Friday November 22 - 28, 2019 Edition

BOLD N’ BLUNT Tony Attah: We explore use of LNG for local industry and power generation’•P14

EDITORIAL Josephine Ugwu: Garlands for woman of integrity •P20

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

CRIME FEATURE Ruiz defeat made me a smarter fighter –Joshua

racle •P37

www.oraclenews.ng

Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.4 No.42 N200

Enugu airport: Reopening suffers fresh setback D

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

ESPITE the resolution of all safety concerns that led to the shutdown of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for repairs, a crisis over ownership of the contiguous land spaces threatens a long term closure of the airport.

Airport authorities complain that the land contest between a private estate de-

Cont’d on page 2

• Estate mogul, FAAN contest land • IGP believed to be taking sides •Confrontation between Air Force and police feared •Stakeholders urge speedy resolution of outstanding grey areas

Nigeria missing in world reading chart – National Library •Opens Library in Umuahia Custodial Centre From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has raised the alarm over poor reading culture in Nigeria, saying that the name of the country was missing in the list of world reading chart.

National librarian and Chief Executive Officer of NLN, Professor Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina, disclosed this while establishing a library at the Umuahia Custodial

Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Abia State Command.

Aina explained that the establishment of the Umuahia Custodial Centre library, to promote reading culture among inmates, was in continuation of the NLN’s 2019 Readership Promotion Campaign in Abia targeted at the vulnerable and the poor which would cover semi-urban communities

Cont’d on page ???

•Akanu Ibiam International Airport under reconstruction

World Eri Festival: Eze Eri, Ooni root for Nigeria

•Nwodo excited as African-Americans of Igbo origin ‘return’ home •Obi of Onitsha, others grace World Eri Festival •Eze Nri, Ooni preach unity

By THEO RAYS

T

HIS was the real handshake across the Niger--royal fathers from

Page 31

Igbo land and counterparts from Yoruba land charging Nigerians on national unity as a path to peaceful coexistence among ethnic nationalities

regardless of religious backgrounds.

At the historical festival and in separate speeches, HRM Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze

Eri Kingdom in Enugwu Aguleri and HRM, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, royal fathers from ancient stools of authority, showed

the way forward and identified national unity as the key that will accelerate the pace of peace, development and progress of the country in all

Teenager poisons wedding guests

areas.

It is certainly auspicious that such occasion was witnessed at the World Eri Festi-

Cont’d on page 2

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

Enugu airport: Reopening suffers new setback Cont’d from Pg 1

veloper, Architect J.J Emejulu, and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may ultimately jeopardize concerted moves to reopen the airport.

The land dispute is based on a series of unconnected court cases in which Emejulu is seeking to exercise ownership right over spaces of land FAAN insists are in the vicinity of the airport.

Sources said that a sustained battle between Policemen, the Nigerian Air Force attached to FAAN has raged over the land ownership feud, pointing out that the airport might be permanently closed down if there is further encroachment into reserved spaces.

According to an FAAN official at Enugu, the contested land is located at the take off end of the airport, and would breach safety headroom for the airport, warning that the antics of the land contestants might be those of ‘an instigated agent working against the people of the entire southeast region and the country.

The former President of South East and South South Professionals, Mr Emeka Ugwuoju advised all parties in the land to dispute to concede their personal stakes for public interest, stressing that the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport remained strategic to the economy of the region.

According to him, all government institutions and facilities are built on land acquired from original owners on grounds of public interest.

He wondered why acquisition of lands for development of critical development infrastructure would be a major issue in Enugu.

The present predicament of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport began with a declaration by the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, last May, that the airport would be downgraded due to safety and facility deficits.

He listed some of the safety concerns to include bad runway, closeness to a market and birds-attracting abattoir as wel as an aviation-focused free trade zone.

But in a concerted tripartite agreement, the Enugu State Government, Ministry of Aviation and the National Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) smoothly resolved all observed concerns about the airport, leading the minister to declare rehabilitation work at the airport.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu, also expressed satisfaction with the relocation of the Orie Emene market, abattoir, and the dismantling of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Radio/TV Mast.

He disclosed that the issue of the ENPOWER Free Trade Zone has also been resolved with its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Engr. Emeka Eneh, during an inspection.

He declared that “the required land FAAN wants to protect is secured” for safety and security, adding: “We are happy with that and ENPOWER Free Trade Zone is also happy that with the remaining land, they can still go ahead with their initiative and develop the land.”

But despite the resolution of the issues, the airport was shut down on August 24th due to the poor state of the runway and other navigational facilities.

However, after a series of high profile visit by South East governors, President Muhammadu Buhari expeditiously approved N10 billion for rehabilitation and upgrade of the

airport.

A construction firm, PW Limited, has already been deployed to reconfigure and reconstruct the runway to accommodate wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 787 and dreamliner series.

The National Aviation Management Agency (NAMA) also announced commencement of work on airfield lighting and safety systems as well as on modernization of the terminal building. A new reopening deadline was fixed for April 2020.

However, while all stakeholders waited for the reopening of the airport, the estate agent is said to have secured full support of the police to take possession of portions of land FAAN considers part of the airport space.

Earlier, in a separate suit no FHC/EN/ CS/141/2016, Emejulu had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, Enugu State Government and four others to a Federal High Court seeking declaration of his right to acquire and own land anywhere in Nigeria.

He also sought the court to restrain agencies of both federal and Enugu governments from taking effective occupation of lands at the Airport Road Layout Phase IV and V “without recourse to due process of the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

But in a “NOTICE OF DISCONTINUANCE OF SUIT” to all the respondents, Emejulu had on March 13, 2017 declared his intention and effective discontinuation of his suit against “all Respondents in SUIT NO FHC/ EN/141/2016: ARCH J.J EMEJULU V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND ORS.” Our source stated that the estate mogul later returned with policemen to take effective occupation of parcels of land inside premises claimed

by FAAN to fall inside the airport’s security and safety radius.

It was gathered that his claim derived from a consent judgment in a separate suit number E/642/2016 where he claimed sole right over land transactions on “Airport Road Layout Phase IV and V situate at Umuenwene Iji Nike.”

FAAN sources at the airport claim that all the parties involved in development of facilities were not involved in the consent judgment the police claimed to be enforcing.

A legal practitioner who is not party to the case stated that an individual cannot have right against the government over a space of land hosting critical national aviation facility.

He pointed out that, “this is why he withdrew his initial suit and went for consent judgment with his clients.”

He also argued that the enforcement of the consent judgment should not be applicable to parties not part of the consent.

Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Aviation, Hon.Nnoli Nnaji stated in a telephone interview with The Oracle Today that the entire South East region would rise against anyone that might be working to sabotage the prevailing presidential fiat on speedy rehabilitation of the airport.

Mr Ugwuoju advised those whose land might be affected by the developments at the airport to approach the government for resolution of the issues in line with established provisions, warning that sustained bickering over the land would derail the prevailing momentum for reopening of the airport.

•From right: Abia State Librarian, Mr Chimaobi Ekeledo; Head of Abia State Branch of National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Mrs Chika Ezulike; National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of NLN, Prof. Lenrie Aina, Comptroller of Correction, Nigeria Correctional Service, Abia State Command, Mr Julius Ezeugwu; Deputy Comptroller of Correction, Umuahia Custodial Centre, Obizue Valins and other officers of National Library during the opening of a library at Umuahia Custodial Centre by NLN

World Eri Festival: Eze Eri, Ooni root for Nigeria Cont’d from Pg 1 val, held at Enugwu Aguleri in Anambra State, where Eze Eri hosted the Ooni of Ife, Obi of Onitsha, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo,and other dignitaries.

Other dignitaries at the occasion were Igwe of Mbaukwu HRM Igwe Peter Anugwu, HRM, an industrialist Igwe Patrick Okolo of Nsukka Urban, Dr Chile Obidigbo, Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area Hon Obi Nweke, The chairman of Ogbaru LGA Hon Arinze Awogu, Member Representing Anambra East in the Anambra State House of Assembly Hon Obinna Emenaka among others.

The chief celebrant, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the Ezeora 34th and Aka Ji Ovo Igbo, in his address, “The Voice from the Throne,” described the Festival as a time when the Igbo worldwide gathered to remember their progenitor Eri, who is believed to have migrated from Israel and settled at Aguleri.

“Today, we commemorate and celebrate an African and global historical figure Nna Anyi (our father) Eri. Today I welcome my brother and friend from our brotherly land of Yoruba, the Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, the 51st Ooni of Ife. I use this opportunity to call for peace and unity among the Yoruba and the Igbo and the rest of Nigerians,” he said.

Describing the Yoruba and the Igbo as one people, he stated: “Our history and different aspects of our language and culture remind us of our oneness.

We must increase efforts to unite our people. Let us realise that we are one people sailing in one ship. Nigeria is our ship. We have no other ship. Let us strengthen our bonds and work together on what makes the lives of all our children all over Nigeria and the rest of the world better.”

He welcomed the guests from all over the world wide “especially, those who identify with Igboland as their place of origin following DNA tests,” and said: “I welcome our African-American brothers and sisters, children of our children taken from us to strange lands many years ago.

They are looking for their way back home and we welcome them.

“Aguleri and indeed the entire Igboland is your home. Let’s begin today to build bridges that link us and all our children in Nigeria and Africa and over there in the United States of America, Europe and the world over.”

He disclosed that Igbo-Americans were earlier taken to Aganabo Ezu n’ Omambala Confluence at Aguleri, where Eri anchored himself on arrival to Africa.

According to the Royal Father, the palace has in the last few years hosted over 200 Igbo Africa-Americans who came for previous festivals.

The Ooni, who was represented

by HRM Oba Murainu Adebanjo the Asoya of Ile Isoya Ife Kingdom, described the festival as an event of a great people as Ndigbo are great people.

Oba Adebanjo said that the Ooni was interested in national unity because it will guarantee peace and also bring the people into a more prosperous country where people are safe and happy.

He said: “A peaceful and prosperous country is all that we are praying for and we can only get it when we are strongly united as a people. The Ooni of Ife congratulates the Eze Eri and his people on this wonderful occasion of World Eri Festival and congratulates the African-Americans who came to identify with their progenitor.

“My prayer is that the festival will continue to serve as a point for integration of people across board. I pray that subsequent festivals will be greater than what we witnessed here today.”

Nwodo, who was conferred with the title Okwulora (the voice of the public) of Igboland by the Eze Eri, said the Eri Kingdom has made Ndigbo proud by organizing a festival that showcases Igbo culture to the rest of the world and connects Ndigbo with others in a manner that enhances friendship between Ndigbo and their counterparts elsewhere.

The Ohanaeze boss described the visit of the Ooni as another version of handshake across the Niger from the cultural point of view.

Represented by the chairman of Ohanaeze in Anambra State, Chief Damian Afam Ogene, Nwodo said he was highly impressed with the title bestowed on him, adding that the honour would spur him to serve Ndigbo more.

He assured that Ohanaeze was committed to promoting national unity as much as the culture of Ndigbo.

The member representing Anambra East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Benjamin Obidigwe said the efforts of Eze Eri were geared

towards a stronger regional integration through bringing the Igbo and Yoruba together to entrench national unity.

He identified unity as the key to dealing with the challenges of insecurity, marginalization, hate speech, rancour and bitterness bedeviling the country.

Obidigwe added: “The presence of Ooni of Ife at the World Eri Festival represents national unity. This is a welcome development and we have to build on this. We have to use our culture, religion and even personal occupations to build bridges and champion unity and peaceful coexistence that will pave the way for a life free from social ills like kidnapping and other forms of killings in our country.”

The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), led by Dr Chuwkwu Okolo said that “this is the only festival that brings Ndigbo together globally. We congratulate our brothers and sisters from the United States who had come to Identify with us.”

Two Igbo African-Americans, Denver Heins and Chinyere Naza said they were proud to be members of the Igbo family and vowed that nobody could take that away from them.

The coordinator of the African-Americans, Chinyere Naza Njoku Eri, explained that she had her DNA test in 2001. She disclosed that the Founder of African Ancestry, Dr Rick Kitlles inspired the DNA test following his quest to discover his roots.

Explaining that she had to undergo the test after falling in love with the Igbo people she met over there, she said: “I fell in love with igbo people when I met them at a place called Igbo village in Virginia. I took interest in their language, their dressing and their food.

“This drew me to them. From the test I discovered that Igbo blood is flowing all over me. And I am glad to inform you that the father of my nine-year old son is an Igbo man from Owerri.”

Chinyere was also conferred with a title as Anyanwu Ututu (morning sun) of Igboland.

A member of the festival planning committee, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, who also played host to the African-Americans at Rojenny Tourist and Games Village Oba described the festival as a great occasion and called on multinational companies to take advantage of the tourism potential of the festival.

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 18, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Bayelsa Poll: We don’t have anything against Jonathan-PDP

P

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has nothing against former President Goodluck Jonathan over the just concluded Bayelsa governorship election.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday after a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.

There were reports in the media that Jonathan may be sanctioned by the party following the defeat of PDP by the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Nov.16, governorship election in Bayelsa.

Ologbondiyan said that the issue of Jonathan was not part of matters discussed at the NWC meeting.

“The issue of former President Goodluck Jonathan did not come up at the meeting and it was not discussed.

“You must know about the procedure and processes in our party.

If we do not have a report or an issue before us, we cannot delve

…Heads to court to challenge INEC verdict into.

“As we speak now, we do not have any matter concerning Jonathan before us in the party,” he said.

“We have taken a decision to go to court long before but beyond that, we are going to take other measures which the national chairman will disclose on Thursday.

“We have not done a post-mortem of the election. We have only

weighed the circumstances that surrounded the election. We have also looked at the global condemnation of the election. We have reviewed the role of INEC and the role played by security agencies. Formally, the party will come up with a position,” he said.

He, however, denied insinuation that Secondus was under pressure, saying the party was rather concern

about the state of democracy in the country.

“We believe that as the main opposition party we have a responsibility to salvage democracy,” he said.

Ologbondiyan also said that there was no division within the NWC. “All of us are here. Virtually everybody was here and we discussed freely,” he said.

‘Stop persecuting opposition with state apparatus’ -- Amnesty Int’l tells Buhari uman Rights watch group, the H Amnesty International on Thursday, told President Muhammadu

Buhari to desist from persecuting the citizenry using the country’s security agents and judiciary.

AI further noted that Buhari uses government agencies, security •From left: Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi; Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi agents and judiciary to persecute Gbajabiamila; Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; and people “who voice dissenting opin- APC Chairman Adams Oshiomhole during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus Meeting at the State House. ions, challenge abuse and call for accountability.”

“The flawed charges and sham trials of #Sowore, #Jalingo and #Bakare expose the inadequacies; and bizarre manipulation of the #Nigerian criminal justice system and an unacceptable contempt for the rule of law and human rights,” the group added. agos Waste Management Au- ties were found detrimental to the in check,” Gbadegesin said.

Omoyele Sowore, Olawale BaThe LAWMA boss noted that the thority (LAWMA) has put busi- health and environmental well bekare and Agba Jalingo have been ness Enforcement Unit of the agency had activities on hold at the popuing of the populace would be shut in detention since August 2019 for lar Oyingbo Market over sundry down until further notice. been mandated to work round the expressing views critical of the gov- environmental infractions.

According to him, efforts of the clock to clamp down on all environernment.

Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr state government to enthrone sus- mental infractions capable of derailSowore, a prominent journalist Gbadegesin, said in a state- tainable environment are being un- ing efforts of the authority toward and political activist; and his co-de- Muyiwa on Thursday that the infrac- dermined by some individuals who environmental sustainability in the fendant Olawale Bakare have been ment tions included refuse will rather dump refuse on unau- state. in the custody of the State Security dumping and indiscriminate ”Section 115 (4) and 116 part IV, refusal to patronise thorised locations, hence the need Services for over a month.

Environmental Sanitation Nuisances Private Sector Participation (PSP) for total enforcement.

This is despite a court order grantHe warned that the grace period and Litters, as well as Section 81, Part ing them bail and meeting the strin- operators.

Others were roadside trading and for environmental defaulters in the III, Lagos Waste Management Augent bail conditions. poor hygienic practices resulting in state had expired, as there would be thority (LAWMA) of Environmental Sowore was specifically charged environmental problems in total enforcement against all forms Management and Protection Law with seven felony counts, including serious the area. of illegal and reckless waste disposal 2017 prohibits dumping of waste at treason and the “cyberstalking” of Gbadegesin said that an abatecapable of degrading the environ- undesignated places, which attracts Buhari. notice and several warnings ment and posing health hazards to specified sanctions,” he said.

Jalingo, also a journalist, was also ment Gbadegesin said that the agency to the traders yielded no re- residents. granted bail; but his bail has been issued thus necessitating the closure. ”The act of indiscriminate refuse recently published a public notice in repeatedly and unjustifiably reject- sult, said that the market would disposal in the city poses grave dan- major national dailies, stating varied. He faces charges of treason and beHereopened traders began ger to public health and economic ous environmental offences and apterrorism and if convicted, he could to comply withwhen rules growth. Before now, we adopted propriate sanctions to defaulters. face up to life in prison or the death and regulationsgovernment’s by shunning indismoral suasion as a tool to persuade ”The state’s laws are quite clear penalty. criminate refuse disposal and patresidents to shun indiscriminate on the prohibition of illegal refuse Jalingo was arrested from his assigned PSP operators. dumping. disposal. It shows zero tolerance home in Lagos and was taken to ronising The LAWMA boss appealed to ”In spite of our efforts, some peo- for environmental infractions and Cross River State after writing a se- other markets in the state to im- ple have bluntly refused to turn a violators would be duly sanctioned ries of articles critical of the Cross bibe the culture of effective waste new leaf. Now we have commenced to serve as deterrent to other resiRiver State Government, his home disposal as markets whose activi- total enforcement to put defaulters dents,” he said. state.

Lagos Govt shuts Oyingbo Market over environmental infractions

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‘Hold public hearing before passing Hate Speech Bill’ – Govs tell NASS he Nigeria Governors’ Forum TAssembly (NGF) has advised the National to hold public hearing on the hate speech bill before it to ensure that views of Nigerians were captured in the passage of the bill.

NGF Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal gave the advice while fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the forum meeting held on Wednesday night in Abuja.

He advised the federal lawmakers to respect the views of Nigerians on the bill.

“I am not sure I have heard any governor come out to say he is in support of death penalty for hate speech.

“I believe the National Assembly should hold a public hearing on that bill, so that due process of lawmaking is followed, so that the views of Nigerians not just the governors will be well captured on that bill.

“They should respect the views of Nigerians in whatever may be the direction of debate and the eventual passage or otherwise of that bill,” Tambuwal said.

The seventh meeting was attended by governors of Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Imo, Adamawa, and Kwara. Other states such as Gombe, Enugu, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Oyo and Ebonyi were represented by their deputy governors.

INEC fixes Nov. 30 for Kogi West Senatorial District, others ndependent National Electoral Ivember Commission (INEC) has fixed No30 for the conduct of sup-

plementary and re-run elections for Kogi West Senatorial District and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency respectively.

In a statement, Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said the decision was taken at the meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

He recalled that at the conclusion of the court-ordered Kogi West Senatorial re-run election on Saturday, supplementary polls were indicated by the Collation/Returning Officer for the Senatorial District.

The affected areas include 20 Registration Areas, 53 Polling Units and 46,767 Registered Voters spread across seven Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District.

“In addition, the court ordered the conduct of Supplementary rerun poll in Ajaokuta Federal Constituency affecting 22 Polling Units.”

Okoye said that collation procedures shall be in line with extant Guidelines for Collation at the Supplementary polls.

He added that the list of affected registration areas and polling units would be uploaded on INEC website and communicated to the stakeholders in the respective registration areas and polling units.

“We enjoin all the political parties and stakeholders to cooperate with the commission for conclusive free and credible elections in the affected areas,” Okoye said.

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

FG to concession Onitsha River Port –NIWA MD

By OGE ONYEANUSI, Nnewi

T

he long awaited dream of concession of Onitsha River Port may be a dream come true going by the vow of the new Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Hon. George Muoghalu.

Muoghalu had during his familiarization tour of the Onitsha River Port lamented that the facility which was commissioned in 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been utilised since its commissioning.

The NIWA MD who was accompanied by the Anambra state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Basil Ejidike, said that, “the proposed concession will help traders in the South east and South south to transport their wares from other places to the Onitsha River port”.

Reiterating his resolve to ensure the concession in no distant time, the MD expressed optimism that it would be of commercial interest to the nation.

He later paid homage to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe where he assured him of the concession which will also ease port congestion.

Meanwhile the NIWA host community, Obamkpa clan, Umuasele village Onitsha, has through its Head, (Diokpa Ogbo family) , Omodi Obiora Nzekwu, commrnded the NIWA MD adding that President Mohammadu Buhari made a good choice by appointing him to pilot the affairs of NIWA. According to the host community, “Muoghalu will use his God-given knowledge to pilot the affairs of NIWA to the next level as an experienced politician who is always interested in moving the nation forward” The host community vowed to assist him in providing dividend of democracy to the Nigerian people.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME ISAAC: We formerly known and addressed as 1. Mr Okeke Micheal Chukwuafu 2.Miss Okeke Grace Nkemewenam, 3.Miss Okeke Onyekachi Stella, 4.Mrs Okeke Benedeth Akuanata.

Now wish to be known and addressed as 1.Mr Isaac Micheal Chukwuafu, 2.Miss Isaac Grace Nkemewenam, 3.Miss Isaac Onyekachi Stella, 4.Mrs Isaac Benedeth Akuanata.

All former documents bearing Our former Names remain valid.

Schools,Banks,Civil Service Commission Awka and general public should please take note

Ugwuanyi inaugurates beverage plant, hails CEO on job creation From: CHUKS EZE

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overnor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has called on Enugu State indigenes in the Diaspora to bring part of their wealth home and cue into the current drive of his administration to create jobs and develop the state.

He made the call while inaugurating a private beverage plant, Sandosco Resources Nig Ltd, at Nsukka, Enugu State.

Governor Ugwuanyi, who commended the youthful factory owner, Idoko Stanley Iloabuchi, for his move, assured him of government support and encouragement.

Idoko, who was full of gratitude over Ugwuanyi’s presence

to personally inaugurate the company and flag off production, noted, in an address, that the governor’s gesture would encourage other citizens in the Diaspora to follow suit.

He pointed out that he had built the plant in line with the desire and efforts of the Ugwuanyi administration to make Nsukka the second urban city in Enugu State.

The China-based businessman, who hails from Igogoro, in Igbo-Eze North Council Area, disclosed that he had planned to do other projects but that he later changed his original plan and decided to build the production plant in order to contribute his quota towards job creation.

Idoko also disclosed that the

company had employed 200 citizens, adding that it was designed to produce Solace bottled and satchet water, as well as juice and different range of other beverage drinks, under the Solace brand name.

He added that production of Solace sachet and bottled water had already commenced while the beverage section would commence production as soon the company is granted NAFDAC approval.

“I thank our big daddy, the governor for coming, in person, to honour us today. Your presence here is massive encouragement to us and we will forever be grateful to you.

“Those who used to doubt that the governor is for all class-

Cross section of participants including Ibrahim Conteh, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, Maurice Eneji, the Family Court judge for Calabar during Final Validation of Family Court Procedure Rules for Cross River State, last Tuesday

Disregard quit ultimatum to herdsmen in Imo, Ihedioha tells Nigerians From: COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

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overnor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has called on Nigerians to disregard the 24 hours ultimatum given to herdsmen in the state by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, to leave the state.

The Governor disclosed this in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, on Monday in Owerri, saying that the state is hospitable and receptive to visitors, even as he said that the group lacks legitimacy to speak for the state.

He said the ultimatum was an embarrassment to the government and people of the state.

“The attention of the Government of Imo State has been drawn to a report on some news media, credited to a group, which identified itself as Coalition of South East

Youth Leaders, giving herdsmen in the state 24 hours to quit,”, he said.

He added: “The group, led by one Goodluck Ibem relied on an alarm allegedly raised by the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, accusing herdsmen of destroying their farm lands and crops, among other concerns.”

“The Government of Imo State, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, hereby dissociates itself and entire good people of the state from the said ultimatum to herdsmen in the state. Imo State Government is embarrassed by the development and has taken steps to prevent breakdown of law and order in the state.”

He said that efforts are being made to ensure that the concerns

raised by the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, are addressed, saying that his administration shall not tolerate a situation where individuals take the laws into their hands.

“For the avoidance of doubts, citizens of Imo State are very peaceful, hospitable and have always enjoyed cordial relationship with neighbours and strangers in the state.

Imolites are at peace with residents and have no axe to grind with anyone living or doing business in the state, as long as such transactions do not in any way violate the laws of the land or constitute public nuisance. The general public is therefore advised to disregard the report and go about their normal businesses without fear or favour”, he said.

es of individuals, his presence here is answer to your doubts.

“I never met with the governor, had phone discussion with him or floated any campaign outfit for him. But with only a humble request, he is here live today. He is God-sent to the entire Igbo race and Nigeria.

“This is my widows might, keying into your administration’s efforts to lift our people out of hunger and poverty and joblessness, and your administration’s drive to make Nsukka the second urban city in Enugu State,” Idoko said.

According to him, he had invested over 500 million naira in the project, adding that a Chinese firm had also shown willingness to help the company to expand, as it continues to grow. .On his part, traditional ruler of Nkpunano Ancient Kingdom, Nsukka, HRH, Igwe (Amb.) Patrick Okolo, called on well-to-do citizens, both in Nigeria and abroad, to emulate Idoko and bring part of their wealth and businesses home to develop Nsukka Zone and create jobs for the teeming unemployed people, especially, the youths.

“It is said that water is life. For citing this factory here and providing jobs for your people, May God bless you abundantly. This business will grow in leaps and bounds, and you shall live long to enjoy its proceeds.”

On his part, the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Hon Patrick Omeje, represented by his deputy, Hon Cosmo Agbo, assured Mr Idoko of support and encouragement. He enjoined him not to, “hesitate to come to us whenever you have challanges.

“As a government, our doors will always be open for you, and we are willing and ready to partner with you, support you, encourage you and give you all the motivation that you need to succeed,” he said.

He appealed to the traditional rulers in Nsukka, especially that of Umakashi autonomous community, where the factory is domiciled, to augment the efforts of the council to ensure provision of adequate security for the company.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ugwuanyi on Empowerment and Human Capital Development, Emeka Asogwa, on his part, said that the governor is ever disposed to support and encourage worthy initiatives.

He added that the state government, through his office, partners, encourages and assists youths with outstanding entrepreneurial skills and talents, urging such individuals to come forward and showcase their skills for possible evaluation.

“Young people must embrace entrepreneurship, and our people in the Diaspora must also think home and bring their wealth back to establish this kind of outfit.Our assurance is that the state goverment would always be there to partner with them and encourage them,” he said.

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 27, 2019

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

Lyon receives Certificate of Return, assures judicious use of Bayelsa resources From: CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

G

overnor –elect of Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon has pledged to ensure judicious use of resources of the state when he ascends office as governor.

Lyon made the pledge on Thursday shortly after he received Certificate of Return following his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) as the winner of the November 16 Bayelsa Governorship election.

The Governor-elect who received the certificate at the Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu Media Center at the Bayelsa office of INEC in Yenagoa along with his running mate, Senator Biobarakuma DegiEremienyo noted that that Bayelsa money would be strictly deployed for the good of the people

and not for any frivolities.

He said, “Bayelsans, let me assure you people, Bayelsa money is not David Lyon money. Bayelsa money is not the Deputy Gov’s money. Bayelsa money will be used judiciously to make sure we develop Bayelsa State.

“Today let me tell you, we are signing a contract with Bayelsa.

David Lyon and APC are signing a contract, and that contract is to develop Bayelsa. The contract is to bring peace so that investments will come to Bayelsa State.

I assure you that David Lyon and APC will not disappoint Bayelsa.”

The Governor- elect used the medium to call on the other 44 candidates who contested the governorship election to join hands with him to move the state forward, stressing that there are no victor and no vanquished.

“Let me also use this medium to

say that in any election, there are a lot of contestants, but today by the grace of God, I have emerged the winner. That does not mean that other contestants are not winners. All of us won the election and there is no loser.

“This is the time for us to come together to build Bayelsa. We have lost a lot, we have missed a lot. Let us come together to develop this Bayelsa”, he added.

Lyon who described the governorship election as the most peaceful in the history of Bayelsa politics praised INEC and security agencies for doing a good job.

“I remain grateful to the INEC for doing a very good job, the security agencies for doing a very good job. At least this is the first in the history of Bayelsa politics that election was very peaceful”, he stressed.

Also speaking at the event, INEC

National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche Mbu said that the presentation of the Certificate of Return was in fulfillment of section 75, subsection 1(a) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which requires INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to a candidate returned or declared as the winner at the end of any election.

“Today we are here to celebrate the end of a process which started seven months ago. In this ceremony, the commission will present Certificate of Return to the Governor-elect, Deputy Governor –elect and member –elect of Brass Constituency 1 of Bayelsa State House of Assembly” She explained that the Brass Constituency 1 rerun election could not be conducted in due time owing to pending court cases until the Supreme Court gave the INEC the go ahead to complete the process in the outstanding six polling units in the constituency which she said Daniel Charles of APC won.

The National Commissioner commended all stakeholders who

contributed to the peaceful and successful conduct of the governorship election.

“I am particularly delighted to report that the election conducted on November 16, 2019 in Bayelsa State was peaceful, free, fair and violent free.

“On the part of the commission, I must commend the candidates and stakeholders for their exceptional display of maturity and candour.

“The commission is hopeful that this commendable trend has come to stay to strengthen electoral processes and activities in Bayelsa State. This will in no small way contribute to the deepening of our constitutional democracy”, she noted.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Bayelsa, Pastor Monday Tom Udoh presented Certificate of Return to the winner of Brass Constituency 1 rerun, Daniels Charles, while the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo, May Agbamuche-Mbu presented to the Governor- elect and Deputy Governor-elect.

Ihedioha to commission Agwa Police Division soon – Irona From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

he Deputy Governor of Imo TThursday State, Engr. Gerald Irona, on assured that Governor

Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo presenting Certificate of Return to the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon

Work-free day for Zik: Lawyer urges Ugwuanyi to emulate Obiano By: THEO RAYS n Nsukka-based lawyer, Barr A B. Ezenwoye has called on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of

Enugu State to emulate his Anambra State counterpart, Willie Obiano in declaring November 16, a work-free day in Enugu State in honor of late founding father of Nigeria and Owelle of Onitsha Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Barr Ezenwoye also called on the people of Nsukka senatorial zone to find ways of paying gratitude to the late Zik of Africa for gifting Nsukka as the host of foremost University of Nigeria.

The lawyer in a statement made available to the journalists stressed that Zik deserves a holiday in Enugu State and more gratitude from the people of Nsukka noting that he felt a great pang of shame more so as an indigene of Nsukka that enough is not being done to appreciate Zik even when

it is clear that Nsukka is greatest beneficiaries of Zik’s benevolence.

“I was also moved to issue this Statement by the fact that Anambra State, which officially benefited very little from the great ZIK by way of projects and infrastructure was the first State to give ZIK a befitting remembrance in the form of a public holiday, while Enugu State that benefited more from him is yet to do so.”

He said that he is making a plea to Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who by actions, is a ZIKIST, to follow in the footsteps of his Anambra counterpart to declare Nov. 16 a public holiday for ZIK adding that Ugwuanyi being an Nsukka man would have atoned for the many years of ingratitude by Nsukka people to ZIK who placed them in the global limelight.

“The entire Nsukka cultural zone including Isiuzo LGA would be grateful if Governor Ugwuanyi on their behalf would bring down

this heavy load of years of ingratitude by declaring Nov. 16 a public holiday in Enugu State for ZIK. After all, 3 locations were chosen for the university to be cited but ZIK chose Nsukka, a place described by some members of the Eastern Nigeria parliament as a dark corner of the earth – befitting only for monkeys and their likes” he added “if Ugwuanyi follows Obiano’s steps, other Southeast governors will likely and then Nigeria at large will likely honor Zik with a work free day. The Southwest States of Nigeria declared June 12 as a public holiday in honor not late MKO Abiolan before the Federal Government adopted same as public holiday for Democracy.

If Ugwuanyi follows, other Igbo states may follow and Nigeria may eventually declare public holiday for ZIK as the pathfinder of our freedom and independence as a nation”.

Emeka Ihedioha will soon commission the Agwa Police Division building as part of measures to address the insecurity in the area.

The Deputy Governor disclosed this while inspecting the Agwa Police Division building alongside the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, the Managing Director of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Engr. Owuoma Anthony Okwuosha, the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Oguta Local Government Area, Hon. Hillary Eberendu, traditional rulers, top political leaders, youth and women leaders from the area.

He said that the Ihedioha administration made the security of the area a priority following series of reports from the traditional rulers and political leaders of the area on the the state of insecurity in their communities.

“We came here few months ago with the Commissioner of Police and moved round the communities. We promised that the state government under Governor Emeka Ihedioha would ensure that the police division building would be completed with perimeter fencing, staff quarters and water scheme. We said we would address the spate of insecurity in Agwa. Today, we have come to see what is going on with the contract and we are satisfied with the quality of work done. The water scheme will soon be completed and the Governor will be here very

soon to commission the project”, said the Deputy Governor.

He added: “We are not providing security to oppress anyone.

Rather we want to ensure there is peace and security in Agwa.

When we are done with the police building we will move to electricity. The government will bring development to this place but please ensure that what we bring here are not vandalised”.

Speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers and the people of Agwa, the traditional ruler of Mgbala Agwa Autonomous Community, Eze Sir Blaise Uba, commended the Governor for the efforts the state government is making towards addressing the challenges faced by the people of the area.

He assured the Deputy Governor of the continued support of the people to the Government of Governor Emeka Ihedioha.

He said: “We thank you and the state government for the wonderful things the government is doing to address the challenges in our place. If previous governments had treated us the way the current government led by Governor Emeka Ihedioha is treating us, Agwa would have been a better place. We thank you so much.”

It could be recalled that the Agwa Police Division projects started as a community help project to address the insecurity in the area, but the state government took over the completion, including new staff quarters, perimeter fencing and water scheme.

The project is funded by the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC).

8

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

FGN/IFAD -VCDP to support 9, 000 farmers in Anambra in 2020

F

ederal Government/International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), says it plans to support over 9,000 farmers in Anambra in 2020 under the additional financing.

State Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD –VCDP, Mr Nnamdi Agwuncha, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Wednesday.

Agwuncha, who expressed satisfaction with the programme, said it had spent over N300 million as at October 31, in encouraging rice and cassava production during the 2019 farming season.

According to him, VCDP added three new Local Government Areas namely: Ihiala, Ogbaru and Orumba South this year that now benefit from our services and

farm inputs support in both rice and cassava crops.

He gave the previous benefitting Local Government Areas as Orumba North, Awka North, Ayamelum, Anambra East and Anambra West.

“This year, 1, 670 farmers have so far benefitted as against 1, 001 farmers in 2018.

“We have got approval for additional financing, which will commence next year. This was as a result of the improvement in the programme and performance by farmers,’’ he said.

He said the N300 million was spent on input/seedling and agro-chemical disbursement, land development/preparation, building of aggregation and cassava bulking centres, provision of water schemes and rice processing mills.

Other areas of support include building of market stalls, construc-

tion of small bridges to provide access roads to farm lands as well as provision of solar powered borehole, among others.

“In terms of yield, average yield of six tons of rice was recorded in 2019 as against 5.5 tons in 2018, while an average yield of 35 tons per hectare was recorded in 2019 as against 30 tons for cassava.

“In our 2020 annual work plan and budget, we have planned to support 3, 000 (2, 000 and 1, 000) farmers for rice and cassava production respectively.

“Other 6, 000 VCDP profiled farmers would benefit in all the VCDP training and extension services,” he said.

On border closure by the Federal Government, Agwuncha said it was long overdue, and urged farmers to seize the opportunity to excel in providing food and em-

ployment for the country.

“As a matter of fact, I had expected that to have happened a long time because there is no basis to make Nigeria a dumping ground.

“When the FG/IFAD team visited the state in 2015, they went round and concluded that Anambra had the potential to feed Nigeria in terms of rice.

“If you open the borders, it affects the efforts of farmers. I expect the Federal Government to close the borders so we look inwards because we have the human and natural endowment to produce rice that will feed Africa,” he said.

The programme coordinator, however, advised the Federal Government to improve its support to agriculture by constructing rural roads and subsidising inputs, among other supports.

Release documentary evidence to accused person, Court orders police

By IBE NWACHUKWU office of Assistant InspecTZonehetor-General of Police (AIG), 9, Umuahia has been served

with a court order mandating the police to release to one Chukwunenye Nweke, an accused person, all the documentary evidence of investigations conducted by a Crack Squad and Monitoring Unit of the zone, before the next adjourned date.

The court order was served to the AIG’s registry at Zone 9 Headquarters, Umuahia,, for onward transmission to the AIG himself, by a bailiff attached to Chief Magistrate Court, Awka, Anambra state, accompanied by the accused person, Nweke who is facing a criminal charge before the court on a two-count charge of defamation of character, intent to intimidate and annoy, threat to kill or harm one Anuli Aguiyi.

The order to avail the accused person of all the documentary evidence was handed down to the police by a Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Awka, Anambra state, presided over by Hon. Mike Anyadiegwu, following a motion to that effect by Nweke.

Hon. Anyadiegwu had in his ruling, granted the motion compelling Anambra state police command and Zone 9 command, Umuahia to release the documents to Nweke, forthwith.

After ordering the police to avail all the documents to Nweke, the court then adjourned further hearing of the substantive charge to December 10, 13, 18, 20 and 23, this year.

Nweke, a middle-aged man had through his legal counsel, S. I. Obinwa Esq., brought the motion before the court, pursuant to Section 185 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra state, 2010 which stated that the prosecution shall on demand, avail to the defendant or accused person all documents they intend to rely on in the trial.

In the Motion No. MAW/ CR/52c/2019, the defendant had prayed the court to compel the police to avail him all the documents in their custody for him to rely on to defend himself from the

charges preferred against him.

He wondered why the police vehemently refused to avail him the documents after he had written to them severally to release the documents to him, to enable him prepare his defence in the matter, even when it is obvious that it is his constitutional right to be given adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence.

According to the motion, in criminal proceedings, the law does not allow the prosecution to ambush the defendant by hiding documents that will enable him to defend himself, adding that the law views it so because the liberty of the defendant is at stake.

In the charge No. MAW/97c/2019, the prosecution alleged that the accused person, Nweke had in May, 2018, at Awka in Awka Magisterial District, did carry out a defamatory publication where he stated that the complainant, Mrs. Anuli Aguiyi obtained judgement against him by fraud, or inducement of the judge, a fact he knew was false with intent that it may be read or seen by her or any other person which has caused damage to her reputation.

The prosecution also alleged that the accused person had on the same date and venue, with intent to intimidate and annoy, threatened to kill or harm Aguiyi over the judgement against him in Suit No. A/MISC./3CS/2017, adding that the offences were contrary to Sections 325 and 120 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.

While the court ruling lasted, the accused person dramatically hung some placards on his neck and shoulders which read in part: “there is no law proscribing the use of press to publish verifiable crime. Thus, AIG Zone 9 police command, Umuahia should stop infringing on my fundamental human rights as a suspect simply because I indicted his officers of corruption”.

The inscriptions further read in part: “As a criminal suspect, I have the fundamental rights to fair hearing and trial adequate time and materials to defend myself.

The police should know that

•Yerima Irimiya Fyarah

Obiano’s aide seeks legislation against fake news , hate speech From OZO RAY

S

pecial Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Special Duties and Public Orientation, Hon . Ify Obinabo has called on lawmakers of the Anambra State House of Assembly to enact a law that would make it a punishable offense for anyone spreading fake news and hate speech on the social media.

She said such information was only intended to deceive and mislead the public especially when such messages were targeted at destroying the reputation of the Anambra state government.

Obinabo who stated Thursday in Awka while speaking with select journalists , said part of the provisions of the law should make it mandatory for people to speak the truth and not incite the citizenry against the powers that be due to quest to usurp the government in power .

She said such laws were needed urgently in Anambra state to track

down perpetrators of hate speeches, stressing that the present state government was working assiduously to bequeath a new Anambra to the people.

Obinabo however called on Ndi-Anambra in the diaspora to take advantage of the forthcoming Christmas and New year festivities to come home and invest their wealth in the state because the governor has created a tranquil and seren business environment.

She said there was need for all and sundry to subscribe to a better and more prosperous Anambra as propagated by the governor even though she was cognisant of the fact that there were bad eggs in the system who took advantage of crisis situations for self-aggrandizements.

The governor’s aide appealed to the citizenry to key into the new Anambra project, championed

by Governor Willie Obiano adding that who live in a glass house should not throw stones .

Anambra needs governors with laudable ideas, says Ezeemo From OZO RAY n industrialist and chieftain of A the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye

Ezeemo, has expressed a feeling of empathy for the citizens of Anambra State.

Ezeemo said that the people were currently suffering acute unemployment under the present All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)-led state government , claiming that as an employer of labour with over 4000 workers on his payroll, he would provide employment for both Illiterates and non-illiterates in the state , if he becomes the next governor .

The business mogul who expressed his avowed commitment to diversify the state economy to accommodate all and sundry , at a parley organised by a non-governmental organization known as Friends of Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo yesterday in Awka, said Anambra state needed governors with laudable ideas to drive the fortunes of the state.

He said he was better positioned to produce a virile Anambra state where opportunities abound for prosperity, adding that his 20 years of experience in the United Kingdom has exposed him to numerous ways and ideas upon which Anambra can be better, if he becomes the next governor.

Ezeemo said he transferred more than half of his business empire to his home state since 2012 and has continued to create employments for the citizenry ever since. He said he was trader, farmer, industrialist, publisher, philanthropist, to mention a few, stressing that his love for humanity cannot be over-emphasized.

He said his sincerity was not in doubt and that it only required an individual with sincerity of purpose to place Anambra state on the path of success even though he observed that the state was currently plagued with bad roads and that Awka the state capital was still a glorified local government.

The industrialist noted that Nnewi too was nothing to write home about and that the level of decay in the state was alarming, stressing that a significant portion of the population were beggars because they lacked the requisite mentorship for self-reliance.

He however stated that the time has eventually come for the people to establish themselves in their home state while appealing to them to take the right decisions to enthrone a government that would demonstrate practical concern for the welfare of the citizens especially the poor and less-privileged citizens.

•Ezeemo

9

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

Ember months: Obiano charges police to clampdown on cultism, drug addiction in Anambra

By IBE NWACHUKWU

G

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has directed operatives of various security agencies, including the state vigilante group to carryout massive operations aimed at ridding the state of cultism and drug addiction within this ember months, to ensure a hitch-free yuletide season in the state.

Obiano who gave the directive at the weekend at New Era Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, during the launching of the prestigious Agbalanze Cultural Association of Onitsha and remembrance ceremony of members of the association, dead and alive, noted that the high incidences of cultism and drug addiction have become too

inexplicable that that government has decided to tackle the menace head-long.

Obiano who was represented at the occasion by Chief Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, NPM, PSC+, FCIDA(Ghana), JP, a retired Commissioner of police and the incumbent Chairman,of Anambra State Vigilante Supervisory Committee,however advised parents to ensure that their children or wards did not fall victim at this period when the massive operation rid the state of social vices and undue violence is expected to take place soonest.

The Governor congratulated members of the Agbalanze Onitsha society for keeping the culture afloat and urged them to use their high positions to improve the society for a better tomorrow.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe who unveiled the plaque at Agbalanze Secretariat as the Royal Father of the day, commended them for their role in preserving the cultural heritage of Onitsha and charged them to keep the flag flying.

In a related development, Aduba who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Vigilante Matters, has commended Governor Willie Obiano for his unrelenting support for grassroots security since the inception of his administration and promised a crime-free yuletide as usual.

Aduba who was among the eight persons selected to represent the state in a week-long intensive security seminar organized by the Directorate of State Security (D.S.S.)

at the National Institute of Security Services (N.I.S.S.), Abuja, charged his men to be at alert at this critical period and always collaborate with the Police while shunning any illegal action capable of tarnishing the image of A.V.G., In a press statement he issued in Onitsha, Aduba noted that the seminar, with the theme: “Managing Internal Security For Good Governance And National Development”, was specifically organized for Security Administrators.

According to the statement,, a security workshop would also be organized in the three Senatorial Districts on security education for non-state actors at the grassroots level namely Central Vigilante, Neighbourhood Watches, Market and Village Vigilance Groups before

the end of the year.

He also urged public spirited individuals in the 189 Communities to support security operations, even as he confirmed the appointment of Chief Etukokwu Alex, the proprietor of Top Ten Hotel, Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state as Ex-Officio member of Anambra South Zone of Anambra State Association of Vigilance Groups (ASAVG).

He further noted that this appointment was in recognition of Chief Etukokwu’s philanthropic gestures and unqualified assistance to A.V.G, adding that other affluent men and women in the society should support A.V.G. in their communities since according to him, Government cannot do it alone.

Anambra group threatens to recall non performing representatives

By IBE NWACHUKWU socio-political group, the Anambra ReA demption Movement, ARM has issued a stern warning to elected politicians at

A cross section of African Americans participating at the just-concluded World Eri Festival in Anambra State

Enugu DisCo to restore supply in Akwa before Christmas From OZO RAY Electricity Distribution ComTmenthepanytoEnugu (EEDC) has expressed its commitrestore electricity supply to some

parts of Awka in Anambra state before the Christmas and New Year festivities begin.

The electricity distribution company said Ifite-Awka , Agu-Awka GRA , Amansea , Ebenebe and Ugbenu were currently facing total black out due to the ongoing upgrade of the 7.5 MVA power transformer at Agu-Awka injection substation to 15 MVA .

EEDC Head of Communications, Mr.Emeka Ezeh who disclosed this in a release in Awka, pleaded that the aforementioned areas of the Awka capital territory should be patient with the organization as it was working assiduously to ensure that the areas listed above got improved power supply .

Ezeh said, “as a result of this development, our customers in Ifite Awka, Agu Awka GRA, Amansea, Ebenebe, and Ugbenu are without electricity supply.

The upgrade, which is geared towards improving electricity supply in the areas mentioned was billed to be completed on 28th October, 2019, but has lingered due to some technical challenges which was not envisaged.

We sincerely apologise for the inconveniences this must have caused our customers and assure them of our commitment to delivering improved services. “ Also in another development, the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) says it has introduced more payment channels for ease of payment by its customers.

The company said it was in addition to the existing Cash Offices within the Service Centers and District Offices across the zone.

Disclosing this also to journalists, the Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, stated that the idea of the new payment system was to ensure that customers pay electricity bills with ease and convenience, thereby avoiding situations where they had to travel long distance to make payment.

The initiative according to him was borne out of EEDC’s commitment to improved service delivery, with special focus on the customer.

He said the alternative payment system includes Direct transfer into EEDC bank account, Interswitch pay direct via QuickTeller, E-Transact channels, Energy Pay on EEDC websites and Collection agents , noting that the collection agents have presence in rural communities, with over one

thousand locations across EEDC network.

According to him, with these alternative payment platforms in place, customers can easily access and make payments with their postpaid bills or buy more units of energy for their prepaid meters.

He stressed that receipts should be obtained for all payments, either physical or electronic receipts, which is usually confirmed via text messages or electronic mail.

Ezeh therefore advised that customers must ensure they collect and crosscheck their receipts after payment to forestall mistakes.

He advised customers against making payment to EEDC field officers, insisting that all payments must be made through approved channels and receipts obtained.

Ezeh recounted that non-payment of electricity bills is one out of the challenges faced by EEDC in carrying out its operations.

“The business cannot do much if customers do not support it by paying their electricity bills as and when due”, Ezeh said.

He however maintained that customers were also advised to avoid meter bypass and energy theft of all sorts, vandalism of power installations, as these acts impact on the quality of service to customers.

both state and National Assemblies to either perform or face recall or blacklisting initiation against them.

Speaking at its sensitization tour of Aguata, Orumba North, Orumba South, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala Local Government Areas of the state, during which they inaugurated wards chapters of the organization, Governor-General and Secretary-General, Hon. Oraegbuna Amene and Barrister Thompson Chikezie, that they were adopting such a harder stance to make various elected leaders and politicians in various position of responsibility sit up.

Oraegbuna and Chikezie contended that the electorate has suffered in the hands of their elected office holders so much so that ARM has to take it upon itself to work towards ameliorating the suffering of the common masses which they described as pitiable and uncalled for.

They further noted that the group is out to ensure that diaspora, non-resident politicians as well as politicians who are not abreast of happenings in the grassroots but only visits during elections will not be elected again especially during up-coming governorship election in the state, They added that so far, they are carrying out a massive enlightenment campaign throughout the state to mobilize state voters especially common voters who are in majority who are often guilty of being induced with gratifications from politicians to stop the practice and embrace proper assessment of politicians aspiring for leadership in the state.

Describing ARM as a socio-political group recently formed by critical stakeholders in the state Politics to enlighten the state voters especially the common masses on the need to shuns gratifications from politicians during electioneering campaigns as well as the importance of using their votes well to elect capable representatives who will pursue the betterment of their welfare, further the Governor-General and Secretary-General further declared: “We want to make sure that politicians who did not work or are not close to the people and only comes around during elections will not be elected again.”

“Our position is that no diaspora, no resident and grassroots oriented politicians will not be elected again, we will resist imposition of candidates to the people during the up-coming governorship election in the state and we are saying that enough is enough”.

10

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS Nigeria missing in world reading chart – National Library From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

N

ational Library of Nigeria (NLN) has raised the alarm over poor reading culture in Nigeria, saying that the name of the country was missing in the list of world reading chart.

National librarian and Chief Executive Officer of NLN, Professor Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina, disclosed this while establishing a library at the Umuahia Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Abia State Command.

Aina explained that the establishment of the Umuahia Custodial Centre library, to promote reading culture among inmates, was in continuation of the NLN’s 2019 Readership Promotion Campaign in Abia targeted at the vulnerable and the poor which would cover semi-urban communities and custodial centres of Nigeria Correctional Service across the country.

According to him the vulnerable needed to be empowered with information and knowledge from “information sources to effectively carry out economic, social and political activities,” in line with the campaign theme “Reading, a tool for empowering the vulnerable.”

Addressing the gathering, The NLN Chief Executive said: “We want Nigerians to be reading because Nigeria is not doing very well when it comes to reading. There is a table that shows the average of hours per person that reads in the world. And out of this chart of 50 countries, Nigeria was not listed.

Only two countries in Africa are listed: South Africa and Egypt.

“Even though in Nigeria, we are highly educated, we don’t read.

That is why the federal government voted money for us to go round and ensure that Nigerian improve on their reading.”

He said NLN had focused on children and youth in primary and secondary schools; hospitals and motor parks with pregnant mothers, drivers, conductors and passengers as targets.

Aina further explained that the readership promoting campaign was taken to the Correctional Centres this year to help inmates, especially those undergoing educational programmes, have access to books.

“We know that many of you are studying for O’Level, NABTEB, WAEC exams, etc., you need books for you to do your programmes.” he said.

He said the books donated to the Umuahia Custodial Centre was symbolic and requested the authorities of the Centre to furnish NLN with the list of books they need, which he assured, would be provided as a way of strengthening the partnership between NLN and the Correctional service.

Aina said if the inmates improve in their reading culture, NLN would approach the National Assembly to amend the Correctional Service Act so that inmates who read books would have their sentences reduced.

In her remarks, NLN’s head of Abia Branch, Mrs Chika Ezulike, noted that inmates of the Umuahia Custodial Centre would have uninhibited access to reading materials with the establishment of the Library at the centre.

•Archbishop Okeke (5th from left), Dr. Chris Ngige, Labour minister on his right and Anambra state Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha on his left, among others in a group photograph inside the prison

donates No PDP governor planning Abia land to Federal Fire Service for to defect, says party training centre in South East P

By CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-East zone has denied media reports alleging two PDP Governors from the region are planning to leave the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Chief Austin Umahi, the zonal Chairman of the Party, in a statement signed by him on Thursday, described the report as a mere tissue of lies coming from a non-existent group and therefore, urged the general public to discountenance it.

Chief Umahi said if not for the purposes of guiding the unsuspecting public, he wouldn’t have ordinarily dissipated any energy reacting to a ranting of one Okechukwu Isiguzoro and his cohorts having been properly briefed of their stock in trade since after they were shamed out of the authentic Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Worldwide for their nefarious activities years ago.

He therefore, warned Okechukwu Isiguzoro and his cohorts to desist from spooling false rumor, castigating and/or blackmailing highly respected Igbo leaders including the State Governors of the zone using the name of Ohanaeze.

According to him, there is no iota of truth whosoever in the reports circulating in the media that two PDP Governors from the zone had

concluded plans to dump the party for APC; as it is wholly a figment of the imagination of Isiguzoro Okechukwu and his cohorts.

He said, the four PDP Governors in the zone are fully committed to the party and was laughable for mischief makers to link any of them with defection, simply to score cheap political point.

The Chairman maintained that the PDP Governors in liaison with the leadership of the party in the zone would continue to work in ensuring that the zone was totally in control of PDP by taking over Anambra state next year.

He recalled that in the build up to 2019 general elections, there were similar speculations and rumors about PDP Governors in the zone, but all of it turned out to be conjectures from mischief makers for reasons best known to them, as the party remained stronger and performed excellently well in the elections, evidenced by the victory of the party in the Imo state governorship election.

He said the people of the Southeast zone are at home with the PDP, being a party that has shown enough commitment to their welfare by relentlessly and consistently offering dividends of democracy to them, and as such, no elected official under the party’s platform

would think of committing political suicide in the name of defection to an unknown party in the zone.

He noted that the party under his Leadership has performed exceedingly well, having enlarged the party’s coast by adding Imo among the states being controlled by the party in the zone, adding that the party was already working towards taking over Anambra state come next year’s governorship election.

He further commended the PDP Governors especially those of the South-East extraction for living up to their campaign promises, citing the award of best Governor of the year 2019 to David Umahi by a reputable Media institution, Business Day newspaper, a day ago, as one of the eloquent testimonies that the PDP Governors are performing excellently well.

Umahi said the PDP under his leadership in the zone remains focused and cannot rest in its determination to building a much stronger and united PDP, adding that neither the party nor the Governors elected under it could be distracted by the antics of political jobbers.

Chief Umahi however, urged the public to disregard the defection rumor, especially as it is coming from an unsteady character, who has no integrity to protect.

Cancel Kogi, Bayelsa elections – Aliyu Babangida urges INEC

ormer governor of Niger, and Fcratic chieftain of the Peoples DemoParty (PDP), Dr Babangida

Aliyu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel Saturday’s governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

Aliyu made the call in a press statement on Thursday in Minna by Mr Bala Bitrus, his media officer.

Accordding to Aliyu: “We hereby ask INEC and the government in power to annul the elections in the interest of peace, the growth of democracy and fairness. “(This is) for the soul of Salomi Acheju Abuh and of all those who were slain in Kogi and Bayelsa states in the course of last Saturday’s elections by the agents of the states.

“We ask the federal government to not only condemn the wanton killings and destruction of properties but to empaneled well balanced committees to probe the dastardly acts and speedily bring those behind the arsons and fish out their sponsors for proper justice.”

He condemned the killing of the PDP’s Women Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council in Kogi state, Salomi Abuh who was burnt to death in her house by alleged sponsored armed political thugs.

“As civilized citizens, we note with serious concern that the general conducts of the governorship elections in the two states, where innocent citizens were subjected to crude, brutal and naked use of force have rubbished the essence of the elections.

“Therefore we reject the outcomes of the two elections in their entirety,” he said.

“The conducts and outcomes of the elections in the two states are therefore not the reflections of free choice by the electorate in the two states nor are they in tandem with democratic traditions hence we reject the results posted by INEC in all their ramifications.

“It is pertinent to say here that subversion of the free will and wishes of citizens at elections and at any public fora amounts to, not only il-

legality but gross abuse of the fundamental principles of the rights of citizens to elect candidates of their preferred choice to govern them.

The former governor said that it was time for the country to begin to have critical look at the electoral system and ensure that the right things are done toward safeguarding democracy and its true culture in all elections.

Responding, Alhaji Mohammed Imam, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger, said Aliyu was merely seeking for relevance.

“He is actually canvassing for such, knowing fully well that INEC cannot annul election after it had declared it,” he said.

David Lyon of the APC in Bayelsa had polled 352,552 votes to defeat Sen. Douye Diri of the PDP who got 143,172 votes.

While the incumbent in Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello polled 406,222 votes to defeat his major opponent, Musa Wada of the PDP who scored 189,704 votes to emerge second.

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

bia State government has doA nated land for the construction of a Federal Fire Service Training

Centre in the South East.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, handed over land allocation papers for about 10 hectares of land to authorities of the Federal Fire Service who visited him Thursday at Government House, Umuahia.

The delegation from the Federal Fire Service was led by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgnia Ehuria.

Ikpeazu explained that the allocation of the land followed an earlier request by the Permanent Secretary for a parcel of land.

The governor assured that his government would not only do everything possible to give the needed assistance to enable the agency succeed but would also engage in further collaborations with them.

Ikpeazu, representated by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, said the State leveraged on its areas of comparative advantage, especially the SME to promote the ‘can-dospirit’ of the average Abia man and championed Made-in-Abia and Made-in-Nigeria products, thereby empowering her citizens.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision to establish the South East Training Centre for fire fighters in Abia State and appreciated the Abia-born Federal Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Ehuria, for her contributions to that effect.

The Permanent Secretary, had earlier said that the plan to establishment of the Fire Service Training School Umuahia was part of the next level agenda of the Federal government to realize safety of lives, especially in the major markets in the country, including Aba. Also, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Ibrahim Liman, had disclosed that the Federal government has approved the establishment of Fire Service SouthEast Training School in Umuahia and requested land for building the school as well as temporary accommodation for immediate take-off of the program.

Liman said the school would offer training for the professional development of firefighters in the five States in the South-East .

11

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS ‘New promotions in Nigerian security forces lopsided, breach of secularity principles’ - Intersociety

By IBE NWACHUKWU

A

Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General John Irefin during the flag-off ceremony of the Nigeria Army’s 81 Division Exercise Crocodile Smile IV for Lagos and Ogun States held at Takwa Bay, Lagos, Wednesday

Court orders bank to pay N8m to firm …For selling subject of litigation property

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

he High Court of Anambra State sitting at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, presided over

by Justice Irene Ndigwe has awarded the sum of N8 million as damages against FBN (Merchant Bankers Ltd), in favour of Poly part International Ltd for selling a property which was a subject of litigation to the plaintiff.

The claimant, Poly parts International Ltd had dragged the defendant, FBN (Merchant Banker Ltd) to the court claiming the sum of N10 million from the bank for selling the property to it, without disclosing that the said property was a subject of litigation in court.

But in her judgement, shortly after evaluation of evidence adduced by both parties, through their respective witnesses, Jus-

tice Ndigwe awarded N8 million out of the N10 million being claimed as she upheld the submissions of Dr A. A. Orunkoya counsel to the claimant on the grounds that by virtue of section 135 of the Evidence Act, the burden of proving that the claimant was indeed informed of the litigations hovering on the property rest on the Bank.

Justice Ndigwe further ruled that it was the duty of the Bank to prove when, where and how the claimant was informed, adding that since they failed to do this, the Bank is liable to pay damages to the claimant for breach of implied convenient of peaceable and quiet possession of the property.

The court also held that Dr A. A. Orunkoya counsel to the claimant was right in his submission that the Bank erred by selling the property that was

subject of litigation, pointing out that the claimant suffered untold hardship due to its inability to take possession of the property it acquired until after seven years of protracted conflict.

In the suit No 0/46/2005, the claimant, through its legal counsel, Dr A. A. Orunkoya contended that it waited for seven years from 2001 when it acquired the property till 2007 before it finally took possession of the property due to series of litigations hovering on the property which were not disclosed to it as at the time of purchase.

The Defendant, FBN (Merchant Bankers) after the close of evidence through its counsel Chima Umensofor Esq, argued that it informed the claimant that there were pending litigations but it proceeded to purchase the property.

Nsukka LGA appoints 1000 political office holders to reduce poverty

Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Chief Patrick Omeje, said that the council under his administration had appointed no fewer than 1000 political office holders to reduce poverty in the council.

The chairman who was represented by his deputy, Mr Cosmas Agbo, made the statement in Enugu on Thursday in a good governance tour of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state.

The chairman said that his administration came on board on Dec. 4, 2017 adding that it was up to date in terms of workers’ salaries and other allowances.

He said that the council had 106 government primary schools and added that it had three categories of workers which included the civil servants, the statutory political office holders and non statutory political office holder.

He equally explained that it

employed some retired but not tired teachers to assist the existing teachers for effective reading and learning in the council.

As an effort to complement the efforts of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi the council constituted environmental marshals to help the Enugu state Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) to ensure neatness in the council.

“In the area of security, this administration has formed the anti-cult team to assist the anti-cult police activities in the council.

“The anti-cult becomes important because of the presence of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), which is located in the council area and the idea is to reduce crime and criminality in the council.

“The council has also embarked on construction of legislative building, construction of two development centre secretariat, construction of six health centres and health post.

“We also inaugurated the local

government management agency that will be working with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and we have provided a lot of relief materials to those displaced by flood in the council.

“We have equally purchased transformers for some communities in the council,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress Enugu State, Mr Virginus Nwobodo, said that the organisations came as a team to know how the council was fairing in the area of development.

Nwobodo said that they were away that LGAs had autonomy they were enjoying, noting that they wanted to know the positive impact the autonomy had created in the council.

He equally demanded to know about the workers’ welfare, the security situation, the challenges and the counterpart funding projects they were doing in the council.

human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has expressed concern over what it termed gross lopsidedness in the recent promotions in the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police Force, warning that it henceforth, it would no longer allow a situation whereby such promotions rapaciously breach the secularity principles and socio-cultural pluralism of Nigeria.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state, Intersociety also warned that it would no longer condone the mindless and unchecked violation of the 1999 Constitution particularly Sections 14 (3), 217 (3) and 42 and the acceded international treaty laws.

Intersociety’s statement entitled: “Recent Promotions In The Nigerian Security Forces: Air Force, NPF And PSC Will Hear From Us”, was jointly signed by Chinwe Umeche, Esq., Head of Democracy & Good Governance; Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq., Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law; Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Esq., Head of Campaign & Publicity; Samuel Kamanyaoku (Comrade), Head of Field Data Collection & Documentation and Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman According to the statement, “Since the political and security actors and authorities in Nigeria said and insisted that “Nigeria must remain one indivisible country”, then “the oneness” of the country must no longer be allowed to be a replica of George O’Well’s ‘Animal Farm’ where ‘some animals are more equal than others’. Otherwise Nigeria must be allowed to live apart in peace, even if it means some nationalities living in extreme poverty, but with dignity, peace and security”.

Intersociety remains uncompromisingly focused in campaigning for respect, protection and advancement of the constitutional and other human rights of all Nigerians irrespective of their places of birth, ethnic origin, religious affiliations, social and political status or class, gender and age. Nigeria must be structured and governed to give a sense of belonging, nationality, equality and development to all members of her ethnic nationalities. Otherwise, the country should be allowed to peacefully go ‘the USSR’ way”.

“By Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, ‘the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character (sectional balancing) of Nigeria and need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or any of its agencies”.

“By Section 217 (3) of the same Constitution, ‘the composition of the officer corps and other ranks of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall reflect the federal character (sectional balancing) of Nigeria’; and by Sec-

tion 42, ‘a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community shall not be discriminated against on the basis of his or her ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion or social status or class”.

“Intersociety has continuously, vigorously, uncompromisingly and boldly led and still leading a serious campaign against lopsided composition or sectional imbalances in the composition of Nigeria’s security, political and justice establishments both at national and regional levels.

In her 26th Sept 2019 field work, Intersociety found that 18 out of the country’s 22 top federal security and justice positions are presently occupied by Muslims as against only four for Christians”.

“Of the 18 top seats occupied

by Muslims, 16 are held by Northern Muslims and out of the 22 top seats; none is given to the Southeast or mainland Igbo; with a general population of no fewer than 60 million”.

“Regionally too, of 73 top security commanders manning key military and policing formations in the Southeast and the Southsouth regions involving Directors of SSS, Police AIGs and State CPs and top military commanders, 65 are held by officers of other regions mostly of Northern Muslim religion, while only eight are from the two regions.

The present official logo of the Nigerian Army also despicably and condemnably bears the ‘Arabic Islamic’ symbol.”

“Of the recent promotions in the Nigerian Army involving 34 newly promoted major generals, the Southeast or mainland Igbo was given three, instead of five or six. It must be noted and reminded that the sharing principle or formula for the country’s top elective and appointive federal offices is the ‘six geopolitical regional or zonal formula”.

“The three new Igbo/Southeast major generals, out of the 34 promoted are Major Gens EC Onyemulu, CK Nwosu and OC Ajunwa. This is not totally acceptable, though a slight departure from the age-long status quo. The shortfall, therefore, must be corrected by the authorities concerned”.

“Of the 47 newly promoted Brig Gens, Southeast or mainland Igbo got eight, and among them are Brig Gens AOD Okoro, NB Ebulue, KO Ukandu, EI Okoro, KE Chigbu, SO Nwafor, CC Ogbu, Onyema Nwachukwu and GC Nkenke (?) This is highly commendable. The Nigerian Army is hereby commended over this”.

“Additionally, the newly promoted Igbo Brig Gens must be assigned posts or duties other than ‘tea-making’. While the Brig-Major General promotion falls short of Sections 14 (3), 42 and 217 (3) of the Constitution, the Col-Brig Gen promotion is fully in conformity or compliance with the referenced Constitutional Sections”.

“In the area of promotions in the Nigerian Navy involving 17 newly promoted Rear Admirals, 32 Navy Commodores, 26 Navy Captains and 65 Navy Commanders, Southeast or mainland Igbo were given three new Rear Admirals out of the 17. They include Rear Admirals Vincent Okeke, Perry Onwuzulike and Chukwu Okafor”.

12

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS

FG to boost Abia donates land for building of federal alternative fire service training centre for South East medicine practice From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

T

HE Federal Government has affirmed its commitment to boost Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the country, in line with its current efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare for all Nigerians, especially the rural population.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire Ehanire, stressed the commitment in Enugu during the inauguration of Colour Energy Health Machines, assembled by Luminar International College/Centre for Health and Alternative Medicines.

The event also featured fund raising for establishing of a First Aid Alternative Medicine/Energy Health Science and Technology University and Specialist Teaching Hospital in Africa, to be located in Awgu, Enugu State.

Represented by a senior pharmacist in the ministry, Christian Nnaji, the minister said that according to official estimates, about 80 per cent of rural dwellers seek traditional medicine and CAM as their first source of healthcare, but that government was making conscious efforts to streamline the practice in the country.

The minister, who described Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) as integrative medicine, noted that establishment of a full-fledged department of TCAM in the ministry of health, provides opportunity for its rapid development and integration into the nation’s healthcare delivery system.

According to him, such facilities would provide patients with the right to access their preferred healthcare services as obtains in China and India, among others.

He explained that the Buhari administration was committed to providing quality healthcare to all citizens.

He noted further that all stakeholders and researchers in the health sector would get adequate government support to enable them to achieve optimum success for public good.

“The overall goal of the ministry is to harness the potentials of health practitioners towards the improvement of healthcare delivery in the country,” he said.

The President of Luminaries International Centre/College, Professor Joseph Akpa, thanked the Federal Government and the Enugu State government for creating CAM departments in their respective health ministries.

Professor Akpa urged the minister to track the ministerial executive bill on CAM and continuously press on the National Assembly to ensure its prompt passage into law.

•Dr Osagie Ehanire Ehanire

A

bia State government has donated a large expanse of land for building of a Federal Fire Service Training Centre for training of professional fire fighers in the South East.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, handed over land allocation papers for about 10 hectares of land to authorities of the Federal Fire

Service who visited him Thursday at Government House, Umuahia.

The delegation from the Federal Fire Service was led by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgnia Ehuria.

Ikpeazu explained that the allocation of the land followed an earlier request by the Permanent Secretary for a parcel of land.

The governor assured that his government would not only do ev-

erything possible to give the needed assistance to enable the agency succeed but would also engage in further collaborations with them.

Ikpeazu, representated by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, said the State leveraged on its areas of comparative advantage, especially the SME to promote the ‘can-dospirit’ of the average Abia man and championed Made-in-Abia and Made-in-Nigeria products, thereby

Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu (right) with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Georgina Ehuria (middle) and the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Ibrahim Leman at the Government House, Umuahia during a courtesy visit, Thursday

Nigeria missing in world reading chart Cont’d from Pg 1 and custodial centres of Nigeria Correctional Service across the country.

According to him the vulnerable needed to be empowered with information and knowledge from “information sources to effectively carry out economic, social and political activities,” in line with the campaign theme “Reading, a tool for empowering the vulnerable.”

Addressing the gathering, The NLN Chief Executive said: “We want Nigerians to be reading because Nigeria is not doing very well when it comes to reading. There is a table that shows the average of hours per person that reads in the world. And out of this chart of 50 countries, Nigeria was not listed.

Only two countries in Africa are listed: South Africa and Egypt.

“Even though in Nigeria, we are highly educated, we don’t read.

That is why the federal government voted money for us to go round and ensure that Nigerian improve on their reading.”

He said NLN had focused on children and youth in primary and secondary schools; hospitals and motor parks with pregnant mothers, drivers, conductors and passengers as targets.

Aina further explained that the readership promoting campaign was taken to the Correctional Centres this year to help inmates, especially those undergoing edu-

cational programmes, have access to books.

“We know that many of you are studying for O’Level, NABTEB, WAEC exams, etc., you need books for you to do your programmes.” he said.

He said the books donated to the Umuahia Custodial Centre was symbolic and requested the authorities of the Centre to furnish NLN with the list of books they need, which he assured, would be provided as a way of strengthening the partnership between NLN and the Correctional service.

Aina said if the inmates improve in their reading culture, NLN would approach the National Assembly to amend the Correctional Service Act so that inmates who read books would have their sentences reduced.

In her remarks, NLN’s head of Abia Branch, Mrs Chika Ezulike, noted that inmates of the Umuahia Custodial Centre would have uninhibited access to reading materials with the establishment of the Library at the centre.

“Reading, more especially, to the inmates of our Custodial Centres should be supported in earnest because, these inmates will sooner than later, go back to the society.

If they are not properly empowered and adequate skills imparted to them, the change of name from Prison Services to Correctional Services may not achieve the needed end,” Mrs Ezulike noted.

Welcoming his guests, the Comp-

troller of Correction, Nigeria Correctional Service, Abia State Command, Mr. Julius Ezeugwu, noted with happiness that the library would enhance the educational programmes of the Custodial Centre.

According to Ezeugwu, the Centre has a lot of educational training programmes, including literacy classes, secondary school programme, preparation for Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and National Open University programme, adding that the library would provide adequate opportunities to prepare for the external examinations.

“My advice is that, you should not allow the prison to prevent you from achieving your dream. As far as all of you are here, this place is just a passing phase. When you are here, don’t remain idle, engage yourself in useful training programmes here and this is an opportunity,” he told the inmates.

In a lecture titled “Benefits of Library Services to Correctional Centres,” the resource person, Ngwaba Ejike Chukwuma, said establishment of libraries in custodial centres was a noble idea, adding that reading can take place in jail.

The campaign featured welcome songs by Vision Africa Voices, Umuahia Custodial Centre, comprising female inmates, cultural dances by both male and female inmates as well as a drama titled “Reading Made Easy” portraying the performance of serious and unserious students in schools.

empowering her citizens.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his decision to establish the South East Training Centre for fire fighters in Abia State and appreciated the Abia-born Federal Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Ehuria, for her contributions to that effect.

The Permanent Secretary, had earlier said that the plan to establishment of the Fire Service Training School Umuahia was part of the next level agenda of the Federal government to realize safety of lives, especially in the major markets in the country, including Aba. Also, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Ibrahim Liman, had disclosed that the Federal government has approved the establishment of Fire Service South- East Training School in Umuahia and requested land for building the school as well as temporary accommodation for immediate take-off of the program.

Liman said the school would offer training for the professional development of firefighters in the five States in the South-East

2nd A nniversary: Enugu govt immortalizes Ekwueme …Renames street after former VP of GoverTgu henorState,administration Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of EnuThursday, immortalized

the late former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, by renaming the popular Ezikwo Street in Independence Layout, Enugu, to “Dr. Alex Ekwueme Street”.

In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the decision was in commemoration of the second anniversary of the death of Dr. Ekwueme - the Ide of Oko Kingdom in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State who passed on November 19, 2017.

The statement described late former Vice President as a “passionate patriot, foremost statesman, committed nationalist, uncommon leader, distinguished scholar, political bridge-builder, outstanding manager of men and materials and a quintessential gentleman”.

It added that the Enugu State Government will continue to celebrate the life and times of the icon of peace and national unity “who bestrode our political, intellectual and social spaces like a colossus in many ways”.

The statement by the SSG disclosed that the state government has directed the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area to “immediately rename Ezikwo Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, to Dr. Alex Ekwueme Street, Independence Layout, Enugu” and ensure the implementation.

13

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

POLITICS

By ACHILLUS-CHUD UKAEGBU

A

t Igbariam in Anambra East local government area, where all the traditional rulers of Anambra North, led by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nkeli Kelly, Okalakwu Igbariam, had gathered for a two-day celebration of the culture of the people, the atmosphere was ecstatic as colourful masquerades entertained guest following the traditional breaking of kola nuts and prayers after canon gun salutes had announced the arrival of all guests and commencement of the celebration.

Supported by his colleagues, Igwe Okalakwu offered prayers for the good of Anambra state and its leadership. He prayed for longevity and good health of people of the state and Igboland in general. He also implored God, and ancestors of the people, to open doors of blessings for the people.

Igwe Okalakwu also enlisted support of all present for the administration in the state to enable it deliver on its mandate. With a thunderous chorus of isee, isee from the crowd comprising of members and leadership of town unions in the zone, Igwe Okalakwu declared the event open as dance troupes entertained guests including visiting traditional rulers from Anambra central senatorial zone, led by its chairman, Igwe Peter Uyanwa, Ezedike Ukwulu, Igwe Alex Onyido, Ezechuamagha of Ogidi and Isuofia of Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo among many others.

Welcoming their guest from Anambra Central, Igwe Okalakwu spoke so eloquently of the personality and philanthropic gestures of High Chief Okonkwo who was accompanied on the trip by his wife, Gina, and associates. He was listed for special recognition and award during the two-day cultural fiesta.

According to Igwe Okalakwu, it became expedient for traditional rulers of Anambra north, the home zone of Governor Willie Obiano, to specially honour High Chief Okonkwo, a business mogul and Russian-trained political economist, because a goldfish has no hiding place. He stated that through his foundation, Pro-Value Humanity Foundation, High Chief Okonkwo is touching lives in more positive ways adding that such gestures have become necessary to help the younger generation in finding their bearings in life.

Urging High Chief Okonkwo, who was on December 26, 2018, similarly appreciated and recognized by traditional rulers of Anambra central zone as Mbuba Anafolu Mbulu N’Ukpa, not to relent in his decision to use the foundation to push for self-actualization of Anambra youths, Igwe Okalakwu asked Okonkwo to step forwards and have another feather added to his already heavy cap.

Stepping out with his wife, High Chief Okonkwo walked into a circle of the Anambra north Traditional Rulers who accepted him warmly and dutifully capped him as Ibobo Igbo amidst thunderous ovation from the crowd. It was the first time in seven years that all traditional rulers of the zone had gathered to, also, fete a non-indigene of the zone, said Igwe Okalakwu who also capped High Chief Okonkwo’s wife, Gina, as Ugomba Ndigbo.

High Chief Okonkwo had barely rested after a well-spent day when the traditional rulers of Anambra South beckoned. This time, the traditional institution in Anambra south had gathered for the zonal celebration and cutting, of the New Yam. The very colourful event took place at the Ekwulobia Township Stadium and had in attendance all traditional

•Okonkwo

Anambra North, South add feathers to Okonkwo’s cap rulers of the southern senatorial zone and leadership of town unions in the zone. They were entertained by different dance troupes including the famous Egedege Dance troupe made popular

by Teresa Onuora. There were several Ogene Music groups in tow.

The day was declared open with the traditional prayers and breaking of kola nuts performed by the ageless Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, who also prayed for longevity, good health and good neighbourliness and a better life for all. In his prayers, Igwe Orizu urged for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians. He also called on the Igbo people never to forget their cultural heritage.

Done with the prayers, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, a professor of music and doyen of choral music in Nigeria who now sits on the stool of Oko kingdom, mounted the podium and performed the traditional cutting of the yam.

As he cut the yam, he prayed for a more bountiful harvest in the next farming season while a dance troupe and crowd of supporters waited to lead High Chief Obiora Okonkwo to the podium having been listed and invited, for recognition for his philanthropy. Okonkwo, led by several traditional rulers from the central and northern senatorial districts danced to the rhythm of the drums and flutists that accompanied him as he mounted

the podium, accompanied by Ugomba Ndigbo, to, again, be awarded a plaque which read “in recognition of your exceptional philanthropy and achievements”.

Kneeling before traditional rulers of Anambra south, Okonkwo was capped, for the second time within 24 hours, but this time, as Ebubemba. He was also decorated as a warrior with the traditional ikpu akwa after which he was handed a specially designed hand fan and an ivory tusk signifying strength.

The conclusion of the installation threw the crowd into wild ecstasy signifying acceptance by people of Anambra south senatorial zone and their traditional rulership.

With the successful outing, Okonkwo becomes one of only a few people in Anambra state to have received such acclaim by the traditional institution in all three senatorial zones of the state.

High Chief Okonkwo, the Mbuba Anafolu Mbulu N’Ukpa of Anambra Central left his home as Dikeora Idemili, and within 24 hours added two more feathers to his cap becoming Ibobo Igbo (Anambra North) and Ebubemba (Anambra south). The trilogy is complete.

An elated High Chief Okonkwo, grateful for the recognition and acceptance by the traditional institution in the state promised not to let Anambra people down in his quest to use his tal-

ents and gifts to make more impacts on the people.

He said the joy of being accepted by the traditional institution in the state is a morale booster announcing that Pro-Value Humanity Foundation will do more in reaching out to youths and indigent people of the state.

The installations rounded off cultural festivities for the celebration of Omenani Anambra north and the New Yam festival of Anambra south, which has entered the zonal calendar as New Yam festival day for the southern senatorial district.

In between, High Chief Okonkwo was called in by Women’s Wing, Christian Council of Nigeria (WOWICCN) in Anambra state to receive yet another award for ‘excellent leadership’.

State President of WOWICCN, Dr. (Mrs) Elsie N. Nwokolo, who eulogized Okonkwo for his efforts at uplifting lives of people of the state thanked him for all he has so far done for the people while urging him not to relent.

She also lauded Okonkwo for his work in promoting ecumenism in Anambra, an effort which has helped deepen intra-faith and inter-faith harmony in the state.

For this, Okonkwo was asked to step forward for recognition. He did. And he went home with a plaque of honour for excellent leadership.

14

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Bold & Blunt With the Final Investment Decision (FID) for Train 7 in view, do we assume that all funding arrangements have reached closure?

I wish I could say that! No. Not quite. A lot is still work in progress. As we speak, my colleagues are in London to meet with funding partners. We nominated a financial adviser last year, and he has been working with us to resolve all the funding arrangements at the right time.

At the moment, we are looking at the Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) in addition to bank financing. So it is a combination of various funding models; but we have not finalized on funding details. But there is a lot of clarity today on the issues of funding that there was last year in terms of how we are being funded and where the funds will come from.

How would your present funding status provide assurances to the letters of intent and other transaction documents you issued your service providers on the project?

As the letter of interest connotes, it is a public statement on our intention to go forward. It might not be obvious from the day we signed the letter. Sometime last year we commenced our front end engineering design (FEED). Interestingly it was a competition of some sort between two consortia. And at the end of the day the two consortia carried out the FEED assignments based on which they quoted for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

And at the end of the EPC tenders, we needed to narrow down to one consortium that we are going to work with assuming that their bids are technically and commercially acceptable within the funding thresholds we have established. More importantly, we are particular about their meeting the Nigerian Content requirements set by the government.

As you saw penultimate week, SCD emerged the preferred consortium; and we then put pen on paper to confirm that we are happy to continue with them; and by so doing we freed the other parties to explore other opportunities. So the LOI is an intention, a bold statement to say we will work with you.

So we are working with all parties to get the project going. It is one last step before the FID itself. And with the letter of intent now defining our contractors, it will now be at the end the year or earlier we would be making another statement on the FID. Given the funding model you explained which involves foreign credit agencies and banks, are there local channels involved in the financing arrangements?

The way funding for Train 7 was arranged, we started with road show in Nigeria and we had meetings with banks in Lagos. We also had meeting with development banks in Abuja; and that meeting included AFEXIM and AfDB. We then went to UK to meet international banks.

So, there is local content to that; and that is where we see some of the opportunities Train 7 will bring to the entire Nigerian economy: not just in the areas of engineering and construction but also in the financial sector.

The EPC consortium that received your LOI has a different configuration from the traditional contractors that built the first six trains.

We have one traditional contractor and introduction of two new ones. Are there special considerations that informed the changes?

Yes, perhaps I have to give it a little background. Traditionally, we have a consortium that built from Trains 1 to 6. We had the TSKJ. And the experts of that came out and they formed a new consortium. Of course, Chyoda and Daewoo are familiar to us. Daewoo has been in Nigeria for a long time. They are into civil construction. Chyoda is also known to be doing design et cetera in the LNG world.

So, in terms of their capability to deliver on LNG project, I assure you that they are capable. And I think that technical competence is necessarily part of the evaluation anyway. So we are confident that any one of the consortiums could do the job. Even though price is important, we also make sure that they are capable of bringing the plant to the specification that we want.

It is how the market changes. We don’t have any input in the way the consortia are formed.

That is how they formed themselves and we invited them to participate in the bidding for FEED which, as you have seen, has led to com-

‘We explore use of LNG for local industry and power generation’ • We expect contract sanctity as basis for investment, says Attah Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah, is positive that the company would drive its growth programme to the target capacity that lays robust commercial basis for realization of Nigeria’s long terms aspiration of positioning gas as parallel income channel to oil. In this chat with our Deputy Editor in charge of Business, SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, the leader of Africa’s biggest gas export company declared that it stands huge commercial opportunity in the global energy transition window. Excerpts. petitive bid for EPC for which we have issued LOI. Then, also don’t forget that Snamproggetti was part of the consortium that built the first six trains; and them they became Saipem in this new arrangement. So, essentially you say one traditional player and two new. That is not exactly correct because Daewoo was actually a subcontractor to the TSKJ consortium. They actually took a big scope in trains 1 to 6. So, they are not new. And as you have heard they have been in Nigerian for long time. Saipem has been in Nigeria for over 50 years.

The only new addition is on the technology side which is Chyoda, the only Japanese company. And they are a globally recognised company. We have absolute confidence that this consortium has the credibility and pedigree to deliver the project. We have done our technical evaluation and discovered that any of the consortiums could deliver the project to specification.

Liquefaction involves a complex technology mix; and you have assembled various teams of local and international contractors. How do you integrate them into your quality assurance management systems to guarantee smooth plug-ins in the construction phase?

I agree that we have different capabilities but don’t forget that technology is the same everywhere. The world has been made smaller by technology. What is important is the strength of our position today as NLNG. This would have been a very good question for 1995 when we were trying to build Train 1. Then we didn’t have technology; we didn’t have experience; we knew nothing about the process actually. But we are 20 years today on the business. Even in the inside we have very competent people who can assure on quality; who can actually deliver on projects; and who can build and construct in the right environment.

So, in terms of assuring quality from local to international merger, it is not new. You have lead contractors, you have subcontractors. As I mentioned in another forum, when we built the first six trains we didn’t have the Nigerian Content Law in effect even though there were parts of Nigerian Content elements in delivering trains 1 to 6.

So we can proudly say we are even in the lead of embedding Nigerian Content in our projects much before it became law. And now

its law, their first thing we did early in the year is to sign the Nigerian Content Plan which is predicated on assessment of in-country local capacity, prequalify that and now put it into approved vendor list from which the consortium will draw support and services. So, we don’t have worries about quality and standard. There is only one standard which they will all build to; and we know that standard.

We have been in operation for 20 years and we have been in existence for 30 years as a company; so our technical standing in the business is robust enough to handle any issue. But we are quite confident that this consortium we selected knows what to do. As I said they literally built Trains1 to 6 and the companies have world renowned technologies.

And again, subcontracting is the norm in Nigeria, and there is nothing new there except perhaps the interface management could be a potential risk area but that is typically the type of project management that we are familiar with.

The Train 7 project is expected to grow your production capacity by 8.0 million tons per annum (mtpa) and that entails additional pressure on the shipping capacity of Bonny Gas Transport Company (BGT). How is the company being positioned for that?

Yes, BGT is only one of the two subsidiaries we have. We have NSML as well, our ship management arm. If anything, the ship owner will not see any pressure as you describe it, but rather an opportunity for BGT to grow.

Today we have 23 ships of which about 13 are within the BGT portfolio, and the other 10 are from two other service providers. So, we have options in terms of what we do with the shipping arrangement. But essentially that is the subject of an ongoing study, and we are looking at what the shipping requirement for the new future we have declared would be like. It could be more of an opportunity for BGT than

pressure as you suggested.

The global ship bunker industry is looking at LNG as the next option in meeting the emission requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by next year; and you are the only source of LNG in Nigeria. How are you taking responsibility or commercial advantage in evolving local LNG bunker market?

I am sure you are talking of LNG as bunker fuel. We have our vessels ready for use of LNG and other clean fuel options. We can also run on bunker fuel. It all depends on what fuel is available in the destination ports. I am not sure that other vessels that come to Nigeria run on LNG. So, when opportunity creates itself in Nigeria I think we will see that. We have LNG, we have LPG, we produce them. And when we see demand for that, it would only be natural to meet it. We are talking about creating demand even within Africa as part of how we respond to global market competition.

As you are aware, Australia, America, Qatar, everybody is doing LNG. So what else can we use our LNG for? I think that is the larger question you are asking. And we are ready to adapt to whatever requirement that becomes necessary in the global demand pattern. Our vessels will have to identify with standards globally. The industry will have to adapt to LNG globally. Maybe we will partner with third parties to use their facilities in local LNG bunker.

We can also partner with LNG bunker vessels which are already available in Europe where they now use LNG vessels to supply fuel LNG to ships. I don’t know when that will happen in Africa but it is also a market option we are watching.

Whether in Nigeria or elsewhere we are in a clean fuel business for a cleaner environment in a clean world; and that is why we are a gas company. Gas is about four times cleaner and

15

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Bold & Blunt better than coal and heavy fuel oil you reference. So, I am not surprised that IMO 2020 requirement tends to be a little more stringent.

What is there?

The starting point for me really is to look at inside issues of how 2020 deadline will impact our role in terms of what we are doing personally to cut across IMO 15, which is critical to our business. If we are unable to deliver shipments, then it may seriously pose a few questions about how we continue to be in business.

As I mentioned, we have started to reengineer our own vessels. Up to last year, we have replaced part of the BGT fleet. About 50 percent of BGT vessels have been replaced. We sold off the old ones and replaced them with modern ones: new supply vessels, new fuel type, new technology. All those measures are in positioning for the imminent IMO guideline.

But overall we are now doing some sort of relative analysis of how much bunker we can burn versus what is the value to the environment and what is the value to the customer because it has overall impact on the overall delivered volume.

So, more and more we use our own fuel as we go into areas where IMO demand for clean fuel is; whereas when you are in open seas you can explore optimized fuel economy. So, on balance, it is about optimization of our own processes.

But as you rightly said, the business world of today is about adaptability. Is it the same product for a new market or is it a new product for all markets? In our own case it is very flexible, as the market evolves if there is scope for LNG for transport, then we will decide to play in that kind of field.

For now we are looking more globally. We are also beginning to carry out studies in terms of how we can bring LNG into country for industry and for power in the interim. Then if there is scope for the marine shipping space, then we are open to it. As I said, flexibility is a key element in our corporate DNA; and adaptability is what defines our future.

The prevailing energy transition and shifting demand patterns have escalated global competition for new LNG development projects. What business outlook does the new competition map present you?

For us, we see the trends more as opportunity rather than challenge. We prefer to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

So development in the industry provides an opportunity. Having been in the business for over 20 years with six trains, we have a track record of performance. We get satisfactory feedback from our buyers when they say you are trusted, you are reliable. So, that relationship we have developed with them for over 20 years is what is working for us.

Of course with Australia and other players coming in, what we need to remain competitive. And in making sure we do that while we maintain relationship with our buyers, we also look inwards to make sure we cut our cost and remain as competitive as possible.

So the Cameroonians, the Angolans, the Mozambique’s that are coming to play are actually new. We are already ahead of them, we have track record, and with our expansion projects we intend to move further ahead. As was earlier stated, when opportunity presents itself, you take advantage of it as in the case of domestic LNG. So, you can actually grow demand.

Yes, in my opinion there is challenge in African infrastructure but there is energy deficiency in Africa. So, LNG could be a way out. So we are not worried about where the market will be or what will happen, we are ready for competition and we are ahead in competition.

You may have noticed that many of the new opportunities remain in the emerging markets; but as it stands in the conventional marketplace today we are solid for 20 years in supplying in that space. That also gives us strong impetus to leapfrog ahead of the new comers even though you may say they come with new pedigree or new technology or new perspective; but I think you can’t beat experience in this business.

You cannot also beat our resilience in terms of how long we have been there, what we have seen, what have encountered and what we have weathered. As they say, captains are not made in calm waters. We have seen it all and we are very robust in capacity. I think, overall, it boils down to what I say underpins our DNA is responsibilities. Everything for us is about value, and that value is driven by responsibilities. Much of that is anchored on relationships

which has track record off being recognised as responsible, reliable and trusted supplier. You cannot put a value to that.

As a new comer you have to challenge our reputation that has remained unshaken for over 20 years. So, we are confident about that. We are aware of emerging competition.

We believe it is a healthy competition; and we have all it takes to stand up to it.

Government has challenged you to aspire beyond Train 8. Does that lay a long term growth agenda for you?

It will be an ambition; and, as I said before, when we set plan for this Train 7 some 25 years ago as part of our aspiration, it was quite an aspiration and quite ambitious. But in the light of current realities with the emergence of the United States on the backdrop of shale revolution, it would have been unimaginable that Australia would overtake Qatar; and you know that United States is underway to overtake leadership of the industry.

So Train 7 is no longer ambitious, and I believe that you are referring to our meeting with President Buhari who was part of this company in 1985 and after 30 years he expects us to be celebrating Train 12. I wont tell you I didn’t hear that. And then we take it as inspiration. We take it as guiding light to make us more ambitious.

So Train 7 is no longer ambitious. What we should be doing to sound anything near ambitious is to start talking about Trains 8, 9 and 10. And that, for us, is an aspiration too. It is an aspiration we want to carry forward to a new ambition. But first of all we must land Train 7. If we land Train 7, that would be déjà vu for me.

When we set out plans for NLNG, the plan then was for Trains 1 and 2 which were conceived to be a base project. With ambition to build a base project of two trains we ended up with Train 6. So I would say history is about to repeat itself, but in the process to repeat itself it has to start with efficient delivery of Train 7 and every other thing will ride on its back. So I see Trains 8, 9 and 10 as true possibility consistent with our growth history.

Even though the volume of flared gas has significantly reduced, Nigeria still has issues of gas flare at oil production sites. And with a number of deepwater field development projects scaling approval, there are fears that gas flare will escalate if there is no credible offtaker. Does NLNG find opportunity in government’s flare gas commercialization programme?

When you talk of flare reduction, you might be talking about the performance of NLNG in drastically reducing the volume of flared gas in the country. And when we bring Train 7 online, the volume of associated gas flared at oil production sites will further decline. That is part of the unmentioned values we deliver to the country and the environment.

When you talk of the government’s flare out programme, what I see in that is opportunity for adequate commercial feedgas supply for our operations. We have a line of steady gas supply from the upstream petroleum industry, but the more the merrier because we see the opportunity for supply reliability and flexibility if all the produced gas is captured for commercialization.

With the flare gas capturing programme, gas companies will have the advantage of creating redundancies that enable them eliminate downtimes associated with interruptions in gas supply.

One of the primary reasons why NLNG was created in the first place is first and foremost is to extinguish the flares in the country. I don’t know if you have looked at the charts, at the time we were created Nigeria was actually the second largest gas flaring nation in the world, only second to Russia. But because of NLNG, we have cut more than 25 percent of the flares.

Yes, as you said, more development projects are coming but the gas gathering receptacle remains ready, and we are the receptacle. So, as long as you can gather it, we are ready to take it. Because of our presence, Nigeria is actually number seven in the world in terms of flaring. That is not even the position we should be proud of. But think of being number two for a long time. I fact when you talked about Nigeria they would refer to that country that was burning money; but not too much to say about Russia that was number one at the time and still remains number one as at today. And today, United States is actually flaring more than Nigeria. Think about that. So, it is a journey towards total flare out.

You talked about national programme on flare gas capturing; we say we are solidly positioned as receptacle. Once it is gathered, we are willing to buy it. That was the bane in the past when people say if we gather it who is going to buy it? Today, we declare that we are willing to buy it.

We take 3.5 billion standard cubic feet (Bcf) of gas every day. So, we can do with more gas.

On the back of Train 7 we can take another 2.0 Bcf; and as we cross the ambition of Trains 8, 9, 10, more gas, more gas and more gas. And as Sadiq mentioned, we need more gas and we need to end flaring: and I totally agree with that.

We have ongoing debates over sanctity of contracts in Nigeria. How does that affect your investment propositions?

Sanctity of contracts is crucial. But I think you may be referring to the fiscals. When you talk of fiscal regimes, people would like to know the impact on investments. People will have to know if you sign contracts today, government will respect it going forward even if things change: new fiscals and stuff like that.

So, overall you would expect stability in your fiscal environment which is really the basis for investment. So, fiscal stability is crucial. The PIB is one that the entire industry is looking forward to. Initially we would think that we were not directly impacted but that is not correct! We buy gas from the upstream, and upstream is going to be subject to the new bill.

Even the midstream is falling subject to some of the proposals in that bill.

So, overall, for us at NLNG, there is nothing to do with the bill. It is about when we will get clarity. And if we sign contracts today, will they remain in effect and be allowed to play out or will they be interrupted by new reality. So sanctity of contract is crucial not just for Nigeria but globally.

Think about it. How do you go into a business when you are not sure that somebody will impact the agreement? So, in the end, it is a matter of trust. It is a matter of respecting agreements. More importantly it is a matter of building confidence in the investment mall to say we guarantee that you put your investments here, these are the conditions, and they remain the conditions for the whole period.

The policy evolution in the gas sector has become cyclical and unable to address com-

•Mr. Tony Attah

merciality of investments in the domestic gas market. What would you prescribe as the final fix in integrating the numerous frameworks to guarantee returns on investments?

Again, the issues revolve round the PIB. You have to touch the issues of sanctity of contracts and regulatory framework where the rules and the laws are clear and the players know how to play in that environment.

For me if the PIB is passed then it would be clear on what fiscal and regulatory environment provides for the industry players and what they should expect in particular transactional situations in the operating environment. It would also provide clear picture of the commercial environment for investors in the gas market. The price of gas and sundry incentives would be clearly stated to provide the investor with revenue outlook and indices that help him for business projections. When these indicators are not clear then it becomes a problem. I am not an expert in that area but I know that there are issues on different commercial arrangements for domestic gas, export gas, gas for power, and different types of gas. Somebody once asked why he would be required to supply gas at lower price to power companies when he has another customer willing to take the same gas at higher rates.

I think it is one critical question that government regulators should address. As long as everybody understands his role, I think it is very easy to deal with.

I think passing the PIB is the starting point; from there we have a law. Then we can actually test it, interpret it, and see how to amend it. But as long as you don’t have a law the problem persists. I am happy to read in the papers that the Speaker of the House of Representatives said they are ready to pass the PIB. Well I don’t know what the version could be but I think it is a starting point.

If you have a law that you relate with, it then offers you clarity for planning. In the kind of business we do, some contracts are signed to cover 20 years of supply. So sanctity of contract is important. Investments in gas are long term. Projects in the industry can last up to 10 years. So, anybody staking funds in operations wants to be clear about what is at the end of the tunnel.

In my opinion if the PIB is clear, all these other issues you are talking about would be addressed. All these policies on Gas Revolution, Gas Policy, Gas Flare Out, this and that-different government comes and gives it a different name-will fit into one law that will not change in a short time.

In all, I think this government has demonstrated seriousness and commitment in fixing the fiscal and operating environment not just for the petroleum industry but for the economy as a whole. You see what has been done with the Ease of Doing Business programme.

They have attracted a major capital infusion in the business environment. That is a serious attestation and you can see how the business community has responded to that.

So, for me there is credit to the government in this short period for taking a major step in the right direction. It now remains to go the full haul in getting the PIB out there and stimulating investments to flow in by creating the environment and demonstrating the political will to make things that are obvious happen; like unleashing the potentials of Nigeria’s gas.

As I said earlier, Nigeria has believed too much in oil for a long time of over 50 years now; but the rest of the world has thriven on the back of the trilemma that gas is the transition into the future. That energy transition you mentioned cannot happen without gas.

And gas then happens to be one resource we have in abundance. So, you sit here and wonder why we are not bullishly taking advantage.

In the inside we have done our reserves to LNG capacity ratio analysis and we just feel that Nigeria has not even started anything. We rate Australia as holding the world’s biggest LNG capacity but they don’t have up to the 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves that we have, but they have production capacity for 89 million tons of LNG per annum. Actually they have about 150 Tcf but produce that much. We have 200 Tcf and we have 22 mtpa.

So, you can see there is huge opportunity space that needs to be tapped; and a lot of it comes to the politics around gas and what to do to enable gas development. And that is why they say that it is not about what you have got but what you do with it. So, on the backdrop of our 20 years of operations and 30 years as NLNG, we say it is time for gas. Take it or leave it.

16

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Focus

How traders harness their economic power to help needy in Anambra Anambra State is known the world over as home to astute traders. In this report, Correspondent THEO RAYS explains how traders in the State organise themselves to help the needy.

•Onitsha Main market

I

t is a well known fact that traders form a strong side of the economy of Anambra State owing to the huge revenue that government generates from the markets scattered all over the State. However, while the government is making good fortune from these traders, the general public does not really enjoy them in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Apart from the government, only few people that constitute members of the market union benefit from the revenue of the Market.

The point is that these traders as a powerful body or bodies in their respective Markets are apparently ignorant of CSR. They don’t seem to be motivated on CSR. However, there are few Markets where traders as a body have separated themselves from the ignorant pack talking about engagements on CSR. Few of the Markets involved in CSR that are known to this writer for now are: the New Tyre Market Nkpor, Building Material International Market Ogidi and lately Bakery Market Ogidi.

At a glance here is the CSR service being rendered by traders at the Building Material International Market Ogidi. Since 2016 when Jude Nwankwo alias Jolity came on board as the President of the Ogidi based Market, stories that come from the Market are consistently very impressive. From a peaceful atmosphere of business to sanity, love, discipline, prayerfulness to charity works, evidence are abound to say that all is over 90% well at the Building Material International Market Ogidi.

At first, Jolity championed peace successfully by reconciling warring traders to en-

•Governor Willie Obiano

throne and entrench peace in the Market.

Coming in as President, he inherited a myriad of bewildering litigations that kept peace at the bench in the Market. Those litigations were withdrawn from courts are thrown into the abyss.

Secondly having brought peace, he also brought unity, love, discipline and sanity in the system in terms of traders and customers keeping to the rules and regulations of the Market. He also inspired higher degree of prayerfulness among the traders and

things started working in the right direction.

The traders consequently began to cooperate with each other like a family and as never before. All relevant stakeholders such as the elected Executives, the Board of Trustees, the Patrons and the line Chairmen started moving together, sailing in the sea with one ship. This made Jolity who holds a chieftaincy title as Ochendo meaning the shelter of his country home of Umuawulu in Awka South Local Government Area to be clearly seen as the turning point of things in

the Market. Trust the traders, they like good thing and not ignorant of appreciating good thing they quickly appreciated their working President with a chieftaincy title as the Ochiudo meaning the Peace Maker of the Market.

With peace, love, discipline and togetherness existing in the system, the President who is the CEO of De Jolity Ventures began to harness the economic power of the traders into the interest of the general public by initiating a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSO) service first ever in the Market. And secondly he championed another wonderful move by initiating the project to build another Market to accommodate more members of the public into the Building Material business enclave. By doing these, he has conspicuously proved pundits wrong that Market leadership is not about milking the revenue of the Market for selfish agradisement.

The CSO of the Building Material Market Ogidi has been wonderful in reaching out to the poor and the needy both inside and outside the Market. At the tail end of the year, the traders raise money to offer cash dash and also buy food stuff like rice, semovita, yam and noddle as well as provisions, beverages and toiletries to distribute to the poor and the needy. Only God knows the magic that Jolity and his leiutnants do in the Market to be able to raise the amount of money they use for CSO. The amount of financial aid given to people in the Market in the last two years is unprecedented and amazing. Take for instance, between last year and this year 50 traders inside the Market have received a sum of free N500,000 each totaling N25million from the traders on account of the CSO to jack up their failed or failing businesses.

About 200 traders were given shops free in the newly completed Market. Furthermore, under Jolity traders are about moving from tenants to landlords with a Housing Estate project they contributing money to build at Ogbunike.

Other beneficiaries of the CSO are those drawns from motherless babies homes, orphanage homes, blind homes and other forms of disabled people from various destitute homes within Anambra and neighboring States like Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi respectively. Even street beggars benefit as they smile home with cash, rice and other things. Nov 26, 2019 is another day to reckon with at the Building Material International Market Ogidi as traders once more unleash their philathropic gesture to the members of general public.

More interesting is that the newly built ultra modern Market, a massive extension of the Ogidi based Market will be commissioned for business on the same day. The story of the new Market as told by Jolity is not just good to be told but very interesting to listen to. According to him, the new Market is part of the dividend of peace in the Market and as well part of the dividend of the tight security situation in Anambra State courtesy of Governor Willie Obiano.

The new Market according to him, is meant to provide space for people particularly those Umu Igbo who were displaced out of their base in some parts of Northeast Nigeria by Boko Haram insurgency. The new Market as the Ochendo of Umuawulu explained is also meant to accommodate Umu Igbo who returned home from South Africa and other foreign countries on account of one negative issue or the other. In his words, the new Market will also aid those who are graduating from apprentice in the Ogidi based Market to secure a place to start their own business.

In summary the story of Jude Nwankwo’s leadership strides is examplelary and indeed worthy of emulation by other Market leaders.

17

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Health

T

here is a popular saying that health is wealth. In Abia State, the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, does not just want the people to swim in the ocean of good health, but he wants them to live longer in good health.

Ikpeazu, a Biochemist, is therefore rolling out health initiatives to achieve his dream of making Abians enjoy superior average life expectancy in Nigeria.

“Our vision in health is to make sure that Abian indigenes have superior life expectancy than the national average. The national average leaves us at 46. What it means is that somebody who lives beyond 46 in Nigeria is lucky,” the governor said during an interaction with newsmen.

To achieve this health bjective,two vulnerable groups of people at the extremes were identified: aged ones (senile daddies and mummies at home) and mother and child.

To attend to the heath of the two extremes, government designed two programmes: the free Geriatric Outreach whereby healthcare officials go to various communities to treat the aged in their homes; and establishment a Mother and Child Specialist Hospital.

The Geriatric Outreach is anchored by a geriatric medical practitioner, Osondu Emenike (a.k.a Dr Chuck), who has trained all the nurses in the localities in the various local governments where he goes to attend to the old, sick people at their homes. Government picks the bills. In the course of his interface with the sick aged, many things came to light.

Chuck and his team discovered so many old people are diabetic but because they do not have to disturb their children, every now and then, they try to manage themselves; some have high blood pressure issues but they do not approach the primary healthcare centres for their blood pressures to be checked, even when they had exhausted their medication. .

Some of them have ulcers and wounds the geriatric team treated, dressed and then refer them to the nearest primary healthcare Centre or general hospital as the case may be. Expectedly, many lives are being saved.

For women and children, the state government is building a Specialist Hospital for Mother and hild which would be run by Abians in Diaspora who procuring the equipment for the hospital. “We are expecting that about seven containers of all kinds of equipment will arrive Abia before the end of this year or early next year and they will be run on a pilot basis by Abians in the Diaspora,” Ikpeazu said.

With the Geriatric Outreach to take care of the aged, and the Mother and Child hospital to take care of women and children up to five years of age, government established the Abia Emergency Service which was initially launched with two ambulances, each costing N9 million. The scheme now boasts of five ambulances as three more ultra-modern ambulances were acquired from the United States of America to save lives during emergencies.

The ambulances are actually mobile hospitals. Blood and other forms of transfusion are easily carried out in the ambulances which are linked to a call centre. When the centre receives a call, operators will rush to that part of

In Abia, your mobile phone is your hospital •How Ikpeazu is improving healthcare in Abia Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, says his desire is to see Abians live beyond the 46 years average life expectancy in Nigeria. This explains why his administration is evolving healthcare programmes to improve the health of the people.

These health initiatives include free medicals for the aged; mother and child specialist hospital, emergency ambulance services and Accident Rescue Initiative. However, the most novel of them is the Abia Telehealth initiative where healthcare services are procured with the use of the mobile phone.

BONIFACE OKORO reports that if you live in Abia and subscribes to the initiative, with your phone, you can dial-a-doctor and get medical attention, just as if you were in an hospital.

•Pastor Mrs Eunice Oyeyemi

the town and take any sick person to the nearest hospital.

The government is also retooling the General Hospitals as most of them are in a state of disrepair.

Four of those hospitals have been completed. They are provided with power, accommodation for resident doctors and nurses “We have power, because a general hospital that does not have a doctor that is living there will not serve. What we do is to see if we can

provide the ambience that can enable a doctor and the full complement of staff that will reside there and wait for patients to come in the wee hours,” the governor explained.

Yet, there is another health scheme called Accidents Rescue Initiative run

by Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) which runs ambulances that operate on the highway to lift road traffic accident victims. It is well known in the medical world that if road accident vic-

tims do not access medical treatment within few minutes, death is always the next consequence.

To crown the Abia Healthcare system is the flagship project called Abia Telehealth Initiative. It has a call centre with 15 medical doctors who take calls in vernacular, English and various dialects in Abia, purely giving all kinds of medical advice.

The call centre located inside government House, Umuahia is linked to primary healthcare centres so that if there is a little bit confusion about management of a case in a primary healthcare centre, the operators of the primary healthcare centre will avail themselves of the services of these 15 medical doctors that reside in Government House. The Call Centre is even serving a few other states, according to government sources.

Individuals who subscribe to the Telehealth initiative call the centre and receive medical advice or are referred to primary healthcare centre nearest to them, as the case may be. Reports say the initiative is popular among students and old people in the villages.

“As I speak today, Abia is the only state in the South East that hooked up to this basic healthcare provision for its people,” Ikpeazu revealed.

Dr Obas Ubiame, the resource person at the head of the Abia Telehealth Support Centre/Initiative which was inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in April 2018, explained further that the Call Centre which leverages on the mobile telephony technology has been established to basically support Abia State local healthcare institutions, to strengthen them.

Ubiame said the telehealth initiative Call Centre has been modeled to enhance outcome of intervention healthcare services; and most importantly, to expand coverage since the centre is supposed to advance inclusivity, to include or expand healthcare services to those people who basically have a phone but for whatever reason, do not have access to a physical health care centre.

“The ICT era has completely come to redefine how we do things. That is why we have to advance to online health care, especially taking into cognizance Nigeria’s tele-density of over 110 per cent. It means that there are more phones in Nigeria than human beings. But Nigeria’s healthcare access still remains one of the lowest in the world, about 35 per cent.

So, telehealth is saying, why can’t we leverage our access to telecommunication to improve their access to health care, especially when expertise of service delivery these days is dependent on information transmission which is what telecom gives us.

“For example, somebody is ill, the person comes to a doctor, what the doctor basically does before investigation and examination is information communication. So, we are saying that if we can communicate to people outside the traditional health care sector, leveraging on your phone, you might be able to diagnose, treat and even prevent illnesses before they happen,” Ubiame explained.

If the Abia healthcare initiatives are integrated and publicized and are affordable such that the masses would prefer to patronize them adequately, then the higher average life expectancy advantage which the government is envisaging would just within arm’s length.

18

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

LIFE

How Apams boss, others saved another fire disaster in Onitsha It would have been another fire disaster in the commercial city of Onitsha so soon after the disastrous Ochanja market fire incident but for the timely intervention of relevant individuals and authorities who pooled resources and ensured that the worst didn’t come to pass. OLIVER UDEOGU reports.

A

major fire tanker disaster that could have rocked the very fabrics of Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre east of the Niger, was averted recently when a fuel tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol), belonging to the Oando petrochemical company limited, fell inside the drainage, while trying to discharge petrol at an Oando station, located along the busy Enugu- Onitsha expressway.

The incident which occurred at about 12.30 pm on that day, created panic as there was pandemonium in the area, forcing commuters and passersby to flee in panic, with the ever busy federal high way reduced to ghost town, in a twinkle of an eye blink, as a result of that. It was gathered that the driver of the ill-fated tanker lost control of the wheels, when he was navigating into the fuel station, when the tanker fell into the drainage, spilling a large quantity of petrol, which flowed like an evil stream unabatedly, down the chambers and channels of the drainage system.

An eyewitness likened the horror drama to a rapture of some sort, when he narrated to newsmen the manner in which people disappeared into thin air, when the accident occurred. Commuter drivers and private vehicle owners who queued to buy fuel, kerosene or diesel at the busy fuel station had all abandoned their vehicles, fleeing for their dear lives, as tension pervaded the entire vicinity, with the atmosphere tense and very unfriendly, the eye witness recalled.

Fielding questions to newsmen, manager of the Oando petrol station Mrs Joy Ugwu expressed gratitude to God for averting what would have been another mother of all fire disasters in the commercial city, on that day.

According to her, she was inside her office when she heard her workers shouting ‘Manager,’ causing her to rush out to know what was happening. To her dismay, she saw the tanker vehicle spilling fuel inside the drainage when she came out from her office, and was terrified by the development.

“As I ran out from my office, I discovered I was the only person left in the vicinity, as every other person had run out of the station to ‘God knows where’. In that confused state of mind, I ran to Apams business plaza that is very close to our station to solicit for help. When I got there, It happened that the owner of the place was on seat that afternoon. He had asked me to calm down as he began to make distress calls. Shortly after he had made a number of phone calls, fire fighters from the Anambra State fire service arrived with their vehicles, and started neutralizing the petroleum contents that were still left inside the felled tanker, and those flowing through the drainage channels’’.

Narrating further about the incident, Mrs Ugwu said that shortly after the firefighters arrived the scene of the incident, officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the Police force, the Civil Defence and men of the Federal road safety commission and other paramilitary establishments besieged the scene in their vehicles, while maintaining orderliness during the rescue operation. According to her, the security personnel had blocked a lane of the busy high way, thereby directing motorists and passersby to take the other lane in the mean time.

While commending the prompt response of men of the Anambra State fire service, Mrs Ugwu enjoined residents of Onitsha and indeed Anambra State, to give special

•Anambra State fire service

thanks to the Apams boss, for his role which ensured that the fire fighters and other security personnel arrived promptly, to the scene of the incident.

“In fact, this kind-hearted man really did a great thing that fateful day,’’ Mrs. Ugwu added.

Speaking on the incident at his office, the CEO of Apams funeral home, Sir Kelvin Chukwumobi told newsmen that all glory should be given to God for the aborted incident.

According to the Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA-born business magnate, the incident could have gone beyond reach if not for the prompt arrival of the firefighters from the Anambra State Fire Service. He commended the state government for putting in place a rapid response fire outfit, to check incidence of fire outbreaks in the state. ‘’When the petrol station manager ran into my office screaming, I put a distress call across to Chief Nwabueze Umeh (Ofia Okija), who is a

major stake holder at the Ochanja market, and informed him about the development and he turn made phone calls to the appropriate quarters. In a spate of some minutes, rescue mission was underway when firefighters as well as security personnel arrived at the scene of the incident,’’ Chukwumobi stated.

On his part, Ofia Okija, Chief Nwabueze Umeh during a telephone interview with The Oracle Today, commended the state Governor Chief Willie Obiano for setting up a special task force on fire disaster management, which is being headed by a seasoned Air Marshal, Rtd Air Marshal Shido, noting that that has yielded dividends with this development. ’’On receiving the information about the incident from my friend Sir Kelvin Chukwumobi, the Apams boss, I called the head of the special task force Rtd Air Marshal Shido, who then mobilized the personnel who got

to the scene of the incident, thereby averting what would have been another ‘black’ Thursday, in the commercial city,’’ Umeh had told The Oracle Today in a telephone chat.

Chief Umeh also commended the actions of the State government in baring heavy duty vehicles especially fuel tanker vehicles, from operating in the state outside the stipulated hours of 8pm to 5am, which came into effect only last Saturday, describing it as a good policy in the right direction, capable of checking the incidence of this sort in the future.

It would be recalled that barely a month ago, residents of Onitsha were thrown into mourning, following a fuel tanker fire incident that occurred at the Ochanja market, which claimed many lives, including those of a middle-aged woman Mrs. Deborah Obi and her eight-month old son Chisimdi while goods and property worth billions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.

19

BU$IN£SS The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

•Energy

•Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

Nigeria, other oil producers face economic shock

By Sopuruchi Onwuka

N

igeria and other oil and gas producers currently suffering resource curse face imminent economic shock if they fail to diversify their revenue bases from petroleum export.

In its latest outlook, the International Energy Association (IEA) warned that resource curse which has plagued Nigeria, Angola, Libya and other key African petroleum producers that drag behind non-resource economies might leave them permanently stunted if they fail to quickly industrialize.

The Oracle Today reports that Nigeria remains the continent’s biggest oil and gas producer and earns the highest petroleum revenues across 63 years. Yet, poor resource revenue management and overreliance on the industry have built massive corruption in the government.

Despite her huge oil and gas reserves, Nigeria has remained the world’s brazen metaphor of Africa’s biggest economy with then the highest number of the abject poor in the whole world. The country also scores lowest in the scale of congenial business environment in the continent, accounting for the continent’s biggest volumes of imported consumer goods and suffering the highest number of business closures in the past 10 years.

Nigeria has also been foraging all loan windows, running budget deficits since 2016 and driving loan financed infrastructure development projects.

Promoter of the global Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), Prof. Joseph Stieglitz, had declared at a workshop in Lagos that resource dependent economies are vulnerable to debt

Currency Buying(₦) Central (₦) Selling(₦) US DOLLAR 305.95 306.45 306.95 POUNDS STERLING 374.391 375.0029 375.6147 EURO 337.3711 337.9224 338.4738 SWISS FRANC 308.1688 308.6724 309.1761 YEN 2.846 2.8507 2.8553 CFA 0.4931 0.5031 0.5131 WAUA 417.2203 417.9022 418.584 YUAN/RENMINBI 42.9382 43.0089 43.0795 RIYAL 81.5606 81.6939 81.8271 SOUTH AFRICAN 20.1814 20.2144 20.2474

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Nigerian Content to lower oil industry cost P23

AVIATION

President Muhammadu Buhari

traps, internal scrambles that lead to civil war, corruption, extreme poverty and stalled development.

In the outlook, IEA stated that imminent peak production, rising internal energy demand, and global demand drift towards cleaner energy options mean that resource based economies in Africa might suffer revenue shock and sink deeper into the debt abyss.

“Changing global energy dynamics mean that resource-holders cannot assume that their oil resources will translate into reliable future revenues,” the IEA outlook said, adding that countries that are highly dependent on hydrocarbon revenues are coming under increasing pressure due to the changing development models in Africa.

“History suggests that, after major discoveries, some countries have quickly scaled up public investment and accumulated excessive debts based on unrealized future revenues, damaging their economic performance in the process,” the report said.

The report sounded a note of caution that African governments need to put policies in place to accelerate production growth to serve domestic demand and develop strategies to maximize the value of their resources.

Oil production will plateau in the next two decades, as gas becomes a bigger priority for the key oil and gas producers.

On a general note, IEA which monitors global energy trends for the world’s most industrialized countries gathered under the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) declared that Africa would become key consumer and exporter of gas in the next two

CBN Exchange Rates As At Thursday, November 21, 2019

•Aviation

decades.

The share of gas in the energy mix in Africa is projected to rise to around 25% by 2040 from 5% now, according to findings from IEA’s Africa Energy Outlook 2019.

IEA said the future for gas in the continent could look different due to a series of major discoveries in recent years -- Mozambique and Tanzania, Egypt, Senegal and Mauritania and South Africa, which collectively accounted for over 40% of global gas discoveries between 2011 and 2018.

“These developments could fit well with Africa’s push for industrial growth and its need for reliable electricity supply,” the report said, as Africa will observe a huge rise in its population and the rapid industrialization of its economies, which will surge in the coming decades.

Oil production will plateau in the next two decades, as gas becomes a bigger priority for the key oil and gas producers.

Oil output will reach 8.2 million b/d by 2040 compared with 8.4 million b/d in 2018 while gas production will surge to 317 Bcm in 2040 from 240 Bcm last year. Mozambique, Tanzania and Egypt will be the main drivers of gas production, according to the report.

But developing gas infrastructure will be a major challenge because of “typically small market sizes and concerns about affordability,”the report added.

With an oversupply looming on the gas market, “much will depend on the price at which gas becomes available along with the development of distribution networks, the financing available for infrastructure and the strength of policy efforts to displace polluting fuels,” the IEAsaid.

Africa’s importance in the global oil and gas markets will increase to the “growing appetite for modern and efficient energy sources.”

Oil demand in the continent will grow by 3.1 million b/d between now and 2040 due to the doubling of the car fleet along with increased demand for LPG as a cooking fuel.

The report said African oil demand in 2040 would average 7 million b/d from 3.9 million b/d last year.

This is higher than the projected growth in China and second only to that of India, IEA added.

On the gas side, Africa will become the third-largest source of global gas demand growth over the same period, outlining its importancenot as a produce but also has a consumer.

Gas demand would increase to 317 Bcm in 2040 from 158 Bcm in 2018.

The report, however, sounded a note of caution to Africa’s oil and gas producers that due to the changing development models in Africa, countries that are highly dependent on hydrocarbon revenues are coming under increasing pressure.

“Changing global energy dynamics mean that resource-holders cannot assume that their oil resources will translate into reliable future revenues,” it said.

African governments need to put policies in place to accelerate production growth to serve domestic demand and develop strategies to maximize the value of their resources, the report said.

Stressing that importance of East Africa’s gas industry, IEA warned the governments of Mozambique and Tanzania to take adequate measures to ensure gas revenues lead to “tangible economic benefits.”

Air Peace seals US$212.6m deal for three additional E195-E2 jets P26 e-Platform

UAVs project to boost Lagos Smart City initiative –Sanwo-Olu P27

Equity & Capital Market

NSE: Market capitalisation sustains upward trend by N46 billion P29 Money Market

FG fiscal operations suffers setback, records N378.98bn deficit in October P30

STOCK MARKET HIGHLIGHTS AS AT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP BOND CAP ETF CAP

26,872.09 3,585.00 239,221,339.00 N2,278,227,703.71 N12,969,883,793,404.69 N13,184,703,328,762.70 N6,434,139,498.73

Top 5 Trades S/N 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Coy FBNH TRANSCORP ZENITHBANK GUARANTY UBA

5 Top Gainers

Symbols FLOURMILL STANBIC MTNN DANGCEM DANGSUGAR

Last Close Current Change N16.25 N17.85 1.6 N39 N40 1 N119.05 N120 0.95 N144 N144.9 0.9 N12.25 N13.1 0.85

%Change 9.85% 2.56% 0.80% 0.63% 6.94%

5 Top Losers (By Volume) Value(N) 74,027,644 N558,420,986.50 19,187,675 N19,569,252.21 18,306,997 N342,453,170.50 17,232,896 N506,182,339.15 14,157,539 N107,565,505.90

CCNN N20 N18 -2 UNILEVER N18.5 N17.45 -1.05 ZENITHBANK N18.8 N18.6 -0.2 UBA N7.75 N7.6 -0.15 WAPCO N14.5 N14.4 -0.1

-10.00% -5.68% -1.06% -1.94% -0.69%

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

EDITORIAL

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Josephine Ugwu: Garlands for woman of integrity

J

ust when we thought all hope of stressed the need for Nigerians to upEnugu where she was working as a finding honest Nigerians was lost, hold the traditionally cherished values of cleaner. In 2014, she found and returned Mrs Josephine Ugwu emerged to honesty and integrity. In addition, Ugwu N8 million at the Murtala Muhammed Inclear all doubts. A former cleaner at received the key of a house in a choice ternational Airport (MMIA), Lagos. In the the airports, Ugwu was the first of location in Abuja from the president. same year, she found and returned N7 two employees of the Federal Airports Ugwu had humble beginnings. The last of million at the same airport. In 2015, she Authority of Nigeria that President 12 children of her parents, she lost her found and returned $12 million forgotten Muhammadu Buhari honoured this mother before her first birthday. Thus, in the toilet by an airport user. And, in Tuesday at the State House, Abuja, for she grew up a poor girl and suffered all 2019, she found and returned N200, 000 exhibiting integrity in the performance the indignities associated with poverty. at the private wing of the Murtala Muof their official duties.

By her conduct, she has taught other chilhammed Airport.

In a rare display of honesty, Ugwu is dren or young adults a big lesson in honIt sounds like a fairy tale, yet it is true. On known to have returned a total of alesty and the values of diligence at work. each occasion she stuck to the credo most N40million he found on different She is a worthy role model for today’s that “Honesty is the best policy”, many occasions to owners of the funds. In youth. Those who take to crimes like mocked her. Some said she rejected the 1960s and ‘70s, people who had Ugrobbery, theft or cybercrime presumably an angel’s offer to be rich. Some even wu’s moral credentials were not scarce because of poverty or unemployment cursed her: she was condemned to living in the part of the country she comes should turn a leaf immediately. Girls and in penury because she didn’t make use of from: Nsukka cultural zone in Enugu young women who turn greedy, looking the opportunities created for her. Others State. But the situation has changed a for men to supply their needs, have seen were sure she wouldn’t be rewarded for lot since the 1980s even in her homethe greater value hidden in hard work her acts. In fact, some wondered why town Obukpa in Nsukka LGA. and honesty. she had been the only cleaner that found Ugwu was first discovered in 2006. Her forgotten or misplaced items at the air- We rejoice with and congratulate Ugwu on monthly salary then was N12, 000 but the award she has just received. She has ports. The truth, however, could be that she returned over N10 million she done Ndigbo and all Nigerians proud. A the others who found money or other found at the Akanu Ibiam Airport in greater honour lies ahead. valuables at the airports did not return them to their owners as Ugwu did.

Our Vision Some Nigerians TO BE among the top five newspapers from other parts of in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numthe country used ber One; to be a newspaper of records to castigate Igbo that effectively caters to the informapeople as lovers tion needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all soof money. It has cial classes and cultures. Essentially, we taken a woman to prove them wrong. want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly orIndeed, there are ganised media business, which meets its Igbo men, women obligations to society, government and and youth who the workforce. would never touch money they did not Mission work for, no matWE INTEND to contribute to the develter how poor they opment of an inclusive Nigerian society, were. And foreignwith a view to getting rid of the dark ers who regard sides of our national life such as slothfulness, greed, corruption, nepotism and Nigeria as the land totalitarianism, among several others. of scammers can now see that many We will strive to continually engender and sustain national debates that would Nigerians could ultimately lead to the enthronement be trusted with of healthy national values--to wit, hardmoney. work, justice, equity and fair-play, transWe agree with parency and good governance, resultPresident Buhari ing in the egalitarian Nigerian society of who, on presentour dream. ing the integrity We will give voice to the voiceless and, awards to Ugwu at all times, strive to be balanced, objecand assistant comp- tive, honest, truthful and fair to all sides so that through The Oracle Today, our troller-general of people, the Nigerian people, can see a customs Bashir bright light at the end of what has been Abubakar (who a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all rejected $412,000 this in absolute trust in God who blesses bribe offered him by drug traffickers), good intentions.

21

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

OPINION

Osahon Enabulele: Another Nigeria is possible

By OWEI LAKEMFA

I

t was a Nigerian event. The crème of our medical profession gathered in their hundreds at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. It was simultaneously an international event as they were joined by leaders of National Medical Associations from the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) which was holding its Twenty Fifth Triennial Conference.

However, the cynosure of all eyes at this five-day conference which held from November 4-8, 2019 was 48-year old Dr. Osahon Enabulele, a civil and human rights activist, writer, health advocate, noted public analyst with a bias for family health.

The consummate organizer was sworn in as President of the 54-member country CMA, the first Nigerian to be elected in that body’s 57-year history.

Enabulele is a sensation in the history of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Within three years of his graduation from medical school, he was elected NMA National Assistant Secretary General. Two years later, he became National Deputy General Secretary and within seven years of graduation, he was elected the NMA National Second Vice President, the first Junior/Resident Doctor to be elected into the NMA Presidency. When in 2012 he was elected NMA National President after only fifteen years in practice and at age 41, he became the youngest ever President of the professional association. He was also known as the leader of the ‘Lion Killers’ in the association. His Presidency of the NMA revitalized the vibrancy, sense of purpose and commitment to general good the NMA was noted for in the 1980s and early 1990s when it was led by the Thompson Akpabios, Beko Ransome-Kutis and Boniface Oye-Adenirans.

What produced Enabulele is an unusual sense of commitment to peoples’ welfare,

courage, some humility, hard work, quality education, high intellect and daring. One of his major projects as NMA President was the holding of the First NMA National Health Summit. He is also the Founding Coordinator of the Coalition of African National Medical Associations in Africa and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Medical Association.

It is no mean feat for a Nigerian to be elected President of medical doctors in the Commonwealth which has one third of human population and consist of National Medical Associations from diverse countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Pakistan, Australia, Jamaica, Malta, Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. As CMA President, Enabule is responsible for the promotion of healthcare amongst populations of countries that cut across rich and poor countries and even nations that can be classified as destitute.

In the words of his predecessor, Professor Vajira H.W. Dissayannake, Enabule has become the Chief Medical Diplomat of the seven-decade old Commonwealth of Nations who has to be consulted by Commonwealth Health Ministers and get the attention of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) who was Chair of the occasion stood watching the sea of heads at the conference and joked: “ You heard I am a doctor (He has a PhD in Political Science) Yes I am a General Doctor and I can perform anything, Babalawo (Divination/herbalist) inclusive” NMA President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile lamented the loss of investment on medical education as: “ Nigeria retains less than 60 percent of her medical graduates, 7 out of 10 Nigerian trained doctors are either out of the country or on their way out, and up to 80 percent of newly graduated doctors are considering migration abroad, with consequent worsening of patients to

doctors ratio and all its consequences. This trend is also applicable to the Pharmacists, Nurses and other healthcare professionals” Medical Tourism, he lamented, swallows over $1 Billion annually, adding : “ It has contributed largely in to infrastructural neglect as both government officials and influential Nigerians leave the country in their numbers to access healthcare even for conditions that can be handled at the secondary healthcare level.”

President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire promised his administration will restructure the National Health Insurance Scheme by enrolling more persons and that it wants to see an end to inter-professional rivalries in the healthcare system. On the election and installation of Enabulele as the CMA President, he said: “ This is a proud moment for us Nigerians” Former Health Minister, Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, a pharmacist, congratulated the country for producing the new CMA President and called for unity in the health sector adding that just as the sky is wide enough for all birds to fly without colliding with each other, so also is the healthcare system big enough to accommodate all who work in it.

Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, a medical doctor with a 38-year experience was the Keynote Speaker on the theme of a “ Patient-Centred Care” system. The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi .A. Sule was Co-Host of the occasion.

The installation of Enabulele and his acceptance speech was the climax. Doctors he said need to make contributions to the positive transformation of healthcare systems and: “ strengthening the health rights of citizens across the Commonwealth” He promised to establish platforms like “Young Doctors Forum” as part of attempts to liberalize the participatory space within the CMA.

Tagbo: Legendary Father of 1001 sons!

By UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

T

he rule is that a Catholic Reverend Father must not father children. Another rule says that if you don’t break the rules you cannot change the world and attain the height of legends.

Very Reverend Father Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo has an uncountable number of very eminent sons.

I count him as my father too.

He was the longest-serving Principal of the famous Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha, and all his former students adore him as their father.

I did not attend CKC but I knew Father Tagbo more than the students because I lived all my early years in the staff quarters of the renowned secondary school with my linguist uncle, Job Okwuoma Aginam, who taught Bible Knowledge and French in the school.

After my primary school education at Sacred Heart School, Odoakpu, Onitsha, which shared the same compound with CKC, I passed the Common Entrance Examination and was given admission without my choice in St Peter’s Secondary School, Achina.

It would have been easy meat to change from SPSS Achina to CKC but Father Tagbo and my uncle decided that I could excel anywhere!

Incidentally, most of my mates who got admitted to CKC and finished up in 1977 as me could not get results due to the widespread WAEC leakages of that year known as EXPO 77.

As you can see, Father Tagbo and my uncle could see the future! The only subject I took in WASC that was not released was History, but I was home and dry in fine fettle.

Father Tagbo had such a towering impres-

sive height to behold in his white soutane. I remember after the Biafra War that I was carrying my little sister, Chinwe, of about three years while Father Tagbo was talking in front of the CKC staff quarters and the little tot kept stretching her hand to touch the priest while I kept drawing her hand back.

Then the little baby raised her voice in protest in Igbo thusly: “Kam metunu m ya aka”, that is, “Let me touch him with my hand!”

Then Father Tagbo took notice and admonished me to let my sister touch him before he then lifted her into his arms!

We used to be altar boys at Christ the King Parish within the CKC compound, a church that was dedicated by the then Archbishop of Onitsha (now Cardinal) Francis Arinze, with me winning a gold medal as a torch-bearer.

Father Tagbo never used to say the masses, but one certain morning the regular priests - Father (later Bishop) Simon Okafor and Father (later quit the priesthood) Emeka Okide - were not around.

Father Tagbo had to step in to do the morning mass. Some altar boys had dressed up, but Father Tagbo looked at them and then turned to me and said: “Nwa Aginam (that’s what he calls me, after my maternal uncle’s surname) dress up and follow me! I don’t want anybody to delay me on the altar!”

Before I could get into gear, he was already at the altar. The mass that used to last about an hour-and-half took only 30 fast minutes!

Father Tagbo was that sharp!

My attachment with Father Tagbo continued even after I had gained admission into the university. A dear friend of mine, Aloy Umeodinka, who had taken his WASC at CKC had to seek me out while I was holidaying at the CKC staff quarters to get his results and

testimonial from the priest.

A book on the life and times of Father Tagbo entitled Sons of a Priest has just been edited and published by a distinguished alumnus of CKC, the prize-winning novelist Odili Tony Ujubuonu.

A peep into the book reveals the testimony of Father Tagbo’s classmate and football playing partner, the former CEO of Ajaokuta Steel, Dr Fidelis Ezemenari who among other things disclosed that as a youth Tagbo reproached their goalkeeper - now an acclaimed Igwe of a big town - who conceded a goal and claimed he had seen six different balls at the same time, that he ought to have caught one of the balls instead of taking time to count them!

To conclude, here is an excerpt from the coffee table book: “He gave up his life ambitions to make us rule our worlds. Tagbo was satisfied to be just a principal and a priest while some of his classmates in Christ the King College became bishops and one would later become a cardinal. He gave Nigeria over twenty Senior Advocates of Nigeria and remained an obedient citizen. He raised men who became GCON, CON, CFR, MFR etc. but was content and very proud to be honoured with just an OON. He produced three state governors while he remained a simple priest in a local parish. He had over a hundred billionaire businessmen as his sons yet he remained faithful to his vow of poverty as a priest. He trained boys that became Chief Judges of about four states and senior judges in courts across Nigeria, yet he ended as Citizen Nicholas. His bell of humility tolled twelve when he happily lived as a poor old priest under the current Archbishop of Onitsha Diocese, who was once his obedient student in Christ the King College.”

He said the CMA under his leadership will help fast track the attainment of Universal Health Coverage including advocacy for strengthening primary healthcare and promotion of the Digital Health Initiative of Commonwealth doctors.

Enabule said his leadership wants to assist in the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the Commonwealth, establish a CMA Safe Hospital Initiative to protect health workers against violence, institute CMA Excellence Awards, carry out a ranking of health systems in the Commonwealth and host CMA Games to promote the wellbeing of physicians and other health workers.

He made a direct appeal to all doctors in the Commonwealth of Nations: “ At times, history and fate meet at a single place to shape a turning point. Surely, we now stand on the edge of a new frontier with boundless opportunities… We must all now be prepared to abandon any effort at sustained lamentation of our fate, and truly organize for positive action and progressive resurgimento. If we must build foundations of greatness, we must now be prepared to make supreme sacrifices and put CMA and our health system first. Surely, we must all be prepared to bear the noise of thunder if we must get the blessings of the rain” The new CMA President gives Nigeria a boost on the international scene where our image and rating is quite low. He is a fresh breath. Enabulele’s achievements in so short a period of socio-medical activism, the heights he has attained nationally and internationally within twenty two years of graduation, his dynamism, courage and commitment to building a new humanity, indicates that another Nigeria is possible.

•LAKEMFA, veteran journalist and humanist, first published this article on his Facebook wall.

THE GROUP Managing Editor/COO Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Managing Editor/COO Sopuruchi Onwuka Chairman Editorial Board Igwebike Mbanefo Political/Production Editor Kodilinye Obiagwu SE/SS Editor Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Acting BDM Kelechi Nze Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Circulation Manager Felix Oti

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

BUSINESS DMO offers N150bn from 3 instruments

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ebt Management Office (DMO) on Wednesday offered N150 billion from three Instruments; five- year, 10-year and 30-year bonds for N50 billion each to investors at the auction.

The statement issued by DMO in Abuja indicated that the bond Auction by the DMO which took place on Wednesday, Nov. 20, was highly oversubscribed.

The DMO explained that the total subscriptions received through Competitive bids for the instruments at the Auction was N252.35 billion, indicating a subscription level of 168.23 per cent.

It said that the trend of investors’ appetite for the longer tenored instruments continued with subscription of N115.09 billion or 230.18 per cent for the 30-year Bond.

According to the statement, the successful bids are allotted at the rate of 12.0000 per cent for the 5-year, 12.9300 per cent for the 10year and 13.3900 per cent for the 30-year Bonds.

“The allotment rates indicated a significant decline from the rates at which the Bonds were issued at the October 2019 FGN Bond Auction.

“The total amount allotted for Competitive Bids was N157.93 billion across the three tenors. In addition, the sum of N95.00 billion was allotted through Non-Competitive Bids for all the tenors at the same rates as the Competitive Bids.

“Overall, the sum of N252.93 billion is allotted to investors at the auction through both Competitive and Non-Competitive Bids” it added.

House committee to query CBN, NDIC over status of Savannah Bank

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ouse of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to interface with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on the status of Savannah Bank.

The resolution empowered the House of Reps committee to also ensure shareholders and customers of the bank get proper compensation.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Magaji Aliu on Thursday, November 21.

According to Aliu, “the operating licence of Savannah Bank Pic was withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 15 February 2002; on the ground that the bank did not have enough assets to meet its liabilities; and did not comply with CBN obligations and that the promoters had been unable to prevent further deterioration of the Bank.

“The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) took over as liquidator of the Bank; which led to the sealing off of the branches of the bank all over the country.”

He explained further that the “bank challenged the closure in court and in a ruling on 20 October 2006; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja held that the Central Bank of Nigeria had acted properly in revoking the bank’s licence.

“But on appeal, the Court of Appeal in a ruling on 6 of

February 2009 ordered the re-opening of the bank; and also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria; and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation to pay N100 million to the bank as damages.”

The House of Reps member further disclosed that “the licence was restored; thus putting an end to seven years of agony for directors; depositors and other stakeholders of the bank.”

The lawmaker, however, disclosed that “seventeen years after Savannah Bank’s licence was restored; the bank is yet to commence operations.

“Aware that at the time of its forceful closure, the bank had nearly 85,000 shareholders; and a share capital of N1 billion and about 118 branches with depositors funds who were in hundreds of millions.”

He, therefore, raised concerns “that most of the depositors whose funds were trapped in the bank for the last 17 years are either dead; bankrupt or in dire hardships after many years of depression and discontent.”

The committee is to relate with CBN on effective measures put in place; to avoid the reoccurrence of what led to the withdrawal of the licence of the Bank; and its eventual closure in 2002, and report back within two (2) months for further legislative action.

Consolidated Hallmark to commence micro-life insurance subsidiary by Q1 2020

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onsolidated Hallmark Plc on Thursday said it will soon commence Micro-Life insurance subsidiary by early 2020.

Chairman of the company, Obinna Ekezie, who disclosed this during the company’s Extra -Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in Lagos, further explained that the firm was on the verge of being granted an operational license by the National Insurance Commission, (NAICOM) to operate the business.

He said that the company has paid the statutory deposit and license application fee to the

Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) and NAICOM respectively.

Speaking on its third quarter result for 2919, he said ProfitAfter-Tax (PAT)rose to N519.6 million from N355.9 million in the corresponding period of 2018 to N519.6 million in same period of 2019, representing a 46 per cent rise.

Gross Premium Written for the period grew by 23.7 per cent to N6.687 billion from N5.404 billion reported in September 2018, while Total assets of the firm rose to N11.159 billion from N10.821 billion during the corresponding period.

Officials of the Lagos State Resilience Office (LASRO) led by the Chief Resilience Officer, Arc Gbolahan Owodunni Oki during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Lotteries Board welcomed by the General Manager/CEO of the Board, Mr. Bashir Are and the SSA to the Governor on Lotteries, Hon Funmi Olotu and other management staff.

Senate approves bill for 7.5% VAT increment Stories by VICTOR NZE

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enate, Thursday, passed the Finance Bill which seeks to increase the value-added tax (VAT) from five per cent to 7.5 per cent.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had transmitted the bill to the Senate in October 2019.

If signed into law, Nigerians will pay more for specific goods and services that attract VAT. The bill will also reform the

tax regime by amending several Acts; namely Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPT); Custom and Excise Tax Act; Company Income Tax Act (CITA); Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, Stamp Duties Tax Act, as well as Capital Gains Act. The Finance Bill had on November 6 passed the second reading; despite not being fully aware of its content.

No copies of the bill were shared to senators to allow for any meaningful contribution

before it was debated; and eventually passed.

The Senate held a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday which was organised by its Committee on Finance.

The Senate had also invited relevant stakeholders in a bid to discuss their reservations and recommendations about the Bill.

The Senate will now expect a concurrence by the House of Representatives before the legislation goes to the president for final assent.

GAC Motors to visit Lagos on Feasibility study

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ollowing the visit of Governor Babajide SanwoOlu to the headquarters of Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Motors) in China, representatives of the company will be visiting Lagos State to study the viability of establishing a vehicle assembly plant.

During his working visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu inspected the automobile manufacturing company’s factories, research and development centres as well as its training facilities, identified the huge job

potentials that will accrue from establishment of similar facility in Lagos and implored the company to consider building an assembly plant in the state.

“I am excited at what I have seen in the course of my tour of your facility and I can assure you that there is a huge market for auto brands in Lagos State.

We have a population of over 22 million people, and Lagos is the most prosperous city in Africa, with our economy ranking as the 7th largest in Africa,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu continued, saying “On the government side, I think

now is the right time for you to come to Lagos because we will support you. There is a free trade zone you can locate your factories and Lagos has a pool of highly talented and innovative people that can provide a steady workforce supply for your operations in our state.”

He reiterated that his administration’s commitment to business innovation and process review was acknowledged by the World Bank as major drivers of Nigeria’s 15 places upward movement in the Ease of Doing Business Index.

FEC approves €500m facility to finance industrialisation projects, MSMEs

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ederal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 500 million Euros loan to finance industrialisation projects and support Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) value chains in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba, disclosed this after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the minister, the loan will be secured from the the Credit Suisse AG London to support industry; revitalise agro-industrial processing zones and facilitate the creation of new jobs.

“Council today approved the issuance of a sovereign guarantee of 500 million Euros from the Credit

Suisse AG London Branch and a syndicate of international lenders as collateral for 500 million Euros facility to the Bank of Industry.

“The loan is basically to finance major industrialisation projects and micro-small and medium enterprises value chains in Nigeria for up to five years tenure at affordable rates.

“These rates are single digit rates; the guarantor of the loan shall be the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its going to be executed through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“The main objective of the loan is to support industry; revitalise ago-industrial processing zones; to facilitate the creation of new jobs.

“We do believe that about 1.2 million jobs will be created through this facility; increase the income of

farming communities and promote the inclusion of SMEs and small holder producers in the industrial value chain and the deployment of transportation infrastructure that connect farming communities to processors and market,’’ he said.

Agba said that the loan would be swapped to Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria to mitigate the foreign exchange risk.

He said that the fund would, therefore, be available to Nigerian enterprises at a more affordable rate and in local currency.

On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, said that the FEC approved a memo by the ministry seeking for the release 2 million dollars as part of Nigeria’s contribution to the West African Power Pool.

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

ENERGY Presidency, investors parley at NLPGA 2019 LPG SUMMIT

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ice President Yomi Osinbajo will by the end of the month trade gas policy thought with the nation’s major petroleum industry at the forthcoming Nigeria LPG Summit 2019.

The event is the main part of the 9th NLPGA Annual Conference & Exhibition hosted by the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) in partnership with Singapore’s LPG Summit at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

Themed’ Harmonizing Development and Growth in Nigeria and Africa’, the summit gathers stakeholders, experts, exhibitors from South East Asia, and the international gas community at an industry discourse on issues, developments, policies and innovations around LPG markets.

Other leading experts scheduled to speak at the Annual Conference & Exhibition include the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Managing Director of the Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr Tony Attah; Executive Director, Commercial Operations of Falcon Corporation Limited, Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezigbo; and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote.

Other speakers include Chief Information Officer, Manufacturing, Sub-Saharan Africa, Agri-Business and Service Development at International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Mr Kalim Shah; Deputy Managing Director, World LPG Association, Mr Michael Kelly; Chief Operating Officer, Downstream Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Adeyemi Adetunji and Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr Olumide Adeosun.

Commenting on the summit, the President, NLPGA, Mr Nuhu Yakuba said the event provides the needed platform for stakeholders and experts to discuss issues surrounding deepening of LPG adoption on the continent.

“Over the years, we advocated the adoption of LPG as an enabler of quality living for Nigerians and citizens across the continent. This year’s summit in partnership with Singapore’s LPG Summit will host the largest number of international delegates, critical stakeholders, experts and exhibitors in West Africa.

“The robust representation of participants promises to provide a crosscurrent of ideas and learnings from different markets and climes.

Having the Vice President to join in these rich conversations further bolster the confidence that this will shape the policy environment

on harnessing LPG opportunities for the benefits of our people”, Mr Yakubu said.

In her remarks, the Director of LPG Summit, Mrs Neasa Hapiak noted that the summit provides a platform for the LPG industry and organisations both in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in the developing world to connect and seek new ways to grow the LPG industry.

“Blessed with a vast gas resource, every stakeholder must seek innovative ways to harness the tremendous endowment of this very clean domestic fuel for use in Africa. We have partnered with the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) to host this world-class event that is not only gathering the brightest minds in the gas industry globally but also to collaborate to find solutions to the LPG challenges that are unique to the global markets. I look forward to welcoming participants to this event as I am confident of a very positive and impactful outcome”, Ms Hapiak said.

The Nigeria LP Gas Association (NLPGA) is the umbrella body of all Stakeholders in the LP Gas sector in Nigeria. The primary objective of the Association is to promote the use of LP Gas in Nigeria at affordable costs.

It also aims at protecting the interests of the LP Gas industry and the entire Nigerian socio-economic environment at large, through public policy advocacy, creation and facilitation of commercial and industrial opportunities, provision of business development services and observance of the highest standard of operational and business ethics.

The Association stated that itaims to promote and encourage the highest standard of professionalism and sound ethics in the LP Gas sector as well as empower all stakeholders through information, education and networking.

The organizers insist that LPG Summit events provide a platform for the LPG industry in the developing world through its mid to large-sized events.

“We want our exhibitions to continue to be successful and that the customer experience worth the while, exciting and above all, make bigger and better marketplace for the downstream business.

“We focus more carefully at the upstream and midstream businesses so that our conferences can be topical and informative for all delegates and all stakeholders.

Our events are also designed to create a platform for government officials, experts and stakeholders to make announcements on the future direction of the industry concerned.”

Nigerian Content to lower oil industry cost Sopuruchi Onwuka

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reater consumption of local goods and services in the petroleum industry are key to sustainable and cost efficient project delivery in the country.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, declared in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, that adoption and promotion of local content in all industry activities in the country have critical national security and economic implication.

He explained that local service companies and skilled Nigerians personnel ensured sustained operations in the oil and gas industry during the height of restiveness in the Niger Delta region when most foreign companies and their staff pulled out.

Mr. Wabote who hosted the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in the agency’s office in Yenegoa stated that indigenous contractors have proven to deliver oil industry projects cheaper and in defiance of security concerns in the environment.

He explained that several Nigerian oil service companies had executed several projects at costs much lower than their international counterparts just as in countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Norway where decades of Local Content practice crashed cost of oil and gas production.

According to him, use of

local content also provides opportunity for the government to empower its citizens with oil and gas industry jobs.

He made it clear that use of local content guarantees security of supply in the industry and lowers the cost of crude oil production, particularly in the long run.

He listed other key elements that contribute to high crude oil production cost in Nigeria to include security and infrastructural challenges as well as protracted contracting cycle.

In providing details on the new 17 story NCDMB head office building delivered with use of local services, <Mr. Wabote reiterated that the project recorded huge impact on the local community.

According to him, “when we started, we took about 50 youths from the host communities and trained them in carpentry, masonry, laying of tiles and other skills. Today, those youths are working on the facility and because of the skills they have acquired, the contractor will take them to other projects.

Earlier in his speech, Chief Sylva stated that government would deepen the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, saying it is an effective strategy for lowering Nigeria’s high crude oil production cost.

The Minister who was on his first working visit to NCDMB emphasized that government’s primary target in the sector was to significantly reduce the unit cost of producing per barrel of

crude oil.

He agreed with Mr Wabote that “local contractors tend to be cheaper than expatriates and international contractors and that’s why we want to encourage Local Content and give more opportunities to local contractors. By extension we will reduce the cost of doing business in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

“Local Content is part of cost reduction strategy. That’s why I came here,to encourage more local participation in the activities of the industry.”

The Minister also lauded the NCDMB for epitomizing its mandate by using an indigenous contractor to develop its new headquarters. He described the edifice as world class and a clear demonstration of the capacity of Nigerians contractors.

He said such superlative performance on projects would pave way for the engagement of other local contractors in the oil and gas and construction sectors. ”When you have seen one contractor perform this good, you are encouraged to patronize more local contractors.”

With the new NCDMB’s office in Bayelsa, he noted, “there will be a lot of oil and gas related activity in the Niger Delta.”

“I am quite impressed with what they have done in a very short time of existence. The new headquarters building is a testament to that impressive performance and of course, you have the 10 mega watts independent power plant. It isa modular plant that can be increased up to 25 megawatts.”

Iran declares discovery of 53 Bbbl in one field

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ran has discovered a new oil field that has 53 billion barrels of crude in place,.

The oil field in the southwest province of Khuzestan that straddles the border with Iraq spans 2,400 square km and is 80 meters deep, Hassan Rouhani said in a televised address from the central province of Yazd.

Iran had proved oil reserves of 155.6 billion barrels at the end of 2018, or 9% of the world’s total, according to the BP Statistical Review of Energy 2019.

Iran said in October it discovered a natural gas deposit in the southern province of Fars, holding as much as 19 trillion cubic feet of the fuel.

The reservoir called Eram also holds as much as 385 million barrels of condensates, Reza Dehghan, director of development and engineering affairs at the National Iranian Oil Co., said at the time.

Drilling took nine months and started last year, he said.

The value of the resource

could be as much as $40 billion, he said.

Iran shares ownership of the world’s largest natural gas deposit, South Pars and North Field in the Persian Gulf, with Qatar. While the field has helped Qatar to become the world’s largest liquid natural gas exporter, Iran has mostly used

its part of the field for domestic uses.

The development of the Eram gas field will start in two or three years, Dehghan said. Once production starts, the gas will be used for domestic consumption as well as for Eram itself to prevent a decline in pressure.

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION Africa Re commences new HQ building project in Abuja

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frica Re has commenced the building of its new head office project with the foundation laying ceremony signaling the imminent relocation of the headquarters from Lagos to Abuja.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello was Guest of Honour of the ceremony, which was attended by Nigerian Government Officials, members of diplomatic corps, insurance industry captains, representatives of international institutions and dignitaries from various sectors.

This relocation is in line with the practice which requires that diplomatic missions and international institutions should be located in the capital city of the host country.

Africa Re’s move to Abuja was delayed until now due to

business considerations.

The building, whose foundation was laid, last Monday is futuristic, with a unique and modern design.

It comprises 7 main floors, designed to comply with international standards and uses strategies aimed at energy saving and water efficiency.

Accordingly, its energy management system includes solar panels, which will make use of the Abuja sunlight as an alternative source of energy, thereby contributing to the reduction of the burden on the national grid.

The design also provides for a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and improved indoor environmental quality.

Addressing the audience during the ceremony, the Chairman of Africa Re, Mr Hassan Boubrik, stated: “Relocating to the seat of government is like a child

NAICOM approves Abidogun as substantive MD/CEO of Guinea Insurance

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ational Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has approved the appointment of Ademola A. Abidogun as the substantive Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Guinea Insurance Plc. The approval came in a letter dated 8th November 2019, captioned “Final Approval to Appoint Mr. Ademola A. Abidogun as the Substantive Managing

Lagos Govt woos insurance companies over health scheme Stories by VICTOR NZE

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agos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on insurance companies to partner with the State government for the successful implementation of the newly introduced Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (LSHIS).

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Wednesday at the 65th birthday celebration of the

first female President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Laide Osijo and the commissioning of the Plum House, EbuteMetta, Lagos.

The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, reiterated the importance of health insurance and urged the practitioners to partner with the State to complement government expenditure

in support of people with medical challenges.

He also implored religious leaders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to assist the government in enlightening residents of their respective communities on the health scheme, saying “For instance, the fire incident that occurred in Lagos Island this week, though very unfortunate, but the truth is that between 80-90 percent of the traders do not have insurance to

cover their losses. We must, therefore, find a way to meet the exigencies of getting our people to embrace insurance schemes against unseen circumstances”.

Sanwo-Olu also stressed the need for insurance practitioners to institutionalise the culture of insurance among the citizens by finding ways to relate and get people informed about the importance of insurance in their day to day activities.

Pension Asset rises by 2.76% in Q3 2019

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he National Pension Commission (PenCom) has announced a 2.76 per cent% increase in its pension fund assets for the third quarter (Q3) of 2019.

The commission made this known when it released its report on pension fund assets, that its asset for the third quarter of 2019 showing that the total value of pension

assets rose quarter on quarter (q-o-q) by 2.76% to N9.58 trillion in September 2019 from N9.33 trillion in June 2019.

According to the report, most of the pension fund

assets were invested in FGN securities as its share of the total assets stood at 71.43% (or N6.84 trillion) in September 2019, from a 69.55% it printed in June 2019.

Director/CEO of Guinea Insurance Plc. Commenting, Chairman, Board of Directors of the company, Barr.

Godson Ugochukwu, said in a statement that: “ Mr. Abidogun brings to Guinea Insurance Plc, 24 years of experience in providing strategic and operations leadership in uniquely challenging situations in the insurance industry.”

Niger Insurance declares N593.8m operating profit for 2018

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iger Insurance Plc on Thursday announced that it achieved a modest operating profit of N593,808,000 in 2018.

Chairman of the company, Mr Stephen Dike, made the disclosure during the presentation of the company’s Annual Report and Financial Statements of the year ended December 31,2018 at its 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

He said that the figure was an improvement, coming after the loss of N978,927,000 registered in 2017.

Dike said that the company’s Gross Premium Written in 2018 was N4,450,453,000, a decrease from N8,585,781,000 written in 2017.

He said the Gross Premium Income was N5,215,326,000, also a decrease from N7,316,049,000 reported in 2017.

According to him, the performance is below the insurance company’s target of achieving growth in excess of the rate of inflation.

Dike explained that the board of the company in 2017, as part of restructuring its assets to enhance liquidity, approved the sale of some real estate properties.

“However, the sale of these properties worth N6.387 billion was not concluded within the past two years, consequently, they

were reclassified.

“The properties were valued at the lower of carrying and fair market value less cost of sale.

“Nonetheless, with the renewed support of reputable agents, the Management is optimistic that the sale will be concluded within the next financial year,” he said.

The Chairman said that following the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recent directive for insurance and reinsurance companies to recapitalise by June 2020, Niger Insurance, as most other insurance firms, was expected to shore up its capital to the tune of N15billion.

He said that the company had engaged Chapel Hill Denham and Mainstream Bank Capital Limited as financial advisers, to assist it in developing a viable strategic blueprint for the successful recapitalisation of the company.

Dike said Niger Insurance plc was exploring an optimal mix of funding options, including right issues, private placement, merger and or acquisition.

“The uncertainties in the global and domestic economies have introduced additional negative dimensions to the challenges facing insurance companies in Nigeria.”

From left: Executive Director, Okanlawon Adelagun; Company Secretary, Moses Omorogbe;, Chairman, Joshua Fumudoh and MD/CEO, Daniel Braie, all of Linkage Assurance Plc , at the company’s Extraordinary General Meeting in Lagos.

FGN/IFAD VCDP urges Anambra farmers to embrace insurance

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ederal Government/ International Fund for Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has advised farmers in Anambra to embrace insurance schemes to mitigate losses during disasters.

FGN/IFAD-VCDP Agricultural Production Officer in the state, Mr Emmanuel Chukwukwelu, gave the advice at a sensitisation forum on insurance cover for farmers at Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area near Onitsha on Tuesday.

Chukwukwelu said the programme was currently paying an insurance premium to over 2,000 farmers in the eight participating council areas.

He said the payment include the 750 farmers, who had benefitted from a N9 million fund set aside for the insurance premium.

“We want to further sensitise farmers on insurance because the weather situation cannot be determined any more. We want to encourage farmers to always take insurance cover when they

plant their crops, rather than waiting until VCDP insures one hectare for them.

“VCDP insurance premium will only cover one hectare of rice farm for those that benefitted from our inputs,’’ he said.

He said the insurance programme was the only successful window through which the Federal Government could assist farmers affected by hazards like flooding, fire and pest.

State Manager, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Cooperation, (NAIC) Mr

Andrew Uzoma, also enlightened the farmers on insurance policies documentation and claims settlement procedure.

Uzoma said NAIC was preparing indemnity owed to farmers with claims in this year’s disaster.

He also said that the corporation had paid more than N132 million indemnity to farmers in Anambra farmers in 2018.

The manager expressed happiness that more communities were keying into the insurance policy.

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Travel & Hospitality Delta debuts industryleading international Main Cabin experience

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elta turns up the hospitality with new service designed by flight attendants, endorsed by customers Delta is raising the bar on hospitality as its reinvented international Main Cabin service officially takes flight.

Designed to delight, the new service which launched on 5th November, 2019 worldwide* features thoughtful touches like welcome cocktails, hot towel service, bistro-style dining and more.

“How we make every customer feel across their travel journey is extremely important to us,” said Allison Ausband, Delta’s Senior Vice President — In-Flight Service.

“That’s why our team designed this new service through the eyes of our customers – putting their ideas into action and giving them a delightful experience that exceeds their expectations. We want every customer, no matter where they sit on the flight, to know how much they’re appreciated.”

Since the beginning, Delta has had a design team comprised of more than 20 flight attendants who’ve been leading the charge, rigorously testing and refining the service along the way to get it just right. The airline tested this service on more than 1,200 flights – making it the longest-tested service in Delta’s history.

The flagship service includes a multitude of thoughtful enhancements that are sure to delight customers throughout their long-haul flights, including: A welcome cocktail to help settle in: Shortly after reaching cruising altitude, Main Cabin customers will be presented with a welcome cocktail to kick off the experience. For its first welcome cocktail, the airline landed on an Italian classic: the Bellini, a combination of sparkling wine and peach nectar. It’s globally known, fit for a celebration, and offers a subtle nod to Delta’s Georgia roots.

Bistro-style dining and elevated serviceware: During meal service, customers can select their choice of upgraded appetizers and larger entrees – mixing and matching much like traditional restaurant dining.

Standard meal trays will be replaced with more elegant, custom-designed serviceware made with 30 percent biobased materials, featuring upgraded cutlery that ditches the plastic wrapper in favor of a new, sleek placemat for use on the tray table.

On-demand snacks, available for the long haul: In addition to the welcome cocktail and refreshed dining options, Delta is debuting a new anytime snack basket that will be available for guests after meal service.

The basket will include a rotating variety of sweet and savory snacks, such as Cheez-It crackers, Tillamook cheese, OREOs, KIND Bars and the airline’s beloved signature Biscoff cookies.

“This is about rethinking the entire Main Cabin experience to wow our customers,” said Ron Walk, a Portland-based flight attendant and design team member who’s been involved in the service since the very beginning. “The thoughtful touches we’ve incorporated throughout are aimed at making connections with customers to show them how much they’re valued.”

Delta’s reinvented Main Cabin experience has already received rave reviews from customers – with increased customer satisfaction scores on the routes it’s been tested on over the past year.

Delta’s new international Main Cabin service is part of the airline’s multi-billion dollar investment in the overall customer experience. In the past several years, the airline has also made significant enhancements to the Main Cabin experience including free Main Cabin meals on select domestic coast-to-coast routes, free mobile messaging, free in-flight entertainment, upgraded Main Cabin snacks, the addition of sparkling wine, access to Wi-Fi on nearly all flights and refreshed Flight Fuel food-forpurchase options. Recent upgrades to the Delta One in-flight experience include upgraded TUMI amenity kits, the introduction of seasonally rotating, chef-designed Delta One menus with the option to pre-select first choice of entree, an Alessi-designed collection of serviceware and more.

From right: Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Comptroller General Immigration, Muhammad Babandede; senior management of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu present during the unveiling of the Migration Information & Data Analysis System (MIDAS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).

Four Points by Sheraton Lagos offers guests ‘Magical Season’ Stories by VICTOR NZE

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anagement of Four Points

by Sheraton Lagos Hotel has assured its guests that the experience of this festive season will linger on in their minds even long after it has ended.

It has, therefore, concluded plans to offer fantastic and exciting freebies to its esteemed customers this season and also thrill them to a 25 day of magic beginning from the 1st to the 25th of December 2019, there will be exciting freebies every day.

Explaining further, General Manager, Mr. Jonathan Patterson, said the hotel has made available magical offers for everyone, from food lovers to music enthusiasts.

“For those visiting our hotel, get ready to light up your mind

and sight as the ambience of the statement décor will highlight the Christmas spirit for those coming through the doors of our hotel”. He says “it will be one that our guests will remember for a long time”.

According to Jonathan, in the spirit of creating an unforgettable experience for our guests, room rates have been discounted to as low as N62, 000 per night, including breakfast for two, high speed internet, access to the gym and swimming pool and all taxes.

“This offer is available throughout the festive season.

The ambience in the hotel is truly something not to miss. Kids will be delighted with our Christmas village kiddies set up, packages and entertainment geared to keep families having fun while relaxing.

“There is also a 20 per cent discount off individual gym

membership registration this festive season, which entitles you access to the swimming pool, aerobic studio classes and more.

“Our food & beverage offerings will be tailored to specially meet the taste of all our customers, with inspiring Christmas, Boxing Day & New Year Brunches and a selection of beverages.

“The Spa is also not left out, as you can spoil yourself and family members at the Four Points Lagos Spa with a selection of Balinese massage, your choice of Four Points spa pedicure or fruity special, couples massage, couples facials and lots more.

“We are looking forward to having all our guests with their families over to share and enjoy this Magical season of good cheer with us,” said Jonathan.

FTAN seeks national policy on ‘Cultural Tourism’ in Nigeria

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ational President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Rabo Saleh, has called on the Federal Government to come up with a national policy on ‘Cultural Tourism’ to boost the sector.

Saleh said this on Tuesday at the 5th Edition of Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja, with the theme: “An Insight into the Legal Framework of Tourism in Nigeria”.

Saleh said that domestic and international tourism experts have

concluded that cultural tourism was Nigeria’s most competitive tourist product, if properly harnessed.

“Nigeria is a promising African tourism destination, therefore, there should be no dichotomy between ‘culture’ and ‘tourism’.

“Culture and Tourism departments in government ministries should work as a team to sell Nigeria to inbound tourists. Other countries, like Turkey and China have recently been investing in cultural tourist products with enviable success,” he said.

The FTAN president urged Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and other stakeholders to utilise the opportunities to put Nigeria on the global tourism map.

He added that this could be achieved by the diversification of the economy through cultural tourism products that would attract inbound forex spending tourists, also by promotion of domestic tourism to create business.

“State governments are the natural custodians of most tourist sites

because the sites are all local.

“Mapping out tourism development zone at the Local Government level, provision of tourist facilities such as access roads, facilitating land acquisition for tourism investors should be put into consideration,” he said.

He called on the government, both federal and state to analytically look at the Nigeria’s tourism map and build up a motor-able road that would lead to and fro tourist destinations in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr Samuel Alabi,

Chairman, FTAN Board of Trustees, appealed to the FG to allocate land to FTAN for tourism to flourish.

Alabi, also a former president of FTAN, added that allocating land to the association would help tourism development in Nigeria.

The event attracted personalities from the Federal Ministry of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Orientation Agency as well as stakeholders in the tourism sector, among others.

Air Peace begins Kano-Owerri-Kano flights November 26

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ir Peace has confirmed that it will commence Kano-OwerriKano flight effective from Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

The airline’s Corporate Communications Executive, Stanley Olisa, disclosed this in a statement released revealing that the flight

days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

He noted that Air Peace has provided a direct connectivity between the two destinations, adding that passengers do not have to travel from Kano to Lagos or Abuja to connect a flight to Owerri.

“It is our promise to interconnect every part of this country. This is our gift to the unity of our nation.

Be assured we are coming with more destinations”, the airline’s spokesperson said.

According to him, ‘It is part of our vision to create more seamless

connections and network options for our esteemed customers across Nigeria, and we cannot fail in this regard’.

The image-maker reiterated the commitment of the airline to giving its passengers best-in-class flight experience, while adding “we will

continue to improve our delivery of safe and comfortable flights”.

Olisa urged the flying public to continue to fly Air Peace, a truly Nigerian airline that has significantly impacted the growth of the country’s economy in a number of ways.

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The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

AVIATION

Prioritise SAATM, safety, cost, gender diversity –IATA charges Nigeria, others Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has charged Nigeria as well as other member countries in Africa to focus on four key areas in growing the industry on the continent.

According to IATA, the four areas which include; Safety, Costcompetitiveness, Opening the continent to travel and trade, and Gender diversity, need to be prioritised in order ‘to allow aviation to drive economic and social development on the continent, enrich people’s lives and enable the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG’s).’

Speaking during the just-concluded 51st Annual General Assembly of the African Airline Association (AFRAA) in Mauritius, IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, in a keynote speech, highlighted the four areas to improve aviation safety in Africa.

“Across the African continent, the promise and potential of aviation is rich. Already it supports USD 55.8 billion in economic activity and

6.2 million jobs. And, as demand more than doubles over the next two decades, the critical role that aviation plays in Africa’s economic and social development will grow in equal proportion. With the right tax and regulatory framework, the opportunities aviation creates to improve people’s lives are tremendous,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO in a keynote speech at the 51st Annual General Assembly of the African Airline Association (AFRAA) in Mauritius.

On safety, the IATA chief said more African states need to incorporate the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) into their safety oversight systems.

Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo and Zimbabwe have done so, while also advising smaller operators to consider becoming IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) certified since ISSA provides a valuable operational benchmark for carriers not eligible for IOSA. “African states need to implement ICAO standards and recommended practices in their regulations. Currently,

only 26 states meet or exceed the threshold of 60% implementation.

“Our top priority is always safety. And we must never forget that global standards have helped to make aviation the safest form of long-distance transport. There is a good example of that in the safety performance of African airlines. The continent had no fatal jet accidents in 2016, 2017 and 2018. That is largely due to the coordinated efforts of all stakeholders with a focus on global standards, guided by the Abuja Declaration. But there is still more work to do. Taking these three steps will raise the safety bar even higher,” said de Juniac.

Speaking on cost-competitiveness, de Juniac in highlighting the need for a cost-competitive operating environment for airlines in Africa, said: “African carriers lose $1.54 for every passenger they carry. High costs contribute to these losses Flying is not a luxury—it is an economic lifeline for this continent. That’s why it is critical for governments to understand that every extra cost they add to the industry reduces aviation’s effectiveness as a

catalyst for development.”

The global agency, therefore, called on Nigeria and others to: Follow ICAO standards and recommended practices for taxes and charges; Disclose hidden costs such as taxes and fees and benchmark them against global best practice, and; Eliminate taxes or cross-subsidies on international jet fuel.

IATA also called on governments to follow treaty obligations and ensure the efficient repatriation of airline revenues at fair exchange rates.

Currently funds are blocked in 19 African states.

“It is not sustainable to expect airlines to provide vital connectivity without reliable access to their revenues,” said de Juniac.

On opening the continent to travel and trade, IATA called on governments to liberalize intra-Africa access to markets and urgently implement three key agreements which have the potential to transform the continent.

According to the agency, these include: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) - to boost intraAfrica trade through the elimination

of import duties and non-tariff barriers; The African Union (AU) Free Movement Protocol - to ease the severe visa restrictions that African countries impose on African visitors; as well as the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) – to open up intraAfrica air connectivity.

“My message to governments on this triumvirate of agreements is simple—hurry-up! We know the contributions that connectivity will make to the UN SDGs. Why wait any longer to give airlines the freedom to do business and Africans the freedom to explore their own continent,” said de Juniac.

IATA also called for the industry to do more to improve its gender diversity and for airlines in the region to support the recently launched 25by2025 campaign.

The 25by2025 campaign is a voluntary program for airlines to commit to increasing female participation at senior levels to at least 25% or to improve it by 25% by the year 2025. The choice of target helps airlines at any point on the diversity journey to participate meaningfully.

Air Peace seals US$212.6m deal for three additional E195-E2 jets

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t the Dubai Airshow, Embaer has announced that Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has signed a firm contract for three additional E195-E2s, confirming purchase rights for the original contract signed in April this year.

These new E195-E2s will be included in Embraer’s 2019 fourthquarter backlog and have a value of USD 212.6 million, based on Embraer’s current list prices.

Air Peace is the first airline in Africa set to operate the E-Jets E2, Air Peace’s firm order, announced in April this year, is now for 13 E195-E2s with 17 purchase rights for the same model. The first delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2020.

“The E195-E2 is the perfect aircraft to expand our operations in Africa and this new order is a further confirmation of our ‘no-cityleft-behind initiative which we shall continue to execute”, said Air Peace chairman/CEO, Allen Onyema.

He added, “We are receiving impressive data about the aircraft’s economics now that is in revenue service, and this was a driver to place this new firm order with Embraer.

We look forward to receiving our first aircraft, which will enhance connectivity in Nigeria and the African region, while feeding longhaul flights from our Lagos hub.”

The e195-E2s ordered by Air Peace will have dual configurations with 12-seater business class and 102-seater in the economy class.

The aircraft also comes in single configuration of all economy class of 144 seats.

Air Peace Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ejiroghene Eghagha who signed the new deal on behalf of the airline said, “The

E195-E2 is the perfect aircraft to expand our domestic and regional operations and the new deliveries will ease our subsidiary fleet in the Air Peace Hopper to actualise our ‘no-city-left-behind initiative which we shall continue to execute”.

“We are receiving impressive data about the aircraft’s economics when in revenue service, and this was a driver to place this new firm order with Embraer.

We look forward to receiving our first aircraft, which will enhance connectivity in Nigeria and the African region. The new order will gradually replace our existing fleet, which will make us the airline with the youngest fleet in the world.

“It is our plan to connect the whole Nigerian cities that have airports and burst the triangular routs by connecting flights to direct destinations. Air Peace is looking forward to serving Nigerians with these brand new airplanes and adding more routes to the existing ones for the overall development of our country,” Mrs. Eghagha said.

Air Peace also disclosed that with the delivery of the new jets, it would connect more cities in its domestic operations by developing new routes and connecting people to business hubs at different parts of the country.

“We will like to develop new routes to enhance the nation’s economy. We will like to connect Owerri to Kano, Benin to Port Harcourt, Ibadan to some destinations in the northern part of the country. We will also like to connect Sokoto to Maiduguri, Lagos to Gombe. We would connect these cities without stops in Lagos or Abuja.”

From left: Philip Poutissou Vice President Sales and Marketing DHC, Sameer Adam, Regional Vice President, Sales EMEAR, Elizabeth Jack-Rich, CEO Elin Group Nigeria; Todd Young Chief Operating Officer DHC; Managing Director Caroline Pritheesh and Managing Director Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi during the signing of the Elin Group Nigeria’s deal for three new E195-E2 jets.

Elin Group orders three Dash 8-400 at $99m for Niger Delta operations

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lin Group of Nigeria at the Dubai Air Show, has made a firm order of three Dash 8-400 turboprops worth $99 million from De Havilland Canada set to be delivered in 2020 to airlift oil and gas personnel in and out of airstrips in the Niger Delta.

The aircraft will be supported by Nigerian airline and MRO Company, Aerocontractors, in areas including maintenance, spare parts, and logistics given that the company has been operating various versions of the Dash 8 for almost 30 years.

Elin Group has diversified business interests, including real estate, power generation,

agriculture, and aviation.

Elin Group’s managing director Caroline Pritheesh said: “We are in the private charter transport services sector. We’re moving on to improve the efficiency and transport services in international oil companies.

“The Dash 8-400 turboprop has been operating in Nigeria with other carriers and we have seen how this aircraft can support our diverse operational requirements.”

The company also signed a deal to make Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of the UAE its first authorized service facility (ASF) in the Middle East.

The agreement with FAS means the company will be able to offer heavy maintenance services for the Dash 8-400 from its Abu Dhabi base.

The company also operates three of the type itself and provides MRO support to five more in service with Qazaq Air in Kazakhstan.

FAS has been operating the Dash 8-400 for around five years, with its bread and butter business in the oil and gas industry.

The new ASF will be the first in the Middle East and North Africa; the nearest ASFs are currently based in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines is a major user of the Dash 8-400 – and India.

Aviation industry in Africa supports 6.2m jobs, contributes $55.8bn GDP –ICAO

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resident of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Dr. Bernard Aliu has said that African aviation industry is not only one of the fastest growing today but that it currently supports 6.2 million jobs and contributes $55.8 billion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

He said this at the 50th anniversary celebration of the

African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in Dakar, Senegal.

According to him, “In Africa today, air transport supports 6.2 million jobs and 55.8 billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the African aviation market is one of the world’s most promising in terms of its overall growth potential, due largely to your emerging industrial sectors

and steadily increasing population figures.”

He stated that “in accordance with ICAO’s long-term traffic forecasts, passenger traffic for the Africa region is expected to grow by 4.3 per cent annually up to 2045, while freight traffic should also expand faster than world average, at 3.9 per cent annually over the same period.”

He also noted that these increases should see aviationrelated employment in Africa increasing to roughly 9.8 million jobs by 2036, and its air transport GDP impacts almost tripling to $159 billion over the same period.

These trends he said, certainly underscore the tremendous potential of well-managed and ICAO-compliant air transport

growth to lift this continent into a new era of promise and prosperity.

“Air connectivity is a unique and indispensable catalyst for socioeconomic growth, and one which facilitates mobility and contributes to the development of trade, tourism, and services both within Africa and between it and the world,” he noted.

27

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

e-Platform

Tizeti launches 4G LTE to accelerate broadband penetration in Nigeria

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n line with its focus on accelerating access to affordable broadband connectivity in Africa’s underserved populations, Tizeti West Africa’s pioneer solar-based internet service provider, has launched its 4G LTE network in Nigeria, with the plans to extend to leading cities in Nigeria and West Africa in 2020.

Announcing the rollout of high-speed 4G services to Rivers, Ogun and Edo States, in a first phase launch, Tizeti’s Chief Executive Officer, Kendall Ananyi promises its 4G connectivity will empower more Nigerians in Nigeria’s South-South and SouthWest states, stimulate economic activities and provide unlimited access to affordable and reliable broadband services.

This launch follows the build of brand-new, solar-powered, 4G-capable towers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where Tizeti will offer its first 4G and ISP services, to be followed by new towers in Ogun and Edo. Ananyi believes that this new solution will boost internet penetration in the new states and contribute to accelerating digital transformation across Nigeria ”Access to affordable and reliable unlimited internet

connectivity has been an intractable problem for a lot of Nigerian businesses and residential customers, especially for people in Edo, Rivers and Ogun States. To address this and provide a sustainable and costeffective solution, we leverage our solar-powered, always-on towers and robust internet bandwidth from MainOne to create a low CAPEX and OPEX network of owned and operated towers. This allows us to offer customers unlimited internet at 30 to 50% the cost of traditional mobile data plans”.

The launch of its 4G network provides Tizeti the opportunity to drive the growth in demand for eCommerce, music, interactive games and video consumption in Nigeria, especially from popular social media apps that have integrated video calling and video stories as well as content sites such as YouTube, Netflix, and Iroko.

The price for a Tizeti unlimited plan is 9,500 Nigerian Naira per month. The company has 1.1 million unique users and internet services that include a new Skype-like personal and business enterprise communications service and access to video streaming sites & services.

UAVs project to boost Lagos Smart City initiative –Sanwo-Olu

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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agos State Government has expressed commitment to actualising its smart city status with the launch of Two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, (UAVs), to provide a more convenient system in the delivery of the digital mapping infrastructure that will support the vision of making Lagos a 21st-Century economy, driven by innovation and technology.

Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, who made the disclosure, Tuesday, during the inauguration of the Tiguar S-410 UAVs at the Sport complex of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, said: “We are confident that with this Project, Lagos will also be able to control the process, rather than working with an outside vendor or being stuck with generic imagery that doesn’t meet the temporal requirement of the state”.

Represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, the Governor maintained that the new development will transform the landscape of the State, delivering systems that support the dream of a greater Lagos, enhancing the aesthetics of our environment and uplifting the standard of living of Lagosians without jeopardising their livelihood.

“It is our belief that the improved geospatial data from this initiative will ultimately lead to improved planning and services to the people”, he added.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Adeniji, said that the Tiguar S-410 series UAV is part of the LASG enterprise’ GIS upgrade and integrated land administration

automation system.

“The objective is to provide a full digital mapping platform and an integrated end-to-end land administration system, effectively reducing silos of information that exist across MDAs”, he added.

Adeniji further noted that the acquisition of a UAV is a futuristic cost-saving measure for updates of aerial imagery, reiterating that with the rate of development of the State, regular update of the imagery is inevitable and the cost of hiring specialised aircraft may grow unreasonably high for the government over the years, hence the need for procurement of the UAVs. The Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, in his remarks, commended the State Government for the outstanding initiative which would also aid efficiency in Land Administration.

Google introduces audio translation within Maps for Android and iOS

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oogle Maps is one of the most important assets of a traveler in a foreign country, but now the service is about to get better. The company is adding a new translator feature next to the name of the place of interest that will say the name or address out loud, helping tourists get there easier than ever.

The foreign landmarks will have a small speaker icon that will read out the location, and will also offer a button to get more translations if you want to continue the conversation with locals. In order to work, first you must get the app updated (the

rollout is gradual, so you might have to wait up to one month) and then the spot must be in a different language than the one your phone is set to.

The text-to-speech technology automatically detects what needs to be translated.

For additional translations, the Google Translate app will be opened straight away, but for that to happen, you must have it installed, since Google stopped installing it on many phones that have their own in the UI. The feature supports 50 languages and will be available both on Android and iOS.

Boomplay, Sony Music expand in Africa

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oomplay’s vision to build the largest and most reliable digital music ecosystem for artists and content creators in Africa is bold and brave – and they are well on their way to achieving just that with their new partnership with Sony Music Entertainment.

As the biggest and fastest growing music app in Africa, Boomplay’s Director of Content & Strategy, Phil Choi, knows exactly the sort of meticulous planning that goes into an app making its digital mark on the industry.

“We are delighted to partner with SME and having their internationally recognised repertoire on board!” Choi exclaims. “This is a significant step for us in achieving our aim

to develop the African music eco-system and we are excited about the opportunities that this strategic partnership will bring for African artistes and our users.”

As a leading music, video streaming and download service in the following territories: Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, Boomplay has over 60 million users with an impressive catalogue of over 10 million songs and videos that continues to grow daily. This is the exact reason why this partnership is so important, as African artists and their catalogues will enjoy the wide reach of Boomplay’s impressive, expanding network.

The new N500, 000 Motorola razr

NCC inaugurates multi-sectorial committee on e-fraud

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igerian Communications Commission (NCC) has inaugurated multisectorial Committee on e-Fraud to drastically curb crime in the country.

Inaugurating the multisectorial committee on Wednesday in Abuja, the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the committee would develop a plan for the implementation of the MoU aimed at checking e-fraud among others.

Danbatta assured that the commission would work closely with critical stakeholders and other relevant agencies to implement technical and operational solutions in checking e-fraud.

He said that the Customer Service and Fraud Operations team in Banks and Mobile

Network Operators needed stronger processes and tighter guidelines on how to detect potentially fraudulent activities.

The NCC boss also said that victims should be compensated when prevention mechanisms failed, emphasising that effective collaboration between government agencies and private organisations was pivotal in tackling electronic fraud.

Danbatta said: “With the attainment of 35.4 per cent broadband penetration, cyber criminals, hackers and other unscrupulous elements are exploiting platform vulnerabilities to gain illegal access to bank accounts.

“Illegal access through phishing and other social engineering ploys, such as fraudulent SIM swaps to bypass authentication systems,

regardless of whether the transactions are conducted via mobile phone, desktop browser, or point of purchase.

“With this in mind, members of the committee have been carefully selected to provide broad perspectives and leverage their diverse experience to successfully deliver on this critical assignment.

“Understandably, our expectations are high and we look forward to a comprehensive and all-encompassing output from the committee.”

Earlier, Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, said prior to the Stakeholders Forum, financial fraud, using telecom platforms, was pervasive crossing borders and boundaries as well as industry spectrum.

28

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

e-Platform Sony announces Android 10 update plans for 8 smartphones, rollout starts December

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ith other device makers already updating their products to Android 10 all around, it was high time for Sony to say something official about its plans, and that’s exactly what it decided to finally do.

The company announced that eight

of its smartphones are in line to receive the newest version of the OS. These are the Xperia 1, Xperia 5, Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus, Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Compact, Xperia XZ2 Premium, and Xperia XZ3.

There is always a chance the company may include more devices later.

Microsoft to shut down Cortana app for Android, iOS from January 31

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icrosoft will be shutting down its Cortana app on Android and iOS as of January 31 next year, at least for certain markets.

That’s indicated by posts in the support forums in the UK, Canada, and Australia websites, which sounds like a global development, though there’s no such word for the US. As the post clarifies, the content you’ve created within the app will continue to be accessible through

Cortana on Windows, but in the app itself or the Microsoft Launcher.

Additionally, the ‘Microsoft To Do’ app will let you access reminders lists and tasks, which are automatically synced.

Cortana will also be further integrated into the Microsoft 365 apps making the standalone app redundant.

After January 31, a new version of the Microsoft Launcher will be made available, without the Cortana app.

Huawei gets another 3-month extension on temporary license

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n the latest episode of the Huawei ban, the United States Commerce Department has granted another 3-month extension to Huawei’s temporary general license which now extends through February 16, 2020.

This means Huawei is free to continue business with American companies for components that “do not pose a threat to national security”.

More specifically, the document from the Commerce Department states the new temporary license allows Huawei to resume limited operations in the networks and equipment sector alongside its efforts in mobile services and cybersecurity research. This is now the third extension given to Huawei since the company was initially put on the Entity List back in May. This temporary general license

authorizes certain activities, including those necessary for the continued operations of existing networks and equipment as well as the support of existing mobile services, including cybersecurity research critical to maintaining the integrity and reliability of existing and fully operational networks and equipment.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross further clarified in a press release statement that the new temporary license will help smaller carriers in remote US areas who use Huawei telecommunications equipment to continue their service.

Recently, some speculations pointed that Huawei could get an even longer, 6-month extension to its reprieve and this trend could keep coming up until the US and China manage to iron out their trade disputes.

NCC plans cheaper data rates for Nigerians

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igerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it has begun plans to see how Nigerians can get cheaper data Internet connection rates across the country.

This was made known by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, during an ICT innovation forum, themed Developing Nigeria’s Tech EcoSystem, Imperative for Improving Local Content’ in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday.

The commission further revealed that it had licensed and supported infrastructure development companies in deploying fibre optic cables across the country to enable data-based start-ups in harnessing and achieving their objectives.

The Vice Chairman, who was represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr Felix Adeoye, said that it was in support of the

Federal Government in curtailing hate speech in the cyberspace and ensuring that data were utilised positively by Nigerians.

“Within the next few years you are going to see availability of massive data all over the country.

We have licensed a number of infrastructure companies to deploy fibres all over the country and they have begun operations.”

Last month, the commission revealed that it had licensed 20 new Internet Service Providers (ISPs) between January and October this year bringing the figure to 120 ISPs in the country.

However, complaints by subscribers have always revolved around the massive cost of Internet data. It is believed that with the presence of this new services, competition will drive data costs lower.

The Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 will be the first to receive the update, at some point in December. The other six handsets will have to wait until “early 2020 onwards”, to quote Sony’s parlance. Exact timing and availability will vary by market and/or operator, as usual.

The newly unveiled 6.2-inch IPS display, 16MP selfie cam HTC Desire 19s with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage

DSN unveils AI book, plans to raise 1m experts

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ata Science Nigeria (DSN), an NGO, on Wednesday unveiled the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) book for primary and secondary schools as part of its plan to raise one million AI experts.

The unveiling which was done at a Summit in Lagos was to promote knowledge in AI and related fields for socio-economic development of Nigeria.

In computer science, Artificial Intelligence, sometime called Machine Intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans.

The Convener, DSN, Dr Olubayo Adekanmbi said that as a nation of 200 million people, with median age at 18 years, it was important to prepare the young people for the future by exposing them to the right skills.

Adekambi said that especially when it was known that most of the jobs today would go into extinction in the next five to 10 years.

According to him, the question was what becomes of the country with so much young people who were

lacking in the right skills for the ‘future jobs? ”That informed the whole idea of Data Science Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Skill Building. It has become a mandate. ”We have taken up the responsibility to say that children in this country have access to the same knowledge that students in San Francisco, Paris and London have by creating a book that will be distributed free. ”We are not going through the traditional model ‘I buy for my child’ rather ‘you buy for a community or the whole school’.

“The approach is: “make knowledge in a simplified manner,’’ he said.

Adekanmbi said that it was also to build a system that would pass on knowledge and that informed working with various state governments to run a lot of ‘train-the-trainer’ programmes to equip the teachers.

He said that DSN was going to train the teachers in batches on AI as well as giving them a few copies of the book so as to pass on to the children

till every part of the country is reached.

The convener said that government could be a part of the process to raise one million inspired young people to change the country’s narrative and make Nigeria the AI destination in future.

He called for integrating AI as part of the national curriculum which would generate more attention by the students toward learning the discipline.

He, however, urged government to support the effective production of the book which was being given out free so that every Nigerian child would be exposed to the possibilities of AI. ”Let them build the right skills and let’s get our nation ready for the opportunities that AI presents; shaping opportunity creation, innovation, invention research, and transformational possibilities,’’ Adekanmbi said.

Also at the Summit, in a keynote presentation titled, ‘Artificial Intelligence for Development’, Prof.

Thomas Dietterich, described AI as a catalyst for economic advancement.

Samsung celebrates 10yrs of Galaxy with the Anniversary Premium Package

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o celebrate 10 years of Samsung’s Galaxy phones, the phone maker is announcing the Samsung Galaxy Anniversary Premium Package; retail kit with Samsung’s latest gadgets in time for the holiday season.

The Premium Package comes with a Samsung Galaxy Note10, Galaxy Watch Active2 with extra straps, a pair of Galaxy Buds, and a Galaxy Note 10 Silicone Cover.

These products all work together nicely.

Both the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch Active2 can be recharged on the back of the Note10 with Wireless PowerShare and they both work best when paired to a Samsung smartphone.

Samsung’s “Galaxy Anniversary Premium Package” will be available starting this month in select markets. Pricing for the Premium Package is currently unavailable.

The new Samsung Galaxy W20 5G phone

29

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market

NSE: Market capitalisation sustains upward trend by N46 billion

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he nation’s bourse on Thursday sustained upward trend for the third consecutive trading session with the market capitalisation improving by N46 billion.

The market capitalisation which opened at N12.923 trillion inched N46 billion or 0.36 per cent to close at N12.969 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index rose by 95.94 points or 0.36 per cent to 26,872.09 in contrast with 26,776.15 achieved on Wednesday.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, among which are; Flour Mills of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement and Dangote Sugar Refinery.

Capital market analysts were of

the view that the equities market would sustain gains in the near term although sentiment still remains weak.

Analysts at United Capital Plc said “Looking ahead, we still expect investors to position in value and dividend paying stocks in expectation of making solid gains.”

Market breadth closed positive with 21 gainers and 12 laggards.

An analysis of the price movement table shows that Cornerstone Insurance topped the gainers’ table to close at 77k per share.

Oando followed with a gain of 9.89 per cent to close at N3.89, while Flour Mills was up by 9.85 per cent to close at N17.85 per share.

Ikeja Hotels garnered 9.62 per cent to close at N1.14, while FCMB

Group appreciated by 7.39 per cent to close at N2.18 per share.

Conversely, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) led the losers’ chart in percentage terms, dropping by 10 per cent to close at N18 per share.

Jaiz Bank followed with a decline of eight per cent to close at 69k, while Lasaco Assurance dropped 7.41 per cent to close at 25k per share.

Unilever dipped 5.68 per cent to close at N17.45, while Unity Bank for Africa shed 1.94 per cent to close at N7.60 per share.

However, the total volume traded dropped by 10.5 per cent to 239.22 million shares, worth N2.28 billion, and traded in 3,585 deals.

In spite of the growth recorded by market indices, the volume of

From left: Managing Director/CEO, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Mr. Eddie Efekoha; Chairman, Mr. Obinna Ekezie; Company Secretary, Mrs. Rukevwe Falana, and a Director, Prince Ben Onuora, during Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Extra-Ordinary General Meeting in Lagos on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

shares traded closed lower with an exchange of 239.22 million shares worth N2.28 billion in 3,585 deals.

This was against a turnover of 267.31 million shares valued at N3.05 billion achieved in 4,074 deals on Wednesday.

Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings topped the activity chart with 74.03 million shares valued at N558.42 million.

Transcorp followed with 19.19 million shares worth N19.57 million, while Zenith Bank traded 18.31 million shares valued at N342.45 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank sold 17.23 million shares worth N506.18 million, while UBA transacted 14.16 million shares valued at N107.57 million.

CSCS launches Regconnect to enhance capital market’s operational efficiency

C

entral Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc on Tuesday launched a web-based application tagged “Regconnect” to ensure easier communication with registrars in the Nigerian capital market.

CSCS Managing Director, Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, said Regconnect, powered by CSCS, would transform and improve the user experience of registrars by providing an easy to use platform in information dissemination.

Jalo-Waziri said the application was developed having reviewed CSCS operations and methods of interaction with registrars to conform with global best practices.

He stated that prior to the solution, registrars could only connect with CSCS through a Data Exchange application that did not have the ability to process the data being submitted.

According to him, the application facilitates day-today processes regarding the maintenance of registers, with immediate validation of all data being submitted to ensure the accuracy of records and in less time.

“As part of our strategic

pillars to automate and improve operational efficiency in the Nigerian capital market, the application will automate our interactions and improve CSCS connection with the registrars’ community.

“Usage of the Regconnect platform comes at no cost to all Registrars. It is an advanced replacement for the Data Exchange platform currently in use. It allows seamless integration with Registrar’s live data by offering end-to-end and system-to-system data exchange between CSCS and Registrars,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer, First Registrars and Investor Services Ltd., Mr Bayo Olugbemi, who is also the President & Chairman of Council, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR), commended the initiative.

Olugbemi, said the introduction of the solution to the Nigerian capital market was a welcome development and would ensure efficiency in service delivery.

He stated that the solution would reduce processing time, enable swift communication between registrars and CSCS, as well as enhance seamless data transmission.

Nigeria needs massive supply of private capital to develop infrastructure – ICRC

D

irector-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr Chidi Izuwah, says Nigeria needs massive supply of private capital to be able to develop its infrastructure.

Izuwah said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference on the forthcoming Joint Public Private Partnership (PPP) Consultative Forum and Nigeria PPP Network.

The PPP Consultative Forum and Nigeria PPP Network which will be sponsored by

Afreximbank is scheduled to hold on Thursday.

He explained that the country currently had 69 active PPP projects but stressed that there was a need to have more because the deficit was still huge.

Izuwah said all Nigerian port terminals and Garki Hospital in Abuja were under PPP arrangement.

According to him, ICRC is doing its best to accelerate PPP projects to touch the critical sector of the economy.

He disclosed that Ibom Deep

Seaport was on the last point of negotiation as the preferred bidder had been identified.

“Apart from Ibom Seaport, we also have Bakassi Seaport and Warri Deep Seaport which PPP arrangement was done through ICRC. “Rail line that goes from Itakpe to Warri and then to Abuja is also a PPP project which has been approved by ICRC. “University of Port-Harcourt has a world-class shopping complex built on PPP basis, if you see it, you won’t believe that you

are in a campus, you will think you are in Dubai.

“There are a lot of massive projects that the Federal Government is doing with the PPP space,” he explained.

Izuwah emphasised the need to create unified factor and synergy between the states and the Federal Government considering that most foreign investors who wanted to invest in the country only knew Nigeria.

The director-general disclosed that the upcoming event which would have some renowned

foreign investors from South Africa, would be jointly organised

by ICRC, Nigerian Governors’’ Forum (NGF) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

The Executive Director of NGF, Alhaji Abdulatif Shittu, pledged that the forum would ensure all the states embrace PPP arrangement.

Shittu said already 20 states had established PPP with offices created to enable them to work independently.

FG committed to boosting capital market competitiveness –Minister

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ederal Government on Thursday expressed readiness to provide an enabling environment that would stimulate and boost competitiveness in the Nigerian capital market.

Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated this in a keynote speech at the 23rd Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Lagos.

Adebayo, represented by Dr Francis Alaneme, Director, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, said that government was willing to partner CIS in ensuring the necessary enabling

environment.

He also said that government would ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to Nigeria’s financial sector was attainable.

Adebayo said that stockbrokers’ common agenda was to ensure the development of a strong and robust economy, especially from the perspective of the financial services sector.

“The best way to improve competitiveness is through a mixture of policies designed to help, improve capital market competitiveness and long-term investment,” he stated.

Adebayo explained that all these

measures would improve both price and non-price competitiveness.

He urged CIS to come up with policy proposal to support and address Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges such as roads, railways and housing.

He noted that government would incentivise and provide the enabling environment to support this objective to boost the competitiveness of the capital market.

“The institute should look into ways the rural community can benefit from financial inclusion and economic growth.

“Evidences suggest that well

developed financial system have strong positive impact on economic growth over a long period,” Adebayo said.

According to him, at the moment, access of the populace to financial services can tackle poverty, improve welfare and general standard of living which consequently promote economic growth.

He added that the microenvironment needed to be stabilised to create the right environment for investment, noting that the ministry would give adequate support.

Adebayo called for an inclusive engagement with the investing public as well as Nigerians that were

far away from the capital market to bring them on board.

He added that the National Savings Committee set up by the President was to boost capital market competitiveness in a micro environment.

He assured that the committee would make recommendations to the government on the best ways to mobilise savings that would lead to economic growth.

“The government recognises that foreign investors come in and when anything happens, they quickly take their money and go away but our domestic investors will always be here for us,” Adebayo said.

30

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

MONEY Market FG fiscal operations suffers setback, records N378.98bn deficit in October A Stories By KAYODE OGUNWALE

vailable data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has showed that the fiscal operations of the Federal Government for the month of October suffered an estimated total deficit of N378.98 billion, representing a significant 137.06 percent rise over the N159.87 billion anticipated in the budget for the month.

According to the CBN’s Economic Report for the month, gross federallycollected revenue fell to N894.09 billion, 28.2 percent below the N1.246 trillion budget estimate for the period; and 9 percent less than the previous month’s revenue.

The report attributed the decline, relative to the monthly budget estimate to shortfall in both oil and non-oil revenue after oil receipts representing 64.6 percent of total stood at N577.3 billion. It was below the monthly budget estimate of N798.83 billion by 27.7 percent, even as it exceeded the N467.58 billion earned in September by 23.5 percent.

“The decrease in oil revenue relative to the monthly budget estimate was attributed to shutins and shut-downs at some NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) terminals due to pipeline leakages and maintenance activities,” the report noted.

Also, the non-oil receipts for the

month stood at N316.79 billion or 35.4 percent of total revenue, which was below the monthly budget estimate of N447.24 billion or 29.2 percent, and the preceding month’s N434.52 billion or 27.1 percent.

The report blamed the drop in collection on the decline in revenue from corporate tax, Value Added Tax, Education Tax, and Federal Government’s independent revenue.

In all, the total allocation to the three tiers of government in October 2019 stood at N673.01 billion, 38.3 percent lower than the monthly budget estimate of N1.09 trillion and the preceding month’s N676.9 billion by 0.6 percent.

The Federal Government received

an estimated N316.91 billion as retained revenue for the period, 55.1 percent below the monthly budget estimate of N705.44 billion. A breakdown showed that Federation.

Total federal expenditure for the period dropped from the N865.31 billion monthly budget estimate by 19.6 percent to N695.89 billion, just as it was also below the N949.56 billion recorded in the preceding month by 26.7 percent.

A breakdown of the federal government’s expenditure for the month under review, according to the CBN, showed that recurrent gulped 57 percent, leaving 37.3 percent for capital spending, while transfers constituted 5.7 percent.

Heritage Bank celebrates International Men’s Day

Commercial Banks refund N3bn to customers

H

eritage Bank Plc, celebrated International Men’s Day 2019 themed: “Making a difference for Men and Boys”, with event held at every Experience Centres- ECs (branches) of the bank across the country.

The financial institution leveraged on this theme and coined a personal theme, which is “Break the Ice; Inspire another Man”.

To help chart a path that will champion gender parity in grand style, the male staff had engaging activities which include a men’s bonding/ mentorship session with various appealing subject of discussions in the ECs, where the senior colleagues initiated the talks alongside other male staff contributed freely to break into the parity ice; pry into how to excel in their homes, career, mental health, politics, family, education, sports and other endeavours of life. Also, as part of the activities are a themed dressing for the men (Club Jerseys or Polo Shirts on Jeans or Beige Chinos) and a celebration of the men by their female colleagues.

Commemorating the International Men’s Day celebrated annually in various countries around the world, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo emphasized that its serves as

S L-R: Ismail Omamegbe, Head, CR&S and Media & External Relations, FirstBank; Adeola Asabia, Member, Board of Trustees, Samuel Asabia Chair, Business Ethics, University of Lagos, FirstBank Endowment Programme; Banji Fehintola (CFA), President, CFA Society Nigeria at the regional level of the 2019 Ethics Challenge held in Lagos. an opportunity to highlight the issues affecting the male gender and to also appreciate the men around us.

“At the core of our services, we recognise the need for gender equality. As we know that International Women’s Day is observed on 8 March globally. In the same way, there is a day for Men’s on 19th Novembers, which is also observed worldwide. This day highlight the positive difference that men bring to the world, communities and to their families. It also raises awareness about men’s well-being

and issues that men face on a global scale,” he explained.

Addressing the Management and staff of the institution, Sekibo who recognised the immense contributions of the male counterparts, noted, “we are proud to affirm that having you men in different capacities working to imbed a difference in this organization have proved you worthy to be celebrated.

“Strong yet supportive, tough yet so kind…You sacrifice all your life for the family to bring a smile on

their faces…You toil in the office just to support your colleagues and the organization.”

He, however, assured the staff, “we also understand that having a family and a career can be a balancing act and strive to support all our staff to ensure that each person is able to reach their full career potential while maintaining a good work-life balance.

Maintaining a fulfilled workforce is important to us, whilst we conversely ensure that all our clients have the best possible experience.”

Fidelity Bank promotes financial inclusion in Ibadan, rewards customers with N15m

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idelity Bank Plc has flagged off the maiden edition of its Get Alert In Millions (GAIM) Season 4 savings promo draw in Ibadan, Oyo State, splashing 13 customers across the nation with N15 million and other consolation prizes.

The savings promo, which will end in April 2020, a duration of six mouths, will see customers cart away a total of N120 million in cash prizes.

The ucky cash prize winners for the monthly draw include Ahanna Anayo and Dunu Benjamin who won N1 million each and Ezzama Autonomous Community, Ezea South, Ebonyi State that won N2 million from South-East.

Others are Patrick Adughulu and Emmanuel (South-south) that won N1 million and N2 million respectively.

Uchenna Okonkwo and

A further breakdown of the recurrent expenditure showed that non-debt obligation accounted for 76.8 percent, and debt service payments, 23.2 percent.

Within the period also, cumulative foreign exchange inflow into, and outflow from, the Nigerian economy stood at $10.89 billion and $5.14 billion, respectively, resulting in a net inflow of $5.75 billion.

Total foreign exchange sales by the CBN to the authorised dealers for the period stood at $2.79 billion, compared with $2.8 billion in the preceding month, just as gross external reserves dropped to $39.6 billion, compared with $40.7 billion at the end-September 2019.

Onyedikachi Faith (Abuja); Musa Sani and Ghali Muhamud (North); Okechukwu Dazerlington and Chisom Akaeze (Lagos); and Akintunde Nurudeen and Francis (South West) also won N1 million each, among other winners.

Speaking at a the draw, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, the bank’s Managing Director, said that the campaign was the ninth in the series of savings promos organised by the bank in last 12 years to promote financial inclusion.

Okonkwo said that under the promo, the bank’s customers would win N82 million in the monthly draw and N38 million in the bimonthly draw, amounting to a total of N120 million, apart from other consolation prizes.

Okonkwo, who was represented

by Mrs Chijioke Ugochukwu, Executive Director, Shared Services & Products (EDSS&P), said that the campaign was to reward customers for their loyalty and patronage.

He said that the savings promo remained an integral part of the bank targeted at both existing and prospective customers of the bank.

Okonkwo said that the bank, apart from using traditional channels, would utilise digital platforms such as its Quick Response (QR) code and Virtual Assistant to reach unserved areas.

He asserted that the promo was focused on reaching out to the unbanked population across the nation.

“We embark on campaigns like this to drive financial inclusion in line with the financial inclusion strategy

of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“This savings promo allows us to take banking services to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“It also gives us an opportunity to promote a savings culture which is critical to building up investible funds for individuals and companies and a key component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth,” he added.

Also speaking, Mrs Janet Nwabuko, Head Savings Group, urged both the existing and prospective customers to embrace the promo in order to be part of the bank’s success story.

Nwabuko said that to participate in the new promo, new customers were expected to open a savings account and grow it to N20, 000 to qualify for monthly draw to win N1 million.

ome commercial banks refunded about N3.01 billion and $1.724 million to customers that lodged complaints over excess/ unauthorised charges, fraud cases, dispense errors and fund transfers, Financial Stability Report (FSR) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, revealed.

The report also disclosed that the total claims made by the customers amounted to N7.995 billion and $1.767 million but a total refund stood at N3.093 billion and $1.724.

A total of 1,496 complaints were successfully resolved by the end of second half of 2018 as against the 4,723 complaints in the first half of 2018.

According to FSR, the number of complaints received increased by 173 or 12 percent when compared to the 1,439 received in the first half of 2018. The second half of 2018 had 1,612 complaints of which 99.38 percent were against commercial banks, while 10 complaints or 0.62 percent were against Other Financial Institutions (OFIs).

The reported cases of fraud and forgeries by banks increased to 25,029 at the end of December 2018, from 20, 774 at end of June 2018, while cyber attacks dropped to N18.94 billion at the end of December 2018, from N19.77 billion by the end of June 2018.

The Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and mobile money channels recorded the highest incidences of fraud.

In order to tackle this trend, bank customers were continually sensitized on safe banking practices while banks were encouraged to implement strong authentication controls and carry out comprehensive infrastructure risk assessments.

31

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Crime

DPO abducted in Adamawa P

Teenager poisons wedding guests Stories by VICTOR NZE

P

olice in Katsina State on Thursday confirmed the arrest of one Mudasiru Tanimu,18, for allegedly poisoning some guests olice Command in Adamawa at a wedding ceremony in Barhim has confirmed the abduction village of Bagarawa Local Governof Mr Ahijo Mujeli the Divisional ment Area of the state.

In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Gambo Isah, said Tanimu allegedly conspired with one Nafiu Umar, also 18, to prepare the poisonous “concoction” for the guests.

“The command arrested the Tanimu, who lives in Barhim village. He

was assisted by one Nafiu Umar, 18, who is at large. The concoction was put in drinks that was served at a wedding at Barhim village in Bagarawa local government area. ”Consequently, one Iliya Musa, 25, and a 16-year-old girl drank the concoction and instantly became unconscious. The victims were

rushed to the General Hospital Katsina, where Musa was confirmed dead while the other victim is in a state of deep intoxication.”

According to the police, the suspect confessed to the crime, adding that investigation was ongoing while efforts are in top gear to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Mubi North by gunmen.

The spokesman for the command, DSP Suleiman Yahaya, who confirmed this, Wednesday, said the DPO was abducted on Tuesday night, along Mubi-Maraba road.

“He was driving in his personal car around 6.30 p.m., along MubiMaraba road near the toll-gate when he was abducted.

“There was sound of shooting around the area, when our men arrived, they met an empty car identified as his,” he said.

Yahaya said already the antikidnapping unit and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of Inspector General of Police (I-G) had swung into action, trailing the suspected kidnappers.

“We are hoping of positive he Police officer recently result and I want to use this opcaught on video collecting portunity to advise members of the public with relevant security •A cross section of participants including the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu (left) at the just-concluded bribe from an innocent Nigerian information on criminals to avail 3-day Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, which held with the theme; ‘Repositioning the Force for the Challenges has since been identified and arrested. the command same for necessary of Effective Policing in the 21st Century,’ from October 28 – 30, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos This is also the Inspector Genaction,” Yahaya said. eral of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, urged the man who brought the inglorious act of the officer to the public domain, to meet with the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, to recover the money yo State Police Command, on gaged his father, Busari Isiaka, in criminal activities usually increased extorted from him by the delinquent officer.

Thursday, paraded 40 suspects a fist scuffle and, in the process, towards the end of the year.

A statement released by Mr over alleged kidnapping, murder, strangled him.

He said that the police under his cultism and armed robbery.

“The suspect, after committing watch were resolutely determined Frank Mba, the Force Public ReThe state Commissioner of Police, the evil, called his two brothers and to constantly combing the state of lations Officer, Force HeadquarShina Olukolu, paraded the sus- narrated the incident to them. any form of criminal activities be- ters Abuja, identified the culprit pects at the command’s headquar“His two brothers immediately fore, during and after the ‘ember as a non-commissioned officer, ters, Eleyele, Ibadan. raced to their father’s house, pre- months’.

The suspects, who were arrested pared his corpse and buried him Olukolu said that the security ar- Force No.431625, Sgt Onuh at different locations and times, without informing the police in or- chitecture of the state was being Makedomu, attached to 49 PMF, ewly-appointed Commis- were found in possession of items der to conceal the crime perpetrat- constantly re-jigged with operation- but presently on special duty al strategies being reviewed and ef- with the Safer Highways Patrol, sioner of Police for Cross Riv- such as knives, live cartridges, cut- ed by their brother. lasses, locally-made guns, phones, “The Ashi divisional police station forts to combat crimes at all times Lagos. er, Mr Nkereuwem Akpan, has three cars and cash. later got the information around 6 put in place.

According to Mba, the policepledged to prioritise Community Olukolu said one of the suspects, pm., while the suspect and his two He called on the people of the Policing towards tackling crimes age 32, murdered his 72-year-old brothers were arrested and all con- state to go about their lawful busi- man ‘is currently undergoing Orderly Room trial on a two count in the State. father on Nov. 11 at about noon, fessed to the crime,” Olukolu said. nesses without any fear of moles- charge of Discreditable Conduct He said this on Wednesday in at No. 5, Alagbaka area of Ashi in The police commissioner allayed tation and reports any suspicious and Corrupt Practices at the Calabar during his maiden in- Ibadan. the fear of the residents of the movement around their environ- Provost department of the Lateraction with newsmen at the The CP said that the suspect en- state on the belief that crimes and ment to the police. gos State Police Command’. command’s headquarters.

Akpan said communal policing employed by the Inspector General of Police has helped in checkational Drug Law Enforcement Abuah had 37 big pinches and 39 “We will wait untill investiga- cured several convictions in that ing crimes in many crime prone Agency (NDLEA) in Ebonyi has small pinches, totaling 76 pinches tions are concluded to ascertain regard. states in the country. whether the female suspect is “Relevant stakeholders in Eb“We will engage stakeholders confiscated 126 kilogrammes (kg) and measuring 46kg. of cocaine and 189 kg of cannabis The NDLEA state commander innocent after claiming that she onyi should assist us in enlightfrom community to Local Government Areas and then to the sativa during a raid in notorious said that the cannabis sativa were did not know when the cocaine ening the citizens to shun illegal hideouts in the state. wrapped in four industrial, big substances were thrown into her drugs because out of the 11 constate,” Akpan said.

State Commander of the Agen- bags measuring 189kg. shop. victions we had in October for inThe commissioner appealed to “We confiscated 600 ampules “We will send samples of the stance, 10 are from Ebonyi while the media to help the command cy, Mr Isa Adoro, while displaying by reporting the truth and giving the illegal drugs at its headquar- of tramadol injections weighing packages for expert-forensic one came from Abia,” he said. ters in Ntezi, said that the agency 3.3kg and 1,200 ampules of tara- analysis because that is what we One of the suspects, Emmanuel information to the police.

He described the media as also confiscated 26.7kg of psycho- majen injections measuring 8.4kg. will tender in court and rely on Ikwuagwu admitted ownership of “We also confiscated 20,000 for the suspects’ prosecution,” the cocaine substances, attributcritical partners in crime fighting tropic substances (tramadol).

Adoro said that the cocaine sub- tablets of phenobabitan tablets he said. ing his indulgence in the crime to and urged them to help the comHe said that the agency would hardship and the zeal to survive in mand in their quest for a crime- stances were confiscated in pinch- measuring 15kg and all these total es from two suspects: Emmanuel 26.7kg,” he said. continue enlightening the Ebonyi life. free state.

He noted that four suspects populace on the dangers of hard Another suspect, Olisah Abuah, The commissioner took over Ikwuagwu and Olisah Abuah.

“The substances recovered were arrested in connection with drugs and intensify efforts to ar- said although he was caught with from Mr Austin Agbonlahor, who the substances, he actually picked has been promoted to the rank from Ikwuagwu had 59 big pinch- the confiscated substances and rest and prosecute offenders.

“We arrested over 70 suspects them from where they were hidof an Assistant Inspector General es and 115 small pinches, totaling would be prosecuted after fo174 pinches and measuring 80kg. rensic and related investigations in connection with illegal drugs den during the raid and decided to (AIG).

“The ones recovered from were concluded. since January 2019 and have se- sell them to earn a living.

Police identify, arrest bribe taking officer

T

Akpan to 40 suspects paraded for alleged kidnapping, murder, cultism prioritise community O policing in Cross River

N

NDLEA confiscates 126kg of cocaine, 189kg of cannabis sativa in Ebonyi

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32

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

NEWS Extra

54 persons die in auto crashes in Ogun in10 months- FRSC Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday, said that about 54 persons died in auto crashes in different parts of Sagamu, Ogun between January and October this year.

FRSC’s Sagamu Unit Commander, Taofiq Iyanda, made the disclosure at the ‘Ember Months Campaign”, at the Isale Oko Motor Park, Sagamu.

Iyanda said that within the Sagamu corridor, 104 road traffic crashes involving 143 vehicles were recorded, adding that about 897 persons were involved in the crashes and 329 persons sustained injuries within the period.

The unit commander advised motorists to always ensure that their vehicles were in good condition.

He said that the tendency for more people to travel in December had in the past resulted in high number of road accidents.

“Drivers tend to overload their vehicles by carrying more than the permitted number of passengers, goods and luggage. During this period, commercial drivers also engaged in excessive speed to make more trips.

“These are traffic offences that happen during the ember months up to early January,” he said.

He said that the unit command would deploy regular and special marshals as well as patrol vehicles, ambulances and power bikes along major corridors in the unit to check road crashes.

Contributing, the Corridor Commander of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Mr Kehinde Hazmat, enjoined commercial vehicle drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations and to observe the 50km/h speed limit, especially at construction zones.

Hand over all arrested vessels by Dec. -- Navy directs Commands

hief of the Naval Staff (CNS), C Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas has directed naval commands to ensure

that recently arrested vessels are processed and handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies not later than December 15.

Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

“Addressing Principal Staff Officers, Flag Officers Commanding and Commanders of autonomous naval commands, Ibas directed these units to work closely with zonal offices of prosecuting agencies and inform the Naval Headquarters and headquarters of such agencies of the handing over process.”

The CNS commended the senior commanders for the efforts being made to ensure that the nation’s maritime environment is safe, recalling the numerous operations and exercises conducted so far to achieve this feat.

He charged the Commanders to ensure that activities of criminals were curtailed and efforts are intensified by the Nigerian Navy to firmly control the maritime environment.

Ibas equally directed the Commanders to ensure that officers and ratings uphold the core values of the Navy which are professionalism, integrity and teamwork.

13,423 Nigerian students contributed $514m to U.S. economy in 2018 – Report

A

t least 13,423 Nigerians currently studying in the U.S. contributed 514 million dollars to the U.S. economy in 2018, according to official data.

The data is contained in the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The report indicates that Nigeria is the 11th leading place of origin for foreign students in the U.S. as of

the 2018/2019 session.

It accounts for 1.2 per cent of the total number of 1,095,299 international students in the country.

A breakdown of the figure shows that 5,689 of the Nigerian students are at the undergraduate level, 5,274 at the graduate level, 367 at the non-degree students, and 2,093 on Optional Practical Training (OPT).

According to Wikipedia, OPT is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students work for one year on a student visa toward

acquiring practical training to complement their education.

Nigeria is the only African country in the top 20 places of origin for international students in the U.S. China holds the top position with 369,548 students, followed by India with 202,014, South Korea (52,250), Saudi Arabia (37,080), and Canada rounding out the top five with 26,122 students.

According to the report, international students account for 5.5 per cent of the total U.S. higher education population.

Citing data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the report said that foreign students contributed 44.7 billion dollars to the U.S. economy in 2018, an increase of 5.5 per cent from the previous year.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are the top choices of international students with 52 per cent of the total studying in those fields, according to the report.

The report shows that out of 341,751 U.S. citizens studying abroad in 2017/18, Nigeria hosted 34 making it the 130th destination for American students.

The UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, China, Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan were the top 10 study destinations for American citizens, hosting an average of 18,000 students each.

South Africa occupies the 11th position on the table as host to 6,001 American students in 2017/18.

“We are happy to see the continued growth in the number of international students in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad,” said Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Speaking at the launch of the report in Washington, Royce said that promoting the mobility of international students remained a top priority for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“We want even more students in the future to see the U.S. as the best destination to earn their degrees. International exchange makes our colleges and universities more dynamic for all students.

Education at a U.S. institution can have a transformative effect for international students, just like study •Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha with his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai during the 99th National Eco- abroad experiences can for U.S. stunomic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja, Thursday dents,” she said.

Ogun State wins 2019 NNPC science quiz competition O gun State has won the 2019 Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Science Quiz Competition for secondary school students across the country.

Ogun state emerged as the winner at the grand finale of the completion held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday.

Ojo Oluwatobi from APT. Scholars Universal College, Ota, won the first price for Ogun State with 80 points while Mbazu Justice from CSMT Staff Secondary School, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, took the second position with 70+points.

Nwachukwu Ugochukwu of Dority International School Aba, Abia State took the third position with 70 points.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, said that the corporation as an enabler company would continue to contribute to education to ensure a greater Nigeria.

He said that the competition was one aspect of the corporation’s effort in supporting nation building.

“Building a successful nation has to deal with talent management and as a corporation we try to rec-

ognise them young and help them to development it well.

Also, President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, urged the students to put in their best in whatever they did in life as leaders of tomorrow.

He commended the NNPC for the initiative adding that it had helped to develop a lot of scientists in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the 2019 winner, Oluwatobi commended the NNPC for the initiative and thanked all his teachers and parents for their support.

“I am very grateful to the NNPC

Court dissolves 4 new emirate councils in Kano

A

Kano High Court presided over

by Justice Usman Na’Abba on Thursday dissolved the four additional emirates and first class emirs created by the Kano State Government.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, had on May 8, assented to a controversial law establishing four additional emirates with first class emirs in Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya.

However, the law was challenged by the then member representing Gwarzo in the Kano State House of Assembly, Rabi’u Saleh Gwarzo, at the state high court.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Na’abba said the Kano State House of Assembly had violated the provision of Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended), which allows the assembly to make laws.

He, therefore, declared the law creating the new four emirates null and void, saying the petition for the creation of the emirates was faulty and did not follow due process.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the judgement, the counsel

to the state government, who is the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Mukhtar, said the state government would analyse the judgement and take the next line of action.

Similarly, Barrister Maliki UmarKuliya, Counsel to the Plaintiff, expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

According to him, “The judgement was passed because the state government did not follow due process in enacting the law on May 6, May 7 and May 8, 2019.”

for the opportunity and the initiatives such as this. This competition has made me to read so hard, I am happy to emerge as the winner. I am grateful to my teachers, parents and all the organisers.

“With this competition, I am very sure to pass all my exams very well,’’ he said.

The corporation, also in its report, said that the competition started at the grassroots level in each of 774 local government areas and best three student proceeded to the state level.

“At the state level, the best student in each state emerges and proceeds to the zonal level and each winner at this level is entitled to a one-off educational grant of N100.000,’’ it said.

It further noted that the states at the geopolitical zones meet at different times to compete among themselves and then determine the best three states to compete at the national grand finale.

The first position got N300,000 scholarship per session as an undergraduate, while the second position got N250.000 and third position N200.000 respectively.

Eighteen states participated in the grand finale with three states representing each of the geopolitical zones.

33

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Name: Christy Twitter: @E_OnomE If you want to be our next Model of The Week, e-mail or forward your photos/data to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714

ODD NEWS

How one day a week without alcohol lowers disease risk

Y

ou might think that knocking back a drink six days out of seven doesn’t sound like the most virtuous of health plans.

But according to research, laying off alcohol for just one day a week could significantly reduce your risk of liver damage.

Scientists have previously claimed that people who drink large amounts are the most likely to develop alcoholic cirrhosis.

But now a study of 55,197 people has shown that drinking patterns can also influence your risk of developing the disease.

Volunteers were quizzed on their lifestyle, eating habits and waist circumference as part of the test. They were also asked to report their average alcohol intake in their twenties, thirties, forties and fifties.

Experts found that 342 of the study’s participants were diagnosed with cirrhosis. They used the information to calculate ‘hazard ratios’ for liver disease in relation to drinking frequency, lifetime alcohol intake and beverage type.

The results, published in the Journal of Hepatology, showed that daily drinking appears to be a risk factor along with the total amount of alcohol consumed.

It found that drinking every day was far more dangerous for our health than consuming alcohol on five or six days a week.

Study also showed recent alcohol consumption – rather than lifetime drinking habits – is a stronger predictor of alcoholic cirrhosis.

And it found that wine is linked to a lower risk of the disease compared with beer and spirits.

Researcher Dr Gro Askgaard, from Copenhagen University Hospital, said: ‘For the first time, our study points to a risk difference between drinking daily and drinking five or six days a week.

‘We can speculate that the reason may be that daily alcohol exposure inhibits liver regeneration and worsens liver damage.’

Courtesy: Daily Mail

LOVE NEWS

When love is a drug: Doctor reveals unhealthy signs you could be genuinely addicted to your partner

‘We can get addicted to people just as we can to alcohol or food’, doctor says Being addicted to your partner can damage your career and mental health Experts say it is important to enjoy time away from your partner It is often said that love conquers all and the throes of romance are a buzz that’s hard to beat, but could being in love actually be bad for you?

Experts say the way people’s brains work means you can become addicted to your partner in the same way you could be hooked on drugs or food.

If you are infatuated with your partner you could develop a dependency which has knock-on effects on your mental health, your job and your friends and family.

Dr. Femke Buisman-Pijlman, an addiction researcher at Australia’s University of Adelaide, and author and counsellor Margaret Paul, PhD, have come up with 19 signs that you could be unhealthily attached to your other half.

‘We can get addicted to people just as we can to alcohol or food,’ says Paul.

‘It’s a form of self-abandonment where you use another person to avoid responsibility for your feelings.’

In the list written for Cosmopolitan, Dr Buisman-Pjilman adds: ‘When you [first] fall in love, you can feel ecstatic like with initial drug or alcohol use.

‘When the thrill of new love subsides, you could be left with a psychological dependence where you think you need the other person.’

Here are the experts’ signs you should be worried about your relationship: You want to be with them so much it invades your own life You annoy your friends by taking your partner everywhere, and spend time with them when you should be doing more important things.

Dr. Buisman-Pijlman says: ‘Addiction is not about really enjoying something, but being unable to stop something that gives some pleasures but many problems.’

Your sex life gets in the way of the day-to-day If you’re regularly skipping work to have sex, having it in inappropriate places or at bad times, or it’s taking up hours of your day, it could be unhealthy.

Romantic Joke Freedom

A wife says, “Hey! Look at that funny guy whose been drinking a lot.” The husband responds, “Who is he?” The wife answers, “Well, five years ago, he was my boyfriend and I denied him for marriage.” “Oh my God! He’s still celebrating his freedom!” says the husband.

You can’t control your desire to see or talk to them If you set yourself rules about when you want to have contact with your partner but you can’t stick to them, you might be out of control.

You spend all your money on them It can be nice to give a gift every

now and then, or help out with the bills, but you could be dependent if you keep buying your partner presents or get into debt because of them.

You start arguments just to get attention If you often pick fights about petty things you might just be desperate for their attention, which puts strain on both of you.

You feel high when you’re around them, but low when you’re not If you feel sort of drunk with happiness when you’re together and devastated when you’re apart, you could be addicted to them.

You try to calculate how much they love you by their actions You could be obsessed if you scrutinise everything they do from their body language to the gifts they give and things you do together.

You shouldn’t agonise over trying to gauge how much they love you.

You can’t cope when they’re away for work If you stop caring and don’t want to do anything if they go on a work trip, you need to take charge of your own happiness.

Likewise, you can’t cope when they’re away with friends If they go on a weekend away with their friends you should be able to entertain yourself.

Feeling upset or angry that they’d rather be with their friends than you could be a sign that you’re too dependent.

You use sex to try and make them love you more If you force yourself to have sex with them to try and make them like you more, even though you’re not in the mood, you could be overdoing it.

Sex shouldn’t be used to buy their love, it should be something you both enjoy.

You don’t do other important things because you’re always together If the housework doesn’t get done and you don’t see your friends or phone your parents, you could be spending too much time together.

It’s important to keep normal life going outside the relationship.

You only enjoy being with them If you used to enjoy spending time with friends and family but now you only want to be with your partner, the relationship could be damaging your social circle in the long term.

You’re bad at your job because of them If you don’t get your work done because you’re too busy texting them or checking your phone to see what they’re up to, you need to take a step back.

You feel like your life would be meaningless without them You need to love yourself, too.

34

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

True Confession

‘He cheated on me while I was pregnant’ I read a lot and I decided to tell quickly tell you my story. For some time now I’m confused about my feelings and I think that by writing the story it would be easier for me to find an answer.

I met Jim my husband while I was in my early twenties and he seemed like the nicest man on earth. He bought many gifts for me and made me feel like a woman loved and in love.

Whenever he was around me, I felt like I was in heaven, because his love seemed so pure and so beautiful. It didn’t take

him too long to propose. And it didn’t take me too long to convince my parents that he was the one I wanted to marry. As far as I was concerned, no man could love me like Jimmy.

My mum tried to make me delay our marriage by saying that I was yet to complete my higher education. Actually, at that time, I was still in the university and I had hopes of graduating and getting a job which I would use to support myself and my parents. I never thought of getting married while I was still in school

but Jimmy didn’t think that way.

Jimmy was so desperate to marry me rather than wait for me to complete my studies, because according to him, he didn’t want another man to snatch me after I had graduated. In any case, Jimmy always had a problem of emotional insecurity. He always felt insecure in relationships.

I knew from the way he acted that he felt insecure. It was clear in his very jealous and obsessive attitude towards me. He almost went crazy whenever

he saw me with any guy and he always wanted to know where I had gone and where I was going at all times.

In fact, some of my friends told me that he had been monitoring my movement by bribing some of them to give him constant information on my movements.

I thought his actions were very immature, but I never confronted him over it.

In any case, I still agreed to marry Jimmy because he had been so good to me and so respectful to my parents.

He appeared like a perfect gentleman even though he was very jealous and possessive but I didn’t mind because I knew he loved me.

However, after marrying the man, with whom I thought I would spend the rest of my life, we started trying for a baby. After four years and several IVF attempts I finally got pregnant. It was a hard pregnancy.

The whole time I felt that my husband was cheating. We had many conversations, and of course he denied it. It got to point where I started to think that I was crazy or just imagining things because of the pregnancy and stressed condition.

I decided to find out if I was right and I was not surprised because there he was cheating on me the whole time with an undergraduate girl and a cultist for that matter!

There I was pregnant and the man decided to date one stupid girl who decided to come to my home with a bunch of her friends one day to tell me face to face that she was a cultist and that she was going to take my husband away from me and that there is nothing I’m going to do about it.

When my husband returned home later that day, I told him how his girlfriend had come to our house with some of her so-called friends to threaten me. I told him to be careful and stop cheating on me to avoid meeting people like that who could threaten the peaceful existence of our family.

After that I was scared for the baby and myself. But after my husband said he was “sorry” and that he “loved me” I decided to stay with him until I give birth and then make a decision.

My husband claims to have stopped dating that cult girl but she still calls me on phone to threaten me. Most of the time she calls with an unknown number and for that reason I have stopped answering any call with an unknown number.

I have now given birth to a lovely baby girl. Currently my child is alive and well, a really happy baby, very loved by everyone, including her father. But I am still angry that my husband did this kind of thing to me. I cannot swallow the insult. He has lost my trust and in some ways my love. I think I will be better off without him.

Please tell me what you think.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

35

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

Relationships and Love Advice

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage God’s Favour, good looking, homely, needs a widower and serious Igbo man from 35-50 years for marriage within a month. 07065658063.

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‘He wants to divorce her because of me’

Oluchi, 34, tall, dark, busty, single mother, in Festac Town, Lagos, needs a responsible, working Igbo man from 38-45 years for marriage. 08164007657.

Dear Love Doctor, My name is Jennifer. I’ve been dating a guy for 13 months and he promised to marry me. We talked a lot and he showed love.

Unfortunately, his former girlfriend just got pregnant for him without him knowing until five months after. The baby is now five months old, and the baby and the mother

are living with the guy at home.

He told me that he just wants the mother to finish breastfeeding the baby before he throws her out, that he doesn’t want to marry the mother of his baby. He said he never told her that he was going to marry her, and that she forced the pregnancy on him. Right now,

he is begging me to forgive him, that he really wants to marry me.

He says I should forgive him and accept his baby as my own. We love each other and I really need your counsel. I don’t know what to do.

From Jennifer.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Jennifer, I really think you should leave him alone to face his new life and responsibility as a ‘married’ man.

He now has a five-month-old baby and it would be wrong for him to do away with the mother just like that and hand over the baby to you to take care of him/her!

Such an action would be highly irresponsible. Sometimes, when we are in love, we fail to see reality and understand when it’s over.

Don’t jeopardize the life of a baby out of your selfish love for this man. Be selfless enough to let him go, for the sake of the baby and its mother. Sacrificing the mother of

his baby and her baby for your sake would be an extreme measure.

Things have changed now, and as a result, your “love” for this man will only serve as a distraction to him now. It would serve as a distraction preventing him from facing reality that he now has a family and living up to his responsibilities as a father and husband.

Tell him to iron out his differences with his wife and make his marriage work. He should be patient and marry the mother of his baby, except they are extremely incompatible. He can work through his ‘marital’ problems. That is the truth. You’re only being a distraction to him

now. Don’t dwell on the past love you shared with him, (because he now has a family and you ought to set him free so that he can be focused and take proper care of his family). Be thankful to God for the love you shared with him and move on. Things have changed now. Therefore, you must focus on the future ahead of you. Pray to God and be patient. With time, you will get the right man for you.

Don’t be selfish, sometimes you just have to let go even when you’re in love; especially when things don’t work out the way you planned. It may not be easy, but it’s okay to cry and get him off your mind. Let him go!

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E-Mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08077821830, 08131161840 for Counseling, fertility problems & Direct Hookup.

36

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

It happened to me:

W

hen I was 25, I realised for sure that I was bisexual.

I then spent the best part of year figuring out how I was going to tell my husband.

Let me clear something up right now, as I feel sometimes bisexual people are all put under the same umbrella: I didn’t want to leave my husband for a woman.

I didn’t suddenly want a threesome involving another woman. I’m still monogamous, faithful and I’m very much still bisexual, and it just so happens I’m married to a man.

Some people might want those things, but I basically wanted my relationship to stay exactly as it is now — except with the truth out in the open, of course.

I believe it was even harder knowing I didn’t want my relationship to change, because usually if someone is married to the opposite sex and comes out as gay, for example, both parties know the relationship isn’t going to carry on the same. For me, I didn’t want to lose my other half, but in my mind there was a very real chance this could actually happen.

When I first consciously realised I liked the same sex in a not-just-admiring-yourlipstick kind of a way, I was scared shitless by it. Seriously. I think that has a lot to do with the way bisexuality is treated by a lot of people; we’re known as “greedy,” “not fussed” and “haven’t made up our minds about what we like.” Perhaps for a little while I also believed this about myself and figured I might grow out of it.

I had, at that time, been with a wonderful man for five years, as a straight woman. I’m biased of course when I say he’s the most incredible human being I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing; he really is the most grounded, openminded, accepting person I’ve ever met, but part of me thought it was a real possibility that if he found out I was bisexual, that he’d turn on me, we’d drift apart, and our amazing relationship would become just a memory.

Enter: the grieving process.

My entire coming-out journey was really similar to the grieving process, except the only funeral involved was the fictional one I’d created in my head for my marriage.

To begin with, being bisexual frightened me, but I would justify it by telling myself I was just “admiring” certain women who caught my eye. I couldn’t be a lesbian, no, because I wanted to jump on my husband every hour of every day.

And it’s not like I didn’t know bisexuality existed, but rather I wasn’t open to the idea that my sexuality wasn’t what I had thought it had been for the past 25 years.

Now that I look back, I can’t believe how in denial I was.

When I started to question myself more and open myself up to the possibility I might not be straight, I spent months staying awake every night after my husband had gone to sleep, trawling Google for stories or advice from other women who had been in my situation — bi and married to someone who doesn’t know. I am an anxious worrier who always assumes the worst, so just like when you Google your mild headache symptoms and it tells you that you’ve got

whistles therapy sessions I had to make do with recordings from a psychiatrist to use at home (which are actually wonderful and I still use them). But the benefit for me was that I still didn’t have to admit out loud what was really plaguing me.

As I slowly built my confidence up, I realised something: I had to tell the truth — right then. I guess so many months of having this heavy on my mind made it so the pain of keeping it a secret became worse than the potential outcome if I came clean.

Confessing to My Husband that I’m Bisexual Made Our Relationship And Me Stronger minutes to live, this was no better.

All I could find were stories of relationships ruined by one person’s sexuality, that they wished they’d lied and never told their partner the truth, husbands and wives leaving each other and cheating and not trusting each other ever again. I never found a positive story in that whole time. I tormented myself for a long time and it convinced me that maybe if I ignored how I felt, if I never said it out loud, then maybe it wouldn’t be real anymore and I could stop worrying about it.

That approach did. Not. Work.

Keeping something that big of a deal all to myself ate away at my sanity and it ended up being all I could think about.

It made my anxiety far, far worse and I began suffering panic attacks; my self-

esteem hit rock-bottom and I was jittery all the time. As it dawned on me that I would have to own up and come out for real, I became really depressed. I have a history of depression and my husband is rock solid when it hits, helping support me and being a true friend to me to help lift me up again, but this time the one person I could normally talk to and rely on was the person I was avoiding spilling the beans to.

Inevitably, he could tell something was up. He didn’t know what exactly, but he did his best to help me out.

I had a pretty shitty childhood, and I’ve been through some bad stuff so I do find that cognitive behavioral therapy and at-home therapy has helped me cope with my demons in the past. I started slowly addressing my other issues with meditation and sessions of CBT, but as I couldn’t fork out for proper bells-and-

So I planned the day to tell my husband.

On that day, we had lunch. I squirmed throughout the whole thing and had “I am bisexual” on the tip of my tongue along with my bacon sandwich but it just wouldn’t come out (no pun intended).

I bottled it in person, so I did what any rational grownup does: I sent him a message on Facebook. When he was in the next room (yeah, I know).

I held my breath. With every step he made up our stairs I can tell you I was tempted to jump out of my office window and make a run for it.

I was definitely not prepared for him to walk up to me, not saying a word, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me for a good minute in silence.

It seemed he was relieved too.

All these months worrying, waiting for something to go wrong, depression, insomnia and everything else came to a head in that moment. Standing back up again he just looked at me and said, “Is that it? Is this all you have been worrying about all this time?”

That is what I’d needed to hear for all those months. He told me he was proud of me for having the courage to come out and that he was so happy that he got the chance to know another little part of me. Not once was he judgmental. He felt comfortable asking me questions. All in all he was the man I married and admire, and my sexuality didn’t change that.

And you know what? Having the most important person in my life accepting me for who I am helped me accept myself too. My self-confidence has grown tenfold, and while I still struggle with identity issues, I’m getting better thanks to owning up and telling the truth. Saying the words out loud makes it real for me, and I needed that. Some people are OK with never defining their sexuality, but for me, it became this huge burden that eventually I couldn’t hold onto any longer. Having the confidence to just be who I really am instead of hiding it has made our relationship so much happier and less stressful.

I do realise not everyone is fortunate enough to have such a happy ending.

There are many people I have not come out to yet as I still have that fear of rejection. But for me, life was too short and too miserable to keep my secret hidden for so long, and I’m a better person for having been honest.

I haven’t changed, I’m still me. Just honest with myself. And happy.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

SPORTS We’re far behind development –Chukwu

By MADUABUCHI KALU

I

t is no longer news that former National team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, Member, Federal Republic (MFR) has since returned to the country after undergoing proper medical treatment abroad, England to be precise following Femi Otedola’s intervention, the news is the verdict of the immediate past general manager of Enugu Rangers on his experience while on the medical trip overseas.

According to the Obe-Nkanu born, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State football legend, Nigeria is far behind development considering his experience during his medical trip in the United Kingdom three months ago. He disclosed to The Oracle Today Sports in an exclusive interview that he left the country on a wheelchair but left the wheelchair just two days of his arrival in the Queen’s country.

The former Chief Coach of the Super Eagles during the era of ClemenceWesterhof as the Technical Adviser of the declared that mere arrival at airport in the UK changed everything about his health challenges saying everything was different and orderly including the air that he breathed.

In words: ‘’We are still very far away from development I must confess to you. My experience in this foreign medical trip has really showed me that we still have a long way to go in terms of development,” the former national team gaffer began.

“You see, my healing started immediately we touched down at the airport. As we landed at airport everything changed and I could feel the difference because the environment was different. It was inviting including the air that I breathed.

“Of course you are aware that I left the shores of this country on a wheelchair but left the wheelchair after just two days because

I had no need for it. It was like magic I must confess to you.

“You see, when we arrived England, we were driven to the hospital where arrangement had been made for my treatment.

So, as soon as we arrive the hospital, the nurses came and took me to the ward and afterwards the doctors came to check on me.

“After checking me, they asked me what I was told was wrong with me back home in Nigeria, I told them. They told me that they did not see anything like that in their own examination and I was flabbergasted but then I have no choice than to believe them because that is their job.

“So, the following day, the doctor came and gave me one injection and the following day I felt so much relieved that I had to ask them to take away the wheelchair because I had need for

it. It was wonderful.

“I was not operated on. No surgery of any type as I continued my recovering.

“Again, another interesting thing is that after few days of my staying at the hospital, the doctors advised that we should look for a cheap accommodation around the hospital environment since my case is not a serious one and by so doing we will be able to save cost because staying at hospital will cost us more and that was what we did.

“So, from my new abode, I was going for checkup at hospital until they satisfied cured and said I could return to the country. You see, I still go for check in Enugu as a part effort to ensure that no stone is left unturned on the road to my full recovery,” Chukwu explained.

Ruiz defeat made me a smarter fighter, says Joshua

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

N

igerian born former British heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, said his first career defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr. was due to a lack of experience and he had become a “smarter” fighter ahead of December’s rematch.

It is recalled that the MexicanAmerican Ruiz produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets, when he dethroned the previously undefeated world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua with a seventh-round stoppage at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June.

“It wasn’t burnout. The issues I faced in the last camp, it’s just down to lack of experience,” he told BBC. “Even though it was at a high level,

we were still finding experience.

“Andy Ruiz is good but I don’t think he should beat me twice. I used to hear guys say you have to take a loss and I would think ‘why’?

“Now I can understand it and know what it takes. I have more understanding now and my ears are open to new information so that’s making me smarter as a fighter,” Joshua said.

The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight title rematch – dubbed the ‘Clash on the Dunes’, will take place in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 7 after former Olympic Champion Joshua triggered a rematch clause.

“The blessing is I have a second chance and here we are,” the 30-yearold said.

Supersand Eagles set for Portugal FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

T

wo time continental champions, Nigeria will begin their campaign at this year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals in Paraguay when they clash with world No2, Portugal in Asuncion Friday.

This year’s finals will hold at the ‘Los Pynandi’ World Cup Stadium – named after the Paraguayan national beach soccer team – and located at the headquarters of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee in Greater Asuncion.

Nigeria earned a ticket to feature at the 16 –team World Cup finals after finishing second at the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations held in Egypt in

December 2018. Champions Senegal is the other team flying Africa’s flag in Paraguay.

This year’s finals will kick off today and end on Sunday, 1st December.

Coach Audu ‘Ejo’ Adamu and his wards moved into their Dazzler Hotel World Cup accommodation in Asuncion on Monday and have been training hard as they countenance an interesting encounter with the world number two team tomorrow.

Nigeria, winners of the African title in 2007 and 2009, and quarter –finalists at the World Cup in 2007 and 2011, will campaign in a fierce Group D that also has world number one team, Brazil and Oman, ranked number 14 in the world.

Nigeria is ranked 21st in the world.

Costa out for 3months after operation

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

D

iego Costa is set to be out for three months after Atletico Madrid confirmed the striker underwent surgery on a cervical disc on Thursday.

Costa felt discomfort in his neck last week in training and the club decided the injury required surgery.

“Diego Costa underwent surgery on his cervical disc herniation in Madrid on Thursday,” Atletico confirmed in a statement.

“According to the information provided by the club’s medical services, the operation has gone as planned.”

Costa is expected to be out for around three months, meaning he will miss Atletico’s La Liga game against Barcelona on December 1.

He is also unlikely to play in either of their last two Champions League group games against Juventus and Lokomotiv Moscow but could return in time for the round of 16 matches at the end of February.

38

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

SPORTS Maradona legend quits as Gimnasia boss

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rgentina legend, Diego Maradona, has quit as manager of Gimnasia

by Esgrima La Plata, less than three months after taking charge of the club.

It was the 59-year-old’s first coaching job in his homeland since 2010.

Maradona, who took over with the side bottom of the league, won three of his eight games to move up to 22nd place.

The 1986 World Cup winner left his previous managerial role of Mexican second division outfit Dorados de Sinaloa citing health issues.

Maradona’s career as a manager TextilMandiyu (Oct 1994 - Dec 1994) Racing Club (Jan 1995 - Mar 1995) Argentina (Oct 2008 - Jul 2010) Al-Wasl (May 2011 - Jul 2012) Al-Fujairah SC (May 2017 - Apr 2018) Dorados (Sep 2018 - Jun 2019) Gimnasia (Sep 2019 - Nov 2019)

Dare hosts inter-ministerial session for sports

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

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ollowing his determination to revamp the sports sector in the country, the Hon. Minister Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare yesterday in Abuja held an interministerial technical session tagged: “Positioning sports as an industry -From concept to action.”

Other ministers who took part at the brainstorming session, according to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, YinkaIyinolakan are; the Minister of Education, Information, and Culture, Women Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, Finance, Budget and National Planning

and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social development.

The statement reads: “The goal of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Session, is to develop a pathway for constant dialogue and engagement between the private and public sectors to chart a sustainable course for unlocking the potentials of the Sports Industry and enabling the development of the whole gamut of the value chain of sports.

“Through this pathway, it is expected that the reform of the Sports Industry will contribute to the socio-economic indices of the Nigerian economy by increasing participation in sport, enabling the creation of jobs, promoting greater employment of youth, generating revenues

from sport-related activities and targeting a GDP contribution of 2-3% to the Nigerian Economy within 5-10 years.

“The outcome of the InterMinisterial Technical Session and the proceedings of the breakout sessions will form an integral part of the ongoing reform process towards a new National Sports Industry Policy that will accommodate objectives of all stakeholders in the public, social enterprise and private sectors for a vibrant sport industry, capable of contributing to the growth of the socio-economic indices of the Nigeria Economy.”

The Sports Ministry and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) will jointly host the Inter-Ministerial Technical Session.

H

onourableEjiroEtoroma, former member of Delta State Sports Commission, who represented the South Senatorial Zone of the state in the Three-man Commission, has congratulated the state’s swimming team to the justconcluded 8th Chief of Naval Staff National Open Championship which held at the swimming pool complex of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

According to him, he was not surprised that the state swimming team retained the trophy once again as they refused to let it off their grip despite all the efforts of the Nigeria Police Swimming Team to topple them at the just concluded annual Chief of Naval Staff National Open Swimming fiesta.

He explained that the exploit of Delta in the country’s sports is not by accident, saying it is as a

result of the huge investment the state government has continued to make in the industry over the years.

Etoroma further explained that Delta State has since realised the need to use sports as a means of employment, job creation and as a means of taking the youths out the streets and engaging them in meaningful activities.

“Well, I will not be telling myself the truth if I say that I am surprised that Delta retained its premier position at the just-concluded annual Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship which held at swimming pool complex of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos,” Hon Etoroma began.

“I, therefore, want to use this medium to congratulate the state swimming team on their success at the 8th Chief Naval Staff National Open Swimming Championship.

“Like I said a while ago, I am

...As LA Lakers beat Oklahoma City Thunder

L

eBron James became the first player in NBA history to score a triple-double against every team in the league as his LA Lakers side beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107.

James registered 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the win, for his 86th career tripledouble.

“I really don’t know what to think about it to be honest,” said 34-year-old James.

“But it’s a pretty cool stat and I’m glad it happened.”

A triple-double is achieved when a player records a doubledigit total in three of the following categories: points, not surprised that Team Delta total rebounds, assists, steals, retained the number one position and blocks. in the swimming tournament.

“My team-mates have made I say so because the state over shots for me throughout my the years, has invested a lot of career; coaches have put me in a resources in sports.

“So, what you are seeing is the result of the huge investment the state has made and will continue to make.

“What happens in Delta is that, right from inception, it realised the need to use sports as avenue for empowerment and job creation hence, they have sunk enormous resources in the sector and it will not stop,” Etoroma declared emphatically.

“In Delta, what you see is that sports is one sector that is given adequate priority because of the importance attached to it by the government. As you can see, since the structure is already on ground, any government that comes to power builds on what was left behind with the of aim of improving what it met.

Am not surprised Team Delta retain CNS tittle –Etoroma

By MADUABUCHI KALU

LeBron James sets NBA triple-double record position to be successful,” said James.

“Hopefully in all those triple-doubles I’ve got a winning record because that’s what’s most important.”

Russell Westbrook, of the Houston Rockets, is close behind James with triple-doubles against 29 of the league’s 30 teams.

Victory kept the Lakers top of the Western Conference with 12 wins and two losses.

Meanwhile, an injury-hit Golden State Warriors, beaten to the NBA title by Toronto Raptors last season, ended a run of seven defeats with a 114-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

It left them with a record of three wins and 12 losses this season and they remain bottom of the Western Conference.

39

The Oracle Today Friday November 22 - 28, 2019

SPORTS Musa to sponsor 100 University students

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Contract extension: NFF to determine Rohrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fate â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Minister

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

unday Dare, minister of Youth and Sports Development, said the fate of the Super Eagles gaffer, German Gernot Rohr, will be decided by his employers the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Minister stated this on Wednesday when he met with the 66-year-old German in his office at the MoshoodAbiola Stadium, Abuja. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The NFF would decide the contract situation of Super Eagles manager,â&#x20AC;? Dare said.

The minister gave the clarification at a brief meeting with the coach before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Rohrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current contract expires in June 2020. Dare, however, stressed that the ministry would continue

to give the coach all the necessary support as the NFF finalises his contract talks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The issue of contract (with Rohr) will be best handled by the NFF. I understand the need to work the timelines.

I understand there is a contractual arrangement with the NFF, I will allow them to work through its process,â&#x20AC;? the minister said.

He charged the coach not to be distracted but to intensify efforts to take Nigerian football to the pinnacle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The process to make the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football better than it is now is on and you are part of the process,â&#x20AC;? the minister added. He tasked the coach to work with stakeholders to develop the Nigeria Professional Football League in line with international best practice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More importantly your knowledge and support for the domestic league will be very important because you can share your experience with our local coaches,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Gatlin resumes training

L

ondon 2017 World 100m champion Justin Gatlin started with light training for the coming Olympic Year. He won silver at the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships.

He, as usual, is not planning to compete indoors.

Recent Doha Worlds silver winner might have his 2020 season as last. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see what happens, it is not finally confirmed,â&#x20AC;? says his agent Renaldo Nehemiah.

Gatlin, 37, is one of the most consistent sprinters of all time.

His first major title was the Athens 2004

Olympic Games 100m gold. He won world 100m titles in Helsinki 2005 and London 2017 World Championships and the 200m in 2005 at the same level.

Usain Bolt made his debut at the Helsinki 2005 World Championships and finished eighth in the 200m.

Overall, Gatlin has won nine gold, nine silver and two bronze at major Championships, including the World Relays and World Indoor Championships.He has personal best times of 9.74 and 19.57.

Ex- Chelsea players react to Mourinhoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report ormer Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta has reacted to appointment of his former manager, Jose Mourinho as Tottenham gaffer on Tuesday following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino. He wished his clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former coach, Jose Mourinho good luck on his appointment as Tottenham Hotspurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new manager.

The Oracle Sports recalls that Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday after the Argentine was dismissed by Tottenham on Tuesday night following the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poor form this season.

Azpilicueta, who played under Mourinho during the 56-year-oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time at Chelsea, told Sky Sports: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can talk only when Jose was here at Chelsea with us. We won trophies,

F

and now football moves on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish him all the best even though he goes to a rival. I have good memories with him and I have played many times under him and against him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously when we play against each other we both want to win for our teams, but this is football. I wish him well.â&#x20AC;?

Also, reacting to Mourinhoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment as Tottenham manager, Chelsea legend, PetrCech, who also played under the Portuguese gaffer at Stamford Bridge, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is a great manager. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for the Premier League to welcome back one of the most successful managers in the Premier League in the past 15 years. Obviously, we wish him well.â&#x20AC;?

Mourinho sends message to Pochettino

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ew Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho has sent a message to his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino after replacing him at Spurs.

Mourinho congratulated Pochettino for the incredible job he did at Tottenham, adding that the Argentine is always welcome at the club.

The Oracles Today Sports recalls that Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday after the Argentine was dismissed by Tottenham on Tuesday night following the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poor form this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been smiling for two days. First of all, I do it with a bit of sadness, I have to speak about Mauricio,â&#x20AC;?

Mourinho was quoted by Metro UK as telling reporters

at his first press conference on Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to congratulate him on the incredible job he did. I share with you what we shared inside. This club will always be his home, this training ground his training ground. He is always welcome here. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tomorrow is another day. He will find happiness soon. He will give everything like he did at this club.

He will leave with sadness with the feeling that he did great work. It is what everyone at the club felt.â&#x20AC;?

Mourinho will now hope to lead Tottenham to victory when they take on West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon at the London Stadium.

uper Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Captain, Ahmed Musa, has announced his intention to sponsor 100 students in Skyline University in Kano.

The Nigerian captain was unveiled as the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambassador on Wednesday, after helping the Super Eagles to back-to-back victories over Benin and Lesotho in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games.

The Al Nassr forward has been involved in various charitable projects including the construction of a sports centre in Kano, and he is now set to help youngsters chase their academic dreams with scholarships in the private institution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a great believer in the importance of education hence, my excitement in joining this great team to promote this vision of becoming anything you want to be in life as long as you can dream it,â&#x20AC;? Musa wrote on Instagram. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, I am pleased to let you know that I would be sponsoring 100 students at this university. Yes! 100. Details to follow shortly.â&#x20AC;?

Look whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the latest ambassador for đ??&#x2019;đ??&#x160;đ??&#x2DC;đ??&#x2039;đ??&#x2C6;đ???đ??&#x201E;đ??&#x201D;đ???đ??&#x2C6;đ??&#x2022;đ??&#x201E;đ??&#x2018;đ??&#x2019;đ??&#x2C6;đ??&#x201C;đ??&#x2DC; NIGERIA đ&#x;&#x2018;&#x160;â &#x20AC;I am a great believer in the importance of Education, hence, my excitement in joining this great team to promote this vision of becoming anything you want to in life as long as you can dream it đ&#x;&#x201C;&#x2DC;đ&#x;&#x201C;&#x2014;đ&#x;&#x201C;&#x2022;đ&#x;&#x201C;&#x201D;đ&#x;&#x201C;&#x2122;â &#x20AC;â ŁSo Ii am pleased t o let you know that i would be đ??Źđ??Šđ??¨đ??§đ??Źđ??¨đ??Ťđ??˘đ??§đ?? đ?&#x;?đ?&#x;&#x17D;đ?&#x;&#x17D;đ??Źđ??­đ??Žđ???đ??&#x17E;đ??§đ??­đ??Źâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; đ??&#x161;đ??­đ??­đ??Ąđ??˘đ??Źđ??Žđ??§đ??˘đ??Żđ??&#x17E;đ??Ťđ??Źđ??˘đ??­đ??˛. đ?&#x2DC; đ?&#x2DC;Śđ?&#x2DC;´! đ?&#x;ˇđ?&#x;śđ?&#x;ś. Details to follow shortly.đ??&#x192;đ??Ťđ??&#x17E;đ??&#x161;đ??Śđ??&#x203A;đ??˘đ?? ! đ??&#x20AC;đ??˘đ??Śđ??Ąđ??˘đ?? đ??Ą! @skylineuniversityng This Sunday, Al Nassrwho are placed 2nd will visit Al Wahda for their Saudi Professional League fixture and Musa will be looking to make his fifth league appearance as he targets his first league goal of the season.

AC Milan offer Ibrahimovic 6months deal

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weden international Football star,ZlatanIbrahimovic, has been offered a six-month deal to come to the aid of struggling former Italian giants, AC Milan, according to reports in Italy yesterday(Thursday).

The 38-year-old striker confirmed his departure from Los Angeles Galaxy last week following the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elimination from the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Gazzettadello Sport and Sky Sports Italia reported that the former seven-time European champions have now made contact with the playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent Mino Raiola.

The US-owned club wants the former Swedish international for six months and is prepared to pay him six million euros ($6.6 million) if he remains for 18 months in total, Gazzetta claimed.

Milan finished fifth last season, missing out on a return to Champions League football by just a point to city rivals Inter.

They have had a poor start to this campaign and are 14th after 12 games before they host last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runners-up Napoli on Saturday in the San Siro.

Ibrahimovic played for two seasons between 2010 and 2012 with AC Milan, helping them to their last Serie A title, and scoring 42 goals in 61 league appearances.

He also won three league titles with Inter Milan, and two with Juventus, which were both revoked following the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Calciopoliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; match-fixing scandal.

WEDNESDAY November 22 - 28, 2019

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Hate speech in the Nigerian Senate

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n recent years, some of my friends have relocated to Europe or North America along with their family members. When another longstanding friend hinted he would be migrating to America soon, I tried to discourage him as I did other friends. “You’re making a mistake,” I told Udinny, a university teacher, as we chatted on WhatsApp recently. “We die here, failed economy or not.” I explained to him how, in 2006, I had won the American Visa Lottery but turned down the offer because I didn’t want to go into slavery by consent.

“It’s not just the failed economy,” he replied. “It’s about failed governance, failed values. Haven’t you heard the debate in the Senate about sentencing people to death for hate speech, in a democracy? Nigeria is becoming more suffocating.”

There’s no denying I’ve heard and read about the abominable thing happening in the Nigerian Senate. As many media users have become more enraged, some senators have tried to pin the crime to the person who proposed the bill. No one should believe the cowardly lawmakers.

By proposing a bill meant to curtail freedom of expression and get innocent people hanged, the Senate is committing the very crime it is legislating against. Nothing better exemplifies a hate speech than these words written by an idiotic senator and read by another moronic senator: “A person who uses, publishes, presents, produces, plays, provides, distributes and/or directs the performance of any material, written and/or visual, which is threatening, abusive or insulting or involves the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, commits an offence, if such person intends thereby to stir up ethnic hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances, ethnic hatred is likely to be stirred up against any person or person from such an ethnic group in Nigeria...”

We shouldn’t dignify the idle lawmakers with criticisms of the bill seeking to establish a “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches”, and which was sponsored both in the 8th and 9th Senate by one Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North).

It’s ironic that his name is “Sabi” [Pidgin for “to know”] -- he is the very antithesis of a knowledgeable person.

My guess is that the purveyors of these satanic verses do not mean to pass any anti-hate speech legislation. Among other motives, they seek to keep the National Assembly busy for several months in order to justify the jumbo pay they enjoy. It’s also likely they just want to create jobs for some privileged idlers – many commissions are useless and merely serve as drainpipes for the oil wealth extracted from under the soil of the Niger Delta. A third motive could be that the cabal now running Nigeria (not including the president) first wants the bill passed by the National Assembly and then denied presidential assent at a time the cabal might decide to whip up sentiments for a third term in office. “See, we’re for freedom, you know,” they would crow.

Some senators trying to distance themselves from the bill and Nigerians’ wrath

Aniebo

Nwamu

•Senate President, Ahmed Lawan

have not told us whether there will be a vote on the bill. Any vote for it is a hate action and a hate speech put together; the penalty should be to strip the offender, spray pepper on their genitals and then hang them from a tree occupied by soldier ants.

There would be no cause for alarm if the rule of law had any place in the country.

Perhaps, the judiciary’s role is to interpret the law; but a cash-and-carry judge won’t care to know what other people would feel, if the definition of “hate speech” were left for them to decide. Illiterates and criminals have since invaded the temple of justice.

Yet, there is nothing new about a piece of legislation seeking to gag the press and abridge free speech in Nigeria. The Penal Code still contains penalties for sedition, slander and libel. What may be new is the “death sentence” clause being flaunted by some depraved politicians.

No such law can be enforced anywhere except in a nation with morally bankrupt leaders. Empowered by an anti-hate speech law, persecutors might go after a few enemies, but a problem might follow and make them beat a retreat. Otherwise, I don’t see anyone in Nigeria with the technical skills to detect hate speech in the digital age. Those distracting us don’t have

the technology to monitor users of social media. They have been unable to defeat terrorists; is it “hate speakers” they can defeat in cyberspace?

There may be truth in the rumour concerning a plot to turn Nigeria into a fascist state where nobody would dare to speak against evil or ask questions. Journalists are familiar with “See no evil and hear no evil. Don’t bark and don’t bite.”

The conspirators are old-fashioned, however. Centuries ago, authoritarian regimes existed. None succeeded in preventing people from expressing their feelings. The fools refuse to learn that, even in Nigeria, all those who sought a life presidency failed to realize their dream. How do old, mentally unbalanced conservatives hope to cage millennials who were born and have grown on the internet?

Of all the troubles currently drowning the country, what the Nigerian Senate prioritizes is a commission to prohibit hate speeches. Not a commission to prohibit nepotism and terrorism. Not one to arrest poverty or unemployment. And not one to quench corruption in high places that has ensured lack of power supply, lack of clean water, lack of medical care and lack of patriotism.

Hate speech or hate action – which is deadlier? It’s hate action for a senator

who yells “nay” or “yes” once a month to receive N20m while his teacher gets N70, 000. It’s hate action for ministers and lawmakers to send their children to foreign schools and receive treatment abroad while they leave Nigerian schools and hospitals in ruins. It’s hate action to defend criminals against their victims.

Let Lai Mohammed and his co-trumpeters demonstrate seriousness about their beloved bill so it could become law soon.

In fact, it should take retroactive effect, as General Buhari’s decrees of 1984 did, so that agents of despotism would be the first to be hanged. It should take effect from, say, 2010. All the APC goons who used hate speeches and hate actions to oil their propaganda machinery pre-2015 would get the rope. Or, do the hate speakers of yesteryear want their own sins forgotten?

The current APC government climbed to power on the back of “hate speech”.

Someone said monkeys and baboons would be soaked in blood after an election, and truly over 1, 000 Nigerians were murdered after the election of 2011. Someone promised to make Nigeria ungovernable. Some people allegedly invited a terrorist group to the country just to create a bad impression about a legitimate government. Some people organized the abduction of schoolchildren and turned to receive ransoms paid from the public till. Some supposed government officials still sit at a conference table with terrorists who have killed over 30, 000 Nigerians.

What did the propagandists not say about the Jonathan government? Under this same regime, some northern riffraff, obviously sponsored, gave southerners three months to leave the north. The southeast became the playground for “python dance”, leading to the massacre of unarmed civilians; at the same time Boko Haram was controlling a northern territory unchallenged.

I promised Udinny that the laughable bill won’t get passed eventually and that, whatever happens, we would be here to fight the despots. I need to edit that pledge: Were it in my power now, I would cause the legislature to pass the anti-hate speech bill and secure presidential approval as soon as possible. That would be a quick way to spark a revolution in this country. Everyone would be united in chasing away the “vagabonds in power” [thanks Fela].

Selective justice has been the hallmark of Nigerian public functionaries – it was further demonstrated in no little way during the Bayelsa and Kogi polls of last weekend -- and it has worked for them thus far. They have kept tightening the noose on Nigerians most of whom have now become hopeless. Now, the water has reached the necks of nearly all compatriots. A little push, just a little push, is needed to produce a conflagration.

•Nwamu, an entrepreneur, is the CEO of Eyeway.ng +234-8054100220 (SMS/WhatsApp only)

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.