FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2019

Manufacturers, Employers, Others Reject Bid to Hike VAT Urge FG to widen tax net Buhari: We won't inflict more hardship on Nigerians

Dike Onwuamaeze, Chris Uba in Lagos, Chuks Okocha and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Opposition mounted yesterday against the plan by the

federal government to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) from the extant 5 per cent to 7.2 per cent as manufacturers, employers, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among other stakeholders,

rejected the moves to raise the consumption tax.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative

Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and other private sector operators said raising VAT would have negative impact

on the real sector and the economy.

The PDP condemned the planned hike, saying Nigerians cannot bear such burden under the prevailing agonising economic situation.

But amidst the criticisms, President Muhammadu Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration would not inflict more hardship on them, Continued on page 8

EFCC Meets with Senior Lawyers over P&ID $9.6bn Arbitral Award... Page 8

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Northern Govs Adopt Livestock Plan John Shiklam in Kaduna

VICTORY WELL DESERVED, MR. PRESIDENT...

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Baiwa Umar-Eluma (fourth left); President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha and APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and other APC women leaders, who came to rejoice with the president on his victory at the tribunal, in Abuja… yesterday state house

Northern state governors yesterday adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), initiated by the federal government, to curb the persistent clashes between farmers and herders in the region.

The governors, under the aegis of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF), rose from a meeting in Kaduna, saying the NLTP defined the pathway for modernising pastoral activities.

The federal government had in June 2018, launched the NLTP as a permanent solution to farmers-herdsmen clashes in Nigeria.

Continued on page 10

In Show of Triumphalism, FG, APC Demand Apology from Atiku, PDP Your gloating won’t last, opposition party replies

Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams

Oshiomhole, yesterday taunted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for losing their bid to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu

Buhari in the election.

The duo urged them to apologise to Nigerians for challenging the president’s declaration as the winner of the election, adding that Buhari will win the former vice president even at the World

Court or the Supreme Court.

But the PDP, which has signified its intention to appeal the judgment of the tribunal, which rejected its petition to nullify Buhari’s election, at the Supreme Court, fired back, saying their triumphalism

would be transient.

Mohammed called on Atiku and the PDP to apologise for deliberately distracting the Buhari administration with what he described as a frivolous election petition.

In a statement yesterday from St. Petersburg, Russia, Mohammed acknowledged that while the PDP and its candidate reserved the right to pursue their petition to the Continued on page 8

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N’Assembly Lacks Power to Take over Edo Assembly, Court Rules... Page 10

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EFCC Meets with Senior Lawyers over P&ID $9.6bn Arbitral Award

Tobi Soniyi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has met with two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Supo Shasore and Tunde Fagbohunlu in connection with the agreement between Nigeria and Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited, which attracted an enforcement order by a British commercial court of a $9.6 billion arbitral award against Nigeria.

THISDAY gathered that Shasore was the first lawyer that prosecuted the case on behalf of the federal government at the arbitration tribunal in the United Kingdom from 2014 under the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to when President Muhammadu Buhari came to power.

Fagbohunlu, on his part, rendered a legal opinion and also recommended former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Modibo Belgore, who testified against the federal government in London on the

controversial contract.

It was gathered that the commission met with the two lawyers, in continuation of its ongoing probe into the P&ID saga, as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, in order to gain further insight into the failed gas project.

THISDAY gathered that EFCC invited Shasore last Thursday and asked him to shed more light on the failed gas project deal.

It was learnt that after the interaction with Shasore, who had since returned to his Lagos home, the EFCC told him it might still need assistance in future.

On his part, sources said yesterday that the interaction with Fagbohunlu was still ongoing.

The anti-graft agency had also on Tuesday invited Justice Belgore to assist its operatives assigned to the probe with information about his role in the judgment debt.

Sources said the former CJN was allowed to go home on

Tuesday after he told them that it would be ridiculous to allow the meeting to drag on for too long, saying that at his age, he could not withstand such a long interaction.

Shasore on the other hand, was invited last Thursday as he was preparing to travel to the UK for his daughter’s wedding, which took place last Saturday.

Family sources said the meeting with the EFCC delayed his departure for London.

However, he eventually made the trip and upon his return to the country, he again appeared and was asked to go home pending when he would be invited again.

Confirming his meeting with the EFCC last night, Shasore said he was helping the commission in its investigation.

He stated that at no time was he detained or harassed as he willingly cooperated with the operatives of the commission.

He said he gave the antigraft agency all the necessary information that would aid it in its investigation, including

his files he used to prosecute the case for four years.

The former Lagos State attorney general lamented that it was after he handed off the case after four years that $6.5 billion was awarded against the federal government.

He said those who took over the case after he handed over the matter should tell Nigerians how the humongous amount was awarded against Nigeria.

“Yes, I went in and gave them my files and other documents that would help them in their investigation. I cooperated with them perfectly.

“I don’t have anything to fear. For the four years that I was involved in the case, there was no $6.5 billion award against the federal government.

“Those who took over from where we stopped have some explanations for Nigerians on how $6.5 billion was awarded against the country.

“I think they got all the information they need to do their job. I have even told them that anytime they need me, they

should tell me and I will go," he added.

Under the Gas Supply and Purchasing Agreement (GSPA) P&ID entered into with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, on behalf of the federal government in 2010, Nigeria was to supply wet gas to P&ID plant, to be built in Cross River State, which would be processed and used to generate about 2,000 MW of electricity for Nigeria.

But the inability of the federal government to supply the wet gas prompted P&ID to seek arbitration for what it termed the loss of revenue the company could have earned from the project over a 20-year period.

Last week, the commission had intensified its probe into how the contract came into being in the first instance following a report published

by Bloomberg Businessweek, which detailed a pattern of alleged fraud by the company's promoter, Mr. Michael Quinn.

THISDAY had learnt that the anti-graft agency was expanding

its focus of investigation following concern the report had generated among top government officials as it detailed a pattern, similar to the controversial GSPA, P&ID entered into with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which led to the $9.6 billion arbitral award, now largely suspected to have been procured under fraudulent circumstances through which the late Quinn had previously tried to wangle hefty sums of money from the Nigerian treasury.

The Bloomberg report showed that the late Quinn, who began living in Nigeria in the 2000s, warmed his ways into the hearts of top government officials and political bigwigs, and had a reputation of short-changing Nigeria in the contracts awarded to him by his friends and contacts in government.

It was learnt the EFCC was now trying to determine if there were pattern of fraud being perpetrated by P&ID using phoney contracts and arbitration.

sound arrogant. Yesterday (Wednesday), I said that I hope this whole contestation is about Nigeria who actually won the election and both parties are committed to building Nigeria and is not about who should be given the key.

“Now, this has been resolved and it is time to queue behind the winner and move on. Our winner is the best example that losing election is not tantamount to the end of your political life. He lost three and today he is the president.

“But, when I see the arrogance with which they pronounce and they bring what I call television lawyers, who pronounced with some magestirial finality as if they are judges even without any evidence before them, let me now say authoritatively, we are now ready to meet them.

“President Buhari is now ready to meet defeated Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court and the APC is ready to meet the PDP at the Supreme Court and Adams Oshiomhole is ready to meet my brother, Secondus, at the Supreme Court and he will take second and I will take first.”

Your Gloating Will Be Short-lived, PDP Replies

they own the court and can determine the position of the judiciary on any matter.

"Notwithstanding, the PDP holds that Nigerians have seen the ‘several errors’ in the judgment delivered by the Appeal Court and have turned the verdict to a butt of jokes in public space.

"We invite Lai Mohammed to tell Nigerians if his law degree was awarded to him on the basis of a sworn affidavit and pictures of his classmates; or was his Call to Bar at the Nigerian Law School also based on presentation of pictures and affidavit?"

According to the PDP, the unguarded outburst of the minister has heightened apprehension among Nigerians about recurrent manipulations of process by the APC and the Buhari’s presidency.

PDP added that it stands with Nigerians and was heading to the Supreme Court to uphold justice in the matter and salvage the country from the drift towards impunity, anarchy and lawlessness.

power of Nigerian consumers.

It affects investors negatively when cost increase and the ability to transfer the additional cost to consumers is weak. So, we are likely to see an erosion of profit margins. And for businesses that are already struggling will begin to declare losses. So, it is going to pose a serious challenge.”

On her part, the National President of NACCIMA, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu, said the country's economic growth and trajectory had not fully recovered from the 2016 economic recession to withstand such an increase.

According to her, GDP growth rate per quarter has been 1.74 per cent on average - not exceeding 2.4 per cent at its highest point, since the country regained positive economic growth in the second quarter of 2017.

She added that inflation rate is still high, revolving around 11.3 per cent since May 2018 while unemployment rate as at the third quarter of 2018, stood at 23.1 per cent, with an estimated 20.9 million people unemployed.

“With this in mind, the association is of the view that an increase in the current VAT rate will likely have multiple negative effects starting with the initial increase in the final prices of goods and services. There will also likely be an increase in the cost of production; a rise in inflation; an erosion of the purchasing power of the average Nigerian; the reduced competitiveness of Nigerian goods and services in international markets; and a rise in unemployment as the real sector adjusts to rising costs

In Show of Triumphalism, FG, APC Demand Apology from Atiku, PDP highest level, “they will be better served by dropping their toga of desperation and realising that there is a limit to tomfoolery.”

“Nigerians are tired of this orchestrated distraction, and will rather wish that the opposition, having lost at the polls and in court, will now join hands with the government to move Nigeria to the next level.

“This is more so that the judgment validating the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was unanimous that the petition lacked merit, that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds upon which their case was anchored and that President Buhari is eminently qualified to contest the poll,” he added.

According to him, instead of casting aspersion on the judiciary with their poorlyframed reaction to the ruling of the tribunal, the PDP and its candidate should be thanking their stars that they are not being prosecuted for coming to court with fraudulentlyobtained evidence.

“It is intriguing that a party that trumpets the rule of law at every turn will present, in

open court, evidence it claimed to have obtained by hacking into a supposed INEC server.

“Don’t they realise this is a criminal act for which they are liable? Instead of threatening to head to the Supreme Court, driven more by ego than commonsense, they should be sorry for allowing desperation to overwhelm their sense of reasoning. Enough is enough,” Mohammed stated.

He commended the tribunal for not only doing justice to the case but for explaining, in painstaking details that lasted hours, how it arrived at its judgment. ”We also thank Nigerians who voted massively to re-elect President Buhari for their continued support,” he said.

On his part, Oshiomhole yesterday said Buhari and the APC would defeat the PDP and Atiku should they go to the Supreme Court, and if possible, the World Court, to challenge the ruling of the tribunal.

Oshiomhole spoke with State House correspondents when he accompanied APC women leaders from the national, zonal and 36 states of the federation to meet with Buhari.

Oshiomhole was optimistic that no surprise would come out from the Supreme Court as they are most likely to rely on the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

He said: “We as a party we are confident that if it is within the Nigerian law for PDP to go even to the World Court, we will meet them there. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is not that of PDP or the APC, the Supreme Court is governed by law and is to interpret the evidence before the Court of Appeal.

“They are not at liberty to introduce new issues neither can they bring in new witnesses.

“So, if it is what I heard yesterday which I believe you also heard, thanks to the media, most Nigerians were detained for eight hours listening to arguments of the judges one after the other. Even though we thought it was getting longer and longer, but we realised that they tried to deal with the issues raised, even the ones you and I as a layman will consider inconsequential, they dealt with each of them, trashed them and arrived at a conclusion.

“So, I don’t want to

Manufacturers, Employers, Others Re ject Bid to Hike VAT but would rather strive to alleviate their plight by creating a more enabling environment for everyone to thrive.

The Federal Executive Council, rising from its meeting on Wednesday, had approved the bid to raise VAT to 7.2 per cent. However, the increase, according to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the implementation of the decision would wait until the extant VAT law is amended.

In separate interviews with THISDAY over the planned hike in VAT, the private sector operators urged the federal government to shelve its proposal to raise VAT by over two per cent.

They also urged the federal government to widen the tax base by including more enterprises in the tax net instead of increasing VAT.

MAN President, Mansur Ahmed, told THISDAY that the current proposal to increase VAT would worsen the current economic hardship Nigerians are experiencing at the moment.

He urged the federal government to pursue the initial plan of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) to expand the tax base by ensuring that more Nigerians and corporate entities are made to pay taxes.

“Increasing VAT by nearly 50 per cent would worsen the problem of high cost of doing business in the country.

It will also reduce the effective demand of consumers in purchasing goods and services.

This will not augur well with manufacturers who already have more unsold items in their warehouses due to low purchasing power of Nigerian consumers.

“Therefore, efforts should be directed at expanding the tax base. This effort has not been exhausted,” Ahmed stated.

Similarly, the Director General of the LCCI, Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that the new proposal would only worsen the businesses environment that is already challenging for investors.

He said: “And knowing the way VAT is operated in this environment, it will not count whether the product is an input for production or not.

Because practically everything is subjected to VAT unlike what happens in other climes where VAT is treated purely as a consumption tax.

“So, clearly, this is going to be an additional big burden on businesses, especially because it is difficult to transfer cost to the consumers because of the prevailing weak purchasing

But in a swift response, the PDP urged Mohammed to be cautious in celebrating the judgment of the tribunal, as his gloating will be short-lived.

The main opposition party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the judgment, which it described as a direct miscarriage of justice, could not stand at the Supreme Court, given the weight of evidence against Buhari and the APC. The PDP added that those celebrating what it described as an “attempt to corrupt the justice system as well as the brazen approval of a clear case of perjury” are telling Nigerians something about their conscience and character.

It said: "Our party is not surprised that Lai Mohammed, speaking for the Buhari’s administration, came short of calling for the arrest and prosecution of opposition members for coming before the Appeal Court, adding that this exposed their belief that

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N’Assembly Lacks Power to Take Over Edo Assembly, Court Rules Says issuing fresh proclamation amounts to extending members' tenure

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has declared that the National Assembly does not have the power to take over the functions of the Edo State House of Assembly or any other state House of Assembly.

The court, while delivering judgment yesterday in Port Harcourt in a suit filed by Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye and a member of the House, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo, also held that the National Assembly lacks the power to direct Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to issue

fresh proclamation to the House of Assembly, as such a directive would amount to extending the tenure of the state lawmakers.

Idiaye and Okhuarobo, on behalf of themselves, had approached the Federal High Court to challenge the moves by the National Assembly to take over the functions of the House of Assembly.

Joined in the suit were the Clerk of the National Assembly, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, InspectorGeneral of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Edo State governor.

In his judgment, Justice Kolawole Omotosho declared

Northern Govs Adopt Livestock Plan

The programmme is built on six key pillars - economic investment, conflict resolution, law and order, humanitarian relief, information education and strategic communication and other issues.

The NSGF, in a communiqué read by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, said the adoption of the NLTP, was the only option for addressing the incessant farmers/herders conflict, which has led to the destruction of many lives and property in the northern states.

However, Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Benson Abuonu, told journalists in an interview

that the state government would study the plan to ensure that it conforms with its anti-open grazing law.

The Benue State Government had in 2018 enacted the antigrazing law, which prohibits open grazing, following incessant conflicts between farmers and herders in the state, which led to massive killings and destruction.

Ortom said: “There are seven states at the pilot stage but with regards to Benue, whatever is going to happen in this area of animal husbandry that thing has to be in conformity with the local laws of Benue that is in existence.

"Principally, that law says there should be no open

that it is only the court that could direct the National Assembly to take over or seal the Edo State House of Assembly.

Omotosho said: "There is nothing before the court

showing that the Edo State House of Assembly is unable to sit. Some elected members have been inaugurated. The House has been carrying out its legislative duties.

"The National Assembly lacks the power to take over the Edo State House of Assembly. It amounts to taking over the functions of the Edo State House of Assembly. The House of Assembly is not an appendage of the National Assembly.

"The National Assembly lacks the power to seal off or direct anybody to seal off the Edo State House of Assembly.

The Nigerian Constitution is a federal constitution and the National Assembly cannot unilaterally decide that Edo

State House of Assembly is in crisis and seal off the same.

"It is only a court of law that has the power to make findings, particularly after listening to parties, to decide that the National Assembly can take over a state House of Assembly.

"I hold that it is the court that has the power to define and hold that Edo State House of Assembly cannot function and the National Assembly can take over.

"As far as the law is concerned, the governor of Edo State has given a proclamation.

The National Assembly has no power to direct the governor to issue a fresh proclamation.

The governor is the chief executive of the state and

cannot be controlled by the National Assembly.

"The court will be extending the tenure of members of the Edo State House of Assembly if it holds that the governor should issue fresh proclamation. Nigeria is a federal state and state governments are autonomous.

Our political actors must see it like that and treat them as such."

Addressing journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the Obaseki, Santos Owootori, described the judgment as sound and victory for democracy.

Counsel to the claimants, Kingsley Idahosa, said they were glad that the judgment went in their favour.

grazing and there should be ranching of animals that anybody is going to rear.

"Therefore as long as the programme is in conformity with our law, then it would be acceptable to us."

According to the communiqué, the emergency meeting was convened to discuss some key topical issues of common interest, particularly development of the agricultural sector being the economic live wire of the region.

“The current challenges of insecurity, which seems to be persisting despite concerted efforts by all tiers of governments, was also deliberated upon; insightful analyses and the best

possible ways to address the menace, which is currently bedeviling the region, proffered. Consequently, the forum resolved to continue to adopt a sustainable and holistic approach towards tackling this challenge in the region.

“It is the forum's unwavering determination to rescue the region and reposition it to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people, especially in the areas of security, economic and social development.

“On agriculture, the forum was well informed about the National Livestock Transformation Plan and its disparities with the Ruga plan. ”It is expected that the plan would ensure resettling and

addressing the dislocated populations in the key conflict zones to enable them to become part of the agricultural modernisation process.

“In the same vein, it would provide a mechanism for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the affected communities towards a harmonious mutually beneficial future.

“The forum, therefore, adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which lays out clear path for modernising pastoral activities. ”It further encouraged other states not included as pilot states to endeavour to join the plan/programme,” the forum said.

The communiqué said the governors were also briefed on the almajiri phenomenon in Northern states and noted the challenges of the system despite its conception on high religious and moral importance.

“Currently, many children are increasingly exposed to vulnerability and resultant exploitation, thereby making them susceptible to criminal activities.

“The forum after in-depth discussions, resolved to collaborate further with experts in this field with a view to finding implementable recommendations to solve the almajiri phenomenon and take children out of the streets,” it added.

not be justified under any guise.

"President Buhari ought to be aware that an increase in VAT will worsen our decrepit economy and put more pressure on families and businesses as it will result in increase in costs of goods and services that have direct bearing on the welfare of the people.

"Our party charges the Buhari presidency not to further punish Nigerians by imposing harsh tax regime to make up for its crass incompetence and lack of capacity to effectively harness and manage our resources to create wealth for the benefit of the people," the party said.

The PDP urged the National Assembly to protect Nigerians and save the nation from collapse by rejecting the proposed hike.

by its President, Quadri Olaleye, that the president should resist the temptation to further hike fuel price.

According to him, the president reasoned with the group that instead of hiking fuel price, it will be better to eliminate corruption in the oil sector, assuring TUC leaders that more hardship will not be unleashed on Nigerians.

“On fuel prices, I agree with you on the need to eliminate corruption and inefficiencies in the sector. I want to assure you that as an administration, we have no intention of inflicting any additional hardship on Nigerians,’’ the president said.

The president also said the federal government remained committed to the implementation of the new national minimum wage, pointing out that Wednesday's inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting dwelt mainly on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which he said included issues of the new minimum wage.

The statement also said Buhari told the TUC delegation what his administration did in its first term, which he said helped Nigeria to exit recession.

“During our first term, we secured the nation’s territorial integrity and continue to protect the lives and properties of our citizens. We introduced various economic stimulus packages that support businesses and traders

at all levels, promoted backward integration programmes, especially in the agricultural sector to enhance our food security while creating jobs.

“We embarked on the most ambitious infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects this country has seen in decades. We also introduced the largest Social Investment Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Although these programmes and many more successfully lifted Nigeria out of recession, the full impact is yet to be felt.

In the next four years, we shall sustain this momentum and by the grace of God, lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty,’’ the statement quoted the president as saying.

It said Buhari promised that his administration would work hard to improve the livelihood of Nigerians, adding that most of the inherited challenges were avoidable, if previous governments had shown commitments to infrastructure development and human capacity building.

The statement added that the TUC president, in his remarks, urged the federal government to pay more attention to the welfare of Nigerians by deliberately avoiding fuel price hike and promptly implementing the new national minimum wage, which he said had been delayed by negotiations on consequential adjustments.

Gov Obaseki

Manufacturers, Employers, Others Re ject Bid to Hike VAT of production,” she said.

NECA Director General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, had recently said in Abuja that in the event that federal government decided to increase VAT against the will of the people, the increase should be limited to luxury or ostentatious goods only.

He also urged government to double its efforts at expanding the tax net, reducing the income gap and improving the economy through more friendly fiscal policies and promoting the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“The federal government should bring up machinery in order to further increase the tax bracket, widen the tax net as the country is presently achieving less than 10 per cent of its VAT potential.

“Recently released data of the country’s GDP growth indicated a contraction in the past 2 quarters (Q4, 2018 (2.38 per cent), Q1, 2019 (2.10 per cent), Q2, 2019 (1.94 per cent)) and also International Monetary Fund has recently revised downward its global economic growth forecast to 3.2 per cent due to sluggish in global economy. Therefore, this suggests that at such period of time, governments should be formulating fiscal measures/ policies to stimulate their economies,” he had said.

On his part, the President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI),

Chief Solomon Vongfa, condemned the planned VAT hike, saying instead of seeking how to expand the tax net to over 41 million enterprises, the federal government is planning to increase VAT to 7.2 per cent.

"With the 41 million enterprises in the country, five per cent is quite enough.

With the increase, many of our members are about to be sent out of business just as many jobs will also be lost.

"They just increased it without consultation. Now, we are in AfCFTA; how can we compete with the rise in VAT? They will end turning Nigeria into a dumping ground,” he added.

He urged the federal government to rethink the increase, saying that it is not in the interest of small businesses.

"The NASSI wishes to say that the 7.2 per cent VAT increase is not fair to entrepreneurs, rather we expect the government to be more proactive and creative to expand its tax base to capture more companies. A lot of entrepreneurs are out there and not captured in the tax net," he said.

According to Chief Executive Officer of Cash Express Bureau de Change Limited, Josephat Madueke, a further increase in VAT would mean higher inflation in the economy because it would be charged on any goods being imported into the country.

“Whereas people see it as

making revenue available to the government, it will increase inflation. I don’t see anything otherwise. This move will virtually impose a tax of more than 42.2 percent on businesses. How? Company Income Tax is 35 per cent.

Add the proposed tax and you will get the figure. There are other taxes on business I do not remember now. That is why it will be nothing but inflation.

“Bear in mind that we are an import dependent economy. So, we will be soaking ourselves with inflation. If we are an export-oriented economy, these costs will be taken outside our economy. But that is not so with us; therefore, all the cost will remain within the Nigerian economy. These taxes do not promote production.

Neither are they incentives to manufacturing,” Madueke said.

He also urged the government to be fair in its implementation by resisting to grant waivers to any enterprise or person.

Also reacting to the planned increment, the PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the decision as anti-people, suppressive and a further confirmation that the Buhari administration is exploitative, inconsiderate and insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.

It said the decision to increase VAT was in bad faith and could

Buhari: We Won't Inflict More Hardship on Nigerians Meanwhile, Buhari yesterday said his administration would not inflict more hardships on Nigerians but would rather strive to alleviate their plight and create a more enabling environment for everyone to thrive.

A statement by a presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the president made the pledge while responding to a plea by a Trade Union Congress (TUC) delegation, led

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

22,000 Nigerians Missing in North-east, Says Red Cross Dike Onwuamaeze Nearly 22,000 Nigerians have been reported missing in the North-east region due to a decade of conflict in the area, according to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer.

Maurer told reporters yesterday in Lagos that the figure is the highest number of missing persons registered with the ICRC in any country.

He also said millions of people had also been displaced due to the conflict.

In 2018, the Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria as the third most terrorised country in the world, for the fourth consecutive year.

ICRC, in a statement, said nearly 60 per cent of the missing Nigerians were minors at the time they went missing.

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is not knowing

where their child is. This is the tragic reality for thousands of Nigerian parents, leaving them with the anguish of a constant search.

“People have the right to know the fate of their loved ones, and more needs to be done to prevent families from being separated in the first place.

“Families in North-east Nigeria are often separated while fleeing attacks. Others have had loved ones abducted or detained and do not know their whereabouts. The ICRC works with the Nigerian Red Cross and other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in the region to trace missing people by showing photographs, calling out names, and going door-to-door in camps and communities,” Maurer said.

He added that he had during a five-day visit to Nigeria met with President Muhammadu Buhari and went to Maiduguri, capital

of Borno State and the hotbed of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.

He also met with civil society organisations, business leaders and spoke with families affected by the conflict in Maiduguri and Monguno, many of whom are said to have missing relatives.

Maurer also attended a sensitisation forum on Humanitarian Partnerships and Social Investment that was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in collaboration with the ICRC. He said social investments were needed to provide victims of humanitarian conflicts with small businesses that would help them to return to normal lives.

He called on the private sector to help “because there are still more gaps to be filled.

What we want is partnership that can enhance capacity by making capital available for productive work.”

The forum, which was aimed at deepening the private sector’s participation in humanitarian social investment in Africa, was attended by Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu.

Elumelu said private sectors and wealthy Africans should invest in humanitarian efforts with the desire to make people self-reliant and self-dependent.

He described the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s goal in humanitarian crises as helping to provide victims with businesses that would support and integrate them to the society where they could live with self-respect

and dignity.

“The first beneficiaries of our engagement with ICRC were 200 beneficiaries at about $8 million. Today we have a lot more. We have partnership with UNDP also. Our vision is to offer global opportunity to our people and compliment what agencies like ICRC are doing so that we can reduce these cases of fragility we are seeing all around us. At the Foundation, we believe that poverty anywhere affects all of us everywhere,” he added.

Earlier, President of LCCI, Babatunde Ruwase, had described the forum as a further effort at sensitising and deepening the private sector’s involvement in humanitarian partnerships to engender social investment in Nigeria and Africa.

“The event of today (yesterday) is to sensitise the

business community on the imperative of scaling up their participation and engagement in the humanitarian space.

“Let me also say that it is in our own enlightened self-interest to contribute and support social investments tailored towards addressing humanitarian challenges through partnerships that promotes a win-win proposition,” he said.

The National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Bolaji Anani, acknowledged the growing partnerships the society enjoyed with the private sector.

“In addition to being an important source of funding for humanitarian operations, they also pave the way for innovation and technical excellence in humanitarian and development assistance,” he stated.

Oil Price Slumps to $59 after OPEC’s Talks Iraq, Nigeria agree to cut output

Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Oil prices fell yesterday after a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies took no decision on deepening supply cuts but focused instead on bringing Nigerian and Iraqi output down to their agreed quotas.

OPEC agreed yesterday to trim oil output by asking overproducing members - Iraq and Nigeria to bring production in line with their targets as the group strives to prevent a glut amid soaring United States production and a slowing global economy.

Crude oil prices also came under further pressure after the European Central Bank cut its deposit rate to a record low -0.5 per cent from -0.4 per cent, saying it will restart bond purchases of 20 billion euros a month from November to prop up eurozone growth.

The price of the global benchmark crude, Brent was down $1.20 at $59.61 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate futures fell 96 cents to $54.79.

Both were heading for a third session of losses, from their 2019 peaks of $75 as fears of a global recession outweigh concerns about falling supply from sanctions-hit Iran and Venezuela.

Saudi Arabia’s new Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said deeper cuts would not be decided before a meeting of the OPEC planned for December.

Abdulaziz said, however, his country would keep cutting by more than it pledged in a deal that has throttled supply by OPEC and its allies by 1.2 million barrels per day.

Nigeria, Iraq and Russia have, at times, produced above their quota.

A statement from OPEC and its allies, a grouping known as OPEC+, said oil stocks in industrial countries remained above the five-year average.

Oil market-monitoring committee formed by OPEC+,

met yesterday in Abu Dhabi ahead of their policy discussions in Vienna in December.

Though OPEC+ has overcomplied on average with its agreed cut of 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), some members, such as Iraq and Nigeria, were said to have been producing above their quota.

Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, pledged yesterday to reduce output by 175,000 bpd

by October, while Nigeria is to reduce supply by 57,000 bpd.

Iraq has been raising its production and exports steeply in recent years, while Iran’s exports have collapsed over the past year because of US sanctions.

Iraq has been pumping 4.8 million bpd in recent months instead of its target of 4.512 million. Nigeria produced 1.84 million bpd in August versus its target of 1.685 million.

OPEC’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, will voluntarily overdeliver on its targets and pump just below 10 million bpd, Abdulaziz also said.

He said yesterday’s meeting also discussed rising US shale output and exports, a global economic slowdown and a possible softening of US sanctions on OPEC member Iran.

The Saudi minister added that any formal decision on deeper oil cuts could be taken only at the next OPEC+ meeting in December.

“I can tell you quite frankly that in all deliberations we have discussed all the potential uncertainties as any responsible organisation and we are mindful of them,” Abdulaziz said.

“There is clear readiness to continue to be responsible and responsive.”

He added that the ministerial committee would gather again before the full OPEC meeting in December.

OPEC, Russia and other nonmembers agreed in December to reduce production by 1.2 million bpd – or 1.2 per cent of global supply – from January 1 this year.

ending farmers, herders’ clashes....

L-R: Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Bello Matawalle; Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar; Chairman, Northern Governors Forum and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Niger State Governor, Sani Bello; and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, at the inauguration of the Northern Nigeria Developement Company (NNDC) Shopping Mall in Kaduna ...yesterday IDRIS EGAJI

FG: $400bn Looted from Govt Treasury EFCC pledges to recover stolen assets

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The federal government said yesterday that the amount of money looted from government treasury through corrupt practices stood at $400 billion.

This is coming as the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said the commission was committed to the recovery of stolen assets for the development of the country.

The Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who made the declaration in Abuja, said government arrived at the amount through a research conducted recently.

Keyamo, who spoke while addressing 164 officers of the EFCC Cadet Course 8 currently undergoing orientation and induction at the EFCC Academy, said corruption was the bane of the country.

“If we don’t kill corruption,

corruption will kill Nigeria.

Anybody who said corruption is not the bane of Nigeria today is not honest.

“A research conducted sometimes ago revealed that the amount of money looted as a result of corruption in Nigeria stands at $400 billion,” he said.

Keyamo charged the cadets to take the fight against corruption seriously, bearing in mind the admonition of President Muhammadu Buhari that, “if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.

Keyamo enjoined the cadets to celebrate their recruitment into the commission at a time when the EFCC truly enjoyed complete independence to execute its mandate.

He blamed interference by previous governments for the slow pace of the fight against corruption in the past as several investigations and prosecution of offenders were frustrated.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Chairman, Magu, has reiterated

the commitment of the commission to the recovery of stolen assets for the development of the nation.

Magu disclosed this at a session between him and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other top executives of the country’s anti-corruption agencies at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The EFCC boss who pledged to recover Nigeria’s stolen funds hidden in different parts of the globe, said: “I am very committed to the recovery of stolen funds wherever they are located, which should be utilised through budgetary system to remedy the harm the theft has caused.”

While intimating the lawmakers on the recent achievements of the commission in the fight against cyber fraud, especially the outcomes of EFCC’s collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI), Magu said “the just concluded ‘Operation Rewired,’ resulted in the recovery of the sum of $169,850 as well as N92 million,” adding that lots of expensive cars and several plots of land were also recovered during the operation across Nigeria.

He also pointed to the $40 million worth of jewelry forfeited to the federal government by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, stating that the EFCC would assist the government to ensure that there was effective utilisation of recovered stolen funds.

He listed the agencies that benefitted from allocation of recovered assets to include Voice of Nigeria (VON), Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD), North East Development Commission (NEDC) and National Social Investment Office and Fiscal Responsibility Commission (NSIOFRC).

FRIday september 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Apapa Gridlock: FG to Link Ports with Rail in Three Months

Imports 200 wagons for cargo evacuation Approves $5.3bn for Ibadan-Kano standard rail project Eromosele Abiodun in Lagos and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja As part of a permanent solution to the protracted Apapa gridlock as a result of truckers parking on the roads and bridges, the federal government has announced that it will link the Apapa and Tincan ports with rail between December 2019 and January 2020.

This is coming as the federal government has also approved $5.3 billion for the Ibadan-Kano standard gauge rail project.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who disclosed this at a maritime stakeholders meeting in Lagos yesterday, also announced that the federal government have imported over 200 wagons for the evacuation of cargos from the ports, warning that the truckers will be out of business and will have no need to park on the roads when the project is actualised.

Also, in a bid to ensure transparency, efficiency and eliminate corruption in the ports across the country, he said the government will by the end of this year implement the Single

Window system, adding that Nigeria is the only country in West Africa without the Single Window System.

A Single Window is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. If the information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once. The Single Window is a practical application of trade facilitation concepts intended to reduce non-tariff trade barriers and deliver immediate benefits to all members of the trading community.

According to him, “I believe that the solution to Apapa port is when we get the railway to the sea port; that is why we are working extra hard to get the rail to the sea port between December this year and January 2020. By the time we achieve that, all the trucks that parks on the roads and bridges will only remain there if the Lagos State government allows them.

“It will be difficult for them to even get business because the railway company also wants to make money and to make money they have to carry cargo. So, we have imported 200 wagons to move cargo. At least if we can’t move the cargos to Kano in a few months, we would have moved them to Kano. There will be Inland Container Dry Port (ICDP) in Ibadan where we will keep the cargo and if we keep it for more than two days the ICDP managers will charge the cargo owners. By the time we are able to extend it to Kano you will not hear about Apapa traffic again,” he said.

Amaechi also disclosed that the Minister of State for Transportation will directly supervise the maritime sector, while he focuses on railway.

“I asked about my achievement in maritime in my first term as minister and I was not convinced by what I was told because as far as I am concerned, I completely abandoned maritime.

After a detailed discussion with the Minister of State for Transportation, we have agreed that she will supervise maritime directly this time why I focus on railway. I will only intervene if there are things I want to be done are not been executed.

“There are two key areas I have discussed with the president and I have told the president that I will be fully in charge of these areas. They are security and the single window and I have assured government that by the end of this year, Nigeria will have the single window. Yesterday we got approval to complete the

$5.3 billion railway from Ibadan to Kano; we are also going to conclude the costal roads from Port Harcourt to Warri and Benin to Onitsha. We will also look at the possibility of reconstructing the Bonny Deep Sea Port and Warri sea ports. It came up again when it was asked at the FEC meeting if we complete the central rail line without the sea port in Warri it will not function well, hence the decision to construct the Warri sea port,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello disclosed that the council has negotiated and agreed with shipping companies to cut down their cost by 35 per cent by next month.

“Cost is driving cargo out of

Nigeria ports; we have to have a comparative advantage because we are actually competing with other ports in neighboring countries and this is sometimes lost to many people. We have negotiated with the shipping companies and 35 per cent of the cost as we know them today will disappear by next month.

“I am appealing to the terminal operators to also come onboard, so that we can discuss the cost. The government owes responsibility to the private sector, to create conducive atmosphere for their operation. The operating environment in Nigeria is a little bit harsh and I am being very modest about this. Government most improve on infrastructure and this is what we have been crying about in Apapa for example, “he stated.

Buhari: Why I Appointed Woman as Finance Minister Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said he appointed a woman as the Minister of Finance to ensure effective management of available limited resources and promote a stronger sense of inclusiveness.

Buhari also said he preferred handing the economic and financial sector of the country to a woman because women could readily deploy their experiences in aligning resources with the needs of the country.

According to him, the nation had many female technocrats with local and international experiences on economy and finance.

Buhari made the remarks while receiving a delegation of national, zonal, state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the party’s Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Umaru Baiwa, at the State House.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari disclosed that he had made it a priority to hand over the treasury to women since 2015 because women are effective managers.

“I am happy that I can defend myself very effectively on this issue. The APC party leader is my witness. Since the coming into power of this administration, I have handed over the treasury to women.

“Even at household level, you hand over the money to women to manage. It can be taken to the level of managing the country’s treasury as well. I have consistently given it to women. It is strategic.

“I am conscious of the leadership roles of women in the society and by my action I

have justified my belief,’’ he said.

Adesina said the president reiterated that his administration would ensure inclusiveness for women and youths, especially in this second term, by providing more access to facilities that will enable spread of small and medium scale enterprises, and encourage more interest in agriculture.

He also said Buhari suggested the need to replace traditional and subsistence style of farming with commercialised and business oriented techniques.

“We have to move away from the traditional ways of farming that were practiced in the pre-colonial and colonial era,’’ he said.

According to him, the president said he had instructed the ministers to work with traditional institutions to encourage interest in farming, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), providing loans at low interest rates and longer periods of repayment.

“On unemployment, I know there is no able-bodied person that went back to the farm in the last three years that regretted the action,’’ he added.

The statement also said the APC women leader in her remarks, congratulated the president on his victory at the polls and the tribunal, commending the administration for its efforts in managing the affairs of the country, which she said provided the impetus for vigorous campaigns.

It also said Baiwa stated that women were particularly pleased and willing to vote for the president because the government deliberately formulated some policies to favour and empower women including the social intervention Trader Moni.

accounting for security votes...

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aliyu Wamako; and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Dialogue on Accountability for Security Votes in Abuja... recently

INEC to Publish Details of Candidates for Bayelsa, Kogi Polls

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates for the Bayelsa and Kogi states gubernatorial elections today.

Similarly, INEC said it has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates are

below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution for these positions.

The implication is that some of the governorship candidates and the deputy governorship candidates may be disqualified for not meeting the age qualifications limit.

But the position of INEC may contradict the recently signed law of the Not Too Young To Run Act. Under the Not Too Young to Run Act, candidates standing for governorship elections are

expected to have attained the age of 35, but the commission said its preliminary review of candidates’ particulars showed a breach of the law.

INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, Festus Okoye, said the personal particulars of the nominees would be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja.

According to him, as required by law, the commission

monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of aspirants emerged has since been published on its website and other platforms.

“From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa State and 49 for Kogi State respectively submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6.00 p. m. on Monday 9th September, 2019.

FG Directs Telcos to Deactivate 9.2m Improperly Registered SIM Cards Emma Okonji Citing national security risks over improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Card across all telecoms networks, the Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami has given directive to telecoms operators (Telcos), through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to deactivate 9.2 million SIM cards belonging to Nigerian

subscribers that were improperly registered across various networks.

Pantami made the disclosure of his directive yesterday, when members of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), paid him a courtesy visit at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

In line with the earlier directives of the minister to all agencies and parastatals under his purview, on assumption of

office last month, the NCC, submitted its baseline short-term performance targets report, where it noted that 9.2 million SIM cards were not properly registered across all networks.

Worried about the figure, the minister quickly gave directive to all telcos to deactivate all improperly registered SIM cards on their networks, and to reactivate them as soon as the owners of the SIM cards

regularise their registration.

The NCC report to the minister, which was signed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, contained precise figures of improperly registered SIM cards in use around the country. The commission in its report disclosed that an estimated 9.2 million SIM cards did not comply with the proper procedures of SIM registration.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page Peter Ishaka Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

Resolving The Jukun-Tiv Crisis

The federal government’s effort at resolving the Jukun-Tiv conflict is commendable, writes Sufuyan Ojeifo

S

prouting ethnic nationalism, blurred boundary demarcations between Tiv and Jukun communities in Wukari, Taraba State, palpable youth unemployment and sheer criminality mirrored in banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery had meshed to stoke considerable inter-communal bloodletting in the aforementioned rural enclaves.

Besides the unconscionable loss of human lives and freezing of economic activities, wanton destruction of property and displacement of communities from their homes are further sad ramifications of the lingering crisis. Mindful that further widening of the already huge theatres of crises in the country could signal loss of central control with dire upshot, the federal government decisively waded in to umpire a crucial truce.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha boldly and successfully anchored a vital truce parley last week at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, an indication of the seriousness and political weight of the truce initiative.

Brought aboard the important peace initiative were key political leaders of the crisis’ epicenter: Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishaku, and former Senate President, Chief David Mark. Other stakeholders that attended the truce parley were the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Engr. Haruna Manu; the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu; the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Diah; the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba; Secretaries to the Government, members of the National Assembly and members of the State Houses of Assembly from the two states.

The Aku Uka of Wukari, Tor-Tiv, other traditional rulers and religious leaders; the security chiefs, the army, the police department of state services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also attended the critical stakeholders’ truce parley. Included in the significant meeting of minds were respected leaders- serving and former members of the National Assembly, serving and former ministers and representatives of civil society groups, women associations and youth groups from both states.

Reading through the communiqué of the meeting, it was clear there were significant presentations from the deputy governors of the two states, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume; the Tor-Tiv and Aku-Uka of Wukari, and other stakeholders from the two states as well as three representatives from each state on the crisis. The speakers deplored in strong terms the wanton destruction of life and property.

Significantly indicative that control over land is central to the renewed hostilities, the communiqué issued at the end of the parley, not surprisingly, attributed the conflict to lack of clear boundary demarcations between the warring communities. Jointly signed by the SGF, Mustapha; Governor Ortom and Governor Ishaku, the communiqué also identified “the issue of criminality such as banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery” as some of the causes of the communal clashes.

The parley noted that the conflict was internal to Taraba State.

However, all affected communities were now desirous of ending the clashes that have “brought economic activities to a halt and has led to loss of valuable lives, wanton destruction of property and displacement of communities from their homes”. Going forward, the meeting called for immediate cessation of hostilities to pave the way for peace building effort, asked the two governors to make “strong pronouncements” condemning the crisis and to visit the affected communities as a confidence-building measure.

It also recommended “massive deployment of security forces in intensive patrol and surveillance of the affected communities to checkmate the excesses of criminals and enforce law and order on the border corridors of Taraba and Benue States”. Another crucial recommendation

Now the federal government must move fast and ensure the marking of the boundary of the two states as well as facilitate implementation of all the resolutions jointly arrived at by the two state governments aimed at permanently resolving the crisis

was the empowerment of the “restive youths” as a way of reducing unemployment and making them useful members of the society.

Obscure boundary between Taraba and Benue states has remained a sore point. Now the federal government must move fast and ensure the marking of the boundary of the two states as well as facilitate implementation of all the resolutions jointly arrived at by the two state governments aimed at permanently resolving the crisis.

Indeed, negotiating peace between warring parties has been the standard practice for dealing with conflicts - both large and small.

Parties which seek to help restore peace use a variety of methods to help end disputes and neutralise conflicts between antagonists like the Tiv and Jukun. The successes of these efforts will depend upon the parties’ and mediator’s ability to find compromising grounds.

The weighing in of the federal government is an important and well thought-out intervention, which enjoys the confidence of the parties at the core of the conflict. Noteworthy is the federal government’s strategy of involving stakeholders of diverse interests who are central to the crisis and ensuring both their physical presence and participation.

Although the Jukun-Tiv crisis is not intractable, an unbiased handling as the federal government is currently doing is crucial. Why? Seemingly biased arbitration in destructive conflict has the potential of undermining our nationhood and is also the biggest threat to our common good and future. Without crucial interventions like the federal government’s, conflicts such as the Jukun-Tiv crisis can ruin personal lives, prevent us from solving common problems and underlie dystopian trends towards chaos and large-scale disruptive violence. Worse, the theatre of conflict can quickly expand and engulf other contiguous zones.

Good a thing, the federal government has recognized that understandings of “facts,” different values, attitudes, cultures, economic concerns, religions and cultures give conflicting parties different perceptions about what the problem “is,” and what should be done to address it. This will enable it to sustainably deal with the conflict dynamics.

A truce, as it were, is an intermediate phase of ending a violent conflict, or to significantly transform a conflict so that it can be more constructively addressed. It helps to build a positive momentum for a final settlement. While some truce processes may have step-by-step agreements that lead towards a comprehensive settlement, other peace processes may seek to negotiate one agreement comprehensively.

It cannot be denied that negotiations to end conflict or crisis as in the Jukun-Tiv face-off are never simple. They involve compromises, consensus-building and some level of mutual trust. Often parties negotiate because they recognise the gains that can be made, but even “interest-based” negotiations require ‘enemies’, in this case brothers, to trust each other.

For folks affected by violence, or those who have fought for a cause, accepting an opponent’s demands is difficult. But for peace to take root, negotiations are an essential starting point. As agreements are reached on key issues, the foundations of peace are strengthened. In many instances, the decisions reached at the peace table – in this case, the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, given the nuances of views and stakeholders’ particpation – can set the course for the socio-economic and political transformation of a region or country. Negotiated agreements are, in effect, a blueprint for the future.

It is against this backdrop that the federal government’s effort to resolve the Jukun-Tiv conflict should be commended. Simply put, it fundamentally mirrors the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari for a catholic peace in the country. The Tiv-Jukun exemplar is apposite. It is the way to go: the conscious effort of addressing rising complexities, containing waves of tension as well as ending budding and festering ethnic crises.

IPOB’S New-Found Teeth

T

Gracelyn Eshet writes that IPOB is increasingly becoming a democratic nightmare

he increasing notoriety of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), this time as an external terror group, is yet another baffling example of the rising profile of counter-democratic forces in Nigeria. Gone are the days when the most potent threat to democracy was the military coup. The barrel of the gun has now been effectively replaced by the brigandage of rogue civilian individuals and groups who absurdly insist on realizing their rabid political interests by undermining established constitutional democratic institutions and processes.

The IPOB exists on the extremist edge of such political arrangement, possessed by the “actualization” of Biafran “nationality”, as its crazy cause. Under the misguidance of Nnamdi Kanu, a queer man who lived mostly in the UK as a south London DJ with dual British-Nigerian citizenship, IPOB, which rose from the debris of its predecessor, MASSOB, took on the outlandish agenda of agitating for the “Independence and Restoration of the defunct state of Biafra”.

Coming almost four decades after the generality of Igbos had re-integrated themselves into the post-war “no victor, no vanquished” Nigeria as fellow citizens

across the land, exhuming Biafra as a political objective was an unthinkable farce and an abominable re-opening of healing wounds of war. But there was clearly something sinister behind the emergence of Kanu, wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and claiming to be a Jew, while fanning embers of ethnic rebellion to dismember his fatherland in inciting broadcasts from his London based Radio Biafra.

It was no surprise that Kanu eventually focused on “guns and bullets” aimed at “Fulani herdsmen” before coming to Nigeria to, as it were, ignite the timed upheavals of provocative posturing against law enforcement and peaceful co-existence with his rapidly revitalized private army. He had no qualms in literally imposing his delusional leadership over the mandates of elected governors in his southeastern pockets of influence and exhibiting daring defiance of court bail conditions and the wise counsel of respected elders and statesmen to exercise caution and restraint.

Only the no-nonsense “Python Dance” military operation decisively ended Kanu’s disaster-seeking daydreams and forced him to take to his heals in a clandestine escape that not only betrayed the loyalty of his “troops” but also lent credence to his mercenary mission as an agent provocateur. More devastating however was the quandary in which

he left the so-called Igbo leaders who, in their own moment of opportunism, dramatically embraced the irreverent rebel as their “son” and facilitated his bail apparently for pre-election interests.

The latest outing of Kanu’s IPOB followers in Europe as the terrifying enforcers of former Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu’s “Nuremberg Trials”, and threats to launch similar physical assaults against Igbo leaders, including elected governors, who visit Europe henceforth, is an indication of the IPOB determination to constitute an external and internal counterforce to the stability of our democracy. It has also been rightly viewed

by Ohaneze NdIgbo and the south east governors as a direct attack on their mandates as recognized leaders of the Igbo which could indeed challenge the sustainability of democracy in the south east.

The unsettling scenario of the potential danger that the activities of IPOB pose to the integrity and survival of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation takes on an ominous implication in the face of Kanu and the IPOB’s glaring lack of credibility or popular mandate to so forcefully demand the actualization of Biafra.

They wilfully refuse to recognize the right of all Igbos to vote for or against the proposition, as stipulated in the constitution.

If this is not akin to a coup d’etat in the making,

it surely looks like one. In which case the federal government must take a renewed view and take necessary action to deal decisively with the looming threat to our democratic dispensation. Particular concern should be directed at the international dimension of the IPOB menace, especially the seemingly duplicitous stance of the British Government, which provides a safe haven for Kanu and his Radio Biafra to launch attacks against the Nigerian state.

Even when Kanu was in legal custody in Nigeria, he was visited by members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There must be more than meets the eye in Britain’s interest in an enemy of Nigeria it brought up and granted citizenship but refuses to call to order!

It is worth restating that, notwithstanding the political heresy of advocating a Biafran “renaissance”, Kanu and his clique would not be seen as enemies of the nation state if they channeled their agitation through registered political parties and the National Assembly as they know they should instead of war-mongering and seeking to destabilize Nigeria.

Their deliberate choice of counter-democratic pursuit of political aspiration exposes them as unapologetic saboteurs of the Nigerian state thereby deserving maximum deterrence.

Gracelyn Eshet is a teacher in Calabar

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

editorial Needed: A National Suicide Prevention Strategy

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Suicide has become a major public health concern requiring adequate attention

o mark the World Suicide Prevention Day last Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that the total number of countries with strategies to combat what has become a global epidemic, remains 38. Nigeria is not one of them. “Despite progress, one person still dies every 40 seconds from suicide,” said WHO DirectorGeneral, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Every death is a tragedy for family, friends and colleagues.

Yet suicides are preventable. We call on all countries to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programmes in a sustainable way.”

With an average of one death every 40 seconds, suicide is topping the chart as the number one killer.

Even if that is a global index, a recent survey shows that many Nigerians have committed suicide in the last few years than in previous times, although some of the deaths are kept A common away from the public denominator for arena. Taboos and suicide is depression, a the stigma attached prevalent ailment that to the issue conspire to hush up incidents we seem to pay scant attention to in Nigeria of suicides. Many suicide notes are filled with confessions that the victims had no one to talk to. Loneliness and the absence of support are the bedrock of suicide incidents.

There is a spike in the number of suicides in our country. On 6th April, a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan committed suicide.

There were reports that he took his life after an unfulfilled dream of completing his PhD programme.

Also on 19th April, a 100-level student of Kogi State University, Ayingba took her life after she was jilted by an unnamed boyfriend. She drank a pack of insecticide, Sniper, and was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, but it was too late. On 29th April, another

Letters to the Editor

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undergraduate, a 100-level student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, committed suicide after drinking two packs of Sniper. And on 4th May, a 26-year-old hairdresser in Lagos took her life two weeks after her boyfriend ended their relationship of two years.

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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

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Air Peace: Between Patriotism And Business

n the wake of the deadly Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa by a section of that country’s population, something unprecedented happened: a single individual, a private businessman brushed aside profit concerns and put aircraft at the disposal of fellow compatriots willing to be evacuated home. It was at no cost. The offer was free. He charged nothing. That man is Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO of Air Peace Airlines.

Chief Onyema did what sovereign countries do when their nationals abroad are faced with threat to life: send aircraft to evacuate them. But is the Air Peace Airline boss a country?

No! He is just a pan-Nigerian, a humanist and a patriot who loves his country and puts it first. Chief Onyema is simply a man who cannot go to bed and sleep soundly when fellow countrymen are suffering. It wasn’t therefore a huge surprise that when everyone was practically lost in the maze of thought as to how to respond to the precarious situation Nigerians found themselves in South Africa, Onyema stuck out his neck, offered a shoulder for distressed compatriots to lean. His aircraft were there to offer free services. Such is the dept. of his love for Nigeria and Nigerians. Essentially, at Air Peace Airline, a microcosm of Nigeria prevails. And this tells an intriguing story of a man whose world view goes beyond the frontiers of religion, tribe and culture. An Igbo from Mbosi in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, Onyema does not view Nigerians through the narrow prism of tribe and religion. This boldly reflects in the workforce in Air Peace Airlines. Nigerians from different ethno- religious

he most common methods of suicide, according to WHO, are hanging, pesticide self-poisoning, and firearms while key interventions include “implementing programmes among young people to build life skills that enable them to cope with life stresses; and early identification, management and follow-up of people at risk of suicide.” A common denominator is depression, a prevalent ailment that we seem to pay scant attention to in Nigeria. One of the keys to reducing rate of suicide in a country, according to WHO, includes “responsible reporting of suicides by the media” to avoid the risk of inspiring copycat attempts as well as care for people suffering from mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and emotional distress.

Many of those who have been interviewed in recent times said they attempted taking their lives after bouts with depression. And these, more than ever before, are depressing times when, as the Holy Writ aptly puts it “men’s hearts are failing them”. The harsh economic condition has led to all sort of mental health challenges among the populace that could result in suicidal instincts. And confronted with this type of trepidation, some people believe they are better off dead.

This is where the role of community and faithbased organisations becomes handy. Where government fails to set up trauma centres, faith-based bodies should be active in providing care and counselling to single parents, out-of-job youths, drug addicts and rape victims, as this set forms the bulk of those with suicidal tendencies. Above all, nothing can replace individual admonition to self. In times like these, as we have always admonished, citizens must fall back on internal philosophy that places hope above despair and purpose above emptiness.

and cultural persuasions form Air Peace’s workforce. In fact, majority of the top cadre staff of the airline are not of Chief Onyema’s ethnic stock. Air Peace Airlines is a product of a combination of Onyema’s salutary character trait and hard work, integrity and business savvy. The result is the birth of Africa’s largest privately-owned, indigenous airline. From inception the airline left no one in doubt that it was out to make Nigeria proud. Today, it has successfully put Nigeria on the international aviation world map. Air Peace has become Nigeria’s eyes on the world international air routes.

The airline has strategically filled a national aviation void created by the death of Nigerian Airways. Consequently in the absence of a national carrier, Peace Airline’s commencement of the Dubai route marks a turning point in Nigeria’s chequered aviation history. Traditionally, Air peace is noted for efficiency and professionalism and class. This explains why it deployed one of the best on its fleet, the awesome Boeing 777 for the Dubai route. As the airline now flies into Dubai and in grand style with attended incentives, the new flight operations it comes with it irresistible touch of excellence. The London route is strategic. And Nigeria must not be found wanting, says industry stakeholders. They opine that an indigenous airline with international professional standard should step in and write Nigeria’s name boldly on that route just as the British Airways bestride the London-Nigeria route.

Ingram Osigwe, MD/ CEO, Full Page Communications Ltd

In Praise Of Defence Minister

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hen the full list of the ministerial nominees was eventually released, the public could only speculate and match certain names to certain ministries because the presidency kept a tight lid on the portfolios of the nominees.

Meanwhile, it was certain that Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) from Kano State would either be assigned to Defence or Interior Ministry.

The reason for the strong speculation was the fact that he performed exceedingly well going by his military background as a former military administrator of Sokoto during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida and member of the Provisional Ruling Council during administration of General Sani Abacha. He also held other top military position including General Commanding Officer in Ibadan, Commander Guard Brigade Abuja and Commander of ECOMOG Troops in Liberia.

Immediately after his swearing-in as the Defence Minister, by President Buhari in the Villa, General Magashi inspected the Brigade of Guard formation at the Ministry of Defence where he charged the staff of the ministry to brace up and be steadfast on their jobs. In

his initial interactions with respective officers, he expressed his worry over the activities of terrorists in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest and nagging security challenges in other parts of the country. He insisted lasting solutions must be proffered and implemented.

In an effort to improve the morale of troops fighting terrorists, General Magashi flew to Borno State to meet with the commanders and the soldiers. He restated the federal government’s commitment in improving their welfare and providing adequate weaponry to win the war on terror. In one of his remarks he said: “I want to pass this message through the commander to the field that the Commander -in -Chief is willing to take your welfare and motivation more seriously than ever before. “President Muhammadu Buhari is willing to improve your feeding, your kits, your operational requirements- be it weapons or otherwise in order to give you the motivation that whatever you do the government is not unaware to reward you.

“In this regard, all those who lost their lives during this operation, we see it as sacrifice and government will do something in respect of these officers and soldiers who died in the course of this war.”

Muhammad G. Rabo, Lugbe, Abuja

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FRIday september 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

We’ll Soon Dislodge APC from South-west, PDP Boasts Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The South-west chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State, said it is strategising to relaunch

itself in the governance of the region ahead of the 2023 general election, saying the imminent collapse of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region will soon come.

Aisha Buhari Calls for Eradication of Gender Bias in Military CDS: Female members of military can aspire to the peak Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Following the prevailing gender inequality in the military, wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday called for the eradication of gender bias in the armed forces.

Mrs. Buhari, who spoke at the Defence Headquarters’ Maiden Annual Conference on Women, Peace and Security with the theme: ‘Gender Mainstreaming in the Armed Forces of Nigeria for Peace and Security’, said gender discrimination has prevented female members of the military from effective deployment in military operations and career progression, including occupying strategic positions in the military.

But the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, maintained that the military had taken definitive steps to guarantee gender equality by ensuring that female members of the armed forces aspire to the peak of their careers.

So far, no senior female officer has held the position of a commanding officer or service chief.

The closest rank and positions occupied by female senior officers in the history of the three arms of the military were held by Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu (rtd), the highest ranking female naval officer till date, who served as an instructor at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; Commodore Jamila Malafa, who is presently the Director of the Nigerian Navy Legal Services, and Major General Abimbola Amusu, who recently retired as Army Medical Corps Commander.

But the first lady accused the armed forces of hostility towards female members by preventing them from occupying strategic positions and appointing them to key positions in the areas of logistics, human resources, welfare among others, stating that the war against insurgency had

lingered because women were not effectively deployed.

“A good number of Nigerian women and I regard ourselves as soldiers. This is because we are the protectors of the family.

Gender mainstreaming is a war against marginalisation of women, and we are in support for gender equality and increased participation of women in politics including the armed forces.

“The military is often hostile to women. The women do not join the armed forces early due to their genetic makeup, although this may vary on an individual basis. Women are faced with rejection, isolation and unhealthy attitudes,” she said.

Mrs. Buhari stated that “these factors are usually pronounced during operational combatant sections of the armed forces.

This manifests in sexist jokes and women not being taken seriously. Gender stereotype is a threat to women advancement in the military.

“There is a good number of reported cases where women were exempted from participating in combat duties. Women are often restricted from handling such positions as human resources, logistics, welfare among others with psychological implications.”

She declared that “the security issue bedevilling our country still abounds probably because we are yet to redefine the role of women in the military for operational effectiveness. Women possess the traits of patience and perseverance. The role of the armed forces is to provide security for the country.

“The space for women must be created for them to participate in the security management of the country. There should be a role for women in strategic operational deployment; specific roles for women and as a matter of urgency, as well as the eradication of gender bias in the military.”

Nine Soldiers Feared Dead, 20 Missing in Clash with Insurgents Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Terrorist group, Boko Haram has reportedly killed nine soldiers while 20 others were missing after a fierce encounter with the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in Gundumbali, Borno State.

The bodies of the slain soldiers have since been evacuated and deposited at the military hospital in Maiduguri, the the state capital.

The ambushed battalion had just been deployed to Gudumbali to commence a new operational strategy code-named “Super Camp”.

The soldiers were ambushed by the insurgents in Granda village. The insurgents engaged

the troops in an overnight battle lasting from Monday night to Tuesday morning.

Sources told Channels Television that some of the soldiers later fled, leading to the overrunning of the military base during which nine soldiers got killed in battle.

The sources added that seven out of the fallen soldiers were killed as the insurgents beat a retreat.

Eyewitnesses’ report said the insurgents carted away a fuel tanker and other vehicles of different brands.

The ambushed battalion had just been deployed to Gudumbali to commence a new operational strategy code-named “Super Camp”.

The assurance was made at an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting of the party held at the Government House, Agodi in Ibadan.

The party leaders, however, tasked the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, to lead the front in reclaiming the region, especially Ekiti and Osun States, from the APC in the 2022 elections.

They unanimously pledged the party’s commitment to support the governor in his readiness to lead the squad that would dislodge APC dominance in the region.

The party, however, in a communiqué read by its National Vice Chairman, South-west, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, expressed disappointment at the verdict of

the presidential election tribunal on the petitions of PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stressing that justice was not properly served as expected.

According to the communique, “We frowned at the verdict of the presidential election tribunal on the petitions of our party and candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

We, therefore, put on record the disappointment that justice was not served.

“In view of this, we resolve to support the party to appeal against the verdict at the Supreme Court. Due attention is accorded to the verdict of both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on

Osun State governorship election, while we have resolved to achieve a common front to reclaim the two states in the next elections.”

The party congratulated Makinde on his achievements in 100 days in office, stating that his giant strides were testimonies that he could lead the force to reclaim the South-west zone from the APC. “The documents we have confirmed his determination and preparedness to drive the frontiers of development to a greater heights in Oyo State and set the pace for other states to follow,” PDP said.

Makinde, in his remarks, charged the PDP members to

remain united and work towards rebuilding the party.

According to him, “The take home for us at this meeting is that we should remain united and rebuild our party. Again, this is an opportunity for us to get together and compare notes on what is happening in the states in the region. The meeting is to organise ourselves.

“The party was disappointed about the judgement of the presidential election petition tribunal, but we have to urge our people to remain calm as there are avenues to take the case further up, and we do hope that the Supreme Court can have a second look at the case.”

SERVICE TO MANKIND…..

L-R: District 9110 Governor, Nigeria Rotary International, Dr. Jide Akeredolu; Kola Oyefeso; former Minister of Health, Julius Adelusi – Adeluyi; and President, Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110, Nigeria Rotary International, Olumuyiwa Fagbola, during the inauguration of two classroom blocks of Ikeja Junior High School donated by the Rotary Club of Ikeja and sponsored by Dr. Kessington Adebutu, in Lagos… recently

No RespiteYet for Elumelu, Others, Says PDP BoT Chairman I’m not corrupt, Wabara tells Wike

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin, yesterday said the mere submission of the report by the committee set up to investigate disobedience to party directives did not imply clearance and clean bill of health for those involved.

But in a twist to the matter, a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, said as much as he did not want to join issues with Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, he should not be counted as corrupt, noting that he refused to believe that other members of the board are corrupt.

He reminded Wike that the said report is yet to be discussed by the party’s BoT. Wabara also challenged any member of the party with proof of allegations against any member of the Senator Iyochia Ayu-led committee that investigated the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, and other minority principal officers of the House of Representatives to speak out as it’s not enough to cast aspersions on respected Nigerians.

The suspended members include: Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya

Abdul-Majid.

PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had said after preliminary examination, it was evident that the roles played by the above mentioned members, bordered on indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience of party directives contrary to Section 58 (1)(b)(c)(f)(h) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

According to the PDP BoT chairman, there were three committees set up to investigate the disobedience to party’s directives on who to vote during the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, explaining that there were another reports from the

disciplinary committee headed

by Chief Tom Ikimi and that of the one by headed Wabara. He added that all the reports would be considered accordingly.

Jubrin told THISDAY that the BoT would meet next week Thursday to deliberate and take a decision on the Ayu committee.

“We have three other committees and the outcome of the Ayu committee will not be isolation of other committees like the Tom Ikimi Disciplinary Committee and the Senator Wabara Committee.

It is true that the committee has submitted its report but the BoT will meet Thursday next week to discuss and take a decision on the recommendations.”

Ayade Defeats Owan-Enoh at Elections Tribunal Bassey Inyang in Calabar Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has triumphed over the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John Owan-Enoh at the Election Petition Tribunal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ayade winner of the March 9 governorship election.

But, Owan-Enoh approached the tribunal seeking to nullify the outcome of the election on the grounds that he was wrongfully

excluded from participating in the election.

Delivering judgement yesterday on the petition with number EPT/CAL/Gov/1/2019, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Josiah Majebi, said the first and second grounds of the petition were irreconcilable and mutually exclusive Justice Majebi said in the first place the issue of his exclusion was a pre-election matter, and the petitioner had failed to seek redress within legally specified 14 days allowed for complaints.

The tribunal strongly disagreed with the petitioner that he was

wrongfully excluded by the second respondent, INEC. Majebi added that much of the grievances expressed in the petitioner were pre-election matters, which his tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain.

He said pre-election matters include nomination, withdrawal and exclusion from contesting election.

“Any disputes within a given political party which stands election before actual election such as nomination or withdrawal or exclusion are pre-election issues. Our mandates don’t cover them. Therefore,

such are ineffective grounds. We therefore strike them and such others out for incompetence,” Justice Majebi said.

The tribunal also held that there was multiplicity of litigations by interested parties of the APC regarding the governorship election, which complicated the petition.

The chairman said they have carefully considered the applications, written addresses and counter-responses by the respondents, and have overruled many views of the petitioner as lacking in merit and gross abuse of court processes.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Politics

Group Politics Editor Nseobong okon-ekong Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 sms only

Groundwork for Governance Reset in Ogun

Abiodun

Kunle Somorin

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here is a wide misconception or an overly misinterpretation of the concept of 100 Days in Office that the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been able to demystify once and for all. In the past, as is the convention in many parts of Nigeria (and, indeed, the world over), political officeholders begin to choreograph symbolic tangibles dedicated to celebrating their 100 Days in office. Simply put, the day is seen as a landmark which should be celebrated with pomp and pageantry; to serve as a showcase of what has been achieved in just 100 days.

In Ogun, however, Prince Abiodun has been thinking very differently. Nothing stops him from emblematically giving some public buildings and infrastructure momentary facelift, wrap them in red ribbons and colourful balloons and then with a flashy scissors “commission” them in commemorating his 100 Days in office.

But then, the strategic thinking, planning and efficiency in service delivery the governor brings from his sojourn as a private sector executive before becoming a governor wouldn’t allow him to regard his 100 Days in Office as a celebration.

Not to be mistaken, Prince Abiodun recognises the culture of 100 Days in Office, but not as a celebration. He believes that the period does not afford any administration the opportunity to flaunt its report sheet. Rather, it is a period of assessment of the acceptability of the leadership projections and an opportunity of intense engagement of the people. If the period of electioneering was an avenue to present ideas and concepts to the people, Prince Abiodun believes that his First 100 Days in Office should be a period of testing those ideas and putting his plans on the table for the buy-in of the good people of Ogun State.

Prince Abiodun’s First 100 Days in Office has been a period of putting in place the foundation of his vision for the state in the next four years.

Since May 29, when he was inaugu-

rated as the Governor of Ogun State, it is this mindset of a strategic approach to governance that has formed the basis of every executive decision made by Prince Abiodun. And those familiar with the organised private sector (OPS), from where Prince Abiodun brings lavishly rich experience of planned efficiency into political leadership, understand that groundwork, although a milestone in its own right, does not tell the entire story.

To Prince Abiodun, 100 Days in Office is an evaluation of the Grand Plan; it is the people for whom it is meant who celebrate it as a form of acceptance.

So what has the Governor been up to in the past 100 days? For starters, no plan succeeds –regardless of how noble – if its target beneficiaries don’t accept it. In view of this, Governor Abiodun started by embarking on an extensive tour of the state to meet with the citizens of Ogun across all the local governments based on the fact that he didn’t want to provide ‘want’ for a community in ‘need’, vice versa.

In many circumstances during his tour, he had brought immediate succour to many in need of emergency interventions. While trying to sell his ideas and obtain citizens’ inputs, he found himself offering immediate solutions to perennial problems. As mentioned earlier, this is why the business of “celebrating” 100 Days in Office is the prerogative of the people who already feel served within 100 days.

The last 100 days have also been of strategic interactive sessions with stakeholders in the seven critical areas of Prince Abiodun’s governance, i.e. security, healthcare, rural development, agriculture, human capital and workers’ welfare, infrastructure and technology.

Whether it is meeting farmers, security personnel, civil servants, union leaders, healthcare workers, business leaders or international development partners, Prince Abiodun has unequivocally and constantly affirmed that his ultimate goal was the growth and development of Ogun State and its people.

At a meeting with Permanent Secretar-

ies in the state’s civil service, Prince Abiodun shared his vision to reposition the Service as an efficient, service delivery organ of government. At his visit to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Prince Abiodun was clear about the fact that the facilities at the hospital were in such a deplorable state that they couldn’t be used to produce any world class doctor. He promised a turnaround in the health and education sectors. True to his word, he recently approved the employment of medical practitioners for the teaching hospital as part of recommendations by the committee set up to look into repositioning the health institution.

At a security meeting with heads of security and intelligence community in the state, Prince Abiodun announced a review of the state’s security strategy as a new measure to tackle kidnappings and general insecurity in the state.

“We are going to be re-launching our security trust fund. We have an amended bill that is on its way to the house of assembly now, because, we look at the existing bill, we compared it to other bills in other states where the security trust fund had worked very effectively and efficiently, we’ve identified the gaps in our bill and we have sent an amended version of the bill to the house of assembly.

“The new security trust fund will have all the governance that it requires, it will have a Chairman, Executive Secretary, board, it will have a commitment from a few financial institution of note and a few people from the private sector that are committed to serving on the board, we are also committed to funding this fund, we on the part of the state will also commit to our funding as well,” the governor said.

Again, Prince Abiodun’s fidelity to his word came to play within 100 days, as he has inaugurated the committee to oversee the now-amended Ogun State Security Trust Fund, whose law the governor gave accelerated enunciation.

“It is a demonstration of our government’s unreserved commitment towards

ensuring that the people have a good life and pursue their legitimate business in a secured environment,” Abiodun said.

Under Prince Abiodun and within 100 days, Ogun State, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), is already embarking on an ambitious plan to raise10,000 young and upwardly mobile farmers by giving them acres of land, clearing the land for them, providing seedlings and creating markets for their products in the fashion the late Obafemi Awolowo created the Marketing Board for cocoa farmers. And since agriculture is one of the core sectors of his administration, Prince Abiodun has laid down a plan to establishment a dry port in Ewekoro to handle agriculture and agro-allied products.

Corporate governance has been central to how Prince Abiodun is piloting the affairs of Ogun State. He has opened up the political space for inclusiveness as promised during electioneering. He has been most concerned about competence as a criterion for appointing people than other considerations. Party affiliation, tribal correctness and other sundry parameters are secondary to the governor and this much is in the full glare of all.

These have been Governor Dapo Abiodun’s efforts to reset governance in Ogun to what techies would call ‘factory setting’ (what it was designed and ought to be) from the personal deplorable tweakings of the immediate past.

Interestingly, he has done so without disrupting or having to ground core functions or ‘default setting’, so much that even if 100 Days in Office is reduced to the kind of symbolism mentioned in the opening of this piece, he has achieved it too; although more as a side attraction than the main plan. They include: the renovation of 236 primary schools and 236 primary healthcare centres in the state, representing one school in each ward. Three roads per local government have also been repaired.

-Somorin is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ogun State

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perspective

Point of Order on Timi Frank’s Bayelsa Governorship Comment

Dickson

Allison Abanum

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n my desk, everyday , I work on political stories from all parts of the country. And many times, I will pause and think about the content of the stories before me, wondering whether we are indeed a people of the same country and the same moral persuasion. Some days back, I have read the comments of Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa state Gubernatorial candidate, Senator Diri Douye.

Timi Frank said the PDP Candidate is weak and blamed the party for choosing to field a weak candidate. Timi Frank boasted that a direction of whom to vote at the November 16 Governorship election will soon be revealed and had gone ahead to congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in advance for victory.

Yes, it is well within the right of Timi Frank to choose whom to support. But my worry on moral ground is how Timi Frank appropriates to himself the collective will of the people of Bayelsa. I probably would have taken Timi

Diri Frank declaration as a mere expression, but when I match it against what he reminded the public the position he took against his former party, the APC in 2015, when the former governor and now the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva was nominated. Timi Frank said history is about to repeat itself albeit in PDP because it is making the same mistake that the APC made in 2015.

With that declaration, it becomes clearer that the choice of who succeeds Gov Seriake Dickson won’t have much to do with the people of Bayelsa, which makes it necessary to enquire if this is a democracy or not? How is Timi Frank or anybody going to choose a Governor? Is it the duty of Timi Frank to determine who succeeds Governor Seriake Dickson in the true case of democracy? How many votes is he going to cast? How did Timi Frank get so bestial? I am disturbed that the declaration of Timi Frank is laced with oracular certainty, as if he is the sole determinant of the will of the people of Bayelsa.

Having been a political oracle in 2015 in the case of Timipre Sylva and the former governor lost the election as predicted, does not in any way make Timi Frank a great influencer in directing the political current of the state. It

Alaibe was mere political understanding and not a dictatorial code. Government is a continuum, and like a stage, Seriake Dickson’s successor will or should be chosen by the people of Bayelsa, not one particular person for that matter. The vexatious part of Timi Frank’s position is that he did not tell us the qualities of the APC candidate over the PDP candidate.

What if Bayelsa people in the exercise of their sovereign right, decide that they don’t even care about the qualities Timi Frank may unilaterally outline, will Timi Frank over ride them?

And to put the record straight because it seems Timi Frank doesn’t know what Mr Ndutimi Alaibe (Timi Frank’s preferred PDP aspirant) and Senator Diri Douye share and how strong Diri Douye is. Diri Douye had been a long standing political associate and kinsman of Alaibe. Diri Douye at a point disagreed with the Alaibe led political group and tried unsuccessfully to convince them to work with Seriake Dickson when Dickson was picked to replace Timipre Sylva as governor of Bayelsa. Unable to understand Alaibe’s political reasoning, Diri Douye decided to join the Dickson political family nicknamed Restoration Team. Diri Douye

was given the ticket of Yenagoa/Kolokuma/ Opokuma Federal constituency; he won and his performance as the poster law maker of the Ijaw nation in the Green Chamber earned him the Bayelsa central senatorial district ticket against all odds. And when the race for the Bayelsa governorship ticket gathered momentum with Diri Douye’s name featuring prominently, close observers of Bayelsa politics especially Dickson’s political philosophy anchored on record of service, loyalty to party and frugal spending of public funds, were looking at Diri.

Having served the people as a law maker for eight years and being led by a political family where he had shown absolute loyalty, what prove does anyone need to convince him that Diri Douye is strong and a well rooted politician?

All said, Comrade Timi Frank is a son of Bayelsa state and must demonstrate his pursuit of democratic ethos in everything, especially in his utterances concerning the coming governorship election. That way , he will etch his name in gold as a devout democrat.

-Abanum writes from Abuja

Ugwuanyi and the Economics of Local Capacity Building Ikem Okuhu

I

remember that it was back in year 2003 that I first came across the proposition, “Proudly Nigerian.”

Strangely, it was tobacco manufacturing company, the British American Tobacco (BAT) that connected me to this purpose statement at a time they had just launched their factory in Ibadan and were struggling to respond to new regulations against cigarette marketing. I am not sure now whether it was BAT that first coined that phrase that became their value proposition at the time, but I recall the then Managing Director, Nicholas Hales appearing at the press conference where this tagline was launched, dressed in white agbada and green Hausa cap to read a speech that suggested BAT was a “Proudly Nigerian” brand.

Ever since then, I have had a strong connection with this value proposition, especially given its relevance in encouraging Nigerians to take pride in products that are indigenous to the country, activating taste and quest for Nigerian consumables and cleansing the people of the inferiority complex that made people view foreign goods as superior to those made in Nigeria.

The truth is that no economy has ever grown when its government and people refuse to express belief in local products.

Against this background, it becomes important to appraise the recent purchase of 100 utility trucks from Nigeria’s wavemaking vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd by the Enugu State Government in the light of the compelling need by governments at all levels to begin to demonstrate measurable confidence in Nigerian brands as a means

of instigating economic growth.

The rhetoric for government to support the brave efforts of Chief Innocent Chukwuma at establishing a vehicle manufacturing company in Nigeria has been on for a couple of years and I am aware that a large number of opinion leaders in the South-eastern part of Nigeria have been strident in their call for the governments of the five states in the region to lead the way in beating the patronage path towards buying the Innoson brands of vehicles.

By acquiring 100 utility trucks from Innoson, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has fulfilled the expectations of many who view Enugu as the standard bearer of the South East and perhaps south-south, being as it was the capitals for the old Eastern Nigeria and East Central State.

In placing the bet of the Enugu State Government on Innoson, the Government of Enugu State has therefore set an example that very likely be emulated by other governors in Nigeria a development that will certainly reinforce the value the ordinary Nigerian will begin to place on these brands of vehicles. And with this, the country will begin to find answers to the challenges facing indigenous Nigerian brands. It is very well known that one of the major issues stymieing the growth of indigenous Nigerian brands has been the hypocritical disposition of government and leaders across many layers of influence who vote for indigenous brands with their mouths while providing more effective endorsements for foreign brands with their pockets.

To grow any brand, the question of “who is using it” will have to be answered and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has led the way to providing this critical response.

It is worth recalling that Peugeot brand of

cars became the favourite car for Nigerians when it became the “official” government vehicle in the 1970s. All government officials were given Peugeot vehicles as their official cars and those who applied for car loans also got the same. And from the 404 brand, the French automaker sold millions of its 504 and 505 brands of cars in Nigeria. Elizade Motors followed the same path when it got the franchise for Toyota in Nigeria. In its marketing, it also targeted government agencies and the banks, which at the time, was transiting from a staid, colourless sector to one of style and elegance. Today, Toyota is the most popular car brand in Nigeria by miles.

It follows therefore that the example set

by Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in procuring such a large number of vehicles will act as a seal of confidence and endorsement of the brand, a development certain to draw many people into trial patronage that will likely lead to repeat purchases.

Next to “who is using it”, those working to push a new brand into the market will also have to answer the question of visibility. In doing this, new and even old brands invest huge resources in advertising and activations of all sorts in reaching the customer. But Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has answered this question for the Innoson brand. It needs stressing that the vehicles so procured were investments made to improve the security architecture of the state in the light of recent challenges that attempted to fracture the safety of lives and property in the once very peaceful state. With 100 vehicles on the road, patrolling the length and breadth of the State, the governor has created opportunities for a lot more people to come in contact with this indigenous brand of automobile. A billion naira worth of television commer-

cials will not match this in effectiveness.

Most Nigerians, especially those in the segment in which the Innoson brand finds itself at the moment, ask two questions each time they want to buy an automobile.

The first is, “Is is rugged”? The second question is “how fuel-efficient is it?” These questions will be answered by the kind of duties these new vehicles are going to be performing – security. A vehicle that will constantly be on the move, covering the rough and smooth terrains in the state will demonstrate how “rugged” the Innoson brand is.

As a country, Nigeria has created more jobs abroad than it had for its citizens in the country. Even the crude oil, the country’s main foreign exchange earner has been taking more money from Nigeria than it is bringing in. In 2018, statistics showed that the country earned $54.5 billion from crude oil exports but spent $54.6 billion in the importation of refined petroleum products.

This damning statistics once again not only highlighted the failure of the country to maximise opportunities in the oil industry value chain but also became an early warning of impending economic challenge should the country continue to spend more than it earns. In addition, it presents an opportunity for the reevaluation of all economic priorities with a view to discovering how much value that can be generated within the country and the complements needed from abroad.

-Okuhu, a media aide to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi writes from Enugu NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 3.21 % 3.86 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

4% 7.25 % 9.25 %

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

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

408.05 % -0.09 % -0.48 %

6 , 2 0 1 9

S & P INDEX 1/4 to daTE 1.94 % YEAR TO DATE 14.31 %

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

Quick Takes

Group Honours Ooni of Ife

SENSITISATION FORUM

L-R: Partner/ Head, Oil, Gas and Power, Andersen Tax, Mr. Oladipo Maiye; Partner/Head,Transfer Pricing, Mr. Joshua Bamfo; Associate Director, Mr. Micheal Ango; Head, South-west Office, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mrs. Chioma Okey Agwu-gwo, and Desk Officer, Data Protection, Mr. Femi Daniel, at a data protection sensitisation seminar PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT organised by Andersen Tax in Lagos… recently

Stakeholders Hail Airline for Evacuating Nigerians in S’Africa Chinedu Eze Nigeria has received global accolade for being the first country to rescue its citizens from the hate-inspired killings by black indigenes of South Africa against foreigners.

This was made possible by Nigerian major carrier, Air Peace which offered to rescue Nigerians living in South Africa, to save them from killings.

Many industry stakeholders have commended Air Peace for offering to make sacrifice for the country and expressed happiness that Nigeria has an airline that has the capacity to deploy aircraft for that exercise.

The Director General of the

Aviation Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, told THISDAY that it was a significant contribution from the aviation sector and commended Air Peace for taking up the challenge to rescue Nigerians from the killer South Africans.

“First, it is a very welcome development that a local operator has offered to do this for free. It is good that a Nigerian carrier has the capacity to do this and it is a very good corporate social responsibility (CRS) to assist Nigeria and Nigerians in need.

It is a very big contribution by civil aviation in Nigeria,” Usman

said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of Top Brass Airline, Captain Roland Iyayi commended Air Peace for rescuing Nigerians from South Africa and said that it was magnanimous of the Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyema.

“I was sitting next to the Air Peace Chairman, Onyema he made the offer to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. What he has done is worthy and I believe the industry has benefitted so much from him and we have not seen the best of him yet,” Iyayi said.

Also, former Managing Director of Capital Airlines

and industry consultant with Etimfri Group, Amos Akpan, told THISDAY that what Air Peace has done has underscored the need for a country to have strong airlines with capacity and also the need for government to always support its own.

“What Air Peace has done is commendable. It further shows Nigeria’s gain for allowing private participation in aviation. Aviation is one sector that has been enjoying privatisation since the 80s with the entrance of Aero Contractors, Pan African, Okada, Kabo Air, Intercontinental, Das, ADC and Continued on page 22

Truckers Decry Rising Haulage Cost across Seaports Eromosele Abiodun

Despite the effort of the Presidential Task Force on restoring sanity in Apapa, the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has raised the alarm over the rising cost of haulage in the country.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the Chairman of the association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi alleged that truck drivers pay between N100, 000 to N150, 000 gratifications to the operatives of the various taskforces before they are allowed access into the ports to pick or drop consignments.

Ogungbemi was reacting to claims by importers, who lamented the increasing cost of haulage in the country. They

maritime

had claimed that it costs more to move a container from Apapa Port to the Trade Fair Complex than to ship the same consignment from China to Nigeria.

For instance, the importers said that it now costs between N250, 000 and N350, 000 to move a 40-foot container of cargo from Apapa Port to Trade Fair Complex, located along the Badagry road, Lagos while it takes about N350, 000 to ship the same size of container from the Shangai Port in China to Apapa Port in Lagos at the current exchange rate of about N360 to the dollar.

Recently, the Ladipo Market Traders Association had raised

similar concerns, especially at the over 200 per cent hike in haulage cost, resulting from the persistent gridlock experienced on most port access roads including the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and other access routes linking the seaports in Lagos.

The traders lamented that the increase in haulage cost was also responsible for the hike in price of goods in the market.

Ogungbemi, while admitting that members of the association and other truckers made financial inducements to the operatives of the taskforces, however, told reporters that the truckers started it by offering of bribes to the operatives out of frustration.

“We pay as much as N100, 000-N150, 000 depending on

your bargaining power, when you are on the long queue due the huge traffic in Apapa for one or two weeks and suddenly you see your colleague drives out of the queue and move straight to the port gate, you will be forced to ask questions about what happened since all of you have been on the queue together.

“Our people started it all by offering gratifications to the taskforce operatives, since they do not deep hands into our pockets to collect the money. But they have tested the ‘sweetness’ and now they have raised the bar and so we pay out of frustration. Normally such additional cost is added Continued on page 22

TheorganisersoftheAkwaabaAfricanTravelMarkethave presented theOoniofIfewiththeFirstAfricaTravel100GlobalPersonalitiesaward.

TheOoniofIfeHisRoyalMajestyObaAdeyeyeEnitanOgunwusi,Ojaja II, who is the Special guest of honour at the African DiasporaTourism conferenceholdingatthe15thAkwaabaTravelMarketistheCustodian of15FamousFestivalsamongwhichtheworldFamousOlojoFestival inOctober.

TheAfricaTravel100Awardsnowinher18thyear,hasrecognisedover theyearsleaders,industrypractitionersandthegovernmentofficials whohavepromotedtourismandimprovedtravelusinguniqueplatforms andnewinformation.

AfricanTourismDiasporaConference2019istomarkthe400yearsof slavery.Slaveryisaverysensitivetopicthathascreatedanuncomfortable relationship between Africa and its diaspora. The Conference is an opportunitytocelebratethemergingofAfricans,Americans,Caribbean’s and the rest of the world during this memorable gathering expected in Lagos. Africa with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion has an unbelievabletouristattraction.TheCaribbeanandAfricandiasporahave a unique culture, rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourists, hencetheneedtoconnectandcombinethesewonderfulculturesand population,creatingahugeglobalmarket.

The African Diaspora Tourism Conference presents a platform to discuss, initiate, dialogue and celebrate a new relationship. However, the recognition of Africa as a beacon of hope for African people living onthecontinentandintheDiasporatoexplore,relateandliveusingthe African DiasporaTourism Conference as the African Platform for the foundationofthislong-lastingrelationship.

Qatar Wins Scoops Awards

Qatar Airways said it has won three out of five global accolades in the 2020 Airline Passenger Experience Association’s (APEX) Passenger ChoiceAwards,announcedattheAPEX/IFSAAwardsCeremonyheld inLosAngeles.

Themultiaward-winningairlinescoopedthetopglobaltitlesfor‘Best SeatComfort’,‘BestCabinService’and‘BestFood&Beverage’,aswell as being named a ‘2020 Five Star Global Airline’ in the APEX Official AirlineRatings™asvotedbypassengersusingtheworld’shighest-rated travelapp,TripIt®.

In June, the national carrier for the State of Qatar recently also set a new record for a single airline in a region after winning four out of six regional Passenger Choice Awards in the Middle East, including ‘Best OverallCarrierintheMiddleEast’;‘BestCabinServiceintheMiddleEast’; ‘Best Food & Beverage in the Middle East’; and ‘Best Seat Comfort in theMiddleEast’.

QatarAirwaysGroupChiefExecutive,Mr.AkbarAlBaker,said:“Tofollow oursuccessintheregionalPassengerChoiceAwardswithafurtherthree globalAPEXaccoladesisahugeachievementforourairline,andatribute totheloyaltyofourpassengersfromacrosstheworld.

“ItisalsoatestamenttothestandardofQatarAirwaysservicethatwe have been awarded the distinction of being named a ‘2020 Five Star GlobalAirline’intheAPEXOfficialAirlineRatings™.

“Aswefocusongoingfromstrength-to-strengthoverthecomingyear, welookforwardtobuildinguponthisincrediblefoundationofsuccess andwillcontinuetosetthehighestofbenchmarkstodistinguishusfrom ourcompetitors.”

Boeing Deliveries Down in August

Boeing’scommercialaircraftdeliveriescontinuetobeimpactedbythe worldwidegroundingofits737MAXaircraft,withover70percentfewer jetshandedoverduringAugust.

Deliveries for the month were just 18 across the entire product range, downfrom64inthesamemonthlastyear.

Therewasonlyone737deliveryinAugust2019,amilitaryP-8version fortheRoyalAustralianAirForce.Themonthly737totalwasdownfrom the48handedoverthepreviousyear,with22ofthatnumberfromthe MAXfamily.

Boeinghandedover11787Dreamlinersduringthemonth,aboostfrom thepreviousyear’seight.Deliveriesof777sdroppedtothreefromsixas theairframerpreparestoswitchto777Xproduction,despiteacouple of snags on the updated long-haul workhorse potentially delaying its firstflight.

Two freighters and an aerial tanker for the US Air Force were the only 767deliveriesinAugust,downfromsixlastyear.

“In accepting to be trained as aviation security and fire service cadets, you must realize that it is a privilege for you to serve your country at this level as the aviation industry is one place where adherence and commitment to rules and standards are applied strictly to the latter” Minister of Aviation,

Senator Hadi Sirika

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BUSINESSWORLD Stakeholders hail airline for evacuating nigerians in s’africa others. A lot more joined in the 90s. Sometimes one wonders what would have happened to Nigerian air travellers if not for these private investors in aviation and allied businesses,” he said.

“Today we are in a situation where a private airline has performed the role expected of Nigeria Airways. Air Peace stepped up in this crisis situation to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa. “No matter the political colouration critics will give this action, Nigeria needed to evacuate her nationals in this brewing diplomatic row.

“At most, the government would have spent from her leaned purse to hire Ethiopian Airlines because our Max Air is already involved in evacuating Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

“My advice to the regulators is that they should keep encouraging Nigerian airlines to understand and follow regulations so that they remain safe and continue flying.

“The government should make more efforts to understand how they can guarantee them access to funding because it is a very capital intensive business.

“Ensuring our airlines stay in business will only benefit our economy. Air Peace action is a classic performance of corporate social responsibility,” Akpan said.

Truckers Decry Rising Haulage Cost across Seaports to the haulage cost, which led to the hike the importers are complaining of.”

He also listed other causes of the hike in haulage cost to include the increasing price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also called diesel, which he said, sells for as much as N250 and N270 per litre as against the former price of between N160 and N200 per litre and other high maintenance cost.

Ogungbemi also lamented the negative effects of the activities of some people on the roads, which he described as ‘parasites and devourers,’ adding that some of them deliberately destroy their trucks when the drivers refuse to part with money.

This development, he said, eats deep into the revenue of the truckers, thus making it almost impossible for them to breakeven.

NEWS

Gencos: Why We May Not Invest in New Generation Capacity Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The power generation companies (Gencos) have given reasons why they may likely hold back on fresh investments in growing power production capacity in the sector.

The Gencos said through their umbrella trade union – the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), that current market conditions where their declared generation capacities are ignored and also unpaid for would not encourage them to invest in expanding their production levels.

They also listed a number of actions they would want the Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, and Minister of State for Power, Mr. Goddy JedyAgba, to take up to stabilise the country’s power market.

They stated this in a statement which contained their felicitation with Mamman and Jedy-Agba on their appointment to head the power ministry by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The statement was signed by APGC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Joy Ogaji.

The Gencos claimed they had fulfilled their contractual obligations to the country which they signed during the power privatisation exercise which was concluded in 2013.

“We wish to put on record that Gencos as patriotic partners with the federal government has exceeded their contractual obligations of recovering lost capacities. The sector can now boast of an available capacity of about 8,000MW and installed capacity of about 13,427MW as against an average of 3500MW utilised capacity,” said the Gencos in the statement.

According to them: “This poor utilisation figure is a huge disincentive to further investments in capacity recovery and installing additional generation capacity, as it makes no sense for a Genco to increase its available generation capacity only to be rejected and hence uncompensated.

“For gas Gencos, it is double jeopardy as the gas feedstock is on a take-or-pay basis, meaning the Genco must pay for the gas irrespective of the gas being utilised or not as well as finance the cost of making capacity available.”

The Gencos informed that while their available generation capacities are

backed up by committed fuel, and manpower and all the necessary resources declared to the System Operator (SO) on day-ahead bases, they are however never able to produce that much.

“In many cases, there is a huge mismatch between the Genco declared capacity and the available grid capacity. It is imperative to note that the investment in generation is at the instance of the off taker hence the capacity made available by the Gencos remains constant and paid for in every billing period while the energy may vary, given the operational conditions,” they added.

Stating their expectations from the ministers, the Gencos said the jobs of Mamman and Jedy-Agba were cut out, but they would want them to focus on certain key aspects that would stabilise the power sector.

“Arguably, the Nigerian power market is substantially dissimilar from power markets in the world. Its structure, nuances and nature pose unique challenges in the development of the market.

Without a doubt, challenges do exist in the sector. Nigeria must position itself to overcome these so as to evolve from a developing to a developed or matured market.

“However, the Gencos as a major stakeholder in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, believe that amongst other things, the sector will be seeking leadership from the Honourable Minister in developing an adequate indigenised policy taking into cognisance the unique design which underpins the functioning of the power system, ensuring synergy and a harmonised working relationship with all stakeholders and private investors, ensuring that policies are in sync and better matched with regulations, codes, procedures and the market while keeping the same overall market architecture.”

PROMOTING TOURISM

L-R: Executive Assistant, New Media & Public Relations, Lagos State Governor, Olusegun Fafore; American-based cake artist “Cake boss”, Buddy Valastro; Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Shuli Adebolu, and CEO, Dewdrops Cakes, Mrs Ezinne Okonkwo, at a cake fair that was sponsored by the state in Lagos…recently

OPEC Applauds FG’s Move to Tackle Maritime Insecurity Eromosele Abiodun

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has commended the federal government’s efforts at tackling maritime insecurity. OPEC also commended Nigeria for accepting to host the upcoming Global Maritime Security Conference, saying the talks will go a long way in addressing security concerns in the maritime domain of the entire Gulf of Guinea.

Secretary-General of OPEC

Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, gave the commendation in a statement to the organising committee of the conference.

This is just as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has confirmed the participation of over 70 countries at the conference scheduled to be held in Abuja.

Barkindo, noted that the Gulf of Guinea was strategic to the stability of oil production

globally.

He said the area was a major shipping route and any infraction there would be felt beyond the region.

“The strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea is undisputed and any disruption in the area has a direct negative impact on our industry and, indeed, is of global concern.

“This conference is timely in bringing together the relevant and critical stakeholders to allow them to discuss in a constructive

manner what concerted action could be undertaken to ensure the sustainable use and long term security of this important and strategic body of ocean, “Barkindo said.

He noted that the conference would create renewed confidence in investment in the oil and gas sector in the Gulf of Guinea, with a multiplier effect of addressing the challenges associated with the sector globally.

Meanwhile, Peterside said the conference would provide

a platform for stakeholders of all shades to brainstorm and collectively find solutions to the challenge of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea and assured participants of a successful event in Nigeria.

“We shall have a no-holdsbarred discussion on security in the Gulf of Guinea at the conference, which promises to be a watershed event in the history of maritime security in Africa and, indeed, the world, ” Peterside stated.

NPA Reviews Condition of Service for Workers Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that it has addressed previous anomalies in promotion exercises and implemented a review of workers’ condition of service.

Also, the agency has restated its commitment to workers’ welfare, especially their remuneration and healthcare, even as the authority recently honoured some staff members who have served for 25 years.

Speaking at the authority’s Long Service Award held in Lagos, Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman assured stakeholders that NPA places so much premium on its workforce, adding that

the award came from her determination to register the premium that NPA places on the contributions of members of staff to the development of the Authority at all ports.

She added that without the workforce, the sustainability of the reforms NPA had undertaken so far, as well the audacious goals it is poised to achieve as enunciated in the 25-year Port Development Plan would remain unattainable.

She noted that her administration is very ambitious, and determined not to leave the NPA where it met it.

She said: “This management of the NPA is committed to

not just changing the ways things are done momentarily but in bequeathing a tradition of transparent and excellent service that would make our ports the hub in the subregion. We understand that the workforce is an integral part of whatever good stories we would be able to achieve and tell about our initiatives, hence the determination to periodically show appreciation for the dedication of staff.”

She added: “Tonight therefore, we are gathered here to honour our long – serving and dedicated employees of 25 years upwards and at the same time celebrate those who

have demonstrated excellence by achieving uncommon feats in the course of duty.

“But beyond these regular recognitions of serving and retiring staff members, management considers putting a well-motivated workforce with the requisite character, competence, and capacity to optimize our rich maritime endowments in place, as part of the dreams of building a new and culture in the Authority.”

The NPA boss revealed that as part of her commitment to workers’ welfare, management recently carried out a thorough review of condition of service with robust provisions aimed

at equipping employees to be best-in-class in the Industry.

She said the authority had also worked towards correcting all the previous anomalies in the salary structure as she is ensuring justice in the career progression of personnel.

She said: “We are taking the totality of the wellbeing of personnel seriously. As we consider the need to train and retrain towards building capacity to cope with the dynamism of our industry, we have been also paying attention to the health and mental needs of our staff.

The goal is to be a competent and committed workforce our collective interests.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

news

Why Nigerian Airports are Underperfoming

Chinedu Eze

Many Nigerian airports under the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are underutilised.

This, industry stakeholders have attributed to lack of vision by FAAN and the federal government that concentrate more in providing aeronautical services and underutilising the opportunities the airports could offer, especially in the areas of non-aeronautical services.

But FAAN officials stated that it is not that the management of the agency is incapable of devising ways to fully utilise the airports, but government through the minister and Presidency railroads the agency. According to them, the agency does not take its own decisions, but tailor itself to the whims of the Ministry and the Presidency.

There are different ramifications of government interference in the affairs of FAAN and other aviation agencies that tend to stifle ingenuous ways the authority can device to develop the airports and also boost revenue generation.

Take for example, the revenue generated from advertisement by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services (BASL), that manages the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal, known as MMA2 is projected by insiders to be about N1 billion annually.

MMA2 has equivalent space with the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) being operated as domestic terminal by FAAN. But while MMA2 alone rakes in about N1 billion in advertisement, the whole 22 airports under FAAN management does not generate up to N500 million from advert per annum. ‎ THISDAY investigations revealed that some years ago, the Presidency had instructed FAAN to reach agreement with two outdoor advertisement agencies to take charge of all the advert placements at the all the airports managed by the agency at a ridiculous amount that is less than N600 million.

After some years FAAN went to court to terminate that contract and recently it was the case to extricate itself from the agreement.

Today, FAAN is building boards at various airports for advert placement and it is contemplating managing advertising airport by airport, which is projected to add about N25 billion to its revenue.

Also, some years ago, the Ministry of Aviation had reached an agreement with a company which was supposed to build what it called hospitality facility at the front of the international terminal of the Lagos airport.

The company was also given the power to collect car park charges and for some years the company collected the revenues without accounting them to FAAN until the agency was able to end the agreement when a new Minister came and aborted it. The hospitality facility was abandoned for years until recently when FAAN took over the space to build passenger pick-up and parking facility.

A FAAN official told THISDAY that if the agency’s management is allowed to operate on its own without interference from top government officials, it would have been doing better than it is doing currently. Today, no Nigerian airport is rated in the first 10 in Africa and no Nigerian airport is recognised in the world. MMA2 was recognised for about seven years as the best airport terminal in West Africa and currently one of the best in the sub-region. MMA2 was built by private investor.

FAAN is also overburdened with unskilled workforce, which over bloats its overhead but with little output. Before the Buhari administration, FAAN had about 5,000 workers but almost five years after, the agency has over 9000 workers.

THISDAY learnt that many of the workers are unskilled and without the requisite academic certificate, which also explains the mediocre performance of the agency in many areas.

In fact, FAAN insider told THISDAY that one of the reasons why some of the airports are porous in terms of security is because incompetent people are given sensitive responsibilities to manage the security apparatus of the airports.

Many FAAN officials believe that if the agency could be allowed to operate on its own, take

MMIA

its decision, design its developmental goals, after three years there would be total revamp of all the airports in the country.

“When you say there are no airfield lighting at some airports, it is not as if we cannot provide it. if we are allowed to use the money we generate to develop the airports, there won’t be any airport that won’t have airfield lighting. We know what to do and we know how we can boost the revenue of FAAN, but we should be allowed to take decisions and be responsible for these decisions. We are not always happy when we are criticised for the infractions that are caused by others. And we don’t have the power to run to the media and complain,” FAAN source told THISDAY.

Kwara Hajj

In the area of revenue generation, the official said that some of the actions taken by government tend to infringe on FAAN’s potential to make money.

“They should allow us to be independent.

We can successfully modernise the airports ourselves, but government officials want to control everything.

“If we are independent, we will do better and make more money than the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) because we don’t have competitors and airports are prime places where people like to come in addition to travellers. we fix our own prices. so they should just allow management to do its work,” the FAAN official added.

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BUSINESSWORLD

aviation analysis

Making African Airlines Competitive

Despite the introduction and ratification of the Single African Air Transport Market in January 2018, African airlines are yet to take advantage of the treaty, writes Chinedu Eze.

F

or over 20 years, international carriers from Europe and Asia have dominated the Africa airspace.

It started when national carriers in Africa began to die. Such carriers like the Nigeria Airways, Air Afrique, Ghana Airways and so many others, that went under years after they were whelped at the cusp of independence.

Although there still exists national airlines and privately owned carriers in Africa but many of them have not carved strong niches to dominate the African market; instead, such mega carriers like Emirates, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Etihad and many others still dominate African airspace.

Despite the generally poor performance of state-owned airlines in Africa, they are the ones still thriving in the region, just as the major international airlines that have eroded the African travel market are still state owned or public quoted companies.

Aeropolitics Industry experts are of the opinion that African airlines are kept at the fringe of the air travel market both in Africa and in the world by aero-politics, which global alliances, international aviation organisations and advanced nations use to squeeze out competitors.

Also, the experts said African nations still attach to the apron string of their colonial masters are yet to challenge the dominance of these mega carriers through policies.

For example, for several years, Nigerian airlines have been kept away from some lucrative markets through aero-politics and Nigerian government has not fought back, using the principle of reciprocity. In many French speaking African nations, Air France is still the dominant carrier and any effort to establish a national airline by these countries is spearheaded by Air France, which build such airlines as feeder carriers that bring passengers to it from African state capitals for onward flight to its operational hub in Paris. Experts have noted that even when airlines from African nations are allowed to operate to those major European cities, it is more of tokenism than given them equal opportunity to compete.

Industry observers also cited corruption as one of the major reasons why foreign airlines are dominating Africa.

Many African countries do not protect their own airlines and their own market but designate foreign carriers to dominate their airspace. Government officials allegedly collect bribes from major global airlines and designate them as major operators in their countries. Industry stakeholders cited Nigeria as a good example of countries where government officials designate foreign carriers to dominate their market and also squeeze out local airlines that are not supported or protected by government.

Cooperation Industry observers also said African countries are not cooperating among themselves to build strong air transport market in the region.

They show greater allegiance to colonial masters and also use policies to obstruct the growth of African carriers by opening the market to international carriers and closing the market for fellow African airlines.

The Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopia Airlines, Mesfin Tasew recently told THISDAY, “You might have heard from different sources that today around 80 percent of African air traffic is carried by non-African carries.

“Hence, Africa shares the remaining 20 percent. So, there is a big market for African airlines. We have to take our reasonable

Junaic

share from this market. We can only take this share when Africans partner. We are brothers as African citizens and that is what we are encouraging.

“Unfortunately, many new starter African airlines didn’t succeed. The problem is internal capacity, capacity in leadership and deployment of resources.

“We don’t have the right visions individually. We have to cooperate on financial front, on maintenance, technical know-how and developing human resources among others,” he said.

Tasew, noted that one of the critical problems for African airlines is that they don’t have enough trained aviation professionals.

“So, we have to cooperate. Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed for different reasons.

“One is lack of leadership, from African government and airline operators. Air transport business requires discipline in leadership and commitment. If you don’t control your costs, you cannot succeed.

“If you cannot develop long- term strategy, you cannot succeed. So, we have to help each other and government has to play an active role in facilitating development of airlines in Africa,” he also said.

Also, the Managing Director, Ethiopia Airlines International Services, Esayas WoldeMariam Hailu, in a recent interview with THISDAY, urged African airlines to see the dominance of mega carriers in the world as a serious threat as it is impacting on all the airlines, not only one or two airlines in the continent; therefore, the regional carriers have to integrate their transport policies and strategies so that they can jointly work together through different code sharing strategies, as well as cooperation’s and alliances.

“African countries improving their air transport share should be central at the continental agenda for Africans.

“By doing so, they can maximise their existence in the sky of Africa. Otherwise, the existence of Africans in their own sky will be a fable if things continue this way.

“First, African governments should bring this serious agenda to their conferences, meetings, consultations and should device short and long term plans to tackle the challenges.

“There should be experience sharing and bench marking good aviation models.

After that, adapting the best-calculated practice to their reality and implementing them can be a solution,” Hailu said.

Ironically, mega carriers are still expanding their markets in Africa. Emirates and Turkish Airlines are still opening new destinations in the continent.

According to CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation), a leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence and AOG (Office of the Auditor General of Canada), the outlook of the African international market in 2025 indicates that African airlines would account for less than 40 per cent of the market.

Air France-KLM will remain the largest airline group in the Africa-Europe market while Turkish Airlines will remain the second largest and the fastest growing carrier that will dominate the region’s market.

SAATM The Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), which opened the airspace to the 26 member countries that signed into the policy after it was ratified by the African Union early last year, is yet to become a rallying point for African carriers, as the tendency by some member country to protect their local market for their indigenous carriers has eroded the major objective of the treaty, which is seamless movement of African registered airlines from one African country to another.

As observed earlier, some countries in Africa prefer to open their airspace to mega carriers and impinge on the movement of African airlines to the destinations in their countries.

“As an extension to the spirit of colonialism, which many dub neo colonialism, airlines like Air France still has dominance in many French speaking African countries.

Nigerian carriers have also suffered such obstruction by some African nations, which use hostile policies and outrageous charges to discourage Nigerian airlines from operating in their countries.

In West Africa Ghana, Senegal Cote d’ Ivoire discourage Nigerian carriers with high charges and taxes, which they don’t levy their own airlines and when they come to Nigeria, which is the biggest market in West and Central Africa, they are not charged half as much as they charge Nigerian airlines. So this gives the other airlines operating in the West Coast the advantage to sell tickets at lower fares.

But for Nigerian airlines to offset their operation costs in their operation to destinations like Accra, Doula, Abidjan, Dakar, Luanda, and Banjul, they charge relatively

higher fares. High fares obviously would discourage passengers who would prefer to fly African World Airlines (AWA), Air Cote d’Ivoire, Asky and others that offer lower fares. This has drastically affected the load factor of Nigerian operators.

Talking about SAATM, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Vice President, Africa, Raphael Kuuchi said recently, “There is also a completely ‘made in Africa’ policy initiative which we are wholeheartedly supporting.

“It is such a pain to get around this continent by any means of transport, including air. This inefficiency has an economic cost.

“The low density of the African intracontinental network makes it impossible to realise the potential benefits of a connected African economy. Today, intra-African travel is 45 percent more expensive than world averages.

Kuuchi, who spoke as IATA’s Special Envoy on Aero-Political Affairs during a recent African Airline Association’s stakeholder’s convention in Mauritius also noted that countries that have signed up to the SAATM agreement need to follow promises with action.

“History has shown that opening markets leads to rapid advances in connectivity.

In the case of Africa, it must be accompanied with a reduction in onerous visa requirements. We are confident that the results of 28 states that have signed on to SAATM will make a powerful case for the remaining 27 to come on board quickly,” said Kuuchi.

In all, he said SAATM was yet to provide the hope that African airlines will work together to capture significant part of the region’s market dominated by world’s mega carriers.

Protecting Local Markets Also speaking about Africa’s air transport market and SAATM, the IATA DirectorGeneral and CEO Alexandre de Juniac in a recent interview explained that some African states are not eager to open their airspace for African airlines; rather, they are protecting their local markets for their own airlines.

He stressed that with such attitude, African carriers would not grow and the region’s market would continue to be dominated by international carriers.

“I think they are similar to those of the Yamoussoukro Declaration. First, it is political reason because you are touching a subject that has to do with sovereignty.

“You have economic reasons, start-up airlines are not comfortable with the incumbent airlines, sometimes; but also governments want to protect their airspace and their operators against what they perceive as threatening competition from more established carriers.

“And thirdly, for those countries that don’t have operators (their own airlines), they are sometimes hesitant to open their borders because they think that it will kill any initiative to build a national or flag carrier.

“So the reasons why SAATM is yet to be fully embraced include protection, political control and sovereignty issues.”

De Junaic said this has affected airlines in Africa, stunting their growth and making them very weak, expressing the hope that IATA would push further on collaboration.

“We think that any initiative that is favourable to opening the sky is generally favourable for airlines. It generates traffic and usually it allows the creation of new airlines and the expansion of existing airlines, then it brings prosperity, GDP, jobs, and so many other things.

“What some countries are doing is politically motivated and the political situation of each country is different.

We have seen that in Europe,” he added.

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BUSINESSWORLD

analysis

NIWA’s Failed Concession of River Ports

Eromosele Abiodun posits that the failed planned concession of river ports across Nigeria by the National Inland Waterways Authority means that improving the utilisation of the inland waterways for transportation will continue to be a mirage

I

nland waterways are made up of navigable rivers, lakes, coastal creeks, lagoons and canals. The movement of goods and services along inland waterways is one of the oldest means of transporting goods and services from point to point.

This is largely due to the fact that inland water transport offers the most economical, energy efficient and environmental friendly means of transporting all types of cargo from place to place. It also offers safer and cheaper rates in areas where water exist naturally.

This facilitates commerce, promotes wealth creation, poverty alleviation, and creates job opportunities for youths within such regions. The ancillary sector of boat building industry also generates employment through active engagement of the youths in welding and fabrication process.

Despite the immense benefits to the economy, inland water transport in Nigeria has had a long history of neglect by both government and the private sector.

Little efforts were made to develop inland water transport facilities prior to the 1980s.

This stemmed largely from policy inconsistency, limited private sector involvement, and conflicts between and among agencies involved in the management of inland water transport in Nigeria.

Since the 1990s, however, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), has taken a number of initiatives, including capital and infrastructure improvement, channels dredging and maintenance and installation of safety facilities to turn the sector around.

Industry watchers and analysts have argued that with efficient control systems, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) could function appropriately to make economic fortunes.

Their arguments, no doubt, stem from the efficient operations of the Inland Waterways Transportation of the U.S. with about 25,000 nautical miles, out of which 12,000 miles have been commercialised and maintained by the government.

The American inland, intra-coastal and coastal waterways and channels, available statistics reveal, accommodates about 3,008 businesses and 24,908 employees as well as makes a whopping N8 billion dollars annually.

More than 60 per cent of America’s grain exports, about 22 per cent of domestic petroleum products and 20 per cent of the coal used in electricity generation is ferried via America’s water transportation system.

The Nigerian Situation The case is, however, not the same in Nigeria. For years, the growth of water transport and other ancillary businesses have been impeded by numerous obstacles, chiefly the battle for control.

Virtually all the state governments with this geographical advantage are engaged in subtle regulatory or supremacy battle with the federal government. The situation thereby flouts the dictates of the law, court rulings and as such cause distraction to major stakeholders in the industry.

Nigeria has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owing a land area of 924000sqkm with an estimated population of about 200 million. The country is blessed with a coastline of about 870km and about 3000kilometer of inland waterways. Nigeria currently has six major ports (Tincan Island, Apapa, Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar) and 10 crude oil terminals (Escarvos, Bonny, Sapele, Forcados, Tuma, Okrika, FOT, etc).

Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) annual

was impressed with the state of the cargo handling equipment and other facilities.

He therefore promised to accelerate the process of completion of the concession of the port.

However, he frowned at the slow pace of work at the Oguta River Port site and promised to get the National Assembly and Imo State government to support the process of completing the port.

Mustapha, was also delighted with the asset of NIWA at Warri Dockyard, which he said was enough to sustain the authority financially if properly managed.

He noted that the issue of inadequate manpower and obsolete equipment at the port would be addressed, adding that some operations at the Dockyard may be leased to the private sector.

The NIWA boss also visited two jetties in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, and promised the people of the state that the two jetties would be put into use very soon.

Acting MD, NIWA, Danladi Ibrahim

account showed that traffic into the major ports excluding tankers was estimated at appropriately 35, 000 vessels per annum and overall cargo throughout (excluding crude) was 222.23 million tons. The total number of passenger that patronizes the sea ports is estimated at 35000 per annum. Statistics from NPA indicates that 4070 vessels with 121,350,844GRT visited Nigeria in the year 2000 alone, having an overall cargo throughout at 28,859,274 million tons.

Sequentially, container traffic at major ports was 119,458 (outwards) and 204,299 (inwards). However, several other ports dotted along the 300km of inland waterways include: Onitsha, Oguta, Opobo, Lokoja, Baro, Jebba etc. Nigeria being major oil producing and exporting country records about 2,000 petroleum tanker vessels calling at her ports annually, with an average tanker size of about 95000.

Industry analysts therefore wonder why the federal and states government cannot take advantage of the huge opportunity in the sector to create jobs.

“Pause and reflect on the import and export statistics in terms of numerous trade opportunities and the never- ending operations on the Nigerian coastal ways nationwide. Such transport or activities over waterways is especially effective when the source and/or destination are a water front location, which is a main infrastructural advantage that regularly needed to be trained, maintained and upgraded, of which Nigeria is specially blessed with such infrastructure as waterways unlike the hinterland states, “ said a player in the industry who do not want his name in print.

He said Nigeria’s dream of being amongst the top 20 largest economics in the world will only come to fruition if its inland waterways is well utilised.

He added that the implementation of cabotage laws in Nigeria is critical to the success or otherwise of the plan, “because of the indispensible role shipping plays in not just the movement of goods and services around the country and the revenues

collected as tax from the various actors in the sector.”

Cabotage Act Impact Also, stakeholders are of the view that the effective implementation of the cabotage Act will catalyze the growth and development of the transportation sector and reduce the over dependence of the nation on road transportation operations and its consequent damage of the roads since the collapse of the railway system in Nigeria.

Others believe the growth of the sector is expected when the dredging activities on in the nation’s inland waterways are concluded.

“However, the initiatives and strategies forecasted for the future still does not move a foot if the problem of enforcement geometrically progresses due to the infallible and unchangeable management governing the corridors of power in this sector, seeing actually that most of them still lack the rudimentary understanding of its existence and likewise its operationality,” said the industry analyst.

Privatisation Option In a bid to change the narrative, the NIWA made effort to concession river ports across the country, a move that has since been abandoned due to the politicisation of the exercise.

The former Managing Director of NIWA, Gida Mustapha had in 2017 announced that the agency was inching closer to the final concessioning of the Onitsha, Lokoja, Baro and Oguta River ports.

Mustapha confirmed the receipt of certificate of compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission (ICRC) to go ahead with the concessioning process.

The concessioning, he said, would allow for private sector management and trigger improved utilisation of the inland waterways for transportation and easy conveyance of goods.

He said the tour would expose the operations at various points in order to take the necessary action.

At the Onitsha River Port, he said he

The LASWA Example Unlike NIWA, the Lagos State government is making efforts to develop the state’s inland waterways. Following their effort, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) last year announced that about two million people shuttle the Lagos waterways on a monthly basis.

The former Managing Director, LASWA, Abisola Kamson said the number of people that ply the state’s waterways has grown rapidly over the years and measures are being put in place to strengthen the authority’s water guards to enforce safety rules.

Kamson also revealed that new safety rules for the growth of water transportation sector in the state were underway as various challenges are being encountered

by LASWA on the waterways She also said that they are in partnership with the National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA), in order to regulate various activities on the state’s waterways and ensure that it is safe.

She stated that the new guidelines would focus on the quality of boats, size of the boat, size of the engine, and general safety for commuters.

The LASWA boss said operators would be given a period to comply with the new guidelines after which government would begin strict enforcement of the guidelines adding that LASWA would employ more water guards to enhance patrol on waterways.

She said the water guards of the authority provided statistics on daily basis on the number of passengers plying the jetties in the state, saying that many people were now used to commuting on the waterways and that the number still kept on growing.

Kamson said: “The core function of LASWA is to act as a regulatory agency for all movements on waterways. We are to provide enabling infrastructure that will promote water transport.”

She said the authority is working closely with the Marine Police in order to beef up the security and also, curb illegal access on the waterways adding that plans were underway to ensure that jetties and boat operators not licensed by the state government were not allowed to operate on the waterways.

Kamson said that there would be proper channelling of boat routes to prevent boat users from interference.

This, she said, would enable the authority monitor the number of approved vessels plying certain route, which would make for safety of the waterways.

The MD appealed to Lagos residents to desist from dumping refuse and open defecation on water as such practice could impede movement on waterways adding that efforts were underway for mechanised clearing.

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perspective

Agribusiness in Nigeria: The Ground is Set Peter Nwaobi and Halleluyah Ojo

N

igeria is a key player in the West African region, with an estimated population of about 201million . The country accounts for 47% of West Africa’s population, and has one of the largest youth population in the world. Economists, both home and abroad, have continued to clamor for Nigeria to promote her agricultural sector (the Sector).

According to the World Bank 77.7 per cent of Nigeria’s land is arable and capable of producing key (cash) crops, including beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, cocoa beans, groundnuts, maize (corn), melon, rice, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains and rubber, amongst others. Nigeria also has quality manpower to complement the fertile land mass and drive the Sector, judging from her teeming population of able-bodied youths.

The sector is, however, largely plagued by several limiting factors, such as obsolete farming methodologies, lack of access to cheap finance, inadequate storage facilities, defective power supply and poor transport infrastructure amongst others.

Nevertheless, a cursory review of the fiscal framework for the sector indicates that the Government is keen on developing agribusiness and has backed this up with several incentives, schemes and policies aimed at jump-starting the moribund sector and improving the yield from it.

This article provides an overview of the Agribusiness in Nigeria, Government’s intervention so far, as well as the incentives available to investors in the Sector.

Agribusiness in Nigeria Investopedia.com defines agribusiness as: “the business sector encompassing farming and farming-related commercial activities”.

It involves all the steps required to send an agricultural good to market: production, processing and distribution. It is an important component of the economy in countries with arable land and good climate.

Nigeria used to be a major player in the global agribusiness. In the 1960s , Nigeria was the world’s largest producer of groundnuts and palm oil, and the second largest exporter of cocoa. The country was self-sufficient in food production before the emergence of oil in the 1960s . Evaluated from both the horizontal and vertical integration perspectives, the sector could potentially be a high revenue generator, from the production of leather, beverages, tobacco, textile, cotton, foot-wear, wood works and furniture, pulp paper, to chemical and pharmaceutical products, plastic and rubber products amongst others. It is therefore no gainsaying that Agribusiness should be a serious business in Nigeria.

According to the National Bureau of statistics’ (NBS) report for Q1 of 2019, the Nigerian agricultural sector’s contribution to the Country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) improved by 1.15% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2018. The sector’s real GDP in Q1 of 2018 and 2019 was 21.66% and 21.91, respectively. This result suggest that the sector is growing, though marginally, with potential for further development if given more attention. There is therefore no better time for the Government and private investors to tap into the enormous opportunities in the Nigerian agricultural sector other than now!

Government’s Involvement in the Sector Since the discovery of crude oil in 1956, Nigeria has been overly dependent on oil to drive the economy. However, the plunge in the global crude oil price experienced in 2014, as well as new developments, such as discovery of shale oil in the United States (US), introduction of electric cars and global drive towards clean energy amongst others, have seen several countries whose livelihood depended on natural resources such as oil (Nigeria inclusive), going back to the drawing board. For example, one of the levers of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s annual budget pronouncements since the advent of the current administration is diversification.

This popular mantra has caused a renewed focus on growing the non-oil sector of the economy, particularly, agriculture.

This sector is experiencing a revitalisation with deliberate government policies geared towards encouraging farmers and investors.

In furtherance of this agenda, the government has made tremendous efforts towards supporting and promoting Agribusiness in the country. For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) in November 2015, to create a link between anchor companies involved in the processing segment and small holder farmers (SHFs), of the required key agricultural commodities. The main objective of the ABP is provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to SHFs to boost production of these commodities and stabilize

inputs supply to agro processors (the anchors) in Nigeria. One other key objective of this programme is to increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector.

One of the levers of the ABP, and the other programs rolled out by the current administration is the CBN’s recently approved disbursement of loans to farmers in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing in Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).

The loan guarantee scheme, which was jointly initiated by the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is a public-private sector initiative set up to transform the country’s agricultural sector by improving access to finance for both existing and potential players. Essentially, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guarantee 75 per cent of the loans provided

by Deposit Money Banks (DPB) to farmers as part of efforts to transform the country’s agricultural sector.

In addition, the country launched a new agriculture promotion policy which is aimed at ensuring the protection of local and foreign investments. The country has in place, the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), Agricultural Credit Support Scheme (ACSS), and Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) among others. These schemes are majorly set up to provide easy and cheap access to funds, as well as to encourage participation in the Sector.

There is therefore a need for more sensitization on the available schemes and existing incentives, as this will foster active participation and go a long way in making the sector more attractive. This will in turn ensure that the Government’s objectives are ultimately achieved.”

Fiscal Incentives Most incentives are conditional motivators.

They are designed to encourage participation in an economic activity. There are several fiscal incentives available to players in the Sector, most of which are discussed below.

Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) The CITA is the basis for the imposition of income tax on companies doing business in Nigeria, except for companies operating in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The incentives under this Act are summarized below •Exemption from the payment of minimum tax. Generally, where, in any tax year, a company is in a tax loss position (i.e., no tax payable) or where the company’s tax payable is lower than the minimum tax (as computed), such company is expected to pay a minimum tax to the Government. This provision does not apply to any agribusiness.

•No restriction to loss relief i.e. tax losses from a year of assessment (YOA) can be carried forward indefinitely to offset future taxes.

•Accelerated capital allowance claims of 95% in the first YOA on capital expenditure incurred in respect of plantation equipment and plant & machinery. This allows investors to quickly recoup a major part of their capital outlay in the same year.

•No restriction on the quantum of capital allowances (CA) claimable on capital expenditure incurred in any YOA. Typically, CA claim in any YOA is restricted to 662/3 of the assessable profits of a company.

•Companies that incur capital expenditure for the provision of facilities such as electricity, water or tarred road for the purpose of a

trade or business in rural areas located at least 20 kilometers away from such facilities provided by Government, can enjoy up to a 100% rural investment allowance on such expenditure, subject to certain conditions.

•Companies with turnover of less than 1million naira are assessed to corporate tax (CIT) at a reduced rate of 20% for the first five years of operation, to encourage small scale farmers and other investors.

•Interest on any loan granted by a bank to a company engaged in Agribusiness is exempted from tax, subject to certain conditions. This is to facilitate access to cheap funds by farmers from deposit money banks.

Value Added Tax (VAT) Act VAT is levied on the supply of goods and services at the rate of 5%. However, in line with the VAT Act (VATA), there are certain transactions that are exempted while some others are zero-rated. The second schedule to the VATA provides that tractors, ploughs, agricultural equipment and implements purchased for Agribusiness are exempted from VAT. This is to encourage large scale farming and mechanization, as the gesture will ultimately reduce the overall (landing) cost of such specialized plant and machinery.

The VATA also provides that all non-oil exports are zero-rated i.e. VAT at 0% is charged on all agricultural produce exported out of Nigeria. This should ordinarily make it cheaper for foreigners to source their agricultural products or inputs from Nigeria.

Industrial Development The IDA provides the basis for granting pioneer status (tax holiday) to qualifying companies or products. A company can apply for its product or service to be granted pioneer status where such product or service is not in existence, it is required for economic development, or is in existence, but has not been developed to a scale suitable for economic development. Pioneer status confers tax exemption for a three-year period in the first instance, which can be extended for another two (2) years i.e. a maximum of five years in total.

Qualifying industries for pioneer status incentive include: cultivation and processing of food crops, vegetables and fruits, manufacture of cocoa products, processing of oilseeds, integrated dairy production, mining, manufacture of cement, glass and glassware, lime from limestone, ceramic product, rubber, leather textile and other areas of industry that are of economic benefits to the country.

The other incentives available under the IDA include the following: •Dividends paid out of profit earned during the pioneer period are tax-free.

•Losses incurred during the pioneer period can be carried forward to offset post-pioneer profits before tax is paid on the latter.

•Capital expenditure incurred during pioneer period is deemed to have been incurred at the expiration of the pioneer period, for CA purposes, post-pioneer.

The Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme In January 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), signed the Executive Order No. 007 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme guarantees participants a minimum recovery of 100% of the project cost incurred in constructing or refurbishing any identified road designated by the FGN as an eligible road under the scheme. Under the Scheme, a participant will be entitled to a tax credit of 100% of the

cost of constructing the road, in addition to an uplift equal to the monetary policy rate (MPR) +2%. Participants in the Scheme are also able to sell or transfer the whole or part of the unutilized credit to a third party.

This new order seems to be strategic for the development of our comatose road infrastructure, to spur economic growth, as it should encourage the private sector generally (and ”agripreneurs” specifically) to, on their own, construct roads leading to their farms and / or production sites while recovering the full cost + uplift through the tax due to the FGN. It is expected that where a company claims the incentives under this scheme, such a company would not be entitled to claim the incentives under the CITA (mentioned above), to avoid double claim, and particularly, as the incentive under this scheme is more beneficial than those under the CITA. Moving to the Next Level From the forgoing, it is evident that the Nigerian agricultural sector presents a vast array of viable investment opportunities for investors to explore, as the Government has indeed set the right tune for the development of Agribusiness. However, there are still some unfinished business. Critical issues for the Government’s intervention to realize the lofty objectives behind those incentives are those around utilities, power and transportation. The current reality in Nigeria today is that substantial portion of agricultural produce is damaged/spoilt due to delay in evacuation, occasioned by the poor haulage/ transport system for conveying them from agric settlements where they are harvested to urban areas where they are needed/ consumed.

Furthermore, the effects of climate change and variable weather patterns in Nigeria accentuate the need for the Government to also focus on providing reliable weather forecasts as well as effective irrigation / watering systems for crop production, livestock production and fisheries. This will ensure that agribusiness thrives in every part of the country.

The growing demand for agricultural products necessitates that farmers improve on their level of plant cultivation and animal husbandry for improved yield. A paradigm shift in approach and methodology is therefore crucial at this point.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will play a vital role in addressing this concern. Government should seek to integrate ICT application into the agricultural sector to ensure prompt access to current information, such as the release of new crop varieties, the emergence of new pests / diseases and their control, ideal fertilizers for specific crops, and the availability of harmless genetically engineered crop species or animal breeds, amongst others. Government can also embark on agricultural transformation programmes aimed at training farmers on the effective utilization of ICT for their operations.

Agriculture is rapidly growing as one of the key industries on both local and global levels with the increased global responsiveness to food security and sustainable food production in the face of population growth.

Hence, given the current economic realities, there is no better time for investors to seize the opportunities and proactively take advantage of the available schemes and incentives. The authors wish to align with a quote by Jawaharlal Nehru that: “Most things, except Agriculture, can wait!”. The time to invest in agribusiness is now!

This Weekend Weekly Magazine

News Metro Thislife Art Weekend Entertainment Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08152252325

CSP Oriyomi Titilayo-Oluwasanmi: The Face of Traffic Policing in Lagos

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F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Cover CSP Oriyomi Titilayo-Oluwasanmi: The Face of Traffic Policing in Lagos

Call Oriyomi Titilayo-Oluwasanmi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, the face of traffic policing in Lagos and you won’t be wrong. In her capacity as the Lagos State Traffic Officer, otherwise known as Motorpol, she has reformed the ideals of traffic policing. Before this present posting as Motorpol, Oluwasanmi who has so far garnered over 36 awards both internationally and locally, was the crime officer in Alausa Police Division before she was made the officer-in-charge of the Juvenile Welfare Centre. Given her diligence at work, she was selected by the British Council to undergo training on community policing, after which she became a trainer. She was later transferred to Area A Command, Lion Building as the Divisional Traffic Officer. In this interview with Chiemelie Ezeobi, the erstwhile Divisional Police Officer, Ilasa Police Division, shared her journey as a police officer, the highs and the inherent challenges juggling her career and home front

H Some of her several awards

ow and why did you join the police?

Honestly speaking, initially, I didn’t want to join the police, it was my uncle that pushed me into the police.

He pushed to the police because he said, he discovered that I always stand for the truth, so I will be useful in the police.

Which year was that?

I went to the police academy in 2002 and I came out as a Cadet assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of course 21.

How has the journey been?

Not bad, initially I was posted to Ekiti, as the admin officer at Iyin Police Station. From Ekiti, I came to Lagos, where I was posted to the Alausa Police Division as a crime officer. Later, I became the officer-in-charge of the Juvenile Welfare Centre. Later I was picked through some selections made by the British Council and some top officials in the Nigerian Police for a training on community policing.

We were trained at Police College Ikeja and after the training they selected some of us. I happened to be the only woman among the five men that were trained in community policing. That was between 2006 to 2007. In fact, it was our set that launched community policing in Lagos.

Then I was still in Alausa but was later pulled out to be community policing personnel under the DIG F Department, that is DIG Ekpo Udom. So, we were directly under the force headquarters.

The class was a train the trainer course, so we started doing our training in Police College Ikeja and I had the privileged opportunity to train the former CP Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi; former Motorpol Margaret Epe; DC Panti, Yetunde Longe and a lot of other senior officers. At a point we started going from division to

Oluwasanmi controlling the traffic at Ikeja when THISDAY chanced upon her and requested for an interview

division to conduct trainings, so I was there for four and a half years before I ended up with Lagos Command.

When I came back to Lagos I was posted to Lion Building as the Divisional Traffic Officer and funny enough that was the job I hated most in the police because I am Lagosian and I thought people will be seeing me and I don’t want them to see me on the road. But when I took over as the Divisional Traffic Officer, in the Island I really enjoyed the job. Because I began to see it as giving back to the community. I was always on the road from 5:30am you will see me on the road and I don’t close until 10:30pm in the night making sure everybody gets out of Lagos free.

So from there the Crime Reporters Association (CRAN) saw me, I don’t who mentioned me to them but they came and met me on the road. They didn’t talk to me, it was when they were talking about me, the day I was to be given an award that I knew they were on the road to see me. So 2015 I went to China on a course so as I returned I was given the Best Traffic Officer by CRAN. So the day of the award ceremony, CP Fatai Owoseni, who was the then commissioner of police for the state was there when crime reporters were reading out their accolades about me. The second day he posted me to Ilasa as the DPO. I happened to be the first woman to work there as a DPO and the most junior person to work there as DPO. I happen to know that you proved your mettle as DPO Ilasa. What were your major achievements there?

When I got to Ilasa it was tough, hectic and a different ball game. In the Island, if a criminal runs into a house they will turn him in, but in Ilasa they will deny that anybody went into any house and lock the door. I lost many sleepless nights to sanitise Ilasa ranging from robbery on the express, to unearthing and dismantling the den of cultists, petty thieves, rape and a host of other crimes that were never ending. It was an organised crime.

So we started from the expressway because in the past, when your vehicle stops on the road, the hoodlums gather around you to collect money. I gave my boys instruction concerning that.

If someone’s vehicle breaks down and you don’t want to help them, why then would you rob them of all their properties at gun point? But first, I did town hall meetings and warned their families to tell their children that this is a different dispensation and we are not going to be friends unless they are law abiding citizens and that was how that of the express stopped. That was how a journalist wrote about me that he never knew that it can be possible and that he was even thinking of writing to the CP that they don’t want a woman as a DPO. When I got to Ilasa I met an album where they put most wanted criminals.

So every morning I wake up, I would go through the album, pick a name and mobilise my boys to look for the person.

That was how I started picking them one after the other. There was a particular man who was a serial rapist. I can’t count the number of children this man has raped. It was when he raped another woman that I laid sieged for him for about three months before he was picked up one morning. He is still in Kirikiri as I speak with you, it was a celebrated case in Ilasa and everybody was jubilating and it was carried by some National dallies.

Later we started looking for one Kanmi in Lagos state Command. The CP declared him wanted because he was the head of the Aiye Confraternity, he wanted to go and initiate some people at Bariga on the day President Buhari was in Lagos for the first time. We arrested him under the bridge where he came to inflict injury on a person with a machete and he was arrested and sent to Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

Later, the robber that robbed Basketmouth the comedian was arrested in Ilasa with a fellow gang member, with two AK 47 rifles and some locally

made pistol in his possession. In Ilasa, I recovered over 20 locally made pistol and some English pistols. There was also an extended search for Nafiu, whose younger brother killed somebody at Ire Akari but was later arrested where he was sleeping and they are both in Kirikiri.

But the case that really made noise in Ilasa was when I discovered an oil well when I was on patrol with the incident duty officer for Area D. When I finished patrolling with him, I decided to patrol my own division and we saw a woman carrying out suspicious acts at the wee hours of the day and decided to investigate. When she was accosted, she declined any wrong doing by saying she was fetching water from the well, then we persisted to know what exactly she was doing and discovered it was an oil well with refined diesel in about about 15 oil wells in Ilasa and Lagos was agog.

With the discovery, there was increased visibility in 2016 and I was given the best DPO in Nigeria by Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria and that was where the heat started from.

By December last year there was a robbery at the other side of Ilasa which belongs to Itire where somebody went to Diamond Bank and coming out, was shot at but he luckily survived. He was however disposed of his valuables. The two robbers were arrested, together with the heads of Aiye, Eiye Confraternities.

Another case was that of the arrest of the 20-year-old girl that was killing people within that same week and Ilasa became calm.

So at the end of January this year when the then CP Edgal posted me to be the State Traffic Officer, I couldn’t tell the community I was leaving because there would have been protests not to let me go, I had to run away. They came to the new place I was posted to complain but nothing could be done to counter my posting due to the fact it was to a higher continued on next page

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

29

co ver CSP Oriyomi Titilayo-Oluwasanmi: The Face of Traffic Policing in Lagos

Honouring Inspector Jumai Musa, a traffic officer at Maryland

Oluwasanmi receiving some of her many laurels

police posting, even the local government chairman wasn’t happy I left.

Now you are Motorpol, how has the journey been?

The journey has been good but a lazy person cannot be in motorpol, as you have to be up and doing to be in such an organisation. It entails being on the road to access the traffic situation across the state. If you are lazy it will tell on your officers but if you are up and doing, it will also show on your officers as they wouldn’t know where you will be at any given time and in order not to be caught unawares they will strive to do their best.

Your job is to be on the road. Before 6am, I call the traffic controller to position all the officers at their duty post as all my officials should up and doing their work.

I go on routine traffic checks around the state to supervise the officers on duty.

Just this week, I went to Maryland to personally congratulate Inspector Jumai Musa who is in charge of Anthony Division for a job well done and showered her with gifts and also controlled traffic for her. I take breaks and go to the office aound 1:30pm and 2pm to relax and refresh and ensure I am back on the road to handle the traffic especially during the peak periods which usually starts around 3pm and call on other divisional traffic officers and their personnel to move out and push traffic in order for people to get to their destinations on time.

What are the new innovations you have brought to your unit?

Since I came to this place I made sure that their primary assignment is to

decongest traffic. Also, they now dress smarter in their uniforms and are more cordial in their dealings with motorists unlike the situation before. I also make sure everyone is always at their duty posts to avoid giving false reports that would jeopardise their situation if found untrue when enquiry is made. They no longer go out to viticimise motorists rather their primary duty is to decongest traffic.

Sometimes we also fix bad roads. One of such was the Ikeja road as it was giving us problems when carrying out our duty. Because of the traffic it was causing, we went looking for debris from construction sites to fill the potholes and also at the Ojuelegba road we also patched things up. So I made them know that their job is not just to control traffic but to first find out what is causing the traffic and then fix it.

You are a wife, mother and a career woman, how do you balance all these roles?

It is not easy to be a career woman, but I thank God that my children understand me. My oldest child is 14 years old,the second is 10 years old and my last child that is a girl is eight years old. On Sundays when trafic is usually light and during holidays are when we make out time to bond. During the week, we see less often but I make sure to provide all they need. My husband has been very supportive irrespective of my hectic schedule. Although many people have told him to make me stop work and stay at home but he doesn’t listen to them as he is a pilot working for Air Peace. He

discovered that I enjoy what I do and has also seen I have passion for my job, so he encourages me and reminds me to be up and doing.

He regularly keeps tabs on me and knows my schedule. When I was working as a DPO, I used to close late around 2:30am or 3am but as Motorpol, we close by 10pm, thereby giving me little room to spend time with my family. No police work is easy unless you are not a career woman that can merge the two together so that one job would not affect the other.

What is your advice to young female police officers?

They should not see themselves as women, because once you are in the police, you are in a man’s world. Like the retired CP Fatai who saw me two weeks ago and referred to me as ‘Okunrin Meta’ (loosely translated as strong woman).

Because when you are in a man’s world you have to do times two in order to be on top of your game. We should not see ourselves as weaker vessels. Traffic work is not easy, it is not a job for the faint hearted and so I set a pace for myself.

Women have been at the top in different fields. Even in the military, females have reached remarkable heights, so the police should not be an exception. We should see ourselves as role models who are being looked up to and be outstanding in any field.

Awards Oluwasanmi has so far garnered over 36 awards both internationally and locally. Some of them include the Police Community Relation Committee Award

(Merit award as DTO Lion Building), PCRC Award (Merit Award) 2014, Bible Society of Nigeria Award (Award of Honor & Contribution to Bible Course) 2015, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria Award (Distinguished Award in Crime Fighting) 2015, West African Regional Partnership for Peace & Security Award (Merit Award as DPO Ilasamaja, Lead-Time African Magazine Award (Recognition for Outstanding & Dedication) 2016, and Christian Event Watch Magazine Award ( Award for Energetic Solder of Christ & Excellence, Dedication Officer of Law and Security) 2016.

Others include the Nigeria Peace Magazine Award (Leadership Ambassador Award ) 2016, African Voice of Peace Initiative Award (Managerial Merit Award of Excellence) 2016, Leadership Hope Media Award (Leadership Ambassador Award) 2016, ICON Africa Media Award (Prestigious Africa Merit Gold Award) 2016, Voice of Peace Initiative National Building Award (Good Ambassador and Quality Leadership ) 2016, Global Legend Media Award (Global Legend DPO of the Year) 2016, Hall Of Fame Award (DPO of the Year Award) 2017, Crime Link Publication Award (DPO of the year and Pragmatic Leadership) and Society of National Peace & Leadership Award (Excellence in Crime Fighting Award) 2017.

Also she was awarded with Crime Link Publication Award (Outstanding & Distinguished DPO of the Year) 2017, The Apostolic Church Nigeria Ilasamaja (Meritorious Award of Excellence) 2017, Lagos Watch Award (Star Award of Excellence & Distinction) 2017, National Peace Movement Award (Charismatic Leadership Award) 2017, National Association against Drug and Crime Award (Pragmatic Leadership Award), Transparency Nigeria Award (Most Transparent Police Officer of the Year) 2017, Voice of Peace Initiative Award (Peace Ambassador in Nation Building) 2018, Crime Fighter Award of Excellence (Recognition for Excellence ) and West Africa Media Community Award (The Pride News Paper Man of the Year Award) 2019.

She also got the Fresh Fact Magazine Eminence Award (Most Outstanding DPO), Security Watch Africa (Golden Star Award), Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria Award (Police Office of the year), Africa Security Watch award (Best Anti-Crime Police officer in West Africa), JTAH Award (Special Recognition Award for Dedication and Hard Work), CRAN Award (Award for Gallantry in Police Duties), Voice out Nigeria News (National Pride Award) 2019, City Award (Remarkable Work as CSP in Lagos State and Entire south-west) 2019, Committee for the Defense of Human Right CDHR Award (Award for Excellence for Security Service & Security Personnel of the Year) 2019, JTTAH foundation and Voice out Nigeria News awards.

Profile CSP Oriyomi Titilayo Oluwasanmi was born in Lagos in the early 70s and she attended primary and secondary school in lagos.

She is a graduate of Philosophy from Ogun State Univeristy, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. She also has a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management from the London School of Management. In 2015, she also attended the Police Officer’s Course in Management in Guandong Police Academy, Guangzhou, China.

After her NYSC programme she enlisted into the Nigeria Police as a cadet ASP in 2002. She was trained at Police Academy, Wudil, Kano. Oluwasanmi is happily married and blessed with children.

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E-Trends

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Music Showbiz

…Your weekly entertainment delight

Nollywood

People’s Hero to Kick off September

T

Stories by Vanessa Obioha he long awaited talent reality show, The People’s Hero will finally debut on September 21.

Auditions for the show which seeks to celebrate the cultural heritage of South-east were held in August in Owerri and Enugu.

Youths who are passionate about the culture of the Igbo people trooped into the audition venues from neighbouring states to fight for a spot in the reality talent hunt show. From aspiring musicians to dancers to actors and spoken words, the venues were filled with young and vibrant talents.

The staggering outcome stunned Nigerian actress Rachel Okonkwo, who was among the judges. The actress stated that the talent hunt has demonstrated that the agitation about our culture and heritage being eroded can easily be reversed by creating creative platforms for expression.

She commended the Hero Lager from the stables of International Breweries

A dancer at People’s Hero audition in Owerri.jpg

for providing such a platform for the talents to showcase their gifts. She was particularly moved by the patriotism of the contestants who appeared at the venue in their cultural attires.

The People’s Hero Talent hunt is a

MusicMeetsFootballinNewLifestyleTVShow The new lifestyle football show ‘Kings of Football’ by Budweiser Beer brings a new life to football shows on TV with its unique style: blending music and football.

A first-of-its-kind, the one hour long show features both music and football segments to keep the viewer entertained. There is the in-house DJ Dips who spice up things with upbeat songs from his wheel of steel.

And of course, the hosts Jimmie Akinsola and Osereme Inegbenebor who always challenge each other with their witty games and dance moves.

Beyond the music, there are segments such as ‘Know Your King’ where viewers can get a wink at the lives of famous football stars in either the English Premier League or LaLiga football tournament.

In ‘Kings of Style’, the show takes the viewer on a lifestyle journey of some of the famous names in the football scene.

The profiling is usually focused on players from a particular region.

There are also highlights of previous matches in each episode while a new celebrity guest is featured in ‘Your Kingdom’ segment.

Celebrities such as popular DJ Crowd Controller has been featured and more recently, the Big Brother Naija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu who, along with, hosts of the show, showcased exciting moments in the world of football and also discussed trending topics, news and updates from the English Premier League and La Liga.

Viewers can also be part of the show through the predict and win segments ‘King of Match’ and ‘Take the Shot’. Like all football games, fans are usually frenzied when it comes to predicting the outcome of matches. This is aptly replicated in these segments where fans share their thoughts on social media and later know their fates on the show.

In addition, Budweiser has provided viewing parties in different recreational facilities across major cities in the country. Celebrities like DJ Babus, L.A.X, Hypeman Best, Dj Consequence and many others will be visiting these venues to watch EPL, La Liga

platform created by Hero Lager Beer for the South-eastern and South-southern people to identify and reward talents in the arts of singing, dancing, spoken word and acting with the reward of N7 million for the winner and a prize of N2 million

ChikaLann’s‘TheMillions’IsBarelyaHeistFilm Iyke Bede

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu at Kings of Football

matches and party with the fans of the winning teams. Fans can easily check out the weekend viewing party venues from the social media handles of Budweiser.

Speaking on the TV show, the Marketing Director, International Breweries, Tolulope Adedeji said“Footballers all over the world, including our local footballers, aspire to play in these leagues.

“Through the ‘Kings of Football’, fans and our local footballers will be able to glean some useful tips from the stories of the personal lives of their heroes, especially in the area of their value to communities and the sacrifices they made to become stars of the game. Our viewing parties also provide us the opportunity to celebrate with fans in a unique and exciting way only Budweiser can bring to life.”

The Kings of Football show and viewing parties are two of the activations by Budweiser in Nigeria to celebrate the global multi-year sponsorships with two of the top international football leagues, the English Premier League and LaLiga.

The weekly show is billed for 8:30pm every Friday on SuperSport 3 with repeat broadcast on Saturdays across Super Sport Channels.

and N1 million for the first and second runners-up respectively.

The show is produced by Viacom International Media Networks Africa and will air on MTV Base channel 322 on DStv and channel 72 on GOtv

Marking her mark in the film space, popular ex-international model, Chika Lann makes a comeback to the limelight with heist film, ‘The Millions’, a year after her N40 million hairdo claim broke the internet.

The film sees the fair-skinned beauty in the producer’s seat for the first time. The film, which was shot in Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja, tells the story of a charismatic con man who carries out the supposedly‘biggest heist in history’. It stars Ramsey Nouah, Ayo Makun, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Nancy Isime in leading roles.

According to Lann, she chose the concept of the film because it was different and brilliant. A type of story that is different from the comedy genre movie lovers are used to. In Nollywood, films in the heist genre, a subgenre of action films do not make up a good percentage of films produced in a calendar year when compared to Hollywood. The comedy genre takes the top spot.

‘The Millions’ revolve round Bem Kator (Ramsey Nouah), a con man who finds himself in a conundrum after he defrauds an unsuspecting fellow that stole money from a close relative to meet Bem’s demands to make him rich. Afterwards, Bem is confronted by the notorious relative who threatens him to return his money. To offset his debt, Bem reconsiders an earlier offer to carry out a heist that involves burgling an apartment to retrieve the sum of $42 million.

‘The Millions’ presents its plot in a convoluted pattern with blurry details which was intended to create suspense, but turned out to be confusion. Whilst heist films are usually marked by out-of-the-box ideas of its perpetrators,‘The Millions’ chose to prioritise each person’s ulterior motive in the robbery scheme.

It clumps a simple narrative to create drama. It wasn’t about how resources were intelligently pooled together to surmount the challenge of penetrating a heavily guarded quarter, it was one where the

shortcomings of members of the gang is blown out of proportion. This somehow questions the central plot, if it was built on trust or on tactfulness of those involved in the heist.

Traditional heist films bank on elaborate plot that highlight the con man’s ability to manoeuvre difficulties. In ‘The Millions’, the writer Tunde Apalowo tears a page off 2008’s British heist flick, ‘The Bank Job’.

This borrowed essence or similarity is the centrepiece that keeps the plot afloat; aside from that, there is no je ne sais quoi to it.

The film relies too much on comedic effects, so much, one begins to question if it was originally intended as a heist film that exploits the wits of con artists or comedy.

Of course, most films in the action or thriller genres employ comedy, but it does so in a way that teases and not overwhelm.‘The Millions’ fails in striking this balance.

Regarding plot holes, there is no synergy among the characters. Even after identities are revealed, it leaves the viewer in doubt, struggling to logically piece sequence together.

The infusion of conflict into any script helps shape the narrative of that story and by extension, pique the interest of its audience. For the character Bem, the challenges he faced did not match his calibre. Posed with similar quagmire, an average smart person would scale through same conditions in the burgling process.

The only time he and his gang faced a major setback in what could easily be the height of suspense, the script plays safe by resolving the situation using a weak deus ex machina moment in the form of noise generated from an indoor party held in a supposed soundproof building as distraction.

This poor technique leaves its audience flat as unleavened bread in desperate need for suspense to raise spirits. It was a far cry from director Toka McBaror’s claims to beat Hollywood on this film.

On characterisation, Nouah projected a plausible character, but his effort was flawed by the script’s inability to make him appear invincible enough to face any substantial challenge or a vulnerable moment where he almost breaks.

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

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e-trends

Tiwa Savage Shows Her Maturity on 49-99 Iyke Bede

Recently signed to international record label, Universal Music, Nigerian singer-songwriter, Tiwa Savage enjoys a larger platform to project her sounds, mostly afrobeats, to the rest of the world. In order to maximise the reach availed on this platform, she assumes a new persona, one textured with activism, on her newly released single,‘49-99’.

The track focuses on some of the socioeconomic and political construct in the country, shifting away from her usual flavour that leans towards themes as love, vanity, and sex. The diva launched a full-on campaign that aims to reorient the state of mind of the governed, reminding them of where and who they ought to be or represent as a nation. Call it her version of Michael Jackson’s ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ – although subtle with lyrics – and you would not be entirely wrong.

The visuals for ‘49-99’, more than anything else, was what had music lovers talking. It was released on Thursday, September 5, and garnered over 700,000 views on YouTube within three days of its world premiere. Although, she is no Rihanna, those numbers are quite strong for someone of her status to pull in, and goes to reiterate her relevance in the Nigerian music industry being in the mainstream for almost a decade, and also reflects her burgeoning career on the international music stage as one of Africa’s music ambassadors.

A first listen gives off the plot on which ’49-99’ is assembled on. It lies in the first line of the opening verse –‘49 sitting, 99 standing’. One is immediately taken back to Fela Kuti’s critically acclaimed 1978 track ‘Shuffering and Shimiling’, a satirical attempt by the late Afrobeat legend that paints a poignant portrait of the chronic poverty endured by the Nigerian masses using everyday

Tiwa Savage

commute in ‘molue’ as hues. Tiwa wisely clings to and adapts Fela’s model by employing a musical method that better reflect today’s society.

Right off the bat, masculinity is highlighted using the survival of the fittest narrative through a staged fight between two heavyweights while spectators cheer.This, in a way, fairly represents the political climate in the country where affluence affords politicians the chance to throw their weight around, fighting for political positions while the masses cheer on in hopes for‘stomach infrastructure’.

In the follow-up scene unveiled by a revolving view,Tiwa towers as cabal overseeing the entire situation to pick certain areas to influence. She is flanked by two bodyguards who symbolised the protection that comes with influence. Her presence is barely noted by the frenzied masses.

In another scene, she recreates Eliot Elisofon’s‘Congo High: Class of ’72’, a collection of high school girls in threaded hairstyles donning blue uniforms accentuated with white-collar. Harnessing the

work of the American photographer, she expounds on the struggles of the girl child in striking a balance between school life, domestic chores, and work life in an economically unstable clime. The montage goes further beaming feminist light to expose the influence of politicians on young impressionable girls and vice versa.

Whilst the visuals heavily exploit sexuality to drive home points on crime, corruption, and manipulation, the lyrics bears a proverbial nature, with lines loosely interpreted from the pre-chorus, rendered in Yoruba language. In English translation, it means “monkeys aren’t skilled at jumping; they enjoy the advantage of trees planted in close proximity.”

This line directly alludes to nepotism, a widespread practice in public offices.

Incorporating these essences into a song is a hard feat,especially for a song positioned to serve as a crossover piece in her career. In order for her to satisfy the global audience, she incorporates certain vanities by mentioning Prada andVersace (well-known brands) into the lyrics.

BB naija Update with Vanessa

BBNaija Update: Who Will Survive the Eviction Block This Sunday?

The ongoing Big Brother Naija reality TV show is getting more intense as the final day draws nearer. Housemates are throwing all in the ring to ensure that they stay till Day 99 when the fourth season will officially end.

To survive, housemates are now fiercely competing for the Head of House title and Veto Power which automatically grants them immunity from eviction.

With Cindy automatically saved from eviction by winning the HoH, Omashola had to use his Veto Power to save himself. He was among the most nominated housemates this week. The Warri rep who has never found himself in the save and replace situation was tongue tied when it was his turn to make the decision. It took him a while before he gathered the courage to put Seyi up for possible eviction. Even after making the announcement, he bolted out of the room like a traitor and only returned to the lounge after Biggie ordered him to do so to confirm his nomination. Seyi now joins Mike, Tacha and Khafi for possible evictions.

Seyi’s nomination seemed to excite Tacha and Khafi. The trio had been on a rough path since Tacha and Seyi row over the weekend.

Tacha seemed to have found a friend in Khafi which typically annoyed Seyi. The other housemates are not discreet about the scheming going on between Tacha and Khafi. Mercy and Frodd thinks that Khafi is two-faced and is using Tacha to get fans votes.

Cindy thinks that Tacha is dragging Khafi into her problem with Seyi. Who can be trusted among these three? Elozonam advised that no housemate should be trusted.

While Khafi is excited that Seyi got a taste of his own medicine with Omashola’s veto power decision, she still hopes to survive this weekend. If she does, then she swore to win either of the titles.

Of all nominated housemates, the odds seemed to be stacked highly against Seyi. Perhaps, if his ship with Tacha had sailed, he would have garnered votes from Tacha’s fans who are a dedicated lot. They would have done everything to keep him in the house for their queen. Nevertheless, his fans are not letting him down with their campaigns on social media.

If Khafi should survive Sunday eviction, then it will be apparent that she really played her cards well. By choosing to share her Hoh privileges a fortnight ago with Tacha would prove a very good strategy.

For Mike and Tacha, their stay is almost guaranteed as they have a legion of fans supporting them.

However, this season has proved to be an unpredictable one. Till Sunday night, no one’s stay is entirely certain.

BONAwardAlumniPartyKicksintoFullGear

In the next few weeks, the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards will be hosting the cream of Nollywood for its Alumni Party.The party which is to celebrate all the past winners of the awards in the past decade the awards had held, will have in attendance, senator Gbemisola Saraki, wives of the Lagos and Oyo governors and other dignitaries.

According to the organiser, Seun Oloketuyi, the alumni party scheduled for September 28, will double as nominees announcement for the 2019 edition.

The BON Awards Alumni Party is part of the lined-up activities for the 10th anniversary of the award.

Since its inception in 2009, BON had set itself apart by rewarding

the best in the film industry. It has become one of the most anticipated Nollywood events in the year.

The alumni party is the second event in the awards calendar to mark this memorable milestone. A Children’s Day Book Reading fiesta was held in May to kick off the 10th celebration.

The BON Awards Alumni Party will be held at De Podium, Ikeja, Lagos.

Nasty C le

NCCRenewsFightAgainstBookPiracy With the increasing rate of book piracy in Nigeria today, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) announced recently that it has intensified its partnership with the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Book Sellers Association of Nigeria (BSAN) and other stakeholders to boost the fight against it.

Director-General of NCC, John Asein gave this indication in Abuja recently during a Town Hall Meeting on the theme,‘Book Piracy in Schools’.

Asein blamed the high rise of piracy in schools on the complicity of some proprietors and other collaborators,

warning that the Commission would soon come up with strategies and policies that will help in changing the current system.

Over 75 per cent of proceeds accruable from books were consumed annually by book pirates according to the president of NPA Adedapo Gbadega.

Gbadega noted that most proprietors deal directly with pirates, thereby depriving authors and publishers of getting value for their labour. This he said, has led to the recent formation of chapters in different states to complement the work being done

by the NCC. Asein decried the negative impact of piracy and its discouraging effect on authors who are creators of works as well as students who are often left with pirated and substandard textbooks.

“We have a choice to silence piracy and spare the life and soul of books or allow piracy grow and let the book go under,’’ he stressed.

“There is a need for all stakeholders to partner against book piracy in schools in order to sanitise the system so it does not cripple the book industry,” he added.

Omashola making the Veto Power decision

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NEWS

Imo State Tasks Indigenes in Lagos on Peaceful Coexistence Stories by Mary Nnah The Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos State, Hon. Anthony Abili has called on Imo State indigenes in Lagos to be good guests to their host and also live in peace with Lagosians.

Abili made this charge at the sixth August Meeting / Empowerment Programme organised by the Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos (ISTDAL), Women’s Wing, which had the theme, “Empowering Women to Build Lasting Legacies”, held last weekend at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He expressed gratitude to Lagos State government for recently allowing a sizeable number of Imo State women to join in skill development programme organised by the government, adding that with time, Imo state hopes to have a major partnership with Lagos, which hopefully will translate to dividends of democracy for the people.

Congratulating the women of the ISTDAL on their sixth August Meeting, the Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos State went ahead to talk about the tasks ahead of all of them as citizens of Imo State in regards to the development of their state. With the new government onboard with a new vision in Imo State led by Governor Emeka Ihedioha, he told Imo indigenes in Lagos that the government of Ihedioha is for women, youths and for all and sundry.

Abili went further to tell the Imo indigenes in Lagos about the need to look inward and begin to invest in Imo State, as well as to start establishing in Imo State whatever businesses they have elsewhere.

He informed the indigenes of the recent celebration of Gov. Ihedioha’s 100 days in office and the various developmental steps he has taken recently to bring about progress and development in the state.

“Just recently Governor of

L-R: Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Lagos Liaison, Mr. Naeto Chikwe; Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos State, Hon. Anthony Abili and Head Business desk, Imo Liaison Office, Mrs. Nkechi Azubuike at the event

Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of major roads in the state to the tune of about N24 billion.

“There are also groundbreaking moves for technical and vocational schools in the various senatorial zones in the state”, Abili said, while adding that the road rehabilitation projects were part of the activities marking the governor’s ‘100 days in office. He informed the Imo indigenes in Lagos that the liaison office stands as a bridge between the activities in Lagos an Imo. He therefore encouraged, them, especially the women of the association to continue in their efforts in emancipating the womenfolk here in Lagos, promising that the liaison office would provide the support that is required.

“We mustn’t always look to the government to bring development to us. Some of us have the means to organise things for our own brothers and sisters. And so I feel very elated that the women here have taken the task to organise skill development programmes for women and this is the more reason we at the liaison office are going to give them all the supports they need”, Abili noted.

Abili also promised look into having quarterly skill development programmes for Imo State women in Lagos such that the people in Lagos do not feel left out of dividends of democracy of the governor of Imo State, adding that the people back home have started experiencing the dividends of democracy.

The Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Lagos Liaison, Mr. Naeto Chikwe, called on the men to be supportive of their wives as it was women who hold the home together as well as carter for children who turn out to be leaders of tomorrow.

He adding, “That is the kind of environment we want to build families so that these children would be good ambassadors of the state.”

To help bring progress to the state, he advised that the Imo indigenes in Lagos, should first and foremost work with the Imo State Lagos liaison office, adding, “the liaison office represents the Imo State government in Lagos.

“Therefore, it is important the indigenes have a strong relationship with the liaison office in order for them to get privileged information of what is happening in the state. That is the only way we can have better understanding of the happenings in the state and

also create a synergy and symbiotic relationship so that information can be transferred effectively.

“In addition to that, opportunities are in the state and it is important to communicate these opportunities to our indigenes in Lagos so that they would also have the opportunity to invest at home”, Chikwe added.

Speaking further, he said the gathering was very significant to the Imo State indigenes and Imo State in general, adding, “this is part of our heritage and culture. August meeting is an iconic engagement for every Igbo woman. It is opportunities like this that bring all our communities together to talk about the collective development of the state.

“And in these ways, situations have been built to drive economic development in the cultural perspective – there are institutions that we should protect and encourage because these are institutions that our children will lean on in 20 years and more to come.”

The event witnesses a colourful and intriguing display of culture from across Imo State including dance, food and other attributes that underscores the state’s cultural identity.

RCCGGivesNewleaseofLifetoDrugsAddictsas55Graduate

Over 50 young people recently got a new lease of life when 55 students (50 males and five females) who had undergone rehabilitation recently graduated from the Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), Epe, an institution run by The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Lagos State, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke who represented both the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, could not but express her excitement promising to inform the parties she represented especially the governor about the laudable achievement of the RCCG in Epe. She called for a much needed partnership between CADAM and Lagos State Government, which she is willing to facilitate.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony which was attended by the leadership of RCCG, wife of General Overseer and Mother-In-

RCCG Mother-In-Israel, Mrs. Adeboye (middle), flanked by CADAM grandaunds

Israel of RCCG, Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye, commended the management and staff of CADAM and as way to show her support, donated a bus and a pickup van to the ministry.

In addition to the newly donated vehicle, the centre also got a facelift as an administrative block, a gym and sport centre and consultation rooms were commissioned by the wife

of the General Overseer who was accompanied by National Overseeer, Pastor Obayemi; Assistant General Overseer Admin & Personnel, Pastor J.F Odesola; National Treasure RCCG Nigeria, Pastor Joseph Adeyokunnu and Assistant General Overseer Missions, Pastor Brown Oyitso.

Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, the Coordinator of the center

said CADAM is a faith-based initiative which caters to the treatment and rehabilitation of male and female drug addicts from across many nations of the world.

Its services, he said, involves rehabilitation of different stages of drug and substance abuse and can be summarised in three levels, Preventive Care, Rehabilitation and After Care.

Honeywell Seeks Conducive Environment for SMEs Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Olanrewaju Jaiyeola has said that a conducive environment will boost businesses and consequently engage restive youths productively.

He identified functional basic infrastructure as a catalyst for the growth of small businesses in the country while listing such infrastructure to include constant power supply, security, absence of multiple taxation, and access to soft loans.

Speaking during the Honeywell Pasta Cooking Competition organised for corps members at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp Sagamu, Ogun State, Jaiyeola, represented by Manager Activation & Special Channels, Mr. Olufemi Adebayo, described small businesses as the engine of growth of any economy.

He said “Unemployment and the search for white collar jobs will reduce significantly if the youths are productively engaged with the provision of basic infrastructure for their ideas to thrive.

“Nigeria is blessed with innovative youths whose ideas, when fully encouraged, can transform the country to a greater height.”

He added, “at Honeywell, we strive to promote youth talents in such a way that they will be useful to themselves and the country entirely. That is why as a company, we always embrace sponsorship activities that will add value to Nigerian youths.”

While explaining the partnership with NYSC, he said the competition was meant to develop the cooking skills of the corps members and to endear them early enough to the company’s products by making them Honeywell Ambassadors.

“We are utilising the opportunity provided by the unique change point of the youth corps members who are basically future mothers and fathers by introducing to them the company’s products so as to appreciate them with a view to shaping their choice of food items in the future”, he added.

L-R: Brand Activation Officer, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Femi Okunuga; NYSC Batch B, Stream 2, Camp Director, Ogun State, Mrs. Mautin Rekhia; NYSC Ogun State Coordinator, Faniyi Benlinda Ameze, and HFMP Manager, Activations & Special Channels, Olufemi Adebayo at the event

Mr. Bigg’s Set to Redefine Lifestyle of Customers Mr Bigg’s, the Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) arm of UACN of Nigeria, being run by its subsidiary, UAC Restaurants Limited has begun remodeling its restaurants in a new initiative aimed at positively redefining the lifestyle of its numerous customers.

The new business initiative centered on a remodeled restaurant structure is principally aimed at sustaining the heritage and leadership of the 33 years old outfit by raising customer service to a new level.

The foremost indigenous and largest fast-growing QSR business in West Africa, with over 100 restaurants in Nigeria on inception, operated a fully owned restaurant operations model before it transformed in partial franchise, and later into full franchise restaurant operations model.

The new initiative according to the Marketing Manager, UACN Restaurants, Mrs. Ethel Mba, will remodel the restaurants into a scintillating center of high value having a 21st century ambience.

Speaking at the pioneer model restaurant located at Northwest Filling Station by the Victoria Garden City, VGC, Lekki, Lagos, during a media tour of some restaurants on penultimate Wednesday, Mba said the new approach promises to sustain excellence in wide variety of dishes, pastries and confectionaries to the delight of its teeming consumers, which is the heritage of Mr Bigg’s.

She explained that VGC outlet, which was opened on July 9, 2019 will remain the ‘signature poster’ for all the other restaurants in the new concept, aimed at bringing world class service and ambience to satisfy the taste of Nigerians in terms of meals.

The VGC restaurants boosts of cozy ambience, call center and kiddies corner backed up by excellent service delivery professionals to give customers un-parallel experience in a friendly and family setting. The conveniences, the eating area and the lobby are world-class, coupled with a play area for the kids.

Mba assured that apart from the VGC Center, two more restaurants will spring up at Amuwo Odofin in Festac town and Abule Egba along Lagos Abeokuta Express Way very soon.

“The new restaurants will be patterned after the structure of the Lekki restaurant to deliver high-quality food and good ambience as the basic standard. Aside this, the menu range will be equal and well-balanced in terms of meal choices depending on customers’ tastes or new trends,” she said.

Mr Bigg’s history began with the coffee shops inside Kingsway Department Stores in the 1960s. In 1973, these shops were rebranded as Kingsway Rendezvous, which became Mr Biggs in 1986. The chain saw rapid expansion after becoming one of the first Nigerian companies to sell franchises to investors and in 2012, UAC Restaurants adopted a full franchising business model making it the first to establish company owned restaurants in other to grow the brand footprint and equity.

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

33

Art Weekend

…For pure art enthusiasts

Kunle Adeyemi Unveils Touring Exhibition at 60

Artist, humanitarian and Dean, Faculty of Art, Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology, Kunle Adeyemi celebrates his 60th birthday alongside the virtues of humanity with touring exhibition that kicks-off tomorrow in Lagos, writes Yinka Olatunbosun Sixty for Sixty! That is the story of renowned art educator, Kunle Adeyemi who is taking a retrospective turn this weekend with a parade of 60 pieces of work to mark his 60th birthday. The touring exhibition which has as theme, “Quantum Leap’’ is one-of-a-kind as it offers young collectors an opportunity to collect works within their budget. In this show, a variety of artistic offerings is promised.

“We have different audiences for the exhibition,’’ explained Adeyemi who opens the first phase of the show at the National Museum, Onikan from Saturday September 14 till 20. I need to bring the show back to the academic community where I work.

So, the second phase of the touring exhibition will take place at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium and Gallery, Yaba College of Technology from September 26 till October 18.’’

Though the show is not commercially driven, Adeyemi is keen on making every audience at the show go home with an art piece. Some paintings are available in plaque-size and post-cards while there are other large works in print, painting and mixed media.

“I want my works to be in as many homes as possible,’’ Adeyemi added

Women Protest

while giving a handful of journalists a preview of the works at his Mushin-based studio, which is a hub of budding artists. As one who loves motivating others through workshops, visual art retreats and residencies, his 60th birthday show is not a money-making

venture but a way to give back to the society.

To this end, part of the proceeds at this show will be donated to Niola Cancer Care Foundation, Nigeria’s first non-governmental organisation that is dedicated to creating awareness for wellness and specifically

colorectal cancer. The donation will help the foundation with its research for cancer cure as well as screenings and advocacy for better treatment.

This is not the first time that Adeyemi has shown his philanthropic side.

When he turned 40, he donated 12 of his priceless artworks to the management of Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital for their wards and offices. At 50, five secondary school students won N50,000 worth scholarship each based on a competition that he organised in 2009.

With over 80 group shows and 20 solo exhibitions done locally and internationally, Adeyemi has continually reflected his concern for the social reality in his home country through the thematic preoccupation in each piece. For instance, “Nigeria’s Still A Dumping Ground” (2009) puts a spotlight on the rave patronage of second-hand goods.

“The second-hand clothes are even called Grade A. You will find everything at the secondhand market even underwear’’ Adeyemi added.

Other works at the show include, “The Misery of Sambisa Forest,’’ “Women’s Protest,’’ “59 Years After Independence,’’ amongst others.

Feminism, Sexuality and Power-play in ‘The Cleansing’ Yinka Olatunbosun A debut play by a young stage director, Adetokunbo Shittu titled, ‘The Cleansing’ is a true Nigerian story told through fictitious characters. Its central theme of corruption makes it qualify as a satire hewed out the socio-political realities in Nigeria using the tool of comedy. Shittu, a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife taps his creative energy for this play from the ancient Greek comedy, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. In the classical comedy, the women withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a way of negotiating peace to end the Peloponnesian War between the Greek city states.

In ‘The Cleansing’, set in a fictitious Yoruba Kingdom of Iregbe, the women unite against the patriarchal and corrupt political system to assert their right to humanity, equity and justice.

Rooted in code-switching, the play is rich in the use of oral tradition which speaks volumes about the depth of researchand painstaking effort that the

Book cover for The Cleasing

playwright had undertaken to complete the work.

Shittu drew upon the Ifa chants he recorded during an Ifa ceremony in Osogbo with the permission of the IfaPriest, Babalawo Oosaniyi Adeniyi and still made this body of work accessible to non-Yoruba readers by providing English interpretations as well as glossary for the benefit of the producer and director to ease their understanding.

This African adaptation of ‘Lysistrata’ is reminiscent of what Prof. Ola Rotimi did with the Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus

Rex’ when he wrote his most popular play, ‘The Gods are Not to Blame’but more importantly, the feminist thrust in Sophocles’ Antigone which Prof. Femi Osofisan adapted into his play, ‘Tegonni: An African Antigone.’

The story in ‘The Cleansing’ shows a community that is divided along gender lines by virtue of the greed of the ruling class. Shittu asserts his feministic slant in the play by the quick introduction of a female Ifa priest, Iyanifa whose warnings against the impending danger for corrupt men and women of Iregbe are ignored by the arrogant king, Oba Adejekun Adejebutu Akanbi and his sycophantic chiefs. Iyalode, the representative of women in the ruling council loses her sanity as her gambling husband Akanbi rips her off her money and takes off with the children.

This marks the starting point of the revolution by the women using the power of their sexuality.

Making an adaptation of a previous play is not exactly a walk in the park as the playwright has to reconstruct some elements of the original to highlight its universal relevance. For

instance, Shittu sees the parallel in the male-dominated society in 411 B.C. Greece and presentday Nigeria; the sexual nature of human irrespective of the age, race and gender and the universal truth about the gross abuse of power. Shittu’s use of strong language and graphic phallic references situates the play in the adult category.

Also, the oath taken by the women in Lysistrata and ‘The Cleansing’ signifies the shared belief in the supernatural.

However, towards the play’s end, Shittu shifted the attention of the conflict resolution from the women to the youths which raises questions about his own shade of feminism. In his attempt to tell that Nigerian story using the Greek rearview mirror, he has shared the steering power between the women and the Youth leader, a man in his 30s, bringing the reader back to the realisation that for there to be a just human society, power must be evenly shared. ‘The Cleansing’ is not just an easy-read; it creates a whole spectacle with its tickling characters, contextual cross-pollination and humorous punchlines.

Ten Artists Take Terra Kulture in New Exhibition Yinka Olatunbosun

All ten artistsJonathan Ikpoza, Agemo Francis, Emih Douglas, Raymond Wright, Ileogben Michael, Edward Samuel, Olayimika Soile, Olatunde Taiwo David, Omawi-Wela Sule and Banwo Adeleke have prepared a simmering pot of One of Soile’s pieces paintings andsculptures in this on-going show at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. Ikpoza had been keen on curating shows for new voices in the visual art scene for some years with his annual series called ‘Illumination.’ In this show titled, ‘Illumination III’, he seeks to use his works to raise concerns on the need for educational reform while calling for a stop to violence, insecurity and economic hardship. “To us as artists, illumination has been a series of exposition into human thoughts and prevalent acts and attitudes in our society,’’ said Ikpoza. Olatunde Taiwo David’s abstract works will bring to the fore the constant engagement of man and his space through his coloursand textured surface. His works are deeply inspired by natureand personal experiences.

Asides song-writing and performance, Sule is an experimental sculptor that explores the use of metal to make strong statements. With Soile, one cannot miss his signature female forms that express several emotions.

In this show, he juxtaposes the societal expectations of a man and woman while pointing to stereotypes recreated on canvas to spark conversation. On his part, Ileogben Michael who is an expressionist painter gave us a clue to what to expect at this show which runs till September 16.

“Pallete knife is the basic tool for my painting application and I combine it with painting brush to achieve my work,’’ he said. Collectively, the artists have demonstrated a deep sense of commitment to their artistry in this show for fresh voices.

O’Jerry Debuts Prosperitythemed Single, “Go Pay’’ Yinka Olatunbosun Fresh Afro-pop artist, compere and public relations personnel, O’Jerry has released his debut single titled, “Go Pay.’’ Thiscontemporary song is a mid-tempo track released on SoundCloud with rich traditional talking drum backing up his unmistakable vocals. O’Jerry, having practiced in the PR sectorhas walked on the corridors of indigenous music which R&B has promoted for some years.

An ardent music fan, O’Jerry had been weaned on a variety of music from Ibejii to Adekunle Gold. He couldn’t deny the influence of earlier artists such as LKT in his penchant for the fusion of some fuji elements in his music.

Laced with goodwill message, “Go Pay” captures the temperament of many Nigerian youths in their quest for daily survival. Mirroring the existentialist messages in Burna Boy’s “Dangote” Adekunle Gold’s “Pick Up’’, Korede Bello’s “God win’’, “Go Pay” is an addition to the long list of songs that are deeply emotional about prosperity- arguably the real story of our urban live. Produced by Suplia Beats, the 4:52 long track is prayerful, meditative and optimistic yet very danceable. With such empowering lyrical composition, this song is quite refreshing in the midst of sexually-graphic songs that dominate the radio today. O’Jerry perfected the song with a code-switch game of the urban user of English and Yoruba languages to give a neat cross-over appeal. It is currently available online for streaming.

O’Jerry

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

34

Fertility

I

with Dr. Kemi Ailoje Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

Success: A possibility After Repeated IVF Failures(Part 1)

n-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of the most common procedures used in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). An unsuccessful IVF cycle can be emotionally and financially devastating, and it has not beenpossible for all patients to be successful even after doing multiple attempts at In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). A number of reasons has been attributed which includes but not limited toadvanced maternal age, elevated FSH levels, poor responses to fertility medication, decreasednumber of eggs aspirated, decreased rates of fertilization, numbers of embryos available for transfer, decreased quality of embryos, failure of implantation after embryo transfer, variation in the experience and expertise of the embryology laboratory.

Success after IVF failure remains possible when the following options are utilized.

It is important to ensure that a comprehensive fertility profiling is done and repeat testing done if screening has been more than one year prior to treatment.

There is need to have a review of Hysterosalpingogram(HSG) done to determine and document that hydrosalpinges is not present where the tubes can fill with fluid that can backflow into the womb and be toxic to implantation.

Immunological screenings, Antisperm Antibodies (ASA) and Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APA) may need to be done.

If ASA and/or APA testing is positive, either one can interfere with pregnancy outcome.

Positive APA may interfere with the very early blood flow to the uterus and interfere with implantation. A positive ASA may cause antibodies to attack the paternal contribution of the pregnancy and cause a very early miscarriage, before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

There is also, need for a recent Sonohysterogram (HSN) where saline isinjected into

the uterine cavity which is viewed with Transvaginal ultrasound for filling defects, to rule out any abnormalities in the womb like polyps or fibroids. This procedure is usually recommended within three months prior to a uterine transfer. It is appropriate to ensure that the patient is maximally stimulated putting into consideration the age. All clinics are concerned with overstimulation and the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). This is a process in which the ovaries can become

enlarged and allow large amounts of fluid to pass across them into the abdomen sometimes resulting in a very sick patient that needs hospitalization.

Although OHSS needs to be taken seriously, not giving enough medication for a woman’s age or circumstances, or cutting down on the dosage of medication, may reduce the risk of OHSS, but it may also cut down on the amount of hormones needed to adequately stimulate normal follicular (egg) production resulting

in decreased numbers of eggs, decreased quality of eggs and resulting embryos, and decreased pregnancy rates. Giving less fertility medication doesn’t necessarily produce less eggs, it may produce the same number of eggs, but with each egg getting less hormonal stimulation to their receptors and resulting in poor egg quality. It is important that a specialist is in charge of patient to ensureindividualized dosing adjustments using ultrasound guided tracking of follicles.

Fertility clinics and more specifically, their embryology laboratories differ in their level of experience and expertise than others, which could definitely result in different outcomes in pregnancy rates and on-going pregnancies.

Although looking at a clinic’s success rates are important, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)procedures cannot always be compared due to cycle to cycle variation and so many other factors. Some centres are better than others and consistently get better success rates, even with more difficult and older patients. ​Proven researches have shown that the more things that can be done differently than what have already been done, the greater the odds are that success can happen.

If we did things the same way as what you have already experienced in the cycles that were unsuccessful, then we would expect the same result.

That does not mean that the clinic you were at did not do things “right”. In other words, it just means that there are different philosophies on how to do things based on experience. Occasionally, it takes an additional attempt at a clinic that consistently has high success rates to be successful. Nevertheless, that clinic needs to be straightforward, to let you know, after carefully looking at your entire medical history and embryology laboratory work sheets, if they sincerely feel that you may be successful with a tweak from experience and required adjuvant therapies

continued next week

xtra

London Business School Grooms Sahara Group’s Future Leaders Excellence meets opportunity as a brilliant quartet of Sahara Group employees commence a four-week London Business School development course under the framework of the Sahara Leadership Program (SLP), the energy conglomerate’s initiative for empowering its future business leaders.

The SLP is a bespoke program designed to identify, develop and empower select employees for senior leadership roles within Sahara Group as the organisation continues to expand across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Sahara Group’s delegation to the LBS Accelerated Development Progamme include: Adetowun Adekoya, Joke Olatunji, Chineze Nnama and Jessica Akintade. The modules will cover: A journey of self-awareness, The financial Equation, Strategy and Innovation, Delivering Customer Value, Effective Decision-Making and Leading Organizational Change.

According to Sahara Group’s Head of Human Resources, Ivie Imasogie-Adigun, the Sahara Leadership Program, in addition to other learning platforms, is an expression of Sahara’s commitment to capacity building and fostering an environment that promotes learning, innovation and excellence. “For us at Sahara, learning is a vital talent development strategy as we continue to expand our operations globally.

We are deliberate about creating sustainable learning opportunities that equip our employees for global competitiveness in all our businesses,” she said.

Adetowun, Industrial Chemist and Head, Energy Audit at Ikeja Electric, an affiliate of the Sahara Power Group, said he was delighted at his selection and was looking forward to applying knowledge gained from the training to his current and future roles in the business.

“The Sahara Leadership Program presents

L-R: Senior Business Analyst, Sahara Group, Joke Olatunji; Head, Energy Audit, Ikeja Electric (A Sahara Power Group affiliate), Adetowun Adekoya; HR Business Partner, Africa Businesses, Jessica Akintade, and Legal Manager, Sahara Group, Chineze Nnama, all Sahara Group delegates to the ongoing London Business School Accelerated Development Programme in London, United Kingdom

an opportunity for developing leadership capacity that can help sustain the growth of the business and even chart new frontiers for the Sahara Group. I am soaking in the mindset change and more importantly, realising that there are great opportunities ahead in my exciting journey at Sahara.”

Joke Olatunji, Senior Business Analyst at Sahara Group holds degrees in Mathematics and Statistics as well as Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos. She described the SLP selection process as “very intensive, grueling and disruptive,” adding that she hoped to ultimately become a

“transformational leader with a reputation for spearheading business expansion and mentoring younger colleagues in line with the Sahara Brand’s practice of institutionalising learning.”

A Legal Manager at Sahara Group, Chineze Nnama holds a law degree from the University of Hertfordshire and an LLM from University College London. Chineze said the SLP was an “an amazing learning platform” for grooming effective leaders. “I am confident that at the end of the Sahara Leadership Program I will be equipped to function as a resourceful business leader across different markets.”

Jessica Akintade, HR Business Partner for Sahara’s Africa Businesses, is a graduate of Psychology from Obafemi Awolowo University. Post the SLP training, Jessica is looking forward to “expanding her tentacles” into various aspects of Sahara Group operations in Upstream, Downstream, Midstream, Power and Infrastructure sectors.

“From class room learning experiences with experts from different fields at Sahara to a thrilling opportunity for further training at the prestigious London Business School, the whole experience has honestly been unbelievable,” she stated.

Sahara Group is a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations in over 38 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Sahara is a dynamic leader in various energy sub-sectors via its power (generation and distribution), downstream, midstream and upstream businesses in key regional and global markets.

Sahara continues to explore new frontiers; creating innovative and sustainable ways of bringing energy to life through the unparalleled talent of the men and women who embody Sahara’s irrepressible spirit.

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F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Collage Events

Memorial Lecture for Late Enugu Chief Judge, Innocent Umezulike Holds Sept. 27

Mary Nnah

The newly elected Chairman of the Ambrose Alli University Alumni Lagos branch, Mr. Chris Iyere (middle) being congratulated by the Immediate Past Chairman, Mr. Frank Egboh (right) and the new Vice Chairman, Reverend Sam Okotietie at the election/general meeting of the association in Lagos...recently

L-R: Mr Sola Oni, wife, Olufunke; Mrs Hellen Descombes; couple, Mr. Adefolarin Olumoroti, wife, Abigeal Oluwatoyin (nee Oni); Revd. Ray Descombes; Mrs Rachel Olumoroti and Pastor Ezekiel Olumoroti at wedding of Oluwatoyin and Adefolarin in Essex, United Kingdom ...recently

The Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation has announced the one-year memorial lecture and book presentation in honour of late Hon Justice Innocent Azubike Umezulike OFR, FCIArb, FIIAN billed to hold at theJustice I.A Umezulike Auditorium, inside Enugu State High Court complex on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 2:00pm.

The one-year memorial event will conclude with a church service on Saturday, September 28, 2019 by 11:00am at the Cathedral of Good Shepherd, Independence Layout Enugu to be officiated by Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel Olisa Chukwuma (OON), the Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Anglican Communion Enugu Diocese of Enugu.

Described as the best masterly in his knowledge of the law, Late Umezulike, distinguished for his expertise in land and property law, had to his credit 23 law books before his eternal bow in June 2018. He was the longest-serving Chief Judge in South Eastern Nigeria and is remembered for receiving over 100 distinguished Legal Honours and Awards for excellence in service as a distinguished Judge of Enugu State High Court for over 23 years.

A statement from one of the foundation’s trustee, Victor Azubike Umezulike Esq confirmed that the event would be chaired by His Excellency, Former Governor of Anambra State, Sir Peter Obi (CON). The Head of Department of Private and Property Law, University of Benin, Prof Emeka Chianu will be the guest lecturer to discuss the topic, “The overriding Role of the Judiciary in Contemporary Democracy.”

The administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI) and former Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Rosaline Patricia IrorefeBozimo, (OFR) will deliver the keynote address. Discussants consist of Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Professors of Law. In addition, the foundation marks his Lordships one year memorial with a book presentation. The book with the title “Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgments Volume 1,” forward is written by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (CFR).

The book “Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgment” is a three-part volume book offering in-depth analysis of the landmark judgments of an intellectual giant and one of Africa’s most prolific writer on land and property law.

The book chronicles a meticulous and comprehensive selection of notable cases spanning from Hon. Justice Umezulike’s stellar career on the bench.

Late Enugu Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike

Gospel Singer, Lillian Okeze, Set to Launch First Single, ‘Baba Ese’

L-R: Managing Director, SystemSpecs, owners of Remita, John Obaro; Tournament Ambassador, Remita Corporate Champions Cup (RC3), Peter Rufai; Managing Director, Wema Bank, Ademola Adebise, and Executive Director, SystemSpecs, Deremi Atanda, at the grand finale of the 2019 RC3 tournament in Lagos...recently

L-R: Chief host and Chairman, Kohinoor Lagos, Barr. Collins Chikeluba; Chairman of the event and Governorship Aspirant of Abia State, Sir Alex Otti; Celebrant and Principal Counsel, Ken Ahia and Associates, Mr. Kenneth Ahia, SAN, and Chairman, Nova Merchant Bank, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; at a dinner hosted by Kohinoor Lagos in honour of Kenneth held in Lagos....recently

Nigerian gospel singer, Lillian Okeze, is set to take gospel music to new heights as she prepares to launch her first single, ‘Baba Ese’.

According to her, it promises to refresh souls and add value to gospel music in the country, as it is uniquely inspired in the worship of God. Delta State born Okeze, a graduate of History and International Relations from the Lagos State University (LASU), a leading chorister and praise worship leader in one of the Redeemed Christian Churches in Lagos, has spent many years in the choir from the age of 17, where she has been groomed by seasoned musicians.

Given her maturity level in music and the inspiration she has received from the Lord, she is now set to bless the world with her voice and music talent, with her first single, ‘Baba Ese’.

Due for public presentation soon, the single produced by Oluwafemi Anifowose, (AKA Lalaah) of Lagrouv Musiq, according to Okeze, consists songs of a grateful heart in praise and celebration of God for His faithfulness. ‘‘It is all about a grateful heart who has passed through different challenging situations in life but who remembered how God has helped throughout”, said the gospel singer. ‘‘My ordeal in life inspired my songs,’’ she said, adding that, ‘‘all I want to do is to put smiles on the faces of the people by making them realise that there is still hope if they can only trust in God”.

As a praise and worship leader, she perfectly understands the important role inspirational music plays during worship, as she said, “the essence of the music is to bring the souls of men to worship and praise God in truth Okeze and in spirit”.

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

36

Potpourri

EKEDCPartnersLAWMAtoImproveSweepersVisibility Nume Ekeghe and Oluchi Chibuzor Lagos Waste Management Agency( LAWMA), as a front line organisation in the management of environment in the state, has received over 500 overall kits for street sweepers from Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), as part of it corporate social responsibility.

Speaking to journalists at the donation ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), EKEDC, Adeoye Fadeyibi said the partnership is to foster continuous private sector interventions to meet sanitation demands.

This gesture in line with the Environment thematic agenda of the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.

Represented by the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), EKEDC, Mr. Aik Alenkle, he said the relevance of LAWMA as a public utility service provider organisation like EKEDC makes them happy.

He said: “Our mission is to empower the quality of lives of our customers, employees, communities and other stakeholders through reliable power and quality services. The partnership with stakeholders like LAWMA is to make sure Lagos is safer, healthier, and environmentally friendly.

“We have done quite a good number of intervention like this one early this year, we are supporting youth and women empowerment, in Lagos to

Sanwo-Olu commissioning one of the projects by RCCG Tabernacle of David, Ajah, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu Applauds RCCG for Donating Classroom Blocks in Ajah Mary Nnah

R-L: Lagos State Waste Management Agency (Lawma) Managing Director, Mr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Chief Human Resources Officer, EKEDC Mr. Aik Alenkhe and General Manager, Corporate Communications EKEDC Mr. Godwin Idemudia at overall Kit donations to Lawma in Lagos recently

enhance girl-child education and from time to time we do things to ensure schools in Lagos have a balanced diet.

“This is just part of many CSR we are implementing and we would continue to do this and it’s not about the amount of money that we spent, but about the impact; adding value to the society because sometimes the impact is more than the funds we have committed.”

Reacting to the gesture

from the EKEDC, the Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said in view of the donation, the waste management agency would soon introduce some features that would enhance safety and security of sweepers in the state. As the state government continues to encourage private sector driven initiative in waste management, Gbadegesin noted that many more corporate organisations can key into this initiative by

adopting some of their major challenges to rid the state of pilling issues.

“We know the clean Lagos sweepers clean the streets every day and we have about 10,000 of them statewide, so this uniform improves their visibility so that we know they are working.

“So we expect that people slow down because their lives are important, that is the essence of the uniform because they are visible all time of the day,” he said.

FRSC,AkinFadeyiFoundationtoLaunchReportCorruptionApp,FLAG’IT The Federal Roads Safety Corps and the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, conveners of the ‘Corruption Not In My Country’ project, a micro level anti-corruption TV Drama, have announced a major strategic partnership.

This was consummated at the FRSC Headquarters in Abuja recently. The partnership will be driven on the platform of technology as the AFF is set to launch its newly designed Report Corruption App called FLAG’IT, which was funded by MacAuthur Foundation.

According to a joint statement by both parties, FLAG’IT will serve as a tool to strengthen FRSC’s capacity to be integrity-driven, improve on public service delivery and be very responsive to public feedback. It shall also be a platform where citizens can provide positive feedback on credible and outstanding officers.

Speaking at the event, the FRSC Corp Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi said the Presidential decree 001, which supports the ease of doing business, has created more room for the government to be accountable and transparent in service delivery.

He said the FRSC has improved tremendously through innovative projects like, the joint surveillance activity, through which the FRSC partners with other agencies to improve governance in the country; service improvement through which Nigerians can now secure their driver’s licenses after two months,

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwolu has commended the Christian Social Responsibility efforts of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) under the leadership of the General Overseer Pastor E.A Adeboye.

He made the commendation during the commissioning of the 12-classroom blocks built by RCCG Tabernacle of David, Ajah, Lagos and the Resettlement Healthcare Centre which was the refurbished and equipped by the same parish.

Sanwo-Olu said “My administration is not going to walk away from its responsibility of catering for the educational need of every child that is of school age. We will give our children the opportunity to attend quality schools that will not too far away from them.

“This morning, I gave a directive to the Commissioner of Education that all schools owned by the state government be equipped with well trained teachers that will help us to deliver quality training to our children in line with development agenda of my administration.”

Pastor Kayode Pitan who doubles as the pastor-in-charge of RCCG Tabernacle of David and assistant pastor-in-charge of the region said the decision to build the school was in response to the lack of any public school in the area, which made children in the community to travel considerable distance to attend school, exposing them to dangers like road accidents.

This he said is in line with the mandate of the General Overseer Pastor E.A Adeboye for RCCG to positively impact its communities and society at large. Speaking on behalf of the General Overseer of RCCG, the Special Assistant to the G.O on CSR, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade said these CSR investments stem from the continued resolve to be of service to humanity in general and the host community in particular.

“It is also driven by the mantra at RCCG to touch people’s lives, with emphasis on improving standards of living by providing good education and health through infrastructural development”, he added.

Foundation Takes Charity to LASUTH Ayodeji Ake In memory of late Mr. Olalekan Ogunsola of TOS funerals, the Olalekan Ogunshola Memorial Foundation, on behalf of the family has donated 40 automatic hospital beds and 100 bedsheets to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

L-R: DCM, Special Duties and External Relations, Deputy Corps Marshall, J.A. Asom, Corp Marshall/CEO, Federal Roads Reacting to the gesture, LASUTH Chief Medical DirecSafety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Programme Officer, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Nabila Okino, Technical Lead, Akin tor, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, duly appreciated the Ogunsola family while describing the effort as a giant Fadeyi Foundation, Mayowa Ayodeji, Programme Officer, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Simon Adole, at the event leap in helping the hospital achieving its goals. and after been certified by a skits, which has been airing the FRSC under Dr. Boboye He said: “The relationship between LASUTH and TOS regulated driving school; and a on CNN Africa and other TV Oyeyemi, for opening up its funerals led by Mrs. Ogunsola, has been long standing; verification portal which helps Channels under the funding processes to transparency and the introduction of an ultra-modern morgue services, track fake licenses issued to of the John D and Catherine T. accountability. the knack for success and the courage of the family has unsuspecting public.

MacArthur Foundation; past Olaide said the MacAr- helped the hospital to grow.”

Oyeyemi said as no system training programs in schools thur Foundation has taken In her response, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunsola, owner of TOS was perfect without evolving and now the incorporation of into cognizance the impact Funerals, said the urge to give back stems from her needs for improvement, the technology in the fight against of behavioral insights and gratitude to God and to the hospital for giving them an partnership with the Akin corruption. learning garnered from the environment to thrive and use their expertise to serve.

Fadeyi Foundation was timely She thanked the Corps Mar- edutainment skits produced by While promising to do more CSR in the future, she especially as it bringing about shall of the FRSC and his team Akin Fadeyi Foundation and noted that this phase of donation will be extended to technological innovation as for their continuous efforts in partnered with Foundation the Gbagada General Hospital and Mainland Hospital mechanism for feedback, ensuring safety on Nigerian because of the organisation’s where 100 bedsheets each would be delivered. analytics and insight garnering roads. Okino said due to the approach towards fighting The representative of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. for improved service delivery. depth of endemic corruption in corruption through the use Emmanuela Zamba, who gave accolades to TOS FunerProgramme Officer, Akin our society, it was impossible of these messages crafted for als, said, “when it comes to Private Public Partnerships Fadeyi Foundation, Nabila to achieve meaningful gains public enlightenment.

(PPP), TOS Funerals is the success story of the Lagos Okino commended the Corp in the fight against corruption He further stated the im- State Government.

Marshall for boldly confront- without partnering with major portance of the ‘FlagIT’ App “It was the first PPP we had in Lagos State and that ing corrupt practices within stakeholders. This according and why it will help improve relationship is still thriving. I salute Mrs. Taiwo Ogunsola’s the corps. to her, was what birthed the public perception on corrup- spirit of entrepreneurship and CSR. It is truly worthy of She highlighted the Akin partnership between the tion. According to him, in commendation,” she said.

Fadeyi’s Foundation’s ob- FRSC and the Akin Fadeyi 2014, the new president of In her closing remark, the Director of Hospital Adminisjectives, programs and inter- Foundation. the MacAuthur Foundation tration, Mrs. Olatokunbo Adio thanked Mrs. Ogunsola for ventions in Nigeria, which Also present at the event, the decided to look at the Nigerian her generous donation to better the lives of the hospital’s includes Anti-Corruption Deputy Director, MacAuthur situation again and seek new patients and the community at large. campaign, which is driven Foundation, Mr. Dayo Olaide ways on how to intervene by Adio also thanked the representative of the commisthrough the ‘Not in My Coun- expressed his Organization’s partnering non-governmental sioner for health and the Permanent Secretary Lagos State try’ Edutainment skits and the delight at the development and organisations and the govern- Ministry of Health, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba for gracing Agbalizu ‘Never Again’ Radio Drama was full of commendation for ment. the occasion.

37

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

Entrepreneur

Babatunde Ojo: Inspiring Change through Entrepreneurship Babatunde George Ojo, popularly known as Sri George, is the chief executive officer and founder of Sri Global Ventures, which comprises Sri World Informational and Transformational Entertainment. He is an entrepreneur, law attraction expert, psychologist, physiotherapist, relationship counsellor, inspirational writer and transformational speaker. Over the years, his works have positively affected several millions of people around the world. As a vibrant young man, his main goals and objectives are to help both young and adult Nigerians to realise their God given potentials in order to use them to better their lives and contribute positively to the development of the nation. His philosophy and teachings are centred on positive image psychology and mind power as he continues to inspire change and transform the lives of people. MARY NNAH brings excerpts:

W

You have to learn. So entrepreneurship is not something that you can easily learn but like I said, the challenge has always been that some people are promoting get-rich-quick syndrome in this country. Some people are making success look like it is an overnight journey

hat new things are you working on presently?

What we are doing now at Sri Global Ventures (SGV) is developing products that are very useful to people. We are trying to get products that are very affordable that the common people can buy because we need money. The latest development is that entrepreneurship has been supporting us. And we have been doing more of entrepreneurship, kind of e-commercial.

We have a website now, sgv.com.ng, it is basically a place where you can buy shirts, caps, books, tape recordings and all sorts of things for personal development as well as vision boards to help people organise their minds. We’ve travelled also to different countries to meet with people and have our personal as well as collective experience. We have been doing radio programmes and going to schools, trying to change the orientation. There have been challenges because the political instability is affecting it but then so far, so good, all has been well.

What has the impact of your ventures been like?

The impact has gone a long way but then we have been struggling with it. It is like wrestling with a giant. Somehow we would say the entertainment industry has been a distraction because the kind of philosophy and ideologies they promote on TV, radio and all other means these days are fighting ours. There is a conflict.

We are saying people should be responsible and successful. We are not saying people should not enjoy soap opera and music, we are saying that these things have a direct impact on people’s minds.

The job I do is very tough in the sense that I want you to have a mind of your but the society doesn’t want you to have a mind of your own. So it’s been a battle. We do all we do and we have to spend a lot of money to do them without getting funding from institutions simply because it is not entertainment.

Despite this challenge, in what ways have you been able to re-direct people’s vision, especially the youths in terms of entrepreneurship?

First, you cannot do entrepreneurship without discovering who you are. In other words, entrepreneurship entails self-discovery. You have to know who you are and you have to understand human psychology. Once you are clear about what you really want to create, you enter the next phase of the entrepreneurial journey of self-discovery: recognising the habits, traits, and beliefs that stand between you and your success. And you have to learn.

So entrepreneurship is not something that you can easily learn but like I said, the challenge has always been that some people are promoting get-rich-quick syndrome in this country. Some people are making success look like it is an overnight journey.

How exactly are you bringing entertainment into this whole scheme?

Formerly, we coined it as inspirational entertainment because we felt like the entertainment industry had a very direct penetration into the subconscious mind of people, which is still part of our plan to work with celebrities and people who are in the entertainment business so that we can gain acceptability. Nigerians love entertainment, if you don’t do entertainment and refreshment, you would be in trouble.

So, we feel like we can use entertainment

Nikola Tesla. These people were practical.

They write and also demonstrated what they write.

Aside this, in term of business, reading has made me excel. In my personal life, it has made me have sympathy and compassion for humanity. It has also changed my perception about certain things in life.

The only reason why I am able to do the things I do today is because I have read somewhere that I can do them and I have seen people who demonstrated them.

And reading alone is not going to change everything, you need mentorship.

Ojo

as a great tool to affect the minds of the people so that they can at least consciously accept it because entertainers are seen as demigods.

What is your take on the Nigeria entertainment industry?

I think we are a work in progress. We must not forget that this industry was started by individuals without any support from government. So individuals’ effort is what is running Nollywood. There is no proper system against piracy. The music industry is trying but the need to work on content. They are polluting the consciousness of the public with the kind of contents they have. It is too superficial and it is dangerous. It has a direct influence on the society. Being a celebrity has to do with you using hypnotism. You hypnotise people. You don’t compel people to do certain thing but you find out that people would just start behaving the way you do everywhere they go. For example, Naira Marley’s Soapy dance is believed to be encouraging masturbation and all that but he might come out and say his philosophy about it is different from what every other person thinks. You know, everybody is a good lawyer of themselves.

But then the truth is that we need to work on the content.

You are into a lot of things. How best can one describe you?

I am a man of variety but not a man who is jack of all trades but master of none. I think all is in order. Being an inspirational speaker and writer, or a transformational speaker is the same as being a psychologist. So, it is something that I can handle.

The reason why I am enjoying entrepreneurship is simply because I understand human psychology, which gives me an edge.

What is your advice to the average Nigerian who desires to go into entrepreneurship?

My best advice to every Nigerian is that whether you like it or not, the world has changed. This is no longer the industrial age when you have to build structures to show who you are. Do you the biggest companies in world do not build structures for their businesses? Apple is the first trillion dollar company, apart from Apple, Amazon just became a trillion dollar company and Amazon is more or less like a logistic company, taking something from A to B, they do not own any product, they don’t produce anything but they dominate technology and gas. So, the world has changed. If you want to become a successful entrepreneur, use technology and understand human psychology. If you get caught up in so many of all these expertise, business school and bla bla, you might lose it. The best thing you should know about the business is the people who are going to patronise you; understand human psychology and you would be unstoppable.

Another thing is that if you want to succeed in any part of the world, don’t chase money, but instead try to create something that would attract money. Try to be the best in what you do and do it so well that when people who claim to be your competitors see you, they would know that yes, you are good.

What has reading done for you?

Reading has taken me to many places beyond geographical locations. Reading has taken me to Mars and to the moon. Reading has made me come to the realisation that there in nothing impossible because the people who consume their contents are people who have demonstrated by results not people who just talk. I am talking about the likes of Napoleon Hills, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison and

Are you working on any book at the moment?

I am working on a book for secondary school students at the moment. The whole idea is to help them organise their minds so that before they get out of secondary school, they can materialise some of their desires. You can still be in school and be billionaire as a kid. So, we have got to teach people how to make money while in the school. So, we need to teach people how to think. We need to encourage creativity. We need to make people to believe in themselves. All these are not taught in schools.

How was your growing up?

I grew up in more or less in a spiritual organisation. My parents are spiritual practitioners; they practise Eastern philosophy, that is what we term to be Hinduism. They are vegetarians, likewise me; I don’t eat meat or eggs. They were creative people, especially my father. My mother is into Adire making and tailoring while my father carves and draws anything, he is a kind of self-taught artist. And in terms of creativity, I would say my parent’s influence made me more of a perfectionist.

When I look at things, I try to create them differently. I don’t believe in competition, competition is foolish for me, collaboration is the real deal.

What is your vision?

My vision is to transform people’s mind, the educational system especially and parenting in Africa. Parenting in Africa should be changed from just seeing a child as an investment to seeing a child as child and a little version of you that has everything that you have, may be undeveloped yet but can be developed; to seeing a child as one that comes through you but not owned by you and that you are just a caretaker.

And allow them to use their imagination.

My goal is to help people help themselves. My goal is to help change the educational system. My goal is to help change parenting in Africa. My goal is to help change religious conditioning in Africa, Nigeria especially. We should encourage open-mindedness because it encourages faith and inspires you. When you have an open mind, you can learn more.

38

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

life

Celebrating the Memory of an Exceptional Matriarch Mary Nnah

A

lthough late Lady (Mrs.) Philomena Chiebonam Umeh has long been laid to rest with a funeral service held in her honour at the St. Michael’s the Archangel Church, Eziaja, Neni, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, her memory still lingers on in the minds of her loved ones.

Late Umeh who was described as a loving mother, good Christin and a philanthropist no doubt touched many lives as evidenced by the testimonies by family, the church and fiends.

Most Rev. (Dr) Peter Okpalaeke, Catholic Bishop Emeritus, Ahiara diocese during the funeral service stressed the need for those she left behind to follow her footsteps.

“We urge the family to take consolations in the words our Lord Jesus that whoever lives and dies in Him shall rise again. So with that, we continue to pray for Philomena in anticipation that on the last day, we all shall meet in the heavily kingdom.

Although Umeh died at the ripe age of 81, her distraught family members expressed grief at her death, saying that her passing is a huge lost. Both the young and old family members said mama was their confidant and strength.

Her eldest son, Chief Fidelis Umeh said, “Her charitable deeds were out of this world. During the war, she was specially recruited because of her charitable gesture to run the Red Cross centre.”

For late Lady Umeh’s eldest daughter, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Adaobi Obi (nee Umeh), her late mother ’s generosity still amazes her. “She really loved to give things to people and children always flood to her. She was always giving out gifts; always buys stuffs and giving out to people. So, she was a very generous women”, Obi noted.

Speaking further about her late mom she said, “Mama was a mother to many people. She took her role as a mother very seriously and mothered anybody that crossed her path. I think she was sent to this earth to be a mom. She was so good at it; I can only aspire to be at least close to being a good mother as she was. She raised all her children to be productive members of the society.

I can go on all day just talking about mom but I will summarise in a few words and say that mom set very good examples of how to be a mother.

“She taught me to always appreciate people and whatever they do for me, never to take anything for granted, always to write a thank you note, to always clean up and never to look shabby but present your best self to the world because whether you like it or not people will judge when they see you. Mom taught me to be kind and compassionate to people as we are all part of God no matter your position in life, people always ask me what religion I belong to after they deal with me, I don’t think is a religion thing, it is upbringing and mom constantly talking and correcting in my mind.

“I can hear her even more now that she is gone and the mommy look - when she gives you the eye you know immediately what to do, she did not need to say a word. Most importantly, mom taught me to be a loving and devoted wife. I learned from how she cared for my dad. When dad passed I was happy mom did not go first because she had it down how to take care of her man, she was my rock. I will miss you mom but you will forever live in my heart and mind. God be with you till we meet again.”

For her son, Chief Philip Ndubuisi Umeh, a renowned lawyer, late Lady Umeh was an exceptional mother.

“She cared to the last detail about our welfare, health, spiritual lives and indeed anything that is worth caring for.”

Philip stated further that his late mother was an epitome of what excellent motherhood and parenthood represent. “Words may not be sufficient to express in full, the glorious and

Late lady Umeh

fruitful life of Lady Umeh. However, I will adopt and rely on many positive remarks and testimonies of people who interfaced with her to corroborate my feelings that my mother indeed lived a good life worthy of emulation. I am confident to acknowledge that she was happily married to my late father, Ichie (Sir) Fred Okoye Umeh -Ksji and both of them actually complimented and supplemented each other as it to be in any good Christian marriage.”

“The result was that they raised together a happy and progressive family of six children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren to the glory of God. It is to the credit of my mother, that upon the death of Ichie Sir F.O. Umeh, she ably continued to lead our nuclear and extended families along those well cherished traditions and values of peace and progress. She kept the families intact and indeed extended the frontiers of family bonds and togetherness, which put together have consolidated on achievements of yesteryears in all directions”, Philip noted.

Pledging to uphold the legacy that his parents left behind he said further, “I remain particularly grateful and on my part assure and declare that we shall continue to carry the banner handed over to us without stain.

Her death no doubt, marks the end of an era; it is not lost on us that we are now orphans just like many, but I am not afraid because our parents have prepared us well and square for the next level. I think, it began with our parents having enough time to stay and interact with us and God in His infinite wisdom and knowledge granted them long lives to accomplish the nurturing, trainings and exposures of their children and wards.”

“Looking back, I realise that it was deliberate, that my mother, Lady P.C. Umeh, operated all her businesses and dealings either from our family house or premises close to the family house to afford her sufficient and quality time to take care of us. It was indeed a

lot of sacrifice and I dare say with all humility that it worked. Mom, I am very grateful!”

Philip recalled that her mother mentored several people, particularly younger women, in many positive ways that today, they remain eternally grateful.

“She had great interest in helping people, particularly the poor and needy and those that came across her, no doubt benefitted immensely from her generosity and kindness. My mother loved children and will spare no efforts to make them happy and responsible. This was what inspired her to set up the Chinwe Day-care and Nursery School at Enugu. The school has produced many good children, who have over time found themselves in important positions in Nigeria today. She served the church in many ways as Church Warden for several years at St. Patrick,s Catholic Church , Ogbette Enugu and together with my late father, contributed immensely to the building of many Catholic Churches in Enugu and Neni Town as well as in the training and sustenance of many Priests.”

“In all, I make bold to say that God blessed me and allowed mother to die peacefully at the hospital in Enugu in the hands of her loved ones. I pray God to bless her Soul and grant her eternal repose in Heaven, Amen”, Philip Umeh said.

Her grandson, Munachi Umeh said, “If you have any sickness, any problem or if there is anything wrong with you, she always had the medicine, tuition and solution to it. She was always giving us advice and emotional support.”

Her son in-law, Adolphus Akaniru (Chinyelugo Okija), wrote, “Odoziaku was a beautiful lady outwardly and inwardly. She is approachable, warm and compassionate. Everybody that knows her feels like she is their best friend and that is just her charm. As her favourite son-in law, I am truly blessed to know her. I still remember the first Oha soup she cooked for me

and continues to cook each time I see her and made sure I got my favourite “anara”(eggplant) whenever I visited even when her husband, my father in-law passed, she still got “anara” for me.

“What impresses me most is her selfless attention to people around her. I remember taking her to shop during one of her visits to USA, she spent most of the time picking items for mama this and papa that. When I asked her when she was going to pick something for herself, she said “once you get for all these people, I am happy and satisfied”. That is my mother in law! She cares, loves and pays attention to people she meets. I will miss her.”

Friends of the family also expressed their sympathy during the burial ceremony.

Mrs. Uche Ekeunife, Senator Anambra Central, said, “Mama was a very kind-hearted woman, a woman that invested heavily in the upliftment and growth of our community, Neni.”

A family friend, Uzoewulu Mgbemena recalled that in the 70s/80s she nurtured and disciplined as many young people that came in contact with her. “She nurtured us, she disciplined us and told us that reckless living is not the way to go. She was a very generous and peaceful woman.”

Chimezie Victor Ihekweazu of Chimezie Chambers expressed that mama was an exceptional woman and did her best to show love to her family and all those close to her during her lifetime.

“She was not only a caring mother and wife but showed so much love for God and all who came close to her in her lifetime. Though she attended a ripe age and lived a fulfilled life, the vacuum which her passing has created, cannot be filled by any person”, he added Born August 25th, 1938 to the family of late Chief M.C.Obiora of Umunri Village, Neni Town, late Lady Umeh, who died on April 17, 2019, was a good Christian and practised her faith through her membership of a few Church Societies. In particular, she was a founding member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John International, Enugu Commandery.

She was married to Ichie (Sir) Fred Okoye Umeh of Eziaja Village, Neni Town, Anambra State. The marriage was blessed with six children, all of whom have done well as professionals in their own rights. In her life time, Lady Umeh was a loving wife, dutiful mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She lived a very active lifestyle, which impacted positively on all those she interacted with. She was a great community and religious leader, who left indelible legacies on the sands of time.

She was buried on Saturday June 1, 2019 at the family compound of late Ichie (Sir) F.O. Umeh (Ezechinyelude) of Amakwa, Eziaja Village, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Lady Umeh will be remembered by all and sundry for her kindness, humility and support for the poor and needy members of the society. Her death is a big loss to her family, friends and numerous dependants. She was a pious Christian and Noble member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St.John International, of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

Late Umeh was elevated to the status of a Noble Lady as a mark of an accomplished member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John International Enugu and the Catholic Church. She was also an active member of the women guild who was fully in charge of her interment.

She has travelled widely both within Nigeria and abroad on holidays, religious conferences and medical vacations. As wife of a High Chief she was then, she was a ‘Lolo’ in her own and popularly also known and called Odoziaku in the Neni traditional settings. As a person, she was very hardworking, decent and humble. She was well exposed even from childhood given her pedigree as a daughter of the late Chief M.C. Obiora, who was effortlessly among the wealthiest Igbomen of his time.

39

F r i day • SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com, 0805 306 9356

Atiku’s Petition: I Knew there won’t be Much Hope

M

y people say, ever since the snake got pregnant, did we know that its baby will be a long “thing”. And so, the verdict of victory awarded to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Court of Appeal, last Wednesday, did not come as a surprise to me. Perhaps expectedly, tension had built up so much, especially in the Federal Capital Territory over how the judgement will go. All the newspapers ran the story of the Judgement on their front pages last Wednesday.

I was in the office of one of the ministers from the South West while the 9-hour judgement was being read, amidst solid tension that could even be cut. “is there anything to worry about in the judgement?”, I asked the minister. Pouting his lips, he declared that “I don’t think there is anything that should worry us”, adding precariously: “except they want to scatter Nigeria.”

And so, the much awaited verdict from the 4-month legal battle came to a punctuated end last Wednesday when the 5-man panel unanimously declared that President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC was validly elected last February 23.

Long before and after the presidential election, supporters of the PDP had been so upbeat about the electoral prospect of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

And that was why the conclusion was strong and automatic when President Buhari was declared winner, that something was definitely wrong with the election and its declared outcome. That explains why Atiku rebuffed all persuasions not to challenge the results in court.

But one redeeming thng about the legal tussle is that it has further enriched the electoral jurisprudence in Nigeria.

The court judgement last Wednesday, had confirmed my fears that most of the drive to contest the result in court was powered by emotion and assumptions. Unfortunately, the courts deal with facts as supported by incontrovertible evidences. The evidences of the petitioner were rather scant and fluky. They hardly could establish truly any of the allegations.

Even on the orchestrated case of not being qualified, as some mocked the president as having presented “NEPA Bill” as his certificate, the court ruled that given the schooling history and leadership trainings Mr President had had, he is not just qualified for the election, but “eminently qualified”.

The petitioner and his witnesses could not really prove that the electoral process was compromised, neither could they establish that voters financially induced or harassed and that the process suffered non-compliance with the rules.

The court also found issues of the use of card readers and the electronic transmission of results as immaterial and unproven.

Almost on all fronts, the petitioner hit a brickwall in the hands of the panel.

Not even the tradersmoni, was adjudged to be vote buying gimmick by the sitting government and so it was also dismissed.

Also dismissed was the allegation that the security agencies helped to compromise the process and outcome of the electoral contest.

One after the other, for nine long hours, the court meticulously reviewed all the evidences and submissions of the petitioners

J

100 Days of Emptiness

Makinde Buhari

and knocked the lids off them.

The judgement took so long that many of the lawyers were worn and dozed off, with some even snoring aloud in the court room.

Expectedly, the opposition party, the PDP and its candidate have not only rejected the judgement, they have also described it as “barefaced subversion of justice”.

It has further threatened to go the whole log by heading to the Supreme Court, believing that the apex court will upturn the election of President Buhari. That looks a far fetched mirage.

But all said, legal minds are worried that unless some provisions of the Electoral law are amended, it will ever be so difficult to prove a case of electoral malfeasance in court, especially against a sitting president. The provision that a petitioner has only 14 days to file a case with all the evidences, makes it practically difficult, given the large electoral space in the country, to effectively gather all relevant evidences within the stipulated time , to prove his/ her case.

Perhaps consoling to he petitioner is the affirmation of his Nigerianess, which the APC had contested, and said he (Atiku) was a Camerounian.

President Buhari has invited all aggrieved persons to join hands with him to grow the country. It is hoped that whatever distraction the court case was, should be over now and real governance will begin in earnest.

Also important is that the the end(?) of the litigation should reinforce investors’ confidence in Nigeria. And the only way to prove this is a rise in the nation’s FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).

Having crossed this hurdle, let governance begin!.

As Tribunals Shake the Table

ust when we thought all was set, suddenly the election petition tribunals are waking up with new verdicts across board. In the last one week or so, several election petition tribunals have announced the nullification of the results earlier declared and celebrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Indeed, political structures and offices had been constituted based on the results earlier declared.

While some of the verdicts have not come as a surprise, given the raw manipulations that characterised those elections, a few others have come forth like an upset.

In my Delta State, the senatorial election of Delta South senatorial district has been upturned. It was contested between former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of APC and sit-tight Senator James Manager of the PDP. The latter was declared winner. And it was some rude shock in trying to understand how a man who had governed the entire Delta State for eight full years could not win the votes of a third of the state. I recall the video clips of wild electoral malpractices in that district last February.

Manager’s tenure should have ideally ended in 2015, but a few factors played in his favour. The so-called Tompolo, the militant giant a fellow Ijaw man like Manager, along with then president Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw man, tweaked the procedure and the plots to return Manager, as then Gov Uduaghan merely acquiesced, so peace can be sustained in the region.

That was why Manager’s victory again last February looked magical.

After serving in the senate for over 16 years, with no sparks nor salience, I do not understand why James Manager will be returned as a senator.

In 16 years, I could count the number of times he ever spoke on the floor of the senate on my left hand. No quotable quote

by Manager, more or less a benchwarmer, skilled only in the crookery of the senate. He is adept in siding and working with the cabal of the senate. For years unend, he’s been the chairman of the senate committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a portfolio he has come to appropriate like the heritage of an oil block.

If the NDDC is blamed for underperformance, people like James Manager will have good portions of those blames. Over the years, he has succeeded in managing only his pocket and his interests.

I cannot readily signpost the effect of his representation on the lives and candour of the people of Delta South senatorial district.

The tribunal has ordered a re-run in less than 90 days from now.

Another shocking verdict is the case of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the senate’s Chief Whip and former governor of Abia State, who

Canticles….

H

ave you been following the great celebration across the land?

Celebration? Who is celebrating?

I am talking about the 100 day celebration by the state governors, including even the presidency. Have you not been following?

What is there to follow? Has any state government done anything really significant in the last 100 days to be celebrated?

You can’t be too sure. You cannot sit on your seat and assume you know all that is happening across board.

I know that the Oyo State governor, for instance, has declared free education to primary and secondary school in his state. He has vowed to pay workers and pensioners by 25th of every month. I know that Lagos State governor is patching up many of the broken roads littered across the state and he is…

Is that not the same governor who vowed he would clear Lagos traffic in 60 days and after assuming office, he recanted, claiming that he was misquoted? Please tell me something serious.

But you must have heard of the huge assets recovery effort of the Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, from his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha of the iberiberism fame? The Imo State government officials have been having a hell of experience trying to locate and access government properties, including vehicles that were allegedly carted away by the former governor and his family Hmmmm, beware of the narrative of politicians. They are full of mischief. Never take them by their words. Don’t forget that Okorocha was already a very rich man before he became a governor. Don’t forget he had once aspired to be the president of this country.

Although I am not saying the allegations against him are true, but the fact remains that because a man is rich does not mean that he cannot steal government property.

What else is called greed?

Are you implying that the distinguished Senator, the Owelle himself, is a greedy man?

You said so!

Gov Ihedioha is not alone in the assets recovery effort. The governor of Kwara, Gov Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in the last 100 days has been neck deep in trying to discover and recover many illegally-acquired properties by the Sarakis in the state.

He said over 45 government properties are to be recovered, using the courts.

But what do you say about the presidency also celebrating 100 days in office.

Uduaghan

is representing Abia north in the upper chamber.

He had contested in 2015 and lost. He then decamped to the APC and ran again last march and supposedly won, by defeating senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP. Now the tribunal has reversed that verdict and said the INEC should conduct a supplementary election in some wards within 90 days.

Ohuabunwa had described Kalu’s victory as “daylight robbery”.

Yet another upset is the upturn of the election of Senator Dayo Adeyeye of the APC, the spokesman of the senate representing Ekiti south senatorial district. In a unanimous decision the three-man panel declared that Olujimi and not Adeyeye won the election.

The latter had claimed that the judgement was purchased and headed for Appeal.

When all the electoral storms have calmed, we then would know who is who. Meanwhile, it is bumper harvest season for lawyers. Our collective treasury is the ultimate casualty.

It is an exercise in inanity. There is nothing significant to be celebrated by a government that is yet to properly take off. Do you realize that the maiden Federal Executive Council meeting held only last Wednesday? So what would the presidency be celebrating when policies and programmes are merely just being put together?

But the appointment of ministers in three months , instead of six months as it was in 2015, is taken to be a significant progress.

And you cannot ignore the evacuation of Nigerians from the troubled South Africa… it all shows the care level of the federal government Little wonder it is said that in the land of the blind, a one-eyed man is the king. If you ask me, the ululation about 100-day celebration is clear emptiness and inanity. The governors and the president, should sit down and work towards making Nigerians happier and better empowered.

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

the day that was...

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

A cross-section of lawyers at the 2019 Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s judgment in Abuja on Wednesday

L-R: APC National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibediro; Former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar; and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong at the 2019 Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s judgment in Abuja

L-R: Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo (SAN); Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; and Attorney-General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami(SAN), at the 2019 Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s judgment in Abuja

From left, Yahaya Abubakar, Uche Secondus and May Agbamuche representing INEC at the Presidential Tribunal for final judgment on petition brought to the Tribunal PDP and the party Presidential candidate in Abuja yesterday

Photo: Kingsley Adeboye

L-R: APC National Chair. Adams Oshiomohle, Minister of works Babatunde Raji Fasola and Minister of Labour Dr Chris Ngige at the Presidential Tribunal for final judgment on petition brought to the Tribunal PDP and the party Presidential candidate in Abuja yesterday Photo: Kingsley Adeboye

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s lawyers, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (left) and Chief Mike Ozekhome, during the judgment

National Chairman of People Democratic Party [PDP] Uche Secondus with the National Chairman of All Progressives, Adams Oshiohmole at the Presidential Tribunal during final judgment on petition brought to the Tribunal by PDP and the Party Presidential candidate in Abuja yesterday Photo: Kingsley Adeboye

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

41

images

L-R: Oni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Enitan; Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; the new Olulamookun of Yakooyo, Oba Meshach Oyewole Oyediran and his wife, Olori Yemisi Oyewole, during the official Presentation of staff of office to the Olulamokun of Yakooyo in Ife North Local Government Area in Osun State on Thursday

L-R: Head of Brand Development and Activation, Personal Care, PZ Cussons, Charles Nnochiri; Celebrity Judge, Yemisi Odusanya; Human Resource Director, PZ Cussons; Joyce Coker; and Celebrity Judge, Deyemi Okanlawon at the official Cussons Baby Moments 6 press parley at PZ Cussons headquarters, Ilupeju, Lagos…yesterday

PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Ara Entertainment Group, Ms Araola Olamuyiwa; Chief Executive Officer, Initiative for Sustaining Unity, Ms Kate Ibeanusi; Psychologist, Unilag, Dr. Alex Igundunasse and Chief Consultant, Psychiatrist, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Mrs. Funmi Akinola; during a conference to mark World Suicide Prevention Day in Lagos...recently

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello; Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ronke Odeneye, during a stakeholders meeting with Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, on the needs to keep our environment clean in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

L-R : Group Head, Communication and Public Relations, Jumia, Abdesslam Benzitoun Head, Global Communications and Public Affairs, Jumia, Dana Al Mubaidin; American Basket Baller/ board member, Jumia , Andre Iguadala,and CEO, Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah at the press conference to discuss e-commerce opportunity for Jumia in Nigeria held in Lagos...recently

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat (right) welcoming Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during a courtesy call on the deputy governor by the commission’s chairman, in Alausa...recently

PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State/ National Matron, Non-Governmental Association Literacy Support Services (NOGALSS), Prof. Adelabu Modupe; Former Governor of Anambra State/National Patron NOGALSS, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; National President, NOGALSS, Mr. Noah Emmanuel and House of Representative member representing Wurno/Rabah constituency of Sokoto State, Arc. Ibrahim Almustapha, at the inauguration of NOGALSS board of trustees in Abuja yesterday Photo: Enock Reuben

L-R Dean of the School of Media and Communication, Pan- Atlantic University, Ikechukwu Obiaya; MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Director, West Africa, Femi Odugbemi; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Shulamite Olufunke Adebolu; CEO, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, at the MultiChoice Talent Factory Graduation Ceremony which held at Lagos Business School yesterday

42

T H I S D AY •FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

business/MOnEYGUIDE

Report: Nigeria’s Sesame Seed ExportValue to Hit N120bn Annually Hamid Ayodeji A report by Agusto & Co has revealed that Nigeria’s sesame seed export value to Asia and Europe has potential value of one N120 billion per annum.

The pan-African credit rating agency put the value of Nigeria’s export of the crop as at fourth quarter 2018 at N30 billion.

According to a report made available to THISDAY, Nigeria’s cashew and sesame seeds remains key crops that would drive the export diversification bid of the federal government, considering the crops’ rapidly developing markets due to growing consumption.

It noted that the global cashew market has recorded strong expansion in the last decade, with cashew nut production increasing at a compound annual growth rate of five per cent to 790,000 metric tonnes in 2018.

“The demand for Sesame seeds remains high because of the demand from other

countries by pharmaceuticals and industries that produce skincare product “As sesame remain key agricultural export commodities in Nigeria, the products like other agricultural commodities are traditionally exported in unprocessed form which creates a loss in value add.

“This leads to almost 40 per cent of global cashew supplies being shipped to India and Vietnam for shelling and this loss of value added totals about two hundred million dollars.

“Therefore, there is need for increased private investments in cashew and sesame processing which would involve investment in state-of-the-art processing facilities, raw material sourcing from reliable small and large scale farmers with good quality output as well as adequate marketing to reach wider clients.

“Most importantly, for cashew and sesame seeds processing to thrive, there is need for adequate supply of raw materials implying that

farming challenges such as, use of crude farming implements, smallholder farmlands, and poor access to capital which inhibits farmers’ use of modern planting, harvesting and threshing machines, must be resolved, it stated.

“Growth in the international cashew market has been supported by increased consumption of cashew particularly in countries with more developed economies due to their greater health consciousness.

“Cashew nuts contain ‘heart-healthy’ fats, minerals and vitamins, which its consumers like to have in their daily diets.

“Also, other valuable parts of the cashew tree include the cashew apple which can be eaten raw or used as jam, preserves, juice, dietary fibre in confectioneries, bio ethanol fuel and as feed ingredient in the livestock industry whilst the juice of the cashew apple can also be used as salve to relieve rheumatic pain.

Leading Ladies Africa, Union Bank Empower Female Entrepreneurs A leading female empowerment group, Leading Ladies Africa, in collaboration with Union Bank Plc has empowered 40 female-owned enterprises as part of efforts to support businesses and economic activities.

The empowerment scheme themed, “Enterprise and Leadership Programme,” was initiated to provide start-ups from the various sectors of the economy with the support needed to develop and sustain their enterprises.

The Founder, Leading Ladies Africa, Francesca Uriri, while speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, yesterday, said the numbers of female entrepreneurs who signed up for the programme initially were about 2,000. This, she said was an indication that a lot of women entrepreneurs needed capacity building. Uriri, pointed out that whilst capital was important for the sustainable development of every business, it was not more

important than having a proper business structure coupled with the right management skill.

She explained, “The idea behind the Enterprise and Leadership Programme is to provide the structure needed for female-owned businesses.

“The female entrepreneurs have been lectured on subjects such as, finance, accounting, business modelling, branding and strategies. We have been able to operate this capacity building programme in conjunction with the China-Europe Business School, which has an international faculty, because for us it was important to bring the synergy between those people that have the experience of growing businesses to empower these entrepreneurs with the right tools they need to operate a successful business.

“We are working towards creating a ripple effect in these enterprises because the knowledge shared and gained would be effective towards boosting the

social economy of the country as a whole.

“Since the entries for SMEs opened up in July and the mentorship classes began in August the feedbacks we have received from the participants have been amazing which is something we are proud of as the final classes would take place this weekend.”

On her part, the Chief Digital and innovation Officer, Union Bank, Lola Cardoso, said the initiative which was supported by bank, was in continuous effort to empower female entrepreneurs in the country as well as increase financial inclusion whilst developing the county’s economy.

“Supporting the empowerment classes for the 40 womenowned enterprises is a sign of our commitment to supporting SMEs as well as women that are pursuing the sustainable economic growth of women in Nigeria,” she added.

BEDC Graduates 134Trainees to Improve Service Delivery The BEDC Electricity Plc (BEDC) has turned out another set of 60 graduate trainees and 74 technician trainees, in its quest to improve service delivery to customers and bridge skills gap in the power sector.

The Disco also announced the take-off locations for the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme in Delta state. A statement quoted its Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, to have made these known at the 4th in the series of graduation for the trainees held at the Crescendo Conference Center, Asaba.

The take-off locations, which would be handled by Inlaks Power Solution sequentially, based on location, street by street basis are: Government House and Cabinet area, Express, Anwai, SPC, Ezenei, SIO all around Asaba Township and Headbridge.

Osibodu, said BEDC believes that the recruitment of new and additional workforce and training of staff would help improve

service delivery to customers and also build capacity in the power sector.

“Our yearly churn out of new employees under the Graduate Management Trainee and Technician Trainee schemes continue to grow as we lead in the drive to bridge the capacity and skills gap in the power sector.

“Our goal is to attract and train 1,500 young and new employees with the aim of helping to improve the quality of service to customers and also help reduce youth unemployment in our society,” she stated.

Declaring that the BEDC would leave no stone unturned in its desire to meet customer expectations, Osibodu disclosed that between 2018 and now, BEDC had connected 112 communities without electricity supply in its coverage areas to the national grid out of which 55 of such connections were done in Delta state.

She solicited for the cooperation of customers in respect of

the ongoing enumeration exercise which she said was a precondition for them to benefit from the MAP scheme. She stressed that this would enable the company plan properly for network expansion, improve quality of power supply, adding that nearly 400,000 households have been enumerated.B In his welcome address, Chairman Board of Directors, said the training was conceived after the power sector privatisation in 2013, to enable BEDC respond to immediate talent needs of the sector, disclosing that within four years of its existence over 600 persons have been recruited.

“BEDC aims to build a technically competent organization with the required technical and functional competency, As such the two training programmes are blended learning experiences designed to equip new staff with the skills set needed to deliver excellent services to customers,” the chairman stated.

L-R: Group Head, SME/Business Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. George Ogbonnaya; Regional Head, Lagos, Mr. Oliver Opara; Managing Director, Afeb Business Concept and winner of $500 in the fourth draw of ‘FCMB SME Race to China Promo Season 2,’Mr. Hassan Afegbua, and Manager, Apapa Randle Branch, FCMB, Mrs. Lynda Chuma-Osuebi, during the prize presentation ceremony held in Lagos…recently

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 18,990,400.78

Net Foreign Assets (NFA) 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

• Source - CBN

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

• Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE As At WEDNESDAy, 11 SEPTEMBER 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $62.08 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $62.74 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations..

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Source: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

T H I S D AY •FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

mARKET NEWS

NSE All-Share Index Inches Higher as Market Sustains Positive Performance Goddy Egene The Nigerian equities sustained its positive performance for the second day with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rising by 1.01 per cent to close at 27,426.64, while market capitalisation added N141.3 billion to be at N13.4 trillion.

The market, which went up by 0.39 per cent on the day the Presidential Elections Tribunal ruled in favour of

President Muhammadu Buhari, appreciated further yesterday as 22 stocks added value while only seven stocks depreciated.

AIICO Insurance Plc led the price gainers with 9.8 per cent, trailed by Forte Oil Plc with 9.0 per cent, while AIICO Insurance recently got a new managing director, shareholders of Forte Oil approved plans by the petroleum product marketing firm to acquire more downstream assets.

UACN Property Develop-

P r i c e s MaiN Board

f o r DEALS

ment Company Plc also appreciated by 9.6 per cent, just as Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc chalked up 9.4 per cent.

Chams Plc garnered 8.3 per cent, while Caverton Offshore Group Services Plc gained 7.2 per cent.

Cornerstone Insurance Plc and Nestle Nigeria Plc went up 7.1 per cent apiece, while Fidelity Bank Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc chalked up 6.4 per cent and 3.1 per cent in that order.

Se c u r i t i e s

Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N )

FBN Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FCMB Holdings Plc and Access Bank Plc were also among the price gainers.

Conversely, Jaiz Bank Plc led the price losers with 5.0 per cent, trailed by NPF Microfinance Bank Plc with 4.3 per cent. Unity Bank Plc and LASACO Assurance Plc shed 4.2 per cent and 3.4 per cent in that order.

NASCON Allied Industries

T r a d e d MaiN Board

a s

Plc went down by 2.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, activity level declined as volume and value traded fell 45.5 per cent and 41.1 per cent to 115.3 million shares units and N854.3 million respectively. The top traded stocks by volume were Access Bank Plc (17.0 million shares), Transcorp (14.7 million shares) and Union Bank of Nigeria (10.1 million shares) while GTBank Plc (N198.8

o f

million), Access Bank (N119.3 million) and Zenith Bank Plc (N104.5 million) led by value.

In terms of sectorally performance, the NSE Consumer Goods Index led gainers, up 3.8 per cent while the NSE Banking Index trailed, rising by 1.7 per cent. The NSE Industrial Goods Index rose 1.1 per cent, just as the NSE Insurance Index went up by 0.6 per cent. The NSE Oil & Gas Index inched higher by 0.5 per cent.

1 2 / 0 9 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

Market Price

quantity traded

value traded ( N)

44

friDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

mARKET NEWS

NSE Boss Harps on Importance of Data in Investment Decisions Goddy Egene

The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has stressed the increasing importance of leveraging market data in boosting retail investor participation in the Nigerian capital market. Onyema stated this at the 4th edition NSE Market

Data Workshop in Lagos.

According to him, this year’s theme, which was ‘Partnership.

Products and the Customer’, shines the spotlight on the need for a more inclusive collaboration among capital market players.

“To analyse the information in market data and to inform the debate on the challenges of extracting this information from

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

raw data to deliver a data product that is easily consumed to make informed investment decisions, calls for concerted cooperation by all parties in our ecosystem,” he said.

Onyema disclosed that the NSE had evolved its product strategy to focus on catering to the needs of the end-user.

“We believe in customer

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Guide to data: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11Sep-2019, unless otherwise stated.

centricity and we will continue to foster partnerships with local stakeholders across the market, incorporating new technologies and expertise to drive market data by-products like derivatives and other structured products such as the Exchange Traded Funds,” he said.

He added that these structured products which are based on

the accuracy of the underlying stock prices are being used by a broader set of professional users than those who participate on the stock exchange directly – to advise, monitor and/or validate transactions after they are executed.

Speaking on the importance of the workshop in developing the Nigerian capital market, Divisional

Head, Trading Business at the NSE, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, said: “The NSE instituted the data workshop to inspire market participants and the wider ecosystem to become more innovative in the use of market data as they strive to leapfrog performance through the use of the array market data solutions offered by NSE,” he said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 138.13 139.77 -12.27% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 12.35% Nigeria International Debt Fund 269.54 269.54 -1.35% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.87 0.88 3.68% ACAP Income Funds 0.77 0.77 34.67% ammf@aiicocapital.com AIICO CAPITAL LTD Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.21% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.35 2.38 5.85% enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 13.56 13.97 -18.27% ARM Discovery Fund 318.63 328.23 -10.66% ARM Ethical Fund 27.59 28.43 -2.28% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.34% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 91.17 91.81 -9.90% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.34% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.86 1.86 11.10% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.60% Paramount Equity Fund 11.95 12.06 1.22% Women's Investment Fund 106.99 107.69 3.33% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.88% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 93.52 94.19 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 94.68 95.40 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.21% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.07% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,103.16 1,108.88 11.02% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,237.63 1,238.41 10.61% FBN BALANCED FUND 138.36 139.28 -3.10% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.34% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.66 120.03 8.24% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.90 120.28 8.72% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 118.90 120.67 -20.73% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.65% Legacy Debt Fund 3.52 3.52 8.64% Legacy Equity Fund 1.04 1.05 -15.14% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.07 1.07 3.60% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.55% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 109.24 110.20 1.24% GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.46%

INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.51% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 -0.82% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.69% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 133.87 133.89 7.08% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.15 1.17 4.45% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,115.63 1,115.63 9.36% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.43 9.51 -11.52% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.11% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.28 1.31 4.43% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.94 12.05 7.12% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.33% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 122.12 122.17 0.94% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.03 9.88% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,336.55 2,347.56 0.91% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 203.84 203.84 7.21% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.82 0.83 -13.16% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 265.15 265.24 9.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 140.11 141.60 -14.14% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.07% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,412.11 7,491.20 -12.74% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.14 1.14 5.38% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 100.42 100.42 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.14 1.15 -2.54% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 10.47% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.66 -9.83% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.72% United Capital Eurobond Fund 109.29 109.23 8.15% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.04 1.05 5.15% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.65 9.81 -8.27% Zenith Ethical Fund 10.76 10.93 -9.56% Zenith Income Fund 22.21 22.21 10.38% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.90%

REITS

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 116.88 53.10

-44.85% 5.22% 2.63%

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

Bid Price

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.26 4.97 11.44 10.72 147.09

3.30 5.05 11.54 10.92 149.09

-18.45% -34.60% -21.61% -13.20% 11.45%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.34

17.40%

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

8.44 83.87 67.35

8.54 85.69 68.64

-19.87% -28.49% -24.02%

funds@vetiva.com

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

45

FRIday september 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

UK PM Denies Lying to Queen Elizabeth over Suspension of Parliament British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied lying to Queen Elizabeth over the reasons for suspending parliament for five weeks after a court ruled his decision to do so was unlawful.

Parliament was prorogued – suspended – on Monday until

October 14, a move opponents argued was designed to thwart their attempts to scrutinise his plans for leaving the EU and to allow him to push through a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

Scotland’s highest court of appeal ruled on Wednesday that the suspension was

unlawful and was to stymie lawmakers, prompting Johnson’s opponents to accuse him of lying to the queen as to the reasons for the suspension.

Johnson said on Thursday that those claims were “absolutely not” true.

House Panel Plans to Intensify Trump’s Impeachment Probe The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is expected to intensify its investigation of Republican President Donald Trump on Thursday as lawmakers edge closer to deciding whether to recommend his impeachment.

The 41-member panel has scheduled an 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) meeting to vote on a resolution allowing it to designate hearings as impeachment proceedings subject witnesses to more aggressive questioning.

The impeachment proceedings will also quicken the pace of an investigation that is expanding into areas that could prove politically explosive for both Trump and Congress.

A more aggressive probe could add pressure on House Democratic leaders, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has resisted impeachment as a politically risky step for moderate

Democratic freshmen from swing districts where ousting Trump is an unpopular idea.

Republicans oppose the committee’s impeachment efforts.

But with Democrats outnumbering Republicans on the committee by 24-17, aides say approval along party lines is all but certain.

Committee Democrats are already planning to use the new tactics that allow an hour of questioning by committee lawyers on one of Trump’s closest confidants – former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

Lewandowski is due to appear before the panel next Tuesday for what may be a contentious hearing.

Democrats on the committee say the resolution will enhance their ability to assemble allegations known as “articles of impeachment” against Trump.

They expect Lewandowski’s

testimony will help lay out a charge of obstruction of justice.

But they are also pursuing allegations of campaign finance violations, witness tampering and unlawful self-enrichment through his business ventures.

“This signals very, very strongly what the American people need to know: we are investigating to determine what articles of impeachment we should bring up,” said Representative Madeleine Dean, a House Judiciary Democrat.

“In plain sight, this president is violating the Constitution day after day after day. Behind closed doors, he’s obstructing justice,” she said.

A committee vote to approve articles of impeachment would send the resolution to the full House.

If approved by the chamber, the Republican-controlled Senate would be left to hold a trial and consider the president’s ouster.

10 African Leaders to Attend Mugabe’s Funeral as Row over Burial Continues Ten African leaders are expected to attend the funeral of former Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe, a government spokesman said on Thursday, as a row continued over where the former strongman should be buried.

Mugabe’s body was returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday from Singapore, where he died at the age of 95.

He had been seeking treatment there for an undisclosed illness since April.

His funeral is due to be held on Saturday.

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi are among the African presidents, who have confirmed their attendance, presidential spokesman, George Charamba, said in a statement.

Seven former presidents are also expected to attend.

They are South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda and Namibia’s Sam Nujoma.

The Zimbabwe government had said that Mugabe would then be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre, a hilltop shrine reserved for the country’s ruling elite.

But family members want to honour Mugabe’s wish of being buried next to his mother in his rural home in

Kutama, about 85 kilometres from the capital Harare.

There is also disagreement over the burial date.

A meeting between Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mugabe’s widow on Friday failed to break the impasse.

“We are in consultation with the government,’’ a spokesman for the Mugabe family, Leo Mugabe, said.

“No burial arrangements yet.’’

Mugabe was deposed in a 2017 coup after nearly four decades in power.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNNOWO OPEYEMI OLUWABUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ROTIFA OPEYEMI OLUWABUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SHAKIRAT AHMED, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABIOLA SHAKIRAT OMOLABAKE ADEKEYE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEBUKOLA ADERONKE MAKANJUOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBUKOLA ADERONKE AKINSELOYIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OYENEYE OMOBOLANLE ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as AFOLABI OMOBOLANLE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OYENIKE FEYIROPO ADENIJI, now wish to be known and addressed as OYENIKE FEYIROPO SCHUMACHER. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EPHRAIM JAMES ARCHIBONG, now wish to be known and addressed as EPHRAIM AKANIYENE ARCHIBONG. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as TEVIS OLUWASEGUN GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEGUN GODWIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AZAMU IBRAHIM, now wish to be known and addressed as AFAKA IBRAHIM AZAMU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

46

FRIday september 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

NEWSextra

Wike: Why I Congratulated Buhari Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has explained that he congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari after the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal confirmed his election because it was better to offer public congratulations than visit the president at night.

Wike said unlike some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who visited Buhari at night, he made his declaration public because it came from the heart.

He spoke yesterday at the funeral service in honour of the Blessing Awuse, Mother of Sergent Awuse, at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Emohua.

He said: “I am sure all of you are surprised that I congratulated Buhari. Is it not good for me to congratulate him, than to go to his house in the night?”

“So many PDP governors go

to see him in his house in the night. I have never gone and I will not go. I won’t go.”

“We are the only state that the federal government refused to pay us our money used to execute federal projects because I don’t go to see him in the night and I won’t go. He is not my friend, he is not doing well, but he won in court, should I say that the court did wrong, no.”

“President Buhari, congratulations and carry Nigerians along. Unify the country, the country is too divided. I am saying what is right. What I will do, I will do, what I will not do, I will not do”.

Wike said politics is a game of interest, noting that Rivers people in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are under obligation to attract federal benefits to the state.

“Politics is a game of interest.

And my only interest is Rivers State. Anything that is against the interest of Rivers State, I will not

agree.

“These people sold us out, thinking that they are doing Governor Wike. It is the State that you are offending, because I am just one person,” he said.

Wike expressed displeasure that Rivers State has key links to President Muhammadu Buhari from the state, yet the East-west road, the seaports and other federal projects have been

completely neglected since 2015.

He said nothing indicates that Rivers State has prominent APC members working with Buhari.

The governor maintained that Rivers State is a Christian state and that the fact would not be changed by negative propaganda and falsehood targeted at his person.

He said he never demolished a Mosque as was falsely circulated

by some mischief makers.

He said Rivers State is a major oil-producing state that deserves major projects from the federal government.

“We produce oil. They should not punish Rivers State because of me. I am just one individual.

We have not benefited anything from the federal government. The only thing we have benefited is the abuse they heap on me.

“They turned the NDDC into a cash cow to sponsor elections against us. Nobody protested that anomaly. Now they want us to protest because someone did not nominate the management of NDDC this time.

“Since 2015, NDDC has not had its governing board, but nobody protested. I will not be dragged into such protests,” he said.

Chattered Institute Proffers Solutions to Nigeria’s Problems Dike Onwuamaeze National identity, corruption, inequality, poverty and insecurity have been identified as major threats that could push Nigeria into deeper problems and undermine its corporate existence as a country.

This was the opinion that came out from a brainstorming session organised by the Chattered Institute of Development and Social Studies (CIDSS) under the theme: “Sustanable Growth and Development as Panacea to Problems of Social Disconnect,” to identify, discuss and proffer solutions to the reasons Nigeria was experiencing slow pace of development.

The session was chaired by former Vice Chancellor Landmark University, Omuaran, and Dean of Social Sciences, Federal University, Lokoja, Prof.

Mathew Rotimi Ajayi.

The institute stated that Nigerian leaders used the issue of tribe and religion to cause national identity problem and division among the country’s citizens to satisfy their selfish end.

They also frowned at policies of government which put premium on where a citizen comes from before offering him appointment at the expense of merit, which should be the focal point.

Citing United States as an example, the scholars urged Nigerians to embrace patriotism and selflessness by putting Nigeria first in all they do rather than promoting tribe and religion The institute also described corruption as anything that was not done rightly, stressing that corruption starts from the little things people failed to do and not necessarily financial misappropriation and embezzlement. “While proffering stiffer punishment for those found culpable, the institute believes that everybody is capable of fighting corruption no matter how small, and therefore said the issue must not be left in the hands of government alone.”

The institute also blamed the high rate of poverty in the country to non-continuity of programmes and policies of previous governments by the

incumbent governments due to policy summersault It stated that the high levels of inequality and insecurity in the country would make development difficult and urged the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to curb the incessant killings and destruction of property across the country.

The institute also declared that it would always be ready to partner with the federal government or any tier of government to provide solutions to challenges of governance.

The institute also presented a 420 paged book written by over 30 scholars and professionals entitled “Socio-Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria.”

Earlier, in his key note address, the chairman Board of Trustees of the Institute, Pastor Shae Bebeyi, said no nation could experience sustainable growth and development where there is a departure, dislocation or disconnect from the social order, adding that when the economy of a nation is stable there would be growth.

He also said that cultural values and orientation were critical factors that could engender sustainable growth in Nigeria.

The erudite scholar also pointed out that education either formal or informal must be given its deserved priority and that government should make conscious efforts to bring technical education to the door steps of its citizenry.

Bebeyi also said that sustainable growth and development would be possible in Nigeria if conscious efforts were made to encourage social and economic development, adding that both could reduce poverty and incessant killings in the country.

Some professionals that were conferred with the prestigious Institute’s Fellowship Awards include Omotola Olutayo Olukoya, Kwardem Manji Danjuma, Shaibu Idenyi Emmanuel, Oluyori Segun, Ashmuke N Gladys and Moses Sule. Others were Aga Terso and Oloniruha John Akintola.

cementing ties...

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni (left), and the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stefano Pontesilli, when the governor visited the envoy to discuss support and development efforts for the state in Abuja... yesterday.

Tinubu Congratulates Buhari onVictory at Tribunal The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari over his victory at the Presidential Elections Tribunal.

He said the tribunal verdict was a resounding judicial vindication of President Buhari’s personal character and his electoral victory.

In a statement entitled “President Election Tribunal Verdict, Justice Served, Democracy Saved,” Tinubu said: “With the unanimous ruling of the Court of Appeal dismissing the Presidential Election Petition of PDP candidate Alhaji Abubakar Atiku today, the

rule of law came to the defense of democracy by affirming the sovereign will of the people.

Their will was expressed during the February 23 election when a vast, compelling majority of the electorate cast their ballots for President Buhari to serve a second term as Head of State and Commander-in- Chief of our beloved nation.

“Whatever partisan side one might take, all must agree that today was a bright day for the administration of justice. The Court of Appeal rendered a comprehensive judgment of extraordinary thoroughness,

reason and breadth on the many issues presented in this important matter. The Court did so in the open air and before the television cameras that gave eyes to the entire nation to watch this fine moment for the Nigerian judiciary.

The court did its job by following the law of the land wherever it might lead.

“As a Nigerian, I was proud to see both sides of this dispute behave with utmost civility and decorum despite the weight of the matters at stake and the intensity of the legal arguments presented.

It is in this spirit that we must always seek to resolve even our

most stubborn differences that we may emerge a stronger yet more peaceful nation.

“Former Vice President Atiku and his legal team put forth some imaginative, if desperate, arguments as was their right.

They fought vigorously for their positions and were allowed to do so without pressure and without fear. No one used the power of the state to intimidate them in court just as no one used the power of the state to intimidate them during the election. As the Court affirmed, the election was free and fair and the final result should stand.

Christian Group Decries High Rate of Out-of-school Children in North-east Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The situation in the North-east if not urgently addressed could bring bigger problem on the entire country in the future, Christian Aid (CAID) has said.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Christian Aid, Amanda Mukwashi, who paid a courtesy visit on Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, said with the number of out-of-school children in the north-east, is a

sitting on a time bomb.

Mukwashi, who was at selected internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri, said: “If you have 10 or 12 years old that are not in school at the moment, how are you preparing them for the future?

“What happens in the future if they miss out on education, this is a lost to a generation and if this generation does not get education, it could be problematic and to safe ourselves

the problem of the future, we need to invest in actually educating these young people.”

She also raised concern that in some of the camps visited where there are schools, the teachers were nowhere to be found, admonishing that: “Let us provide the teachers, and I do not think it is for lack of people who are qualified. So, let us look for the teachers and pay them, let us get them into the classrooms so that we can provide good quality education

for this young people.”

“Christian Aid is ready to collaborate with government and other local actors so that we can see what can be done.”

Mukwashi also lamented that the infrastructure at the camps were not the best and did not dignify the IDPs. She urged the government to do something in this regard and work on the nutrition of the people on the camps especially pregnant women and lactating mothers.

African Union to Host AFRIMA in Nigeria The African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA have announced that the 6th edition of the All Africa Music Awards themed ‘Feel Africa’ will be hosted in Lagos State, Nigeria from November 20 to November 23, 2019 in

association with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Nigeria.

In partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA is a youth-focused music property that celebrates Africa, recognizes and rewards the work and talents of a myriad of African

artists across generations.

AFRIMA is committed to the stimulation of conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potentials of the cultural and creative economy for real enterprise on the continent, contributing

significantly to social cohesion and continental integration as well as sustainable economic growth and development in Africa by lending its voice to promotion of education and campaign against extreme poverty and preventable diseases.

47

friday SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 • T H I S D AY

friDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

NFF Denies Recalling ‘Banned’ Coach Salisu Yusuf to Eagles Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied recalling Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf whose one-year ban from football lapsed on Wednesday.

Yusuf was investigated by the Ethics and Fair-play Committee of the NFF after the former

Ranchers Bees player was seen in a sting documentary in which he accepted 1,000 US dollars from an undercover reporter disguising as a player’s agent.

The former Enyimba and Kano Pillars coach allegedly received the money to influence his team selection for the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations Cup in

Tokyo 2020: Nigerians Want Olympic Medals, Not Stories, Says Dare

Orders federations to begin preparations for Olympics

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has ordered national sports federations to immediately begin preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

With just one bronze medal to show for Team Nigeria’s participation in the last two Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro, Dare insisted that era of giving excuses for failures was over.

“Nigerians want medals, not failures or stories,” he observed in the directive handed out to national sports federations recently.

A letter from the minister’s office addressed to all presidents of the national sports federations, asked them to review their programmes in view of the just concluded African Games in Morocco and get back to him within the next ten days.

The correspondent dated September, 10, 2019, stated

that all the sports federations are required to submit their programmes, reviewed in the light of the outcome of the African Games and progress recorded in the preparations for the Olympics to enable the ministry take necessary steps.

“Federations are therefore expected to develop and train their athletes and present them to the ministry in a timely fashion for competitions, which require that the training of athletes should now be on and off season.

“You are consequently directed to commence preparations in earnest for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” the letter requested.

The minister identified late preparations as the bane of Nigeria’s participation in championships and international tournaments, saying presidents and secretaries of federations are expected to embrace the new thinking aimed at addressing the challenge.

Ghana and the 2018 CHAN in Morocco.

The four-man members of the Ethics and Fair-play Committee include; Malam Nuhu Ribadu (Chairman), Mainasara Illo, Rev. Justin Okoroji and Mr Joshua Onoja (Secretary).

But after a press statement yesterday from the Director of Communications at the Glass House, Ademola Olajire to the effect that Yusuf’s one-year ban had lapsed was interpreted to mean that the gaffer was free to return to his duty post, the social media was awash with vitriolic from football fans and critics.

The decision to recall Yusuf was condemned, with some threatening to stage protests at the Glass House in Abuja if indeed the coach was back to his Eagles job.

Olajire later in the evening told THISDAY that Coach Salisu Yusuf has not been recalled but that he has completed the oneyear ban.

“Coach Salisu Yusuf has not been recalled. What I said in that statement was that he has served the one-year ban. It is on

the board of the federation that can determine whether to recall him or not,” observed Olajire last night.

The 1,000 US dollars cash gift offered by Tigers Player’s Agency, (an undercover reporter), was purportedly on behalf of players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for the 2018 CHAN competition in Morocco Meanwhile, the NFF has praised the performance of the Olympic Eagles in qualifying for the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations after a 5-0 mauling of their Sudanese counterparts, just as it noted the impressive streak of the National Teams in qualifying for major competitions.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Thursday that the federation was elated at the performance of the U23 boys, not only for the high score win, but also for the steel, savvy and smoothness with which the performance was delivered.

“The 5-0 victory was very sweet, but what made it sweeter was the way it was delivered.

And from that game and from the delivery of the Super Eagles in the friendly with Ukraine later that night which ended 2-2, we can confidently say that the future of the Nigeria senior team is bright.

“We had a very young team out there in Ukraine as a result of the forced withdrawal of some of the old breed, yet they delivered a heartwarming performance that everyone was proud of.”

Sanusi noted that the qualification of the U23 boys for the Olympics qualifying tournament in Egypt meant that none of the national teams had failed to qualify for a major tournament in the past 18 months.

“The last Nigeria team to fail to qualify for a major competition was the U-17 girls, when they lost to Cameroon on the away goal rule in January 2018, in the final qualifying round for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. “Since then, the Super Eagles have played at the FIFA World Cup in Russia; the Falconets have played at the FIFA U20

Women’s World Cup in France; the Golden Eaglets have won the WAFU Cup in Niger Republic; the Super Falcons have played at and won the Women AFCON in Ghana and; the Supersand Eagles have qualified for the FIFA Beach World Cup from the African finals in Egypt.

“The Flying Eagles have qualified for the FIFA U20 World Cup and played at the finals in Poland; the Golden Eaglets have qualified for the FIFA U17 World Cup taking place in Brazil later this year and; the Super Eagles have played at the biggest-ever AFCON and came back home with the bronze medals.”

Salisu-Yusuf

CAF CONFED CUP

Rangers Arrive Libreville for Clash with Pelican Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup 2019/2020 hopeful, Rangers International F.C of Enugu left Lagos for Libreville, Gabon yesterday for the first leg, first round encounter with competition’ first timers, Association Sportive Pelican, confident of a fruitful outing.

After drawing bye in the preliminary round due to its good run in last edition of the competition, the Flying Antelopes with some fresh and experienced campaigners in continental football in its fold look set to shock the Gabonese side that eliminated D.R Congo side, A.S Maniema Union 4-2 on penalties after aggregate score over two legs of the stage stood at 2-2 as both games ended in 1-1 draw.

Under caretaker manager, Coach Benedict Ugwu, the seven time Nigeria league champions have their work cut out at Stade D’Angondje, Libreville, Gabon as youthful gaffer of the host, Gidas Arnold Ndoumou line up his wards that have conceded a goal in each of their last four games in all competitions.

With talents like experienced campaigners in Ikechukwu Ibenegbu and Uche John as well as power-playing Nnamdi Egbujuo and Obinna Eleje joining forces with Ifeanyi George in attack and Tony

Shimaga screening the back line where Isiaka Oladuntoye and Senegalese international, Pape Ousmane Sane hold sway to provide enough coverage for the man between the sticks, the Flying Antelopes look set to fly higher above the Pelicans.

After winning eleven and losing one in pre-season friendly games as well as a weeklong close camping exercise in the serene, Nanka community of Orumba-North LGA of Anambra state, the squad seem to have blended with the new players getting accustomed to the ‘Never Say Die’ playing philosophy of Rangers which will be on display in this encounter.

Coach Ugwu said on the fixture, “I have a strong belief that with the talents at our disposal and the training regime we have gone through in the pre-season, we shall come back with a good result by God’s grace. We don’t know much of our opponent but our preparations have always been to play against any opponent.

“Surely, it won’t be easy as there are no more small teams in the game. They did well in the preliminary round but I believe that we have all it takes to stop them in this round,” concludes the coach fondly called Surugede in his playing days in the Nigerian league.

MFM Basketball players celebrating thir good trun at the Akure Centre of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League

Super Eagles Coach, Rohr, Loses Mother The head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has lost his 97-year-old mother, Elizabeth Rohr.

The news was broken

Thursday afternoon by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through its verified twitter handle. The NFF commiserated with the

German national over his loss.

NFF wrote, “We commiserate with @ NGSuperEagles Head coach,

Mr Gernot Rohr who just lost his mother Madam Elisabeth Rohr. She was 97. May her soul rest in peace.”

HIFL 2019

UAM Tillers, OAU Giants Reenact 2018 S’final 2018 winners of the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), UAM Tillers and third placed team OAU Giants will reenact their 2018 semifinal fixture after they both qualified from the quarter final rounds.

UAM Tillers qualified narrowly at home, as they laboured to defeat a defiant BUK Stallions team 5-4 on penalties without prolific Kano Pillars striker Ebuka Odenigbo after the tie ended one-all on aggregate.

The Stallions from Kano were the better side as they dominated the UAM Tillers for the most part of the game.

In the 73rd minute, Abduljani Tijani, with Jersey Number 7, put the visitors ahead to the disappointment of the home fans, however the boisterous Tillers fans had the last laugh after the spot kick agony for the Stallions.

OAU Giants qualified to the semifinals despite losing 1-2 to LASU Blazers in Lagos.

The Giants defeated the Blazers 2-0 in Ife in the first leg of the semi-finals and will face UAM Tillers in the HiFL 2019 semifinals.

In Ilorin, UNIBEN Royals advanced to the semi-finals despite losing 1-2 to 2018

fourth placed team, UNILORIN Warriors.

The Royals met with tough opposition in Ilorin as the warriors gave their all to make it to Lagos a second time but to no avail.

Muhammed Ahmad scored twice to boost the Warriors’ hope but his effort was cancelled out by 2019 season leading marksman Prosper Edewhor who got on the scorer-sheet in 22nd minute for the timid Royals.

UNIBEN Royals will now play ESUT Explorers who qualified over last season’s runners up

UNICAL Malabites in Enugu.

The 2019 first leg Semifinal fixture is scheduled for the 25th of September, with the return leg ties billed for October 9th.

The league is organised by PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

The league is sponsored by Stanbic IBTC, Indomie Nigeria and Premier Cool. The top 32 Universities from NUGAmember institutions will play over a period of 21 weeks, with the final four billed for the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

Friday September 13, 2019

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MISSILE

PDP to Tribunal “Indeed, the pervading melancholic atmosphere across our nation since the verdict is a direct indication that the judgment has not fulfilled the desires and expectations of Nigerians” – The PDP rejecting the judgment of the tribunal on the petition filed by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Buhari.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Emergence of Two Nigerias T

he consensus opinion that has emerged is the tremendous capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari to foster and deepen political dichotomies and divisions. Political science scholars and students would find the trend particularly amenable to classification.

A classificatory template has emerged that can near perfectly predict the governance and political behaviour of the President. On account of its large scale ethno regional diversities, Nigeria is prone to divisions and dichotomieswhich prompted the reasoned constitutional prescription of federalism as foundational principle of association. Federalism is the constitutional structural model that holds out the promise of achieving unity amidst diversity in which our pluralism can be harnessed as strength and not distorted into weakness and dysfunction. Democracy is the worst form of government but no better alternative has been found is the analogy of the utility of federalism for Nigeria. And in our empirical experience, the termination of federalism in 1966 has amounted to the medical status of terminal disease prognosis for Nigeria.

Perhaps the cure for the ills of federalism in Nigeria is more not less federalism in the manner that it is argued that the cure for the ills of democracy is more not less of democracy.

Perhaps Nigeria would have fared best as a confederation but many of us have grown fond of the numerous lifetime social and political bonds we have forged across the cleavages of region, ethno nationalism and religion, not to keep working and wishing for a political union stronger than loose federalism. I believe myself to belong in this category of Pan Nigerians.

But there is pretty little the rest of us can do in the face of determined efforts by political leaders, often in humiliating and degrading manner, to cut our dichotomies deeper and ceaselessly rub insult into our injuries. In this respect, President Buhari is in a class all his own and has instigated and aggravated, in style and in substance, all manners of schisms and dichotomies. Let me begin with some contemporaneous perspectives on his capacity to invent and foster those divisions.

“Muhammadu Buhari appears to be breaking records in the depths and severity of his divorce from quotidian reality. He seems to inhabit a universe that is completely disconnected from everyday Nigeria. In his parallel universe, he has transformed Nigeria into a Nirvana where there is a superfluity of the best imaginable nourishment for everyone and where life is pleasant, pleasurable, and perfect. In his speech at the inauguration of his ministers on August 19, Buhari said he had “secured” the country, “improved the economy” and “fought corruption” to a standstill, adding “none but the most partisan will dispute that we have made headway in all three areas. Only a person who is unmoored to reality, who is dissociated from the real world would even joke that Nigeria is secure, that the country’s economy is improved, and that corruption is being fought”.

“The objective of the Islamists (political Islam) is to supplant the constitution of Nigeria with Sharia ideology as the source of legislation in the nation. The conflict between democracy as national ideology and Sharia as a usurping ideology is responsible for the crisis unfolding

Buhari in Nigeria. The nation is in the throes of Jihad.

National unity must not be sacrificed on the altar of sectarian interests and biases” Perhaps, the most consequential utility of the Presidency of General Muhammadu Buhari is the clarity he has brought to the choice before Nigerians. The only other Nigerian leader to have succeeded in tabling the choice in such a stark black and white manner was General Sani Abacha- they take no prisoners. In hindsight, the barely concealed admiration of the Buhari for Abacha increasingly makes sense. In the case of the latter, his zero sum dispositions towards power can even be extenuated by the totalitarian context of military dictatorship which by definition is an imposition that brooks no dissent and contention. Characteristic of such dictatorship, he neither sought nor received the consent of Nigerians in the choice and prosecution of his political agenda. It was his way or the highway. You may not like it but he did clarify and simplified the choice. It was up to those who will bear the brunt of his repressive zero sum offer to take him up on his balance of terror terms. As President Barack Obama rightly remarked, ‘I face the world as it is, a non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda’s leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism – it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.’

With Buhari all the fundamental assumptions governing the socio political stability and cohesion of Nigeria are becoming a mockery and obeyed in breach rather than observance.

Under his dispensation Nigeria has been treated

to a rude awakening on how democracy and other socio-political models are prone to being subverted and diverted to serve purposes in breach of the cause they were contemplated to serve. What, for instance, was the rationale for the introduction of the federal character and geopolitical balance principle? Was it not to equitably accommodate a section of the country that would otherwise be disadvantaged by the conventional standard of educational merit criteria? Now the champion of the specific beneficiary constituency rationalises discrimination and exclusion by substituting federal character and geopolitical balance caveat with winner takes all, take it or leave it disdain.

Extrapolating from the shortcomings of the first republic, the philosophy behind the switch from the Parliamentary Westminster model to the Presidential system was to legislate and inspire a Pan Nigeria mandate and vision for potential Presidents of Nigeria. The architects and framers of the 1979 Constitution especially in the aspect of the Presidential model would thus have been confounded to see how nationally skewed and lopsided was the result of the election in which the President was recently elected. It contradicts the intended symbol and role of the President as the preeminent facilitator of national unity and integration.

More confounding still would they find his prevailing definition and understanding of the electoral mandate as one in which those who gave three percent voter support should not be expected to be treated with the same generosity as those who gave ninety seven percent.

As the Buhari momentum gathers pacewith the unveiling of his new cabinet whose significance resides in the cynical disdain for standards and equity, the trend that is gradually emerging can be captured as the metaphor of two Nigerias. It is an illustration of how Nigerians are becoming mutually incomprehensible in their conflicting apprehension and perception of what the President has done and is doing to Nigeria.

Conventionally and functionally it should have been but this division of course has nothing to do with the make believe division between the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the trivia of Nigeria’s political party system.

These tweedledum and tweedledee Parties are little more than Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) cobbled together for contesting elections.

The metaphorical division we identify refers to the division on fundamental priorities and notion of Nigerian nationhood. It is a division

As the Buhari momentum gathers pace-with the unveiling of his new cabinet whose significance resides in the cynical disdain for standards and equity, the trend that is gradually emerging can be captured as the metaphor of two Nigerias. It is an illustration of how Nigerians are becoming mutually incomprehensible in their conflicting apprehension and perception of what the President has done and is doing to Nigeria

between emphasis on governance delivery and a divergent emphasis on power politics. It is a division between crude hegemony politics and opposing vision of egalitarian Nigeria.

The latest case study of the inequitable, noninclusive and discriminatory trademark bordered on the recent composition and distribution of cabinet portfolios. In comparison to his first term in office, the composition, this time around, has turned out a scriptural figure of speech-from those who do not have, more will be taken and to those who have, more will be added. On account of the loaded triple heritage portfolio of Babatunde Fashola and the key finance portfolio of Kemi Adeosun, the trumpeted power sharing presumption was that the South-west was thus the locus of economic power within the Buhari cabinet.

How the two functionaries have fared within the context of their ministerial odyssey is quite illustrative of the metaphor of two Nigerias-the division between emphasis on governance delivery and a divergent emphasis on power politics. In this instance the two Nigerias consist of those rooting for appropriate administrative sanction against Adeosun for her conspicuous misdemeanor on one hand; and those who saw in her plight and consequent exit an opportunity for power grab and aggrandisement on another. As it transpired, the President craftily utilised the opportunity to double down on his fabled nepotism. Hence, the junior minister in the allied Ministry of Budget and Planning was promptly assigned to fill the Adeosun vacuum (and has conveniently retained the Finance portfolio in the new cabinet). Was this course of action a superior logic to the option of promoting the substantive budget and planning minister, Udo Udoma to fill the vacuum left by Adeosun? Not if you are mindful that Udoma is Ibibio from Akwa Ibom State and his subordinate minister is Fulani from Kaduna State.

Bundling the three large Ministries of Power, Works and Housing in an unwieldy infrastructure holding trust never made a lot of sense in the first place and predictably ended up a whooper. This is a common assessment but in making amends, the priority of the two Nigerias again diverge, conforming, as before, with division between emphasis on governance delivery and a divergent emphasis on power politics. One was looking at the unbundling of the clumsy ministerial conglomerate from the standpoint of efficient and effective governance delivery while the other was waiting in the wings to harvest another layer of power and patronage. Is it a coincidence that as in the case of the finance ministry displacement the inheritor of the power portfolio is of the same favoured Buhari constituency? What is the compelling pedigree and competence of the new Minister of Power?

How would it look, for instance, were Obasanjo to replicate what Buhari did with the distribution of cabinet portfolios- in other words, to allocate the following substantive portfolios to the South-west (1) Petroleum, Katsina (2) Water Resources, Jigawa (3) Defence, Kano (4) Agriculture, Kano (5) Aviation, Katsina (6) Finance, Kaduna (7) Environment, Kaduna (8) Humanitarian Affairs, Zamfara (9) Police Affairs, Sokoto (10) Justice, Kebbi.

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