership of the country is doing because, to me, this is one of the greatest economic sabotage to this nation. “Aside that, when you look around, you will be able to appreciate the level of environmental damage that this has caused and is still causing. “Besides, you will get to know that the proceeds from this illegality is being channeled to further more illegalities like illegal drugs smuggling, arms smuggling and sponsorship of m other crimes. “I know with the deployment of this troops, you can see them all around, the next thing is that, the owners of this place that have been put out of this illicit business will naturally want to hit back. “We are waiting for them. They may want to go the way of blackmailing the security agencies for this effort because we are putting them out of business. Not only that, we have occupied this place

permanently.�

Iliyasu stated that the Delta State Government is highly supportive of the efforts and operations conducted by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

In his words: “How I wish you will extend this gory picture of this environment to the world so that everybody will know what these enemies of the state are doing.�

The Commander, Sector 1, Operation Delta Safe, Colonel Habib Baba Manu, corroborated the claims of the army spokesman in a chat with reporters, assuring that “we will clean up this mess, but definitely it will take a while. “The negative impact on the environment is so severe that there is no aquatic life in the general area, not to talk about the impact on the economy�

0The ongoing military operation, he said, is “something we will continue to intensify and ensure that our troops remain responsive to their duties�, adding that suspects arrested will be dealt with following due process.

Nigerian Navy Band to Partner Foreign Military Bands, MUSON, Others Sunday Ehigiator The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, has revealed that there are ongoing plans for the Nigerian Navy (NN) band to partner foreign military bands, Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) centre, and music departments of key higher institutions, in a bid to address some identified challenges of the NN band.

He made this known in his opening remarks, during the annual NN Band Conference, 2019, themed, ‘Repositioning The Nigerian Navy Band For Global Best Musical Performances’, which recently held at the Nigerian Navy School of Music (NNSM), Ota, Ogun State.

According to Ibas who was ably represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Apapa, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, “over the years, the directorate of music has taken enormous steps to indigenise the NN band, and rearrange many of the foreign music to local tunes. “However, there are observed gaps in terms of equipment, training, and further exposure in other to upscale NN musical performance and regain the enviable position when the NN band was the toast of the Super Eagles National Supporters Club. “This will require deliberate efforts, and it is in this regard that I consider the theme of this year ’s conference very apt. Achieving global best performances would require lots of efforts. “It would entail identifying and ad-

Nigerian Navy Band

Boosting the capacity of the Nigerian Navy band dressing both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the tripod of NN musical processes, namely; the directorate of music, the NNSM and the NN band. “At the NHQ, efforts are ongoing to addressing identified challenges, including reequipping of the NN band, as well as forging strategic partnerships with some credible musical bodies and organisations

such as, the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) centre, music departments of key higher institutions, and foreign military bands. “Commencement of in-country training and construction of ‘Steel Pan Band at the NNSM, Ota is also part of Naval Headquarters (NHQ) efforts to ensure global outlook for the NN band.�

In his welcome address, the Director of Music, NNSM, Commodore Olalekan Abiodun also revealed that the ‘Steel pan’ instrument, is now being manufactured at the NNSM in Ota. According to him, “the NN band has grown to be a reputable department due to the foundation laid during its formative years. The department which started with one section (military band), has grown to add two more, dance and steel band. “It is worthy of note that the steel pan instrument which is mostly imported from Trinidad and Tobago is presently manufactured locally here at the NNSM, Ota. “Special thanks to the Chief of the Naval Staff, who approved and sent the band personnel for steel pan manufacturing course at Trinidad and Tobago some years ago. “This year ’s conference is designed to provide a dedicated platform for harnessing informed opinions about the repositioning of the NN band in order

to achieve global recognition through her musical performances.�

In his lectures entitled, ‘Creating Identity for the Nigerian Navy Band in the Globe; a Case for Creativity and Indigenisation of Musical Performance’, the Guest Lecture of the Occasion, Dr. Isaac Ajenifuja, advised the NN band to borrow a leaf from People Republic of China band.

According to him, “the NN band today has the capacity to compete with contemporary challenges considering its antecedents. However, to face these challenges, it must be efficient, proactive in its creativity and indigenisation of its performances to carve a unique identity in the global musical scene. “There is no doubt that the NN stage band had lived and is still living up to expectation in its performances, but the concert band, and the regimental band need to be given attention and upgraded to realise the goal of attaining global identity. “Resultantly, the band can borrow a leaf from People Republic of China band, where all the music performed in the regimental and concert band are indigenous and locally composed music. “Although, the NN band might not compulsorily and absolutely abandon western music but must have a great percentage of indigenous music in its repertoire for performances.�

38

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Seeks Reduction in Leakages through Electronic Payments Nume Ekeghe The Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled its regulation on electronic payments and collections for public and private sectors in Nigeria, which it said is expected to help reduce the time and cost of transactions and minimise leakages in revenue.

In addition, the central bank explained that the objective of the regulation was to fully align with the core objectives of the National Payments System Vision 2020 (PSV2020) to ensure the availability of safe, effective and efficient mechanisms for conveniently making and receiving all types of payments from any location and at any time, through multiple electronic channels.

This revised 2019 regulation

on electronic payments and collections for public and private sectors in Nigeria was posted on the regulator’s website yesterday.

It reiterated it directive that banks in the country should dishonour instructions from public and private sector on salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes not transmitted on a CBN-approved electronic payment and collection platform. “Further to the implementation of the Guideline on end- to-end electronic payment of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes by all public and private sector organisations as directed in the CBN Guidelines referenced [CBN/BPS/PSV/GEN/014/05], deposit money banks are to dishonor payment instructions for all forms of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes not transmit-

ted on a CBN approved straight through electronic payment and collection platform issued by organisations with more than 20 employees. “This means payment instructions and associated schedules are no longer to be transmitted to DMBs through unsecured channels, such as paper-based mandates, flash drives, compact discs (CDs), email attachments, etc. by qualifying public and private sector organisations,� it added. In the area of infractions and penalties, the CBN stated that providing e-payment system solution or services without obtaining a license from the CBN would cause the regulator not to issue license to operators for a minimum of one-year from the date the infraction was detected.

Oxfam:Three Richest Billionaires Hold 40% Africa’s Wealth Ugo Aliogo An Oxfam International report has revealed that the richest persons in Africa own 40 per cent of the wealth in the entire continent, adding that three richest billionaires have more wealth than the bottom 50 per cent of the population in the continent.

The report explained that the continent was rapidly becoming the epicentre of global extreme poverty, adding that while massive reduction in the number of those living on less than $1.90 a day have been achieved in Asia, the number was rising in Africa. “The World Bank estimates

that 87 per cent of the world’s extreme poor will be in Africa by 2030, if current trends continue.

African women and girls are most likely to be poor. Levels of gender inequality are among the highest in the world, combining with economic inequality to create a suffocating web of exclusion. “Women and girls are also responsible for the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work that contributes to their family, community and the economy,� the report noted.

The report titled: ‘A tale of two continent’ explained that the economic prospects for Africa ware poor, stating that the International Monetary Fund

(IMF) had predicted that 24 of the 45 sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, were not likely to see strong economic recovery.

It stated that one in 10 children in the continent die before they reach their fifth birthday and more than 10 million children do not go to school. “Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy, yet the fruits of its economic growth are not shared equally. Poverty and destitution are stubbornly high: around 10 million children are out of school, a quarter of citizens lack access to safe drinking water, and half are living below the $1.90 poverty line.

Unity Bank Partners Firm on Blockchain Solution forAgric Nume Ekeghe Unity Bank Plc has gone into a partnership with Binkabi to provide a complete end-to-end solution for farmers and the entire agribusiness value chain.

Binkabi’s blockchain-based solution would provide value to farmers and SMEs by offering quality storages for grains and farm produces that are classified as commodities. It also creates a marketplace of connecting end-buyers and end-sellers of commodities and enables farmers and SMEs to access finance. The partnership with Unity Bank was also expected to give Unity Bank customers means to easily access loans

from the bank.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, yesterday, the Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Compliance, Unity Bank, Mr. Usman Abdulqaqir, said the partnership would play a vital role in agribusiness nationwide and offers great value to farmers and SMEs. He said: “There are problems within the agric sector and one of them is that we have limited bank lending to the sector.

There is difficulty in accessing risk because there is no data and even when there is data, it is not reliable.�

He added that the platform would provide transparency, liquidity and a better risk assessment for farmers, thereby

enhancing productivity and profitability.

He said: “We actually welcome the partnership with Binkabi because it is a platform for bringing all players in the sector into one pot. It will also bring liquidity into the market and naturally make things easier for the farmers. It also gives us value in doing a better risk assessment.�

He added that with the innovation, farmers can present their warehouse receipts to access funding which in turn would unlock the entire value chain.

According to him, Unity Bank has always and remained focused in supporting the agricultural sector.

BOI to Boost Entrepreneurship Devt with Technology Hubs The Bank of Industry (BoI) has announced plans to roll out programmes geared towards building the capacities of entrepreneurs to ideate, incubate and launch successful businesses deploying the use of technology hubs.

The Development Finance Institution (DFI) stated that tech hub would provide the platform to productively engage youths in the country, while also creating an ecosystem that would in the near future add to Nigeria’s economic growth. The Managing Director, BoI, Kayode Pitan, said these programmes

would be complemented with funding opportunities through schemes from Bol and other finance institutions.

The BoI boss, who said this at the inauguration of a tech hub in Lagos, by the Governor, Lagos State, Mr.Babajide SanwoOlu, explained that the tech hub was a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative sponsored by BoI to promote skills development, youth entrepreneurship and job creation in new technology and innovations. He said: “As the foremost development finance institution in Nigeria, the BoI has the mission to transform

Nigeria’s industrial sector by providing financial and business support services to enable new businesses emerge and existing enterprises to thrive. Today’s commissioning of the tech hub is the manifestation of a deliberate programme that the BoI is implementing towards building a dynamic and vibrant start-up ecosystem in Nigeria.�

Pitan said the Bank sponsored the hub in recognition of the ingenuity and creativity of young Nigerians, and the need to channel such to more productive and impactful ends, rather than towards social vices like internet fraud.

L-R: Divisional Head, Transaction Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe presenting cheque to the Leader of Team Veta, first runner-up in the Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice Chancellor University of Lagos, Innovative Challenge, during the competition, sponsored by the bank, held in Lagos‌recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2018 Money Supply (M3)

31,794,803.44

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

6,333,064.28

Money Supply (M2)

25,461,739.17

-- Quasi Money

14,773,076.98

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,688,662.18

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,711,763.59

---- Demand Deposits

8,976,898.59

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

18,990,400.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,804,402.66

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,062,986.22

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,980,229.66

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

7,093,619.43

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

-4,144,571.43

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

23,082,756.56

--Other Assets Net

13,258,583.57

Reserve Money (Base Money

6,811,192.37

--Currency in Circulation

2,100,129.91

--Banks Reserves

4,366,259.05

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 ͡ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $62.00 a barrel on Monday, compared with $60.75 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

39

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

NSE Introduces X-Mobile to Boost Investors’Participation in Stock Market Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will today launch XMobile, a dynamic and user-friendly mobile app, to enhance investors’ participation in the Nigerian capital market.

The NSE mobile app, which is currently in its Beta state, would be launched at the 2019 NSE Market Data Workshop in Lagos.

X-Mobile was designed to provide market participants, espe-

cially retail investors, convenient, faster and realtime access to the exchange’s activities. It features market snapshots, stock prices, market analytics, financial news, dealing members directory and trade simulation. With X-Mobile, users can create personalized watch lists to keep track of chosen securities, eliminating the need to access multiple information sources. X-Mobile is available free of charge on Google Play store for download for Android smartphones. The

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

IOS version is now in the testing phase. Speaking on the launch of X-Mobile, the Divisional Head, Trading Business, NSE, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, noted that the delivery of the NSE Mobile App is consistent with NSE’s new strategic intent to leverage on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the era of digitisation to enhance the operation of the market. “The introduction of X-Mobile is part of our engagement strategy with existing and

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potential investors who now have increased thirst for data and detailed disclosure information to make sound investment decisions. This is one of the ways we are contributing to the attainment of Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy of reducing the proportion of adult Nigerians that are financially excluded to 20 per cent in the year 2020. The app will support our efforts at financial literacy and inclusion by bringing the capital market to the fingertips of market

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

enthusiasts and spark new interest for potential investors.� “X-Mobile will complement the NSE website and other NSE portals currently being used to provide information to market stakeholders. We will continue to leverage technology with a customer-centric focus to make financial services more inclusive and to provide a superior customer experience in the access and use of capital,� Chiemeka added.

On his part, the Head of

O F

Strategy and Research at the NSE, Mr. Okon Onuntuei, said: “We are extremely excited about launching X-Mobile. This app is one of many ways of reaching our ambitious goal to enlighten 25 million retail investors in Nigeria and Diaspora. We believe this platform will become the primary interface for Nigerians to stay abreast of global market trends and domestic economic performance, as well as provide continuous insights to opportunities for portfolio rebalancing.�

0 9 / 0 9 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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42

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Trump Fires Security Adviser, John Bolton US President Donald Trump has fired his National Security Adviser (NSA), John Bolton In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump said he had asked Bolton to

resign, noting that he “strongly disagreed with many of his suggestions as did others in the administration.”

“I informed John Bolton last

night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the administration, and therefore I asked John for his

resignation, which was given to me this morning,” Trump tweeted. “I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week,” he added.

The tweet came just one hour after the White House press office said Bolton was scheduled to appear at a Tuesday press briefing alongside Secretary of State,

Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

Bolton, in a tweet, however said he was the one who offered to resign on Monday night.

31 Killed, 100 Wounded in Stampede in Iraq’s Shiite City of Karbala The Iraqi health ministry said on Tuesday that 31 people had been killed and 100 others wounded in a stampede during Shiite Ashura celebrations in the city of Karbala.

The ministry, said that 10 of the wounded were in serious condition.

According to Iraq’s official news agency INA, medical and security sources said that the toll is likely to increase.

Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims converge on the holy city for the occasion, which marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, one of the grandsons of Prophet Mohammed.

People marched through Karbala, whipping their backs and chests with chains and sobbing as blood covered their

bodies and faces. Others tapped their chests in a steady rhythm.

Millions of Shiites across Iraq are marking Ashura, which falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Iraqi government had declared Tuesday a national holiday and deployed thousands of army and police forces to keep the peace at the celebrations.

Ashura is marked by Muslims to commemorate the day Moses was saved from the Egyptians.

However, for Shiite Muslims the day has special significance, marking Hussein’s death at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680 AD. The festival was banned in Iraq for years under dictator Saddam Hussein, who was ousted in 2003.

MEETING WITH DEVT PARTNER...

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni (left), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Representative, Mr. Mohammed Yahaya, when the UN official paid courtesy visit on the governor at the Yobe Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro Abuja.....yesterday

Brexit: PM Insists Deal Italian PM Battles with Salvini Ahead of Key is Possible as He Holds Senate Vote Conte won a first vote late Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Conte of betrayal because, after power) and on the fear” of losing DUP Talks traded blows Tuesday with his leading the old League-M5S at the next elections, the League Monday in the in the lower British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has said “there is a way” of getting a new Brexit deal with the EU as he holds talks with Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster.

The PM said “loads of people” wanted an agreement, but he was prepared to leave without one if “absolutely necessary”.

But the Northern Irish party warned any solution leading to trade borders with the rest of the UK was a “non-runner”.

Parliament was dramatically suspended for five weeks on Tuesday after MPs rejected calls for an early election.

MPs are not now due to return to Westminster until 14 October.

Amid unprecedented scenes in the Commons early on Tuesday, some MPs protested against the suspension with signs saying “silenced” while shouting: “Shame on you.”

But Johnson said claims this was an affront to democracy were a “load of nonsense”, saying the opposition parties had been given the chance of an election before the Brexit deadline on 31 October but spurned it.

Opposition MPs said a law blocking a no-deal Brexit must be enforced first before there could be any election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised a further referendum on Brexit with a “credible Leave option” versus Remain if he wins the next general election - but the party is unlikely to commit to one or the other in its manifesto.

Ahead of their talks in Downing Street, the Northern Irish DUP insisted their influence over Brexit events was “not waning” despite Johnson’s government losing its Commons majority.

The party, which has propped up Theresa May’s government since the 2017 election, said it would not support any revised version of the former PM’s Brexit agreement which separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. The Irish border has proved a key sticking point in attempts to agree a Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. The government has indicated it could support harmonised rules for the agriculture and food sector to prevent the need for any sanitary and other health checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

But it has distanced itself from reports that plans for a single EU-UK customs territory in the current withdrawal agreement - rejected three times by MPs could be replaced with a specific Northern Ireland only “backstop” arrangement.

The DUP’s Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said a considerable number of Tory MPs would look to the his party to judge the likely success of any new proposals.

“We are plugged into the ongoing discussions about alternative arrangements, we have a significant role to play and, therefore, I would argue that our influence remains,” he told Radio 4’s World at One programme.

“I don’t see the prime minister, who appointed himself as the minister for the Union, agreeing to an arrangement that separates Northern Ireland from Great Britain in trading terms,” he said.

“I think that this idea that you have a Northern Ireland-only backstop where you have a trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is simply a non-runner.”

former ally Matteo Salvini ahead of a Senate vote of confidence on Italy’s new left-leaning coalition government.

Salvini, who leads the far-right League, last month pulled the plug on the previous government, also led by Conte, which comprised the League and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S).

“I am leaving you your (government) seat and I am keeping my honour and the affection of millions of Italians,” Salvini told the premier in a rowdy Senate chamber.

Salvini and his peers accuse

government, he has returned as premier in a new, anti-League coalition.

The coalition brings together the M5S and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), two former sworn enemies which have joined forces against the League leader.

Salvini broke ties with the M5S, emboldened by a landslide victory in May’s EU elections.

He hoped to trigger – and win – snap elections, not expecting the M5S and PD to form an alternate coalition.

“This is a government based on the sharing of (the spoils of

leader charged against his foes.

In his reply, Conte said Salvini’s failed power bid through snap elections displayed “a certain arrogance and a scant knowledge of constitutional law”.

Hours earlier, as the prime minister walked into the upper chamber, he was greeted by members of the League with chants of “traitor, traitor”.

The debate was scheduled to wrap up at around 6 pm (1600 GMT) with the vote of confidence.

The government was expected to win it, but its expected majority is slim.

house, the Chamber of Deputies, by a comfortable 343-263 margin.

Losing any of the two votes would trigger the government’s resignation.

Without Salvini, Italy’s new administration is expected to be more conciliatory towards the European Union and to soften hardline migration laws the League leader introduced as interior minister.

Conte said it was time to move on from Salvini’s “closed ports” slogan – directed against migrant rescue vessels – and take a more balanced approach to the issue.

Rwanda, UNHCR, AU Agree to Protect Asylum Seekers from Libya Rwanda, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and African Union (AU) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a transit mechanism for evacuating refugees and asylum seekers out of Libya.

The MoU which was signed in AU headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, said the first batch of 500 refugees and asylum seekers will be evacuated in the coming few weeks.

According to the agreement, Rwanda will receive and provide protection to refugees and asylum-seekers.

They will also protect people identified as particularly vulnerable and at-risk, and those who are currently being held in detention centres in Libya.

The agreement said all those identified above will be transferred to safety in Rwanda

on a voluntary basis.

Rwandan Ambassador to AU, Hope Tunukunde Gasatura, said the initiative is in line with the pledge made in November 2017

by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to make generous offer of receiving thousands of migrants stranded in Libya.

“Though the MoU covers 3,000, but Rwanda, will receive 500 at a time, second, we can have enough time to prepare for them.

“Our partners, under the leadership of the AU can come and follow up and ensure that things are as they are supposed to be.’’

The first group of 500 persons in need of international protection will be evacuated from Libya, and the group is principally made up of people originating from the Horn of Africa, and also includes children and youth at risk.

After their arrival, UNHCR will continue to pursue solutions for the evacuees, while some may benefit from resettlement to third countries.

However, others will be helped to return to countries where asylum had previously been granted, or to return to their home countries if it is safe to do so.

According to the agreement, some may be given permission to remain in Rwanda subject to agreement by the competent authorities.

The MoU stated that evacuation flights are expected to begin in the coming weeks, and will be carried out in cooperation with Rwandan and Libyan authorities.

The African Union (AU) will provide assistance with evacuations, mobilise resources, and provide strategic political

support with training and coordination.

However, UNHCR will provide protection services and necessary humanitarian assistance including food, water, accommodation, education and healthcare.

During the joint press conference at the AU headquarters, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira Elfadil, and the UNHCR Representative to AU and UNECA, Cosmas Chanda, commended Rwanda for the generous offer.

The commissioners urged other AU member states to follow the same suit.

Elfadil, who is the AU special envoy on the situation of stranded migrants and refugees in Libya, said Rwanda’s move gives signals to other AU member states to take similar measures.

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

PDP BoT Receives Report on House Minority Leadership Crisis Ayu’s committee absolves Elumelu, six others Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba There are indications that the dust raised by the hiccups over the emergence of Hon Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader in the House

of Representatives would soon finally settle.

This followed the submission of the report of the committee constituted by the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic

Kwara Gov Tasks Police, DSS on Abduction of Kaduna-bound Passengers Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday tasked the Nigeria Police Force and men of the Department of State Services (DSS) to intensify efforts to free the six Kwarans who were abducted at the weekend along Abuja-Kaduna expressway way on their way to Kaduna.

The Okin Travellers Transport outfit based in Offa in Offa Local Government Area of the state over the weekend was hijacked by unknown gunmen on AbujaKaduna road and the passengers on the bus were abducted.

Since then, palpable tension has continued to grip the residents of the ancient town of Offa.

The development, according to THISDAY checks, has led the people of the town to embark on fervent prayers in both

Party (PDP) to look into the minority leadership crisis in the House.

THISDAY learnt that the report was finally submitted to the Chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, on September 9 in his Legacy Building office, Abuja.

The Chairman of the committee and former President of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu, and a member of the committee and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, submitted the report.

Other members of the committee are former Senate President, David Mark; a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara.

THISDAY investigation revealed that the committee in the report unanimously exonerated Elumelu and six others of any complicity in the nomination and official announcement of the minority leadership of the House of

Representatives in July this year.

Moreover, in one of its recommendations, the committee also advised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to work with the House Minority Leader, Elumelu, and other minority leadership officers of the House in the interest of “a united and stronger PDP in the National Assembly.”

The report further urged the leadership of the Minority Caucus in the House to, at

all times, continue to carry members of the minority caucus and the leadership of the PDP along in line with statutory rules and tenets of democracy.

Speaking at the brief but impressive ceremony, the PDP BoT Chairman, Jibrin, commended the chairman and members of the committee for a job well done, and assured them that the party BoT would look into the report and come up with its ruling and recommendations soon.

mosque and churches for the urgent release of the victims.

However, the state governor in a statement issued yesterday which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, said: “We urge the police and other security agencies to do everything possible to free these citizens as soon as possible.”

The statement also said: “We call on the criminals behind the dastardly act to immediately and unconditionally release our people in their custody,” The governor urged relations of the abducted to remain calm, saying the state government is in constant touch with the security agencies over the matter.

“Finally, we call on anyone with useful hints on this development to pass such information to the police or nearest government offices,” the statement added.

AFFAIR...

Tribunal Affirms Orji’s Mandate, WOMEN L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Eunice Oladimeji; Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development; Mrs. Moji Fafure, during Erelu Fayemi’s Community Dismisses Nwaogu’s Petition Engagement and Advocacy tour in Ikole -Ekiti... recently Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

A National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal (Panel 1) sitting in Umuahia, Abia State yesterday affirmed the election of Senator Theodore Orji as the winner of the February 23 election for Abia Central Senatorial District.

Orji, a senator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the February poll for the renewal of his mandate and emerged victorious.

But the opposition candidate, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, was dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll and together with her party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed petitions at the tribunal seeking the nullification of the result.

The petitioner, who is the Prochancellor, University of Calabar, was seeking to return to the senate and alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. But ruling on the petitions, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Adeyinka Adebirigbe, who read the unanimous judgement, held that the petitioner failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt her claims that the election of the first respondent was invalid due to non-compliance with the electoral law.

The tribunal stated that “there is no evidence” to void the result of the 2019 Abia Central Senatorial poll as declared by the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal said the petitioner could not even bring the proper witnesses to testify for her as only one out of the 19 witnesses she assembled was a polling unit agent, while others were supervisors and collation agents.

In his reaction to the tribunal verdict, Orji said he had always believed in the judiciary as the dispenser of justice and commended the tribunal for its dispassionate verdict Orji, who spoke through his media adviser, Mr. Eddie Onuzuruike, said the tribunal judgement has lent credence to the choice made by the good people of Abia North in renewing his mandate.

Meanwhile, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, whose petition led to the nullification of the mandate of Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has hailed the judgment as “a triumph for justice and democracy.”

Ohuabunwa, in a statement by his Director General, Follow Better Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ndubusi Eke, noted that the judiciary had once again proved itself as the last hope of the common man.

The former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament said he went to the tribunal “to get justice,” expressing satisfaction that justice has been done not only for him but for the people of Abia North.

Court Stops Ooni, LGA from Installing Osun Monarch Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo A High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State yesterday evening gave an interim injunction restraining Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Ife North Local Government area of the state from installing Prince Meshack Oyewole as the Olulamokun of Yakooyo.

Justice J. O. Ogunleye of Osun State High Court, who

gave the restraining order on the exparte motion for an order interim injunction restraining the 2nd and 6th defendants, also stopped respondents, their servants, agents, and or privies from installing the first defendant.

However, counsel to the applicant who moved the application for the interim injunction restraining Ooni and the local government from installing first defendant as

the Olulamokun of Yakooyo informed the court that the 2nd and 6th defendants were planning to install Oyewole on Thursday this week.

The counsel contended that the three kingmakers in the town were not carried along in the process of appointing the monarch.

He remarked that after due process the town picked the plaintiff in 2018 and accordingly sent his name to

Ooni as well as Osun State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.

The counsel added that suddenly the name changed and some people went behind to present Oyewole to the state government as the new monarch.

In his ruling, Justice Ogunleye said: “I hereby make an order of interim injunction against the 2nd and 6th defendants/respondents as prayed.”

Ogun Guber Poll: Abiodun, Akinlade Know Fate Saturday Idowu Sowunmi The Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has fixed Saturday, September 14 for judgment in the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Justice Yusuf Haliluled Tribunal yesterday said it has conveyed notice of the judgment to parties in the petition through text messages and telephone calls.

Speaking with journalists

yesterday in Abeokuta, the tribunal Secretary, Henry Sekulla, also confirmed that the case between the APM and APC gubernatorial candidates would be determined on Saturday.

“The judgment has been fixed for Saturday (September 14, 2019) and we have sent formal notification to all parties, including calls and text messages,” he said.

The three-man tribunal had reserved ruling after both the petitioners and respondents adopted their final written addresses on August 19.

Akinlade and his party had filed a petition marked

“EPT/OG/GOV/01/19” challenging Abiodun’s victory in the March 9 governorship election in the state.

The APM candidate alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was wrong to have declared the APC candidate as winner because his election failed to comply substantially with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

He also questioned the qualification of Abiodun to contest the governorship election, saying the APC candidate supplied contradictory information in his forms CF001 in 2015

when he contested for Ogun East Senatorial District and in 2019 when he contested for governorship.

While adopting his final written address, the petitioner through the lead counsel, Mike Osuman (SAN), prayed the tribunal to invalidate Abiodun’s victory in the March 9 poll and return him (Akinlade) as the governor.

But Abiodun’s lead counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), who called 32 witnesses to give evidence before the tribunal, described the APM’s petition as dead on arrival and prayed the tribunal to dismiss it.

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Many Nigerians Celebrated Buhari’s First 100 Days in Detention, Falana Alleges Dike Onwuamaeze Scores of Nigerian citizens marked the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in police and military detention facilities across the country.

These citizens, according to the National Chairman, Peoples Alternative Forum, Femi Falana, (SAN), were victims of the indiscriminate arrests and illegal detentions by the police and other security agencies.

Falana, in a press statement that was made available to THISDAY, claimed that “while conducting raids in Abuja and other cities in the country, thousands of women and unemployed young people are arrested by the police for wandering even though the vagrancy law was abolished in Nigeria in 1989.”

He alleged that illegal incarceration of innocent Nigerians had become the order of the day in spite of President Buhari’s administration official declaration to respect the human rights of Nigerian people.

Prominent among the Nigerian citizens languishing in prison, according to Falana, were Publisher of Sahara Reporters

Omoyele Sowere; a Journalist, Agba Jalingo; Navy Captain Dada Labinjo.

Sowore was accused of treason, treasonable felony and terrorism for planning a protest against insecurity, poverty, and unemployment in the country.

He is yet to be charged with any offence rather the Directorate of State Service (DSS) secured an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court to detain him for 45 days.

Similarly, Jalingo, was arrested in Calabar, Cross River State, last month by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that filed a terrorism charge against him at the Federal High Court for criticising Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, in a newspaper article. The NPF has secured an order from the court to detain him for 14 days even though Jalingo has not arraigned.

“The Nigerian Navy has continued to detain over 150 citizens for several months without trial for undisclosed criminal offences. While some of the detainees have recently been released not less than 67 others are still held incommunicado in Lagos.

Specifically, 10 of the detainees are held inside a vessel in Lagos while 57 others are detained in

HRW Accuses Military of Detaining Children as Boko Haram Suspects Martins Ifijeh An international pressure group, the Human Rights Watch has accused the Nigerian military of detaining thousands of children as Boko Haram suspects, and without contact with the outside world.

The 50-page report released yesterday also said 250 or more detained children share a single cell, approximately 10-by-10 metres, with children as young as seven years old being made to experience the harsh conditions.

The Director, Children’s Rights Advocacy, HRW, Jo Becker said the report revealed how Nigerian authorities were detaining children often based on little or no evidence, adding that the children described beatings, overwhelming heat, frequent hunger, and being packed tightly in their cells as some of their ordeals.

The report is tagged: ‘They Didn’t Know if I Was Alive or Dead’: Military Detention of Children for Suspected Boko Haram Involvement in Northeast Nigeria,’ Becker said: “Children are being detained in horrific conditions for years, with little or no evidence of involvement with Boko Haram, and without even being taken to court. Many of these children already survived attacks by Boko Haram. The authorities’ cruel treatment adds to their suffering and victimises them further.

“The Nigerian government should sign and put into effect a United Nations handover protocol to ensure the swift transfer of children

apprehended by the military to child protection authorities for rehabilitation, family reunification, and community reintegration. Other countries in the region, including Chad, Mali, and Niger, have already signed such protocols,” he said.

According to him, between January 2013 and March 2019, the Nigerian armed forces detained over 3,600 children, including 1,617 girls, for suspected involvement with non-state armed groups, adding that many were detained at Giwa Military Barracks in Maiduguri, the main military detention facility in Borno State.

He said in June 2019, HRW interviewed in Maiduguri 32 children and youths who had been detained as children at Giwa barracks for alleged involvement with Boko Haram, stressing that none of the children said they were taken before a judge or appeared in court, as required by law, and that only one saw someone who he thought may have been a lawyer. “None were aware of any charges against them.

One was detained when he was only five years old.

“Nigerian authorities arrested the children during military operations, security sweeps, screening procedures for internally displaced people, and based on information from informants. Many of the children said they were arrested after fleeing Boko Haram attacks on their village or while seeking refuge at camps for internally displaced people.

One said he was arrested and detained for more than two years for allegedly selling yams to Boko Haram members.

the NNS Beecroft Cell, Apapa, Lagos,” Falana alleged.

Falana also alleged: “We have also confirmed that Navy Captain Dada Labinjo is still being detained at an underground cell in the Directorate of Defence Intelligence, Abuja, in defiance of the judgment of the Federal High Court, which has declared his detention illegal and unconstitutional while the Swiss government has sued the

Federal Government in Zurick over the detention of four Ukraine nationals for about two years without trial.”

He also drew a list of 67 names allegedly under unlawful detention. Some of the names on the list are Michael Ovie; Simon Onyisike Mike; Umoren Daniel; James Archibong; Graham Brown; Ifeanyi Osadinizu; Matthew Epiagolo; Taiwo Ayodele; Sunday

Ojo and Austin Omonisa among others.

Falana referred to the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, which was held in Lagos last month where President Buhari restated the commitment of his administration to operate under the Rule of Law, and tasked President Buhari that “based on such commitment the federal government should

comply with all court orders and direct the police and other security agencies to grant bail to criminal suspects or arraign them in courts if there is reasonable suspicion that they have committed any criminal offence. As the Buhari administration moves to the “next level” the National Human Rights Commission which was dissolved in 2015 should be reconstituted without any further delay.

LET THERE BE LIGHT…

L-R: Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi (left), and Managing Director, METKA Power West Africa, Evangelos Kamaris, during the Energising Education Programme (EEP) Solar Hybrid Project inauguration at the Bayero University, Kano... recently.

ECOWAS Decries Low Intra-regional Trade in Sub-region Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has decried low volumes of trade within the sub-region, adding that the share of intra-regional trade has averaged 11 per cent over the last five years.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade Customs and Free Movement, Mr. Tei Konzi, disclosed this yesterday at the inaugural ECOWAS Forum for National Trade Facilitation Committees, held in Abuja.

He said that the contributing factors to low volumes of trade include poor trade-related infrastructure, weak production

capacity, burdensome procedures and regulations.

While stressing that trade plays an important role in creating employment and generating wealth, he noted that trade facilitation has been at the heart of ECOWAS regional integration process, with the protocols and decisions on the free movement of persons and goods at the cornerstone of its economic integration.

He stated, “despite this focus, the share of intra-regional trade within ECOWAS has averaged 11 per cent over the last five years, and share of world trade remains negligible.”

Konzi added that in West Africa,

there are already a number of regional trade facilitation initiatives being implemented or coordinated by the ECOWAS Commission, which are aimed at addressing some of these challenges and boosting trade.

These initiatives, he said, include: Customs interconnectivity, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), ECOWAS Customs Code, infrastructure programmes, including establishment of Joint Border Posts capacity building on trade policy formulation, as well as Negotiations and implementation of Trade Agreements such as the

African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

He noted that the implementation of these initiatives combined with the commitments made under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) provide a strong basis for trade expansion in the region.

Konzi noted that for effective implementation of trade facilitation initiatives and reforms, there is a need for institutional coordination of the multiple stakeholder, both public and private, stressing that as a result, Trade Facilitation Committees play an important role in the implementation of trade facilitation reforms.

FG Moves to Access IMO Fund for Oil Spills Compensation Eromosele Abiodun Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, yesterday in Lagos revealed that the federal government is putting plans in place to access the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC) administered by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for compensation for victims of oil spills in Nigeria.

Abubakar, who stated this while speaking at a National Workshop on Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation said the move was to draw attention to the scope and implementation of International Oil Pollution Fund focusing on the procedure related to compensation in case of an oil spill.

Compensation for oil pollution and damage caused by spills from

oil tanker is governed by an international regime developed by IMO. The international oil pollution compensation regime presently comprises the 1992 Civil Liberties Convention which governs the liability of ship-owners for oil pollution damage by laying down the principle of strict liability for ship-owners and creating a system of compulsory liability insurance and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund convention which is pool of fund contributed by cargo owners.

For the ease of implementation of the two conventions, Nigeria as a state party since May 2003, through the Minister of Transportation, constituted a National Standing Committee (NSC) with membership from relevant government and nongovernmental organisations in

2004.

The committee chairman is the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

The secretariat is domiciled in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is the implementation agency of all IMO conventions to which Nigeria is a party.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the NIMASA are leading the charge in the federal government’s effort.

Abubakar, who was represented by the NOSDRA Director General, Mr. Idris Musa, said the workshop would also deepen the understanding of common challenges and complexities of oil spills.

He added that the need to

work out modalities on how to adequately and fairly compensate both victims of oil spills pollution and the environment cannot be over-emphasised.

According to him, “Consideration should not only be given to socio-economic losses suffered by individuals or communities, but also to ecological damage by way of effective restoration of the damaged ecosystem. Particular attention must be paid to how our citizen can adhere strictly to the procedure for accessing the benefits inherent in the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said Nigeria needs to develop strategies and policies for effective shoreline response.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Xenophobia: First Batch of 320 Nigerians from S’Africa to Arrive Lagos Today Chinedu Eze The first batch of the Nigerian returnees from South Africa will be airlifted from Johannesburg to Lagos by 9a.m. today.

According to the Nigeria Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, the first batch is made up of 320 passengers.

Air Peace would commence evacuation of over 600 Nigerians

FG: Modular Refineries Won’t Provide Nigeria’s Petrol Needs Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government has said it does not believe that modular refineries are the main solutions to Nigeria’s inability to refine petroleum products locally, however, it said they would at best add to the solutions.

The government in this regard said it was focusing its efforts on making sure the country’s refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt are fully repaired and working efficiently.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was reportedly represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipreye Sylva, stated this while speaking at the ongoing 24th edition of the World Energy Congress (WEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

A statement from the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted Sylva to have also said that the federal government plans to sign off Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on at least four key projects in the oil industry within the last quarter of 2019.

He said his vision was to bequeath a vibrant petroleum industry which would guarantee long term strategic investments and prosperity for Nigerians.

In 2018, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) disclosed that it had so far granted licences for the establishment of modular refineries to 25 investors.

Also, during his tenure, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, was a vocal supporter of modular refineries as part of the solutions to Nigeria’s refining challenges.

Kachikwu had at the Biennial International Conference for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) organised by DPR told participants that out of about 40 licences issued for modular refineries, only 10 have shown progress by submitting their programmes and putting something on the ground.

He added then that “by end of 2019, we are assured that three private modular refineries would be working.”

However, at the WEC, Sylva said: “People are talking about modular refineries; we know that modular refineries are parts of the solution, but they can only be part of the solution and not the solutions themselves.

“So, we are going to try to encourage modular refineries, but before that, we are going to really focus on repairing the existing refineries to ensure that we are back on stream very shortly.”

The minister also said: “My plan is to ensure that during my tenure, four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) are taken. I am sure that within the next quarter, we should be able to conclude on some of these FIDs to grow the industry.”

He noted that gas development was a priority for the government to fast-track the industrialisation of the country.

Tribunal Upholds Adeola ‘s Election as Lagos Senator Akinwale Akintunde The Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), as the winner of the election for Lagos West senatorial constituency.

In a unanimous judgment delivered yesterday, the threeman panel chaired by Justice Kunaza Hamidu and assisted

by Justice W.R. Olamide and Justice S.I. Okpara, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, challenging the election of Adeola because the petitioner failed to establish any prima facie case against him.

The tribunal held that Rhodes-Vivour’s petition lacked merit and affirmed that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) was right to have declared Adeola as winner of the February 23, 2019, senatorial election.

“The petition lacked merit and is hereby dismissed. The declaration of Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) as winner of February 23, 2019, National Assembly election is hereby affirmed,” the tribunal held.

Rhodes-Vivour had claimed that Adeola was not entitled to be returned as duly elected candidate as the election was marred by irregularities, malpractices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The APC and the INEC were joined as second and third respondents in the case.

Rhodes-Vivour, in the petition filed on his behalf by his counsel, Francis Akintola, also accused INEC of wrongly declaring Adeola winner of the polls with 328,817 votes, while he was said to have scored 243,516 votes.

He claimed that INEC ought to have declared him winner of the election instead of Adeola, having scored the highest lawful votes cast at the election.

who had registered to come back home following the series of attacks on foreign nationals and their businesses in South Africa.

“The first flight leaves by 0900 hours on Wednesday with about 320 passengers and the second batch will leave on Thursday all things being equal.

“We have over 600 who had indicated interest all things being equal without any hitches, the plane will take off by 0900 hrs on Wednesday.

“The manifest for the first flight is ready and we are working on the next flight,” Adama said.

President Muhammadu Buhari

had also on Monday ordered for the immediate evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.

Buhari gave the instruction when he received the Report of the Special Envoy to South Africa, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, had last week volunteered to send aircraft to evacuate Nigerians who wish

to return home free of charge.

“Air Peace is willing to support the Nigerian Government’s efforts in this matter by deploying our B777 aircraft to evacuate Nigerians back home,” Onyema said.

The Chairman of the Air Peace had also stressed that the flight is free for the returnees.

Onyema said the airline decided to set the record straight following an email from a Nigerian in South Africa that unauthorised persons were illegally collecting 1,000 dollars from each Nigerian that wanted to take advantage of that flight.

He noted that the development was unfortunate, stressing that the evacuation was free because the airline was concerned about the safety of Nigerians following the attacks.

He said: “We have not designated or recruited any agent in South Africa to collect money on behalf of Air Peace.

“So nobody should pay money to anyone or group of persons posing as Air Peace agent or staff.

“Any Nigerian who has paid money for repatriation to Nigeria with Air Peace should request for a refund and report to appropriate authorities

IDENTIFYING THE MIGRANTS

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (right), and Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Ogun State Command, Doris Braihmah, during the flagging off of the e-Registration for Migrants in Ogun State… recently

FG Disburses N13.775bn for Basic Healthcare Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said a total of N13.775 billion was released for the take-off of the first phase of disbursement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), adding that out of which N6.5 billion provided for 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Edo, Katsina, Yobe, Delta, Adamawa, Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Imo, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Plateau states were among the ones that received first tranche of the fund healthcare fund.

Speaking at the official

disbursement of the first tranche yesterday, Ehanire said the 15 states and the FCT that are already benefitting from the disbursement are those that had met the eligibility criteria set as at February 2019, adding that other states, which have now met the eligibility criteria would be accommodated later.

He said the BHCPF is to be administered through three gateways, namely, the NHIS, NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health, adding that in the NHIS gateway, the National Health Insurance Scheme through the State Health Insurance Schemes would purchase a Basic Minimum Package of Healthcare Services for

all participating Nigerians.

According to him, “Today, it is with deep pleasure and high expectations that I am here before you all to officially launch the first phase of disbursement of funds to benefitting states through the NHIS Gateway.

“For this initial phase of disbursement, a total of N13.775 billion has been released, of which the National Health Insurance Scheme will be disbursing N6.5 billion to 15 states plus the FCT which had met the eligibility criteria as at February 2019.”

The minister commended the NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof.

Mohammed Sambo, and the

management for initiating the necessary reforms for repositioning the scheme and ensuring accountability and transparency in the BHCPF disbursement process.

He said it’s the expectation of the federal government that the money would be judiciously utilised by the benefiting states, which would in turn reduce the hardship experienced by many Nigerians.

Sambo pledged that NHIS would continue with the ongoing reforms aimed at achieving value reorientation, transparency, accountability and accelerating the attainment of universal health coverage.

Ekiti to Benefit from $500m World Bank Project Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi yesterday announced that The World Bank would soon embark on some legacy projects across the state.

Fayemi said the world body has assured the state of its intention to embark on five projects in various parts of the state, which would gulp not less than $500 million.

The governor made this known in Ado-Ekiti while presenting cheques worth N180 million to 19 benefitting communities for self-help projects.

He said his administration is poised to improve technical education by ensuring that all

the technical colleges in the state are made a model in its drive to improve skills development and education of the citizens.

“I am also pleased to inform you that no fewer than five World Bank projects would be starting in the state across many of the local government areas within the next few months and all of these would cost about $500 million.

We have the ideals projects on Technical Education, that will be in our three major Technical Colleges which would take after what we have done in the Technical College in Ado-Ekiti so that our people

can see that Technical Education is not inferior education and it is not education for dropouts. It is education for skills development and education that can make a difference in the lives of people, particularly in terms of jobs and employment,” Fayemi said.

He assured that his administration would continue to bring remarkable improvement to the living condition of the people through value restoration, adding that the grassroots would continue to benefit from this agenda.

Fayemi said he would continue to collaborate with development partners to ensure that the people

at the grassroots are not left out in the scheme of things.

“Today’s ceremony is one of the multiplier effects of the Ekiti State value restoration agenda of this administration, and we are poised to make similar meaningful impact in every stratum of our society. As a government that wants both urban and rural developments, we paid our own counterpart fund to activate this World Bank projects geared towards improving the living condition of people at the grassroots. We are proud to toe this line and we are determined to sustain this developmental drive.

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles Qualify for U-23 AFCON in Egypt Awoniyi, Ndifreke, Sunusi, others score as Sudan crash 5-0 in Asaba

Omon Julius-Onabu in Asaba Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles defeated Sudan 5-0 yesterday to qualify to defend their Africa Under-23 Nations Cup title in Egypt next November.

A brace by Ndifreke Effiong and one each by Taiwo Awoniyi, Sunday Faleye and Sunusi Ibrahim in the final qualifier played at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba ensured a 5-1 aggregate win for the 1996 Olympic champions.

Nigeria is the fourth team after hosts Egypt, Zambia and South Africa to earn berths in the final scheduled for between November 8th and 22nd.

Taiwo Awoniyi who wasted several opportunities in the first leg Nigeria suffered 1-0 defeat in Omdurman last Thursday headed Olympic Eagles into the lead after Sudanese goalkeeper Mohamed Adam could only punch a fierce shot by skipper Azubuike Okechukwu in the 10th minute.

Three minutes later, Kelechi Nwakali’s cross from the flank to Awoniyi that would have made it two went over the bar.

Anthony Izuchukwu, who

won plaudits for the composure that himself and Olisah Ndah forged in Nigeria’s central defence, headed a corner kick

by Muyiwa Olabiran over the bar after 20 minutes.

In the 26th minute, Nigeria got the second goal when Ndifreke Effiong met defender John Lazarus’ pull-out with a bullet header, goalkeeper Adam unable to do anything to stop it.

In one of the rare moments that goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar was called for duty, he smoothly cuddled a header

by Eid Mugadam Abakar on the half –hour.

Three minutes later, it could have been three for Nigeria as NPFL top scorer, Sunusi Ibrahim, went on a jaw-dropping solo run which ended with a fierce drive, only for Adam to punch that ball away for a corner.

Two minutes before recess, Effiong got his second and Nigeria’s third, lashing in to the far corner after a sweet team move.

In the second half, the defending champions fully imposed their authority on the game, with delightful touches, good positioning, brilliant

NWPL Down to the Wire as Top Teams Battle for Super 4 The Match-day 6 of the Nigeria Women Premier League (NPFL) which is the last games of the regular season for all the 16 clubs in the Premier League will today end in a photo finish.

In Group A, both Rivers Angels on 10 points and Delta Queens on 8 points, are faced with the opportunity of booking a place in the Super 4.

Delta Queens will host table toppers Rivers Angels at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

A win for Delta Queens will take them to 11 points and a place in Super 4. While a win for Rivers Angels will give them 13 unassailable points and a clear lead to play in the Super 4. A draw for the two teams may not be a comfortable option, especially as FC Robo of Lagos who are also on 8 points with Delta Queens may snatch the single slot of Group A, if they end up beating Osun Babes by 2-0 at the Osogbo Township Stadium.

Osun Babes may also have to play for their lives, as a loss

to FC Robo will take them on relegation to the lower division.

In Group B, Adamawa Queens are topping the standing on 11points, while Edo Queens are second on 10 points.

It’s a dicey situation in Group B as Adamawa and Edo will be engaged in fierce battles respectively in Lagos against Dream Stars at the Agege Stadium and Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Adamawa will battle Dream Stars in Lagos for an outright win, which would take them to 14 points and a place in Super 4.

Anything short of three points on away ground would be a precarious one for them.

It would be a tough task, as a loss or scoreless draw for Dream Stars would confirm their return to the lower division, which they just left a season ago.

At the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Edo Queens must beat the recently motivated Heartland Queens to earn three solid points.

runs, purposeful passes and meaningful finishing.

Goalkeeper Adam, defenders Hussein Mohamed Hussein, Baghdad Ibrahim, Ammar

Mohamed Kannou and Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed were overstretched, while midfielders Musab Elsiddiq, Kamal Eldin and Siddiq Mohamed found

Kelechi Nwakali and Azubuike Okechukwu in the Nigerian middle too smooth and silky to handle.

Nwakali, who missed the

first leg encounter, sprayed passes effortlessly and got past his opponents without breaking sweat, and contributed immensely to Tuesday’s win.

New Super Eagles forward, Joseph Aribo (centre) scored Nigeria’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw with Ukraine in Dnipro‌last night

Galant Anwuli Loses to World Number Six at Chess W’Cup Femi Solaja Nigeria’s youngest International Master, Daniel Anwuli, almost caused a major upset in global chess platform but ended up on the losing side to world number six player, French man, Grand Master Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the opening round match of the FIDE World Cup in KhantyMansiskhy, Russia.

The Nigerian budding star, playing in white side of English opening lost to superior player in the end game complication but not without a fight as the Grand Master was forced to dig deep to survive the attacking force from Anwuli.

The Delta-born player was commended by a pool of chess pundits within the arena while global audience also encouraged

one of Africa’s rising players at the tournament. They urged him not to let down his guard when play resumes today in the seven-round tournament.

According to FIDE Master, John Fawole, who followed the proceeding, “Anwuli opening with (1) c4 of The English opening and the game transposed to fianchetto line of the Four Knights English Opening. “The Game reached a critical moment very fast when IM Daniel Anwuli sacrificed a pawn on c4 on move 14. “The France number one player was in deep thinking for few minutes before capturing the pawn. Second time control were met and the Grand Master displayed the finesse of a wizard by taking Anwuli into the endgame and forced the

fighting teenage Nigeria to drop his guards on move 51,� Fawole informed THISDAY last night.

In other matches, higher rated players achieved victories. There were, however, a few upsets as is often the case at the World Cup. Radoslaw Wojtaszek lost to Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, and the young Andrey Esipenko defeated Ruslan Ponomariov.

Hikaru Nakamura, Levon Aronian, Peter Svidler, Dmitry Adnreikin, Bu Xiangzhi, Wang Hao, Vladislav Artemiev, David Navara, Maxim Matlakov, Le Quang Liem, Santos Vidit, Nikita Vitiugov, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Boris Gelfand, Wei Yi, Samual Shanckland and some other players only managed to make draws, facing a much lower rated opponents.

The games between players

with more or less similar ratings were very closely contested.

Rustam Kasimdzhanov defeated Evgeny Bareev, Ivan Cheparinov defeated Ahmed Adly while Maksim Chigaev lost to Parham Maghsoodloo.

David Anton Guijarro was stronger than S.L.Narayanan, Baskaran Adhiban outplayed Eduardo Iturrizaga, Vladimir Fedoseev prevailed over Surya Ganguly, Maxim Rodshtein defeated Mateusz Bartel, Arkadij Naiditsch lost to Niclas Huschenbeth, while Jorge Cori lost to Nihal Sarin.

The second round of matches will get underway from today with the Nigerian chess community is rooting for Anwuli with the hashtag #RootingForAnwuli on social media.

Friendly: Super Eagles Held 2-2 in Ukraine

ZENITH WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Nigeria’s Super Eagles threw away a two-goal advantage last night as they were held 2-2 draw in an international friendly with Ukraine in Dnipro.

On a day Coach Gernot Rohr paraded an almost new squad, Nigeria took command of the game almost from the blast of the whistle by the Italian referee, earning the opening goal in the fourth minute through debutant, Joseph Aribo.

Eagles put in the second goal in the 34th minute when Victor Osimhen converted a penalty kick award for his first senior team goal.

From that moment, the Nigerian side took a commanding role in the game, winning every ball and daring to increase the tally.

But all that changed within 60 seconds in the 78th minute which

First Bank, Nigerian Army Maintain Unbeaten Run

was just 12 minutes to regulation time.

Oleksandr Zinchenko reduced the tally for the hosts in the 78th minute. The ovation that greeted the goal had hardly died down when Roman Yaremchuk leveled up.

The goal was initially disputed on account of hand to ball.

FRIEN DLIES Ukraine 2-2 Nigeria Tunisia 1-2 Ivory Coast Morocco1-0 Niger EURO 2020 QUALIFIERS Lithuania 1-5 Portugal Montenegro 0-3 Czech Rep France 3-0 Andorra Moldova 0-4 Turkey England 5-3 Kosovo Albania 4-2 Iceland

Action continues in the 2019 Zenith Bank sponsored Women’s Basketball League as teams battle for places in the National Conference phase.

On Day-one of the Zenith Women’s Basketball League, defending champions, First Bank of Lagos pummeled less fancied, Ogun Babes, 110-30 points at the South-west Conference in Ibadan.

Dolphins also showed their superiority over Oluyole Babes, 104-31 points Day-two results saw First Bank hammer Oluyole Babes

95-23 points to maintain their unbeaten run in the league while Dolphins won against Ogun Babes 90-40 points.

In Akure, MFM under Aderemi Adewunmi watch defeated DeepWater 73-36 points.

It was a close battle between Sunshine Angels and IGP Queens. At the end of the feisty duel, the Nigeria Police sponsored team won 40-37 points.

Day-three results saw Delta Force again inflict another loss on Sunshine Angels 58-49 points.

MFM defeated IGP Queens 66-30

points.

In the North-central Zone holding in Abuja, Air Warriors defeated Black Gold 94-45 points while FCT Wings overpowered Nasarawa Amazons 56-37 points just as Plateau Rocks outscored Kanemi Queens 61-32 points.

Nigeria Customs walked over Benue Princess 20-0.

On day two in the North Central, Plateau Rocks beat FCT Wings 74-63 points, Nigerian Customs with a more equipped arsenal defeated Nasarawa Amazons 101- 29 points.

Blackgold recorded their first

win of the second phase beating hapless Kanem Queens 72-25 points.

Air warriors Babes with 56 points defeated Plateau Rocks who could only manage to score 25 points as another walkover ceremony was performed by FCT Wings over Benue Princess.

Other results on day three, Plateau Rocks 20 - Benue Princess 0, Nasarawa Amazons 55 defeated Kanem Queens 34, FCT wings list 40 - 83 to Air Warriors and Black gold were beaten63- 29 by Nigeria Customs.

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Sanwo-Olu: Please Lead a Sport Revolution!

Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) scored a hat-trick yesterday as Portugal defeated Lithuania 5-1 in Euro 2020 qualifiers

Europe’s Top Leagues Warned over Dominance Europe’s big five leagues have been warned their growing dominance of the continent’s football landscape will not be allowed to continue unchecked.

A two-day meeting of the European Clubs’ Association (ECA) in Geneva ended yesterday with Chairman Andrea Agnelli talking of reforms being in place by 2022, rather than December 2019 as was the case earlier this year.

The abrupt switch of deadlines underlines the

lack of progress that has been made by the ECA in talks over generating a wider level of competition, more games and higher income from Europe’s three major club competitions, including the new Europa League 2, from 2024.

It is clear the clubs, especially those from secondtier countries such as Holland and Poland, regard the ‘big five’ - the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 - as being major obstacles to the changes being

demanded. “UEFA distributes money to big, medium and small countries,� said the Ajax Chief Executive, Edwin van der Sar. “The big five leagues collect money from all over the world and keep it in their own jurisdiction, plus they get solidarity payments from UEFA. This is not sustainable.�

It is understood the Premier League’s leading clubs Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United -

were all represented at the 169-member gathering in Switzerland and are not the object of the ECA’s irritation but the leagues themselves. “You can easily see who is investing and who is protecting individual interests,� said HJK Helsinki Chief Executive Aki Riihilahti.

Initial proposals for a Champions League containing four groups of eight teams, with 14 games and 20 clubs no longer needing to qualify, have now been dropped.

Klopp Seeks Fifth Straight Win as Glo Powers EPL Match-day 5 to Fans As action resumes in the Premier League this weekend, Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Klopp, will be aiming to ramp up a fifth straight win of the season as his team file out against Steve Bruce’s Newcastle at Anfield.

Will the German be able to achieve this and make it 15 points out of 15? Football fans will find out courtesy of Digital Transformation Leader, Globacom, which brings English Premier League matches live to TV viewers. Globacom has afforded Nigerians the opportunity to watch live broadcast of EPL matches since the 2013/2014 League season.

Liverpool currently leads the English Premier League table with 12 points after winning the first four matches of the season. The league is resuming this weekend after the international break.

Defending champions, Manchester City, who are second with 10 points will play Norwich City, while Southampton will lock horns with Sheffield United.

Nuno Espirito Santos, who is fast establishing himself as a tactical genius, will lead his Wolves side out against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Molineux.

In the other Match-day 5 encounters, Brighton will face Burnley, while it is Watford vs

Arsenal, Aston Villa vs West Ham, and Crystal Palace vs Tottenham at Tottenham Stadium in London.

The rest of the matches will have Bournemouth hosting Alex Iwobi‘s Everton.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United, currently occupying the 8th position on the log, will welcome Leicester City which has so far picked eight points, with two wins and two draws, in a tactical sideline battle between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Brendan Rodgers.

Currently, the top four is occupied by the quartet of Liverpool (12 points), Manchester City (10 points), Leicester City

(eight points) and Crystal Palace (seven points).

Commenting on the current League season, football enthusiast, Ibrahim Musa, predicts that Liverpool and Manchester City will still occupy the first two positions all the way to the end of the season, adding that the possibility of upset is very remote judging by what has been seen so far.

Musa said the live broadcast of matches had helped tremendously in enriching the knowledge of football fans in the country, in addition to providing a platform for them to follow their darling clubs on weekly basis.

Iran Football Fan Dies after Setting Herself on Fire An Iranian female football fan who set herself on fire a week ago has died.

The woman set herself alight in Tehran after her trial, for attempting to enter a football stadium disguised as a man, was postponed.

The authorities in Iran regularly stop women from entering stadiums.

Her story has been followed closely by Iranians around the world who used the hashtag “blue girl� - a reference to the colours of her favourite team, Esteqlal of Tehran.

The woman, named as Sahar Khodayari, was arrested in March when she tried to enter a football stadium.

After being jailed for three days she was released on bail and waited six months for her court case.

But when she appeared at court she found out it had been postponed because the judge had a family

emergency.

She later returned to court to pick up her mobile phone and it is widely reported that she is thought to have overheard someone saying that if she were convicted

she could get six months to two years in prison.

She then set herself alight in front of the court house and later died in hospital.

Women in Iran have been stopped from going

to stadiums to watch men’s sporting events since 1981.

This was temporarily lifted last year to allow women to watch the World Cup being streamed at a stadium in Tehran.

Let me state straight away that I am one of those who firmly believe that Lagos State is strategically placed to positively turn our country around. That it is perhaps the only part of Nigeria that can midwife the turnaround we so much desire. I believe Lagos when it fully realizes its full potential will strategically affect every other part of our country because it is the hub of our national life. Those who control our politics hide (not live) in Abuja. But it is Lagos that sets the pace in almost every other sphere of our national life.

In sports, which I believe is key to our tomorrow, Lagos has continued to totter despite all its potentials for achieving greatness.

As someone who was once intimate with the goings on in sports in the state, I know what the blueprint was. By now, the state was to have been opened up in such a way that all local governments/ development areas would have sport arenas in at least four different areas. These facilities were meant to make boxing, table tennis, athletics, tennis, football, swimming, judo, chess, scrabble, etc thrive. Table tennis and football in particular were to blaze the trail. That was when the now abandoned but highly successful MTN Street Soccer started.

All local governments were encouraged to raise football teams in their localities who would take part in a J (Junior) League.

From the private sector, a young man, Yomi Kuku, and his friend Seye Popoola started the ‘Homeless Football’ body that sought primarily to keep urchins off drugs and walking the streets. They have been raising teams to participate in the Homeless World Cup. Table tennis clubs were to spring up in almost every nook and cranny of the state.

Thanks to the untiring effort of former Lagos State Sports Commissioner, Wahid Enitan Oshodi for blazing the table tennis trail. The table tennis revolution is still thriving.

Lagos even embarked on a very ambitious programme to produce ‘authentic Under-16 Babajide Sanwo-Olu football programme’ with players drawn from secondary schools in the state. The students whose real ages would be captured in the state’s database would be groomed in a proper atmosphere that would enhance their performance as football players. I also know that there was a plan to put a minimal sports development levy on workers in the state to fund sports in the state.

At a time, it looked like the sports scene in Lagos was on fire. The various stadiums that had been idle came alive. Sports activities and competitions were taking place at regular rapidity.

Lagos was becoming the Mecca of Sport...

Then the internecine wars, silently but brutally and vigorously fought began. Accusations and allegations of corruption became the order of the day. Subsequently, the focus began to change and soon the decay will set in. Unless the seeping rot is arrested.

Former Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode told me during his investiture as a Patron of Niteshift Coliseum that he had a dream of using sports as a tool not only of mobilising the citizens of the state toward the goals of integration and development but also increase the revenue base of the state. He did not quite do that. His successor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu similarly assured at a similar forum that he knows what sports can do in developing the state. He said he would use sport to galvanize the citizenry. He has almost four years to do that. Almost four years to reignite the revolution of using sports to mobilize the people towards a brighter and better tomorrow. It is to the credit of the governments of the state that despite the humongous population we have, the state is still ‘under-crimed’ when compared to other obscenely large cities around the world.

I hope Sanwo-Olu will set things right here so that it’s template will be replicated all through our country. Lagos represents our country. In it, every single state in our federation is represented. It is through it that the sport injection this country must take would be applied. Not sure our governor is aware of the possibilities sport offers him our state and our country. But the truth is that if he gets the narrative right he is assured of a place in history’s book of reverence and regards.

‌Fashola for President

Iranian football fans have been campaigning for some ttime to stop the ban on female spectators

I have always been a fan of ex Governor now Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola. As governor he was outstanding. Quite so. As Minister, perhaps he was fed with more than he can chew. But the panache he brought to governing Lagos is yet to be surpassed. He was so good that Buhari (who I no longer like) was ready to defy the pervasive influence of their Jagaban in not only making him a Minister but a super one. Last Saturday, our football playing Minister was one of those who donned the jersey of Lagos Veterans in the final of the Veterans Cup against Kano. He wasn’t on the scorer sheet but am satisfied that anyone who is an active sportsman would be an excellent President. So in 2023 please remind me I said I would vote for BRF .... If Donald Duke is not running.

Wednesday September 11, 2019

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MISSILE

Melaye to Appeal Court “The principle of equity accepted and applied by the majority members of the tribunal cannot override the provisions of the law in respect of the petition. The judgment of the tribunal was perverse and against the weight of evidence before it” – Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, appealing judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal sacking him from office.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

For Greta Thunberg G

reta Thunberg, the 16-year old climate activist from Sweden, may not be a popular figure in this clime.

This could be partly explained by the fact that the focus of her campaign, climate change, is what the The Economist calls the “devilish problem of humanity.”

In a perceptive book review, the newspaper says climate change is “at once urgent and slow-moving, immediate and distant, real and abstract.”

This dialectical assertion is aptly captured in the story of Thunberg who made a point of crossing the Atlantic in a solar-powered sailboat to ensure zero-carbon emission. She travelled a fortnight ago from Europe to America to attend the United Nations Summit on Climate Change. Air travels increase carbon emission into the environment.

On landing in New York, Thunberg admonished all the inhabitants of Planet Earth: “It is insane that a 16-year-old would have to cross the Atlantic to take a stand … [against] the climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis and the biggest humanity has ever faced.”

In specific terms, she appealed to President Donald Trump of the United States, a leading climate change denier, to “listen to science.”

The feat recorded by humanity in the December 2015 Climate Change Agreement signed in Paris, France, has suffered a great setback with the U.S. reneging on it. The setback is made more poignant because not only is America responsible for the 15% of global carbon emission, the superpower has a leadership role to play in galvanising the less endowed countries towards achieving the target of limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees celcious.

Although the climate crisis is reaching a proportion of an existential emergency, it is hardly an exciting topic of discussion in many informed quarters.

Thunberg Unless there is a disaster, environment policy news doesn’t hit the headlines.

By projecting Thunberg as the symbol of the global campaign for action on climate change, environmentalists of divergent philosophical hues are rebuking those political and economic powers promoting climate change denial at the expense of this only habitat for humanity, the mother earth.

Mankind is indubitably faced with the nightmarish consequences of the recklessness of capitalist civilisation with its greedy exploitation of natural resources and excessive consumerism.

Perhaps, it is a measure of the moral weight of Thunberg’s voice that this girl from Stockholm has been a target of vitriolic attacks from callous climate deniers. Some have even ignorantly mocked her for being diagnosed of Asperger’s on the autism spectrum. Some call her “freakishly influential” while to some others, she looks “like

a cult member.”

In any case, no one detests creating cult figures in the climate change campaign more than Thunberg herself. She once said: “I think we should focus more on the climate issue because this is not about me.”

Yet, you wonder why any government should need to be persuaded on the centrality of environment to sustainable development amid environmental emergencies plaguing the world.

While the politics of allocation of shrinking resources continues fiercely within each nation, the categorical threat of climate change to human civilisation itself is still dismissed as the idle talks of alarmists in some quarters.

The melting of the arctic ice continues as heat waves rule many of the parts of world with some countries recording higher temperatures yearly.

Coastal cities are being washed way by rising oceans. From Beijing to London to Brasilia, air pollution is causing health hazards.

The symbolism of Thunberg is that ecological issues should be taken more seriously by governments and the people. Some experts would even insist that climate change should be treated as a matter of emergency.

As David Wallace puts it brutally in his important book, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, “it is worse, much worse, than you think.” In an apparent response to critics who may accuse him of being alarmist, Wallace says everyone should indeed be alarmed by climate change. Distress calls are already being made to policymakers by sober and convinced defenders of the environment.

In Nigeria, the national environmental policy suffers from a conceptual limitation given the complex nature of the problem at hand. Even then, there is hardly any enthusiasm about implementing the existing policies especially at the state and

local government levels.

With worsening desertification in the north, floods in the costal and riverine communities and menacing erosion especially in the eastern parts, environment ought to be a priority of governments at all levels in Nigeria.

When you add extremely poor sanitation and air and noise pollution, it becomes clear that the response to the crisis of environment is defined more by indifference than action. For months now, the federal agencies on the environment have been warning against possible devastation of floods in some states. Like it happened in the past, hardly is anyone listening. So it would not be a surprise if the inevitable floods wreak havocs again in the coming months due to the failure of environmental management at all levels including communities.

Nothing, perhaps, nothing demonstrates the official irresponsibility towards the environment in Nigeria more than the tragedy of the Niger Delta.

In fact, it was the campaign of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other great Nigerian environmentalists which gathered momentum about three decades ago that actually drew the international attention to the despoliation of the Niger Delta environment.

Since then, however, there has been a lack of a sense of urgency in driving the process of the regeneration of the environment degraded in the cause of mindless exploration of petroleum resources. Nigeria has been sustained by the rents from the oil extracted from the Niger Delta. But with the lacklustre approach to the restoration of the Niger Delta mangroves, future generations of the people of the region would suffer the environmental consequences of today’s policy failures or lack of effectual policy.

This nation certainly doesn’t have to wait for a Nigerian Thunberg to emerge before coming to terms with the reality of environmental emergency.

Xenophobia or Crisis of Governance?

Issa Aremu

Let’s get it right! It’s the poor Africans that are up in arms against the poor in the guise of xenophobia!

Rich South Africans and Nigerian businesses do also cry but hardly on account of xenophobic attacks on each other’s enterprises and lives. At the height of the MTN’s scandalous SIMs infractions, which criminally fuelled insurgency in the North East, MTN masts were never pulled down but the communication giant was rightly slammed with some N330 billion fine by the National Communication Commission, NCC in 2015.

Poor-on-Poor xenophobic violence and looting which recently engulfed parts of Gauteng, Johannesburg, Cape Town and other cities of South Africa with attendant cycle of reprisal attacks on South Africa’s businesses in Nigeria points to deep crisis of governance and leadership in Africa.

In this case, one indifferent approach to conflicts involving the poor Africans, another rule for big businesses and private capital. SA’s President Cyril Ramaphosa belatedly addressed the nation on the fourth day, on the crisis which reportedly claimed some double-digit African lives (almost some 1000 since 2008!). You don’t assuage grief and prevent conflagration of reprisal anger with unacceptable slow response to an unacceptable serial madness, which xenophobic populism has tuned to be.

In 2008, late Nelson Mandela (though in retirement!) together with his Foundation promptly and spiritedly damned “Africans-on-Africans” violence.

A content analysis of the 20-minute address broadcast of President Cyril Ramaphosa on TV

indicated that it was inspired by ever worsening domestic SA’s violence against women than a decade long orchestrated assault on African immigrants.

Thousands of protesters had marched on Parliament two days in a row demanding a more urgent response to violence against women, the recent casualty being the murdered University of Cape Town (UCT) student Udinese Mrwetyana.

I just returned from Cape Town and Durban. I bear witness that there is a perception that President Cyril Ramaphosa just recently elected is fatigued on arrival. “There can be no excuse for the attacks on the homes and businesses of foreign nationals, just as there can be no excuse for xenophobia or any other form of intolerance,” Ramaphosa said.

He added further: “Equally, there is no justification for the looting and destruction of businesses owned

by South Africans”. And that is the real problem!

Are Africans “foreign nationals” in Africa, South of Africa?

The ANC is the oldest political party on the continent formed in 1912. It was so-named African National Congress, (not South African National Congress) by the founding fathers who are all Africans. The Freedom Charter opens with the declaration that: “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”. Same with SA’s celebrated 1994 non-racial, non-sexist democratic constitution.

What has then happened to pan-Africanism just 25 years apartheid was proclaimed constitutionally dead? Are Malawians, Ruwandans and Nigerians foreigners in Africa? Are Afrikaners and British more African than Zimbabweans and Somalis?

Kwame Nkrumah, on the 24 May 1963 envisioned a continental Union of African States,

when Organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed. Kwame Nkrumah, a key proponent of OAU must be alarmed in his grave to hear that Africans in 2019 are erecting new Apartheid walls against each other. As far back as 1973, Europeans copied Nkrumah’s idea, signed the treaty of Rome that led to the formation of European Union (EU). Today, Europe parades common citizenship, common market, common currency and common front against individual African countries with adverse implication for worsening terms of trade.

More frightening was the alleged official sponsorship of xenophobia by some SA’s politicians and leaders. In a statement issued, “Right2Know” a non-governmental Organization, NGO, said it held Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and Ramaphosa personally responsible for the violence.

The group said: “The recent xenophobic attacks on non-South Africans can be directly linked to calls by politicians to ‘defend the sovereignty of the state’ and confirms a dangerous emerging trend of xenophobic populism which leads to attacks on foreign nationals.

The xenophobic intent was, and still is, very clear. It wanted to do what the state had failed to do: remove foreigners from the city.”

President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to South Africa next month is very timely. After the recent diplomatic heat, Buhari must shed light on the new reformed relations between the two biggest economies in Africa. The President must do some quality control of the current incoherent official responses informed by legitimate anger against senseless xenophobic attacks. It’s time for an informed foreign policy and strategy.

Buhari must offer some concrete initiatives that would facilitate movement of labour and capital in Africa on the continent within the context of the new African Continental Free Trade Agreement, ACFTA, the Constitutive Act of the Africa Union (AU) launched in 2002 by the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and of course NEPAD. Where Ramaphosa miserably failed in initiatives, Buhari must make a difference.

The point cannot be overstated: AU was inspired by the noble ideals of African unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States.

Buhari must also offer to urgently revive Nigeria- South Africa Nigeria-South Africa biNational Commission. The commission must address all issues between the two countries.

It must also involve organized businesses and organized labour. So far, the relations between the two biggest economies has been transactional between businesses driven by profits, profits and profits, not the PEOPLE. Buhari must champion peoples-to- people relations with eye on investment, trade and mass job creation in the two countries. Both SA and Nigeria need a new development agenda different from the existing neo-liberal market economy which has produced almost 60 per cent youth unemployment, 70 per cent in poverty, shameless inequality and the great-divide between the two countries’ 1 per cent super rich and 99 per cent poor. Xenophobia will persist as long as many Africans hunt for limited indecent jobs as industries close down.

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