30.03.18
No. 255
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
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N250
NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER
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BOTSWANA REPS PROBE N2BN PRESIDENT STEPS UNREMITTED PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF PHCN ASSETS DOWN AFTER 10 YEARS ➔ PAGE 12
OPEC DAILY CRUDE OIL PRICE
NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (AS AT MARCH 29) STATES
DOLLAR
POUNDS
EURO
INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET
INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET
ABUJA
305.55
362 404.12
507 361.46
443
LAGOS
305.55
362 404.12
507 361.46
444
KANO
305.55
362 404.12
507 361.46
444
P/HARCOURT
305.55
362 404.12
504 361.46
444
“We have just come out of one of the worst downturns in the history of oil. As we collectively endeavor to move forward, it is very appropriate to step back, take stock and draw lessons from this difficult chapter.” Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, OPEC Secretary General, at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, Abuja, Nigeria 28/03/2018
US$66.05
27/03/2018
US$66.80
➔ PAGE 18
Nigeria To Generate $561bn From Lekki Deep Seaport 19
Again, Osinbajo Knocks PDP Says we won’t stop talking about corruption under Jonathan Tinubu urges Nigerians to disregard PDP’s apology Stop playing God, opposition party tells APC leader
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EASTER: Dark Days Of Election Rigging Over – PMB
As police beef up security in churches, playgrounds BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja
L-R: Managing Director, Aiteo Downstream, Ewarezi Use; Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan; Senator Abu Ibrahim; group managing director, Aiteo Eastern E& P Co Ltd, Dr Chike Onyejekwe; the celebrant, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Senator Fatai Buhari; Aiteo group director, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal; chief of staff to Aiteo Group CEO, Mr Haffner Onochie; managing director, Nembe Creek Trunk Line, Mr Tunde Akinpelu and senior manager, Corporate Communications, Aiteo Group, Ndiana Matthew, at the 10th Colloquium to mark Tinubu’s 66th birthday, at Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, yesterday.
ACF Dissociates Self From Northern Groups’ Summit Communiqué 10
President Muhammadu Buhari declared yesterday that the dark days of elections being manipulated and rigged by corrupt politicians and their agents in Nigeria are over. In his Easter message to Nigerians, ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Security Chiefs Uncover Plan To Disrupt 2019 Elections 8
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n Christendom, Good Friday is marked as the day Our Lord Jesus Christ paid the supreme price on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of mankind. It is observed during Holy or Passion Week and as part of the Paschal Triduum, a threeday intense spiritual procedure that reaches its climax on Easter Sunday with the resurrection. Members of many Christian denominations, including the Anglican, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox and Reformed traditions, observe Good Friday with fasting and church services. According to the accounts in the Gospels, the royal soldiers, guided by Jesus’ disciple, Judas Iscariot, arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas received money (30 pieces of silver) for betraying Jesus and told the guards that whomever he kisses is the one they are to arrest. Following his arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of Annas, the father-inlaw of the high priest, Caiaphas. There he was interrogated with little result and sent, bound, to Caiaphas the high priest where the Sanhedrin had assembled. Conflicting testimony against Jesus was brought forth by many witnesses, to which Jesus answered nothing. Finally, Finally the high priest adjured Jesus to respond under solemn oath, “I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?” Jesus testified ambiguously, “You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven.” Following this the high priest adjured Jesus to respond under solemn oath, “I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?” Jesus testified ambiguously, “You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven.” Following this the high priest condemned him for
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Today Is Good Friday blasphemy, and the Sanhedrin concurred with a sentence of death. But because by Roman law the Jews were not to carry out a sentence of death, He was taken to Pilate and then to King Herod and back to Pilate who told the assembly that neither he nor Herod found Jesus to be guilty. But yielding to Jewish pressure and blackmail, he had Jesus crucified.
Jesus agonized on the cross for six hours. During those hours, from noon to 3 pm, darkness fell over the whole land and with a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in his own new tomb that had been carved in the rock in a garden near the site of crucifixion. On the third
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LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital. We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed. We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being:
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day, which is now known as Easter Sunday (or Pascha), Jesus rose from the dead. Because the sacrifice of Jesus through his crucifixion is commemorated on this day, the Divine Liturgy (the sacrifice of bread and wine) is never celebrated on Good Friday, except when this day coincides with the Great Feast of the Annunciation, which falls on the fixed date of 25 March. The faithful revisit the events of the day through public reading of specific Psalms and the Gospels, and singing hymns about Christ’s death. Rich visual imagery and symbolism as well as stirring hymnody are remarkable elements of these observances. Each hour of this day is the new suffering and the new effort of the expiatory suffering of the Saviour. And the echo of this suffering is already heard in every word of worship service – unique and incomparable both in the power of tenderness and feeling and in the depth of the boundless compassion for the suffering of the Saviour. The Holy Church opens before the eyes of believers” a full picture of the redeeming suffering of the Lord beginning with the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane up to the crucifixion on Golgotha. Taking the congregation back through the past centuries in thought, the Holy Church brings all to the foot of the cross of Christ erected on Golgotha, and makes them present among the quivering spectators of all the torture of the Saviour. Many people in different countries celebrate the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. This is an observance that involves people fasting and praying. Many church services are held in the afternoon, usually around noon or midday to 3pm, to remember the hours when Jesus hung on the cross. Many churches also observe the day by re-enacting the procession of the cross as in the ritual of the Stations of the Cross, which depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life.
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Arms Mop-up: Police Recover 4,200 Illegal Firearms In 7 States BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City and ADEBAYO WAEED, Ibadan
Reports from the police in Enugu, Benin, Gombe, Katsina, Oyo, Osun and Ogun states show that the police have recovered 4,200 Illegal firearms as part of the mop-up operations ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Edo State Police Command said it has recovered 120 assorted firearms during a mop-up exercise that lasted one month. It said five suspects were arrested during the exercise. Firearms recovered include nine AK47 rifles, one K2 rifle, one Beretta rifle, one TO6 rifle, 15 pump action guns, seven single barrel guns,
two double barrel guns, two cut to size guns, two English pistols, 23 locally made single barrel guns, 12 locally made single barrel pistols, six locally made double barrel guns, 38 Dane guns, 150 love cartridges and one G-3 rifle. State Commissioner of Police, BabatundeKokumo, who presented the recovered weapons to newsmen at the police headquarters said the decision to mop-up firearms was in line with directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Meanwhile, the Police Command in Gombe State, yesterday, said it had recovered 25 firearms from individuals in the state. According to Mr ShinaOlukolu, the recovery is in compliance with the or-
We Recovered 3,445 Arms, Ammunition From Criminals — Ogun Police The Ogun State Police Command says it has recovered 3,445 arms and ammunitions from criminals in the state through the mop-up operations directed by the Force Headquarters across the states. The command said it also arrested and paraded 34 suspects for various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and fraud among others. The commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu, accompanied by head of Force Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Adams Uba, and other police officers at Eleweran Police Headquarters, Abeokuta, said the operations were carried out in compliance with the directive of the InspectorGeneral of Police. “It was a common knowledge that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris recently directed that arms and ammunition illegally possessed by every individual be mopped up in or-
der to reduce to barest minimum if not totally eradicate the incessant attacks by those who are not authorised to be armed as well as criminal gangs,” MrIlyasu said. He added that the recoveries were made within the period of three weeks period given to police commands across the country, adding that majority of the recovered arms and ammunitions were seized from criminals. “Some law abiding citizens have complied with the order, while some of the arms and ammunition paraded here today were seized or recovered from criminal gangs ranging from armed robbers, kidnappers, cultistsetc,” he added. The official said the recovered weapons include: 24 AK47 assault rifles, 66 pump action guns, 1088 single and double barrel guns, 1025 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 1,241 rounds of live cartridges.
der by the Inspector-General of Police directing all formations to mop-up illegal arms nationwide. Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command yesterday disclosed that it has mopped up arms and ammunition totalling 178 and 840 respectively in tandem with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris. The state commissioner of Police, AbiodunOdude, while displaying the prohibited items at the state police headquarters noted that the IGP had directed that all Nigerians in possession of firearms should give it to the police. According to him, some of the prohibited items were seized from bandits, while others were surrendered by some people who were not licensed to carry arms. “In total compliance with that directive therefore, the Oyo State Police
Command embarked on aggressive mop-up and recovery of the aforesaid arms including ammunition. “The exercise, though ongoing, has been very successful as a cache of such arms and ammunition was recovered from different parts of the state within a short period. Some of the arms were recovered during a mop-up exercise while others were recovered from armed bandits,” he said. Giving the breakdown, he added that arms recovered during mopup exercise were 29; arms recovered from armed bandits were 149; while total ammunition were 709. He gave the total number of arms as 178 and ammunition as 840. The CP also hinted that five more suspects had been arrested in connection with kidnapping and armed robbery in Igbeti, Igboho and other parts of OkeOgun area of the state.
FG Set To Pay Nigeria Airways Pensioners N45bn BY EJIKEEJIKE, Abuja
The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. HadiSirika said the federal government is set to pay the N45billion entitlements of ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited. Sirika explained that the government had already earmarked the funds and that the delay in payment is because the Senate is yet to approve it and urged the former staff to be patient, as the Senate has promised to approve it after the Easter break. Speaking at the 4th Aviation Stakeholders Forum yesterday in Abuja, the minister said the payment would be done within two weeks after the Senate approves it. Addressing the participants, the minister said: “Because of the law and because we did everything transparently and in accordance
with the law, we put out a request to the National Assembly to allow us to pay them. “It has passed the House of Representatives but it is remaining the Senate. The Senate promised to pass it when they come back from Easter and once they pass it, we will pay. “Nigeria Airways, we will pay you and we thank you for your patience.” Recall that labour unions in the aviation industry had threatened to ground flight operations all over the country to draw government’s attention to the plight of ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited. The unions gave the federal government 14 days ultimatum which began on March 19, for it to make the payment or they would down tools.
L-R: Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; President Muhammadu Buhari; the celebrant, national leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and his wife , Dolapo during the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium to mark his 66th brthday celebration, held in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.
Police Advice Borno GovtTo Merge Schools For Effective Control Nigeria Police yesterday, advised the Borno State government to merge some schools in remote locations to enhance the security of the students. The police commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, gave the advice at a monthly police officers meeting in Maiduguri. Chukwu said that the measure was imperative in view of the ongoing military operations in parts of the state. He also told the meeting that police had deployed 3,000 personnel to protect both teachers and students in public schools. The commissioner said that police personnel were deployed in compliance with the presidential directive to secure schools in the state. According to him, the command has adopted proactive security measures to ensure the protection of the students both within and outside the schools. “The policemen were deployed to cluster areas with high concentration of schools. “The deployment was done despite the command’s operational challenges. “The deployment is to ensure that the schools are adequately protected against any threat. “Effective measures have been put in place, in all nook and crannies of the state, to ensure the protection of students while on their way to schools and way back home,’’ he said.
Passage Of PIGB: CISLAC Commends NASS,Urges Prompt Assent The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has commended the National Assembly on the recent passage of the long awaited Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIGB). This follows the passage by both chambers of the harmonised version on Wednesday March 28, 2018. A statement signed by the group recalls that following the separate passage of the Bill by the two chambers, CISLAC and her partners have been engaging the relevant committees to conclude the harmonisation process and have it ready for presidential assent in good time. “We note that a commitment to do this by the end of March was made by the NASS and are therefore delighted that the timeline has been met and our legislators have kept their word”, it said. The organisationobserved that the passage of the PIB was one of the campaign promises of the present administration to be delivered within the first one year in office. A statement signed and made available to LEADERSHIP Friday by the executive director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said, it is, however better late than never.
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Again, Osinbajo Knocks PDP BY GEORGE OKOJIE, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU, Lagos AND CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday took another swipe at the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), saying no matter the antics of the opposition party, he will continue to talk about the monumental corruption that took place under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Speaking at the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos to mark the 66th birthday of the former Lagos State governor, Osinbajo noted that the Buhari administration is resolute about changing Nigeria’s narrative as a country where corruption is committed with impunity. This is the second time the VP is knocking the major opposition party over corruption in recent time, the first time being when he revealed that Nigeria under the previous administration led By PDP lost a whopping $3 billion to strategic oil alliance partnership arranged by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). At the Tinubu Colloquium yesterday, Osinbajo described corruption as an existential problem for Nigeria, just as he regretted that the corruption of the previous five years destroyed the country’s economy. He said, “As for our fight against corruption, we realised as Mr. President said that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. Corruption is an existential problem for Nigeria. Let me pause here to reiterate that from what I have seen in government in the past few years, the corruption of the previous five years destroyed the economy. “Every time we talk about corruption, our opponent say, ‘don’t talk about it; just do your own, don’t talk about it’. The Yorubas have an adage that ‘when the conversation comes to a matter of tales, the frog will say let us skip that, don’t talk about it’. We will talk about it. The reason we will talk about it is that we must let our people know we cannot afford to go this way again. “Never again should we allow this system where people take the resources of this country and steal the resources of this country, use the resources against the people and at the same time, they want to continue in rulership. The second is that we, as a party and as your government, must show the difference between us and the previous government that impoverished the nation. Osinbajo continued: “Let me give you an example. In 2014, when oil was $100 and $114, the actual releases of capital for three ministries - power, works and housing- when they were three separate ministries in total was N99 million, transportation N14 million and agriculture N15 million. “Compare that to the actual releases to the same ministries in 2017 when oil prices were between $50 and $60 a barrel, it was N450 billion, N80 billion for transportation, N65 billion for agriculture, totaling N560 billion, in a time where we are earning at least 50 per cent less than we were earning before. “What is the reason why this is possible? It is possible because if you do not steal the resources of the people, you can spend it
Osinbajo
on projects that concern the people. It is as simple as that”. The VP explained that when it began its journey in 2014, the APC was determined to change the dominant narrative about the country. His words: “We were determined to ensure we change that narrative and the notion of a country rich in natural resources and even richer in human capital but being destroyed daily by grand corruption and the impunity of the looting of public resources. “We saw a nation where a few in office had so privatised the commonwealth that when oil prices were at their highest and we were getting growth figures as high as 70 per cent, majority of the people remained extremely poor. “In one of our campaign trips in Zamfara State, Mr President said, look at the eyes of these people; of course, he saw the poverty and desperation in their eyes. He, Buhari said, they expect us to fix their poverty as soon as we get into office. “For the president on the campaign trail, he emphasised three things: security, the economy and by economy here, in particular, the welfare of the people and corruption. To address the question of the welfare of the people, we realised that if we waited for the economy to pick up and then provide Jobs for the people, especially young people, many would have given up hope, many people would have ended up in all manner of illegal activities”. Osinbajo further said, “So, we decided on two things: one, to invest heavily in agriculture to create jobs in the hinterland, provide enough food locally and for all in the urban areas and I’m sure with our agriculture programme, many will agree it is already a success. “In fact, Mr President told a story of his own village where people used to lease out farms but now nobody is leasing out their farms anymore. Everybody is on his own farms. The most interesting part of that story is that not only are more people now going to Hajj, they are now marrying more wives.” The vice president stated that in other
to give the people hope, the Buhari administration decided to embark on what he called “a bodacious social investment programme to the tune of N500 billion”, which he said is the largest pro-poor programme in the history of the country and the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. “This was despite the fact in 2015 oil prices fell by 50 per cent and also our production fell from over 200 million barrels per day to less than 700,000 barrels per day, sometimes even 500,000 barrels”, he added. Still on the corruption under the Jonathan administration, Osinbajo said, “Nigeria is not like any other country because of the corruption that was perpetrated. We must stop that corruption and that is why we are so committed and that is why when you fight corruption the way we are fighting corruption, corruption is going to fight back. “The fight back is taking place everywhere, it is taking place on social media, but we are determined. When you listen to the stories of these young people, vulnerable people, disabled, these are the people for whom we are responsible. These are the people who voted for us. We must ensure that we effect their rights. “It is for the rights of these people that we will put everything out to make sure that those who had taken the resources of these people are made to pay for it.” Osinbajo expressed pride that he was able to garner incredible experience in public service under the tutelage of Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State. He revealed that the foundation of the development Lagos is witnessing now was laid during that period, particularly alluding to the Land Use Charge concept initiated by the Tinubu administration.
Tinubu Urges Nigerians To Disregard PDP’s Apology On his part, the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged Nigerians to reject PDP’s recent apology for failing them in the 16 years it was in power. Tinubu, who also spoke at the 10th Colloquium to mark his 66th birthday in Lagos, yesterday, said the rip-off and other atrocities perpetrated by the party while in power cannot be easily forgiven by the people. He urged Nigerians to be wary of the antics of the PDP and ensure that the party does not return to power. Thanking Nigerians for their patience with the present administration, Tinubu said; “I am happy that President Buhari has saved the ship from wreckage. We are re-directing Nigeria. We have a nation to rescue and thank God we have a good leader to emulate.’ “It is not an easy task at all. Dear Nigerians, do not take their apology. They lied. They falsified. They even changed figures. For 16 years, they made fake promises and gave us fake figures. And they said we should not talk about it. “It is like saying after all they did wrong, do not look at me; just steal your own. We have a nation to rescue. We have hope to
Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.
― Egyptian Proverb
build in Nigeria. We have the lead. We have the people to invest in”. Tinubu also admitted that for the APC, life is full of challenges and that such challenges make life pleasant. His words: “Life is not without challenges. As a political party, we showed everyone our logo like money and sugar. Our logo with a united Nigeria, we focused against terrorism, corruption and promoted economic revival of the country and investing in people. I have an already prepared speech but I just have to abandon it considering what I have seen here. “I can see what the government is doing with so little resources. But the idea and the fact that they are doing it with beneficiaries and the fact that it is demonstrated in practical terms is what we need to get our country from the hook of corrupt officers”. Tinubu lambasted the PDP for saying that the APC government should not talk about the corruption under the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, saying that the APC would continue to talk about it. He continued: “They even said that we should not talk about it. But seriously, what should we then talk about. After we came into office, we discovered the looting and thievery. And after assuming office, we should then join you in the act? We would encourage such act? We are not talking about the need of Nigerians. Then what is the most interesting thing to Nigerians? “Please, forget those opposition parties; they will not come back to power. There is no nation that is not facing challenges; even America is facing its own. Then who are we? How many years of democracy have we practiced? We didn’t say that Nigerians will not enjoy. But we have to report back to the millions of Nigerians that elected us into office that this is what we found when we assumed office.And that we will not take it off our mind no matter how twisting the mind of PDP and their supporters may be. “We will continue to talk about it because you wasted our resources and didn’t do what you promised Nigerians when you were in office. The market gave you the maximum and production was also at maximum”. He also took a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo for writing what ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
MAGNESIUM, ‘NATURE’S TRANQUILISER’ Magnesium is an essential nutrient which helps the body function well, particularly when it comes to sleep. A lack of this mineral has been linked to early waking. Magnesium helps you to relax, calming the mind and the body, and can alleviate night cramps. Recommended daily intakes of magnesium are 270g for men and 300g for women, all of which you can get from a balanced diet. Magnesium-rich foods include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, nuts, beans, herbs and oats. Eat plenty and reap the benefits.
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EASTER: Dark Days Of Election Rigging Over – PMB ➔ FROM COVER
President Buhari also appealed to politicians to resist any act that is capable of jeopardising the electoral process. He said, “As we approach the period of campaigns, I appeal to our political actors and other stakeholders to resist any act that could mar the integrity of our electoral process. “I am optimistic that with God on our side, the dark days of Nigeria’s elections being manipulated by violence and rigging by corrupt politicians and their agents are over. “They are confined to the dustbin of history where they rightly belong. I remain committed to bequeathing a legacy of supremacy of the people’s will through the ballot box”. The president also commended those who recognise and support government’s unwavering efforts to prevent the spread of conflicts in the country, “check wanton criminality and the taking of innocent lives; unite the country; and steer the ship of state to a steady path of economic growth, job creation and development”. Enjoining law-abiding fellow compatriots to work for peace and social justice in Nigeria, President Buhari warned that his administration’s resolve to firmly resist others who may want to make cheap political capital out of current national security challenges should be taken for granted. The president also noted that his
administration’s programmes and policies in the last three years had resulted in bringing down the prices of staple crops, “gradual improvement of road, rail and electricity infrastructure; and making Nigeria the preferred destination for investors”. More than ever before, Buhari said the federal government is ready to consolidate on these gains and ensure that they improve the lot of communities in the years ahead. “Thankfully, our Dapchi schoolgirls who were safely released recently after 30 agonizing days in the hands of their abductors, have been reunited with their families,” he said. He expressed optimistism that all others, including the Chibok girls who are still in captivity will be safely released unconditionally to their families, even as he urged Nigerians to continue to pray for their safe return. He added: “In the meantime, I have given clear instructions to our security agencies to prioritise safety in schools in areas where the humanitarian and security situation are still dire, in addition to ensuring adequate protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). While joining Christian faithful to commemorate this year’s Easter celebration, Buhari thanked the Almighty God for granting Nigerians the opportunity to celebrate another Easter at a time of great promise and hope for the nation, despite the challenges it faces.
Buhari observed that Easter, the season in which Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, represents the triumph of good over evil and life over death, adding that it is also a time to show love, forgiveness, compassion and renewed hope in the Grace of God. He pointed out that the Holy Scripture affirms that happiness and fulfillment in life do not flow from acquiring the best things in life, but in being richer in a relationship with God and fellow human beings. He stated: “Let us use the opportunity of this special season to deeply reflect on how every one of us can imbibe the profound teachings of Jesus Christ with renewed vigour. “In so doing and by placing the joy, comfort and happiness of others above ours, we will make a statement that vices such as, hate speech, bigotry, corruption, banditry and terrorism have no place in our nation. “ We must do all it takes to love our neighbours and display increased spirit of tolerance and accommodation. “May this year’s Easter celebration bring us renewed hope and confidence as a great nation”.
Let’s Emulate Virtues Of Christ, Saraki Urges Nigerians
On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday called on Christians and Nigerians across the
nation to work towards emulating the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomised by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection during Easter. In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki also stated that all Nigerians must remain constant in their efforts to promote unity across all lines. He noted that it is imperative for all Nigerians to come together in order to build a country that both present and future generations can take pride in just like the work of Christ which has endured for over 2000 years and has continued to inspire generations. Saraki stated: “This weekend, we join our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across the world to celebrate the Easter festivities. This commemoration is a time for deep reflection as it marks the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. It is a time to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need. “It is also a time for all of us — regardless of faith, or ethnicity — to come together to pray for the peace of our nation. We must all remain constant in our efforts to promote unity — across all lines — because united, our nation remains stronger and we thrive as a people. “As we do this, we must all collectively work towards playing our part in the development of our nation and its economy,” he said.
Again, Osinbajo Knocks PDP ➔ FROM PAGE 6
he called political letter to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him not to contest for the 2019 presidential election. He said Obasanjo wrote the letter as if he had never been in that terrain before, as the letter was merely political and should be discarded. On his part, President Buhari joined other prominent Nigerians at the occasion to shower encomiums on the APC national leader as he clocked 66 years. Buhari described Tinubu as a political patriot who has over the years invested in building people and creating future leaders. Speaking at the colloquium attended by the crème de la crème in the country, Buhari said, “I call on Nigerians to join me to celebrate Asiwaju, a man who is widely known as a political strategist. I have come to see him as a man who cares about people and is a fountain of ideas for the economy and for the common man and woman. He is a true democrat and we appreciate his contribution for Nigeria’s capital progress. “Asiwaju has invested in people because he believes that tomorrow will be better than today and good will one day triumph over evil.” Dwelling on the concept of the Colloquium
and its theme, ‘Investing In People’, the president said the federal government over the last two years had initiated programmes and policies that have made direct impact on the people, adding that the nation can only grow when government invests in its people.
Stop Playing God, Opposition Party Tells APC Leader But in a swift reaction, the PDP yesterday cautioned the APC national leader, Tinubu, to stop playing god as Nigerians have the faculty and freedom to determine the leadership that best suit their desires without anybody’s control. The party also advised Tinubu not to allow himself to be used a second time as he still bears a gross part of the blame for the enthronement of the incompetent, divisive, nepotic and inherently corrupt administration of President Buhari, which has brought the nation to its knees in three years. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, while responding to Tinubu’s speech at his 10th colloquium, said the comments of the APC chieftain ended up amplifying an admittance of the failure of
President Buhari and the APC administration rather than being a damage of the PDP. The opposition party said without listening to the prompting of any politician, Nigerians across board have taken the liberty to accept PDP’s apology, which was made patriotically in the overall interest of national healing, reconciliation, unity and cohesion. He stated: “The PDP watched with amusement as Asiwaju Tinubu struggled with words to appease President Buhari and give him assurances that he can win a second term election in the face of mass failure both in governance and in their discredited, rejected and troubled platform. “It was a direct admittance of failure and indictment on President Buhari’s administration, when Asiwaju pointedly told the President that the ship of the nation, under his (Buhari’s) watch, still needs to be rescued, almost three years down the line. “It is tragic that Asiwaju had to tutor his visitor, who had no policy direction since his election in 2015, by engaging in a revision of the programmes and policies of the PDP, such as the leasing system, the mortgage and pension schemes which boosted the economy and directly impacted on the lives of Nigerians. “More pathetic is the fact that the APC
Between two stools one goes (falls) to the ground.
― Egyptian Proverb
leader presented the PDP programmes as if he was introducing novel ideas in the economy. This clearly stood with our position that the APC government is incompetent and lacking in ideas of how to move the nation forward. “While we congratulate the Lagos Governor Emeritus on his birthday, the PDP considers it needful, to forewarn him to study the current ambience of Nigerian politics as it relates to the failures of the Buhari Presidency and the fact that the citizens have since rejected this Presidency and the APC, so that Asiwaju will not find himself swimming against the tide.” The PDP also admonished Vice President Osinbajo to stop diminishing his office and person by joining in the bandying of unverified figures and making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against the PDP. It said, “The PDP challenged the vice president to name any corrupt individual in the rebranded and repositioned PDP or show any proof that the PDP, as a party, had ever been charged, indicted or convicted of any act of corruption. “The party noted that this would be a final caution to the vice president, who it also advised not to allow himself to be used by the APC as a puppet to peddle lies, falsehood and propaganda to Nigerians.”
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March 30, 2018
2019: INEC To Sanction Erring Political Parties, Election Defaulters BY NAN
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will sanction any political party, individual or corporate organisation that commits electoral offence during the 2019 general elections. Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, said this at a sensitisation meeting of stakeholders with Imo INEC management on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) held in Mbaitoli and Owerri North local government areas. Ezeonu said Section 94 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulated guidelines for the conduct of primaries, electoral campaigns by political parties and behaviours of party faithful and stakeholders during elections. He added that the same Electoral Act frowned at imposition of candidates, use of masquerades and any form of weapon, hate speeches, as well as campaigning in Churches, Mosques and public offices. “We will monitor political parties to avoid anarchy. If after primaries anyone is denied his/her position, INEC will not be party to it and will intervene. It will also sanction defaulting party. “The guideline is also against the use of thugs, private militia and vanguards on campaign grounds.” The REC said the commission would use Resident Area Camp (RAC) to ensure that election materias were deployed to polling units on time. He urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission by creating an enabling environment to deploy the RACs, as well as provide security at RAC areas so that INEC’s property would not be vandalised. The Electoral Officer (EO) in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Mrs Ngozi Odilinye, said the forum was special as it offered political parties, town unions, women and youth leaders, and other stakeholders opportunity to interact with one another and with INEC management in Imo. She said the local government area registered 122,555 voters during the 2014/2015 registration, adding that till date, 22,333 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected. Odilinye noted that the commission had since April 2017, embarked on nationwide CVR, including the correction of wrong particulars of voters, reprinting of omitted voter cards, lost and defaced cards and processing of voters’ data for inter and intra state transfer. Former Chairman of Federal Electoral Panel, Chief Donatus Agogbuo, said money politics was no longer in vogue and urged INEC to ensure the implementation of its promises to restore sanity to the electoral system. The electoral stakeholders had complained of registration of more parties by the commission and the siting of INEC offices in local councils. They appealed to INEC to ensure credible election that would help in restoring sanity in Nigeria as it relates to election. Eze Samuel Ohiri, a traditional ruler in Mbaitoli and Chairman, Imo Traditional Rulers, commended INEC for the sensitisation, saying it was the first of its kind in the history of Imo. He, however, expressed regret that there was high level of voter apathy in Imo, especially among youths, stressing the need for positive change of attitude.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (right) exchanging pleasantries with former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left), as the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi looks on, at the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, held to mark the 66th years birthday of Tinubu in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGUN STATE GOVT
Security Chiefs Uncover Plan To Disrupt 2019 Elections BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, Abuja
Security and intelligence chieftains in the country have expressed worry that there are groups in the country with evil designs to disrupt the processes leading to the 2019 general elections in the hope of creating a stalemate. The security chiefs spoke at an interactive meeting with owners and decision makers in the media industry at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday. Present at the meeting include the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Garba Shehu, they warned the media against the activities of some unregistered groups that have lately been active in trying to undermine critical institutions such the law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Also, in the midst of the debate over the right to freedom of expression and the government’s efforts to ensure that the cyber space and the mass media generally do not become a playground for terrorism and destabilization, the security agencies in the country have given assurances that they would maintain a balance between openness and national security. They, however, called on the nation’s media owners and practitioners to walk the fine bal-
ance between openness on one hand and national security on the other hand. They also gave assurances that the security situation in the country was within the control of the government and that this can be helped where the media reduced sensation from their daily coverage. According the security chiefs’ assessment, “our state of national security is not as bad as it is painted by the media.” In seeking the support from the media towards the achievement of security for everyone, the heads of the agencies emphasised that sharing and coordination among security agencies and the media is essential to counter the ever-changing threats faced by the nation. The security heads also called for closer co-
N3.2bn Fraud: EFCC To Close Case Against Former Abia Gov BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos
The counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos of his intention to close the commission’s case in the trial of a former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and two others over alleged fraud. According to Jacobs, however, he will like to carry out a thorough examination of everything that has been done by the prosecution to prove its case against the accused persons before closing his case. He said: “My Lord, I ought to have closed my
case today but I want to plead that the court give me a day to look into all that we have presented so far in proving our case against the defendants before doing so.” The EFCC is prosecuting Kalu, his erstwhile Commissioner for Finance, Udeh Jones Udeogu, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited on an amended 34-count charge of N3.2 billion fraud. They were said to have used the following banks to perpetrate the alleged fraud: Manny Bank, Spring Bank Plc,( now Heritage Bank), the defunct Standard Trust Bank, now United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and FIN Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
Earlier, the prosecution has called its last witness in the matter. The witness, Nonye Eghene, a compliance officer with Diamond Bank Plc, tendered a document containing the statement of accounts of one of the defendants, Slok Nigeria Limited, in the bank. The witness, who was summoned by the court to appear in the matter said the transactions on the firm’s statement of accounts were carried out before she joined the bank in 2008. Under cross-examination by Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), the witness denied knowledge of a facility to the tune of $10 million from US Exim Bank to Slok Nigeria Limited, which was guaranteed by Diamond Bank Plc.
2019: Toe Path Of France, Canada, CSOs Tell Nigerians BY AMINAT MOHAMMED, Abuja
The Coordinator of Joint Action Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, Comrade Isaac Ikpa, has disclosed that it is high time for Nigerians to toe the path of France and Canada in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. Ikpa, in a statement issued yesterday, lamented that despite the fact that youths make up about 60% of the total world population and 57% of the world’s voting age, it is sad that with these facts, only 26% are members of parliaments in
different countries. Expressing his dissatisfaction with neglect of youths in leadership positions in Nigeria, Comrade Ikpa recalled that late Obafemi Awolowo was less than 50 years when he emerged as Premier of Western Region, Yakubu Gowon was not up to 40 years when he became Head of State and likewise Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari where relatively young when they where Heads of State. He said that the younger generation have fresh ideas in this digital world while most of our elders have stone age ide-
Opportunity makes the thief
as which can no longer meet up the requirements of a 21st century global community. He said, “There can be no better time for the youths to get ahead in life than now; to make impacts and contribute to the development of Nigeria. “We want to also commend some Executive Governors who have given youths opportunity to serve as members of the State executive council and in other positions of authority which these young minds have contributed in no small measure to the development of the state.”
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March 30, 2018
Minister Tasks Governing Boards On Transparency, Accountability
Senate Rejects $350m Foreign Loan Request By Kaduna Govt BY SOLOMON AYADO AND AHURAKA ISAH,
BY TAYO TAIWO, Abuja
Abuja
The minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, has charged the newly appointed members of the governing boards and agencies of the ministry to be transparent, accountable and diligent while performing their duties. Speaking on the occasion of the retreat for the newly inaugurated chairmen and members of governing boards of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in Abuja yesterday, Adamu said he promptly approved the retreat in order to enlighten them on their expected roles and performance and outcomes as the helmsmen of the parastatals and agencies. The minister told the new appointees that their contribution and achievement in their various parastatals and agencies are crucial to the overall success of the ministry. He said: “I wish to reiterate here that the role of the governing boards of the 12 River Basins is a critical element for the success of the agricultural revolution of the country. Therefore you are expected to bring to fore the vision of the present administration by developing sound policies and programmes. ‘’You should come up with programmes that will put your parastatals and agencies on sound footings for effective and efficient delivery of the ministry’s vision and mandates. ‘’It is important to note that the 12 RBDAs and the two agencies control over 50 per cent of the ministry’s budgets, therefore contributions and achievement of these parastatals and agencies are crucial to the overall success of the ministry.
The Senate yesterday rejected the request by Kaduna State government to acquire a foreign loan facility of $350 million. The Development Policy Operation, DPO (Budget Support) of USD 350 million for Kaduna State was approved by World Bank in 2016 and captured in 2016 - 2018 borrowing plan. According to the latest Debt Management Office figures, Kaduna State has a total debt stock of USD232.1 million since 1960. As it stands, the current loan request of USD350 million for Kaduna State will bring its total debt stock to USD582.1 million.
Doctor Raises The Alarm Over Rising Cases Of Rape In Adamawa BY HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO, Yola
The chief medical director (CMD), Specialist Hospital Yola, Dr Bala Saidu, has enjoined stakeholders to rise against gender base violence and increasing cases of rape in Adamawa State. Saidu raised the alarm at the commissioning of Referral Centre for Rape Victims, established for treatment, investigation and prosecution of rape suspects. The Centre known as Adamawa Hope Centre was established by the European Union (EU) and British Council in collaboration with the state government. He noted that an average of two rape cases are registered on daily bases, noting that the centre would bring treatment and justice to the door steps of victims. Programme manager, MCN, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, said the centre has been equipped with medical and IT tools to provide psycho-social, medical examination and legal aid support to survivors of sexual violence. Tabiu said the facility would serve as a one stop shop for survivors of sexual violence to have access to full package services provided by trained nurses and doctors. “It will also provide forensic medical examination services by specially trained doctors/nurses that will prepare reports, which will be admissible as evidence in court”, he added.
Based on the high debt record of the state, Senate said if the current loan request is approved, the new total debt stock of USD582.1 million for Kaduna State would be unsustainable and necessarily attract huge financial burden on the meager federal allocation to the state. The Upper Chamber further stated that with the new borrowing, the Debt Service to Revenue Ratio of Kaduna State will further be increased and thus impact negatively on the ability of the state to meet other basic needs of its people. The resolution of the Senate followed a presentation of report of the Committee On Local and Foreign Debts by the chairman, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central).
According to the report, the Senate received submissions and interacted with the invited government officials, and observed that the credit facility has an attractive low financing data of 1.25 per cent interest; moratorium of 5 years and a 25-year maturity tenor. Concurring, Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) noted that it was needless to grant the loan because due process for obtaining the facility was not followed by Kaduna State government. According to Hunkuyi, the loan is a misplacement of priority because the projects to be executed were not stated and that stakeholders were not consulted as precondition for the loan from the World Bank.
L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, Hon Goni Lawal Bukar, Hon Shuiabu Abubakar Abdulraman, and chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon Timothy Golu after plenary at the National Assembly.
Herdsmen Attack: 80,450 Children In IDPs Camp In Benue - CPS BY HEMBADOON ORSAR, Makurdi
Benue State government has revealed that there are 80, 450 children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps following herdsmen attacks on parts of the state. The chief press secretary (CPS) of Benue State governor, Terver Akase, in an interview with newsmen said the number of children in the eight IDPs camps at the moment stood at 80,450. He decried the plight of victims of the attacks especially the young ones whose future was being affected by their continued stay out of
school. “The children of Benue State have been forced into the camps by men who kill by both the gun and the sword; men who do not spare women and children; men who set ablaze schools and places of worship. The children are no longer going to school. Their schools are in ruins following attacks by violent herdsmen,” he said. Mr Akase emphasised the urgent need for good spirited Nigerians to assist the Benue State government in managing the humanitarian crisis capable of creating food shortages, poverty and hunger.
“I call on Nigerians to continue to say no to the invasion and occupation of communities in Benue and other parts of the country. Our children also deserve a good future. They do not deserve to grow up in IDPs camps”, he stressed. He disclosed that with over 170,000 IDPs now in the camps, the resources of the state have been overstretched, giving assurance that the state government will not relent in taking care of the affected persons despite the unfortunate situation. He said Governor Samuel Ortom has remained committed to bringing to an end the killing of innocent Benue people.
11 Soldiers Killed By Bandits Buried In Kaduna BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna
The remains of 11 soldiers killed by armed bandits at Kampanin Doka Village in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State were laid to rest at the Commonwealth Cemetery, Kaduna. Armed bandits attacked the said village on March 20, 2018 and in the process killed 11 soldiers who were deployed there on military operation against bandits, kidnappers, and cattle rustlers among other forms of criminalities. The operation is code named, “Exercise Ayem AKpatuma” (Cat Race). The late soldiers are, Private Olabode
Hammed(Ogun State), Private Bamidele Adekunle Emmanuel (Ogun State), Private Owochukwu Christian Chigoziri (Rivers State), Private Adamu Muhammed (Bauchi State) Private Lamara Ahmed (Jigawa State), Private Mubarak Suleiman (Plateau State), Private Bashir Sani (Katsina State), Private Usman Abubakar Jalo (Gombe state), Private Nafiu Iliyasu (Jigawa State), Private Safiyanu Ahmed (Jigawa State) and Private Alhassan Ibrahim (Kaduna State). The chief mourner and chief of army staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Army Headquarters Kaduna, Major General Moham-
A good deed is never lost.
med Mohammed in his speech described the death of the soldiers as painful but a sacrifice and supreme price for the people of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State and Nigeria. While condoling the families of the deceased soldiers, he said the military would stop at nothing to fish out the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice accordingly. Meanwhile, he urged the deceased families not to be discouraged in sending their children to the army as a result of the death of the soldiers. “We will remain committed towards guaranteeing the peace and security of Nigeria and Nigerians regardless of situations such as this, we will not run away,” he said.
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Nigerian, Austrian Firms To Make Vehicles Run On Gas BY OMONU NELSON, ABUJA with Agency Report
Powergas Nigeria has struck a partnership with an Austrian clean tech company, ETEFA, to facilitate the conversion of city buses and trucks in Lagos and the Niger Delta to run on natural gas, as part of efforts to reduce gas flaring in the country. The companies announced the alliance during a briefing on flare gas recovery in Nigeria organised with the support of the Austrian Development Agency and the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy in Nigeria. They said gas flare monetisation projects could potentially save Nigeria over $2.5bn per year by reducing fuel costs in the transportation and power generation sectors by over 30 per cent. According to a statement, Powergas will provide the necessary infrastructure for the CNG supply and ETEFA will supply gas engines and associated technology. “Eventually, ETEFA intends to locally manufacture gas-fired buses, trucks and engines in Nigeria with its Nigerian partners,” it said. The managing director, Powergas Nigeria, Mr Pulak Sen, said, “As a company, Powergas is committed to providing an environmentally friendly fuel source to spur economic growth and industrialisation in conjunction with reducing the carbon footprint. “We believe that natural gas-fired power generation emits up to five times less nitrogen oxides compared with diesel generation and near-zero particulate matter. Today, Nigeria’s annual diesel importation is the same as the natural gas being flared.”
L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives’ Press Corps, Mr Muharmad Puma, presenting an Award of Doyen of Constituency Projects to Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yussuf, during the maiden Annual Dinner /Award of Excellence in Abuja, recently. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Easter: Police Deploy Massively In Churches, Playgrounds BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has ordered massive deployment of policemen across the country in order to ensure adequate security during the Easter celebration. IGP Idris, who felicitated with Christian faithful throughout the country on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration, directed assistant inspectors general of police in charge of zonal commands and commissioners of Police nationwide to be on ground throughout the celebration to supervise and implement the robust security arrangements and massive deployment of Police personnel throughout the country for crime
prevention and control, so as to ensure crime and hitch- free celebration. Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement, said “the deployment of the Police personnel for crime prevention and crowd control will cover places of worships, recreation centres, and venues of celebration, other public places and public and private facilities. “Consistent surveillance, intelligence gathering and continuous raid of criminal hideouts, black spots, flash/ vulnerable points are already ongoing and will be sustained throughout the period. Vehicular and foot patrols and adequate visibility policing will also be embarked upon to guarantee safety of lives and
property throughout the period. “Members of the public are hereby implored to cooperate with the personnel of the Police High Way Patrol teams, the Special Anti- robbery Squads and other Police Units deployed to prevent crime on the highways and major roads across the country, as they are under instructions to be civil, polite but firm in ensuring the security and safety of travellers and other road users throughout the country. “The Nigeria Police Force is therefore assuring all Nigerians of its renewed commitment to ensure adequate safety of lives and property during this period and beyond.”
(NEF) and Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule, who signed on behalf of ACF were among the 18 northern groups that signed the said communiqué. ACF in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu said, “the attention of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to the communiqué of the Northern Groups Summit held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, on Saturday 24th March, 2018 and published in the Daily Trust Newspaper of 26th March, 2018, where the ACF was said to be a signatory to the communiqué. “For the avoidance of doubt, the ACF would want to state clearly that it was never involved in the preparation nor participated in the said summit of that group and
did not mandate any of its members to represent the forum. “ACF acknowledges the right of the individuals or groups to freedom of association as enshrined in our constitution. “Any member who claimed to have represented ACF or signed on behalf of the forum did so on his own. Furthermore, the views expressed in the said communiqué were that of the conveners and not that of ACF which is an umbrella body for all northerners irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious persuasions. “ACF therefore dissociates itself from the communiqué in its entirety and will address the North and the nation on this and similar issues as it always does at the appropriate time”
NCPC Boss Lauds Medical Team On Efficient Service ACF Dissociates Self From Northern Groups Summit’s Communiqué Delivery BY JULIANA AGBO, Abuja
BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna
The executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev Tor Uja, has commended the commission’s medical team over continuous zero mortality recorded during pilgrimage to the holy land. He made the remark in Abuja while receiving the 2017 pilgrimage medical report from the chairman, federal medical committee, Dr Francis Alu. Uja stated that the result was achievable due to meticulous screening and health education activities of medical teams which ensured that pilgrims are in optimal state of health before travelling. “You have proved to the world that Nigerians do not need foreign experts for survival. We will continue to pick our medical teams based on merit to always make pilgrimage better for pilgrims. The women pilgrimage slated for May will have medical personnel who are of high caliber as we are fully prepared for it,” he added. He called on the medical team to continue to be committed in efficient service delivery to achieve greater results. The NCPC boss further urged Nigerians not to trade the dignity of the country in exchange for foreign currency. “Let Nigeria be your confidence no matter what you experience. Our evidence of work must show that we are living better, possessing our economy and being relevant where ever we are,” he said. Earlier, chairman, NCPC federal medical committee, Dr Francis Alu, called for synergy between states and federal medical teams for continuous greater result.
The northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dissociated itself from the positions as contained in the communiqué that emanated from the Northern Groups Summit issued on the 24th March, 2018. It would be recalled that the communiqué issued at the end of the summit averred that President Muhammadu Buhari and northern politicians have failed to meet the expectation of the north and should expect rejection in the 2019 election should they seek re-election. Meanwhile, Prof Ango Abdullahi, who is the chairman, ACF Political Committee and convener, Northern Elders Forum
Oba Of Benin Places Libya Returnees On Salaries BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City
The Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku-Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, has placed returnees from North African country on three months salaries each. The royal father said apart from the allowances, Oba Ewuare Foundation will immediately provide the necessary tools/ facilities for those who had gone through various special skill acquisition training Oba Ewuare announced this when he played host to Libya returnees in his palace in Benin City.
He expressed disappointment over the mentality of Nigerian youths of making quicker money without legitimate means, insisting that youths must embrace agriculture and other legal businesses to excel in the country The monarch, who frowned at the attitude of some parents toward illegal migration via sea and desert, maintained that the palace would employ all traditional means to eradicate the scourge. Oba Ewuare, who was full of praises to ancestors for steps taken so far to curb the menace of human trafficking and wave of crime in the state, called for con-
A good deed is never lost.
certed effort to wind up the fight against the inhuman acts. Earlier, the leader of the returnees, Mr Vincent David told Omo N’Oba that they were at the palace to seek assistance in the areas of tools to start up lives after acquiring the necessary skills from the government. The returnees further hailed Oba Ewuare for deploying traditional means to rescue trafficked victims from their slave masters. The monarch further promised to assist all the trafficked victims to begin better lives.
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11
12 NATIONAL NEWS Fresh Violence In Zamfara Claims 66 Lives Senator Kabiru Marafa, representing Zamfara central senatorial district, yesterday revealed that no fewer than 66 persons have lost their lives in a new wave of violence that has hit the state. The Senator brought the sad development to the attention of the hallowed chambers through an adopted order 43. In his explanation, Marafa disclosed that young married women were brazenly separated from their husbands and raped with impunity. “Mr. President, the killing took place in my senatorial district and even beyond in the state” He claimed that local authorities with particular reference to the state government do not want the public to know about the lingering violence meted out to the people. The lawmaker further accused the local media of being compromise with hush money against reporting the prevailing carnage and state of lawlessness. Marafa also said unconfirmed reports of the number of casualties was put at 66 while the international
media houses said it was 15. The lawmaker said the situation required urgent response before the state goes out of control. He also spoke of the need to declare a state of emergency in the state if the state of lawlessness persisted. Meanwhile, residents of Bawardaji village of Zamfara State also told BBC Hausa that more than 60 people have been killed in attacks by cattle rustlers in the northwestern village since Tuesday. Individuals said to have been killed were mourners and grave-diggers in the village. According to a Police statement, only three bodies were recovered, but residents of Bawardaji village insisted that the number of dead was more than 60. Bandits first attacked the village on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 13 people, after getting information that a vigilante group was meeting to discuss how to confront them, the eyewitnesses said. Many other people escaped with gunshots into the bush and to neighbouring villages. Some of them died later, the residents said.
Former Minister Mourns Foremost African Missionary, Bunkowske BY EBRIKU JOHN FRIDAY, Abuja
Former minister of environment, Chief John Odey, mourns a foremost African Missionary, Rev Dr Eugene W Bunkowske, whose demise occurred at about 11.40am on March 27, 2018 in Minnesota, United States of America (USA). Odey, who expressed sympathy in a statement Wednesday, said he was pained when he received the news of the death of the American clergy due to the intimate relationship he had with the deceased and recalled the positive impact made in his life while he was growing up. He described the late Rev Bunkowske as mentor and motivator who was instrumental to what he is today in the society.
Rev Bunkowske left for missionary mission from his country, USA, for Africa, where he first visited Yala in Cross River State, in 1960 and left in 1966, because of the Nigerian Civil War, but later came back in 1968, and remained until 1974. He fell in love with the Yala culture, which he studied Yala language and established a formal writing system for the language. His effort led to the first complete translation of the New Testament Bible into ‘Yala New Testament Bible’, which was the fruit of his labour for the ministry he was called into by God, and the translation has helped in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and winning more souls to the Kingdom of God in Yala land.
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The funeral service ceremony of late soldiers who died on 20th March 2018 at Birnin Gwari Local Government Area in Kaduna State. PHOTOS GBENGA FOLORUNSHO ABIOLA.
Reps Probe N2bn Unremitted Proceeds From Sale Of PHCN Assets BY BAYO AMODU, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday commenced an investigative hearing on the alleged unremitted N2 billion and $3.8 million proceeds from the sale of assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Dennis Amadi, assured Nigerians of the committee’s resolve to work assiduously in the bid to unravel any unremitted funds from sales of power holding assets. He noted that the committee was also mandated to unravel the alleged suppres-
sion of interest element due to the federal government from proceeds of sale of those assets. Amadi said, “This includes the generation companies, the distribution companies, the transmission companies as well as the banks involved. “These funds are federal government funds and from the whistle blower which is the source of the motion it is being alleged that the affected banks have some interest elements to remit to the federation account which has not been done. “So, it is an issue of investigation, we have not proven them wrong yet until we
get to the root of the matter. This investigation is in furtherance of the motion moved by the House of Representatives on March 6, 2018 and subsequently we will begin to engage stakeholders, the purported banks that are involved, owners of these banks as at today, Bureau of Public Procurement and stakeholders in the power sector. “In the cause of this investigation, this committee should be able to draw a proper recommendation to ensure that interest accruing on those monies are being calculated and remitted to the federation account,’’ Amadi said.
SDP To Inaugurate Youth, Women Parliaments BY JONATHAN NDA - ISAIAH, Abuja
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has concluded plans to inaugurate two special bodies in the party hierarchy for the women and youth – Youth Parliament and Women Parliament, respectively. According to a statement by the National Secretary, SDP, Alh Shehu Musa Gabam, this is part of the party’s efforts
to ensure that the youth and women are actively mainstreamed into the political and governance processes in the country. He said the SDP strongly believes that the Nigerian women and youth remain critical elements in nation building, and yet are among the most vulnerable and untapped resources in the Nigerian governance mix.
To effectively tap into this great resource base, he noted that the party has initiated these two powerful platforms to facilitate wider and deeper inclusiveness, engagement and participation of the women and youth. He said, “Membership process for both parliaments commences from the polling unit, to the ward, local government, state, zonal, and national levels.
Ikpeazu Wins Verbatim Magazine’s ‘Gov Of The Year’ Award BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja
Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, was yesterday pronounced Governor of the year 2017 by the Editors of Verbatim Magazine, a magazine published fortnightly in Abuja by former Editors of the defunct Newswatch magazine. Governor Ikpeazu, according to a press release, jointly signed by Tobs Agbaegbu and Ibrahim Modibbo, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and chairman, Board of Editors respectively, will be officially dec-
orated on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at a glamorous award ceremony at Nicon Luxury hotel in Abuja. Adducing reasons for the choice of Ikpeazu as ‘Governor of the Year,’ the management of Verbatim magazine explained in the press release that Governor Ikpeazu’s choice was in recognition and appreciation of his developmental vision and life transforming achievements in Abia State, adding that, ‘’his three years in office have been remarkably eventful and largely successful’’.
Agbaegbu and Modibbo further stated that Ikpeazu’s key developmental strides in Commerce, Education, Health, Agriculture, Security, Road Construction/ Rehabilitation, Infrastructural and Industrial Development, are very much commendable. While commending Ikpeazu for outstanding achievements, the management of Verbatim stated that, ‘’Beyond exhibition of excellence in the core developmental objectives of his administration.
Dutse Varsity Commends, Honours Ambassador Yusuf Adamu BY HOSEA YUSUF, Abuja
Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State has named its Students’ Centre after its pioneer Registrar, Ambassador Yusuf Adamu, the Garkuwan Dutse. The edifice is now known as Yusuf Adamu Students’ Centre. The University had earlier written a commendation letter to Ambassador Adamu for his meritorious service and quality leadership while in the institution. According to a letter written and
signed by the University’s Registrar, M Bukar Usman, dated 20th March, 2018, which Daily Times is in possession of, Yusuf Adamu was so honoured because of his amiable disposition and simplicity in handling matters concerning students. According to the letter, the second Governing Council of the University approved the decision to name the Centre after Yusuf Adamu at its 8th meeting that took place on Thursday, 1st March, 2018. In an earlier letter titled “Com-
mendation for Meritorious Service and Leadership,” dated 23rd February, the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Fatima Batul Murktar, on behalf of the Management, staff and students stated that the landmark achievements of Ambassador Yusuf Adamu will speak beyond his life time. “During this period, the Registry and the University at large were incubated and developed into fullfledged form with a commendable level of competence and versatility.
Indeed, your tenure was characterised as that with unparalleled integrity, open mindedness, all-inclusiveness, innovation, passion for excellence and professionalism. “Your achievements have epitomised you as one of the great leaders in our era. It is unarguably evident that your laudable contributions towards the development of this university would speak beyond your life time,” the Vice Chancellor stated, adding that it was a rare privilege to be associ-
ated with Yusuf Adamu while praying God to bless his future endeavours. Ambassador Yusuf Adamu was appointed the Director General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) and resumed there in February 2003. Following his outstanding performance which saw to the transformation of the Centre and bringing it national limelight, he was reappointed to serve another term which ended in February 2011.
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2 Students Found Floating On Water After Heavy Rain In Lagos BY NAN
Two male students of a private secondary school, were picked up dead in the flood after a heavy rain in Alagbado area of Lagos, yesterday, witnesses confirmed. The witnesses said the boys were found floating on water at Casso Bus Stop on Lagos/ Abeokuta Expressway by shop owners and people waiting to board vehicles to their destinations. Some commercial motorcycle riders carried them to a private hospital which confirmed them dead. A witness said she and others were taking shelter from the rain in a nearby shop when they noticed the floating bodies on the water. “That was how we discovered the boys and quickly, the okada (motorcycle riders) people rushed and lifted them on their shoulders but they were lifeless because their legs and hands were just dangling, the witness said. One of the riders told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the boys were students because they were in their school uniforms. “I wonder why they went to school today which was declared work free and see how they have ended their lives just like that; it’s painful,’’ the rider said. A sympathiser, who gave his name as Gbolahan, said the deceased could have been friends. “They must be friends and attend the same school. “I am sad and cannot talk now because they are dead and nothing can bring them back to life,” he expressed. A worker in the hospital, who did not want her name mentioned, described the situation as painful. She said the boys were brought in dead. Some persons, suspected to be relatives of the boys, were seen wailing and rolling on the floor of the hospital. NAN reports that there was heavy rain in the area in the afternoon which resulted in heavy flooding.
A cross section of participants during the activities of women in culture event hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria in collaboration with the African Fashion Hall of Fame, yesterday.
Human Trafficking: Oba Of Benin’s Curse Reportedly Claims Casualties In Benin, Italy BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City
The curse placed by the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, on human traffickers, armed robbers and kidnappers, has claimed the lives of three persons engaged in the illicit acts. LEADERSHIP Friday gathered. It would be recalled that the revered Benin monarch had last month, invoked the gods of the land when he invited native doctors in the state to place curses on human traffickers and perpetrators of other crimes in the state. The monarch also nullified oaths administered on trafficked girls, warning of dire consequences against perpetrators of these heinous crime. The first victim, a notorious human trafficker based in Napoly, Italy, (name withheld) who operates a prostitution camp, was reported to have died mysteriously after complaining of headache. He was said to have defiled the Oba’s order by compelling some prostitutes to pay him money
he used to traffic them to Italy. His co-accomplice, simply identified as Queen, is said to have been hit by strange illness. The trafficked girls were said to have objected to pay on the premise that the Oba of Benin had nullified the oaths administered on them by their traffickers. The death of the trafficker was said to have shocked Edo Community in Italy as those who were in doubt of the efficacy of the monarch’s curse, are said to be making plans to visit the Benin Palace for cleansing and appease the gods. At Useh, in Ogida barracks in Benin, two suspected robbers were said to have died in their sleep after they returned from a robbery operation. Also, two Audi vehicles said to have been used by kidnappers, went up in flames near a filling station by a mysterious fire. Sources attributed both bizzare occurrences to the curses invoked by the Oba. Audi car is said to
be the car used most in kidnapping in Edo State. Reacting to the development yesterday, member of the Edo State task force on human trafficking and illegal migration, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, yesterday, said the committee was informed about the death of a trafficker in Italy and warned that Oba’s curses cannot be disobeyed. He said, it is important for all Edo sons and daughters to heed to the call by the Oba. Oba’s orders are instructions you don’t joke with. For those who are still in the business, they should remember Oba’s curse. “The Governor condemned it and that is why he set up the task force. So, you can see that there is no where you can hide. Either you are caught by the law or by the gods of the land. Oba has freed all the girls. Edo born activist and host of reality talk show based in Germany, Prince Edwin Idahosa, while reacting on the incident said, “he died as a result of the curse from the Oba’s Palace in Napoly, Italy.
Hunger Drove Me To Steal Phone – Labourer Tells Court BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna
A 19-year-old labourer, Umar Aliyu, yesterday, told a Minna Magistrate Court that “extreme hunger” forced him to steal a techno phone valued at N27,000. Aliyu, who was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft, said he stole the phone with
the intention to sell it and buy food. He begged the court for leniency, saying that he had learnt his lesson. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the magistrate, Mariam Kings, after listening to Aliyu’s plea, sentenced him to one month imprisonment with a fine option of N10, 000.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Moses Emberga, had told the court that one Dahiru Rabiu of Chachanga village, reported the matter at the Minna Police Station on March 22. Emberga quoted the complainant as saying that he was eating lunch on the said date when the accused person stole the phone. According to Emberga, the accused person
confessed to stealing the phone which he (accused), claimed to have handed over to one Musa, for safe keeping. The prosecutor said that the offence was contrary to section 287 of the penal code law, and prayed the court to try Aliyu summarily in line with section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Suspected Robbers Kill APC Youth Leader In Edo BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City
All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader in Etsako West local government area, of Edo State, Samson Sedi, was on Wednesday, shot dead by armed robbers at a filling station in Jattu. The late Sedi was allegedly killed by the armed robbers while attempting to rescue a female petrol station attendant who was
being robbed on Wednesday in Jattu. Meanwhile, Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has expressed shock at the news of the brutal killing of Sedi. Obaseki, while sympathising with his family, ordered security operatives to apprehend and prosecute his killers. He stated: “I was shocked on receiving the news of Mr Samson Sedi’s death. My heart goes out to his family. I have ordered the
relevant security agencies to arrest the killers and prosecute them without delay,” Obaseki said. He described the late Sedi as “a grassroots mobiliser, a philanthropist who cared for orphans and a great lover of people, whose death is a huge loss to Edo people and the APC.” “I learnt he was driving into a road around a petrol station in Jattu and heard a female
A fox is not taken twice in the same snare. – English proverb
petrol station attendant shouting for help. The late Sedi, drove into the petrol station to ascertain what was happening, only to be shot by the armed robbers who were operating at the petrol station. Sedi has been with us in our party for a long time and I sympathise with his family,” the governor said. Sedi, who was fondly called ‘Power Remain’ by his friends and supporters, was a rallying point for APC youths in his ward and
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NEWS EXTRA 15
Jilted Lover In Police Net Over Acid Attack On Girlfriend BY NAN
The Police, in Borno, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of one Musa Faisal, in connection with alleged acid attack on his 26-year-old girlfriend, Fatima Usman. The commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Damian Chukwu, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri. Fatima Usman, a final year student of Department of Nursing, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) was attacked with corrosive fluid by suspected tricycle operators in Maiduguri on March 16. She sustained serious injuries on the face and other parts of her body as a result of the attack. The attack generated public outcry with women groups calling for proactive measures to protect women from abuse and regulate activities of tricycle operators in the metropolis. Chukwu disclosed that the suspect, Musa Faisal, was arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Kano. He explained that the police had also arrested one Muhammad Babangida, who conspired with Faisal and attacked the girl. The commissioner said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects conspired and assaulted the
girl, contrary to the notion that she was attacked by tricycle operators. The police boss also revealed that the suspect and the victim dated for over four years and Fatima Usman’s parents rejected the marriage proposal by Faisal. He added that “our findings indicated that the girl and the suspect had been meeting in secret for a long period of time. “On the day of the attack, she arranged to meet the suspect at a hotel in Galadima area of Maiduguri and while they were inside a room, his accomplice, Muhammad Banbangida joined them. “Babangida was the one who poured acid on Usman and in the process, some of the liquid spilled over to Faisal. “It is also established that the suspect vowed to deal with the girl since her family resented their union.” Chukwu said that the suspects had admitted committing the offence, adding that they would soon be charged to court. Meanwhile, the police had also arrested two persons in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old commercial sex worker, Precious Needy.
Gunmen In Military Uniform Kill 6 In Southern Kaduna BY MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna
No fewer than six persons have been killed at a Southern Kaduna village by unknown gunmen. Residents said the attack took place at a mining site in Bakin Kogi Village of Kaninkon Chiefdom in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State. A resident, Arama Morik, said the gunmen, who wore military and Mobile Police uniforms, had first killed three persons at the mining site and also killed another three persons who were cutting wood at the Bakin Kogi bush. The administrator of the Jema’a local
L-R: Adamawa State governor, Jibrila Bindow and Hon Hamman Garba Chede in Abuja,
L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara with chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon Orker Jev at the National Assembly.
government area, Alh Yusuf Usman, who confirmed the incident, however said the three persons lost their lives during a shootout by illegal miners. Usman said during the scuffle, four other persons sustained injuries and were being treated at the Kafanchan General hospital. He said security personnel have been deployed to the area to contain the situation, adding that people should go about their normal businesses and report any suspected persons to the appropriate authority.
Court Sends 2 Men To Prison For Defrauding Betting Company Of N8m By Agency Report A Federal High court sitting in Lagos, has granted bail to two men- Taiwo Adeyinka and Johnson Oluwasegun, who were dragged to court by the Special Fraud Unit of Nigeria Police for obtaining money under false pretense. The accused were arraigned before Justice Muslim Sule Hassan for defrauding a betting firm, Winners Golden Belt, while in the employment of the company as agents. Police said the accused diverted the sum of N8m belonging to the betting firm for their personal use, an offense which is contrary to section 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act and punishable under section 1(3) of the Act. The charge against the defendants reads, “that you, Taiwo Adeyinka and Johnson Oluwasegun Derrick, between October 2016 and March 2017 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while in the employment of Winners Golden Belt with head office in Lagos, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony for obtaining the sum of N8,000,000
and thereby committed an offence contrary to Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Amayanabo of Opobo section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Kingdom, King Danderson Jaja (l) with Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike during the visit of the traditional rulers to the governor in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO related offences Act, No.14 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.” The defendants were remanded in prison when they were first arraigned in court on the 26th of March, pending their bail applications. At the resumed hearing of the bail application yesterday, the defendants’ counsel urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, arguing that bail remains the constitutional right of every accused pending until otherwise proved. The police did not oppose the bail application, but rather urged the court to impose conditions that would secure the presence of the defendants for their trial. In his short ruling, Justice Hassan granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum. The judge also ordered that the sureties must be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of the court. Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, Mr Shina T. Olukolu briefing newsmen The defendants were to be remanded in on the recovery of GSM provider batteries and weapons and ammunition at the state prison custody pending fulfilment of their bail headquarters Gombe, yesterday. conditions. To eat one’s heart out. – English proverb
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Botswana President Steps Down After 10 Years BY OMONU NELSON, with agency report
President Ian Khama of Botswana this week wrapped up a national “farewell tour” before he steps down on Saturday in a power transfer designed to stress his statesmanship and the country’s stability. Khama has visited all of Botswana’s 57 constituencies since December, bidding a long goodbye to a population of just 2.2 million after serving the constitutional maximum of 10 years in office. He will be succeeded by Vice President Mokgweetsi
Masisi, a full 18 months before elections. Khama’s two terms in power have been defined by his country’s rapid development thanks to lucrative diamond and beef exports and by a reputation for good governance. He has also become renowned for straight talking — breaking with diplomatic convention to criticise leaders including US President Donald Trump and then-President Robert Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe. On Tuesday, his tour finished in his ancestral village of Serowe in the east of the country, with a day of songs, poems, gifts, ululation and plead-
ing for him to remain in office. Thousands of jubilant villagers dressed in blue, white and black, gathered in a kgotla, a traditional courtyard, to hear Khama speak. “I was a soldier, I didn’t have interest to join politics, I had future plans, away from politics,” he told the crowd, adding that his predecessor Festus Mogae had to persuade him to take over in 2008. Khama, 65, has cultivated a down-to-earth image — despite his father, Seretse Khama serving from 1966 to 1980 as Botswana’s first president after independence from Britain.
Edna Monyena, a village elder in her 80s, lavished praise on the outgoing president, telling him that he was “an honest man, a straightforward man” who showed “real love”. Many elderly female villagers wore blue dresses printed with portraits of Khama’s father, and some used cow bones as percussion instruments as they stood up to sing and dance. Khama was showered with gifts including a 4×4 truck, 143 cows, hundreds of chickens, over 415,000 pula ($44,000), and a fully-equipped luxury caravan that his brother Tshekedi dubbed a “mobile state house”.
NACA Advocates For HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign
BY PATIENCE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja
L-R: Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Mahmood Mohammed Mahmood, when the governor visited the envoy, yesterday.
Police Recover 148 Arms, 206 Cartridges In Enugu BY NAN
Enugu State Police have recovered 148 arms and 206 cartridges in the state within one month. The state’s commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, said this yesterday while displaying the recovered arms and cartridges at the Police Headquarters, Enugu. Danmallam noted that the arms and cartridges were recovered through “stop and search opera-
tions,’’ within the state. “Only one gentleman came over to me two days ago to surrender his arm. “As you might recall, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, recently directed all the state commands to commence recovery of prohibited firearms. “I also use this opportunity to advice those still holding back their illegal arms and ammunition, to surrender it to the command,’’ he said. According to Danmallam, the total mop-up of
all illegal arms and cartridges would check the incidence of terrorism, insurgency, herders/farmers clashes, militancy, oil bunkering and violent conflicts in the country. He reiterated that anyone caught with illegal firearms and ammunition or do not come forward for his arms to be re-verified and revalidated would be prosecuted according to the relevant laws. The arms recovered included 10 AK-47; 30 pump action guns; 33 locally made pistols single barrel and 36 locally made pistols double barrel.
Delta Uncovers 16, 000 Cases Of Persons With Tuberculosis NOSA ERESOYEN, Asaba
The Delta State government said it has uncovered 16, 000 cases of persons currently living with tuberculosis across the state, adding that 2, 258 cases were recorded in 2017. The state commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, who made this known to journalists at a media conference held in Asaba, disclosed that the state government had established over 20 centres for the treatment of the disease. Ononye explained that efforts by the state government to arrest the disease were yet to yield the desired results, adding
that majority of people had no awareness of the disease, and its mode of transmission. The commissioner said that the state government had also recorded several failures in its attempts to treat infected persons following their refusal even with financial encouragement from partners, regretting that the situation had inhibited the access to healthcare in the state. He said: “As one of the 22 high-burden states for tuberculosis, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, the state had recorded 2, 258 cases in 2017, representing only 14.2 per cent of the expected notification, we have at present a figure of 16, 000 cases of people living
with the disease across the state”. The commissioner further disclosed that over 3 million TB patients were undetected in 2016, while 10.4 million new cases were estimated to have occurred in 2017, adding that the 2016 Global TB report showed that Nigeria had the highest TB burden in Africa and ranked fourth on the list of countries with TB. Dr. Ononye said that Nigeria as the highest burden country for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis and HIV in 2016, had notification of less than 20 per cent of the total TB cases estimated for the year, adding that there were many cases of undetected in various Nigerian communities.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has called on states in the country to increase their HIV/AIDS awareness campaign with emphasis on state owned media as vehicles to delivering HIV prevention messages. Nigeria’s HIV epidemic still remains a major public health challenge, going by the large number of people estimated to be living with the virus in the country. Providing factual information on the disease burden is key to ensuring many more people do not contract the virus. The chief executive officer, Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LSACA), Dr Oluwaseyi Temowo, who welcomed the advocacy team from NACA said many advocacy visits to the state in the last few years have yielded positive results in terms of funds appropriations and actual releases. Temowo informed the advocacy team that LSACA is doing its best to ensure that residents of Lagos are provided with information on HIV and anything that will help the agency to increase the awareness efforts in the public space. The head of Public Relations and Protocol of NACA, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe told the Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan, that the visit was to plead with the relevant authorities to partner with LSACA to ensure that consistent HIV prevention messages saturate the public space. Aderibigbe advocated that state-owned media organisations should be encouraged to give discounted rates on all HIV related messages, as donor funding that was used in the past to promote HIV prevention awareness campaign are dwindling. She also informed the commissioner for Health, Lagos State, of the National Call Centre on HIV and related diseases which provides opportunity for Nigerians to call the toll-free line 6222 wherever they are in Nigeria and speak to trained counsellors who will answer any questions regarding HIV and other related diseases at no cost to the caller. Responding, the Lagos state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Bamigbetan thanked NACA for this initiative. He assured the advocacy team of Lagos State government’s commitment to ensure that issues of HIV/AIDS are put in front burner.
‘Our Judges Not Under Probe’ BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja
The Federal High Court has refuted claim in some sections of the media that about 11 of their judges are under investigation by the Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee. According to a very senior official of the court who does not want his name in print,
what happened between the judges and the committee was just an interactive session where the judges laid bare the challenges they are facing in the course of their duties. Last year, the chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC, Walter Onnoghen, set up the committee headed by Justice Suleiman Galadima, to monitor the speedy dispensation of corruption cases.
In the earlier report, it was alleged that the 16-member committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice, Suleiman Galadima, met with Jutices Mojishola Olatoregun-Ishola, Oluremi Oguntoyibo, Muslim Hassan, Ibrahim Buhari, R. M. Anka, Hadiza Shangri, A. O Faji, R. M. Aikawa, Chuka Obiozor, M. B. Idris and Babs Kuewumi. But the source at the Abuja Division of the
A good deed is never lost.
court told our correspondent that there was never a probe of the judges. He said, “None of our judges was probed by the committee. What happened was simply an interactive session with our judges where they told the committee about the challenges they are facing in the course of their duties and how some of the corruption cases can be speedily heard and determined”.
business
Friday, March 30, 2018
NEWS
MONEY
CAPITAL MARKET
INSURANCE
INFLATION RATE (%) 2016
OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
18.3 18.48 18.55
INTERVIEW
2017
15.91 15.9 15.37
Finance Houses Enter Bond Market With Crownrise’s N1bn Note
ANALYSIS
Leadership Newspapers
INTER BANK LENDING RATE (AS AT MARCH 27) RATE CHANGE (%)
ON 1M 3M 6M
25.5500 15.0806 16.2930 18.2725
-20.66 -0.22 -0.09 -0.03
Group Business Editor Bayo Amodu 08118672002 Business Editor (Lagos) Chima Akwaja Assistant Business Editors Kingsley Alu Tony Awunor Correspondent Chika Izuora Reporters Ruth Tene Natsa Bukola Idowu Olushola Bello Suzan Nwachukwu Abah Adah George Okojie Chika Okeke
Business 101 with MBAKAAN KWEN
How To Prioritize Your Work
BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos
Finance houses have been urged to explore the Nigerian debt market in ensuring that they have adequate access to cheap funding for onward disbursement to micro, small and medium enterprises in the country. Speaking severally at a stakeholders’ luncheon and introduction of the N1 billion Investment Note of Crownrise Finance Plc in Lagos yesterday, stakeholders in the sector stressed the need for finance house to seek funds that are cheaper than what they get from deposit money banks so as to create cheap funding for SMEs. The director, Other Financial Institutions Department (OFID), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tokunbo Martins in her keynote address said that finance institutions have been established to operate within the middle-tier of the financial system with a focus on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment. “The subsector is expected to play complementary roles to the Deposit Money Banks and Other Financial institutions by bridging financial gaps and meeting the financial needs of its target customers. But most of the financial companies have not demonstrated the capacity to deliver on this mandate due to paucity of funds, among others,” she said. Commenting on the N1 billion Investment Note of Crownrise Finance Plc, she said the bond issuance by the finance house will pave way for other finance houses to follow suit, accessing cheap funds by
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L-R: Representatives of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr Sheriff Salawu, Mrs Ilupeju Adepeju; Ogun State deputy governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; managing director/chief executive officer,NIRSAL, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed; Oyo State governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; Ondo State governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Ekiti State, governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, at the just concluded quarterly meeting of the Western Nigerian Governors Forum in Lagos. PHOTO: NIRSAL
Nigeria To Generate $561bn From Lekki Deep Seaport BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos
The Nigerian economy is expected to benefit a whopping $561 billion from the development of Lekki Deep Seaport project, LEADERSHIP has learnt. While $361billion is expected to be generated during concessioning, $200 billion will be generated from tax and revenue to the federal, state and local governments. Speaking at the official flag-off of the construction of the project, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the project was expected to generate over 170,000 direct and indirect jobs. The project also targets about 1.5m Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) container capacity annually which is expected to grow to 2. 7 million and 4.7 million T EUs when they start operations. President Buhari who was represented by the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said the port, when operational is expected to receive larger vessels such as Panamax and post Panamax vessels. He said: “The promoters of this project are targeting about 1.5 million TEUs container capacity yearly, which we expect to grow to about 2.7 million and 4.7 million TEUs when the project operation commences. With this, the Lekki Deep seaport will become one of the best deep water port in our region and serve as
hub for port operations in the whole of West Africa. “The promoters also planned to dredge the port channel to about 16 meter which is not currently obtainable in any port in the country. This is an indication that ships of larger capacity like Panamax, Post Panamax ships and very large crude carriers will now be able to visit the port, and greater efficiency and economies of scale will generate significant revenue for Nigeria’s economy.” Buhari however noted that the federal government has in the past two budgets provided an aggregate of N90 billion for the development of special economic zones, adding that the deep seaport project is in line with the objectives of creating such economic zones. Speaking earlier, the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode called for public investment that will aid the viability of the Lekki port project. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, stated that, “This port which is expected to be delivered by 2020, will be one of the biggest in the West African sub-region. “Lagos State government has a 20 percent equity stake in the Lekki port project, and is an indication of the faith of the Lagos State government in the project. It has been estimated that this project will facilitate an injection of
$2.23 billion for construction and fixed assets into the country. “However, there is need for public investment to compliment the Lekki port infrastructure, like roads, railway and water infrastructure in order to avoid the present situation that we have at the Apapa and Tin-Can port area of Lagos State,” he said. On his own part, Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tolaram Engineering Company and China Harbour for the development of the landmark project. According to Amaechi, “This will be the first deep seaport in Nigeria. What we have had are river ports. This will help to improve the capacity of Nigerian ports with modern procedure” adding that the ports concession agreement covers 45 years on a build, own, operate and transfer basis.’’ The managing director, Tolaram, Haresh Aswani, assured that the project will be completed within three years, and it will generate over $200 billion revenue for Lagos and federal government. He said the project would support and enhance the growth of various free zones in the area. Upon completion, the port facility will have three container berths, one dry bulk berth, three liquid berths, 16.5-meter draught, 600 meter turning cycle and a 2.7 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) per year.
All projects especially large, complex projects need clear priorities. Although,it is easier said than done. You can count on technical projects, no matter how well-planned, to involve change orders, re-prioritization and the regular appearance of surprises. It’s just the natural order of things. Below are some ways on how to set priorities for your work; •COLLECT A LIST OF ALL YOUR TASKS: Pull together everything you could possibly consider getting done in a day. Don’t worry about the order, or the number of items up front. •IDENTIFY URGENT AND IMPORTANT: The next step is to see if you have any tasks that need immediate attention. We’re talking about work that, if not completed by the end of the day or in the next several hours, will have serious negative consequences. •ASSESS VALUE: Look at your important work and identify what carries the highest value to your business and organization. As a general practice, you want to recognize exactly which types of tasks have top priority over the others. The way to assess value is to look at how many people are impacted by your work. In general, the more people involved or impacted, the higher the stakes.
QUOTE OF THE DAY Lekki Deep seaport will become one of the best deep water port in our region and serve as hub for port operations in the whole of West Africa.” President Muhammadu Buhari said.
Buhari
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STOCK INDEX (AS AT MARCH 29) Gainers
Symbols CP Custodian 4.96 Fidelitybk 2.68 Wemabank 0.99 Vitafoam 3.15 Mobil 185.80
% change 9.98 8.06 6.45 5.00 4.97
Losers
Symbols CP CILeasing 1.72 Japauloil 0.59 Champion 2.40 CCNN 18.70 Jaizbank 0.81
% change -9.47 -9.23 -6.98 -4.83 -4.71
STOCK INDEX (AS AT MARCH 29) ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP
(Points) (Numbers) (Numbers million) (Nbillion) (Ntrn)
41,504.51 4,368 272.61 3.72 N14.993
Stocks Market Rebounds As Investors Gain N253bn BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
The Nigerian stocks market yesterday rebounded with a gain of N253 billion on renewed bargain hunting. The All Share Index gained 702.43 points or 1.72 per cent, the highest this month and to close trading for the month of March at 41,504.51 points while year-to-date return increased to 8.5 per cent. Accordingly, investors gained N253 billion in value as market capitalisation strengthened to N14.993 trillion. Yesterday’s bullish performance was largely driven by upticks in Dangote Cement, Nestle Nigeria, Total Nigeria, Mobil Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries. Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said “In line with
expectation, there was a rebound in market performance at the close of the trading week following bargain hunting in blue chip stocks that had previously declined. Hence, our anticipation of improved buying sentiment to buoy performance in the near term remains.” However, market breadth still remained negative, with 23 gainers versus 27 losers. Custodian and Allied Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent, to close at N4.96 per share. Fidelity Bank gained 8.1 per cent to close at N2.68, while Wema Bank appreciated by 6.5 per cent to close at 99 kobo per share. Vitafoam Nigeria and Mobil went up by five per cent each to close at N3.15 and N185.80 per share, respectively.
On the other hand, CI Leasing led the losers’ chart by 9.5 per cent, to close at N1.72 per share. Japaul Oil shed 9.2 per cent to close at 59 kobo, while Champion Breweries depreciated by seven per cent to close at N2.40 per share. CCNN declined by 4.8 per cent to close at N18.70, while Jaiz Bank down by 4.7 per cent to close at 81 kobo per share. The total volume traded depreciated by 49.4 per cent to 272.61 million shares, worth N3.72 billion, and traded in 4,368 deals. Transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank topped the activity chart with 45.34 million shares valued at N1.35 billion. Skye Bank followed with 33.9 million shares worth N26.13 million, while UBA traded 22.48 million shares valued at N263.48 million.
Unity Bank Clarifies Milost $1bn Investment BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
In responding to the alleged termination of a $1 billion investment by Milost Global Inc, Unity Bank said it is still in talks with the company and other investors to raise capital and there is no concluded agreement. This was made known to the investing public in a statement signed by the company secretary of Unity Bank, Mohammed Shehu on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday. The bank stated that Unity Bank has reviewed the
various publications in some media touching the purported investment of $1 billion in Unity Bank Plc by Milost Global Inc. According to the bank, pursuant to various Regulators’ advice to the bank in recent times on the need to shore up its capital base, Unity Bank with the mandate of its shareholders had engaged in series of discussions and engagement with prospective “value-plus investors”. “All through these engagements, the Bank has been properly guided by the extant regulations concerning
capital raising and equally made the process open to all prospective investors.” Unity Bank explained that Milost Global Inc. is one of the prospective investors introduced to the bank by a local entity called Mayo BV, saying that it is not unusual that this introduction and expression of interests would involve some level of preliminary discussions and exchange of non-binding documentary communications between the intending parties towards establishing mutual foundation on which the transaction contemplated will be initiated.
Forte Oil Posts Pretax Profit Of N10.6bn BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
Forte Oil Plc has posted an impressive growth in its profit before tax to N10.6 billion in the financial year ended December 31, 2017. The audited results released on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday showed that profit before tax grew by 99 per cent to N10.627 billion from N5.34 billion in the corresponding period of 2016. Also, profit after tax rose from N2.89 billion in 2016 to
N12.23 billion in 2017 due to a tax credit of N1.6 billion, while earnings per share rose to N2.89 from N1.99 in 2016. In all, Forte Oil recorded a revenue of N129.44 billion, down 12.9 per cent from N148.61 billion. Cost of sales was reduced by 17.7 per cent from N128.02 billion to N105.33 billion, while distribution expenses was reduced by 40.4 per cent from N3.02 million to N1.8 billion, leading to a growth of 17.2 per cent in gross profit to
N24.12 billion, from N20.58 billion in 2015. Administrative expenses declined to N10.12 billion, from N10.26 billion, net finance cost went down to N5.73 billion from N6.17 billion. In bid to reduce its finance cost last, Forte Oil Plc in 2016 raised N9 billion bond under its N50 billion bond issuance programme, to refinance existing short term commercial bank loan obligations. The funds were also meant to refinance its retail outlet expansion.
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March 30, 2018
EIB, ATI Launch $1bn Energy Facility For Sub-Saharan Africa BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos
The African Trade Insurance (ATI) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched a $1 billion Renewable Energy Facility for sub-Saharan Africa. The facility is supported by the government of Germany and the EU as part of their commitment to backing the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative. The facility was launched at the Berne Union Spring Meeting hosted by ATI and supported by the government of Kenya. Representing
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Henry Rotich, and Kenya Principal Secretary for Energy Eng. Joseph Njoroge said Kenya was honoured to be hosting this important meeting of insurers that underpin a large amount of global investments and financing. “This meeting is shining the spotlight on Africa at an opportune moment. The continent now has six of the world’s ten fastest growing economies. Add to this, Africa’s renewed emphasis on infrastructure development
combined with innovation, natural resources and improved regulatory structures. Quite simply, the message we would like to relay to the global investment community through this meeting, is that Africa is brimming with opportunities. “This facility is particularly important because it reassures financiers and investors in the energy sector in Africa that their investments are fully covered and safe and this eventually ensure the production of cheaper energy which benefits the final energy users,’’said Ngoroje.
L-R: Senior vice president, Distribution, Sony Pictures Television, UK, Ireland & Africa, Mark Young; chief executive officer, EbonyLife TV & Films, Mo Abudu and vice president, Distribution, Sony Pictures Television, Africa, Kunle Falodun, during Ebonylife TV & Sony Pictures Television’s announcement of scripted television development deal in London, yesterday.
PTDF Offers Overseas Scholarship Opportunity In UK Universities BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has called on qualified Nigerians to take advantage of its overseas scholarship scheme to study in prestigious universities in the United Kingdom for Master’s and Doctorate degrees. A statement from PTDF says application process has already commenced with the invitation of qualified candidates to apply through PTDF to specific programmes at some institutions in the United Kingdom. The institutions include Imperial College London,
University College London, Kings College London, University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton, Newcastle University and the University of Manchester. Others are University of Liverpool, Cranfield University, Robert Gordon University, HeriotWatt University, University of Salford, Portsmouth University, and the University of Dundee. According to the general manager, Education and Training Department, PTDF, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, masters’ degree applicant will undergo an aptitude test
while PhD candidates will be interviewed. He said: “There will be no aptitude test for the MSc’s but for PhD candidates we still have the interviews. We now use the credentials of the applicants to assess them. If you have a first or second upper, you have a grading for that.” Speaking on how to fill the application form which is obtainable at the agencies website, he said, “We will also ask you to state the reason why you want to study the programme, after that we will ask you to submit your transcript which will be verified from the school.
Amosun Explains Delay On Issuance Of C of O BY GBENGA ADEBOYE
The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has identified lack of proper documentation and incomplete payment by applicants under the Homeowners’ Charter Programme as factors responsible for the delay in issuance of Certificates of Occupancy. Amosun, stated this during the 29th edition of presentation of Certificates of Occupancy and Building
Plan Approval to another batch of beneficiaries at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. In a statement by the press officer in the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Passover Adeshina, the governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, explained that though government allowed payment by instalment, some applicants who had taken advantage of the opportunity have not done the needful by completing
their payment and other documentation. “The question asked by some applicants is why the delay in the issuance of C of O. But we found out that they have not done the needful. Some are yet to make full payment, though this government allows payment by instalment. Others have not completed their documentation under the scheme. Let me assure you that all applicants that meet the requirements will collect their C of O before the end of our tenure”, Amosun said.
March 30, 2018
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Oxfam, Civil Society Group Advocate For Gender Equality, Poverty Reduction BY MBAKAAN KWEN, Abuja
L- R: Corporate communication manager, P&G, Omolola Adenuga; assistant brand manager, Oral B, Temitope Adisa; brand manager, Oral B, Tolulope Pogoson, and brand operations manager, P&G, Roqeeb Ariwoola, at a free dental health care exercise organised by Oral B, at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, in commemoration of the World Oral Health Day (WOHD), recently. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.
Illegal Refineries With 4mpd Capacity Discovered In Rivers The Nigerian Navy said it has discovered six new illegal refineries with combined capacity to refine four million litres of crude oil daily in Alakiri, Asari Toru local government area of Rivers state. Executive officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder Port Harcourt,Capt. Victor Choji, disclosed this while destroying one of the illegal refineries yesterday in Alakiri, AsariToru. “The refinery (in Alakiri) has capacity to produce one million litres of refined petroleum products daily, while the five other refineries have production-capacity of three million litres daily,” he said. Choji said the refineries were discovered through intensive intelligence gathering and undercover operations by naval troops.
He said the navy deployed swam buggy machines to crush the metallic storages and its pipelines to make it impossible for operators of the refineries to rehabilitate the facilities. “This operation is focused on hitting the very heart of their infrastructure, so that the operators do not have capacity to regroup and resume their illicit activities. “We realised that whenever we set ablaze the refineries without the use of swam buggy machine, days after our troops leave the scene, the oil thieves return and revive the refineries. “So, the Navy came up with this strategy to ensure that the pipeline network and metallic storages at the illegal facility are completely crushed,” he explained. The executive officer said the swam buggy approach was also adopted
to address health concerns raised by residents over carbon emissions (black soot) in the atmosphere in the state and environs. He said that the strategy had led to significant reduction of soot in the atmosphere while also improving aquatic life in the maritime environment. “We started siphoning petroleum products first before destroying the illegal refineries as part of measures to eliminate soot in the atmosphere. “After siphoning the product, it is then taken out of the area and handed over to authorities for testing and analysis,” he said. Choji said it would take troops about seven days to move the petroleum products and destroy the six illegal refineries.
DPR Rejects Call For Multiple Oil Industry Regulator BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said that Nigeria’s oil industry has over time grappled with multiple regulatory agencies which has potential investors moving to other markets. The Department noted that the federal government realising overlapping functions of these agencies raised a committee to harmonise and prune down the number of agencies in the country. Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos on the sidelines of a one-day sensitisation seminar on research outcome of water contamination in Baruwa community of Lagos State funded by Tertiary Education Fund (TetFund), director of the DPR, Ladan Mordecai, warned that apart from multiplicity of functions each agency sets out regulations and levies which impacts on the profit of operating oil companies. Mordecai , who spoke to our correspondent through the
director of environment, Dr. Musa Zagi, said that those calling for two regulators for the industry did not consider the challenges faced by investors who had to deal with various regulatory demands of government agencies in the country. “What we need at this time is a well funded and vibrant agency with the capacity to deal with industry issues. In DPR we have effectively managed both the up and downstream sectors as well as the midstream sub-sector. “Multiple agencies brings about confusion apart from the fact that it costs government so much to fund them. If you look at oil spill in the country in the last nine years we have recorded more incidents than what we have experienced in the last fifty years of oil exploration in the country, and this is the time we have the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) established in 2006 as an institutional framework to
coordinate the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) for Nigeria. According to him, “We are just trying to discourage investments in the sector by calling for establishment of two agencies for the industry.” Operators in Nigeria’s downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry are demanding separate regulatory agency for its operations. The operators have expressed deep concern that a single regulatory body as recommended in the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), by the National Assembly would further create more problems inherent in the industry which the New Bill intends to solve. LEADERSHIP reports that oil marketers and the Organised Private Sector (OPS), at a joint media briefing in Lagos at the weekend called for two regulatory bodies to regulate the oil industry in the bill, currently pending before the national assembly.
Executive secretary of the Major Oil Marketers (MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olaworein, in his remarks warned that an omnibus commission that would be empowered to regulate the entire petroleum sector, runs contrary to industry standards which by default already provide for an upstream and downstream regulator. He recommended for separate regulatory bodies for upstream and downstream, arguing that single regulator would create complexities and challenges for operators in the petroleum value chain. He said that because the structure, operation and nature of the downstream are totally different from that of the upstream sector, a single regulator would create complexities and challenges for operators in the petroleum value chain because the structure, operation and nature of the downstream are totally different from that of the upstream sector.
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre in collaboration with Voices for Food Security and OXFAM have decried the rising levels of poverty and gender inequality in the country. The group opposed the situation where despite an expansion in the Nigerian economy at an average of 6 per cent, more than half of its populace continue to live in poverty. Addressing participants at a one -day colloquium on Inequality in Nigeria, the executive director, HEDA, Mr Arigbabu Sulaimon , noted that the scale of economic inequality has reached an extreme level, finding an expression in the struggles of the majority poor against the the few rich. According to him, “We are looking at inequality in the private sector and public sector, in terms of access to equal services, inclusion in all sector, and access to opportunities.
Women constitute a bigger chunk of the population and yet, they do not have access to means of production delivery, they are the worst impacted by climate change. “Government policy is hinged on equality but unfortunately, the life of Nigerian women are affected by a myriad of discriminatory, traditional, socio-cultural practices. For instance, majority of women are employed in casual low paid jobs, 75 per cent of the poorest women have never been to school; these disadvantages make women poorer compared to men.” Country director of OXFAM, Mr Iftikar Nizami , represented by Mr Abdulazees Musa, said the issue of inequality has become one of the biggest economic, social and political challenges of our time. Nizami said to combat high levels of inequality in the country, there was urgent need for political and business leaders to build a country that puts the needs of the people, particularly that of women and children first.
Energy Theft: AEDC Charges 2 Customers To Court BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Tuesday set the stage for the prosecution of its customers, Akinkuolie Akinrinsola and Yahaya Abubakar , as their cases were brought before the Wuse 2 Magistrate Court 4 presided over by Nuhu Tukur for allegedly stealing of electricity. This development follows the AEDC’s entry into a partnership with the director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) to create a task force charged with the responsibility of eliminating electricity related offences in its area of coverage last year. According to the prosecutor, Ama Yeboah, Senior State Council of the Federal Ministry of Justice, who represented the DPP, Akinkuolie a resident of EN: 1524, 32CC Nwuche Crescent, Trade More Estate, Lugbe FCT Abuja, a customer of the AEDC who was issued a prepaid meter dishonestly diverted the use of electricity, interfered with electric fittings and thus stole 13,150kw/h of electricity
energy valued at N516,263. The case was said to have been reported to the Special Investigation and Prosecution on Electricity Offences at the Federal Ministry of Justice by Morayo Yedoni, the regional officer of AEDC on September 19, 2017 , that Akinkuolie did carried out the electricity theft on June 6, 2017. Similarly, Yahaya a staff of Abeysteph Printing Press, located at Block A Suite A1, ground floor, Murg Shopping Mall Area 10, Garki District FCT Abuja, also issued a prepaid meter was said to have dishonestly diverted the use of meter and subsequently stole 81,101kw/h of electricity energy valued at N3,032,366.39. The offence according to the prosecutor was not only mischievous and electricity theft, but is contrary to Section 286 (2) and Section 334 of the Penal Code Act, CAP. P3. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Both accused pleaded not guilty and the cases were adjoined to May 2 and 7, 2018 , respectively , while they were granted bail on the sum of N300,000 and N600,000 respective with a surety who is preferably a civil servant and a resident of the FCT.
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March PMI: Business Activities Pick Up Faster – CBN BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos
Business activities in the Nigeria manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors continued to increase at a faster pace in March compared to February as the Purchasing Managers Index report released yesterday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed a faster growth in activities. The PMI for manufacturing sector stood at 56.7 index points while that of the nonmanufacturing stood at 57.2 index points in March, higher than 56.3 and 56.1 index points recorded for February but still lower than 57.3 and 58.5 index points recorded in January for the two sectors. Of the 14 subsectors surveyed in
the manufacturing sector, 11 reported growth while three contracted. The nonmetallic mineral products; furniture & related products and printing & related support activities had contracted while the electrical equipment; cement; petroleum & coal products; food, beverage & tobacco products; chemical & pharmaceutical products; fabricated metal products; paper products; transportation equipment; plastics & rubber products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear and primary metal recorded growth. At 59.1 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the 13th consecutive month in March 2018. The index indicated a faster growth in the current month, when compared to
its level in the preceding month. Seven of the 14 manufacturing subsectors recorded increase in production level, three remained unchanged, while the remaining four recorded declines in production level during the review month. The employment level index in March 2018 stood at 53.3 points, indicating growth in employment level for the tenth consecutive month. Of the 14 subsectors, seven subsectors increased their employment level, two remained unchanged while five reduced their employment level in the review month. In the non-manufacturing sector, 14 of the 16 subsectors recorded growth in the following order: public administration; utilities; finance &
March 30, 2018
Fidelity Grows Customer Base By 91% In 3 Yrs BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos
Fidelity Bank Plc said it has been able to grow its customer base by more than 91 per cent to over N170 billion from N89 billion within a three year period, driven by its savings promotional scheme aimed at rewarding customers’ loyalty, inculcating savings culture and promoting financial inclusion. Speaking at the presentation of gift and cash prizes to winners of its ‘Get Alert in Millions’ promo reloaded, the managing director and chief executive of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said not only has the bank grown its customer base but has also
impacted lives. Represented by Obaro Odeghe, regional bank head, Apapa/chairman, Promo Committee, he said, “Beyond improving the lives of our customers, one of the benefits of the promo exercise is to reward our loyal customers who have been banking with us for over the years, also to key into the financial inclusion policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “One of the criteria is that you must be a savings account holder of Fidelity Bank and the draws are held in a very transparent manner, randomised system where names are shown of those that qualify.”
Nigeria Heart Foundation Endorses Three Crowns Milk BY MBAKAAN KWEN, Abuja
L-R: Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi; chief executive officer, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise, Navin Nahata; vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule and managing director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, during the official flag-off ceremony of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, yesterday.
Work On Warri-Itakpe Rail Line Reaches Advanced Stage BY FIDELIS UGBOMEH, Lagos
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said plans have reached advanced stage to commission the Warri-Itapke standard gauge rail line which would enhance rail transportation especially at the industrial complexes particularly in Delta and Kogi States, Managing director, NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria , speaking at a one-day retreat on the 2018 strategic direction of the corporation for senior management staff held at Oyibu Town, near Agbor in Delta State, said the retreat was meant to encourage team work in the evaluation of the preceding year’s key performance as well as provide platform to fashion out strategic master plan that would be
a guiding and working document for implementation by all the respective departments towards operational proficiency in the transportation industry. In his presentation at the retreat, Okhiria said the 2018 strategic direction include Improving on rolling stock availability, inculcating staff discipline, support and encourage contractors on the completion of all the on-going railway modernisation projects. Compliance to these he said, was imperative for optimal operational and administrative productivity. Okhiria tasked the management to build more interdepartmental synergy that is devoid of bottle-necks which hinders prompt response to official matters, resulting in blame game syndrome as against the prompt transparent collective
responsibility principles. Earlier in his speech, chairman of the Corporation , Engr. Usman Abubakar, charged the staff to brace up to the challenges that would be associated with the ongoing railway modernisation projects across the country such as operational timeliness, top class customer services and regular information dissemination which are fundamentals in modern transportation business. He commended the management and the entire staff of the NRC, for their resilience and hard work despite, some short comings adding that the management was proffering solution in order to assist tremendously in achieving higher level of operational performance beyond last year.
Ogun Mandates 15 Industries To Install Treatment Plants BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos
The Ogun State government has compelled more than 15 industries across the industrial regions of the state to install effective effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to take care of their waste water. This, according to the state government, was meant to address pollution and safeguard the environment. Commissioner for environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye, who made this disclosure through his media aide, Mr. Goke Gbadamosi, to commemorate the 2018 World Water Day, said the
state government had become more aggressive in enforcing the obligatory duty of industrial facilities to install ETPs to protect the state’s ground and surface water bodies. Oyeleye said the release of toxic substances from industrial processes to the environment portends long term effects that could be detrimental to the health of the people, adding that, the state’s status as industrial hub of the country had mandated the ministry to be alive to its core responsibility of monitoring effluent discharge of industries. “Within the last three years, more than
15 industries had been obliged to put in place ETPs while several others have had to either expand the capacity of existing ones or reactivate them. Presently, several others are on the verge of full compliance with this requirement,” he said. The commissioner noted that the unregulated exploitation of groundwater in the state had serious consequences for the environment, saying, this had become imperative for the state government to introduce water abstraction regulations for the benefit of the future generations. “Groundwater is something that we need all over the world.
The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has endorsed Three Crowns Milk from the stable of FrieslandCampina WAMCO as heart friendly and offering complete nourishment. The recommendation which came during the 30th anniversary of the product in partnership with NHF to promote healthy eating habits and active lifestyle recognised it as the first dairy brand endorsed with the NHF. Managing director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Ben Langat said , “Three Crowns milk considers it a great privilege to partner with the Nigerian Heart Foundation in promoting healthy options for consumers. We understand the important role
food plays in reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases. It is because of the close link between diet and health that our company and the Nigerian Heart Foundation, have come together today to endorse Three Crowns as the heart friendly milk brand. “As Three Crowns marks her 30th anniversary of delivering complete nourishment to Nigerians, the brand in partnership with the Nigerian Heart Foundation will promote, encourage and empower Nigerians to live healthy lives. This is significant because Three Crowns milk is the first dairy brand to be endorsed with the Nigerian Heart Foundation ‘Heart Check’ logo, ” Langat said.
Experts Assure Nigerians On Safety Of Banks BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos
Following insinuations that some banks are weak and illiquid, the national legal adviser, All Progressive Congress(APC), Dr. Muiz Banire, and Prof. Gbolahan Elias, has assured Nigerians on safety of Nigerian banks, even though, some are stronger than the others. Speaking on the ‘Roles of AMCON and NDIC in the Liquidation of Banks,’ at the 21st annual symposium/launch of AlQalam Magazine of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria(MSSN), Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus branch, in Lagos, both experts agreed that some were stronger than the others, but that no bank can be categorised as being weak, especially, with different
safety mechanism put in place by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) through the Nigerian Deposits Insurance Corporation(NDIC) and Assets Management Company Of Nigeria(AMCON). Elias, on his part, said, while NDIC insures the deposits of banks, should any bank shows any sign of distress, AMCON is there to take over the company and reshape it to ensure that it is suitable for investors who are willing to invest in such bank. He cited the case of Afribank, now Mainstreet Bank, Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank and Spring Bank now Heritage Bank, saying, instead of allowing the banks to be liquidated, the AMCON solution protects the interest of the depositors, while allowing new investors to take them over.
March 30, 2018
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Hyundai Launches New-Generation Accent In Africa, Middle East Markets BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos
Hyundai has officially launched the fifth generation of its popular Accent small car in Africa and Middle East markets, building on the strengths of previous models with Hyundai’s latest design and engineering innovations while also maintaining Accent’s unbeatable value proposition for buyers. Highlights of the new model include a completely new exterior design and comfortable high-tech interior. More efficient powertrains deliver an outstanding combination of performance and fuel economy, with a choice of 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter engines, including a diesel available in some markets, matched to a six-speed transmission in either manual or automatic. Other advances include reduced cabin noise and remarkably improved driving dynamics, both helped by a stronger bodyshell, and a selection of the latest safety and
convenience features offered either as standard or as options. The All-new Accent is also slightly longer and wider than the previous model, including an increased distance between the front and rear wheels, giving occupants more leg and shoulder room. Commenting on the new car, Hyundai’s Head of Operations for Africa and the Middle East, Mike Song said “This new model makes several key improvements on the previous Hyundai Accent, which was already an excellent car and very popular with customers. Design and engineering are completely fresh, ensuring a car that looks superb, is enjoyable to drive, with high levels of safety, and will be economical to own.” The design of the new Accent exhibits confidence and sophistication, delivering a new interpretation of Hyundai’s design language. This includes Hyundai’s signature cascading grille – a design element being introduced across the brand’s product range. The grille
is flanked by wraparound headlights and optional LED signature daytime running lights, while sharp character lines run the length of the car to the slim LED wraparound tail lights. Accent’s interior continues the modern, confident, sophisticated theme of the exterior. A driver-oriented layout with intuitive controls combines with improved interior roominess, highquality materials and premium technology features. Premium, soft-touch materials in key points create an inviting and comfortable environment for the driver and passengers. A wide instrument panel prominently features a standard backup camera system via the touchscreen LCD display. Beneath the screen, the control panel is laid out in a horizontal design with buttons and controls logically grouped by function. Other convenience features available include a proximity key with push button start, dual USB charging, and auxiliary
input jacks. Standard safety features include electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes, as well as emergency stop signal, which automatically flashes the brake lights when the driver brakes heavily. Available options include a six-airbag system, static bending headlights to provide better illumination of the road through corners, and auto cruise control. The body is stronger than the previous model, with torsional rigidity improved through the increased use of advanced high strength steel and structural adhesives. The New-generation Accent features several improvements to the front side members and inner side sill for improved collision protection. The front crumple zones have been increased, front side airbags have been upgraded, and reinforcements have been added to improve the car’s collision energy management performance, especially in small overlap crashes.
HYundai Accent
MOTORING
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TNL Awards Prizes, Certificates To Winners Of 2018 Dream Car Art Contest Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has awarded prizes and certificates to winners of the 12th Dream Car Art Contest held on the 10th of February 2018 in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, including the one held in Lagos on the 17th of February 2018. The winners were presented with the awards and certificates recently as part of fulfillment of the company’s commitment to Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, a CSR initiative of Toyota Motor Corporation Japan to develop the innate artistic talent in children and to cultivate an enduring relationship with them. So far, Toyota distributors and dealers alike at the global level have keyed into this initiative because of its acceptance and impact on children’s psyche the world over. The nine winners were invited to the award of prize and certificate ceremony at Toyota (Nigeria) Limited corporate headquarters in Lekki on the 17th of March 2018. Among the nine winners, two were from PortHarcourt, one from Abuja, one from Jos and five from Lagos. The winners’ parents, teachers and well-wishers were entertained and winners went home with Laptops, other corporate gifts and most importantly, winner’s certificate. In a chat after the ceremony, the managing director of Toyota (Nigeria), Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo Limited expressed his resolve to continue to support this laudable CSR initiative. He said: “Toyota (Nigeria) Limited believes in tapping into the minds of children towards helping them realize their God-given talent and express it positively. He added that the platform will help build the confidence of
these budding artists and future leaders in the creative world. We have been doing this for about seven years now and we will continue to organize the contest annually as long as it remains relevant to our CSR objectives”. He also encouraged all to begin to practice from now till the contest comes up in 2019 in order to increase their chances of winning in the keenly contested event. Each winner presented his/ her drawing; explaining the concept of their drawings typified the guidelines of originality, creativity, environmental friendliness, safety and future relevance. They also urged Toyota to manufacture their dream car in the future. In addition, one of the winners Tosin Shike Deborah Ogundeji gave vote of thanks on behalf of the entire winners and expressed gratitude for the occasion and thanked Toyota (Nigeria) Limited for the opportunity given to them to prove their talents. Also, one of the parents, Dr Francis, thanked the management of TNL for giving the children the opportunity to exhibit their creativity. He opined that the event would leave an indelible and sweet memory in the mind of the children. In attendance were the Head of Marketing Department, Mr. Andrew Ajuyah, Public Relations Manager, Mrs. Bukunola Ogunnusi, Chief Security Officer, Mr Aliu Umar, Managing Director of Black Sea Mr Stanley Salami and the Managing Director of Freddie Scott Associates Mr Kayode Adeleye. Prior to the contest, accreditation had started at 8:00am to 9:30am and the contest commenced at 10:00am at different venues where it held.
Kia Reveals First Glimpse Of All-New K900 Luxury …Set f
Created in close collaboration between Kia’s global design headquarters in Namyang, Korea and the brand’s U.S. design studio in Irvine, California, Kia Motors has revealed the design of the all-new K900 in a series of exterior and interior images. The new model will however, make its world debut at the New York International Auto Show later on March 28. Combining a beautifully balanced design with elegant, flowing lines and geometric details, the K900 introduces a modern air of elegance and
gravitas to the large sedan segment. Based conceptually on the changing shape of condensed energy, a new ‘Quadric pattern’ signature grille is the focal point of the K900. Embodying the K900’s design concept, the grille contains 176 jewel-like ‘cells’, suggestive of released energy accelerating away from its center. Lines in the high-strength steel bodywork flow naturally from the grille, rising over the hood and, in profile, sweeping through to the rear flanks
before meeting at the back. Geometric design details add an element of modernity and technology. Evoking the trajectory of light, the design of the ‘Duplex’ LED headlamps provides the K900 with a visually progressive, high-prestige image. In profile, a chrome flash adds visual depth to the smooth bodywork, running along the base of the doors and around the lower rear section of the K900. The chrome window-line adds a degree of technicality
and structure to the freeflowing C-pillar before it merges with the rear deck. The tail lights and exhaust housings are also finished with fine chrome details. A key element in the design of the all-new K900 comes from its new platform and elongated proportions. Longer and wider than its predecessor, the wheelbase of the new model has been extended by 60mm (2.3 inches) to 3,105mm (122.2 inches), while both the front and rear overhangs are shorter, pushing the wheels further out
to the corners of the car. This subtle change to the K900’s proportions is a strong expression of space, while underpinning improvements in ride quality and creating greater passenger room on the inside. Elegant by design, and with a high-class, minimalist layout, the interior of the new K900 provides the driver and passengers with a peaceful retreat in which to spend time. Kia has also developed a series of more expressive features for occupants to enjoy. Infinity Tyres Opens
Kaduna Sales, Service Outlet To increase its sales network and serve its numerous clients effectively, Infinity Tyres Limited recently inaugurated its retail facility in Kaduna, Kaduna State. Located on Ali Akilu Road in Kaduna, the centre is expected to provide services such as tyre changing for all kinds of tyres, wheel balancing, wheel alignment, nitrogen air filling etc. Leading global tyre brands such as Pirelli, Goodyear, Ceat, Infinity will be made available to the customers.
24 MARITIME
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Cargo Diversion To Neighbouring Countries Imminent Over Return Of NAFDAC To Ports – Shippers (MDAs) and with the active support of the Office of the National Security Shippers, importers and clearing agents Adviser (ONSA), NAFDAC is returning operating at the nation’s seaports have to ports and borders to “effectively hinted that there will be cargo diversion control the importation of narcotic drugs to neighbouring countries over return of and chemical substances identified to be sacked government agencies to the ports. grossly abused and posing public health In separate interviews with and security threats to the nation”. LEADERSHIP, the President, Shippers’ On his part, Farinto said the agency Association of Lagos State (SALS), Rev. should key into the NICIS 11 of the Jonathan Nicol and the National Publicity Customs Service instead of returning to Secretary (NPS) of the Association of the port. Nicol said: “I think by and large, Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents everyone is getting wiser now in the port (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto disclosed system and with time we can see that. If that the return of National Agency for the burden of payment of different fees Food Drug Administration and Control is too much for shippers, the country (NAFDAC) to the port will further will lose cargoes and that is the major increase cargo dwell time. things we are fighting against but if the LEADERSHIP recall that the Nigerian government wants all agencies to come to Ports Authority (NPA), had earlier sacked the port, we won’t say no because they are the NAFDAC, Standard Organization of the government but whatever they see let Nigeria (SON) and other agencies from them take. the ports. But, the director-general of He said: “The owners of the ports is the NAFDAC, Professor Christianah Adeyeye Nigeria Customs Service and they are well said in collaboration with relevant equipped to do what NAFDAC could do Ministries, Departments and Agencies in terms of examination because they have BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos
well equipped laboratory. I think what we notice is that most of the agencies when they are broke, the next point of call is the port; they will find a way to go into the port to make money but when Dora Akinyuli was handling NAFDAC, we are not having problems at all. So, I don’t know what they forget that they want to take back.’’ He also argued that returning NAFDAC to the port is an affront on the government ease of doing business. According to him, the government has moved 20 steps backward and increased bottle necks in the cargo clearance process. “There is nothing like ease of doing business again and I have said it that ease of doing business is dead because practically the government is killing ease of doing business with policy inconsistencies. Return of NAFDAC will add additional bottle necks and now that majority of these agencies are online and have their Standard Operating Procedures SOP with NICIS 2 of the Customs, NAFDAC can work better in their offices than coming back to the port,’’he said.
March 30, 2018
Nigerian Seafarers Languish In Prisons Nationwide The Mission To Seafarers, an international NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) has raised the alarm over high rate of Nigerian seafarers languishing in cells across the country. The group also identified unemployment among seafarers as contributory factor to high crime rate in the country. The mission to seafarers is an international, nongovernmental, and non-profit making organisation established by an Anglican priest as a social responsibility of the church to the society. Presently, the mission has its existence in over 150 countries of the world with relationship with over 200 ports across the globe and international headquarters in the United Kingdom. However, speaking in Lagos with journalists, the Chaplain, Mission to Seafarers, Francis Duroja, argued that government agencies in the maritime industry have abandoned the seafarers in prison. He said: “When we go to prisons, we meet the foreign seafarers who are few in number, but the Nigerian seafarers there
are more, and because the board receives more support from foreigners than Nigeria, you can imagine what would happen, so they would want to assist more foreign seafarers before coming to the Nigerian Seafarers. “The National Seafarers’ Welfare Board is even being supported mainly by international bodies; they get little or no support from the local agencies. If there is a situation whereby our government, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is heavily supporting the National Seafarers Welfare Board, it would not be a problem taking it upon ourselves to attend to needs of the Nigerian seafarers,’’ he said. The Chaplain also noted that because of the attitude Nigerian agencies showed towards indigenous seafarers, international body doesn’t take Nigerian Seafarers serious. “What I discovered was that, the international body is more interested in the welfare of the international seafarers that come into the country more than the welfare of Nigerian seafarers, they believe that Nigeria should be able to take care of its seafarers.
Shippers’ Council Has Restored Importers’ Confidence To Nigerian Ports – ICAN
L-R: Representative of the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Niran Olajobi; assistant director, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mrs. Celine Ifeora; managing director/chief executive officer, Cowry Asset Management and keynote speaker, Mr Johnson Chukwu; president, Shipping Correspondents Association Of Nigeria (SCAN), Mr Yusuf Babalola; manager, Audit, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Sarah Oghomienor (representing the MD), and head, Shipping Development, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Mr. Tony Ogadi, during the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) maiden seminar on port charges held in Lagos, recently.
Pirates, Shallow Draft Making Eastern Ports Unattractive – Stakeholders
Operators at the Eastern Ports are yet to heave any sigh of relieve as incessant pirate attacks, sea robberies and shallow draft have been attributed to the reasons why importers are refusing to import through the Eastern ports. Speaking in Port Harcourt during a stakeholders’ meeting, recently, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and stakeholders in the maritime industry decried incessant attacks on vessels by pirates on the country’s waterways. The managing director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, who was represented by the executive director Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello, said
that the NPA is collaborating with the Nigerian Navy to provide security for vessels. According to her, the narrow and shallow Bonny Channel did not help matters as it made Nigeria Liquefied Gas vessels passing through it susceptible to attacks by pirates. The Managing Director emphasised the need to dualise the channel to allow two vessels to pass through it at the same time. She however said the dualisation would involve the Federal Ministry of Transport, NPA and others. But, stakeholders had earlier noted
that there was the need to address the insecurity challenge at the port as a matter of urgency. “During one of the attacks, crew members ran into the engine room to hide while the vessel floated’’, describing the situation as “risky’’. According to the stakeholders, the management should also tackle the dredging and dualisation of the Bonny Channel. The stakeholders said some importers had diverted their ships to the Republic of Benin to discharge their cargoes; a situation they said had caused loss of revenue to the Federal Government.
A man’s behaviour is the index of his mind.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has commended the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for restoring importers’ confidence and sanity into the nation’s port system. The institute gave this commendation during a courtesy visit on the association in Lagos, recently. The President of the Institute, Ismaila Zakari who was represented by Dame Onome Adewuyi, charged the council to ensure that Nigerian ports become the number one in Africa and the whole world. The ICAN boss also said that the responsibilities of the council is very critical to the development of the nation’s economy. “Listening to the Executive Secretary representative we have learnt a lot of things about the council. We now know that the council is very critical to the survival of this country. We know that we need operator for everybody to operate in the sector but we want to charge the Council to continue to push and let the ports in Nigeria be the number one ports in Africa and indeed the world. Let us be
another Singapore and a hub in Africa that everybody will like to come and do business” He also applauded the council for the good Job done in reforming the Nigerian ports saying that it has brought high patronage to Nigerian ports by importers. “Several years ago we learnt Nigerians go to neighbouring ports like Cotonou to clear their cargos due to the challenges we have in the ports but we don’t hear that anymore. I want you to give credit to yourselves that you have worked on all the bottlenecks that we have at the ports, I say congratulations.” Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, disclosed that the council boast of capability because they ensure that the staff with proper qualification are employed. “Thank you for finding out time to come here, we are proud of the quality of staff that we have. We have been able over the years to boost of capability because we ensure that we put in place the necessary staff with all the necessary qualifications to do the needful,’’ he said.
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Bernard Okhakume MC & A Weekly Digest market consumer advertising 08053040003
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mcaandadigestweekly@gmail.com
rom my position as a participatory observer, I have come to the conclusion that there is a sectorwide confusion in the banking industry. The buy-side is agreed on loss of essence. It leaves observers with same negative emotion with the pensions’ sub-sector; another confused group. The commonality of work instruments, essence and character, pushes a whole world of similarity of purpose for these two; one that is evidently betrayed. True, one may be guilty of harried judgement or rush to conclusion in manner of prejudice, but be sure we are only reportorial, with a small flavour of commentary that at best, betrays our involvement as either ombudsmen or advocates. The concern is strong, in the face of blatant disregard to public reaction, mentioning the least. Let’s put forward the following questions, to help self-appraisal and opportunity of response from among Bankers: Could it be the banking sector is not selfappraising? Can the industry players really say nothing is wrong with the trade and practice, as it is today? Would the players say there is no difference (in the negative) between what used to be between years 1960 - 1974/80 and now (1997 to present day) Are there still institutional regulations and regulators in place? If the answer to the immediate above is Yes, have they not charted a downward trend in the critical rating indicators of character, discipline, professionalism, service relevance, essence, sense of purpose and service delivery over time? We can go on and on, but let’s shorten the scope of conversation for now. However, there is clearly a whole world of difference between what obtains now and the traditional institution of commercial banking, in the negative. Somehow, there is a disconnect in tradition, which reminds me of professional training schools established by banks in the olden days, to help generational knowledge transfer and sustenance of established professional standards. We shall stop-short of mentioning names, but the old generation banks stood as brands, in the real sense, and to so-play they had own-training schools in the real sense, which helped them sustain distinguishing brand characters, corporate philosophy, brand personality, and brand promises. Banking, as a system, was service-focused and collaboratively competitive; each bank brand had something to offer, and that one thing to be known for. Which Of The Commercial Banks Of Today Has A Training School (not in-house training programs that are either outsourced or organised as interventions)? Consequent upon declining professional corporate management structure, commercial banks have grown into confusion. Commercial banks are an integral part of Nigerian society, and their essence is dependent upon prevalent societal needs.
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Commercial Banking Is Confused (1)
Evolution challenges its integral parts in the direction of change, as growth partners, and as a duty. Commercial banking in immediately post-independence Nigeria, served the purpose of monetary storage, payments and institutional dispensation, a need-range in line with prevalent economic activities at that time. Economic activities were largely government-driven, with about 28 per cent private sector involvement (mainly agricultural produce sales and merchandising). European trading companies were driving what was Direct Foreign Investment, using our locals as middlemen. So, it was that the Barclays Bank of this world was Everywhere. Commercial banking needs and service delivery were rudimentary and traditional, facilitating commodity trading and commerce. Salaries were in small volume and handed out to civil servants and staffers of corporations such as Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), Inland Waterways Department, Nigerian Ports Authority, and the likes, on paydays. No bank transfers. Consumer service needs was near-zero. Immediately after the Nigerian civil war, reconstruction and reintegration stepped up economic activities, private sector activities stepped up, with the entrance of talented individuals hitherto constrained by the civil war. Then, commercial banks assumed greater level of importance in their traditional roles. Yet, they were more clerical than tactical. Nothing challenged them in the direction of creativity as it is now. There was a gap in skill-set and knowledge base expansion that left the system unprepared for the disruptive changes that happened around 1980s. Not sure if the central bank system was also prepared, but we know certain banking wiz-kids that came up with the innovative banking practice in the 1980s till when the bubble burst at about 2007/7, left
everybody guessing the essence of commercial banks, in view of its new direction. At some point, some industry players so confused the system, universal banking system licenses that permitted combo commercial & merchant banking together showed up. So, when the new generation banks came into play, and changing the dynamics, the entire banking industry was left in confusion. Old generation banks were rushing to tag along, not certain if the new market was leaving them behind. The likes of Union, First and UBA managed to fund the learning process and competition by drawing on diversified investment and international market presence. Emergent new generation banks redefined the core of banking business for hawkish profit optimisation. In spite of their traditional service orientation, none of the old generation banks prepared for the size of profit earning the new generation introduced to the market within five years of entrance. The new orientation was simply callous. But then, the business dynamics changed. Focus changed from customer service to profit optimisation. Commercial banks are designed basically to attract deposit, lend to investors at regulated interest rate, and provide other interest-earning financial services. It is within this ambit of function that those who called themselves banking wiz-kids, perpetuated so much ill that turned commercial banks against the public it should serve, as it is today. We call on the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to join us at MC&A DIGEST to question commercial banks as follows: Do savings account holders still earn interests on their deposit (if Yes, at what rate)? Do savings account holders pay to operate their account in any way or form (are they charged for the use of Automatic Teller Machines - ATM)?
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
Can they differentiate between cost-attractive and cost-free services to their customers? Which aspects of their services are complementary, such that supports their brand person, for competitive engagement? What portion of their loans portfolio is targeted at small real growth sector? And how much of this is invested in small/medium scale investors in the private sector? How much have they supported skill acquisition/appreciation and investment? What are the cost components of techinjection in commercial banking operations, and how much of this is passed to customers? Our (hypothetical) position at MC&A DIGEST is that commercial banks are now predatory in nature and character. We are presently conducting a survey on the structure of banking services, towards answering the questions raised above. But until we publish our report, we like to leave our readers and the commercial banks with the fact that over 70 per cent of commercial bank customers are unhappy with the present system as it is entirely self-serving, unfriendly and antithetical to economic growth in the real sense. By the way, let me put Guaranty Trust Bank on notice, because I am preparing a report to the CPC on a personal sad experience. It happened that a little over a month ago, I mistakenly sent some money to an unintended recipient at UBA, from my GTB Account. I reported to GTB branch at Anthony Village, Lagos, and was made to call and send an email to GTConnect after a long delay. In about two days, GTConnect sent a reply to say the case is closed, and that they have contacted UBA, and that whatever happens then on, is at the discretion of UBA and the unintended recipient. Till date, I am still waiting. Surely, GTB is shaming itself, as I will do all I can within the law to make them responsible. We shall continue this ‘conversation.’
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Breakthrough with
S
Prof M.K Othman (PhD) mkothman@gmail.com
till talking about GSM invention and its tremendous impact on global communication. GSM is not a creation of a single individual but collective efforts of personalities; mainly scientists, policy makers and business people. Part IV of this article, presented the famous roles, which successfully brought out GSM for public use globally. Important personalities across Europe, who played “the behind the scene roles” to fine-tune GSM, were Armin Silberhorn (Germany), Stephen Temple (UK), Philippe Dupuis (France), Renzo Failli (Italy) and Thomas Haug (Switzerland), respectively. GSM (Groupe Spécial Mobile) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such as phones and electronic tablets. As mentioned in the previous part of this article, Finland was the first country to use GSM in December 1991, which was followed by several other countries. As of 2014, GSM had become the global standard for mobile communications with over 90 per cent market share, operating in over 190 countries across all the continents. GSM is a cellular network that allows cell phones connect to it by searching for cells in the immediate vicinity. There are five distinct cell sizes in a GSM network— macro, micro, pico, femto, and umbrella cells. The coverage area (20 to 35 km – diameter) of each cell varies according to the implementation environment. Macro cells can be regarded as cells where the base station antenna is installed on a mast or a building above average rooftop level. Micro cells are cells whose antenna height is under average rooftop level; they are typically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells whose coverage diameter is a few dozen meters; they are mainly used indoors. Femto cells are cells designed for use in residential or small business environments and connect to the service provider’s network via a broadband Internet connection. Umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between those cells. Over the years from 1991 to date, users of GSM expanded exponentially to about 7 billion people Worldwide. The use of GSM expansion continued alongside the improvement of the services being offered by GSM. Thus, the second generation (2G) networks were developed as a replacement for first generation (1G) analog cellular networks, and the GSM standard, originally described as a digital, circuitswitched network, was optimised for full duplex voice telephony. This expansion was achieved over time to include data communications, first by circuit-switched transport, then by packet data transport via GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)
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Recognising Second Generation Inventors (V)
and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, or EGPRS). Subsequently, the 3GPP developed third-generation (3G) UMTS standards, followed by fourthgeneration (4G) LTE Advanced standards, which do not form part of the ETSI GSM standard. As astonishing as GSM technology, which can best be described as the miracle of the 21st century in global communication, yet, it can’t provide satisfactory service without the two complementary items – cell phone and GSM service providers or operators. One of the key features of GSM is the Subscriber Identity Module, commonly known as a SIM card. The SIM is a detachable smart card containing the user’s subscription information and phone book. This allows the user to retain his or her information after switching cell phones. Alternatively, the user can also change operators while retaining the cell phone simply by changing the SIM. Now who invented cell phone? Wireless transmission of voice messages through radio started about 100 years ago. However, use of mobile devices to receive and transmit voice messages wirelessly and also capable of connecting to the standard telephone network, is a recent event. The first of such devices was barely portable compared to today’s compact hand-held devices, and their use was gauche. Early devices were bulky, consumed high power, and the network supported only a few simultaneous conversations. Modern cellular networks allow automatic and universal use of mobile phones for voice, images and Internet data communications. Unlike GSM, mobile phones invention could be wholly credited to one single individual, Martin Cooper, an American Engineer, although, the advances in the development of mobile telephony started during the period of Second World War, in the 1940s when military made use of radiotelephony links. Hand-held radio transceivers were then available at the warfronts for wireless communication. From the time Martin invented mobile phone, it has undergone series of improvements up to the first-generation (1G) analog cellular network, secondgeneration (2G) digital cellular networks, third-generation (3G) broadband data services to the state-of-the-art, fourthgeneration (4G) native-IP networks. Martin “Marty” Cooper was born on December 26, 1928 to Mary Cooper and Arthur Cooper during the Great Depression in Chicago, Illinois, USA. His parents; Arthur and Mary had emigrated to USA from Ukraine, former USSR (Russia). Martin is a pioneer in the wireless communications industry, especially in radio spectrum management, with 11 patents in the field to his credit. According to Wikipedia, Martin made the mobile invention while working as
General Manager of Motorola in the 1970s, it was the first handheld cellular mobile phone (distinct from the car phone) in 1973 and led the team that developed it and brought it to market in 1983. For this reason, he is considered the “father of the cell phone” and is also cited as the first person in history to make a handheld cellular phone call in public. Martin made the first wireless mobile phone call on April 3, 1973. He took an early model of Motorola’s DynaTAC phone, which was a brick phone weighing 2.5 pounds, measuring nine inches long and five inches deep, and featuring about 20 minutes of battery life in the streets of New York City. He pressed the phone’s “off hook” button and he made a call to the landline of Bell Labs, where he was connected to his counterpart, Joel Engel. “Joel, this is Marty,” he gleefully said, “I’m calling you from a cell phone, a real handheld portable cell phone.” “As I walked down the street while talking on the phone,” Martin later admitted, “sophisticated New Yorkers gaped at the sight of someone actually moving around while making a phone call,” Martin told Mail online of 5th April 2011, “remember that in 1973, there weren’t cordless telephones, let alone cellular phones (in America), I made numerous calls, including one where I crossed the street while talking to a New York radio reporter - probably one of the more dangerous things I have ever done in my life”. Then, it was an incredible scene beyond human comprehension. Thereafter, he allowed the reporters make their own calls too, using the mobile device for verification that the invention actually worked and they weren’t the victims of an elaborate hoax. What was his motivation? He was also quoted saying “People want to talk to other people - not a house, or an office, or a car. Given a choice, people will demand the freedom to communicate wherever they are, unfettered by the infamous copper wire. It is that freedom we sought to vividly demonstrate in 1973”. From when they started, it took Motorola staggering 10 years before Motorola finally introduced the Dyna-TAC, the first commercially available mobile phone, into service in 1983. The device weighed 1lb and cost a staggering $3,500 (£2,170) at time of the release. Martin Cooper’s role in conception and development of the first portable cellular phone impacted his choice to start and lead ArrayComm, a wireless technology and systems company founded in 1992. ArrayComm’s core adaptive antenna technology increases the capacity and coverage of any cellular system and significantly lowers costs while making cellular calls more reliable. The technology addresses what Cooper calls “the unfulfilled promise” of cellular, which should be, but still isn’t as reliable or affordable as wired telephone
Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it.
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Martin Cooper, the inventor of mobile phone services. ArrayComm has also used its adaptive antenna technology to make the Internet more “personal” by creating the i-BURST Personal Broadband System, which delivers high-speed, mobile Internet access that consumers can afford. “It’s very exciting to be part of a movement toward making broadband available to people with the same freedom to be anywhere that they have for voice communications today,” Martin was quoted by an online publication “ThoughtCo” on 19th April 2017. He further said. “People rely heavily on the Internet for their work, entertainment, and communication, but they need to be unleashed”. Martin is a co-founder of numerous communications companies with his wife and business partner Arlene Harris. He is co-founder and current chairman of Dyna LLC, in Del Mar, California. Cooper also sits on committees supporting the US, such as Federal Communications Commission and the United States Department of Commerce.
To be continued next week
People want to talk to other people - not a house, or an office, or a car. Given a choice, people will demand the freedom to communicate wherever they are, unfettered by the infamous copper wire
ISLAM COLUMN / 27
March 30, 2018
Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: deedat@gmail.com
Nigeria’s Travel Agencies: How Genuine? How Committed?
I was the Guest Speaker in the one-day National Symposium on Hajj organised by Manara TV Satellite Television on Saturday, March 10th, 2018 in Abuja; the paper I presented is what I share with my readers today. Enjoy:
Let me start by congratulating Manara TV for organising this National Symposium. I hope its management will make it an event, bringing together Hajj stakeholders to speak on the operations of this fifth pillar of our faith. You should consider giving awards for excellence to state Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and agencies, as well as private Hajj operators in the future. This will encourage better service delivery to the pilgrims. Let me address the topic: Nigeria’s Travel Agencies: How Genuine? How Committed? There are travel agencies, and there are private Hajj operators. Every private Hajj operator is a travel agent, but not every travel agent is a private Hajj operator. A travel agency is a going concern for the directors of which could be Muslims as well as non-Muslims. The company could have among its commercial activities the sale of alcohol and other non-Islamic activities. A private Hajj company, otherwise called Hajj tour operator, must be wholly owned by Muslims, and its article and memorandum of association must not contain dealings in any Islamically proscribed business. Thus, the topic should have been: Nigeria’s Private Hajj Operators: How Genuine? How Committed? Formal Hajj tour operations in Nigeria started since 1948 from Kano. ’The trip was by road. It was a joint business owned by three merchants. The leader was Alhaji Muhammadu Nagoda. They bought lorries which conveyed pilgrims to Sudan, which was the land route terminus for all West African pilgrims for centuries, and they put them on ships at Port Suakin, close to Port Sudan to cross the Red Sea and arrive in Jeddah. They charged each pilgrim 20 pounds. The journey usually lasted six months. This was the beginning of what my company and hundreds of other companies do today. ‘When in 1948 the trio of Alhaji Mahmud Dantata (1922-1983), Alhaji Haruna Kassim and Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gashash, established the West African Pilgrims Association (WAPA), the first private Hajj company, things took a rapid turn for the better. There were more lorries and buses which conveyed pilgrims from Kano through Borno then Chad to Sudan. From Sudan, it was as before; they boarded
Sheikh Bala Lau
ships from the coast of Sudan across the Red Sea to Jeddah. ‘WAPA later founded Hajj Air Limited when aircrafts were available. In the same city of Kano, Pilgrims Aid Society (PAS) also arranged air travel for Hajj pilgrims. This went on through the 1950s. Compared with the arduous 6-month ordeal the pilgrims went through by road, air travel was very easy and fast. The West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) was the airline in those days.’ Then, of course, the private Hajj operations passed through many stages to the present era where it is regulated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). In times gone by, some miscreants, in the name of organising Hajj, collected people’s fortune and disappeared into thin air either here in Nigeria. In some cases, upon arrival into Saudi territories, the agents absconded and left the pilgrims stranded. Such dubious characters had no offices or a definite address where they could be reached. Their offices were in their briefcases and the countless telephone numbers with which they lured the deceived people. This image of the swindler was what many grew up knowing about the private operators of Hajj in Nigeria, commonly referred to simply as
‘agents’. Another set of Hajj operators would not run away after collecting people’s money, but whatever they told their clients was a farce. Yes, they had fixed office addresses, members of staff and telephone numbers. But the package they advertised was total guesswork as they only made an assumption on the rates of services in Saudi Arabia, and thus such arrangements did not have the names of hotels in Makkah and Madeenah. The package only mentioned three or four-star hotels, close to the Haram, with good transportation within the holy territories. Vague. The names of the hotels were not mentioned because the agents were guessing at random; they did not have any particular hotel in mind. They did not know the kind of standard of the transportation and other logistics. Unfortunately, these uninformed citizens, who subscribed to such uncertain but enticingly cheap packages, suffered a great deal. The agents kept them in any hotel, however far they were from the Haram since no specific name was given when the package was sold. The same happened in the area of logistics, movements from point to point within Saudia, as well as, in the case of Hajj, in Mashaa’ir - Minaa and Arafaat. I related all these in the past tense because no decent Hajj operator can try such
A heavy purse makes a light heart.
― Egyptian Proverb
thing now as sanctions will follow from NAHCON. Today’s NAHCON-brewed Hajj tour operator is more sophisticated than his predecessors in the industry. His office and relevant documents must conform to the standards stipulated for a going concern in that line of business. NAHCON inspectors have been known to give only 30 minutes’ notice before showing up in a tour operator’s office. May Allah help you if your documents are not in order - Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) incorporation certificate, share capital of₦30,000,000, updated International Air Travel Association (IATA) licence, current tax clearance, etc. The members of staff must be trained with at least two of them certified by IATA for the purposes of ticketing and reservation. Even the ambience of the office will not escape the notice of inspectors who, in order to ensure the safety of life and property, will frown at the absence of fire-extinguishers within the office premises. The inspection extends to the services Hajj tour operators render to their pilgrims in Saudi Arabia - hotels, feeding, transport and the stay in Minaa and Arafaat. The packages are now well thought-out with designated hotels, their proximity to the Haram, and the standard (four or five star) of the accommodation. A meal plan is also mentioned: bed and breakfast, or bed, breakfast and lunch, otherwise called, half board, or bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner, also called full board. Not only that; reservations for the rooms have been made months ago with contracts signed and sealed in terms of payment and general conditions for occupancy, check in and check out time. There is no room for guesswork for any serious company. At the Mashaa’ir, private Hajj operators are only allowed to keep their pilgrims, starting from, the B tents. There are categories of tents from C which is the lowest, to B, then A, and the highest A Plus. The state Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and agencies accommodate their pilgrims in the C category tents. But the starting point for tour operators is B. There are some who use the A tents. Still, for the companies that offer VIP services, their pilgrims enjoy the Additional Services of A Plus tents, which are the zenith. What these tents have in common is that, unlike what obtained in the period of chaos, pilgrims have mattresses, pillows and blankets. Decent food is provided, full board, and where the meal fails to meet the standard set for feeding pilgrims at Minaa and Arafaat, NAHCON ensures that those affected receive a full refund from the service provider.
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FRIDAY DISCOURSE 29
March 30, 2018
BY MALAM YUSUF ABDULLAH 08137666995 (sms only)
In the name of Allah who states “Surely the number of months with Allah is 12 months in Allah’s ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred; that is the right reckoning; therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them, ....” Q9:35
P
eace and blessings of Allah be upon His chosen servant, our master Muhammad and his pure purified progeny. Rajab is the 7th month of Islamic calendar from the four sacred. Muslims were generally encouraged to put in more effort to acquire the pleasure of Allah through prayers, Qur’anic recitation and charity among others. Of the most memorable historic events of the month was the birth of Imam Ali in the first of its great nights in the holy Kaaba. Being the head of the prophet’s household, the Ummah was enjoined to love him and his family as necessary reward for prophetic guidance “... no reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin...” Shuura; 23. The youth forum of the Islamic Movement colourfully marks the event annually. His virtues are highlighted for believers to emulate. In view of this, we will take a look at his blessed life in remembrance of the event. Allamah Ibn Hajar, has narrated in Sawa’iq Chapter 9, that the prophet (S) has said: Behold, this is Ali: he is with the Qur’an and the Qur’an is with him. They shall never part from each other until they come to me at the pool of Kauthar.” It was narrated as recorded in Mustadrak and Kanzul Ummal, that the prophet had said “whoever wishes to live and die like me, and to abide in the Garden of Eden after death, should acknowledge Ali as his patron and follow Ahlul-bait after me, for they are my Ahlul-bait and they have been created out of the same clay, and were blessed with knowledge and understanding as myself. Woe unto those followers of mine who will deny their distinctions and who will disregard their relationship and affinity with me. May Allah never let them benefit from my intercession” On the occasion of farewell pilgrimage, when Imam Ali was sent to collect for deliverance and declaration on the great pilgrimage day, AbuBakr cried saying O messenger of Allah! Reveal something for me. The messenger answered “my lord ordered me that nobody can discharge my duty except myself or Ali” Al-Tabari has narrated as mentioned in Kanzul ummal, Volume: 6 page 153, when marrying out his daughter to Imam Ali, the prophet said, I gave you in marriage to the first one to adhere to Islam from my nation, he is also the
yusmab@
Imam Ali (AS): The Greatest Companion Of The Prophet (S)!
most knowledgeable and most patient among them. Ahmad bin Hanbal has said: “no one among the companions of the messenger of Allah had more virtues than Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Imam al-Nisa’i has written a prominent book -Khasa’isu Ameerul mu’mineen - on the virtues of Imam Ali. On a visit to Damascus, he was asked to produce any such virtues in respect of Mu’awiya out of envy. As he insisted on none, they killed him at the spot! The Sunnis chant - Karramallahu wajhahu - May Allah honour his face when referring to him, in contrast to other companions, was because he was the only one that never prostrated before any being beside Allah the Most High. On the 18th day of Zilhajj, 10 years after hijra, at the pool of Ghadeer, as pilgrims returned to their respective destinations holding his hand, the prophet said; “Do you witness that I have a prior right to and superior authority over all the faithful? They replied yes, o messenger of Allah. There upon he said” Ali is the master of all those of whom I am master. O Allah! Love him who loves him and hate him who hates him, help him who helps him, forsake him who forsakes him, and turn justice with him wherever he turns. To cut it short, Imam al-Shafi’i said “I am surprised about a man whose virtues were kept secret by his enemies out of envy, and by his followers out of fear, but nevertheless, an enormous amount of them spread.” For his unequalled position, he was envied and suffered lots of persecution along with his blessed family. Apparently, he was the greatest companion of the noble messenger (S). And no doubt, he could never be compared with any other in terms of leadership qualities at all. In the story of the children of Israel, they asked their prophet to appoint for them a king with whom to fight in the cause of Allah. “Their prophet said to them; Allah hath appointed Talut as king over you. They said; how can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in abundance? He said Allah has chosen him above you, and has gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess; Allah granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth; Allah is all-embracing, and He knoweth all things” Baqara: 247 Looking at the two criteria, we may ask; did any of the prophet’s companion compare with Imam Ali (AS) with regards to knowledge and bravery? Allah states “Say; are those who know and those who do not know alike? Q39:9. In a well known tradition, the prophet said, “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate”. Abu Bakr, the prominent companion has said, may Allah never put me in a predicament that Abul Hasan cannot solve” just as Umar repeatedly
said’ if it was not for Ali, Umar would have perished. Ibn Abbas, on the other hand, has said “my knowledge and the knowledge of the companions of Muhammad (S) is but a drop in seven seas if compared with Ali’s knowledge”. Thus, Imam Ali has said about himself “ask me before you lose me. By Allah, if you could ask me about anything that could happen up to the Day of Judgment, I will tell you about it. Ask me about the book of Allah, because by Allah there is no Qur’anic verse that I did not know whether it was revealed during the night or the day, or whether it was revealed on a plain or a mountain” Al-Isti’ab, volume, 3 page, 39. “Is he then who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you, how do you judge? Q10:35 Looking at his bravery on the other side, the Imam’s role in defense of Islam and Muslims was generally acknowledged. Statistically, he was believed to have killed more number of enemies than those killed by other companions put together. Did any of the companions compare to him in Badr, Uhud, Hunain and Khandaq among others? After the non-tactical retreats of some famous companions in Khaibar, the prophet said “Tomorrow I will give my flag to a man who loves Allah and His messenger, ever going forward and never retreating, Allah had tested his heart with the faith”. On that very day, he handed over the flag to Imam in whose hands Allah gave the victory. Virtually, the Imam categorically compared to none in knowledge, bravery, brevity, piety and other sterling qualities. But out of envy, some fabricated a number of sayings linking same to the noble messenger and his purified progeny for promotions and demotions on selfish grounds. For example, why could not Imam Ali narrate more with his young age, exceptionally gifted talent and retentive memory? Above all, he was the gate of the city of knowledge and wisdom as repeatedly pronounced by the noble messenger. This is the case with his wife, Fatima (AS), the great daughter of the prophet who could not narrate but few of her father’s sayings? So also her children, described as leaders of youths in paradise by the messenger. However, others transmitted thousands of the prophetic sayings including late converts that accepted Islam few years to the demise of the messenger! It was from such fabrication as well that his parents were thrown to hell. Although they loved the prophet and gave him utmost protection for which the messenger described the year of Abu Talib’s death, which coincided with that of his wife Khadija as the year of sorrow! His wife, Fatima, was martyred before his eyes at the age of 18 in Medina.
A penny soul never came to two pence. — English Proverb
After a very long persecution, the Imam was finally assassinated in Ramadan, 40 years after hijra while leading the Morning Prayer. And his children were mercilessly martyred one after the other by the Umayyad respectively! The Imam was greatly hated by many including companions for one reason or the other. It was on the basis of that enmity that some disallowed the prophetic will to reach his umma! In Bukhari, Ibn Abbas narrated that the prophet was in his last moment and many people had gathered in his house at that time. The prophet said, “I want write a will for you so that you will never go astray after me” Some people said, “the prophet was affected by pain. We have the Qur’an with us; the book of Allah is sufficient for us” people gathered in the house started opposing one another on this point. When the noise increased, the prophet ordered the people to leave him alone. The questions we may ask include; why was the prophet not allowed to write his will? And what would the prophet write if he were allowed? Could we relate the oft-related sayings of the prophet on his pure progeny as would be the will? In relation to this, Abdullahi Ibn Abbas described deterring the messenger of Allah from writing his will as the greatest calamity that has befallen the ummah. And no doubt, the perpetrators must pay expensively being the cause for the misguidance and confusion witnessed today. While urging all to strive more to acquire the pleasure of Allah in this sacred month, I wish to redraw the attention of all justice seeking people regardless of all borders to play their role to secure freedom for Shaikh elZakzaky, his wife and other disciples. No doubt justice delayed is an obnoxious oppression, and injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We pray to Allah to protect the Shaikh, bring an end to the oppression and avenge for the innocent victims of the massacre. Wassalamu alaikum. ➔ TO BE CONTINUED
I am surprised about a man whose virtues were kept secret by his enemies out of envy, and by his followers out of fear, but nevertheless, an enormous amount of them spread
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Agbaji Chinedu Business 1:0:1 Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu 08035004617
Snail meat is now becoming a valued delicacy, both locally and internationally, because of its high protein content and low percentage of cholesterol. The demand for snail for both local and export from Nigeria to Europe, America and Asia, is now a very lucrative business. Snail is a commodity highly demanded by Nigerians and African restaurants abroad. Snail is a source of protein and there are different kinds of snail but not all of them are good and healthy stock for farming and human consumption. However, most of the popular species are archatina marginata, archatina archatina, helix pomatia and helix aspersa. The first two species are usually helical in nature and generally small.Though commercial snail farming is a viable business as a result of demand for matured snail, the subject of this article would centre on the processing and packaging of snails alone. Why Snail Processing And Packaging Business Snail packaging company, is one that processes snails for commercial and retailing purposes. The peculiar challenge of snail food lovers, who battle with the cleaning of snails before it is cooked, grilled or fried for consumption, are taken care of by a snail
Agbaji@yahoo.com
processing and packaging company. The Purpose The purpose of this one stop shop solution is to provide hygienically prepared snails packaged in high quality materials of various kilogram sizes at affordable prices for the convenience and pleasure of customers. The Vision To be the one stop shop of tasty, quality and hygienically prepared and packaged snails for all consumers at the most affordable rates and convenience. The Market For Processed Snail The market customers are, large super stores such as shoprite, NEXT SHOP, Hotels, Joints, Gardens, fast food restaurants such as Genesis fast food, The promise, Mr Biggs, Tantalisers, corporate parties such as wedding, naming/ birthday celebrations, etc, will be your regular customers. They will only need your assurance of regular supply per week. There is also good market for snail meat in the international market if only you can do a good packaging. You can make millions of naira from this vast and inexhaustible market. Snail farmers are
Lectures With
Ustaz Nazeef Ahmad In the name of Allah, all praises due to Allah, His praises and salutations be upon the seal of the prophets and messengers, his companions and those who follow his path. As to what follows, prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a human from among other humans but divinely guided. Allah says interpretation of the meaning ‘say o Muhammad, peace be upon him, I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your lord is one. So, whosoever hopes for the meeting with his lord should work righteously and associate none as a partner in the worship of his lord Q18V110. He removed the ice from his clothing, milked his goats, and did all his work himself. He was the most humble of people. No one was more beloved to the companions than him yet when they saw him, they did not stand up knowing fully well he did not approve of it.. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the last and final messenger. He is the leader of the prophets and messengers, the first person to be resurrected, the first to step his feet into the the paradise, he has been blessed with the best and loftiest place in paradise.
The rasul, peace be upon him, attended funerals of privileged and less privileged, rode on a donkey, the rein of which was of date palm. He said in an authentic hadith, ‘Do not exceed in praising me as the Christians praised Isah, the son of maryam (that they made him the son of God, or God), I am a bondsman of Allah, therefore call me the bondsman of Allah and His messenger’ . That was the humble nature of the messenger of Allah. He gave attention, showed love to all irrespective of their status in the society. His companion by name ‘amr bn a as narrated about him “ The rasuul gave attention, spoke and showed love to the worst person of a nation, so that the person may feel he is being given special attention. He used to give attention and spoke to me also in manner, that I began to feel that I was the best among the community. Therefore, one day, I asked O messenger of Allah , am I better or Abubakar better of? He said Abubakar.....” It had never been the nature of the rasul to talk indecently, nor did he engage himself in the use of obscene language, nor did he shout and talk in bazaars, which is against dignity. He never avenged a bad deed with
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Snail Processing And Packaging Business making huge profit as the global demand for the delicacy increases. In Nigeria, the prices of raw, matured snails go for N250 to N600, depending on the size. How To Process And Package Snail Snail meat must be processed with care to increase the marketability. There are different ways to process snail meat for both local and international markets. Below are the steps to take:The snails should be starved for about 24 hours in other to empty their stomachs. Prepare enough quantity of water by boiling at greater than 70 degrees centigrade and transfer into a bucket or drum. Add enough lumps of alum (potassium or ammonium aluminum sulphate) Transfer the snails into hot water and cover up immediately. After 5 to 10 minutes, Open the lid and pour off the resulting dirt from the hot water, and cool under running tap. With ease, shake off each snail from its shell into clean, cool water Removal of alum, wash in two changes of clean cool water The packaging can be done in two ways for
both local and international markets. Cellophane: The processed snail can be packaged in a cellophane bag and refrigerated before marketing Sun Dry/Cabinet Dryer: You can dry your snail with sun or cabinet dryer to remove the moisture content before marketing. This must be done neatly. Cabinet dryer is most recommended for commercial purpose. Requirements Raw material (Snail) Water and Alum Washing Drum or big plastic bowl Packaging materials Registration of company and with other Agencies Dryer optional Customer base The return on investment is high as the demand is growing daily because it is a white meat and is highly nutritious. The raw material which is snail, is rightly available in Nigeria in large quantity as many people are now into snail farming .
Muhammad: The Perfect Solution (1) a bad one, but forgave it, and therefore will not even mention it. The messenger of Allah is indeed the only solution to the catastrophe of the day, the unjust killings, oppressions, hatred, felonies, misdemeanors, corruption eating the fabric of the society. Al barra bn aazib said ( the messenger of Allah ordered us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven things) then Al barra mentioned the following 1. to pay a visit to the sick inquiring about his health 2. to follow the funeral procession 3. to say to one who sneezes, may Allah be merciful to you if he says praise be to Allah 4. to help the oppressed 5. to honour and accept invitations 6. to help others in fulfilling their oaths These teachings of the noblest of mankind indisputably made islam a perfect and fastest growing religion in the globe, Allah says interpretation of the meaning ( this day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favours upon you. And I have chosen for you Islam as your religion) Allah says:
After us the deluge.
— Australian Proverb
Indeed, you are of a great moral character. (Quran 68:4) Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, was an example for all human beings to follow. His wife, Aisha was asked about his manners, and she said, His manners were the Quran sahihul bukhariy. What she meant was that the Prophet abided by the laws, commands, and prohibitions of the Quran. He said about himself: Allah has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds. Sahihul bukhariy Anas, the son of Malik, served him for 10 years. Anas was with him throughout the day and was knowledgeable of his manners. Anas said about him, The Prophet did not swear at anyone, nor was he rude, nor did he curse anyone. If he desired to reprimand someone, he would say: What is wrong with him, may dust be cast in his face!bukhariy
To be continued next week...
INVALUABLE TIPS FOR LIFE 30.03.2018
How To Improve Students’ Study Skills Studying can be a major hurdle for students. Making the most of study time can be particularly challenging as kids head back to school and try to adjust to new classes and sometimes, even new surroundings.
WORK & CAREER Profitable Business Ideas You Can Start
GROOMING Environmental Science: Ways To Live Sustainably
MARRIAGE How To Make A Good Relationship Great
YOUR HEALTH & YOU Ways To Live Longer
32 FORESIGHT
March 30, 2018 MEETINGS MEETINGS ARE INDISPENSABLE WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING
WORK & CAREER
Profitable Business Ideas You Can Start From Home With Low Capital
YOUR HEALTH AND YOU Dr Usha
uanenga@yahoo.com, 09077887777
Ways To Live Longer CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
Drink in moderation
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
4. Mobile mini snack bar or spot
This is similar to the business explained above. The only difference is that you won’t be cooking but rather will rely on snacks; doughnut, meat pie, buttered bread, toasted bread (buy a toaster, get egg mixer too, so u can toast bread for customers on request), get a cooler, ice block, soft drinks (coca cola, sprite, pepsi, malt, viju milk, etc).
5. Food stuff sales
Food stuff sales focus on stock fish, dried fish, beans, rice, egusi, ogbono, palm oil, vegetable oil, seasoning, and others in large scale/small scale depending on your startup capital. If you do this well, you may end up establishing big food stuff store than you ever imagined. I know people who started small in this but now big and living luxury life like those in entertainment industry.
6. Hair salon - ladies and gents
This business has made so many broke guys and ladies financially independent and still making more. The most thriving is women salon, if you are a guy and you can lower your pride to learn how to make and fix women’s hair, then you are on your way to stardom. All you need is a good location, know your job,
be jovial and free, and money will chase after you. One secret to making money is doing the opposite of what others are doing, break the tradition, defile the rule, how? for instance, if you are a guy, instead of going to learn how to barb and opening a male barber salon, learn how to fix women’s hair and open women hair salon instead. Add manicure and pedicure to this and you are made! Also think of adding makeup section to be handled by guys. Same way, if you are a lady, instead of learning how to fix women’s hair, go for male barber salon and watch all the guys run to your barber shop just to feel your hands on their head. But please, make sure you know your job, learn to do a very distinct and lovely job.
7. Start a marketing company
Marketing and sales are the heart of every business or company, so anybody that can help business and company owners sell their products and services will sure be rich! This is exactly what Facebook, Twitter, etc are doing to make money, they established a platform where people gather to socialize and catch fun, and they monetised their platform by using it to market businesses and companies, hence, driving sales for their products and services.
Women who have two or more drinks a day and men who have three or more may run into detrimental effects ranging from weight gain to relationship problems. But in smaller quantities, alcohol can actually be good for you. A 2010 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology linked light drinking (defined as one drink a day for women and two for men) to significant heart benefits.
Eat fruits and vegetables
Getting fewer than three servings of fruits and vegetables a day can eat away at your health. Nutritional powerhouses filled with fiber and vitamins, fruits and veggies can lower your risk of heart disease by 76% and may even play a role in decreasing your risk of breast cancer . As an added bonus, the inflammation-fighting and circulationboosting powers of the antioxidants in fruits and veggies can banish wrinkles.
CONCLUDED
Focus on fitness
Daily exercise may be the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth. A 2008 study found that regular high-intensity exercise (such as running) can add up to four years to your life, which isn’t surprising given the positive effects working out has on your heart, mind, and metabolism. Even moderate exercise—a quick, 30-minute walk each day, for example—can lower your risk of heart problems.
Don’t smoke
Quitting smoking is perhaps the single most important thing you can do for your health—and your life span. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that women who quit smoking by age 35 add roughly six to eight years to their lives. It’s never too late to kick the habit. Quitting can slow disease and increase survival odds even in smokers who have already caused significant damage to their lungs, like those with early lung cancer or COPD.
CONCLUDED
INFLUENCING PEOPLE
foresight EDITOR Victoria Omuya Usman CONTENT Juliana Agbo, Blessing Bature GRAPHICS Izuagba Uchechi Happiness EDITOR (LEADERSHIP Friday) Winifred Ogbebo
group
CHAIRMAN Sam Nda-Isaiah GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Abdul Gombe CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dele Fanimo
Foresight published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Friday. A number of the articles here are sourced from diverse sources. Please do send your feedback and enquiries to: foresight@leadership.ng
Throw Down Challenge, Call Attention To People’s Mistakes Indirectly The thing that most motivates people is the game. Everyone desires to excel and prove their CHANGE PEOPLE worth. If we want someone to WITHOUT GIVING do something, we must give OFFENSE OR them a challenge and they will AROUSING often rise to meet it. RESENTMENT Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense
or Arousing Resentment. No one likes to make mistakes, especially in front of others. Scolding and blaming only serves to humiliate. If we subtly and indirectly show people mistakes, they will appreciate us and be more likely to improve.
FORESIGHT 33
March 30, 2018
EDUCATION
MISUNDERSTANDING
THE WORST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE IS MISUNDERSTANDING
How To Improve Students' Study Skills students often try to skip this crucial stage in their hurry to start writing (particularly in exams). ...This is counterproductive: a well-structured essay, rich in analysis, well-argued and relevant, scores many more marks than something that you try to work out as you go along. Examiners’ top complaint is that students don’t answer the question. That’s because most students don’t plan. By learning to plan, you can develop your ability to read and interpret, to create logical links and to think laterally. You can stop agonizing over how to introduce and conclude your essay. All this will save you hours of redrafting. And in exams, you’ll score points by the power of thought rather than by purely relying on memory. Knowing that you can do this even under exam pressure is a great confidence-booster.” Even if students have received some instruction on planning before writing, teachers may want to either reaffirm those previous lessons, or add to them. The more students plan, the better their writing will become. With this in mind, EducationWorld offers the following five strategies that target some of the more difficult aspects of studying. Developed by Eileen Tracy , an Oxford-educated expert in study skills, they offer students a new twist on traditional techniques. During the first days of school, try devoting some class time to honing these important skills.
Time Management – This is often one of the more difficult issues for students to tackle. Between time spent in class, after-school activities and family time, there is very little left for anything else. Tracy suggests sitting down and creating a schedule that works for the individual. “While there is (thankfully) no such thing as a perfect time-manager, there are various ways, some of them very structured, others much looser,
to organize different types of workloads. You can adapt them to suit your preferences so that you have a timetable that works for you. The point of time management is to give you time off, too. Properly done, timetabling offers a balanced way of working, releasing you from the anxieties that go with disorganization. Many students find that this improves their motivation.” You can work with your students to help them develop a timetable that provides ample study time as well as appropriate down time to avoid burnout. These EducationWorld resources can help.
Essay Planning
– A common theme explored at EducationWorld is the trepidation many students feel when required to write something. They often feel as though the ability to produce a clear and concise thought on paper is beyond them, and Tracy believes that this is due to a lack of forethought. She suggests that thoroughly planning out the essay before sitting down to write it can be a big step toward improvement: “Planning takes time and practice, which is why
Memory Tricks – Mnemonics is a very old
technique, but one that still works. On its face, it may seem a bit silly, but for many students this is far more effective than strict memorization. Tracy recommends making the process fun: “Mnemonics are a huge variety of creative 'tricks' which stimulate your right brain, making it easier to retain all kinds of information than by rote learning. Mnemonics involve making imaginative associations, so students with good imaginations love these techniques. (They can also help you to regain your imaginative powers if these have been lost.) They are particularly useful in subjects such as biology, chemistry and history where names, facts, figures, dates and sequences need to be learned by heart. However, they’re also helpful in other subjects: for instance, I used them in my English Finals exams to remember lists of key points and dates. Mnemonics bring another benefit: they help you to observe what you remember best. This makes you wiser as to how you should process your learning. Mnemonics take all the worry out of relying on your memory and can put some sparkle into your revision.” CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
MARRIAGE
How To Make A Good Relationship Great CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
5. Create a weekly ritual to check in with one another
It can be short or long but it begins with asking each other what worked and didn’t work about the previous week and what can be done to improve things this coming week. Additionally, use this opportunity to get on the same page wit your schedules, plan a date night and talk about what you would like to see happen in the coming days, weeks, and months in your relationship. Without an intentional appointment to do a temperature check, unmet needs and resentments can build.
6. Keep it sexy
What might change in your relationship if both you and your partner committed to increasing the
behaviors you each find sexy and limiting those that aren’t? Think about this in the broadest form. “Sexy” can certainly refer to bedroom preferences, but it also represents what excites us about our mate in our dayto-day lives. Do yo find it sexy if he/she helps with the housework? Do you find it "unsexy" when he/she uses the restroom with the door wide open? Talk about what it specifically means to "keep it sexy" in your relationship. Be amazed, be humored, be inspired.
7. Get creative about the time you spend together.
Break out of the “dinner and a movie” routine an watch how a little novelty can truly rejuvenate your relationship. On a budget and can’t go big? Jump on the internet to look for “cheap date ideas” and be blown away at the plethora of options. Can’t afford a sitter? Try swapping babysitting time with friends that have kids. It’s free and they will likely be
thrilled to take your kids because they will get to take advantage when they drop their kids at your place.
8. Get it on
Unless you have committed to an asexual partnership, sex, sexual contact and touching (kissing, holding hands, cuddling etc.) are vital components of a romantic relationship. The frequency is of course, up to you and it's imperative that you discuss your ideas about it in order to prevent resentment. Rare are the moments when both partners are “in the mood” at the exact same second, but that doesn’t mean that you have to decline their advances. Remind yourself that you will almost always “get there” after the first few minutes and that an intimate interaction of any kind builds connection and elevates your mood and health. Bear in mind tha you are never required to say “yes.” CONCLUDED
34 FORESIGHT
March 30, 2018
SUCCESS
GROOMING
Environmental Science: Ways To Live Sustainably
SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL, IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS
How To Be An Effective Public Speaker CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
Plant seeds
Try growing your own food. Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; a few square feet on a patio, along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Recycle
Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn’t offer recycling pickup, either find a drop-off location or request the curbside service. Buying products labeled post-consumer lets companies know that recycling is the way to go! For other items, such as CFLs, batteries, cellphones, and electronics, find an appropriate recycler. Be sure to ask electronics recyclers where these materials go for recycling and avoid companies that ship electronic waste overseas for unregulated “recycling” and salvage operations. Goodwill Industries International is one place that accepts electronics for responsible recycling.
Resell and donate items
Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills. Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a secondhand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a nonprofit resale organization (such
GET YOURSELF PROMOTED
as Goodwill) or charity organization (such as the Salvation Army or American Cancer Society) that will redistribute them to those in need.
Drink from the tap
Dependence on bottled water has added more than a million tons of plastic to the waste stream every year. One reason people rely on bottled water is because they believe it’s safer and better tasting than tap water. But most municipal water supplies in the US provide safe, clean, fresh water (and many bottled waters are just bottled from city water supplies anyway). If you don’t like the flavor of your tap water, consider the one-time investment in a filtration system. If you like the convenience of bottled water, purchase refillable bottles and keep one in your fridge, one in your car, and one at the office. Encourage your employer to install filters and offer glasses or reusable bottles at work, too.
Save water
An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use a full flush (for solid waste) or half-flush (for liquid waste). Newer clothes washers can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each load. Smaller changes, such as switching to watersaving shower heads and adding aerators to your sink faucets, are also effective ways to significantly reduce household water use. CONCLUDED
Generate Ideas, Take Ownership
By sharing ideas that save or make money for the company, you illustrate that you deserve more responsibility and a higher income. Your ability and willingness to develop solutions that
grow the company mean you’re very valuable. When you stop thinking in terms of your job description and start thinking in terms of helping the company, that’s when you’ll truly shine. Especially with
startups, managers don’t always have the time and resources to tell you what to do next. By thinking like an entrepreneur, you’ll always stay ahead of the curve, and it’ll make everyone’s lives easier.
Be aware than any holes in your research will be noticed and questioned by someone in the audience, so to prevent any awkward moments make sure there are no holes, sweeping statements or uncertainties. Never assume “no one will notice” or “no one will ask about that”. Always assume someone will ask. Try to think of all the questions you could be asked and make sure that you have an answer. If you think ”I hope no one asks me ……” you can guarantee someone will, so have an answer. However, if you are asked a question you do not know the answer to, then do not be afraid to admit to not knowing, although you can lessen the impact of “I don’t know”, to “I haven’t researched that yet”, or “that is an interesting line of thought, which I hadn’t considered”. Better to bluff why you do know an answer rather than make something up; someone is bound to notice.
Timing You will be given a time for your
speech, sometimes these are flexible (between 10-15 minutes for example) which is good, as going over time is bad manners. However, if you are told you have 20 minutes make sure you stick to it, as you cannot rush your lecture to finish as this will affect delivery, and you do not want to be stopped before the end. If you have a time slot of 20 minutes, for example, the audience will know this, and will start fidgeting as you go over time, which is distracting for you, and you are certain they are not listening, but rather thinking about their lunch or tea-break. Use the premise that 2000 words will last approximately 10 minutes talking time. So for an hour’s speech you will need approximately 1000012000 words. It may seem a pain to write this much for a speech, but it is a good guideline for the amount of information you will need. After some experience this will come naturally and you will not need to be so pedantic with the preparation. It is better to have too much information than finish a lecture ten minutes early, as if you are a new public speaker you will not want an extra ten minutes question time. Also if you are being paid to speak they may feel they have not got their money’s worth. Practice the speech at home, and time it. Remember to speak slower than you would normally in order to be heard and understood. CONCLUDED
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY
Friday EXTRA March 30, 2018
Road under repairs
As FG, North East Residents Demand Action On Road Projects A National Media Team put together to embark on a nationwide assessment tour of all on-going federal road projects across the country at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing just completed its assignment in the Northeast. ABAH ADAH (Abuja) reports.
F
ree and easy movement of people, goods and services in locations in the north eastern part of Nigeria remains a nightmare to millions of residents in the region as collapsed federal roads has unleashed untold hardship on their lives. This has not only weighed down their economic activities, it has exposed them to avoidable road accidents that has tormented them for years even before the emergence of insurgency that has almost crippled the entire region for over eight years now. LEADERSHIP Friday visited some of the affected roads in the region and residents of communities along the areas expressed pains of having to endure what they called, the rigour of traveling a failed road.
They described it as frustrating and dehumanizing. Some of the bad roads the people said are bad are the Hong-Maranban Mubi Road, Lamordi-Numan Road, ZingMayo-Bwlewa Road, Yola-Lafia Road in Adamawa State. Others include; Jalingo-Wukari Road, Bali-Sarduana Road and Gboko-Wukari Road in Taraba and Benue States. Other roads said to be in similar state in Borno State are the Biu-Gombi Road, Gwoza-Bama Road while several others are off use as they remained closed to traffic due to the activities of insurgents in the state. In Yobe State, federal roads residents say are bad include Potiskum-Gombe Road, Damaturu-Gashu’a-Nguru Road, Potiskum-Maimari Road, Damaturu-Biu Road and Damaturu-Kano Road which is
still under construction. Federal roads in Bauchi State said to be in similar bad condition include the Bauchi-Gombe Road, Darazo Road leading to Yobe State. The Magama-RishiRahama Road connecting to Kaduna is said to need the attention of the government. Abubakar Liman, a trader who is very familiar with developments along major roads in the region told LEADERSHIP Friday that farmers and traders are worst hit by the dilapidated roads in the region. “It is worse during the wet season where trucks get stuck in mud for days. Our goods perish and traders from other parts of the country who frequent our markets are now avoiding our areas for other places with safer roads. “Boko Haram made things very difficult for us with their attacks but the roads are not helping matters either. It’s a double jeopardy for us here in the north east and has affected our life as a people,” he said. Kefas Bitrus, a yam trader who shuttles between Gboko-Wukari-Jalingo, said the road is terrible and requires immediate attention of the federal government. “We cannot be living like this. The federal roads especially the WukariGboko Road and the one leading to the
A good An eye thingfor is all an the eyesweeter and a tooth whenfor wona with tooth. pain.
state capital, Jalingo are really bad. The state of the road is a serious impediment to our economic life and many people have lost their lives to road crashes. Drivers, while attempting to dodge pot holes end up ramming into incoming vehicles or run into ditches killing innocent lives,” Bitrus lamented. Meanwhile, the minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in July 2017, unveiled the federal government’s established plans to build road and bridge network across the country as well as the order of priorities in which they would be built through a revolving plan in the next three years 2017- 2019. Fashola reiterated that the intention was to connect states, drive economy, move fuel, food and import and export of goods. The minister, while rolling the plans, said in addition to the plan for 44 federal highways construction contained in the 2017 Budget, government had also identified 63 roads in the First Quarter of the year that would be prepared for emergency intervention across the country ahead of the rainy season to give relief to ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
36 FEATURES
March 30, 2018
As FG, North East Residents Demand Action On Road Projects ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
Nigerians subject to appropriation. According to him, the 63 roads were identified and prepared for intervention during the inspection tour of roads in 34 states of the federation by the ministry which he personally leads. He said for the purpose of effective implementation, the federal government has classified the roads into Critical Economic Routes and Agricultural Routes to include all roads traversing geopolitical zones, advancing trade and commerce across the states and leading to the ports as well as those passing through agricultural areas across the country. Noting that the road projects are spread out in such a way that no zone has been left out, Fashola listed the proposed priority highway projects slated in the 2017 Budget thus: In the North East, the road projects the federal government included in the nationwide massive repairs and reconstructions are: Construction of bridge at KM 32 along Billiri Filiya in Taraba and the repair of Billiri-Filliya Road in Gombe, Potiskum-Agalda-Gombe State Border (S/B) and Potiskum-Kari-Bauchi S/B Road in Yobe State. Also included in the list are Tella Road and Bridge 2 Abutment and ApawaJunction-Zing-Adamawa (State Border) in Taraba State, Bauch-Darazo-Kari Road in Bauchi State, Numan-Lafia-Gombe State Border Road, Numan-Jalingo Road, Numan-Guyuk (Borno State Border) and Ngurore-Mayobelwa Road in Adamawa State. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in January on his official Twitter account (@MBuhari) tweeted that: “Our focus in 2018 is infrastructure: roads, our railway projects, power, and airport concessions. We will intensify our efforts, and you will see progress.” The President told Nigerians to expect development in the areas of roads, railway and power. Since then expectations has been high among communities in the region for the Presidents talk to materialise to action on their roads. However, the National Media Team put together by the federal government on inspection of the projects in the North East zones, has scored the government high on actually walking the talk. According to this correspondent, residents of some of the areas visited, especially those employed, expressed their joy even as the contractors confessed to receiving their payments regularly amidst improved security in the area. “Work is currently ongoing on both the road and housing projects sites visited. Contract for the execution of some of the projects were awarded over a decade ago but progress of work was allegedly stalled due to non release of funds and, worst still, the insurgency that broke out uncontrollably in some parts of the area with its attendant cases of abduction, abusing and killing put a halt to the work.” During the tour, the team (LEADERSHIP
included) visited the N12 billion, 47km Tudun-Wuss-Wundi-Baraza-DurrzumbulPolchi-Dot-Kwanar Road of contract No.6298 under construction at 2.5% completion; N7 billion, 38km NingiYadgungume-Fuskar Mata Road Phase III of contract No. 6264 under construction in Bauchi State at 37% completion. Others were the N7 billion, 38km Gombe-Numan-Yola Road phase II at 47% completion; construction of 14 billion (original contract sum), 73km Burga-DullMbatt-II-Tandum-Gobbiya-BadagariGwaranga-Sum Road of contract No. 6308 at 9.55% completion; Rehabilitation of Tumu-Pindiiga-Kashere(Gombe State)-Futuk-Yalo (Bauchi State) Road/ Construction of 15km Yalo-BasharDengi section (Buachi/Plateau States at 49% completion; Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road sections II, III, IV, and V, all in the Northeast which are at various stages of completion. There were also stop-over visit to several National Housing Programme sites within the zone where works were in progress and at various stages of completion. All the contracts, most of which have had their completion date extended for up to two, three, four times or more respectively, are scheduled for completion from the second half of 2018 to the end of 2019. Speaking on the Burga –Sum road which has reached 2.5 per cent completion, the village head of Baraza, Buba Garba, said the project is one that is so important to his people who have suffered over the years due to lack access roads. “We are happy and grateful to the President, and our son, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara for his facilitating role in the award of the contract. We are ready to reciprocate the gesture by cooperating with the contractor to ensure the project is completed on schedule,” he said. Garba, who confirmed that so many of those who lost their properties to the project were yet to be given any compensation, however, urged government to consider paying them as soon as possible to enable them resettle properly. Construction of Burga –Sum road whose contract sum is N12 billion began in May, 2017, and with a 24 months duration, it’s expected completion date is May, 2019, It has suffered time lapse of about 35 per cent-a situation the federal controller of Works in the state, Engr Charles Ezike, attributed largely to the flood experienced in the area during the rainy season while introducing the project to the team. The project manager said the support being given his company by the federal government, especially in the area of fund and the cooperation of the indigenes have helped a lot in the progress made, assuring “we are ready to deliver this project on schedule”. On the 37km section 3 of the NingiFuskar Mata Road, the foreman who is an indigene, said “We have started reaping the benefit of this project already. “About 46 of us are employed on this site alone. As for me, after I came out of school, I got this job with the company,” he said.
Fashola
During the inspection, it was discovered that the section of the project which was given out in four phases already had phases 1 and 2 completed, while the on-going phase 3 which has an extended completion date of 16th December, 2019, is 39 per cent completed. The contractor handling the construction of the Yalo-Bashar-Dengi Road through Bauchi and Plateau States has assured of the capacity to complete the project on schedule provided the challenges that have stalled the construction of the bridges involved over time is resolved in good time. While collaborating, the project manager, Majdy Jarad who told the team that he has no fund challenge with the ministry at all, and that he has about a hundred indigenous employees including two engineers working with him, said he is capable of delivering by the extended completion date of 27th July, 2018. The rehabilitation of Tumu-PindigaKashere (Gombe State)-Futuk (Bauchi State) road and construction of YaloBashar-Dengi section (Bauchi/Plateau States) contract No. 6214 with project length of 15km which was awarded at the sum of N3, 076, 381,622, 747.2 with the commencement date of 30th January, 2014 is currently at 49.56 per cent completion. With the initial completion date of 29th July, 2015 extended to 27th July, 2018, the contract period became 54 months, and so far the percentage time lapse is 89 per cent. The initial plan for the three span bridges of 15 metre each involved in the project was construct them with 45 metre breadth, but along the line, it was realised that the waters across which the bridges are to be built tend to change their course through seasons, and there was a call for a new arrangement to have them built at 100 metres breadth in order to avoid any problem that may result
All things come to those that wait.
from the change of course in future. However, the Director, Highway, North East Zone in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Engr Rufai Muhammed, said the bridge issue is almost resolved by the concerned unit in the ministry, adding that a new approach would soon be adopted to ensure that the contractor continues the work without further hitches. Another project visited in the area is the Gombe-Numan-Yola road phase 2 began in January, 2015 at a contract sum of over N7 billion with a completion date 23rd December, 2019, currently at 47 per cent completion. In his remark after going round with the team, the director of Works, North East, Engr Rufai Muhammed, expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made on on-going federal roads in the zone, adding the government is prepared to give contractors all the necessary supports to enable them deliver on schedule. “As you have seen, all the contractors were on site, working. The quality of work I saw is Ok. They have all affirmed that they are not being owed and have made commitment to complete work on schedule, so what is needed is for the tempo to be maintained. Government on its part has made the commitment of continuous support. “About three years ago, these contractors abandoned the sites, largely because they were being owed and security was nothing to write home about. Now they confirmed to you that the debts have been cleared and they are being paid regularly amidst improved security and you can see the speed and quality of the work being done, and the zeal with which the people, skilled and unskilled, who confessed to have been gainfully employed, are going about their work. Indeed, I am highly satisfied,” Engr Muhammed said.
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H
is name is Buhari, but many called him ‘General Buhari’ for his brevity in perfecting evil against humanity in the most cold and calculated, inhumane way. He killed without any feeling of compassion. He maimed and ripped off life off anyone or group who dared to stand his way. He was alleged to be a threat to humanity and peace. No doubt, the name rings a bell in the minds of those who knew his story, majority of whom live in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna states. His atrocities resonated fear in communities, villages and towns along his corridor of terror. Buhari’s personality and dexterity in plotting evil which caused bewilderment, pains and agony is of course no news to even the citizens of Niger Republic. This is because his foot soldiers equally operated transborder criminality. For those that knew him or must have heard his story, General Buhari was believed to be the brain behind a good number of the atrocities that were committed in the north western region of Nigeria. This included cattle rustling, armed robbery, revenge attacks on communities among others, leading to deaths in their dozens. His prowess in executing set targets, especially within marked areas, earned him the simple nickname of Buharin Daji (Forest Buhari). And for others who continue to imagine the strength of his clandestine act, Buhari is allegedly seen as super human because of the myths surrounding his existence. Giving credence to his mystical prowess, many who spoke to LEADERSHIP Friday on conditions of anonymity, said they preferred to call him ‘Buharin Daji’, because he was until his death, a “Lord” over several happenings in most forests within North West states of the country and beyond. “His existence all through was confined to the forest. He was a super hero in deciding what happens in most forest, either good or bad, especially within this region. That was why they simply nicknamed him General Buharin Daji.” Though efforts to trace General Buhari’s genealogy proved unsuccessful, LEADERSHIP Friday, however, learnt from those who claimed to know a bit about him that he was a Fulani man in his late 60s. They said General Buhari hailed from Dangulbi village of Dansadau in Zamfara State. He was said to have taken after his parents as a cattle rearer all through his life. “To the best of my knowledge, Buharin Daji had no formal education. But he was until his death, very vast in Islamic and metaphysical understanding. “Buharin Daji is so diabolical to a point that many concluded he was no human being rather a ghost,” said Musa Danlami, a resident of Anka in Zamfara State. On possible reasons why Buharin Daji became a threat to humanity in his days, the source said, “it’s not far from the assumption that he grew up as a member of cattle rustling syndicate. “You see, it’s normally said that those rearing cattle in the bush often bully each other by forcefully confisticating cattle that are not theirs just to increase their herds. “They often form groups that sometimes
Daji
Buharin Daji: How North West Most Feared Criminal Fell The recent killing of North West most dreaded criminal kingpin by security agents, Buharin Daji, has, in no small measure brought respite to the region and his home state of Zamfara. ANKELI EMMANUEL (Sokoto) reports on the life and death of the criminal gang leader. embark on stealing cows from fellow Fulanis. These groups have syndicates and operate even beyond their immediate vicinity. “Most cattle rearers know about the group. They also know how deadly the group could be if faced with resistance in any of their attempts to rustle cows from a particular settlement.” On why the group continued to exist in spite of government’s efforts to pin him down, Danlami, who is a Fulani said, it existed basically because of two reasons. “First, the group existed because of greed. Secondly, it existed because some joined to
ward off any further attempt at rustling cows from their occupied domain (Ruga). “Not every member of these cattle rustling group join with the intention to steal. Some join just to prevent others from stealing their cows,” he said. When asked why some of them ended up commiting series of criminal acts, he said that was simply the outcome of greed. For Buharin Daji, he was not only a leader of one of such cattle rustling syndicate but an internationally acclaimed dark horse whose presence sent fears into the minds of many that knew him.
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
FEATURES 37 Records have it that, his gang had over the years threatened the peace in most of the forest of north western states with Zamfara his hometown the worst hit. Aside threatening the peace of the forest, General Buharin Daji’s group is equally alleged to have been behind most of the unrests on some of the roads within these states. His dexterity in unleashing terror became so disturbing to a point that Zamfara State government was said to have entered into an amnesty deal with him. He and his group were said to have accepted the amnesty deal, submitted their weapon and repented. However, since it only takes divine intervention for a dog not to bark, Buharin Daji reneged on the amnesty deal and went back to his old ways even with circulated threat that he was going to unleash more mayhem on the people than ever before. He was alleged to have declared in one recorded and circulated mobile communication that, there would be no more farming in Zamfara. He also affirmed that peace was going to elude the people and that Maiguduri would have more peace than Zamfara. General Buhari while basking in the euphoria of his metaphysical prowess after reneging on the amnesty deal bit more than he could chew. Some of his unrepentant boys were said to have gone to rustle cows from a man believed to be an in-law to one of his closest ally, Dogo Gide, who, honestly embraced the amnesty deal. Buhari’s boys in the process of rustling cows were said to have killed some members of the man’s family before carting away large herd of cows. Dogo Gide, an in-law to the robbed Fulani man, being a repentant member of the group went to Buharin Dali to demand for an unconditional release of those stolen cows. He was, however, disappointed when told that those cows had been shared amongst his boys. If the forest General had any premonition that death was lurking around, he would have simply toed the path of peace with Dogo Gide. But like the stubborn fly whose penchant for foul smell often becomes the source of its death, Buharin Daji proved uncaring until Dodo Gide was said to have embarked on getting rid of him and some of his boys. The Zamfara State has witnessed several attacks by armed bandits leading to scores of deaths. In recent time, bandits suspected to be cattle rustlers attacked Birane villa in Zurmi local government area, killing 18 persons, according to police source. The Buhari Daji was said to have been killed at a village in Dansadau Emirate in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Zamfara State deputy governor, Ibrahim Muhammad, commended the repentant bandits for saving the state from the horror of Buharin Daji and his gang. Yes, jubilation greeted the story of the death of Buharin Daji’s , especially in Zamfara State and beyond. However, the very disturbing question begging for answer is, are some of his disciple still within the state? Would another Buharin Daji Zamfara spring up? Observers have expressed worry over this dilemma.
38
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March 30, 2018
Oil Spill: How Effective Is Amnesty Int’l Campaign On Curbing Sabotage? The Amnesty International recently released a new report accusing some oil companies of hiding facts on oil spills in Nigeria prompting fresh debate on actual causes of the incident and responsiveness of operators, CHIKA IZUORA, writes.
I
n November 2013, a report by Amnesty International said energy companies operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region were not doing enough to ascertain what is causing the hundreds of spills reported every year in the region. In a 66-page report, the rights group said oil companies, in particular Royal Dutch Shell, have made numerous claims about sabotage and oil theft that raise a series of questions. However, in response to the unabating situation, the National Assembly are mulling legislation that would tighten penalties for oil companies responsible for the spill, and the law, if passed, would make operators pay a $1,300 per barrel fine for spills. Amnesty, in its report said the hundreds of oil spills reported in Nigeria every year were ruining the environment and putting human lives at risk, claiming that spills in the Niger Delta were the result of pipeline corrosion, maintenance issues, equipment failure, sabotage and theft. “For the last decade oil companies in Nigeria, in particular Shell, have defended the scale of pollution by claiming that the vast majority of oil spills are caused by sabotage and theft of oil. There is no legitimate basis for this claim,”it said. Even if Shell was right, Amnesty’s report said, it hasn’t done much to ensure its infrastructure in the Niger Delta was protected from vandals. But the problem extends beyond just Shell, the organisation said. A Nigerian subsidiary of Italian energy company, Eni reported 471 spills in the Niger Delta, compared to the 138 from Shell from January to September. Eni’s subsidiary also blames saboteurs, but Amnesty said there’s absolutely no information to support their claims. Problems in Nigeria have cost Shell about 65,000 barrels per day in production. Shell in mid-October 2013, lifted force majeure on exports of Nigerian crude oil after repairs were made to a pipeline in the Niger Delta region. Shell said about 2,200 barrels spilled from the Trans Niger Pipeline in October, a spill partially blamed on a hole in the pipeline drilled by unknown persons. The situation was not much better for ENI, which has also cut its production outlook in part because of problems in Nigeria. Amnesty said Eni’s subsidiary, Aqip, was responsible for 4,014 barrels of oil spilled between January and September of that year. For Shell, it was 16,000 barrels during the same period. Amnesty said there were “systemic flaws” in the way in which oil spills were investigated in Nigeria. The organisation said it took serious issues with what oil companies like Shell said about their operations in Nigeria. Regulations, it said, were futile, and “there is no meaningful check on the oil companies’ operations in Nigeria.” Again, last week, the Rights Group, claimed that oil giant Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA may have misled regulators in Nigeria by wrongly attributing oil spills to theft and sabotage in order to avoid paying compensation to affected communities. “Amnesty International researchers have identified that at least 89 spills may have been wrongly labeled as theft or sabotage when in
Oil rig
fact they were caused by ‘operational’ faults,” the London-based group said in the report released on Thursday. “Of these, 46 are from Shell and 43 are from Eni. If confirmed, this would mean that dozens of affected communities have not received the compensation that they deserve,” it added. Shell and Eni, along with ExxonMobil Corp, Chevron Corp and Total SA operate joint ventures with state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp that pump most of the oil of Africa’s biggest producer. In the southern Niger River delta, which is home to the country’s oil and gas industry, local communities are frequently in conflict with energy companies over allegations of pollution and environmental degradation linked with oil operations. Details of the alleged spills said to have occurred from 2011, in the case of Shell, and from 2014 for Eni, have been given to the Nigerian government, which is being urged to reopen investigations into the incidents, Amnesty said. However, Shell said it operates in a much responsible way observing all regulatory procedures. A spokesperson for the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), in response to LEADERSHIP enquiries on the allegations said, “The allegations levelled by Amnesty International are false, without merit and fail to recognise the complex environment in which the company operates where security, a sole prerogative of government, remains a major concern with persisting incidents of criminality, kidnapping, vandalism, threats from self-described militant groups. “As operator of a joint venture, where the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has a majority interest, SPDC continues to work with federal and state government agencies, communities and civil society to create a safe operating environment. “SPDC, in collaboration with government regulators, responds to spill incidents as quickly as it can and cleans up spills from its facilities regardless of the cause. We regularly test our emergency spill response procedures and capability to ensure staff and contractors can respond rapidly to an incident. “However, response to spills, clean-up and remediation depend on access to the spill site
and ultimately on the security of personnel and equipment while work is ongoing. “SPDC reiterates its commitment to carrying out operations in line with best practice in a responsible and environment-friendly manner.” How Shell Responds To Spills When a leak is identified, production is suspended and efforts made to contain any spilled oil. The company said it regularly test its emergency spill response procedures and capability to ensure staff and contractors can respond rapidly to an incident. In line with government’s regulations, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) team visits the spill site to establish the cause and volume of oil spilled and the team is led by the SPDC staff and includes representatives of the regulatory bodies, police, the state government and impacted communities. The SPDC JV cleans and remediates the area impacted by spills from its facilities, irrespective of cause and in the case of operational spills, it also pays compensation to people and communities impacted by the spill. Once cleanup and remediation are completed, the work is inspected, and once satisfactory, approved and certified by Federal Government of Nigeria regulators, the Department of Petroleum Resources and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency. SPDC’s remediation practices the response claimed are compliant with the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN), Revised Edition 2002 as well as other relevant international standards. EGASPIN provides for the management and remediation of contaminated land. To this end, SPDC has researched and adopted techniques for cleaning up oil spills that we believe to be the most effective for the soil and climate conditions in the equatorial heat of the Niger Delta. The SPDC JV also works with communities and civil society across the Niger Delta to build greater trust in spill response and clean-up processes. Wherever possible, local communities take part in the remedial work. SPDC is also the only oil and gas company in Nigeria to publish data on all spills in its areas of operation online. The oil spills website went live 2011.
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
Oil Spill Statistics In Nigeria Attempts by LEADERSHIP to obtain accurate statistics of oil spill in Nigeria was scanty as reports on the extent of the oil spills vary. The Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR), estimated 1.89 million barrels of petroleum were spilled into the Niger Delta between 1976 and 1996 out of a total of 2.4 million barrels spilled in 4,835 incidents. approximately 220 thousand cubic metres. Also, UNDP, report states that there have been a total of 6,817 oil spills between 1976 and 2001, which account for a loss of three million barrels of oil, of which more than 70 per cent was not recovered and 69 per cent of these spills occurred off-shore, a quarter was in swamps and 6 per cent spilled on land. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), also placed the quantity of petroleum jettisoned into the environment yearly at 2,300 cubic metres with an average of 300 individual spills annually. However, because this amount does not take into account “minor” spills, the World Bank argues that the true quantity of petroleum spilled into the environment could be as much as ten times the officially claimed amount. In 2010 Baird reported that between 9 million and 13 million barrels have been spilled in the Niger Delta since 1958. One source even calculates that the total amount of petroleum in barrels spilled between 1960 and 1997 is upwards of 100 million barrels. Baird is an employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, asset management and private equity firm. Causes Of Oil Spill Oil spills are a common event in Nigeria and half of all spills occur due to pipeline and tanker accidents which account for 50 per cent other causes include sabotage, 28 per cent and oil production operations, 21 per cent with 1 per cent of the spills being accounted for by inadequate or non-functional production equipment, according to Wikipedia. Corrosion of pipelines and tankers is the rupturing or leaking of old production infrastructures that often do not receive inspection and maintenances. A reason that corrosion accounts for such a high percentage of all spills is that as a result of the small size of the oilfields in the Niger Delta there is an extensive network of pipelines between the fields, as well as numerous small networks of flowlines the narrow diameter pipes that carry oil from wellheads to flow stations allowing many opportunities for leaks. In onshore areas most pipelines and flowlines are laid above ground.
Oil spills are a common event in Nigeria and half of all spills occur due to pipeline and tanker accidents which account for 50 per cent other causes include sabotage, 28 per cent and oil production operations, 21 per cent with 1 per cent of the spills being accounted for by inadequate or nonfunctional production equipment
March 30, 2018
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WOMAN Loose
ON THE
with HAUWA BOOTH
Email: diaryofastupidwoman@gmail.com, Website: www.diaryofastupidwoman.com, 08055241197
6 Presidents Plus 1 Of The United States Of Nigeria In the last three years, the call for the restructuring of Nigeria has grown loud with stakeholders lending their thoughts on what restructuring would look like. There has been some disquiet on the idea recently, though. The whole idea of restructuring was all a bit confusing for me and at the time I took a simplistic view-maybe we would be better off apart than together. I viewed the debacle as a marriage gone awry with constant bickering, fighting, insults, physical and emotional abuse. While we encourage the couple to try and make it work no matter what for the sake of the children, some marriages have succeeded in refocusing their energies to making it work even if not for the sake of love. Anyway, just as marriage can be complex, I do appreciate the complexities of restructuring. Giving it some thought, I decided that maybe our best bet would be to take a look at the fictional land of Westeros in the HBO smash series; Game of Thrones. Oscar Wilde, opined
in his 1889 essay “The Decay of Lying’ that, “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life”; maybe this is what we should do here. In the briefest of summaries of a very complex series, Game of Thrones is set in the Ancient period in a place very similar to Europe called ‘Westeros’ which is divided into seven kingdoms, many free cities and ‘Kings Landing’ which is the capital of these seven kingdoms. The seven kingdoms are ruled by seven main families. The King’s Landing has the ‘Iron Throne’ and whoever sits on this throne rules all the seven kingdoms. Juxtaposing it with my idea of restructuring; as it is, we have six geopolitical zones, each of these zones should produce a president through elections and send each representative to the centre. FCT will produce a president. That brings the number to 7. At the centre, the seven will then conduct their election for who will sit on the ‘Iron Throne’. Sounds like a nifty idea to me.
Why Was Leah Left Behind? The negotiation for the return of the Dapchi girls yielded the return of the girls. Good. Government had confirmed the number of the girls abducted as 110. When three figures were released to us, it was clear the return of the girls had faced a breakdown in careful planning and documentation process of the returnee girls. While BH was able to negotiate unfettered passage to return the girls and leave without incident, they also were granted some time to address the community. However, the government could not ensure that 110 of its girls were returned at the same time?? If there had been a clear plan, then it would have been negotiated from the onset as to how the accounting would have been done. Leah would not have been left behind. In the Army on the battle field, there’s a thing about, “leaving no one behind”. Now that the abductees made it clear why she was not released, what will be the basis for her negotiation? I shudder to think what she might be going through. The sheer psychological trauma of being the only one left among that number of men in the middle of nowhere. I refuse to go beyond that mentally.
Articulating my thoughts on this has been difficult and it was made more so when the spokesperson of the IGP issued a statement that the IG was misquoted on his own statement of March 24th 2018: “I am supposed to go to Dapchi today, but because I learnt that that schoolgirl, Leah, may be released today, that was why I have to shelve my trip to the town” Hopes were raised and dashed instantaneously. If there is anything that this young girl from a village in the far North East has taught me, is that it is possible to stand firm in what you believe no matter what. In short, she reinforced “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. It made me think hard about my own stand. Was it as firm as hers? However this turns out, I join in the prayers being offered on behalf of this young girl and for her parents to stand firm and be granted “peace that passeth all understanding” at this difficult time. I pray that while she’s still in captivity the hearts of her captors will turn to not harming her but as we say, “not as we will but as Thou wilt”
(text only)
On What T.Y Danjuma Said The weekend has been agog with the speech that the general gave in Taraba. Opinions have been split down the middle. One half believes that the speech was reckless and unbecoming of an elder statesman who should know better given the fact that he was actively involved in the civil war and was minister of Defence during the Zaki Biam and Odi attacks. On the other hand, others feel he had spoken the minds of many Nigerians and despite his role in other situations, this was a case of take the message without the messenger; taking into consideration that he doesn’t talk usually and might have been screaming himself hoarse behind the scenes. A small set of people feel that it was a coded message being sent to Buhari; they are after all retired soldiers with a code about them. In the same vein in 2014, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, said residents should “acquire what they need” to protect themselves. At the time as now, the Emir’s comments were interpreted as a “call for anarchy” and should not be acted on. Over the last four years, the security issue in the country has steadily grown worse and each invasion, killing etc is often shrouded in controversy as different narratives fly in the air especially as articulated by the security agencies. This in itself has constituted a threat to the fragile peace. I do not believe that the Emir or the General were calling citizens to run amok and start killing each other but rather to exercise their constitutional right of self-defence. (This right is guaranteed to all citizens of Nigeria by Section 33(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)). Having said that, I acknowledge the very thin line between self-defense and exerting “pre self-defense” and can be difficultto balance. However, the call also underscores the security challenges and the overstretched, ill-equipped and undermotivated security forces. Remember in 2014, after the kidnap of
the Chibok girls, residents of three villages in northeastern Nigeria took security into their own hands, repelling attacks by Boko Haram insurgents. Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters that stormed the villages of Menari, Tsangayari and Garawa in the ethnic Shuwa-dominated Kalabalge District was met with stiff resistance as locals put up a fierce fight, witnesses said at the time. A month had passed since the girls were kidnapped, and the Nigerian government has been accused of not acting swiftly or efficiently enough to protect villages in the region threatened by Boko Haram. In the three villages attacked, gunmen arrived in dozens of all-terrain vans, armored tanks and motorcycles, but villagers quickly mobilized and engaged the attackers in a prolonged battle. In the end, the locals seized an armored tank, three all-terrain vans and 90 motorcycles from the attackers. Last week, a story broke about a man that foiled his own attempted kidnap and was even able to kill and maim a couple of the kidnappers. He defended himself. He didn’t just wait to be kidnapped. There are so many on the street stories of brave citizens defending themselves by whatever means necessary from attacks of either car snatchers or armed robbers. Though we know that the police is, to “serve and protect” we don’t leave our doors and windows open. We lock them and fortify them with burglary proof. Some buy ferocious dogs and let them loose on their premises. These are all measures to protect self. While I very much agree with the warning by the Army and Police that no one should be involved in any illegalities based on these comments, the security forces would need to go a step further and advise the villages especially what to do to protect themselves from being sitting ducks especially as every time there is an invasion, massacre and destruction, the security agents arrive after the act due to logistical challenges.….
History Lesson On Somalia And Rwanda When the heated conversations keep going on the issue of the security challenges and loss of lives that is currently being experienced, two countries are always brought up as a means for us to be warned that we are flirting with war (disaster); Somalia and Rwanda. Conflicts and wars have a cause and most times, we neglect looking at what gave rise to the conflict. Some of the underlying reasons reflect our current reality. The question is how do we use history and experience to correct
our situation? Somalia: 1. Somalia was colonized by Italy and Britain. Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland later united and formed the Somali Republic in 1960. With this history of colonialism, Somalia still to this day has regional problems. There regions, districts, and states divided within the country. Competition for power and resources has continued to divide these regions.
2. Tribalism, Political, Economic, and Social problems are some of the root causes of the Somali civil war. Rwanda: 1. Ethnicity: Ethnic tension in Rwanda is nothing new, but the animosity between them grew substantially since the colonial period. 2. Colonialism: When the Belgian colonists arrived in 1916, they produced identity cards classifying people according to their ethnicity. They considered the minority Tutsis to be
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
superior to the majority Hutus and for the next 20 years, they enjoyed better jobs and educational opportunities than their brothers. Resentment among the Hutus gradually built up, culminating in a series of riots in 1959. When Belgium relinquished power and granted Rwanda independence in 1962, the Hutus took their place. When President Habyarimana’s (Hutu) plane was shot down at the beginning of April 1994, it was the final nail in the coffin.
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The STANDPOINT
With
Igboeli Arinze arinze.igboeli@gmail.com, 09096635077 (The Wyego Manayi Revolution) Last week’s piece earned this column a lot of comments. Some were of the opinion that I was a bit sentimental; others held the notion that it was a bit political , and some described my piece as militant in nature! Well, every opinion moulder should welcome such feedback as priceless. However , facts should always remain sacred to the writer, who owes it to the society, irrespective of the ruckus he may court to tell it the truth as well as speak truth to power. The National Association of Seadogs has openly sought to enhance the quality of lives of people through their many programmes in Nigeria and internationally; lending its voice to the poor and weak and waging crusades on issues affecting our society. It would seem that outside the shores of Nigeria, the association has been honored with days named after them – recently being the county of ……. Recently, I stumbled upon some information online announcing that the National Association of Seadogs in Abuja had worked with rural women and donated a grain milling plant to them. Here, I wasn’t surprised as this has always been its pattern since it’s Inception. It is this success story that I seek to share here today. One of the challenges of our rural areas is the fact that most of the agricultural produce
Children in this century are used to getting everything now. These are the days of noodle meals, microwave oven, washing machine, cut vegetables and dressed chicken right from the market, instant poundo, GMOs, chauffer drive to the neighbours, Professor Google, fast internet, fast cars, instant gratification etc. In as much as some of these advancement in human endeavour are commendable, we must be aware of the other salient things children are picking up (or missing on) in this environment and find deliberate ways to inculcate it in their day-day living. “Grit” has recently become a popular buzzword in parenting and education. It’s defined by University of Pennsylvania psychologist, Angela Duckworth, as “perseverance and passion for long-term goals.” According to Duckworth, grit is a better indicator of future success than IQ or talent. It is a leveler skill. One everyone needs, irrespective of personality, life style or genetic make-up. It’s a combination of determination, focus, passion, and resilience. It’s the ability to persevere, to go on and not give up, in the face of challenges and failure. This is an all-important skill every parent needs to consciously imbibe in their children. If you want to help your child develop this tool, it is all in your hands. Children learn consciously and unconsciously. For instance, I have a daughter who, when she is in the care of her aunty, makes it to school before 7am. Why? Aunty is an early bird and likes to get to work for 7 too. On the other hand, I have no real drive to leave my house that early except I have an early flight to catch. The
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gotten from their soils end up mostly as waste as these ruralites lack storage or processing facilities that can help add value to these crops. Note that these people get their staple food from such crops which serve as a source of nutrients as well. The challenge of helping these farmers adds value to their agricultural products has been a problem. Adding value to agricultural products will not only ensure that farmers get more for their products, it will improve the state of the country’s food processing capacity , curb waste as well as reduce the poverty rate! This challenge was adequately met in Igu community, located in Bwari Municipal Council, FCT Abuja, about 20 kilometres from Bwari town. This sleepy and peaceful community does not have electricity. Water is gotten from a hand cranked borehole donated by the local government. The poverty in Igu is striking, as the village lacks all the basic amenities. Farming is naturally the major occupation with maize and millet as their major crops. These crops owing to lack of proper storage and processing are usually wasted as the villagers have to travel far distances sometimes, on foot to find a cheap place to grind maize and millet which form part of their staple food. From the grain and millet, the people of Igu not only get their source of food for themselves, they also use the
chaff for their livestock. Thus, these grains are central in the lives of Igu people. The economy and sustenance of this community also lie in the hands of its hardworking women who go to the farms as well as raise the children. Many of the men traverse the urban areas in search of menial jobs. It was therefore this community that the National Association of Seadogs, Zuma Deck team decided to implement its “Sufficiency Economy Model” of participatory development in collaboration with the women of Igu. At the commissioning, Mr. Kanchitipon Chittiloweitrun, representing the Ambassador of Thailand commended the National Association of Seadogs for such a feat which he admitted resonated with the King of Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Model. He noted that Sufficiency Economy is a philosophy whose tenets include moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity. It encourages people to consume what they really need and ensure that the environment is not harmed. Oftentimes, the sufficiency philosophy starts with the mind. This is where behaviour change actually begins. He further expressed his happiness that such a project was replicated in Nigeria and agreed that sustainable projects such as this can help take communities out of poverty For the President of National Association of
PARENTING With SURUURAH OGUNFEMI +234 8032012783
March 30, 2018
suruurah@guidedbeginnings.com, suruurah@yahoo.com
Be A Gritty Parent result? My take-it-easy attitude is soaked in by my daughter and the days I have to do school run, it’s a herculean task to get her out before 7am. She has learnt that with me, she can be a bit ‘laid back’. This further proves that a child’s mind soaks it all up. When you are telling and not also doing, be sure they’ll mirror your example much more than heed your verbal instruction. So, be a positive role model of grit for your child. Here are ways to do this: Handle your mistakes with positivity and/ or humour. Treat mistakes as a feedback, not failure. We grew up in an environment that judged mistakes as a negative thing. Something to be ashamed about. And this was right from early childhood. No thanks to our teachers who
were quick to sing shame, shame, shame to us when we got an answer wrong! But hey, that was then. They did the best with what they had and knew. Today, we know better. We therefore should do better. Mistakes will occur in our day-to-day thoughts, decisions and actions. This is not the time of anger, irritation and “if only...” Rather, don’t be hard on yourself. Treat it as a feedback, seek the learnings and take to them. Your child will mirror this from you and will not quit on a job, marriage or other projects because of a mistake or as sadly becoming more rampant, take her life because she didn’t make it in JAMB or was asked to retake a class. Demonstrate a willingness to face challenges and persevere. Challenge yourselves every day
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
Seadogs, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Samuel Abulihmen, the Wyego Manayi Milling Plant was in consonance with the philosophy of the National Association of Seadogs who are called to sacrifice in order to uplift humanity. He thanked the Royal Thai Embassy for their support through the Embassy’s resource persons through which the project was achieved. Abulihmen professed the organisation’s intentions to carry out more sustainable development projects, using the model of “ Sufficiency Economy” especially in adding value to agricultural products of the rural poor as a means of ending extreme poverty. He explained that; “ The Seadog is called to that form of sacrifice, to constantly dare to face the ills militating against the attainment of a just society. This project is a testament to that kind of sacrifice. We are normal Nigerians, and we have gathered our resources to fund the sustainable development of this community. Yet, we do not see ourselves as heroes, for this is what humanity demands of us. To constantly seek for ways to make life better. This project is supposed to be a model on how government can partner with the people. Sometimes, we hear of great projects which never really touch the lives of the people. We hope this project encourages them to start closer to the earth and to the people. “
and in the face of it, do not be tempted to give up. This could be as simple as trying to figure out how a device works, joining in a game with your child, trying out a different recipe, sticking to a diet plan or a healthy routine, keeping the phone out of the bedroom and dinning table, etc. When your child sees you going for that owambe and despite the array of MSG-cooked meals and sugar sweetened juices, cakes and creams, you stick to moimoi, creamless salad and pure, natural water, you are passing a powerful communication. When you show that with or without your car, you can make a few moments sacrifice of your comfort and go do the needful, you are demonstrating perseverance in the face of challenges and mirroring grit to your child. Discuss mistakes and setbacks with your child, even asking your child for advice when appropriate. This is a great way to model to young children that adults and in fact no one, is perfect. We are all in a state of constant learning and growth. We make mistakes. We experience setbacks. When we do, we don’t sulk about it. We don’t quit. Rather, we talk about it, seek advice on what to do better next time and imbibe those. Same way, when your child experiences a setback, say in his studies, rather than rush to reprimand, scold or condemn, take a shift. Ask questions that will lead you to reflect if where he is, is where he desires, the long term implication of where he is, what he may do differently another time, etc. When we begin to look at mistakes and setbacks in this light, we are modelling determination, focus, passion, and resilience. We are modelling grit. On your marks…
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LEADERSHIP FRIDAY March 30, 2018
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PayDay Set To Crack Ribs Like No Other Nollywood Movie
MultiChoice, ROK To Launch 2 New Channels
BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM In recent times, Nollywood has gone ahead to produce quite a number of interesting comedy movies. These movies have not only broken records in Nigerian cinemas but have widely gained acceptance and recognition beyond borders. Revolutionary director, Cheta Chuwku, is set to drive high number of footfalls to cinemas as he premieres his new movie, “PayDay” in cinemas nationwide. The movie, which is set to crack ribs like no other movie, set itself aside from the slapstick comedy movies with an extra-ordinary storyline, great acting and young but talented actors who will light up your screen. Produced by Manny Ameh, written and directed by Cheta Chukwu, the movie features actors like Big Brother Naija runner Up, Bisola Aiyeola, Baaj Adebule, Comedian Ebiye Victor, Mawuli Gavor, Frank Adekunle, Meg Otanwa, Zack Orji and more. PayDay follows the story of two best friends and flat mates, Paul (Baaj Adebule) and Ortega (Ebiye Victor) who, just before they are about to renew their yearly rent, their Landlord dies very suddenly, and seemingly without any heir apparent. The
BY SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos
young men seize upon the unfortunate but good opportunity to ‘enjoy’ a little. They go on an expensive night out. The Landlord’s daughter (Segilola Ogidan) turns up the following morning and gives the boys 24-hour notice to pay up or quit. They embark on an overnight scheme to recover the rent, leading to a dangerous encounter with an eccentric drug baron (Frank Adekunle Macaulay), a desperate robbery attempt, a
gambling adventure, and an ego war with the neighborhood bully, Orlando (Mawuli Gavor). All the while, they were hounded by Ngozi (Bisola Aiyeola), the neighborhood gossip, who just wanted a piece of the action. Hitting the Cinemas soon, Cheta Chukwu promises a story like you have never seen before, a feel good comedy and an extraordinary acting skill from the young actors with PayDay.
“Just Before I Do” Makes History
BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM The movie, ‘Just Before I Do’, which has been dubbed the most unique story out of Nollywood, took things a notch higher when
it attempted to sell tickets for the movie premiere. It was deemed a crazy fit as it has not been done before but the organisers were sure of their product and went ahead with their plans. Consequently, the premier ticket
has sold over 1000 tickets already with more people on the line hoping there will be room for them to be part of the first set of people to see the movie. This will definitely be going in the history books as the first Nollywood movie to sell tickets for her premiere in Nigeria and sell out all halls which will be used for the screening. The movie is set to be premiered and released simultaneously across cinemas on Friday, April 13, 2018. ‘Just Before I Do’, tells the story of an unmarried couple, whose love was torn in-between through the influence of a conniving mother in law. No one would suspect until the end. Most Nollywood stories run almost on the same plot giving the audience everything even before the movie elapses. However, ‘Just Before I Do’, stands tall.
Better be envied than pitied.
Omowunmi Dada, Eddie Watson, Omilani Oluyinka, Chief Jide Kosoko, Kalu Ikeagwu, Shaffy Bello, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka), Judith Audu and more are few of the stellar cast that brought spices to the movie. While reacting to the development, the producer, Mr Omilani Oluyinka, said they were shocked that the idea of selling the premiere tickets worked. “We did not set out to make history of being the first to sell tickets and fill all halls for our premiere. It was a decision we had to take to curtail the numbers but we were shocked to realise that we now have more than the numbers we would have catered for had the premiere being made free. We are grateful to God and we hope others who cannot join the premiere will visit the cinemas immediately after the premiere to see the movie. It is a decision they will not regret”, he said. The history making movie will have the stars of the movie present at the premiere. — English Proverb
Great partnerships are not forged more than this as MultiChoice Africa and ROK, will, on 5 April, launch two new channels, ROK 2 and ROK 3 on DStv and GOtv. The two channels will join ROK (DStv channel 168), which was launched in November 2016, by the Lagos-based film studio renowned for its original TV series and Nollywood movies. ROK 2 and ROK 3 are expected to result in the growth of the studio’s linear TV programming, as it continues to build a pan-African TV audience on one of the continent’s most widely consumed entertainment platforms. The new TV channels will see a spike in content production, as the company continues to invest in scriptwriting, production and new talent. ROK 2 will show the very best traditional village, tribal, palace regal Nollywood movies and TV series, 24/7 and launches with titles including King of Kings, The Heiress, Throne of Revenge and Mark of the Gods . ROK 2 will be available on DStv Channel 169 to Premium, Compact+, Compact and Family customers and also on GOtv Max, Channel 17. ROK 3 will showcase the finest selection of Ghanaian movies and TV series, in both English and Twi, during the day and will play the very best of West African music from 11pm each night. The channel launches with titles including Black & White , Stalemate, Banks Chronicles , Agya Fakye Me, Ama Pooley , Born Again, Coach Krakye and Ye Obi Dea Yie. It will be available on DStv Channel 164 to Premium, Compact+ and other bouquets across the African continent. “Great storytelling is at the core of everything ROK does. So, we are really delighted to be launching two new TV channels on DStv and GOtv. Everything we do as a film studio, we throw passion and intensity behind, to ensure beautiful, thrilling and ultimately, entertaining African stories are brought to life alongside ever improving production standards. What we achieved with ROK has resonated with audiences around the continent, which has allowed us to build on our success and bring even more brilliant Nollywood and Ghanaian stories, direct to our loyal fans on DStv,” said ROK CEO, Mary Njoku.
42 FRIDAY FLAVOUR
March 30, 2018
Floyd Mayweather Shows Off His Brand New N180m 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom
Message To Be Performed Live At Africa Inside Me Concert – Winning Jah BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM The Kano born ace reggae talented star, Kingsley Eno Osagie, popularly known as Winning Jah, is set for an Africa Inside Me tour with his official band. Winning Nah, disclosed this while speaking with our reporter on the the musical tour which is already generating attention, both locally and internally. The iconic Nigeria King of reggae, revealed that the reason Nigeria cannot afford Nigerian reggae stars coming in to
thrill their fans is because it is cheaper to book outside Nigeria. He also disclosed exclusively from Italy that he would be performing his new 15 tracks album, titled “Message” during the Africa Inside me Peace tour, sponsored by Amnest International arms in Pinerolo city (Italy). Jah said also revealed some locations he would be touring like Zimbabwe, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Abidjan, and others which have been receiving massive attention. Winning Jah, who earlier received a
prestigious Obaland Award this Year, for best Africa reggae artiste and best Edo State philanthropist in Diaspora, also declared to sustain PWD’S during this multi-location tour. On the new album, he explained that he would be performing tracks from the album, “Nouveau Business”, released in 2016 by VP Records and subsequently perform tracks from the 2017 album, “Africa Inside me”, and finally, perform the complete track from the 2018 Album, “Message” before the official release by VP records.
BBNaija: Housemate Turned Sexmate, Plans For Lifemate
Speak about boxing these days, and Floyd Mayweather’s name is bound to be mentioned. The 41-year-old American has a luxurious lifestyle, which he likes to show off. It’s been said that, Floyd Mayweather earned around £70million in his last fight with 29-year -old Conor McGregor, adding to his current estimated net worth of over £500m. As usual, the professional boxer took it to social media, where he shared a video of his new seven digit birthday gift with his 20 million Instagram followers. Mayweather, took a tour of the Rolls-Royce’s flagship sedan, revealing the lavish interior and making sure that everyone knows that it’s brand new, with just 10 miles (16 km) on the clock, and a birthday gift for himself. He’s best known for owning, or having owned, some of the most expensive cars on the planet, including models from Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Ferrari and others, and this new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, was what he gifted himself for his birthday.
... As Anton, Chloe return to house BY JOSEPH ONYEJE That the ongoing BBNaija is laced with romance and sex is an understatement. Tattoo-piercing housemate, Teddy A and Bambam, who have turned themselves into sexmates seem to be planning to be life mates or is it one of Bambam’s games? Even as last week’s eviction turned, two new housemates, namely Anton and the brash Chloe, returned to the house.
Despite the fact that 29-year-old Teddy A, being a recording artiste, has sired a 4-year old son, he is still ready to mingle. Teddy A, who was paired to Bambam with the intention of them being strategic partners to each other, rather took the advantage to make it more romantic than strategic. He said he also let Bambam know and told her not to come close. However, as time went by, their arguments stopped and he got to see a different side if her.
A soft answer turns away wrath.
Bambam, is an actress and a singer whose parents are divorced. She attended film school as a means of overcoming her parents’ divorce situation. Teddy A, has revealed his plan to start a new life with Bambam, his fellow housemate, after the reality show. Teddy A, revealed his intention to start a fresh new life with Bambam, his Superlicious housemate, during his conversation with Rico in the house. When Rico asked Teddy A, ‘if you had options: to jump off the roof of this building, move on with your baby mama, or start a new life with Bambam, Which would you choose? Teddy A, responded and said, “That’s a mad question, I would actually start a new life with Bambam because I have tasted life with her and she is so sweet and romantic. But as for my baby mama, that ship has sailed, she is now married.” Few weeks into the reality show, Teddy A and Bambam, turned themselves into sexmates in different corners of the house in the reality show and both were caught on camera having sex in the toilet. Recall that just last week Saturday, Bambam had pleaded with Teddy A, to take it easy on her in order not to impregnate her before she leaves the reality show.
— English Proverb
Mayweather
b oks&arts NEWS REVIEWS HISTORY
March 30, 2018
With Chikelu Chinelo
See Contemporary WTD: Radical, Theatre For Development Artists Influence, Interpretation Of Culture Engines For Peace & Unification In Nigeria At Expo ‘Generation Y’ … NANTAP Abuja on the path of self-revival, collaboration Expo Generation Y, a contemporary arts exhibition initiative, organised by Retro Africa and Institute Francais, will reveal young artists’ perception and interpretation of culture(s) and how such interpretations influence and oftentimes, unknowingly connect their works in today’s world. Also known as millennials, Generation Y, defines today’s modern artist rebels willing to break the moUld, work across cultures, and with technology, unconsciously influence or highlight one another’s work. The exhibition will attempt to capture this generation’s definition and idea of culture, their interpretation of history, time and how technology adds to their portrayal of these. As the world seemS to shrink, it reveals unifying purpose in their struggle to discover themselves and understand the world they exist in through their art, and in such process, stumble upon the path to the future. The exhibition will feature 24 young artists including French performance and video installation artist, Pauline Lavogez, whose art is inspired by literature, whether political or fiction, to create thought-provoking works. Featured as one of the five emerging artists leading digital revolution at the 62nd Salon de Montrouge annual exhibition, Paris, Lavogez, according to Invaluable Online Art Blog, ‘works to create a form and energy for an absent presence, and to question the limits of comfort.’ The four-day exhibition, which kicked off yesterday, Thursday 29th March, is open through April 1, Easter Day, at the Exhibition Pavilion, beside the International Conference Center (ICC), FCT, Abuja.
J
oining the rest of the world in the celebration of World Theatre Day (WTD) and emphasising the use of theatre as means to attaining unity within societies, the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Abuja, has underlined the importance of radical theatre and theatre for development to
achieving peace in Nigeria. In discussing the theme, ‘Theatre, An Instrument for Peace and Integrity In An Emerging Nigeria,’ Professor Saint Gbilekaa, guest speaker at the occasion, says the adoption of radical and development form of theatre, will best ‘conscientise’ the nation, and assure meaningful discussions, actions and solutions
amongst the aggrieved parties, the elites and the marginalised poor. Gbilekaa notes that real theatre for development goes beyond playwriting to developing play sketches using the contestants or aggrieved parties’ indigenous and artistic ➔ CONTINUE ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE
Sefi Atta’s Renovation Portrays Emerging Working-Women Issues In Modern African Societies Osasogie Guobadia’s take on Sefi Atta’s Renovation is a love-hate reality of women’s yearning for career without the audience to expect and balance the tolls that it would have on their family and marital relationships. It is a case of the Igbo proverb, “people yearn for the greener pastures wherever they are,” but for Yemisi Katumu, after two years of separation and a divorce invitation by email to her husband Demola, there didn’t seem to be much difference between “staying married and professionally unfulfilled and getting divorced but lonely.” Fleshing out themes of female empowerment, the need for open, not telepathic communication, between couples, and the façade many women put on to endure unhappy marriages, in addition to minding each other’s business as a distraction from their lesser fulfilling lives, Sefi Atta’s Renovation deploys female characters in different circumstances and relationships to explore the ideals of the career-focused woman without the support of her spouse, the divorced and independent woman still with a twine of
unfulfillment and the non-career driven one seen at social functions as the appendages of their spouse. An emotional and thought-provoking piece, the play raises amongst the audience, particularly its female audience questions as, “Is the sacrifice to a career worth the strain and effects on their marital relationship?” “At what limit does one draw the line between work and family?” Demola’s accusation of Yemisi’s career taking precedence over her family to the extent that she hardly sees her children most days of the week, does sway the sympathy to his side, as this practice of modern parenting contributes to today’s growing number of delinquents, millennials without guidance or influence,s left to their own self-destructive devices. However, it also backfires on Demola in that he could have shown more appreciation for his wife’s achievement and both could have compromised to prevent the heated outburst that came after two years of separation; when both realised the presence and certain qualities of the other
are occasionally useful (although it was more on Yemisi’s part than Demola who only learnt that words of appreciation goes a long way in a relationship as author and anthropologist, Dr Gary Chapman expanded in his book, The Five Love Languages). Of more importance is the symbolic turn of Renovation, which goes beyond a physical renovation to becoming a restorative process of a broken relationship. The director’s casting of Feyishola Adeoye as Yemisi Katumu and Longret Dalong as Kofo, her friend was well done. Adeoye’s Yemisi is a perfect foil to Dalong’s Kofo. Through Kofo, Yemisi observes the experience of being divorced, independent and all that it entails, which adds to her weighty decision at the end. Sunny Adahson, as Demola, and Adeoye project a visually satisfactory estranged couple with their restless eye contacts, snapped dialogue interspersed with witty lines made for a good comedic yet thoughtful reflection, if only it didn’t feel acted. In Mark Musa’s Mr Habib, we see the stereotypical irreverent and testy artisan.
At the ends of the earth.— English Proverb
He is however, more than just a comic relief; he is bridge, the means to which the couples cross paths, and a mirror of which the audience and the couple view one another’s importance. But for the broken stage steps which kept tripping up the actors (for which they smartly incorporated into the story) and the long intervals between scenes and acts where the stage was bereft of sounds and activity, the sound setting – the clanging sound of metals on pipes and walls did more to create the atmosphere of a renovation besides the stacked chairs and couches. As a member of the audience observed, the presence of renovators or Mr Habib onstage rather than backstage, would have been gainfully deployed as a means of transmission between scenes and acts which would have enhanced the pace and rhythm of the open-air matinee. Set in contemporary Lagos, for the play which ruffled emotions, comments and appreciative one-liners from its male and female audience, resonating with questions they seek answers to, this is more than it can ask for.
44 BOOK REVIEW
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March 30, 2018
WTD: Radical, Theatre For Development Engines For Peace & Unification In Nigeria
WTD ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE
traditions to highlight the real problems, generate discussions and sometimes arrive naturally at a solution proffered by the involved parties. While radical theatre isn’t as impactful as expected, the Department of Theatre Arts, UINIABUJA don, says a combination of the
revolutionary nature of the radical theatre, and the tried and tested conscientisation powers of development theatre, will help address the diverse conflicts plaguing the country at present. “We can use theatre for development to initiate peace, through dialogue. First, we initiate dialogue with the contestants, be it with those who are talking about herdsmen clashes, biafra, resource control or restructuring, we can get them together
to fill up empty seats at play productions. And in addition, foster the sharing of knowledge, materials or equipment to boost production. “Theatre is a big business and is capital intensive, and often times, a theatre company doesn’t have all that is necessary for a production and should seek for help. We have had in the past, people working independently and struggling; and oftentimes, the result is substandard, but for the few ones that have enough resources,” says Aiyegbusi. While to an outsider and a few theatre outfits, collaboration amongst theatre companies to build a theatric structure as a solution to the absence of ‘space’, seems reasonable, even overdue, to some that is not the case, as it can lead to further complications in the future. “Building a common theatre space may not be appropriate, because at the end of the day, there will be fights about who takes ownership of the space. That is real estate which at the end of the day, the question of who owns it comes up; and we don’t want to have that kind of legal tussle in the future,” says chairman, Local Organising Committee, FCT, World Theatre Day, Patrick Otoro. A better alternative, Otoro says, is a group or individual ensembles patronising such facility built by developers for theatric purposes. But he expressed hope that the discovered unified goal of peace building in the nation, will foster a major production collaboration amongst theatre outfits in the FCT. Providing entertainment for the evening were and dialogue with them. From that process, we the traditional dance group, Jarawa; Clesio can initiate plays, which can be open ended or Multimedia of the institute Francais rendered a those that will generate discussions or dialogue. dramatic bi-lingual poetry piece metaphorising And through the ensuing dialogues, these people Africa, while students of the Theatre Arts will find the solutions to their problems,” Gbilekaa Department, UNIABUJA, performed a few expounded. choral pieces in multi-languages of Igbo, Yoruba, Closer to home, within the parameters of the English and Hausa. The most rousing performance association’s recent revival, NANTAP seeks came from 10-year-old singer, Goodluck Enoch to foster collaboration amongst its members Ajireloja, whose Afro hip-hop song, “I Am and theatre practitioners in the FCT to promote Blessed”, drew dancers in the crowd onstage in comfortable living via theatric practice. Chairman, an impromptu dance-off. Caretaker Committee, Kayode Aiyegbusi, Ajireloja, has been singing since age five. appointed to ensure smooth transition to a new Inspired by a song he heard on-air, he had executive says, NANTAP Abuja aims to improve written his own and presented to his father, Alex theatric practice in the city via the designation Ajireloja, a theatre practitioner, who ensured its of programmes guideline for the incoming studio production. Although young, Ajireloja is no executive, grooming of young talents at secondary stranger to the bright lights of the entertainment schools and tertiary institutions, and a synergy industry. He was among the top five contestants with the FCT authority by way of NANTAP Lagos at the 2017 God’s Children Great Talent Show. initiative. Although he hasn’t been actively projecting Aiyegbusi believes a synergy with the FCT his son’s presence onstage, Ajireloja Snr, is authority via a provision of a calendar of year- confident his religious and responsible upbringing round activities, not only provides jobs for the will overshadow the negative influence of the city’s theatre outfits and practitioners, but provides entertainment industry. That, with the additional quality, family-oriented entertainment and tourist initiative of managing the young singer and attraction for its citizens and visitors. traveling with him to all his gigs. World Theatre Day was celebrated by NANTAP Speaking on the seeming inability of theatre companies in the city to collaborate in finding across the country, as done by different theatric solutions to their common problems of ‘empty groups across continents to foster use of theatre seats at play productions’ and ‘absence of theatric in the promotion of peace and unity amongst space’, Aiyegbusi says the association has much societies and cultures, that which has been the to do towards promoting collaboration amongst objective of its WTD initiator, the International theatre companies beyond picking-up acting Theatre Institute, which celebrates its 70th roles in production to sharing of clients’ database anniversary this year.
Ask no questions and you will be told no lies. — English proverb
March 30, 2018
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A
s expected, matters have been frosty between the executive and legislature since the latter came up with the amended Electoral Act 2010, cited as Act No 6 2010 Amendment Bill 2017. A new Clause 25 in the amendment, which reordered the sequence of the 2019 general election, is at the heart of the beef between President Muhammadu Buhari and the legislators. With the National Assembly amendment, the first item of election that will come in 2019 is the National Assembly election, followed by that of state lawmakers and governors, while the presidential election will bear the rear. Before the amendment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had come up with a sequence which put the presidential and National assembly elections to hold first on February 16, 2019, while governorship and state assembly elections would follow on March 2, 2019. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives were united on the need to amend the Electoral Act and alter INEC’s sequence of the 2019 election. Following the harmonisation of the recommendations by the Conference of Committees of both chambers and an adoption by the Senate, the new amendments
S
peaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, may be everything bad, depending on individual perspective about his conduct and politics, but he has stolen the shine with his resolve to revive the languishing Ajaokuta Steel Company. Whoever advised the Speaker to embark on this laudable project, in truth deserves a national honour, and such a person should never be forgotten by the Speaker. Thankfully, Dogara and indeed the House, put the debate on Ajaokuta steel company on the front burner in our national discourse. For the benefit of hindsight, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), popularly known as Ajaokuta Steel Mill, is the largest steel mill in Nigeria, the coke oven and by- products plant, is larger than all the refineries in Nigeria combined. The gigantic project was a brainchild of former President Aminu Shehu Shagari, under a cooperation agreement of the Soviet Union with Nigeria. In 1967, Soviet experts recommended prospecting for iron ore in Nigeria, as the known deposits were of poor quality for steel making. The complex is built on 24,000 hectares, 59,000 acres. The Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited was incorporated in 1979. The same year, its construction commenced, and by 1994, the steel mill had reached 98 per cent completion stage. However, the company did not produce any steel, and it is non-operational. So far, the federal government of Nigeria had spent over $8bn on the plant. According to reports, bulk of this fund has been largely expended on the salary of workers of the company
were passed and sent to the President for assent. Apart from the alteration of the election timelines in the 2019 electoral cycle, the NASS amendment reaches deep into some other core areas in the country’s election administration. While the alteration of the sequence of the election may have taken the biscuit for the President, he equally found two other legislations in the amendment repugnant. One is that “The election of a winner of an election can no longer be challenged on grounds of qualification, if the (winner) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 65, 106,131 or 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and he is not, as may be applicable, in breach of sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. [For example, a person’s election cannot be challenged on the ground that he did not pay tax, as this is not a qualifying condition under the Constitution).” Another is the intervention of the legislators in the huge sham that has been local government elections in the country. According to the amendment, “Relying on the powers of the National Assembly in Paragraph 11 of Part II (Concurrent Legislative List) of the Second Schedule (Legislative Powers) to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
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Point NASS Wants To Prove 1999 (as amended), the Senate also passed measures reforming procedures regulating Local Government Elections. State Independent Electoral Commissions can no longer conduct elections that do not meet minimum standards of credibility.” The President denied assent to the bill on the basis of these three legislations in the amendment. In a democracy, the action of the President leaves the National Assembly only with the option of overriding the executive veto, which they can bring about by mustering two-third majority of its members in both chambers. Incidentally, this was the juncture at which NASS was with President Buhari over Act No.6 2010 Amendment Bill 2017, before the twist that is its recent reintroduction in both chambers. If a two-third majority of NASS members believe in the appropriateness of the legislation and support its inclusion in the body of our laws, the President’s denial of assent becomes as weightless as the piece of paper upon which it was conveyed. Before we burn out ourselves in some kind of paranoia over what is happening, let us first understand that legislative override of a president’s veto is a constitutional corollary that flows from a president’s veto-it is a cause and effect sequence-in executive and legislature relationship in a democracy. If veto override is not deemed needful in governance, the framers of the constitution will not have allowed it a space in the grundnorm of our legal system. It is a buffer against executive impunity and reinforces the sanctity of the democratic
Dogara’s Resolve On Ajaokuta Steel Company who have been idle since the Russians abandoned the construction of the gigantic venture in 1994. Experts however estimated that the country needs a total of $1.21bn to put Ajaokuta Steel Complex into production. It took Dogara’s visit to the Ajaokuta Complex on February 12, to change government narrative on the moribund plant. The debate revealed that the Russian government had, at different times, written separate letters, seeking permission of the Nigerian government to complete the plant. Yet, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, insisted that government has resolved not to spend additional fund on the complex. Well, there is another resolution, the House of Representatives has approved $1bn from Excess Crude Account for completion of the national asset. The House also amended the Public Enterprises
45
(privatisation and commercialisation) Act, Cap p. 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and removed Ajaokuta from the list of enterprises to be privatised. When the bills are finally passed, sent to the Senate for concurrence and forwarded to the President, if signed, the executive will be empowered to withdraw $1 billion from the excess crude account to complete the complex. This to me, is a lot logical, as I find it incomprehensible that a nation that gives billions of dollars as bail out to states without accountability, will complain about spending $1.21bn to complete such a huge project. Thanks to Dogara and his conviction that Nigeria is capable of putting the company into use, Dogara influenced the House to hold a special sectorial debate on the company. Although the ministers in charge of Mines and Steel Development were both absent, stakeholders were on the floor of the parliament to relate their
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
principle of separation of powers. It is nothing errant or nauseous in a democracy. It is, therefore, naive and from some prisms, arrogant for anyone to think it as such. It is the second constitutional leverage aside the power to impeach that brings home the full expression of the preeminence of the legislature over the executive in a democracy. The only way the leader of the executive has around impeachment or veto override is to dismount his high horse and come to the legislature on bended knees or simply do deal. Grandstanding is least effective here. The constitution leaves the executive powerless and empty-handed against the legislature, especially a legislature that is worth its salt. It is self-deceit for any executive to pretend not to be in full grasp of this. All executives everywhere in a presidential system know that all the four aces lie with the legislature. Unless where a governor or president out-smarts the legislature and successfully ties it to his apron strings, otherwise the sweeping powers of the executive to decree anything hobbles before the legislature. This reality is a discomfort that has made adepts out of our governors in a game of divide and rule against state assemblies and subordinate them further by controlling the flow of their fund. While it is not a given that a legislative override must follow an executive veto, the 8th Assembly, in opting to stand its ground on their approved sequence of election, appears to me, only wants the president to go out there and prove his mettle in the electoral field if he wishes to seek a re-election. views on how to salvage the situation. I have listened to arguments that some individuals are behind the Speaker’s action and that they are only interested in stalling the concession of the company to the preferred bidder. I have also listened to the argument that business interests are behind the resolution of the House. Irrespective of this, what is germane is that such a huge national asset, which has gulped billions of dollars, should be functional. Whatever has prompted Dogara and his colleagues into this commendable initiative is immaterial, what matters is that the abandoned project of about 25 years, will now receive a facelift. The business interests behind the steel company and their efforts to outweigh themselves, is a topic for another discourse, it is not my area of interest today. Ajaokuta belongs to Nigeria and it should be so treated. As The House Mourns Abraham Badru The member representing Lagos Island I Federal Constituency, Hon Enitan Badru reportedly lost his son, Abraham Badru to the cold hands of death. The junior Badru was shot dead in the United Kingdom around 11pm on Sunday, when he was getting out of his car, near his family’s residence in Hackney. Badru, who had a master’s degree in sports coaching and had worked as a football coach, was once honoured with a police bravery award when he saved a woman from being sexually attacked. May God almighty grant the Badru family fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. Adieu!
46 TOURISM NEWS
What You Need To Know About Travels And Tours
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to find a reliable travel agency every where in the world, Nigeria is not an exception. The role of a travel agent in Nigeria has been increasing with time and people depend on them for most of their travel plans, so that they can rest easily and simply enjoy their trips. Travel agents are supposed to help and advise travelers about the constant changing of schedules and airfares, packages for vacation, and lots of travel information the traveler may not be familiar with. Good travel agents should be able to foresee your problems and guide you about them. More so, hotels, cruise liners, resorts, and special travel groups make use of travel companies to promote their holiday packages. A travel agent is the ultimate matchmaker, pairing clients with their perfect destination. If clients enjoy their vacation, they will be more likely to not only return to that destination, but also to the agent who booked that spectacular getaway. Speaking with some travel consultants, LEADERSHIP Friday sought to find out the quality services rendered to clients to ensure perfect vacation for their customers. According to Head , IT/Human Resource, Teefum Travels & Tours Limited, Osadolor Festus, he said, “Teefum Travels & Tours Limited offers amazing deals on flight tickets and luxury hotels around the world. With great strategies around the need to provide quality service to their various target customers, in the process fully satisfying their needs.” Osadolor stated that Teefum packages business, through its team of professionals, provide good quality custom designed travel packages, catering to its client’s particular needs in making provision for cheap flight tickets, visa assistance/counselling, tour packaging, both local and international, airport protocols, affordable hotels, car hire services and group tours. In a related developement, Bedex Worldwide travels & Tours chief executive officer, Bede Okafor, stated that travel consultants should provide information linked to customs regulations, important documents like visas, passports, forex rates and many more. He added that, “we should always remember the power of welcoming our customers! Get their names, reintroduce yourself, and don’t forget to use their names along the way. This shows that we are paying attention and that we care. We need to have a genuine conversation. If we can discover what is important to our customers and what they really want to experience, the rest is quite easy”. Bede said, “Bedex is known for taking travel stress off their clients, with expertise in ticketing, visa procurement, hotel reservation and travel consultancy, and does reconfirmation of travels within 72 hours of your departure to avoid cancellation or payment of no show penalty”.
March 30, 2018
KIZA: African Restaurant Where Top Nigerian Musicians Relax In Dubai BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja
At the ground floor of Emirates Financial Towers along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, lies the KIZA Restaurant and Lounge, popularly known as the only pan African Restaurant in the Middle East. To a new visitor, the premises, adorned with map of Africa, immediately reminds one of the African continent, right from the entrance to the varieties of authentic pan-African cuisine. A recent visit to KIZA shows that the cozy and large restaurant has become a platform through which premium African artistes like David Adedeji Adeleke, aka Davido and Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface and many other African artistes, have performed in Dubai. Apart from mere eating and drinking, KIZA equally offers best-in-class panAfrican hospitality and entertainment services, spanning across dining, music, fashion, art and entertainment. Speaking while having a chat during the Emirates Airlines Familiarisation trip to Dubai recently, CEO and Managing Partner of KIZA, Joseph Osawaye said KIZA brand was established in 2012 as a casual dining and entertainment brand, quickly developing a unique market position across all of its segments. “Based in Oud Metha Dubai, KIZA’s following grew exponentially and captured a wide demography across the UAE. KIZA has also been a platform through which premium African artistes have performed in Dubai”,
he said. In 2015, KIZA’s management was said to have remodeled as an upscale restaurant and lounge. According to the management, “our flagship restaurant, based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, cleverly harmonises all aspects of our operating model. In addition to our organic growth, we have also expanded geographically with the opening of KIZA Nairobi in the last quarter of 2015”. It further stated that, “our new DIFC venue offers a unique multi-sensory experience, intertwining food with art and music performed by our resident DJ’s. The venue is highly sought after to host a range of events including corporate and social functions, with the option of a closed space for groups up to 30”. Also receiving the Emirates media team at KIZA was the Operation’s Manager, Glen Vambe who urged the visitors to experience KIZA’s warm African hospitality. To Vambe, KIZA is the first authentic pan-African restaurant in Dubai, just as he
pointed out that their menu consists of a selection of popular dishes from across the continent. “This is the only pan African restaurant around. We try to offer cuisines that encompass African choices and options”. According to Vambe, KIZA is a multicultural outfit as they have been able to employ workers cutting across African nations like Nigeria, Cameroun, South Africa, Ghana and even non Africans. Others who were at the dinner at KIZA restaurants were Emirate’s PR team, including Smita Natalia Deans, Bardees Badr amongst others. Delicious African cuisine such as pounded yam with egusi soup, Ghanaian kele wele, goat meat pepper soup, special BBQ chicken wings, peppered chicken, beef or gizzards, dulet, Sudanese Tamiya. All these were complimented with KIZA’s wide range of African inspired cocktails and mocktails. There were also peri-peri prawns, tilapia fillet, princess KIZA, KIZA BBQ ribs, red snapper fillet and others.
Film Training: Alternative Sources Of Wealth, Job Creation BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja
Some youth in Lagos State have urged both the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Lagos State Government to sustain its partnership on the Film Training Workshop Series for the interest of their future. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the one-week film training workshop held in Lagos recently, a cross section of participants, mainly Youths, drawn from the 57 Local Government and Development Areas of Lagos State said the film training workshop has armed them to be able to seek alternative sources of wealth and job creation, without waiting for government employment. The participants praised the NFC for the level of resources deployed for the
workshop and promised to effectively use the skills acquired for a better Nigeria. The Government of Lagos State was equally commended for creating the opportunity for the training workshop. Managing director, NFC, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe admonished the trainees to create the impact required of them as a result of the training. Maduekwe who was represented by the zonal director, NFC, Lagos office, Simon Inegedu, assured that the Corporation has taken up the issues of training and capacity building for the film industry and is frontally addressing them. Participants among others, received one-on-one coaching in digital cinematography, scripting and directing, production management,
A soft answer turns away wrath.
— English Proverb
still photography, editing and sound design and production; as well as the development of post training networks that comes with valuable addition to the training. Meanwhile, the participants undertook the production of a short film titled “Ashake” which was shown as part of the closing ceremony at the workshop. Earlier, the executive Secretary, Lagos State Film & Video Censors Board, Dele Balogun, charged participants to ensure that they adequately took the opportunity offered them by the State Government seriously. “remain strongly committed to capacity building, entrepreneurship empowerment and sustainable youth development”. A total of 115 Youths participated in the film training workshop.
March 30, 2018
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PDP Lampoons Buhari Over Fake Martin Luther Award BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the announcement by the Buhari Presidency that the family of human right activist, Martin Luther King jr conferred an award on President Muhammadu Buhari as a national disgrace and embarrassment. The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, said the lie by President Buhari’s handlers smacks of desperation by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to procure international endorsement, ahead of the 2019 general elections. The leading opposition party said this embarrassing act has again made our nation a laughing stock before the international community. The party said the nation was jolted when the King Center distanced itself from the award and noted that, “the award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Center, at the request of The King Center or by the children of Martin Luther King jr”. “It is now clear that this sinking, incompetent and deceptive APC administration, in their desperation, can fabricate and stagemanage anything, including name-dropping of international figures and agencies, in their desperate attempt to delude Nigerians, once again, now that the 2019 general election is fast approaching. “Nigerians have discovered that having failed to gain any endorsement from reputable international figures such as Bill Gates, the APC and the Presidency have now cheapened the nation by resorting to this despicable act of name-dropping of worldrenowned human right activist, Dr. Martin Luther King jr, further dragging down our once sterling image before the comity of Nations. “The fact remains that not many Nigerians believed in the authenticity of the award in the first place, as the Buhari-led administration, by its undemocratic and anti-people proclivities, including records of violations of rights of citizens, is not deserving of any form of recognition by any human rights group, let alone the family of the world-acclaimed Martin Luther King jr. “Today, the PDP has been vindicated in its stand that the APC government is not only hypocritical but overtly deceptive and must not be trusted. “It would be recalled that we had issued a statement, earlier this year, cautioning Nigerians and the international community to be wary of information and claims coming from the APC and the Presidency, particularly on endorsements and performances indices. “While we urge the Presidency to shed its proclivity for lies, we demand the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of all the Presidency officials involved in this messy scandal and crime against our nation. “Moreover, the Presidency and the APC should save the nation further embarrassment by jettisoning other planned endorsement stunts and fabricated performance indices, as Nigerians are already rallying with the repositioned and rebranded PDP in their collective quest to end the misrule of the APC and restore a sincere, purposeful and people-oriented government come 2019.”
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Reps Okay New Fiscal Governance Regime
BY KAUTHAR ANUMBA-KHALEEL, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday commenced moves to expand powers of the federal government to borrow money. This is as the lower House introduced new fiscal governance structures for sustainable economic growth with the passage of six consolidated Bills on the subject matter for second reading. The House is also repealing the Fiscal Responsibility Act and enacting a new law to provide for prudent management of the na-
tion’s resources and ensure long-term macro-economic stability of the national cconomy as well as secure greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within the medium term fiscal policy framework. Consequently, a new Fiscal Responsibility Commission is to come on stream in the amendment exercise to ensure promotion and enforcement of the nation’s economic objectives while the commission will under the powers of the law, enforce remittances of revenues into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation.
According to the lawmakers, it will provide penalties for violation of the law and establishment of the Fiscal Expansionary Commission and to promote long-term economic growth through greater transparency and accountability in fiscal operations of government, increased government spending on infrastructure and budget process reform. Meanwhile, the House has proceeded on a Easter holiday to resume on April 10even as it planned receive the 2018 Budget Report on April 19 with its subsequent passage fixed for April 24.
L-R: Chief executive officer, Kwilismith Global & Partner, Olisa Smith; Director, Visionscape Group Business Development, Nick Hamer; Visionscape Associate, Temitope Dosumu, and CEO, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions , John Irvine, at a recent presentation at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) office, yesterday.
$40m Scam: Court Frees Jonathan’s Cousin’s Wife BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday discharged and acquitted Stella, wife of Robert Aziboala, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, of all the ninecount charges leveled against her by the Federal Government. In his ruling, Justice Dimgba was of the view that, “Just because Mr. Azibola is a spouse of the 2nd defendant, is not enough to charge her. Criminal liability is personal, it is not vicarious.” However, Justice Dimgba ordered her husband, Robert Aziboala and his company, One Plus Holding Ltd to defend the allegations of being in possession and converting the sum of $40 million received from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd)
to personal use. Justice Dimgba gave the order in a no-case submissions made by the defendants in their criminal trial. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in 2016 preferred a 7-count charge against Aziboala, his wife, Stella and their company, One Plus Holding Limited, bordering on the receipt of $40million contract from the office of the NSA. However, as the prosecution closed its case, counsel to the defendants, Chris Uche (SAN), filed a no-case submission, insisting that the Federal Government had failed to establish a prima-facie case that would warrant them to enter defence. The court in its ruling said Aziboala (1st defendant) and his company, One Plus Holding Ltd (3rd defendant) have explanation to make in re-
spect of counts 2 and 3. It was claimed that the $40m released from the Office of the former NSA to Aziboala and One Plus Holding Ltd was meant for the procurement of tactical communication kits. “By the exhibits, the sum of $40 million was sent to the 3rd defendant purportedly for the supply of tactical communication kits for Special Forces on the instruction of former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki. “But there was no evidence that any such thing was supplied even though there were some suggestions in exhibits that the sum was for some other security assignments. “In the absence of any evidence for the supply of the tactical communication kits, the consideration for the transfer of the $40 million needs to be established.
Tinubu@66: Northern Group Extols APC Leader’s Virtues At Colloquium BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos
A pro-democracy group, the Northern Alternative Forum (NAF), yesterday extolled the virtues of national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, describing him as an epitome of the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers. National chairman of the northern socio-political group, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, who spoke to journalists at the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, an annual high-
powered policy roundtable to mark Tinubu’s 66th birthday anniversary at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, said the Tinubu Colloquium, which focused on the theme, ‘Investing in People’, has rekindled hope in Nigerians that their leaders have their interest at heart. According to Ibrahim, bringing together stakeholders, including policy makers, academics and members of the civil society groups to discuss the welfare of Nigerians is a clear indication
that “the most respected Jagaban of the Borgu Kingdom remains an unrepentant and indomitable senior advocate of the masses”. Recalling that it was Tinubu who worked assiduously for the installation of the APC government, the national chairman of NAF noted that the strategic and effective manner in which Tinubu formed an Alliance across political, ethnic and economic divides makes him the father of modern day democracy in Nigeria.
Mohammad Ketso, gave the indication yesterday at a one-day workshop titled ‘The Devastating Effect of Flood Disaster on HYPADEC Communities affected along this River Banks’ held in Minna the state capital. He said that the state was working in collaboration with the other states in partnership with the federal government to realized the effective takeoff if HYPADEC within the shortest time. According to him , the take off of the com-
mission would drastically cushion the effect of the annual flood disaster of the affected communities and reduce unnecessary lost of lives, destruction of farmlands and loss of livelihood of the people. While saying that a call has gone to the federal ministry of power to urgently expedite action on the constitution of the Board members to the HYPADEC Commission and other necessary appointments, he stated that an appeal was also made for budgetary allocation for the activities of the commission..
HYPPADEC Will Fully Take-off Soon –Niger Gov BY ABU NMODU, Minna
The Niger State government has given strong indication on the full take-off of the Hydro Power Production Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) in no distant time as the beneficiary-states and the federal government are working out the modalities to actualise the dream. The governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, represented by his deputy, Ahmed
A good deed is never lost.
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Security Operatives Re-Arrest Dan China BY RUTH TENE, Abuja
Security operatives yesterday re-arrested Alh. Abdullahi Adamu alias Dan-china after a Jos Federal High Court granted him interim-bail for alleged illegal mining. The federal government had arrested Danchina and 24 others and charged them before Justice Musa Kurya on a fourcount-charge of alleged illegal mining activities at Zurak in Wase local government area of Plateau State. The government alleged that the accused persons had sometimes between 2015 and 2017 carried out some illegal mining activities and disposing the minerals found there and thereby committed offences contrary and punishable under sections 3 (6) and 1(8)(b) of Miscellaneous offences act Cap M17, laws of Nigeria 2004. The offences were also said to be contrary and punishable under sections 131 (a)(d) of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. When the case came up for mention on Wednesday before Kurya, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Ali Alilu, asked the court to read the charges for the accused for them to take their pleas. When the charges
were read to all the accused persons, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecuting counsel, Mr Ali Alilu and the lead defence counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro had argued over the bail for the 25 accused persons quoting from different authorities to buttress their claims before the judge. Justice Kurya however granted interim-bail to all the accused in self recognition of Mr Erokoro, whom he directed to ensure he produced them on the next adjourned date to be taken. ``The 1st accused must deposit his international passport with the court as pre-condition for the interim-bail since the international passport of the Chinese nationals are with the police. ``His Learned Silk is expected to produce all the accused persons in court on the next adjourned date. Failure to do so this case would not go on. ``This interim-bail is to enable this court study the arguments proffered and documents of both counsels for me to rule on the bail application made by the defence counsel, ’’ Kurya said. The judge then adjourned the case to May 16, 2018 for ruling on the bail application.
Kwali Area Council In FCT Budgets N3bn For 2018 BY CECILIA OGEZI, Abuja
Kwali area council chairman, Joseph Shazin has presented the 2018 budget, totaling N3, 999,616,109 to the area council legislative arm. Presenting the council’s budget yesterday, Shazin explained that the administrative department got the highest allocation, with a total of over N900 million, which represents about 24 per cent of the budget. The council chairman explained that the 2018 budget, tagged: “The Budget of Hope”, was
delayed to allow some adjustments and to include some projects that would be carried over. He revealed that the budget has made provisions for the improvement of life for residents of the council and called on the legislative arm to consider the passage of the budget on time for the development of the council. Responding, the speaker of the council, Amos Yohanna assured the chairman that the legislative arm would ensure speedy passage of the budget for the good of the council.
L-R: Director, Resource Mobilisation, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Mrs Josephine Kalu; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan; Head, Public Relations and Protocol NACA, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe and CEO, Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Oluwaseyi Temowo during NACA’s advocacy visit to Lagos State yesterday.
Sirika Explains Cause Of Delay In Establishment Of National Carrier BY NAN
The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has explained that the delay in the establishment of national carrier was occasioned by the counter offer by the transaction advisers it earlier appointed. Sirika, while addressing stakeholders at the 4th Aviation Stakeholders Forum in Abuja, said the Lufthansa Group earlier appointed by the Federal Government failed to accept the offer. He explained that the consortium failed to communicate its acceptance
or rejection of the offer to the government six months after leading to the delay in the process. The minister added that when the company eventually responded, it came up with a counter offer, which the government could not accept leading to the cancellation of the offer. He said that Lufthansa asked the government to open an escrow account in abroad as well as requesting that transactions be carried out in foreign currencies. “In order not to rush and take wrong decision, we decided to take time to en-
gage the consortium comprises Airline Management Group Ltd, Avia Solutions Ltd and Tianerro FZE. Airline Management is a UK based firm with experience and expertise in Airline Start Ups and turn around, which has led to some of the most successful transformation and cost reduction programme in the Aviation industry. “The Transaction Advisers have all commenced work and are liaising with the Project Delivery Team to outline Business Case for adopting PPP methodology.
Army Arrests 3 Boko Haram Fighters
BY FRANCIS OKOYE Maiduguri.
The Nigerian Army has said that its troops of operation Lafiya Dole yesterday arrested three Boko Haram terrorists who are from Bama local government area of Borno State. According to the director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu, the suspects who were arrested at Ngu-
rore are ; Adam Yagga, Musa Kansulum, and Abba Djidoum. Brig Gen Chukwu said: “Troops of 23 Brigade Nigerian Army under Operation LAFIYA DOLE on 28th March 2018, acting on a tip off arrested 3 suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Ngurore. The suspects, Adam Yagga, Musa Kamsulum and Abba Djidoum are all from Darajimal in Bama local govern-
ment area of Borno State. “ One of the suspects, Abba Djidoum, with series of gunshot wounds on his thigh, confessed to have operated with the Boko Haram terrorists at fringes of Izza, Wudula and Blakule in Bama local government area of Borno State. Suspects are undergoing preliminary investigation with 23 Brigade Provost Company.
16m Nigerians Experience Gender-based Violence – DRAC BY JULIANA AGBO, Abuja
The Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC) has disclosed that about 16 million Nigerian Women and Girls With Disabilities (WGWDS) experience higher rates of gender based violence, lack access to health, social and justice services. The executive director, DRAC, Irene Patrick-Og-
bogu who disclosed this yesterday during a press briefing in Abuja said, such violence has remained unnoticed and ignored. She stated that women and girls with one form of disability or the other have fallen through the cracks with no help or support from the system which is supposed to protect them. She added that there are
no statistics in Nigeria that clearly outline the number of women and girls with disabilities who have experienced and continue to experience violence. “Most often, their experiences of violence remain hidden and unaddressed due to fear of blame, increased stigma and verbal abuse. “DRAC with the support
of CBM, UK saw the need to conduct a baseline survey and accessibility audit to fill in the gap when it noticed the situation made it difficult to establish the extent of violations against women and girls with disabilities. “The study was conducted in the Federal Capital Territory and Mararaba due to its influence on the activities of the city,” she said.
N/Delta Ministry Empowers 270 Youths RICHARD NDOMA,Calabar
As part of the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce poverty in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has equipped 270 youths with skills in the area of agricultural value chain to enable them become self reliant. Minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius
Omoleye Daramola disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the capacity building and empowerment in agriculture and other value chains for women and youths in the Niger Delta. Speaking at the senate chambers of the University of Calabar, deputy director in the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ndioma Ebiogeh Philips who represented the minister at the ceremony
charged beneficiaries of the programme to ensure that skills acquired at the training workshop are turned into profitable ventures. He said that graduands of the programme had no reason not to excel in the business given the rich nature of the curriculum used for the training exercise adding that the curriculum was capable of imparting theoretical and practical knowledge in differ-
ent areas of poultry, fishery production and other value chains. Omoleye stated, “The curriculum can enable beneficiaries manage their businesses for effective enterprise development, help them become self- employed and help them engage others, generate income for their families and communities and above all become employers of labour.”
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY
Buhari
March 30, 2018
Oyegun
Tinubu
Issues As APC Tenure Extension Hits Brick Wall Last Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari foreclosed the possibility of a tenure extension hitherto given to both the National Working Committee (NWC) and state executives of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). ANDREW ESSIEN looks at the implications of this latest move as the party moves towards 2019.
M
arch 27, 2018 will not be forgotten in a hurry as President Muhammadu Buhari in his usual frankness shocked the National Executive Committee (NEC) members of his party when he openly made an about-turn on an otherwise settled issue of the tenure extension that was granted to the NWC members and the state executives in the previous NEC meeting on February 27, 2018. It will be recalled that the NEC at the February meeting attended by President Buhari, had approved an extension of tenure for the Chief John Odigie Oyegun-led National Working Committee and state executive committees of the
party for another one year with effect from June 30, 2018 which meant that the current leadership of the party as currently constituted and at various levels will have to stay put until after the 2019 general elections, a development which infuriated some members of the party. It is a known fact that the party’s leadership had been cracked along interest lines before now even as President Buhari had sought to ameliorate the situation by constituting the peace and reconciliation committee headed by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who has been having a topsy-turvy relationship with the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Many had wondered how the Asiwaju-led reconciliation committee would even begin to work when he had expressed his desire to see a change in the leadership of the party. He even released a letter alleging that Chief Oyegun was frustrating his peace moves, the second in the series. By the time the party had reached the first NEC meeting in the year, many were indeed surprised to see the overwhelming endorsement for a tenure extension for him and other elected leaders of the party. Expectedly, many had insinuated that that the move was a vote against Asiwaju and to give the speculations a semblance of truth, the peace and reconciliation moves went into a slow mode even as nothing was heard about it thereafter. Political analysts however posit that subterranean and clandestine high wired meetings
were ongoing in view of the controversies generated by the tenure extension at the previous NEC meeting. It was therefore not surprising that Asiwaju Tinubu and his staunchest political ally yet, chief Bisi Akande were conspicuously absent at the last Caucus meeting at the presidential villa on Monday. What is surprising now is President Buhari’s declaration at the NEC meeting that after due consultations, the tenure extension that was approved for the NWC members and the state executives was against the constitution of the party even as he said that going against it will further widen the cracks within the rank and file of the party. The President, who apparently took the NEC members unawares by his sudden u-turn, declared that the tenure extension was unconstitutional even as he called for a speedy resolution of the outstanding issues so as to make the party a strong fighting force that will best suit the populace. While quoting extant laws of the party as stated in Articles 17(1) and 13.2 (b), President Buhari further warned that doing anything untoward as regards the extension, will be giving the opposition a loophole with which to attack the party. President Buhari said: “I am delighted to once again welcome you to this National Executive Committee meeting of our great party. As we usually do, I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues, and
A good thing is all the sweeter when won with pain.
consolidate on our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interest of our people.” “In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issues of the tenure of our national and state executive officers. As we all know a motion was moved in the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27 to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expires in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year. “This motion was duly carried by the majority of members present at the last NEC meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up vehemently against it, others have even taken the matter to court,” he said. While expressing his opinion, the President said: “On my own part, I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that, it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” “While the APC constitution is article 17(1) and 13.2 (b) limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in section 223 also prescribed periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years. “Further more, article 31 of our great party’s constitution provides that any principal officer ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
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Issues As APC Tenure Extension Hits Brick Wall ➔ CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE
wishing to recontest , or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. In this circumstance, what is expected of us, is to conduct fresh elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end,” he added. While warning against the implications of a caretaker committee at the helms of affairs of the party, President Buhari also noted that “a caretaker committee cannot remedy this situation and cannot validly act in place of elected officers.” “Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitution and provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. “If the tenure of our party executive can be legally faulted, then, it means the any nomination and primary election that they will conduct can also be faulted. “This is not to talk of divisions that will arise and it is already arising within the party when some of our members feeling that they are being denied the rights to aspire to executive positions or the internal democracy is not at play within the party. “I am therefore of the firm beliefs that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party
and national constitutions rather than put the APC and its activities at grave risks. “Fortunately, we have approved a timetable for the order of congresses and the elections. I think this should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success. “I have to digress from speech here to tell you, the NEC, that it does not preclude us as from discussing this matter. The reason is this, we have so many instances including the one sitting by my right, people have quoted the constitution of our party including that of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and it has facilitated the decisions we have taken. “All well and good, I don’t feel too strongly, the only thing I feel too strongly about is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable to and susceptible to the opposition. They can delay or divide us further within the party when they quote appropriate portion of the party constitution and of the country. Take note of this my statement, there are knowledgeable people sitting among you the governors and the party chairmen and among us here on the high table,” the President said. While reacting to the development, the new state chairman of APC in Abia state, Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, said that President Buhari’s decision to reject the unilateral
decision of the NEC on tenure extension for the current party executives at all levels, was the best, adding that such will strengthen the party. Ndukwe, who was attending the NEC meeting for the first time after taking over as the party chairman in Abia state, described President Buhari as a law-abiding citizen who believes in working in accordance with the party’s constitution. Ndukwe said: “I am a Buharist, the president is a law-abiding citizen and as a law-abiding citizen, we work with party’s constitution and there is never a place where it was mentioned that a tenure can be extended. So, I gladly accept and very happy that we are going to conduct our congresses, especially in Abia State where I have taken over.” “I use this opportunity to call on all the people that have been sidelined previously from participating in party activities to mobilise and come in and participate in the congress and they can install whoever they want. “All what we want is openness. The era of moneybags coming in, using their money to influence important issues is over. Let them come in and mobilise people in the grassroots. There is no need running away, let them come in build the party,” he said. Speaking on the implications of President
Buhari’s decision, Ndukwe said: “All those who call themselves stakeholders and they don’t come home, this is the opportunity for them to come home, mobilise for the party and make the party stronger in Abia state than it has been. So, I am calling everybody, we are going to run open government.” “The doors are open quite unlike what has been happening in the past. All the people that they are feeling they have been excluded from participating in party activities; this is an opportunity to come, prove their popularity and mobilise to work for APC because APC must take over Abia state in the general election in 2019,” he added. The questions on the minds of political onlookers is that did the NEC members not study and get proper interpretation of their party’s constitution before they forayed into the tenure extension exercise? Wasn’t the president aware of the process at the caucus before it was brought up as an agenda for debate at the NEC, where he would have sought for proper guidance before this sudden U-turn? Are they aware of the likely backlash should the NEC move to override the President? These are serious times and the stakes are even higher than it has ever been. The timely resolution of this debacle will be of great interest.
INTERVIEW
Killings Have Reduced In Benue After PMB’s Visit – Gov Ortom Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, in this interview with State House correspondents stated that the killings in Benue have reduced since President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state as security agencies are trying to stem the tide of killings. JONATHAN NDAISAIAH presents the excerpts. Why are you in the Villa?
Iam here first of all to thank Mr. President for the condolence visitor to Benue State after the killings and to also intimate him of where we are now. To also remind him about the request of Bernie people when he paid that visit and to assure him that Benue remains committed for united Nigeria and to work with him in ensuring that we collaborate with the Federal Government to provide security for lives and property in Nigeria. Also to intimate him of the plight of over 175,000 IDPs that we have in eight camps. They have expressed their desire to go back home. And Mr. is very passionate about their plight and have assured me that government will swing into action to ensure that rehabilitation is done to those homes that were displaced. Because, if they go back home, where would they go and live when their house were destroyed. That assurance has been given and he will also look at the other issues that we brought before him. It is quite assuring that it will be well and I want to thank the President for the support he has shown. I know that this crisis did not just start during his tenure, it precedes this government. When I was serving as minister, my ancestral home was
destroyed, 53 people were killed and this was in 2013 when Mr. President was not yet here. But I think that what is important is the NEC suncommittee headed by the Vice President which is doing the needful. I believe that the meeting we held and the subsequent ones that we are going to hold will definitely proffer a solution to this perennial problem and we sought it out ones and for all. But we remain committed to our people and our ranching law and I believe that that is the way forward. Like I keep saying, if people better options, let them bring it to the table. For us in Benue State, that remains the global best practice and Nigeria cannot be an exception especially when the land is decreasing and the population is increasing. The 20million cattle in Nigeria cannot cope with open grazing, there is no doubt about that and a solution has to be created just as it is done in India with over 300million herds of cattle, in Brazil 250million herds of cattle and in America 300million but yet, there has not been clashes like we have witnessed in Nigeria with just 20million cattle. So, we must adopt global best practices and modern ways of animal house boundary, this will go a long way in helping us. And I think that for us in Benue, we are wining because even Miyetti Allah MACABAN, have accepted that truly, ranching remains the best option. And we commend them and we will work with them to see how our law will can ware human face to ensure that we have a winwin for all. And you will recall that the issue of cattle rustling is very major problem to the cattle rearers in Nigeria. Ranching will minimize this problem in Nigeria, it will minimize attacks on farms and encroachment on farms. So, we encourage everyone to work with us to ensure that we achieve this. What has changed in Benue since the President’s visit?
Well, there are some killings in flash points by
these militia groups, the security men are doing their best, and a number of arrests have been made by the security agencies. It is still going on, even yesterday, there were killings but the security men are doing their best. I believe that we will overcome this. If not for the presence of the security men in our land, the situation would have really worsened than what it is today. I think that we are collaborating with the security agencies and are not leaving any stone unturned that we overcome this. A former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, suggested that people protect themselves?
I’m not sure that if listened to him very well. It is a misrepresentation of what the former minister said. He did not tell anybody to take Ortom up arms. He only said that people should protect themselves. Of course, you know that self to stay with my people to be able to surmount preservation is the first law of nature. You can’t this because they are the people that elected me. just wait in your house and allow someone to And Benue people first before any other thing. I come and kill you. You can resist the person, but have not had any strained relationship with the you don’t necessarily need to have arms. I think federal government. I had strained relationship that that was what the minister was saying. There with security agencies Head not even with is need for people to arise to defend themselves security agencies and that was the point I was not necessarily using weapons that are banned. making. But all I was saying is trying to add You can use a stick and disarm someone. Some value to the security of the nation by bringing years ago, I was able to disarm armed robbers my suggestions as a former local government with seven AK-47 without anything. I think that chairman, former minister and now current is the kind of thing he is trying to say. Nigerians serving governor. I think I have something to add should rise up to do this. to the security architecture of this country that Security matters are not just left in the hands can add value and help us to do better than we are of security men, it requires every one of us to doing. There is always room for improvement put our heads together and be courageous to be in any setting or organisation by buying from able to surmount it. one person to the other because nobody has monopoly of knowledge. We must synergize, Do we assume that there is a new relationship we must corporate with one another and so, between you and the Federal Government? when you neglect this, and you have tragedy like I’m APC governor and the federal government the one you have in Benue State, it is not good is APC. We have always been meeting and I have enough. And people must be willing to accept said very positive things about this government pieces of advice especially superior opinions that before and I have not retracted what I said. The can help shape and add value to the development fact is that I have a challenge at hand and needed of our system.
A handsome shoe often pinches the foot.
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INTERVIEW 51
Why Enugu People Still Support Ugwuanyi - Ezugwu Chief Willy Ezugwu is a human rights activist and convener of Save Enugu Group (SEG) and secretary general of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP). In this interview with PAUL UWADIMA, he spoke on Enugu State politics and other national issues.
doing, I see him allowing the people to choose who they want to represent them. With his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), apologising to Nigerians over the years of imposition, which resulted in their defeat at the federal level, I see the governor having a renewed commitment to allowing the people choose who represents them at the National Assembly. It will be the best thing to do; it will be the best gift he will give to the people of Enugu State in 2019 because it will ease his work. If not for the current state government, our people would have been in very deep suffering considering that there is no federal presence in the entire South East and Enugu State in particular. That is why the people of Enugu State see Governor Ugwuanyi as God-sent at this time.
What is your assessment of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration?
I will give you a simple answer. Enugu has a man from God as the Governor of the State. And why did I say that? It is only a man, who is God-sent like Governor Ugwuanyi that can do what he is doing in Enugu State. Only a Godsent can be as humble, God-fearing and friendly as Governor Ugwuanyi is to the people of Enugu State. It is only a Godsent that can be a team player, bridge builder and peacemaker like Ugwuanyi. It is only a man sent from God that can have the level of passion for philanthropy that Governor Ugwuanyi has. The people love him because of his exemplary leadership qualities. This did not start from the current office he occupies as governor of Enugu State. If you recall, he was a three-time member of the House of Representatives and has been a man of the people. His humanitarian services and his style of leadership have brought him this far. Now, I can tell you that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has, in the last three years, surpassed in achievement all the achievements of former governors of the state since the return to democracy in 1999. Remember that before he became governor in 2015, he was the longest serving National Assembly member in the Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State. And I can tell you categorically that if he did not contest the governorship election in 2015, he would have been in the National Assembly. Why did I say that? It is because of his heart for service and love for the ordinary people, which explains why his administration has concentrated more on projects that impact positively on the lives of the ordinary people. He has been opening up villages and farm areas with access roads. You can see why the endorsements are coming from every individual and groups in the state. Despite his leadership qualities, which you highlighted there are those who felt he has not done enough, people like Nollywood actor, Kenneth
The Save Enugu Group, which you are the convener, has not been very active as a civil society organisation, what is going on?
Ezugwu Okonkwo who is challenging him for the governorship seat in 2019. What can you say about this?
That in no way indicates that he has failed as governor. As many as want to contest the governorship seat are welcome but there is no vacancy in Enugu State Government House until 2023. Why are you so sure?
I am not the person that said it. I’m only quoting the people. You know as a traditional ruler, I’m in touch with the ordinary people in the state and they talk to me concerning what they feel about the government. The ordinary people are not interested in any other candidate in 2019 except the man of the people, the ‘Gburugburu’ himself. The governor has proven to be trusted and can be trusted with a second tenure. That is what the people are saying. And mind you, the former governor of the state, Okwy Nwodo has endorsed him, clergymen including Bishop Onaga, and Bishop Chukwuma and business moguls in the State, have tipped him for 2019. You can see that his endorsement cuts across all classes of people in the state. So, any person coming out to contest against the governor in 2019, will suffer a colossal defeat; and it will be worse for anyone from Enugu North, the governor’s constituency. What will you tell the people? That the governor is not working when they are seeing what he is doing? It won’t work. All the people in Enugu North know that it is their turn to complete two terms like other senatorial districts in the state. So, the people are committed to seeing
Governor Ugwuanyi complete his two terms of eight years. You spoke about the governor’s good performance while at the House of Representatives but what can you say about the performance of the present representatives of Enugu State at the National Assembly?
To be sincere with you, I am always heartbroken each time I remember the poor quality of representation at the National Assembly from Enugu State. And it is worse in Enugu North where I come from. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the previous governors of the state were so wicked to the state that they imposed on our people, individuals that take no responsibility for anything and cannot be held accountable for anything. Look, the major reason the state has been backward in terms of development over the years, is because former governors killed the spirit of competition through imposition of candidates. They left the state in the hands of greedy political business men who, have over the years, lived their lives for material acquisition for the singular purpose of intimidating the people through irresponsible show of wealth. Politics is not about how much money you amass, it is about how many people your life and wealth have touched and changed their lives. What I am saying in essence is that politics should be about service to the people. And this is where Governor Ugwuanyi stands out. I believe he will not use his position to impose the wrong people on the citizens of Enugu State. From what he has been
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
It is not that we are quiet. Advocacy is not the only thing the organisation is doing. You recall that when the former governor of the state, Sullivan Chime travelled for some months without any convincing explanation, leaving the state ungoverned, we issued a 14day ultimatum to the government and he returned on the tenth day. We are still as formidable today as ever. The only difference is that we have an administration that is taking governance seriously. We are not irresponsible people. If the administration deviates, we will also act accordingly. We have no reason to troop to the streets in protest or agitate when the Governor is doing his best with the little resources coming to the state. You sponsored Easter greeting billboards in praise of the governor at strategic places in Obollo Afor and Opi at a time people are saying that the government is not doing anything, what prompted that?
The truth about the billboards in Enugu State is that people erect them in appreciation of the good things the governor is doing. It is not out of sycophancy. It is to tell a man who has given himself to service of the people that you are appreciated. It is true that he is just performing his duty as a governor but it is also good to say ‘we see what you are doing’. I don’t see anything wrong in that. So, those who are saying that the governor is not working may be politicians who are just condemning him for political reasons. Such blackmail won’t give them any political advantage because the people are happy with the state governor.
52 POLITICS INTERVIEW
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2019: Can Women Utilise Their Voting Strength? Non-involvement of women in democratic governance has been a recurrent phenomena in the historical trajectories of the political entity called Nigeria despite their numerical advantage and the massive participation in the electoral process. BLESSING BATURE writes on the need for a change.
Masi-Garba
Oluremi Tinubu
s 2019 general election approaches, the need for an appraisal of the role of women in governance and decision-making processes becomes imperative, making recourse to the historical trajectories of the entity called Nigeria. It can be decently argued that the non-involvement of women in public decision-making in contemporary Nigeria has its roots in the colonial experience which arguably secluded women and disempowered them, thereby overturning a feat already achieved in the pre-colonial days. Therefore, to speak of emancipation is to admit that some forms of disempowerment, deprivation, seclusion and marginalization have been dominantly experienced. For instance, women founded cities, led migrations and even conquered kingdoms, prominent of which was the Abia women riot of 1929, where they organised a massive revolt against the Britishled colonial government over women inclusion in politics and interestingly despite the fact that men did not give them any support, they won. Of course, in the organisation of various traditional governments in the pre-colonial era, women held powerful positions and thus had voice in the political life of their societies. In the Yoruba system of government for instance, the Iyalode, a title of the leader of women groups, was a member of Council of State down to 1914. Women have actually proved their strength and competence in the society in all spheres even in male dominated professions but women involvement in public decision making processes in the emergent Fourth Republic in Nigeria has been characterized by low representation. Instructively, women have particularly demanded the implementation of affirmative actions towards the integration of at least 35% of women in all elective positions and in fulfillment of United Nations agenda for gender mainstreaming Women political empowerment and development as enshrined in Nigeria’s National Gender Policy should be adopted. It is useful to mention that globally, women representation has increased from 13% to 18% (Igbuzor, 2014:77). The 2006 census puts Nigerian women at about half the population of the entire country (Channels TV, 2012 August 2). Despite this numerical advantage and the massive participation in voting, less than 20% of political offices are held by women. For all intents and purposes, it appears that the Nigerian situations seem to defy the political theory that political
outcome of the election which was not in her favour in the gubernatorial election. “Mama Taraba” as she is fondly called, almost made it but then, the near success syndrome that has been the lot of many Nigerian women in politics cut short her joy. Her expectations were high that she would emerge successful considering the direction of some results earlier reeled out by INEC. But suddenly, the result of the election was declared inconclusive and then, a re-run that finally dashed her hope when the PDP candidate was declared winner. The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, in a statement during the International Women’s Day, reinvigorated the hope of women in elective positions when he said: “I see a country where women participate in the highest level of politics, since we have failed as men over the years in our respective governance. One day, we shall have a woman as President, I apologise to women on behalf of men who had been saddled with state responsibility over the years and failed to deliver on their mandates.” Secondus charged women to ensure that only the ‘people’s government’ get into power in the 2019 general elections. The president of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Gloria Shoda, has always been in active gear to infuse women into elective offices in the country, saying the struggle for women emancipation must continue even as she urges women to take advantage of the party’s constitution provision that makes interest form for any elective office free for women. “Women should be courageous enough to contest for any elective office ranging from counsellorship to presidency.” Shoda added that it is not going to be business as usual, Nigerian women would vote only for genderfriendly political parties in the 2019 elections. “Women will be mobilised to vote only for parties that have made concrete effort to allow women occupy strategic positions in their party structure, elective offices and political appointment”. Shoda who spoke during a summit which themed: “Increasing Women Participation in Politics and Democratic Governance in Nigeria,’’ said they will seek to address the continued marginalisation and poor representation of women. She said that the council demands for a better representation of women in the Nigeria democratic space are as follows: “Politicians and political parties
that seek the votes of women in the upcoming elections should begin their commitment through women empowerment. “We are asking that all elective office holders and political office holders should as a matter of urgency restructure their cabinets to allow for increased women representation. “All political parties, relevant government agencies and international donors should partner with the Council to raise a Trust Fund to support women interested in contesting for elective office in forthcoming elections,’’ she said. Shoda also called on all past and present female political office holders and elected representatives to encourage female aspirants irrespective of their political parties by providing professional mentorship, endorsement and mobilisation. Adding that NCWS in conjunction with Reclaim Godly Values Foundation and other relevant agencies would create an advocacy, information and advice center across the country to provide civic education to enlighten women on their rights as it relates to voter education, the outcome of 2015 general elections in Nigeria and the appointments that followed into top government positions showed a sharp decline in the performance of women in the electoral process. “This is very troubling given the general swell and campaign for popular participation by women that preceded the election. “Indeed the decline in the number of elected female politicians represented a significant manifestation of female political disempowerment,’’ she said. Shoda said that since the return of democracy, the national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria has remained at 6.7 per cent in elective and appointed positions, this was below the Global average of 22.5 per cent, Africa regional average of 23.4 per cent and West Africa Regional average of 15 per cent. Shoda said that of the 36 ministerial appointments by the present administration, only six are women, representing 16.7 per cent. She said that in the National Assembly, women constitute 5.6 per cent of members of the House of Representatives and 6.5 per cent of the Senate. This, Shoda said was clearly unacceptable and called for the need for an urgent improvement in women participation in electoral processes.
A
power derives from political participation because women participate fully in elections in Nigeria but without full representation , rather they have about the lowest representation of 5.9% in the national legislature when compared to most other African countries. For example, Uganda has 34.6%, South Africa (43.2%), Ethiopia (27.7%), Cameroun (20%), Niger (12.3%) and DR Congo (8.0%) (Daily Times, May 18, 2012). For Nigeria women, particularly in areas of political representation in governance the percentage is 7%, the lowest in the world (Vanguard Newspaper, January 21, 2013). Women representation in Nigeria politics has, over the years, been less than encouraging. This poses a challenge and narrows the chances of getting more women in decision-making structures. With this development, experts and gender activists have continuously advocated the active participation of women in governance for the good of society. The result of the 2015 general elections in the country has however, not shown improved women representation in elective positions in the country. It should be noted that out of the fourteen candidates that contested for the seat of the president, the only woman amongst the contenders came out in the twelveth position. Just as men have always dominated the National Assembly, the 2015 election result did not present a different picture in the number of women who represent their constituencies . However, many Nigerians saw in the audacious candidacy the possibility of real change and a clear departure from what the country experienced so far as a nation. By any standard, however, women participate in politics as voters, party supporters and usually attend political rallies in large number. Some even run for top political offices (the example of Sarah Jibril and Professor Oluremi Sonaya of the KOWA Party who contested for the office of President with Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari respectively and Hon. Mulikat who unsuccessfully (albeit robustly) vied for the seat of Speaker, House of representative is apt in direction. The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Taraba state, Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan, would have made history in the 2015 gubernatorial election as the first woman to scale the hurdles of electioneering campaign and break the jinx that has befuddled Nigerian women over the years from emerging successful at the polls as governors, but for the
A man’s behaviour is the index of his mind.
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PDP’s Second Chance Plea
I
n preparation for 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apologised to Nigerians for its past mistakes. National chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus remarked “I hereby, as the National Chairman, do admit that the PDP made a lot of mistakes; we are humans, not spirits and the ability to admit is key in moving forward. “We admit that we have made several mistakes; we have passed through all our challenges and have acquired the experience no other party can boast of. “We were sanctioned by Nigerians at the polls in 2015; let me use this opportunity to apologise for our past mistakes. “It is the honest thing to do, a legacy to transfer to our children; we cannot continue like that. “When we make mistakes, we should come out boldly to the people and apologise. “It is important to do so because we have learnt from our mistakes unlike the All Progressive Congress (APC) that will make mistakes and lie to cover it. “We apologise to Nigerians that we have made mistakes, we have learnt our lessons and we are ready to begin on a new agenda; experience is the best teacher, no other party has it,” Time to give my honest opinion. The million dollar is, can a leopard change its spots? Can the PDP unlearn corruption, brigandry, and impunity in the last three years? Can they change all they have learnt in 16 years in just three years? I don’t think so. Their apology should be seen in the light of one of the titles of James Hardly Chase novels; Believe This and You’ll Believe Anything. We accept PDPs apology but if they think sane Nigerians will vote them back to Aso Rock in 2019, then they need to have their heads examined. Nigerians are loving people and we forgive easily. We have forgiven the PDP. But we have
Secondus
not forgotten how they looted the country into recession. We have not forgotten how Boko Haram graduated from a rag tag in Borno to international terrorists, with close to 50,000 Nigerians killed and millions displaced by the insurgency. We have not forgotten how some few individuals enriched themselves at our expense, while we are still in the struggle to leave the third world country cadre. Waziri Adio, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), said the country earned $592bn from the oil and gas sector from 1999 to 2014. In naira, that’s over N77 trillion. Let’s see what we could have achieved with that amount of money. Dangote ‘s refinery cost $12 billion with a capacity of 650,000 barrels of oil per day. According to the
International Energy Agency, current daily fuel consumption is 260,000 barrels. So in essence, only Dangote refinery has the capacity to take care of domestic fuel consumption. There are smaller refineries which cost $5billion with a production capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. Four of these types of refineries with a total combined cost of $20 billion will make fuel scarcity a distant memory in Nigeria. But the good people of the PDP, who earned close to $600 billion never thought of spending just N20 billion to build four refineries in Nigeria or build a single refinery like the Dangote’s type at N12billion. They even had the guts and temerity to criticise the government of the day for the fuel scarcity we experienced from December to March. The East - West Road has been a conduit
PMB’s Bombshell To APC NEC Members After nearly three years, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally woken up from his slumber to set the tone for leadership in the All Progressives Congress (APC). It’s no secret that the APC is hanging on a thread and if care is not taken, is heading for implosion. In almost all the states of the federation, the party is engulfed in crisis. The chairman of APC, John Odigie Oyegun has so far not shown leadership in directing the affairs of the party. The president, who is the leader of the party, had been aloof to party affairs and in most cases, act as if he got to the Presidency as an independent candidate. The biggest opposition to policies and laws of the
president is usually from the APC lawmakers in the National Assembly and you sometimes wonder if they have a party chairman in APC. But the president has put spanner in the works of party members who wanted tenure extension for the National Working Committee led by Oyegun. Citing relevant sections of the party’s constitution, Buhari declared that the planned extension is illegal. The party right now is faced with two options- hold a convention before June this year and risk it’s consequences or the NEC of the party overrules the president and go ahead with the extension of Oyegun ‘s tenure . It’s turning out to be a two- way battle between Oyegun with a majority of the
Buhari
All things come to those that wait.
pipe for corruption in the last 16 years.N100b is all that is needed for the government to complete that all important road but it has been an ongoing project for 18 years now. In 16 years we are still struggling to provide 5000 mega watts of electricity. We have not also forgotten the assassinations of prominent Nigerians like Bola Ige and the rest. We have not even forgotten the kidnapping of a sitting Governor. Do I still go on? The truth is; the PDP had every opportunity of taking Nigeria from a third world country to the level of countries like Singapore and Malaysia but most of the leaders’ corruption was on steroids and we are still stuck where we are and the same set of people want to take over in 2019. Let me also put something straight. It’s not that the APC too has lived up to expectations but some can excuse them on the grounds that they have just spent three years in office .But they need to increase the speed of governance because at the rate they are going, they might just end up like the PDP. Most Nigerians have passed a vote of no confidence on the PDP and APC. Like I said on this page some weeks ago, the PDP will win some states back and still retain governors in their strongholds like the South South and South East but I don’t see them winning the Presidency in the nearest future. Four years is too short for them to atone for their sins. It will be difficult for the party to shed its corruption toga right now no matter how many apologies they make, no matter how many times they go to River Jordan to bathe and cleanse their sins ,the PDP can apologise from now till thy Kingdom come, but some of us will still not believe them. But this is Nigeria, anything can happen in 2019.We have seen rape victims falling in love with their rapists. Like we say in local parlance, PDP “park well” .
governors on his side and Bola Tinubu, who has never hidden the fact that he wants Oyegun out as the chairman. With the governors on Oyegun’s side, if he decides to seek for re-election, he will definitely win as the governors control the delegates that will vote in the convention. Meanwhile, the president is gradually learning the ropes in politics as he was ready to sacrifice Oyegun for Tinubu. He needs the Jagaban to secure South West votes while Oyegun cannot be relied on to deliver even Edo State votes for the president. The only way for the APC to find its bearing is for the president to take charge and show interest in the internal workings of the party. He has taken the first step and he needs to maintain this tempo.
54 BUSINESS/NEWS
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FG Pledges To Attract Direct Investment To Aviation Sector The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has said that the federal government was committed to attract increased trade and inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigerian aviation sector. Sirika stated this during the Fourth Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum on Thursday in Abuja. He said that increased trade and FDI would help to maximise the contribution of the sector to the socio-economic development of the Nigerian economy. Sirika said that government remain committed to making air transportation the preferred and safest means of transportation, creating a selfsustaining business model to drive socio-economic growth in Nigeria. The minister said the vision of the government for the industry was to develop a hub to take full advantage of Nigeria’s potentials in aviation. He added that government was also committed to provide the requisite capacity and manpower, especially aviation business managers and scientists to engage in research
and development. Parts of government’s vision, according to him, were establishing a business model that will make the industry self-sustaining through Public Private Partnership (PPP). “We want to develop an industry that provides all the maintenance needs in the country thereby reducing capital flight. “We are also determined to ensure optimum utilisation of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and Multilateral Air Service Agreement (MASA) to the advantage of indigenous airlines. “Government is committed to developing an industry with improved infrastructure and quality service delivery,’’ he said. Sirika said that in spite of the progress made, the industry was still faced with some challenges such as high cost of Jet A1 (aviation fuel) and budgetary constraints and slow pace of infrastructural development. He said that the government had taken measures to address the high rate of equipment /instrument obsolescence and degradation,
as well as inadequate technical and Aging Workforce. The minister said non-optimisation of Bilateral/Multilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA/ MASA) was another major challenge confronting the industry. He highlighted the progress made so far in the implementation of the sector roadmap to include improvement in aviation safety and security. “We achieved the certification of Lagos and Abuja airports by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in line with the guidelines and procedures stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) got World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Certification for conforming to the requirements of (ISO 9001 2015). “This is for the provision of meteorological services to the aviation industry and other stakeholders and Nigeria is the only country to achieve (ISO 2009 2015) in Africa,’’ he said.
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Operation Lafia Dole: Troops Arrest 3 Boko Haram Terrorists Troops of 23 Brigade Nigerian Army, under Operation Lafiya Dole on 28th March 2018, acting on a tip off, arrested three suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Ngurore. This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu. The statement said the suspects, Adam Yagga, Musa Kamsulum and Abba Djidoum are all from Darajimal in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. He said one of the suspects, Abba Djidoum, with series of gunshot wounds on his thigh, confessed to have operated with the Boko Haram terrorists at fringes of Izza, Wudula and Blakule in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State adding that the suspect is undergoing preliminary investigation with 23 Brigade Provost Company. “We commend patriotic members of Civilian vigilante (Civilian JTF) for their resilience and continued cooperation with troops, and urge members of the public to emulate their vigilance and security consciousness by reporting any suspicious persons or objects to the nearest military location. “We wish to remind repentant Boko Haram fighters that the window of opportunity to embrace the Federal Government Amnesty program is still open to them to surrender and lay down their weapons. It is also gratifying to report that the troops’ morale remains high as they dominate the general area with a robust fighting patrol in continuation with the clearance operations”, the statement added.
NAF personnel attending to an IDP in Benue
650 NAF Personnel Set For Third Inter Command Competition The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said 650 of its personnel (officers and men) are set for the third NAF inter command combat sports competition tagged, “Uyo 2018” in April. This year’s competition is scheduled to hold at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo. Addressing journalists at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, Abuja, yesterday, on the line up of activities for the competition, chairman, organising committee for the event, Air Commodore Mfon Ekpoh, said the choice of Uyo was in recognition of the contributions of the Akwa Ibom State development of sports in Nigeria as well as the availability of standard sporting facilities in Uyo stadium. He said the last two editions of the competition in 2016 and 2017 respectively under the able leadership of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, achieved its aim to promote combat fitness and espiri-de-corps among the personnel. Ekpoh further said the competition has contributed significantly towards effective and efficient service delivery in NAF, as reflected
in the physical fitness and mental alertness displayed by the NAF personnel since inception. According to the Chairman, “It was in a bid to leverage on the importance of sporting activities to military operations that the Chief of Air Staff came up with a number of initiatives including renovations, upgrading and construction of new sporting facilities across Nigerian Air Force Bases to enhance regular exercise among personnel. “This year’s event remains the same symbol of regimentation as it is designed to test combat readiness of personnel in a competitive manner while also promoting participation in sporting activities for enhanced combat capability”. He also said participants who will be competing in various sporting events like combat swimming, combat relay race, taekwondo, tug of war and obstacle crossing will include personnel deployed to the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East and other internal security operations across the country. “The event will also feature shooting exercises at the shooting range located in the Nigerian
Army barracks, Abak. “Seven teams, comprising headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Tactical Air Command, Special Operations Command, Mobility Command, Air Training Command, Ground Training Command and Logistics Command, as well as Direct Reporting Units, are expected to produce participants that would compete in the outlined sporting events. “Outstanding athletes, during the competition, will cart away medals, with an opportunity to represent the Nigerian Air Force and the nation in future championships”. Ekpoh said the city of Uyo and its environs will witness considerable movement of troops and military equipment deployed for the competition within the period, urging the general public not to panic or entertain any form of fear when they see movement of troops and equipment especially shooting exercises during the period. “They are advised to go about their normal lawful businesses as adequate measures have been put in place to guarantee their safety”, he noted.
NAF Conducts 3-Day Medical Outreach Programme For Benue IDPs The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), earlier in the week flagged off a three-day Medical Outreach Programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Abagana-Agan IDP camp in Benue State. This followed a directive by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the NAF Medical Services Branch to conduct the medical outreach for IDPs in the area so as to alleviate their sufferings.
Services that were provided during the medical outreach include primary healthcare and curative services, general and eye surgeries, mass deworming as well as provision of medicated glasses and insecticide treated mosquito nets. In his address at the flagging off ceremony, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Doctor Samuel Ortom, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health and Human
Services, Dr Cecilia Omaile Ojabo, lauded the NAF for coming to the aid of IDPs in the State. She noted that the medical intervention by the NAF would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the about 170,000 IDPs in the area. Earlier in his remarks, the CAS, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC) Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, reiterated that the NAF is always mindful and committed
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
towards alleviating health challenges of IDPs in the State and in Nigeria as a whole. At the end of the outreach, it is projected that about 4,450 IDPs would have been treated while 70 to 100 general and eye surgeries would have been conducted. The Agan IDP Camp has a population of over 20,000 persons. The NAF medical team is expected back in Abuja on 29 March, 2018.
56 FRIDAY POLITICAL MISSILE
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We Apologise For Our Past Mistakes PDP Begs Nigerians
T
he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, apologised to Nigerians for mistakes it made during the years it governed the country. The apology was tendered by the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, at a public national discourse on “Contemporary Governance in Nigeria” in Abuja. Secondus apologised to Nigerians for what he termed “impunity, the imposition of candidates and other mistakes made in the past”, assured that under his watch, there would be no imposition of candidates or any form of impunity in the party’s activities. “I hereby, as the National Chairman, do admit that the PDP made a lot of mistakes; we are humans, not spirits and the ability to admit is key in moving forward. “We admit that we have made several mistakes; we have passed through all our challenges and have acquired the experience no other party can boast of; we were sanctioned by Nigerians at the polls in 2015; let me use this opportunity to apologise for our past mistakes. “It is the honest thing to do, a legacy to transfer to our children; we cannot continue like that. When we make mistakes, we should come out boldly to the people and apologise. It is important to do so because we have learnt from our mistakes unlike the All Progressives
5 TRENDING STORIES OF THE WEEK PMB Wants Reversal Of Tenure Elongation For Oyegun, Others Election Reordering: NASS Embroiled In Alleged Bribery Scandal 13.5m Senators’ Monthly Allowance Illegal - RMAFAC 2019: Atiku Declares Intention To Run For President
Secondus
Congress (APC) that will make mistakes and lie to cover it. “We apologise to Nigerians that we have made mistakes, we have learnt our lessons and we are ready to begin on a new agenda; experience is the best teacher, no other party has it. When things are not positive and the mindset is negative, ”it is then time to reset it”, Secondus said. He added that the public discourse was an opportunity for members of the party
to collectively “press the reset button’’ and set a new agenda for the nation. The PDP lost the general elections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 following which the then president, Goodluck Jonathan, conceded victory to APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. Since then, there have been series of revelations as to alleged corruptions and excesses perpetrated by officials of the party that was once known as the largest party in Africa.
…Your Apology Not Enough, Return Looted Funds, APC Tells PDP The Federal Government has charged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to show genuine remorse by returning all the monies it allegedly looted from the public treasury while in power, saying mere apology was not enough. The call was contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja following the apology made by the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus at the party’s function in Abuja on Monday, where he asked Nigerians to forgive the party. Mohammed, who also challenged the party to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude, opined that the party while in power, handled its internal affairs wrongly with impunity and imposition of candidates and action he said was responsible for its loss in the 2015 polls. The minister said, “the PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. Therefore, the best evidence of penitence
March 30, 2018
Police Declare Melaye Wanted
QUOTES OF THE WEEK On my own part, I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that, it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC constitution in articles 17(1) and 13.2 (b) limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable ones, by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in section 223, also prescribed periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years. - President Muhammadu Buhari “I have never seen Nigeria so divided along religious, ethnic and religious lines. That division is as a result of the mismanagement of the APC” - Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar
Mohammed
for such a party is not just to own up and apologise, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit. ”Even with the paucity of funds, this administration has spent an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructural
development and Social Investment Programme, among others. Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that”.
No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won’t make you cry.
“It is our considered opinion that INEC has been the most responsive of all government agencies involved in the election value chain, taking advice and constructive criticisms and adjusting its activities to reflect same” - Convener, Civil Society Colloquium, Chima Amadi
March 30, 2018
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OPINION /57
Malaysian Flight MH370: Goodnight!!! BY UMMI SALMA ISAH
On the 8th of March, 2014, Malaysian flight MH370 departed the Kuala Lumpur International Airport enroute the Beijing Capital International Airport with 228 passengers and 11 crew members. Till date, nothing has being heard about
its exact whereabouts. Considered one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history, the incidence has attracted global outcry and multi-national search estimated at $200 million and covering four six thousand square miles. Despite these search efforts, no explanation has been provided by either
the Malaysian, Chinese or Australian government where the plane was first believed to have crashed. Theories after theories on the disappearance of the aircraft, the families of the victims still haven’t stopped looking for the whereabouts of their loved ones, including vows to
launch their own private search. According to ABC news, the search efforts since the day of the flight’s disappearance, have stretched the boundaries of science, but so far have seemed fruitless. While the friends and families of those involved attended events to mark the anniversary
of the tragedy, the new search hunt to find the aircraft is expected to end by mid-June. The question remains: is it indeed, goodbye for the 239 persons abroad the MH370? – Isah, writes from Ibrahim Badamasi Babagida University, Lapai.
Annual Eje-Alekwu: Fostering Unity, Progress In Ugboju Land BY ROGERS EDOR OCHELA
The usually serene atmosphere in Ugboju, a sprawling community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State came alive, in a manner of speaking, when an avalanche of humanity descended on it for the celebration of the 2018 Edition of the annual Eje-Alekwu Cultural Festival. Prominent sons and daughters of Ugboju, community leaders, friends and admirers, both from home and the Diaspora, all beautifully attired, with some in traditional costumes, made this year’s edition of the festival quite appealing and outstanding. It is an indisputable fact that no society can exist without a culture, knowing that culture is the way of life of the people. Therefore, every society, no matter its size or population, must exist with certain cultural values and norms. Ugboju District, in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, being a member of the globe, is not exempted from this practice. However, concerns have been expressed of the failure of some communities nay societies to carry on those cultural practices that were left behind by their forefathers. Unlike some parts of Nigeria where the issue of cultural festival is scarcely accorded the desired attention, the people of Ugboju have held on tenaciously to their culture over the years through the annual Eje-Alekwu Festival with grace and finesse. Traditional music and dance, especially by masquerades, also form an integral feature of the Eje-Akekwu Festival, because these actually depict the cultural identity and heritage of the people of Ugboju District. And so it was at the 2018 Edition of the Festival. The three-day action-packed event, which started on Friday, 16th March, 2018 and lasted till Sunday, 18th March, 2018, was indeed a sight to behold. It was simply carnival-like, full of splendour and breathtaking. Speaking at the occasion, which held at Och’Ugboju Square, Ogoli Barracks, the Benue State governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, who was represented by the State Commissioner of Culture and
Tourism, commended the Obande K’Ugboju, Chief Solomon Apochi for keeping the flame of the festival aglow and assured that his government would continue to support such excellent display of cultural values, which he described as the identity of the people in an era where social values have been terribly bastardised. While commending Dr Dickson Akoh, the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria and a prominent indigene of Ugboju for his foresight in establishing the Ambassador’s Resorts and Gardens at Ogoli-Ugboju, the Governor said the Resort would serve as a veritable centre for cross-fertilisation of ideas, just as he assured that it would be listed on the Ministry’s website. In his own remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Steve Lawani, a former deputy governor of Benue State and 2019 senatorial hopeful, who donated the sum of 1million
naira and was represented by Hon Agbo Ogah, a former House of Representatives member, described Dr Akoh as a true son of Idoma land, who has placed Idoma nation on the global map. Equally speaking at the event, Chief (Mrs) Blessing Onuh, an aspirant for Ohimini/Otukpo Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2019 elections, donated N500,000 and promised to synergise with Akoh towards further developing Idoma nation. While paying glowing tributes to Dr Akoh’s sense of patriotism and invaluable developmental strides in Ugboju District nay Idoma land as a whole, Barr (Hon) John Adam Okloho, member representing Ugboju/Adoka Constituency in Benue State House of Assembly, said that Akoh, in his capacity as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) remains the undisputed
leader of Nigerian youths in all ramifications, even as he assured that he would continue to work with other sons and daughters of the land to further accelerate its development. Warning of the dire consequences of being derailed from the redemptive task ahead of all sons and daughters of Ugboju District, Dr Akoh said: ‘’This entails avoiding distractions or we will be left behind in the great and competitive race. Thus, we can ill-afford some centrifugal forces that divide rather than unite us. That is why all political actors should all, as a necessity, close ranks and join hands with the Obande K’Ugboju in the important task of building a great and formidable nation.’’ It is equally worthy of note that in a nation where majority of the elites have been so westernised nay indoctrinated with foreign values and as such see any form of attachment to their culture as anachronistic, Dr Akoh stands out of the motley pack
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb
on account of his deep fidelity to his culture. He could be described as a man of culture and that explains why he has contributed more than anyone else to the development of Ugboju in particular and Idoma nation in general. At this particular event, Akoh reportedly presented two wheelchairs to two disabled persons as a surprise gift; donated bags of rice/ vegetable oil to the less-privileged and above all, handed over a massive, well-furnished nay spacious Arena to Ugboju community, which will continue to serve as the venue of subsequent editions of the festival. Akoh, who is reputed for his exemplary philanthropic gestures, has virtually transformed Ugboju District through provision of social amenities and other forms of infrastructural facilities. Little wonder, he was singled out for recognition via traditional blessing at the three-day fiesta.
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NEWS
Egypt’s Sisi Wins Second Term With 92% Of Vote Egypt’s Sisi Wins Second Term With 92% Of Vote Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been reelected for a second term with 92 percent of the vote, preliminary results showed yesterday. Some 23 million of the 60 million registered voters turned out during the three days of polling that ended Wednesday, state-owned newspapers Al-Ahram and Akhbar elYoum, and the official MENA news agency reported. According to AlAhram, in addition to the 23 million who cast valid votes, two million spoiled their ballot papers, inserting the names of candidates who were not among the only two approved. Sisi’s sole challenger was the little-known Moussa Mostafa Moussa, himself a supporter of the president, who registered immediately before the close date for applications, saving the election from being a one-horse race. Other, more heavy-weight wouldbe challengers were all sidelined, detained or pulled out. Sisi, who as army chief ousted Egypt’s first freely elected president — Islamist Mohamed Morsi — after mass street protests in 2013, won his first term in 2014 with 96.9 percent of the vote. Turnout down on 2014 Turnout of 47 percent in that year’s election was sharply higher than this year’s 40 percent despite appeals from Prime Minister Sherif Ismail for voters to fulfil their patriotic duty. Boycotters
who cannot show good reason for not going to the polls could a face a fine of up to 500 Egyptian pounds (22 euros), the electoral commission has warned. At a news conference, election commission official, Mahmud al-Sherif, said there had been no violations of Egypt’s election law. Opposition groups had called for a boycott of this week’s vote which they labelled a facade. There were no presidential debates and Sisi himself did not appear at any official campaign events, although he spoke at a number of ceremonies. In an interview days ahead of the vote, Sisi said he had wished there were more candidates, denying any role in sidelining them. At a speech before the vote he also called for a high turnout. “I need you because the journey is not over,” Sisi told a mostly female audience. “I need every lady and mother and sister, please, I need the entire world to see us in the street” voting. Morsi’s removal had ushered in a deadly crackdown that killed and jailed hundreds of Islamists. The initial crackdown on Morsi’s supporters expanded to include liberal and leftist secular activists A jihadist insurgency since has killed hundreds of policemen and civilians. Sisi gave the armed forces and police a three-month deadline in November to wipe out the Islamic State group in its Sinai Peninsula stronghold. The deadline has since been extended.
Sarkozy To Face Corruption Trial Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will face trial over charges he misused his influence to secure leaked details of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in his 2007 election campaign, a source close to the investigation said yesterday. Sarkozy’s lawyers said he would appeal the decision to send him to court, initially reported by the daily Le Monde. “Nicolas Sarkozy will ... calmly wait for the result of the motion for a declaration of invalidity. He does not doubt that once again the truth will triumph,” his lawyers said in a statement. His appeal will be heard on June 25, it said. The case came about after investigators used phone-taps to examine separate allegations that late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi funded Sarkozy’s campaign and began to suspect he had kept tabs on a separate case through a network of informants. Thursday’s development came just over a week after Sarkozy, 63, was told he was being formally treated as
a suspect in the election campaign investigation. Sarkozy was president from 2007 to 2012 but was defeated by Socialist Francois Hollande when he ran for re-election. He has since faced a series of investigations into alleged corruption, fraud, favoritism and campaign-funding irregularities. Under French law, a suspect is not formally charged with a crime unless he is sent to trial. Sarkozy’s lawyers had previously argued that magistrates investigating the alleged secret Libyan funding exceeded their powers and went on a “fishing expedition” by tapping his conversations with them between September 2013 and March 2014, breaching lawyer-client privilege. Based on the intercepts, Sarkozy is accused of having discussed offering a promotion to a prosecutor in return for tip-offs on an investigation into accusations that his former party treasurer and others exploited the mental frailty of France’s richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt, to extract political donations in cash.
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Malala Returns To Pakistan For First Time Since Shooting Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has returned to Pakistan for the first time since being shot by Taliban militants. Ms Yousafzai, now aged 20 and a vocal human rights activist, was shot in the head by a gunman for campaigning for female education in 2012. In an emotional speech at the prime minister’s office, she said it had been her dream to return “without any fear”. Details of the surprise trip are being kept secret for security rea-
sons. Pakistani television broadcast video showing her arriving with her parents at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport under tight security. “Always it has been my dream that I should go to Pakistan and there, in peace and without any fear, I can move on streets, I can meet people, I can talk to people,” Ms Yousafzai said in a televised address from the PM’s house in Islamabad. “And I think that it’s my old home
again... so it is actually happening, and I am grateful to all of you.” The trip is expected to last four days. Officials from her Malala Fund group are travelling with her, local media report. It has not been confirmed if she will visit her family’s hometown of Swat, once a militant stronghold, in the country’s rural north-west during her visit. Many on Twitter called for a warm welcome for the activist after news of her overnight homecoming broke.
Malala
North, South Korea Set Date For Leaders’ Summit The leaders of North and South Korea will hold their first summit in more than a decade on 27 April. Talks between the North’s Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon-Jae-in would be held in the border village of Panmunjom, a joint statement said. The date was announced after officials from the two sides met to prepare for the summit. The announcement comes a day after news emerged of discussions between Mr Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping. At the meeting in Beijing, the North Korean leader repeated his offer to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean leader said recently that he wants to meet US President Donald Trump. Mr
Trump accepted the offer and they could meet as soon as May. The North and South Korean delegates said the inter-Korean summit would take place at the South Korean Peace House in the so-called “truce village” of Panmunjom. At the press conference announcing the summit, North Korea’s chief delegate Ri Son Gwon said “Over the past 80 days or so, many events that were unprecedented in interKorean relations took place.” It will only be the third time leaders of the two countries have met, since an armistice was signed to conclude the Korean War in 1953. The last summit took place in 2007 between the former leader of North Korea Kim Jong-il and the ex-South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in the North Korean cap-
ital, Pyongyang. The two states’ only other summit was held in Pyongyang in 2000. On Wednesday, Mr Trump welcomed news of progress following the talks between the Chinese and North Korean leaders in Beijing. He said however that sanctions on North Korea would continue. On Thursday, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang welcomed the talks between the two Koreas, adding: “We hope the momentum of dialogue can continue and that the peaceful situation can last.” The announcement of a date for talks between North and South Korea is the latest move in a flurry of diplomatic activity since the start of the year, which saw the North attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
German, Netherlands Set To Deepen Missile Defence Ties Germany and the Netherlands could deepen missile defense ties in the coming years to strengthen NATO defenses, a German general told Reuters, at a time of growing tensions with Russia. Defense ministers from both countries will emphasize the growing importance of their military ties at a Dutch base on
April 4, when a German shortrange air defense unit is formally put under Dutch command. Brigadier General Michael Gschossmann, commander of ground-based units for the German air force, said the move was “politically significant” and could pave the way for joint development of new weapons and joint operation of existing
long-range missile defense systems such as the Patriot system. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said perceived U.S. isolationism under President Donald Trump and the threat posed by Russia as well as instability in Africa and the Middle East mean Germany and Europe must be more active in regional security.
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Messi Returns To Training With Barca Lionel Messi returned to training with Barcelona on Thursday to offer the Catalans a boost with less than a week to go before their Champions League clash against Roma. Messi missed Argentina’s two internationals over the last week due to a hamstring strain, although he did train between the 2-0 win over Italy last Friday and Tuesday’s 6-1 humiliation by Spain. “Messi took part in a part of training with the squad,” said Barca on their Twitter account. The 30-year-old five-time world player of the year joined other Barca stars just back from international duty. With Barca enjoying an 11-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, where they are unbeaten all season, Messi may be rested for Saturday’s trip to Sevilla to give him more time to recover ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Roma on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde had said he was feeling “calm” with regards Messi’s potential availability. “He has a slight problem but we hope that it’s not serious,” he said.
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March 30, 2018
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2018 WORLD CUP
FIFA Snubs Nigeria, Names 16 African Refs BY SALIFU USMAN, ABUJA Six African referees and 10 assistants will officiate at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia but no Nigerian referee was listed as FIFA confirmed its official list of 99 match officials for Russia 2018 soccer showpiece, yesterday. The six African referees are; Abid Charef Medhi (Algeria), Diedhiou Malang (Senegal), Gassama Bakary Papa (Gambia), Grisha Ghead (Egypt) and Sikazwe Janny (Zambia). While, the assistant refs are; Redouane Achik (Morocco), Waleed Ahmed (Sudan), Jean Claude Birumushahu (Burundi), Djibril Camara (Senegal), Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola), Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria), Anouar Hmila (Tunisia), Marwa Range (Kenya), El Hadji Malick Samba (Senegal) and Zakhele Thusi Siwela (South Africa). A total of 53 FIFA certified referees took part in the selection pro-
cess which was based on each referee’s skills and personality as well as their level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by the teams but a total of 36 referees and 63 assistants made the final cut. According to a statement from FIFA official website, preparatory seminars have been organised for referees and assistant referees, with special focus on fair play, players’ protection and the image of the game, as well as consistency and uniformity. FIFA Referees Committee said the match officials will attend another dedicated seminar for two weeks in the second half of April at the technical centre of the Italian Football Association in Coverciano, Italy. The officials will be divided into two groups, which will also include video assistant referee (VAR) candidates. The FIFA Referees Committee will then announce the names of the referees selected to act as VARs during the FIFA World Cup. The selec-
tion process will take into account the candidate’s VAR experience in domestic leagues, FIFA competitions and FIFA refereeing seminars since the beginning of the VAR project in 2016. For the first time since the inception of the FIFA World Cup, there was no English referee among the selected refs. England whistler Mark Clattenburg, who retired from Premier League duty last summer, had been included on a pre-selected group drawn up by world ruling body FIFA two years ago. But his money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia left no English referees on FIFA’s World Cup list for the first time since before the Second World War.
Dalung Inaugurates MOC 19th Sports Festival, Governing Boards Of NIS, Others BY SALIFU USMAN, ABUJA
Lionel Messi backs in training with Barca
Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has inaugurated the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF), which is finally billed to hold this year in Abuja. The festival which will be cohost by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ministry of Youth and Sports in the nation capital later this year, has suffered several postponements due to the inability of the initial host State, Cross River to organised the event six years after the hosting right was granted. Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, yesterday, Dalung said the federal government healed the clar-
ion call of the National Council on Sports and promptly put together the MOC to give direction and set the tone for the smooth organization of the festival. He charged the committee to devote themselves to the assignment. “Organization of the NSF is an enormous task that requires commitment and dedication, considering the fact that you have barely seven month months to put everything in place for successful Games that involves about 150 athletes and team officials. “I am however confident that with the collaboration of the FCT which is jointly hosting the Festival with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as the caliber of the persons that constitute the MOC, the task of organ-
izing the Festival will not be insurmountable. Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Olusade Adesola heads the 15-man committee, while Mrs Hauwa-Kulu Akinyemi, PMI director, will serve as secretary with Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, director of sports, FCT as the assistant secretary. The governing boards of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Institute for Sports (NIS) have been inaugurated. Inaugurating the boards at the VIP Lounge of the Abuja National Stadium, yesterday, the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalu-
ng emphasized that President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to emplace appropriate governance and oversight structure for Agencies of government was borne out of concern to rightly position the agencies to deliver the much needed service to the citizens. He charged them not to meddle with the daily routines of the agencies but to formulate policies. The 16-man board of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Center will be chaired by Alhaji Abubakar Bada. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is the chairman, board of the National Institute for Sports, while Ambassador Fatimah Bala Abubakar is Chairperson of the National Youth Service Corps.
Chikwelu, Oparanozie To Lead Super Falcons Against France Just days after the Super Eagles concluded the first phase of their 2018 FIFA World Cup actual build –up with useful encounters against Poland in Wroclaw and Serbia in London, and the U20 boys concluded a two –match tour of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Senior Women’s Team, Super Falcons are also having a good kick with a prestige friendly against France. The eight –time African champions are up against their French counterparts at the Stade MMArena in the city of Le Mans, France on Friday,
6th April 2018. Coach Thomas Dennerby, whose maidens composed entirely of home –based professionals took third place at the WAFU Women Cup of Nations in Abidjan in February following penalty shoot-out defeat by Ghana in the semi finals, will have the complement of foreign –based gladiators as well when they pitch battle with France as from 9pm on Friday next week. Nigeria’s 17 –woman list includes Rita Chikwelu, who captained the team to win an eighth continental ti-
tle in Cameroon in December 2016, as well as big forward Desire Oparanozie, the effervescent Francisca Ordega, nimble –footed midfielder Ngozi Okobi and home –based goalkeepers Onyinyechukwu Okeke and Chiamaka Nnadozie. U.S –based forward Courtney Dike and Ordega would be first arrivals in Le Mans on Tuesday, 3rd April – the same day the delegation from Nigeria will depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Super Falcons will lodge at the Mercu-
re Le Mans Centre. THE FULL LIST Goalkeepers: Onyinyechukwu Okeke; Chiamaka Nnadozie Defenders: Josephine Chukwunonye; Ngozi Ebere; Faith Ikidi; Ugo Njoku; Osinachi Ohale; Glory Ogbonna Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu; Ngozi Okobi; Ini-Abasi Umotong; Ogonna Chukwudi Forwards: Francisca Ordega; Desire Oparanozie; Courtney Dike; Esther Sunday; Anam Imo
Oparanozie
AMUSEMENT PARK
ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW EVERYONE IN FAVOUR OF ABORTION HAS ALREADY BEEN BORN?
— Patrick Murray
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY c
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NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER
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AZU ISHIEKWENE
or a government that has swallowed more than it can digest, last week’s extra portion from Bill Gates and TY Danjuma, worsened its constipation. If Aso Rock knew in advance what Gates was going to say, it’s doubtful if the government would have organised an extraordinary meeting of the National Economic Council to hear it, however delicately expressed. Almost one year today since the Economic Recovery and Growth Programme (ERGP) was launched, a long line of economists and government officials, stretching all the way down to the Mambilla, have been telling us what a great success story the ERGP has been. We’ve been told that finally all the elements are falling in place: incentives for more production, Thai rice factories closing down, better infrastructure and efficient regulation, lower inflation, an improved business climate and jobs.
Twitter: @azuishiekwene
After nearly two years of hounding the government to produce an economic plan that works, along came the ERGP. What more could we ask for? Some honesty in admitting that the plan is still, well, what it is – a plan. The government is a long way from delivering on its promise of any meaningful change in the quality of life. And worse, there’s no evidence – present or remote – that the government has the capacity to act differently sooner than later. There was no point beating Gates over the head with sheaves of official statistics as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma tried to do. Or launching a bitter counter-attack against Gates as Governor Nasir El-Rufai did. I’m aware that the only way sections of the political elite can keep their jobs is to continue to invest in and believe their own lies and delusions of grandeur. Yet, one would think that, given the lingering shame of President Muhammadu Buhari staying abroad for nearly six months at different times in a UK hospital and his son following
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Bill Gates, TY Danjuma And Street Life
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suit after a bike accident, that with the First Lady Aisha and her daughter tweeting about the disgraceful state of the State House Clinic, there would be no argument about the urgency of fixing the country’s broken healthcare system. But it doesn’t work that way. Government officials don’t have to worry about paying attention to health and education beyond what they say in their speeches. The $1billion spent on medical tourism annually on items from tummy tuck to breast implants and face-lift and from routine medical checkups to the more serious health challenges, says everything about the elite’s sense of priority. Why fix the broken system when they can charge the cost of their own healthcare to the state treasury? Gates was not talking about their vanities when he advised the government to prioritise its investment in health. He was talking about the 7.2 million Nigerian children who are currently at risk of infection with polio because of insufficient vaccines. He was saying that Nigeria, a country that exports more than two million barrels of crude oil daily, is still one of the only three countries in the world, apart from Pakistan and Afghanistan,
whose children are dying of a completely preventable disease. It doesn’t matter what the ERGP says. So long as Nigerian children are dying of polio and malnutrition, and hundreds are dying yearly from malaria, Lassa fever and other preventable diseases, the government can continue to enjoy its delusion of grandeur – and it may well be working for the few – but the recovery programme is not working for the people. And when Gates speaks about education, he’s not talking about the political elite whose ERGP can accommodate annual expenses of $2 billion to send their children to school abroad. He’s talking about the 10.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria that at least 17 state governments are waging a war against by refusing to access the N16.2 billion Universal Basic Education fund that could have made a difference in their lives. Gates has done his bit – investing over $1.6 billion of his own money in the last decade in polio vaccination, apart from paying off a $76 million loan from Japan for the same cause. If the government has any shame left, Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, shouldn’t take the man’s money and yet despise his advice over a lunch invitation.
Apart from the versions of the ERGP that are working for Udoma and El-Rufai, the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that the programme is not working for the majority. NBS figures show that out of a labour force of 76 million, 7.5 million Nigerians were unemployed at the end Q3 2015, compared to 16 million unemployed in a labour force of 85 million in Q3 2017. That is an average of 2.8 million unemployed for every year since Buhari has been in office. If the Gates bashers don’t believe their own statistics, they can borrow legs for a stroll outside their comfort zones, just to see things as they are, and perhaps hear what the streets are saying. As for Danjuma, I still don’t understand why his call for selfdefence last week in Taraba is a cause for official diarrhea. Selfdefence is so common sense and so instinctively human, only a fool needs to be taught this. Fight or flight is not taught; it’s inborn. I get the point that those who have followed the Tiv-Jukun crisis and the extra-judicial killings in Zaki-Biam (2001) when Danjuma was Defence Minister, might be eager to bury a hatchet in his back. But they should save their anger for a government that has failed, calamitously, to provide safety and security, the first and most basic function of any government. If the Inspector General of Police will defy presidential order and not stay at a crime scene beyond a flying visit and nothing happens to him, if troops can be withdrawn from a school without justifiable reason, only for the community to be attacked three weeks later, 110 schoolgirls kidnapped and no one is called to question, why does anyone need to be told that they are on
If the government has any shame left, Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, shouldn’t take the man’s money and yet despise his advice over a lunch invitation their own? Danjuma is coming late. The government’s incapacity and the appearance of a failure of executive leadership are the most stringent calls to self-defence. The calls have been ringing out since bloodshed after bloodshed under Buhari went unpunished. With elections around the corner, it’s highly tempting for those around Buhari to make him believe that anyone who disagrees with him – including even those who had stood by him when these interlopers didn’t have a life – does not want him to have a second term. If they have added Gates and Danjuma to his list of enemies, Buhari can be sure that at his current performance level he’s going to have a very, very long list!
GHANA MUST GO Court orders Abaribe, others to produce Nnamdi Kanu
— News
Dis court too talk!
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