Monday June 17-25, 2019 Edition

POLITICS The need for good governance and peaceful electioneering in Africa •P15

BUSINESS

Economy: Buhari’s optimism dampened by poor indicators •P19

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VOX POPULI SACRUM

CRIME

‘Operation Puff Adder:’ Oyo tops with 9,500 recovered live ammunition

SPORTS Funding bane of Nigerian Sports - Etoroma

racle

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VOL.4 No.24 N200

Direct allocation to LGs rekindles debate MONDAY June 17 - 25, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

•FG usurping our powers - govs •Intention good but requires constitutional amendment • Action reinforces

argument for restructuring, devolution of power

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Enugu bike operators accuse police of extortion From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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•President Buhari

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•Governor Yari

ommercial motorcycle operators within Emene-Nkwubor suburb, in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have protested alleged extortion, intimidation and harassment by some Police personnel of Enugu State Police command.

The over 200 bike operators alleged that four different Police patrol teams storm their loading parks and routes, at different periods, by day or night, forcing them into paying N1,200 daily in four installments of N300, per operator.

They further alleged that any operator that failed to pay the N300 to any of the teams, would have his motorcycle impounded and it would take N10,000 to bail the motorcycle, if it is taken to the Police station, or N5000 for on-theroad settlement, respectively.

The Secretary of the Union Israel Uche lamented that, “our grievance is that four patrol teams from different divisions, Emene division, Area Command, State CID (Criminal Investigation Department), and that of Rehab Road unit,

have been extorting various sums of money from us, and we are left with nothing to maintain our bikes and families.

“The development amounts to triple jeopardy for us. First, the Nkwubor Road where we operate, is in very deplorable state and it takes immense skill to navigate through it.

“Secondly, over 90 percent of us operate the bike on higher purchase basis and mandatorily remit N2,000 daily to the bike owner, which is not easy to come by. Parting with N1200 daily is killing, because we are left with noth8ng at the end of the day.

“Thirdly, if anyone fails to pay the police, they would impound his motorcycle and tell him that the state government has banned Okada and that they are enforcing the order.”

Uche claimed that they had made several moves to reason with the Police, and recently paid a courtesy visit on the new DPO of Emene Police Station, shortly after he resumed duties, but nothing has changed.

Flooding: Eti-Osa residents cry to Sanwo-Olu for help

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The Oracle Today Monday June 117 -25, 2019

NEWS

Direct allocation to LG’s rekindles debate

By PAMELA EBOH

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HE recent Federal Government’s decision (which came into effect from June 1), to directly allocate funds from the sharable pool to the local governments, has come under scrutiny with many saying it is a step in the right direction while many others believe it is a recipe for crisis in local government administration.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) had last month announced a ban on transactions on state and local government joint accounts.

The NFIU also placed a limit on cash withdrawals from local government accounts to a maximum of N500,000 per day.

Following the NFIU position, the Federal Government ordered that federal allocations to local governments be disbursed directly to their respective bank accounts starting from June 2019.

The implementation of the Federal Governments directive is deemed to have come into effect on June 1, 2019.

Constitutional experts who spoke with The Oracle Today on the matter noted that the panacea to the challenges facing local government administration in the country is for the constitutional provisions on the creation and administration of local governments in the country to be “followed to the letter.”

In a chat with The Oracle Today, an Onitsha-based constitutional lawyer who chose not be named because he “works closely with the government” said that “the constitution is clear on the matter but the political establishment won’t have any of that. There is a lot of tinkering with the local government system for political exigencies and that is not the way to solve the problem.”

Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.”

According to Ozohu-Suleiman Abdulhamid and Paul Chima both of Public Administration Department of the University??????, the constitution “assumes that the law relating to local government creation would be made by the State Houses of Assembly.

“Thus the legal framework does not see local governments as a third tier of government, but merely recognises local government as an appendage of the state government where the latter enjoys absolute discretion over the former,” they stated in a document, “Local Government Administration in Nigeria: The Search for Relevance.”

Observers pointed out that what they see as “constant interference” by the Federal Government in the affairs of local government “speaks to a certain predilection towards usurping the powers of State governments over local governments as provided by the law,” the anonymous lawyer argued.

He added: “That is the problem.

Because it has the purse strings, the Federal Government believes it has the power, which it does not, to dictate to the States how to run the local governments. In this particular instance, the Federal

Government is simply being meddlesome.”

It is this seeming usurpation of their power that the governors stridently inveighed against when, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), condemned what saw to them the Federal Government’s “surreptitious interference” in the running of the local governments through the NFIU. In a statement by NGF’s head of media, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, after the NFIU issued a statement banning State-Local Councils joint account operations, the governors accused the agency of going beyond its brief.

The statement quoted the former Chairman of the NGF and former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, as expressing “dismay and angst at this brazen attempt by the NFIU to ridicule our collective integrity and show total disregard for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.”

In the letter, “Re: NFIU Enforcement and Guidelines to Reduce Crime Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawal from Local Government Funds Throughout Nigeria Effective June 1st, 2019” dated May 15th, 2019, the governors stated that they extracted “copiously from the constitution” to draw the attention of the President to section (6) (a) and (b), “which confers

on the States and National Assemblies the powers to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to the local councils in the federation and within the states respectively.”

The governors noted that Section 162 (6) expressly “provides for the creation of the States Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) into which shall be paid all allocations to the LGAs of the State from the Federation Account and from the government of the state,” accusing the NFIU of “stoking mischief and also deliberately seeking to cause disaffection, chaos and overheat the polity.”

Insisting that local governments “are not reporting entities and are, therefore, not under the NFIU in the manner contemplated by the NFIU so-called guidelines,” the governors stated further: “In principle, the NFIU should concentrate on its core mandate of anti-money laundering (AML) activities and Combatting Financial Terrorism (CTF) as prescribed in the Act establishing it and should desist from encroaching on or even breaching constitutional provisions.

“The NFIU is the Nigerian arm of the global financial intelligence Units (FIUs) once domiciled within the EFCC but now for the purpose of institutional location domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“This means the NFIU is only

mandated to trace laundered money that finds its way into terrorism financing and report such to the nation’s security agencies.

“The NFIU should seek to comply with those standards on combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and its proliferation as stipulated and not dabble into matters that are both constitutional and beyond NFIU purview,” the governors surmised.

However, the Constitution, which vests power to create local governments in the States practically took that power away when it pegged the number of local government areas in the country at 774.

“What that means is that the States can create local governments and cannot at the same time,” stressed our source. “If a governor creates local governments, he cannot give effect to them because the constitution has limited the number of local governments. To give effect to them, the constitution must be amended and it is unlikely that the political establishment will allow that.”

In 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld funds meant for Lagos councils because Governor Bola Tinubu created additional 57 local governments in Lagos and Obasanjo did not want ‘Nigerian’ money to be spent on ‘illegal’

Okezie appoints 16 transition chairmen, deputies T From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

HE Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has appointed 16 Chairmen and deputy Chairmen of the Transition Committees of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.

A former State Secretary of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Charles Esonu, was reappointed as the chairman of Aba North Local Government Area.

A statement in Umuahia Sunday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Barrister Onyebuchi Ememanka explained that the transition chairmen and their deputies were initially appointed shortly before the 2019 general elections.

They were dissolved days before the first tenure of the last administration elapsed.

Transition chairmen were appointed for three months in the first instance and could be reappointed for another final term of three months.

Others reappointed are the Anambra-born Medical Doctor, NCNC Okoli, who also had overseen the affairs of Aba South as an elected chairman.

•Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

Imo State govt set to rehabilitate Otamiri Water Scheme

By COLLINS UGHALAA

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he Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, has moved to effect the immediate reactivation of the Otamiri Water Scheme, in, Owerri in furtherance of his commitment to resolve the perennial water challenge in the state A press statement by the Adviser on Communication to the Deputy Governor, Dr. Walter Duru, at the weekend said that the Deputy Governor, Gerald Irona disclosed this during a fact-finding tour of the Otamiri Water Scheme on Saturday.

Stressing that the state government places premium on water, he noted that the Otamiri Water Scheme is one facility the government places a high premium on and therefore, “we cannot allow it to rot away.”

Irona disclosed that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Utilities, Mrs. Eleberi P.A., General Manager of Otamiri Water Scheme, Mrs. Hope Anyiam, and other senior management staff of the water scheme are in agreement that, “the water scheme is one that the state government cannot afford to allow

to run down.”

According to him, “due to the high premium the state government places on water, we have decided to resuscitate the Otamiri Water Scheme and we shall do all it takes to ensure that this facility comes up again.”

“The Governor is very anxious that we utilise this place and provide water for the people of the state.”

The Deputy Governor continued: “We have looked at the financial implications and evaluated the infrastructure on ground.

We shall do our best to ensure that this comes back to life.”

administrative units.

The Federal Government said that to make the local governments ‘legal’, Lagos must obtain two-third votes of all the State assemblies in the country as provided for by the constitution, a task that Lagos expectedly could not perform.

Thus, even though the constitution has not made the local governments federating units, the Federal Government has through executive orders made them so through the backdoor.

“Until the Constitution is amended, the Federal Government cannot treat local governments as federating units and, therefore, cannot directly allocate funds to the local governments as if they were federating units. By doing that, the government is prematurely giving local government chairmen the autonomy of actions that they do not as yet have under the law,” the legal practitioner further argued.

“Doing so and giving local government chairmen the impression that they are autonomous without legal backing is recipe for chaos and acrimony between the States and their local government headquarters.”

As should be expected, local government workers have hailed the Federal Government for taking this bold step.

Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) commended the Federal Government for introducing financial guidelines for local government areas in the country through the NFIU. The union said it would ensure transparency and grassroots development.

The State Chairman of NULGE in Ondo State, Comrade Bola Taiwo, said this during a media briefing in Akure. Taiwo said that the move was laudable because local government autonomy had been a priority of the union for long.

“We are happy because this is a dream come true. We have been yearning and agitating for this because autonomy to local government areas has been our priority,” he said.

According to him, the new guidelines serve as a mechanism that will safeguard, protect and allow for transparency in the local government joint account management, because “joint account is a constitutional matter,” he said.

He noted that the union would train and educate its members to look into activities of each local government so that there would not be any violation of the guidelines.

“It is said that anybody that violates this rule will be dealt with and if there are violations the union must cry out immediately,” Taiwo said.

He, therefore, urged state governments operating caretaker committees as administrators to desist, saying such step was not a true representation of the people at the grassroots.

“Election at local government area is another issue that must be taken seriously by state governments.

“Setting up caretakers committees to man affairs of local council is another means of siphoning money because the committee members are not elected but chosen by governors to whom they are accountable. Therefore, all caretaker committees should be sacked,” he said.

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Lagos State Govt commences training of bus drivers

…Increases LASTMA officials allowance by 100%

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n compliance with the directive by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola that all Lagos State Public Service Drivers undergo specialised training, the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) and the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) have embarked on a training programme for 42 Lagos State Public Service Staff bus drivers.

The two-week training holding at the Lagos Bus Service Limited Depot Office, Apapa-Oshodi, Expressway, Ilupeju, is also in line with the directive of the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure that the fleet of 35 new staff buses presented recently to the Lagos State Public Service staff are professionally handled and are in good condition at all times.

Speaking at the event, the Director, Training Department, Lagos State Drivers’ Institute, Mrs. Afusat Tiamiyu assured the drivers that the Institute and Lagos Bus Service Limited will expose the drivers to the workings and maintenance of the newly procured buses as well as the need to extend due courtesies while driving on the road.

She also encouraged the drivers to tap from the wealth of experience of the seasoned trainers who would deliver lectures on professional conduct, just as she craved for adequate cooperation between the drivers and the trainers.

Also, the Managing Director of Lagos Bus Service Limited, Mr. Idowu Oguntona appreciated participants at the training, saying that the training shows that the State government prioritises the welfare and safety of its workforce and that of other road users in the State.

He informed the drivers that the partnership between LASDRI and LSBL will further ensure a greater Lagos and should be complemented by all residents of the State including drivers.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced one hundred percent increase in the allowances of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials to encourage and motivate the workers in the performance of their duties and also in fulfilment of his vision to make traffic management and transportation number one priority in his administration.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made this announcement on Friday during an interactive session with staff of the agency when he paid an official visit to the operation’s Headquarters at Oshodi, Lagos.

Speaking on the need to motivate the workforce, the Governor said LASTMA officials will start to earn new allowances by the end of the end of July, this year. According to him, the gesture is to encourage the officers to improve on their performances as they go out day and night to rid the State of traffic gridlocks.

“As from the end of the month of July, we shall increase your allowances by 100 per cent. That means if you are collecting N5,000 as your allowance , it would be increased to N10, 000. Those collecting N10,000 before would now be getting N20,000. This would enable you perform optimally.

To whom much is given, much is expected”, Sanwo-Olu said.

In the same vein, the Governor warned the officers to desist from any act of corruption or corrupt tendencies, urging the operatives to imbibe civility as a major guiding principle in their operations.

Onu not behind SGF appointment rumour – Group

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he Onu Political Organisation (TOPO) has urged residents of Abakaliki and the public to discountenance rumour that Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has been appointed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The group said it was shocked over speculations on the social media that Onu, the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, had been appointed SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari.

TOPO is coalition of political groups which identify and share Onu’s political ideals and philosophy.

The National Publicity Secretary of

TOPO, Chief Egwu Chima, told newsmen in Abakaliki on Saturday that the rumour was unfounded, mischievous and had no iota of truth.

Chima urged Onu’s supporters, fans and loyalists to disregard and discountenance the said rumour.

“First and foremost, the organisation believes that Onu is qualified to be appointed into any political position in Nigeria. But the mode of the news and the mode of the announcement of the appointment is one which organisations like ours must question and we questioned it.

“Personally, I have been with Onu as his Personal Assistant when he

was Governor of Abia State and I have remained with him so, I know him as a very calm character “Onu is a very easy going character and is not somebody who speculates; he is not somebody who allows ambition to rule his life.

“He is not somebody who dwells on the realm of speculations and he is not a person who jumps the gun to assume things.

“What we are saying is that neither the political organisation nor any member of the organisation has heard any hint from him that something like that will be coming our way”, Chima said.

• (From left): Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; with former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu at the Inaugural June 12 Democracy Day ceremony which held the Eagle Square, Abuja, Wednesday

Flooding: Eti-Osa residents cry to Sanwo-Olu for help

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ome residents of Eti-Osa in Lagos State on Saturday urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address perennial cases of flood in the area, to enable them to sleep with their eyes closed in the rainy season.

The residents spoke with newsmen in separate interviews at a reception organised by Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, member representing Eti-Osa Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, held at Giwa Military Barracks, was organised by Yishawu to thank his constituents for giving him victory in the 2019 general election.

The reception came on the heels of the inauguration of the 9th Lagos State House of Assembly.

Mr Wasiu Buhari, one of the residents, said that the state government had been trying its best, but more should be done to end flooding.

According to him, the issue of flood has been affecting a lot of residents and commercial activities in the area.

The resident, who commended Yishawu for good representation and empowerment, urged SanwoOlu to also focus on road infrastructure.

Mr Olusegun Adeyemi, another

resident, described flooding as a perennial problem in the area, urging the government to redouble efforts at ensuring free flow of drains.

“Lagos is below sea level, but Gov. Sanwo-Olu can provide palliative measures to control the flooding.

Anytime it rains, our hearts are up,” he said.

According to him, many of the residents also contribute to the recurrent flooding, and as such, there is the need to reorientate the people about activities leading to blockage of drains.

Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, another resident, said:” Our challenge here is flooding, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse has aggravated it.

“We want the government to help us end flooding in Eti-Osa area. It is affecting us.”

Abdullahi, who also decried lack of potable water, commended Yishawu for his interventions.

Mrs Felicia Jayeoba, who won a freezer in the lawmaker’s empowerment programme, said that the state government must endeavour to find lasting solution to issue of flooding.

“Our problem is flooding. Help us tell our governor, Sanwo-Olu, to address this. They should tell the people to stop dumping refuse in drains,” Jaiyeoba said.

Speaking to newsmen, Yishawu said it was incumbent on him to host and thank the people for re-electing him for a second term.

On various gifts distributed to some 250 residents, the lawmaker said it was a way to say thank you and rejoice with them.

On the complaints about flooding by residents, Yishawu said the government had been trying its best to address the issue and would continue.

He, however, noted that the state is below sea level.

“Flooding is a perennial issue.

What we are basically doing is to clear our drains, and that is being done.

“The new governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised that he is going to address that,” he said.

The event was attended by APC party leaders, members, market men and women, religious and community leaders, among others.

Notable among them are Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, (Lagos Central); Chief Tajudeen Olusi, an APC Chieftain; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa; and member representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Mr Babajide Obanikoro.

He said that what was very evident was that Onu as a former minister distinguished himself while he presided over the affairs at the Ministry of Science and Technology and was never linked to corruption allegation.

He said that the former minister believed in results as had been widely acknowledged and attested to by those he worked with at the ministry.

He said that Onu’s intimidating credentials and achievements qualified him for any position in Nigeria.

“Onu distinguished himself as a minister in the Federal ministry of Science and Technology and all we know is that our master is corruption free and that he is a man who believes in results and he is achievement oriented.

“The best we expect is that he is a candidate for the ‘Next Level’ no more, no less. If there is anything, we know that Buhari must be credited with super intelligence of knowing who to work with, what to do and when.

“It is not by propaganda, it is not by delegation and it is not by insinuation; so, when the information came and we never heard from our master and we knew that he can never be involved in anything like that.

“When the rumour came without any official confirmation from Onu, the tendency is to begin to think about two things – because his credentials are too great and intimidating, his political opponents in the zone may have begun to wish him death or to pull him down.

“Many over ambitious politicians from his zone believe that with him around that they may never get to achieve their vaulting ambitions the same way they wished Buhari dead and may have devised this strategy to portray him in bad light.

“Onu is not behind the rumour and can never be. It is the antics of his detractors who want to blackmail him and pin him against the establishment; he is as innocent as a new born baby.

“Secondly, the political atmosphere in Nigeria today is one where people are feeling that the SouthEast has been totally marginalised, creating a situation where people are now thinking that there may be a thought out pattern to compensate the zone.

“In what direction and which capacity we do not know but the interesting thing and positive thing it is that due to the nature, character, comportment and ingenuity of Onu, anything that wants to come from APC into Ebonyi everybody wants to believe it should be Onu”.

The group said that the rumour made the people to jubilate because of the love and respect they had for the former minister.

The organisation urged Abakaliki residents, Onu’s supporters and the public to disregard the rumour, stressing that God is the ultimate decider of all things.

Signed Management

www.cbn.gov.ng

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA The Oracle Today Monday 17 - 25, 2019

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

NEWS

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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four-hour downpour, weekend, led to a severe flooding in Asaba, Delta State, leaving in its trail damaged property and stranded commuters. This is also as major parts of the state capital and its environs ºwere also submerged by flood, including the popular Direct Labour Agency road.

The Oracle Today gathered that major roads, such as Okpanam, Nnebisi, Direct Labour, DBS and Inter-Bua roundabouts, were flooded, causing commercial activities to grind to a halt in the city.

The flooding also affected the premises of the Delta Broadcasting Service, buildings housing government agencies, the State police command headquarters and some banks.

A 12-year-old girl was also swept away by flood in Okpanam community after the heavy rain that lasted several hours.

Though the identity of the girl is yet to be ascertained, an eyewitness said the victim, who lives in the Redeemed Church road, unknowingly stepped into an open drain filled with floodwater and got swept off.

The busy dualized Okpanam road was taken over by a torrent of muddy waters, causing gridlock.Also, residential buildings along Junior Staff quarter road to Summit road were flooded.

Several business centres, schools and private residences along Ibusa road were not spared as they were also submerged by flood, sacking the workers from their offices.

Some of the residents who spoke to The Oracle Today lamented that flooding had been a recurrent prob-

Flood ravages Asaba lem and urged the State government to speed up the completion of the storm drainage project.

One of the residents, Chinedu Afamefuna, noted that the flood inflicted pains and sorrow on residents of the communities who lived along the water channels.

He appealed to the State government to expedite action on the storm drainage project as the incessant flooding is becoming unbearable.

“This year’s rainy season has brought tears and sorrows for so many of us and we call on the contractors to speed up the level of work on the storm drainage project” he said.

However, the Delta State Government has expressed concern over the recent rains that have caused flooding across Asaba, the State capital.

In a statement signed by the Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Mr Paul Osahor and made available to the press, the government expressed concern over the untold hardship road users and residents have been subjected to as a result of the flood.

The statement said that while it cannot be explained away that the floods are only natural in the face of the low lying nature of the capital city, the delay in the completion of the storm water projects had not helped to bring the desired succour as envisaged, saying even though the linkages in other storm water projects already completed to the

streams and rivers ensured that the flood receded fast after the heavy rains.

It said the State government regrets all inconveniences the present flood situation must had caused road users and residents in general and appealed for calm, explaining that it had intensified efforts to ensure that the contracting firm handling the remaining parts of the storm water projects along Okpanam and DBS Roads completed work soonest.

The government reassured Deltans and residents in the State of its commitment to ensure that the menace of flood was addressed head-on and bring lasting succor to the people.

In the same vein, Governor Okowa who recently visited the storm drainage sites in Asaba and its environs for inspection in the company of Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie; Chief of Staff, Government House, Olorogun David Edevbie; the Senior Political Adviser, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon inspected the discharge points of the storm drainage projects at the Anwai River, Government House in Asaba and Corner Stone area of Okpanam. The level of job done at the project sites were explained by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Fred Edafioghor.

According to the governor, “we have to manage our finances; we have to be wise in our spending because these projects cannot be abandoned and we also want to

be sure that in our planning process that we are not taking more than we can chew, so that we do not get choked; in the first four years we have been able to keep up with payments and projections; obviously, there are lots of benefits derivable from the construction of these drainage projects and we will do more.”

“From what we saw during the inspection, we are working with specifications; this current project (at Jesus Saves Road) is within its limit and we are being told that the houses around this project is affecting some of the work being done, but, work is going on and it will connect to the sewage by the Lion House while the other sewage drain will connect to the Agric road sewage; these projects are all part of the drainage plans for Asaba,” he said, adding, “we have three major drainage that are being executed but on the whole we have a lot more drainage to construct if we are to control the flow of flood water in Asaba; we still need about five more drainage projects to effectively tackle flood issues in Asaba to the level we want but, we took the three most critical ones which we have been inspecting today.”

“I believe that the completion of these ongoing drainage projects will remarkably reduce the water overflow in Asaba, but there is still a lot more to be done,” the governor stated.

He continued, “we will continue to do our best bearing in mind that

we cannot attend to all the projects at once because, we are mindful of the fact that we need to pay our contractors and it is due to the fact that we want to ensure that our contractors are well paid that we decided to start with the three major drainage out of the eight that were planned for Asaba and as we conclude payment for the projects being carried out now, we will be able to look into the process of awarding new contracts.”

The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done at the projects sites saying, “we monitor the projects; we have consultants who are on ground as well as staff of the Ministry of Works to supervise the jobs; the quality of the jobs are outstanding and we are impressed.”

He emphasized that his administration was working for a State where issues of flooding will be frontally tackled, and called on Deltans to desist from dumping refuse on drainage but, rather, patronize private waste disposal operators to properly dispose their refuse.

“We all know the benefits of clean environment; if we have proper drainage channels to tackle flooding of our cities and towns, good network of roads, it is also, very important for our people to imbibe the habit of having clean environment; they should ensure proper disposal of wastes – no dumping of refuse in the drainage which can cause blockage, no dumping of refuse on the road, streets because, such does not only litter the environment, it can also, lead to health challenges,” Okowa said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday June 17 - 25, 2019

NEWS

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ut-going Commandant, Naval War College Nigeria, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia, Friday, said the country needed the military’s support for solution to the diverse security and developmental challenges in the country.

Udofia stated this in Calabar during his pulling-out and farewell parade at the Nigerian Navy ground to mark his retirement from the Navy.

He said that he was convinced that the Naval War College would help Nigeria to overcome all forms of security and developmental challenges in the 21st century.

“As a country, Nigeria will continue to depend on the armed forces to proffer solutions to the myriad of security and developmental challenges of the 21st century.

“In this respect, I am convinced that the establishment of the Naval War College Nigeria will help in the realisation of this.

Udofia advocates military’s support in tackling security challenges “This is more so as the college is designed to equip individuals who will be participating in its diverse courses with the skills to address the hydra-headed challenges.

“Although the college is in its nascent stage, the uniqueness of the contemporary and emergent challenges to Nigerian Navy operations can hasten its maturity.

“It will also help to influence policies and decisions at the Naval Headquarters,’’ he said.

Udofia thanked the Navy for the honour accorded him on his voluntarily retirement, adding that he was privileged to serve the Navy in operational and administrative offices within and outside the country.

In his remarks, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, said that the aim of establishing the war college was gradually paying off as participants were contributing immensely to efficient delivery

in operations.

Ibas, who was represented by Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Enwo, Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, said that the college was all about innovation.

He said that from observation, there had been a lot of contributions and successes recorded in the college.

“We have noticed a lot of improvement; the college is making a lot of impact because there are

FADAMA III input providers in Enugu protest N87.6m debt

A’Ibom Govt seeks FG’s approval to commence Ibaka Deep Seaport

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kwa Ibom Government is waiting for Federal Government’s approval to commence construction works on the Ibaka Deep Seaport project in Mbo Local Government Area of the state.

Immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties and Aviation Development, Mr Akan Okon, who made this known to newsmen in Uyo on Friday, disclosed that construction work would commence at the sites as soon as the state government secures approval from the Federal Government.

He said that the Technical Committee set up by the state government in 2015 to oversee implementation of the project had submitted its report, saying that a preferred bidder had emerged to invest in the seaport business.

According to him, the technical committee which is headed by Mrs Mfon Usoro, has experienced maritime professionals as members.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel on assumption of office in 2015, knowing what could happen if such project is left under the bureaucracy of government, put in place a technical committee for actualisation of Ibom Deep Seaport.

“The technical committee has worked so hard and as at today, we have gotten a preferred bidder which is one of the leading companies in the maritime and cargo industry by name, Bollore And Power Channel.

“The committee’s full report had been made and submitted for actualisation of the seaport and we are only awaiting the approval of Mr President.

“Once that is done, I assure you, construction will begin immediately,’’ Okon said.

The former commissioner commended the state government’s initiative in the airline industry, saying that it would be a major employer of labour in the state.

Okon noted that arrangements had been concluded by the state government to add one more aircraft to its fleet by August.

The former commissioner said the state government’s projection is to ensure that by 2023, at least 10 aircraft would have been in the fleet of the Ibom Airline.

innovations and improvement in terms of our operational strategies and so on.

“The few that have been trained are really making gainful contributions in efficient delivery in our operations,” he said.

Udofia, a graduate of the Nigeria Navy Regular Course 5, was commissioned as a Sub-Lt. in 1988. He retired voluntarily from the service on April 2, 2019, after 31 years.

•Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (right) with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Fred Edafioghor during an inspection visit to storm drainage sites at the Anwai River, Government House in Asaba and Corner Stone area of Okpanam, conducted in company of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie; Chief of Staff, Government House, Olorogun David Edevbie; the Senior Political Adviser, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Tuesday

New UNN VC pledges to lift varsity N

ew Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Charles Igwe, was on Friday inaugurated with a pledge to take the university to the next level.

Igwe made the pledge on Friday in Nsukka during his inauguration as the 15th Vice-chancellor of the university.

He said he would make welfare of staff and students his top priority by paying salaries, allowances promptly and ensure that those due for promotion were promoted.

“I wish to state that the welfare of staff and students will be a priority during my administration. Staff and students should reciprocate this gesture by being dedicated to their duties and law abiding,” he said.

Igwe said his administration would upgrade the University Medical Centre to a modern health facility with cutting-edge diagnostic facilities that would aid quick service delivery.

“This will help stem the tide of movements of staff and students to

Enugu to seek medical attention,” he said.

The new VC said that his administration would take the university to the next level by ensuring academic excellence, quality research and innovations.

“I will expand the broadband within the university to make internet access more seamless in the university. I will ensure sustained infrastructural development through public partnership to move the university to the next level,” he said.

Igwe extended a hand of fellowship to all those who contested with him for the office of UNN-VC and urged them to join him to take the university to the promise land.

“I urge you all who contested with me to bring their good idea to table, so that we shall move this great institution to promise land,” he said.

In a remark, Prof. Edith Nwosu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNN, Enugu Campus, who was the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, described the event as a `milestone’

in the history of the university.

“This is the first time an alumnus of UNN is appointed as the VC since the university was established in 1960,” she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of UNN Alumni Association, Prof Chukwma Ijomah thanked the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of an alumnus of the university as the vice chancellor for the first time.

Ijomah solicited the support of all alumni to make his administration memorable and the best in history.

“Today is a historic day for all alumni of UNN, because it is the first time a graduate of UNN rise to the position of vice-chancellor of the university,” he said.

Highlight of the occasion was handing over of UNN mace to the new VC. Prof Charles Igwe took over from Prof Benjamin Ozumba whose tenure expired June 14 as the UNN Vice-Chancellor.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ONYEMA: I formerly known as ONYEMA KINGS CHIMA now wish to be known as CHIMA KING CHIMA. Former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

CHIBUZO: I formerly known as AFAMEFUNA CHIBUZO EMMANUEL now wish to be known as AFAMEFUNA MICHAEL EMMANUEL. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

UCHE: I formerly known as UCHE JAMES now wish to be known as MUONAGOLO UCHECHUKWU SUNDAY. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

IFEOMA: I formerly known as IFEOMA MARY ADIKE now wish to be known as IFEOMA AYIKE. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

Agricultural input providers under the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) in Enugu State have protested the non-payment of N87.6 million being cost of ploughing and harrowing of rice farms for clusters in the state.

The input providers under the auspices of Association of FADAMA III AF Tractor Services Providers said that the failure of the National FADAMA Coordinating Office to pay had put them at daggers-drawn with their creditors.

Chief Mathias Omeh, the leader of the group, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Enugu.

He said that the debts were incurred in 2017 farming season.

Omeh said that members of the association within the period were requested to provide tractorisation services to FADAMA III AF enrollees.

He said that the debt was expected to be settled from the 50 per cent International Donor Agency Fund for the ploughing and harrowing of rice farms for beneficiaries of the scheme.

“At the beginning of 2017 farming season, we were requested to provide tractorisation services to farmers due to a sharp increase in the number of enrollees in FADAMA III AF. “We worked hard to assist the Federal Government agricultural programme and we individually hired more tractors from local government councils even in challenging conditions.

“We are disappointed by the deliberate refusal to pay us,” he said.

Omeh said that part of their overhead costs had yet to be covered, adding “our creditors have been on our neck for the money we borrowed to plough the rice farms.

“We are, therefore, shocked that the money that rightfully belongs to us has not been paid,” he said.

He said that they were poised to confront the FADAMA III AF Task Team Leader, Mr Adetunji Oredipe who was in the state for the 11th Joint World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission.

He blamed the failure of the FADAMA Project in the state on the national coordinating office inability to work effectively with input providers.

Omeh said that the project was not implemented in the state in 2018 and 2019 which he noted had affected rice production in the area.

When contacted, Oredipe said that it was not within his brief to know the people that were owed by the managers of the project.

The Oracle Today Monday June 17, 2019

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17, 2019

Obiano lauds Buhari for honouring late MKO Abiola, wants same gesture for Zik

By Pamela Eboh, Awka

G

overnor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honoring the winner of the celebrated June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola by renaming the National Stadium, Abuja after him.

He also applauded the president’s gesture of declaring the day a national holiday.

The Governor, however, urged Buhari to extend a similar gesture to the late first President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe by declaring his birthday a National Holiday.

A statement released in Awka by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, the governor described the renaming of the stadium as ‘the icing on the cake in the steps taken so far to immortalize a national figure who won the 1993 presidential vote fair and square but was denied victory and, more painfully, incarcerated solitarily.’

The statement read: “We have watched with admiration how President Buhari first announced in the first week of June, 2018, his intention to make June 12 a national holiday and bestowed on Chief Abiola Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, Nigeria’s highest national honour given to only heads of state.

“President Buhari followed it up with an appropriate bill in the National Assembly and then assented to it on passage, thus changing Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29, in commemoration of the day the military handover the Nigerian national leadership to elected civilians on May 29, 1999, to June 12, in remembrance of the day the historic election

between Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention was held.

“Frankly, no one expected the National Stadium to be renamed after the hero of the struggle for democracy. The renaming must have been the president’s personal idea and initiative.

“By the time Chief Abiola joined the presidential contest, there was no person who could rival his support for sport development in the African region, which earned him the honour of Pillar of Sports in Africa from the Association of African Sports Confederations.

While describing late Chief Abiola as a true Nigerian who donated generously to worthy causes and championed quite a number selflessly, the Governor noted that apart from employing Nigerians generously in his organizations regardless of their faith, gender or ethnic origin, the politician established ‘Udoka,’ an Igbo newspaper; ‘Amana,’ an Hausa newspaper; and ‘Isokan,’ a Yoruba newspaper.

He added, “Abiola never left anyone in doubt that he was greatly inspired by the nationalism, patriotism and sportsman-like spirit of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR, PC. He remained an avowed Zikist up to his death.

“On the occasion of the first anniversary of June 12 as Democracy Day in honour of a great Nigerian patriot, it has become imperative to remind President Buhari of the request I made to him on behalf of the government and people of Anambra State when he visited Onitsha to commission the newly completed Zik Mausoleum last January 24 that he declare Zik’s birthday a national

holiday.

“Ghanaians observe the birthday of their first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, himself a Zik protégé. Tanzanians observe a national holiday in memory of their first president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, as Angolans do in memory of Dr Agustiono Neto, their first president.

“The Great Zik of Africa was not just Nigeria’s first president or the man who led Nigeria to independence in 1960. He was Nigeria’s first indigenous Governor General and the first Senate President.

“He was the first Nigerian to build a bank, thus inspiring his colleagues as regional premiers in the 1950s to establish their own banks.

He was also the first Nigerian to set up a university, and consequently challenged his peers to follow in his footsteps.

“A Nigerian nationalist of incomparable status and a man of letters through and through, the Great Zik of Africa had established as early as the 1950s newspapers in Ibadan, Zaria, Kano, Onitsha, Port Harcourt and, of course, Lagos to fight for Nigeria’s liberation from oppressive colonial rule.”

He said that Zik inspired a generation of Africans, which include the late President Nkrumah of Ghana, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nwafor Orizu, who became Nigeria’s second Senate President.

Obiano described as a national scandal the fact that a national holiday has yet to be declared in honour of late Zik saying, “The people and government of Anambra State once again call upon President Buhari to end this national blight by declaring November 16 of every year a national holiday in commemoration of Dr Azikiwe’s birthday”.

‘NUJ building will enhance Abia’s corporate image’

By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

C

hief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Onyebuchi Ememnaka (Esq), says the completion of the permanent secretariat for Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) would enhance the corporate image of the state.

Ememanka stated this during his maiden official visit to the temporary secretariat of the Abia State Council of the NUJ on Aba Road, Umuahia, to formally introduce himself to journalists in the state.

Abia Council of NUJ has been operating from a rented apartment since the creation of the state in 1991.

However, the administration of the immediate past governor, Chief Theodore Orji, commenced the construction of a permanent secretariat for the union in February 2014.

The storey building is still at lintel level.

After being briefed by the Council officials that the union craved for the quick completion of the building, Ememanka said he would study what was stalling the project in order to revive the

•Governor Okezie Ikpeazu project and possibly complete it.

“It is in the corporate image of Abia that the NUJ has a permanent secretariat. This place (temporary secretariat) is not conducive at all,” he said.

Ememanka said though he was not a journalist, he was determined to succeed in his new task, adding that he came to seek for close collaboration with journalists in the state, promising to accord priority to the welfare of the pen pushers. “I don’t want to fail. I want to succeed. Please, help

me,” he told his hosts.

He promised to be open and sustain an uninterrupted channel of communication with journalists in the state.

Responding, Chairman of Abia Council of NUJ, Comrade John Emejor, assured him of the cooperation and support of journalists in the state.

Every report emerging from Abia journalists will be guided by the doctrine of fairness and objectivity,” Emejor said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 6, 2019

NEWS

Elder Abuse Day: Ex-lawmaker, senior citizens task govts on welfare

O

n the occasion of the 2019 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday, the Coalition for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN) has called on governments to address the welfare of older persons.

The group is asking for improved healthcare, social security and prompt payment of pensions and stipends for older persons in the country.

The coalition noted that the senior citizens have contributed to national progress in their prime and consequently deserve attention now that

they are less active.

Sen. Eze Ajoku, former senator representing Imo East, who is the President of COSROPIN, made the appeal at an event to mark the 2019 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Abuja.

The event had its motto as: “Lifting up your voices’’.

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 66/127, designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It represents the one-day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering

inflicted on some of our older generations.

Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

The theme for 2019 Elder Abuse Awareness Day is: “Access to Justice: Legal, Social and Economic Services for Older Victims of Sexual, Physical and Financial Crimes”.

Ajoku said: “Government has done very little to ameliorate the plight of

older persons either through policies or legislation.

“We are asking the Federal Government, among other things, to fast track the Social Security Act which is a poverty safety net for older persons in order to reduce their sufferings.’’

He said the healthcare system at the rural levels should be improved upon for the benefit of this set of people.

Ajoku also said that government at all levels must facilitate the payment of pensions and stipends to older persons as well as create day care facilities for them.

Police arrest woman for buying stolen baby in Anambra

EBSU to rank first in South-east soon, says VC

By CHINEDU NWAFOR Abakaliki

From Pamela Eboh, Awka

P

olice detectives attached to Awada division in the commercial city of Anambra State have arrested one Juliet Onweagba of No 3 Onyekwore Street Awada for buying a stolen baby.

It was gathered that the 50 year-old suspect conspired with a 49-year-old Edith Ewudo of Orsumoghu Street, Awada and bought a newly-born baby girl.

A statement by the state Polics Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Haruna Mohammed said that the Baby was stolen from the mother, Faith Udechukwu, a 23 years old woman living at 3-3 Onitsha shortly after delivery on 2nd June, 2019.

According to him, the baby was sold for N550,000 from one 35 yrold Ndidi Egeonu of odume Obosi.

• Princess Titilayo Owolabi-Akerele, Member, Ekiti State House of Assembly, presenting the trophy to Miss He said the baby was however Olatunji Deborah of Holy Saviours College, Isolo, Lagos, Winner, National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2019) recovered even as the case is still (Secondary Schools Category), as Mr. Ewos Iroro, Founder, NTEC watches under investigation after which suspects would be charged to Court for prosecution.

Don’t extort corps members - Abia NYSC coordinator cautions staff

T

he new State Coordinator for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abia, Mrs Bona Fasakin, has warned members of staff of the scheme against the extortion of corps members serving in the state.

NYSC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Omaka Onu, who stated this in a statement in Umuahia on Friday, said Fasakin issued the warning, while taking over from her predecessor, Mrs Francesca Ifon, at the NYSC Secretariat in Umuahia.

She was also quoted to have solicited the support and cooperation of members of staff of the scheme in Abia, promising to run an open door policy.

The statement further stated that before her posting to Abia, Fasakin was the Assistant Director Planing, Research and Statistics, NYSC, Oyo state.

The new coordinator became the 13th Chief Executive of the scheme and the sixth woman to occupy the position in Abia.

Earlier, the erstwhile state coordinator was said to have urged the staff members to extend their support to her successor in order to enable her to succeed.

Ifon, who was transferred to the NYSC National Directorate, Abuja, said that she was leaving Abia a fulfilled person.

He noted that the Elder Abuse Awareness Day should remind every Nigerian that each one has a role to play by focusing attention on “elder justice’’.

He said with this year’s motto of “Lifting Up Your Voices,’’ COSROPIN wants all Nigerians to say no to elder abuse.

The United Nations said millions of seniors have been falling victim to some form of elder abuse, neglect or monetary manipulation around the world.

Violence, card reader failure, major challenges during 2019 election – INEC From Pamela Eboh, Awka

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Anambra State has identified violence and card reader failure as the core challenges it faced during the elections.

This was made known on Thursday during the review of the conduct of the 2019 general elections which attended by collation officers, electoral officers and assistant electoral officers from all the 21 local government areas of the state, as well as facilitators from the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the participants on behalf of the INEC national Commissioner in charge of Enugu, Anam-

bra and Benue State, Chief Festus Okoye, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, said that this year was the third time the commission carried out the review exercise since the return of the current democratic dispensation.

He said that the issues would be addressed to ensure better exercise in subsequent elections.

The participants used tge occassion to narrate their experiences during the polls, even as many observed that the failure of card readers, violence in many polling units and collation centers, as well as pressures from outside the commission, almost disrupted the election despite adequate preparations.

While saying that the views of the participants would guide the commission in preparing for future elections, Orji urged INEC officials to state all the interference they encountered in the course of the polls.

Subsequently, 42 items that affected the 2019 were considered by the participants and contributions were made on ways to improve conduct of future elections in the country.

A facilitator from INEC headquarters, Abuja, Mrs. Pricilla Ezeigwe, assured the participants that their recommendations would form part of the preparations for future elections, even as she hailed INEC in Anambra State for doing a great work.

He said: “I heartily congratulate my brother, friend and ally, Distinguished Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, on his emergence as the Minority Leader of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I also congratulate my brothers, Senators Emmanuel Bwacha, Philip Adudua and Clifford Ordia on their emergence as Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

“These are honours well de-

served. With this, the PDP is good to go as a formidable opposition in the Senate and the polity as a whole.

“We will all work together to strengthen our party and democracy for the good governance and development of Nigeria”.

Ekwemadu prayed God to grant the minority principal officers sound health, wisdom, courage, and the grace to excel in their offices.

Ekweremadu congratulates Abaribe, other NASS minority officers

F

ormer Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated minority principal officers of the 9th Senate on their emergence.

Ekweremadu, who made this on his Facebook handle, @iamekweremadu, expressed confidence in the abilities of the minority officers.

He said that they had the qualities to rally the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a formidable opposition in the Red Chamber and the polity.

V

ice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Professor Chigozie Ogbu, has predicted that the university would soon rank first and take over as the pride of the South-East of Nigeria.

He made the prediction during the presentation and handover of Food Science and Technology post graduate hall renovated by a Philanthropist, Dr. Henry C. Uro-Chukwu, an alimnus of the university.

The Vice Chancellor who was represented at the event by the deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Happiness Oselebe, urged the staff, students, alumni and everyone who have links with the university to join hands in making the prediction possible.

According to him, great people are found in EBSU and alot of great things are happening within the university that will soon announce its name.

“EBSU is making waves and we are creating niches where other have failed and when we do, it comes out big”, he added.

He said, the decision of one of the university’s alumni, Dr. UroChukwu, to undertake the renovation of the FST PG hall was laudable, noting that such contributions would go a long way to assisting the university attain the desired standard.

The VC who commended the donor for his professional breakthroughs and for giving back to the university, challenged other alumni as well as students of the university to emulate him by creating niche for themselves.

“The University appreciates you for giving back to us. You have laid the foundation and it is a challenge to other alumni and students”, he said.

Uro-Chukwu, who is the only Medical Doctor in Nigeria with Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in nutritional medicine explained that he embarked on the renovation of the hall because of its deplorable condition.

According to him, he would have embarked on the renovation even before his graduation last year but withheld it to avoid anybody thinking he was looking for favour.

Uro-Chukwu who is the former Director, Free Mobile Care, during the administration of former Governor Sam O. Egwu said it cost him half a million to renovate the hall.

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17, 2019

NEWS

Imo Govt commits to provision of potable water …As indigenes seek improved ties with S’Africa

I

mo Government is committed to the provision of potable water in Owerri and its environs, the Deputy Governor, Mr Gerald Irona, said on Saturday.

Irona spoke during a facility tour of Otamiri Water Scheme, Owerri, and stressed that the government would address the perennial water challenge in the state with the immediate reactivation of the Otamiri Water Scheme.

According to him, Otamiri Water Scheme is one facility the state government rates high and cannot be allowed to rot away.

He said after deliberations with the management of the Ministry of Public Utilities and putting financial implications into perspective, he decided to embark on the inspection of the project as part of the government rebuilding efforts.

“Due to the high premium

the state government places on water, we have decided to resuscitate the Otamiri Water Scheme and we shall do all it takes to ensure that this facility comes up again.

“The governor is very anxious that we utilise this place and provide water for the people of the state.

“We have looked at the financial implications and evaluated the infrastructure on ground. We shall do our best to ensure that this comes back to life,” he assured.

The deputy governor was taken round the facility by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities, Mrs P. A. Eleberi, and the General Manager of Otamiri Water Scheme, Mrs Hope Anyiam.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Acting High Commissioner, South African High Commission in Nigeria, Mr Bobby

Moroe, Friday, expressed his country’s commitment to strengthen cultural and economic ties with Imo. Moroe said this when the Imo Concerned Citizens (ICC), a socio-cultural group visited him in Abuja.

He said that South Africa and Nigeria, particularly Imo had many areas that could be of mutual benefits to them.

According to him, there is need to create cohesion between the state and South Africa with a view to creating better life for the people.

“It is therefore necessary to identify and propose the areas South Africa and Imo State can cooperate based

on the needs assessment of the state.

“We welcome the efforts of the state to renew our relationship, be it in agriculture, automobile or in tourism; we need to identify areas of common interest,’’ Moroe said.

While noting that Nigeria and South Africa are the emerging giants of Africa, Moroe emphasised the need to correct the misconception that both countries were rivals.

He called for media exchange programmes that are crucial in setting the records right.

“What we will not allow

is the media projection that both countries are rivals.

We need inter exchange of media so that people can begin to change the narrative and tell the story in objective manner.

“Politically, both countries are the dominant state entities in their respective sub-regions and we must sustain the narrative of building than destroying.

“We have to cultivate regular media relationship and explore opportunities of writing things that are truthful.

“People are easily carried away by what they read but when you give them the full

story, they begin to have a better understanding. We need more engagement to demystify the stigma,’’ Moroe said.

Earlier, the Convener of the group, Mr Amadichi Chike, identified tourism as one of the areas that South Africa and Imo could leverage for mutual benefits.

He said: “South Africa made a lot of progress in tourism, so Imo is one area the country can build its capacity. We have travelled to South Africa and we have seen good things and those things we feel can be replicated in Nigeria.’’

NEMA partners ministry, SEMA to check flood in Enugu

N

ational Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) says it is partneringwth the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to check flash flood in the state.

Flash flood is a seasonal disaster that confronts the state and even within Enugu metropolis, yearly.

NEMA Zonal Coordinator Mr Fred Anusim said in Enugu on Friday, that the agency was also extending the sensitisation to communities and council areas, mostly affected by flash flood.

Anusim said that the agency was also engaging the chairmen of the councils to ensure de-silting of all drains ahead of the major months of the rainy season.

“We have met with the heads of the ministry and SEMA on the issue. As a lead emergency agency, NEMA wants to put an end to yearly recurrence of flash flood in the state.

“Apart from the

community sensitisation, we have also involved council chairmen to see that they mobilise resources and volunteer groups to desilt major waterways and drains in the localities.

“NEMA believes that ending flash flood in Enugu State is achievable, if residents in the state cooperate with us and the government for a clean environment,’’ he said.

He emphasised the urgent need for residents to be environmentallydisciplined and shun habits of throw refuse into drains as well as dumping them indiscriminately.

Anusim also said that the agency was tinkering with the idea of collaborating with the state ministry and SEMA to check indiscriminate dumping of refuse by using the mass media especially the radio.

“It is lack of care of the environment by individuals and group through injurious environmental practices that had made flash flood a persistent challenge in the state,’’ he said.

(L-R) Favour Benson, President, JTAH Foundation; Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos and Cherry Eromosele, Chief Marketing and Communication Officer, Interswitch during the JTAH annual National Women and Girl-Child Stakeholders Conference held recently in Lagos

Ikpeazu hails Abaribe’s emergence as Senate Minority Leader

A

bia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has described Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe’s emergence as Senate Minority Leader as a recognition for his years of active contribution and commitment to the cause of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and national development.

Ikpeazu said this in a press statement issued in Umuahia by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Onyebuchi

Ememanka, in Umuahia on Friday.

He further described the lawmaker as “a beacon of legislative excellence, whose doggedness confirms that there is great honour in the exercise of consistency, intergrity and courage.”

He expressed the confidence that Abaribe would evolve novel ideas, improved legislative integrity, dignity and a new impetus for opposition

politics in the National Assembly (NASS).

Ikpeazu said that as one of the longest serving senators in the ninth assembly, the Abia-born lawmaker “has become well-versed in the business of legislation.”

He hoped that Abaribe would add greater value to the quality of legislations emanating from the senate.

According to the governor, Abaribe represents “a compendium

of legislative experience and a walking encyclopedia of the nuances of the legislative arm of government.”

It would be recalled that Abaribe, who is representing Abia South Senatorial District, won the 2019 election to the Senate for a record four tenures.

He hails from Ikpeazu’s Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

NGO wants assistance for Centenarian freed from prison in Enugu

G •Celestine Egboluche

lobal Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC), a Civil Society Organisation has called on governments and wellmeaning Nigerians to assist a 101-year old Celestine Egboluche, released from the Enugu Maximum Prison.

Egboluche was granted state pardon by the Imo State Government last week after spending 19 years in prison following

the intervention of the group and the media.

Addressing some journalists at St. Daniel Hospital in Enugu where Egboluche was recovering from prison trauma, the Regional Coordinator, GSAC, Mrs Amaka Nweke, said the ex-prisoner had no place of abode.

She said that his house at Akokwa, Ideato North Local Government Area

of Imo was demolished by those that accused him and his son of kidnapping and killing their relation, Cyril Igbokwe.

“We need people to help so that when he is discharged from the hospital, he can return to his ancestral home.

“Those who accused him and his son of murder, 19 years ago, demolished his house. So, he has no home to return to when

he is discharged from the hospital,” she said.

Nweke also noted that since Egboluche was admitted into the hospital, his bill had been mounting and needed to be offset.

“We need people to come and help us. The hospital bill is rising. It has reached up to N80, 000. He needs a CT scan so that he can recall his memory.

“He was not able to

walk before but he can walk now, eat and talk though not coherently. So, we need assistance from all and sundry,” she said.

The regional coordinator said that already some helps had been coming but that they needed more.

Nweke pleaded also that the centenarian only son, Paul Egboluche be released from the prison to attend to his aged father.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 27, 2019

NEWS

Two-storey building collapses in Warri

A

two-storey building under construction has collapsed in Marine Quarters, Warri, Warri South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta.

The building which was few metres away from the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel, crumbled at about 1:10pm, according to an eyewitness.

No life was lost in the incident.

Chairman, Marine Quarters, Mr Olusegun Awodiyi, who spoke on behalf of the residents, said they had warned the owner of the building that the foundation was not strong enough to carry a 2-storey building.

According to Awoniyi who claimed that the building materials used were substandard, the owner of the building whose name was not given, rebuffed them and said he was a certified engineer.

He said: “The workers have not been around for some days, so we thank God that no life was lost.

“The Delta Government should come and take a critical look at another house belonging to the same owner of the collapsed building to avoid another one collapsing and possibly leading to death.”

Mr Samuel Owoputi, who owns a building beside the ill-fated structure, said two of his children who were sleeping in his room narrowly escaped death as the incident also affected the room.

According to him, the collapsed building had been giving sign since Wednesday.

Mrs Divine Iniovosa, the Vice Chairman of the local government area who visited the scene, said the owner of the building would be invited to the council secretariat for questioning.

Iniovosa claimed that from all indications, the materials used for the building were substandard, adding that it was built without the service of a qualified engineer.

“We thank God that no life was lost. From what I am seeing, it shows that the materials used were poor and the owner did not engage a qualified engineer to do the job.

“As a council, we are going to invite the owner to come and tell us what happened; but for now, I will report to the council chairman what I have seen.

“My people from the Town Planning Departments have drawn our attention to this building and they told the man to stop the building. I am not surprised that this has happened.

“The owner of this house probably did not want to live in it, otherwise, he would not use these poor materials to build this house,” she said.

Iniovosa advised prospective builders to engage the services of qualified engineers and also use standard materials for their buildings.

“People should engage the services of engineers before starting their building. They should also use quality building materials so that their house will stand the test of time,” she said.

2,000 persons benefit from FG’s medical outreach in C/River

M

ore than 2,000 residents of Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River have benefitted from the Federal Government medical outreach and eye surgeries in the state.

The outreach which was conducted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in collaboration with a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), Vision Savers Abuja, ran from June 14 to June 16.

Speaking to journalists during the outreach on Saturday at Nko, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Aminu Bisalla, said the ministry used to carry out medical sensitisation in the past but had to include free treatment from 2018 due to requests from communities.

Bisalla, who was represented by Mrs Lauren Braide, Director, Community Development and Education, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, said they got requests from different communities, Nko inclusive and decided to carry out the outreach.

According to him, the ministry is expected to attend to 500 persons but had attended to over 2,000 with more still coming, adding that they may not be able to see everyone but the serious cases will be attended to.

“To tell you the truth, the number of persons we are seeing here is quite beyond our expectation, we had looked at attending to about 500 persons but right now, we have over 2,000 and more are still coming.

“Look at the situation here, it

pains me that we may not be able to see everybody but the critical cases we will attend to and if need be do referrals.

“We wish to continue these outreaches bearing the constraints of funds in mind, so we call on other stakeholders to collaborate with us so that we can reach out to more people”, he said.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vision Savers, Dr Kamal Umar, said they were happy to collaborate with the ministry because they were actually saving lives and putting smiles on the faces of the benefitting communities.

Umar said they were in Nko community in 2018 and treated about 4,000 persons and had attended to over 2,000 persons already in 2019 on the second day of the outreach.

He thanked the people of Nko community for their cooperation, assuring that the outreach which had already produced many successes, will end well.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke to journalists, Mr Ibor Ibor, said he had had issues with his sight for over two years but could see clearly now after he underwent an eye surgery in the outreach.

Ibor thanked the federal government for its kind gesture in his community while calling for its sustainability.

Similarly, Mrs Comfort Obeche, another beneficiary of the eye surgery who spoke in pidgin, lauded the federal government for restoring her sight.

Apart from distribution of glasses and eye surgery, other services that were carried out during the outreach included treatment of malaria, typhoid, diabetes and provision of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV patients, among others.

Izon Anglican Diocese calls for peaceful LG, Guber polls in Bayelsa

T • (From left): Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, receiving the Managing Director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu, to his office at the Government House in Kano, Saturday

Consulate to stage protest over continued killing of Nigerians in S/Africa

...As 130 Nigerians killed in 30 months

C

onsul-General of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, says the mission is to protest killings and highhandedness of the South African police against Nigerians.

The planned protest follows the recurring killing of Nigerians resident in the former apartheid enclave, where some 130 Nigerians were murdered in 30 months up to September 2018.

The figure has since jumped.

Adama made the announcement, while reacting to the latest killing of a Nigerian, Maxwell Okoye by the South African police.

He spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

Adama said that Okoye was killed on June 14.

The envoy, who described the persistent killing of Nigerians as unacceptable, said the issue had become worrisome and deserved urgent intervention of the South African authorities. ”I have confirmed the death of Maxwell Ikechukwu Okoye in the hands of South African police officers at about 01.00 hours on Friday, June 14 when a group of policemen invaded his house in Ladysmith in Kwazulu Natal Province. ”He reportedly alerted a leader of the Nigerian community in the area of the presence of policemen in his house and called for their intervention.

”However, help was not immediately available, due probably to the time of the night and the fact that all attempts to get him on line was futile. ”He eventually was reported dead by the police who claimed they met him foaming when they broke into his house in that odd hour of the night, a claim that appeared suspicious and compromising.”

Adama said that by the time members of Nigerian community in the area got to Okoye’s home, his house was turned upside down and he was reported dead by the police, who took his body to the mortuary on their own.

The envoy said that the matter was reported by Nigerians to the South African police, who promised to commence investigation into the matter.

He said that the mission had also reported the matter to the national headquarters of the South African Independent Police Investigative Directorate. ”We intend to protest the matter officially through the usual diplomatic channels by the high commission in Pretoria once all details are collated. ”This is about the third case involving alleged torture and murder of Nigerians by the South African police within one month. ”It happened in Cape Town, Durban and now in Ladysmith. As the

Nigerian Mission in South Africa, we will not fold our hands and allow these infractions to continue. ”We will not stand by and allow this development to continue.

We shall be visiting the area to see things for ourselves while engaging relevant authorities on the matter. It is unacceptable.”

Adama recalled that in October, 2017, a similar murder of a Nigerian, Badmus Olalekan from Lagos State by men of the South African police led to the arrest and arraignment of eight policemen in Vanderbijpark Park, near Johannesburg.

This followed the intervention of the Nigerian Consulate, he stated.

According to him, the case is currently at the High Court in Johannesburg and will be concluded in October, 2019 going by the conclusions of the last court sitting. ”We are closely following up this along with the others to ensure that justice is served. We shall not leave any stone unturned concerning these matters. ”The high handedness of the South African police against Nigerians over flimsy excuses has become worrisome and deserves the intervention of the authorities. ”This is to protect the excellent relations that existing between the two countries as well as preserve coexistence of Nigerians and their South African hosts.”

he Northern Izon Anglican Diocese, Kolokumo-Opokuma Council Area of Bayelsa has called for a peaceful council and governorship elections.

The call was contained in a communique issued at the end of the first session of the third synod of Northern Izon Anglican Diocese, which held at St. Paul’s Deanery, Okoloba in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area.

The Anglican Church made that call during the 2019 Synod hosted by Rt. Rev Funkuro Amgbare, Bishop, Northern Izon Diocese on Thursday.

The Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission has slated Aug.10 for the local government elections, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship polls for Nov. 16.

The Synod urged the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities as the elections get closer with intense preparations by political actors.

The Synod advised the Bayelsa government to alleviate pensioners’ sufferings by promptly paying their outstanding gratuities and monthly stipends.

The assembly of Anglican clergy said the abuse of court orders by those in authority and the harassment of journalists in the country is likely to spell doom for the nation’s democracy if not nipped in the bud.

On the looting of Amnesty Skills Acquisition Centre a Boro Town, Kaiama, the Synod condemned and described the act as irresponsible for people to vandalise a centre aimed at addressing unemployment in the area.

The Synod thanked the federal government for setting up a panel of inquiry to unravel the perpetrators for the law to take its course and bring the perpetrators of the looting to book.

The gathering equally commended the federal government for approving payment of N30,000 minimum wage.

The Synod decried the deplorable condition of the East/West road and called for its completion, particularly the Mbiama-Kaiama axis, which has become a nightmare to road users.

Eight visiting Bishops from sister Dioceses attended the four day programme, which had the theme: “The Lord Is My Shepherd”.

15

POLITICS

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

The need for good governance and peaceful electioneering in Africa

By GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

Introduction

F

irst, let me thank and appreciate Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for her leadership and ability to carry on with the work of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) after the passing on of her husband, Rev. Sun Myung Moon. It really shows that the vision of a lasting peace in the world, which the organisation propagates, is a shared one.

I appreciate the UPF for organising the International Leadership Conference (ILC) which provides a platform for leaders to share their perspectives on peace and development. I also thank members of the UPF for inviting me to this Conference which theme is ‘Building a Peaceful and Prosperous Africa Centred on Universal Values’. I am always pleased to be in any gathering where the peace and development of our world is being considered.

It is also my joy and honour to share this platform with fellow African leaders, especially those who I personally know to be very passionate about Africa’s growth and the wellbeing of the good people of the continent. I appreciate them and other dignitaries who are participating in this conference for the rich presentations so far made and others that are yet to come.

Equally important is my gratitude to the citizens of the Republic of South Africa who have always shown me love whenever I am opportune to visit this beautiful and important country in Africa.

I left here barely three weeks ago after I led the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Observation Mission to the just concluded national and provincial elections. I must say that the job of observing the elections for me and members of my team was made easier by the warm reception and courtesies accorded us by the good people of South Africa.

I can relate with the topic assigned to me which is ‘The Need for Good Governance and Peaceful Electioneering Process in Africa’. It is a subject that is close to my heart because of my convictions on the importance of peace to development. I am very passionate about the need for credible elections and good governance in Africa.

Since leaving office as President of Nigeria in 2015, I have applied myself to promoting credible, transparent elections and peaceful transfer of power on the continent. Along this same line my Foundation, The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), also focuses on efforts toward consolidating democracy on the continent as a means of strengthening our institutions and stabilising the continental political space. This is a commitment that fits into my personal philosophy and ideals.

I always tell people that Africa missed out on the industrial revolution and is already lagging behind in the race to space. Others are not only visiting the moon but seeking possibility of long stay on other planets. We therefore have no reason to fail our people on democracy. This is because it is within our power and aptitude to freely choose our leaders and determine how we shall be governed. Africa need not and should not miss out on democratic consolidations.

tive to the peace that obtains in its national space. I have continuously made the point that the world’s ten most developed nations are those countries that experience the least conflicts while the ten least developed countries are consumed in the worst form of conflicts.

I don’t take pleasure in observing that many of those nations who are categorised as least developed are here in Africa. This tells us that the continent is still in need of the kind of leadership and service that will deliver prosperity to the greater number of our people.

While conflicts scare people away and discourage investors, good governance attracts growth and investments. True democracy guarantees free and fair elections and peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. It also brings about peace which is the ideal setting that attracts the investments nations need to grow and develop.

Society grows and develops where the leader tolerates opposition, guarantees freedoms, educates and builds the people, as well as upholds equity and justice. Those who ignore these tenets of a free and progressive society often plunge their countries into crises.

FOR THE RECORD

2. IMPORTANCE OF PEACE IN DEVELOPMENT What is true about our world today is that every country’s development is rela-

3. CAUSES OF CONFLICTS AND THE AFRICAN DI-

LEMMA In many African countries democratic processes remain fragile because of leadership struggles among politicians. Such struggles mainly driven by ego, do not allow for the deepening of democratic values and the conduct of free and fair elections.

Many African nations have either stood in one spot for years or even regressed because of the take-power-at-all-cost disposition of some politicians. Many of those who eventually get to power with that mind-set end up rising above the people, above the laws of the land and beyond the reach of justice.

When leaders encourage impunity in the conduct of elections, they push the aggrieved to desperate limits, which fuels crises and conflicts. That is why some African nations are in turmoil today.

A leader who truly wishes to serve his people will not impose his will on them. Such a leader will not be tempted to manipulate constitutional processes to either repress opposition or extend his tenure.

It was Frank Herbert, a celebrated American writer, who said that “good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern.” I find this view quite germane. The seed of good governance is sown in the heart of the patriotic leader. Driven by his conscience, and never ego, he dons the garb and disposition of stewardship to envision a society that will be just to his people.

Although multiparty elections have become more regular in Africa, we still lag behind the rest of the world in making democracy work for the electorate. The main reason for this being the ‘winner-take-all’ approach to democracy in Africa.

Having said that, I must commend President Cyril Ramaphosa for bridging the gap by setting up a gender and politically balanced national government of 14 men and 14 women within 96 hours of being sworn in.

The rest of the continent has a lot to learn from this.

•Jonathan There are evidences of conflicts arising from weak institutions, undemocratic practices and rigged electoral processes which worst case scenario usually cause political instability and widespread insecurity.

Any leader who gets consumed in personal survival tactics, as it often happens on our continent, ceases to be responsible to the people. I believe that power loses its taste and appeal once it becomes hostile and unresponsive to the wishes of the people.

There is no doubt that there is a silver lining in the fact that Africa has taken considerable steps in striving towards democratic and participatory governance, going by the rate African nations are holding periodic multi-party elections.

This year alone, no fewer than eight African countries have held one form of election or the other. They include Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Comoros, Egypt, Benin, South Africa and Malawi. It is expected that more than that number of countries will conduct general or parliamentary elections before the end of 2019.

That for me is a plus and an important step in the right direction, knowing Africa’s past with autocratic rule and one-man shows. Whatever we are doing or saying here today will therefore dwell on how to

strengthen the pillars of democracy where they are weak and enhance political stability across the continent.

I am delighted that the organisers of this conference chose South Africa as the venue for the event. On one hand, the memories I had of the elections that held here in May as leader of an election observation mission are still fresh and worthy of sharing with this distinguished gathering. On the other hand, South Africa to me symbolises Africa’s difficult past, its hopes, aspirations and possibilities with representative leadership.

Seeing how far the country has come, her leadership experience embodies all that is required to explore on the ‘need for good governance and peaceful electioneering process in Africa’, which is the topic of my discourse. This is because like the rest of Africa, South Africa is new to representative democracy. The country has turned its back to its past of minority rule to embrace representative democracy as a system of government.

I am also inclined to believe that ahead of many other African nations, South Africa within a relatively short time, has successfully established functional institutions that

Cont’d on page 16

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

FOR THE RECORD

16

Cont’d from page 15 guide its democracy to inspire confidence in the system.

There are lessons to be learnt from the country’s last elections for the rest of us. It was obvious from our interactions with a cross-section of the stakeholders as election observers that almost all the players had confidence in both the electoral management body, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the police operatives that secured the elections.

The development accounted for why the just concluded elections were largely peaceful and adjudged by observers to have been credible. This is encouraging because South Africa was able to record this kind of progress, barely 25 years after the legendary Nelson Mandela became its first democratically elected President.

For me, this is an important milestone in Africa’s journey towards liberal democracy.

Once you get to that point where all role players in elections can express confidence in the umpire and the security systems, you would have solved more than 70% of your electoral challenges. Sadly, not many African countries have got to this point. The point where they can beat their chest and boast of political freedom, inclusiveness, independence of the electoral management body and credibility of the political process.

You can always tell how credible or otherwise a democratic process has been from the level of protests, violence and the number of post-election litigations. In places where there had been issues of election-related conflicts or violence, like Kenya, Togo, Nigeria, Congo DRC and Benin the question of credibility and trust involving role players in the elections had always been on the card.

When people have confidence in the electoral system, and where the process has been free, fair and transparent, they are more likely to accept the result of elections, rather than protest or go to court to challenge the outcome. I should also note that sometimes, politicians hide behind ego, religious and ethnic sentiments to instigate crises.

The truth is that credible and peaceful elections have been accepted globally as the necessary tool for improved governance, inclusiveness and people-oriented development.

4. BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESSES As technology continues to evolve, electoral processes are being retooled globally in tune with the times. That is why some countries are adopting electronic voting as the system of choice.

In countries where decision is yet to be taken on full electronic voting, automation has taken over some sensitive aspects of the process, like in Nigeria where card readers have already been deployed to enhance efficiency of voter registration and accreditation during the voting process.

Despite the fact some people are still skeptical about its reliability, I remain convinced that full automation is the way to future elections. I am optimistic that Africa will ultimately cue into this choice.

However, I believe that before we get there, we should be able to build political and electoral systems that should give our people hope and confidence. When we establish a credible system, it will be easier to deploy technology when the time eventually comes for full electronic voting.

What is obvious is that the credibility and legitimacy of electoral processes are, to a great deal, determined by the competence, impartiality and independence of electoral management bodies (EMBs).

For Africa to make more progress towards building liberal democracies, upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, improving human security and enhancing good governance, it should first take deliberate measures to strengthen the independence of the electoral management bodies.

Transparency of the recruitment processes for members of EMBs is a major factor that boosts the confidence of the re-

•Jonathan spective electorates during elections.

Such principles should ensure independence, impartiality, fair representation, transparency and integrity.

It is interesting that almost all the EMBs in Africa are identified with the prefix ‘Independent’, but the jury is still out on whether these agencies are truly independent as their names imply.

As Africa consolidates its hold on democracy with many nations holding periodic elections, the question of which system of recruitment of the leadership of EMBs serves the continent best has continued to be asked. This is because a nation’s electoral management model will, to a great deal, determine the transparency of its electoral processes.

So far, the method of constituting members of EMBs is differently realised from one nation to the other, without a general guiding principle. What is clear is that there are actually three models in practice globally.

•Countries where the appointing authority is vested in the President like you have in such nations as Nigeria, Liberia, Kenya and Sudan.

• Countries where the President does not have much influence on who gets appointed into the EMBs. This is the system that is obtainable in countries like India and Canada.

• Countries where other institutions provide a shortlist of names from which the President appoints members of EMBs, like South Africa and Zimbabwe. This system seems to be a hybrid of the two already itemised.

It bears mentioning that in countries where the President exercises sole appointing authority, the propriety of the exercise has regularly come to question with analysts claiming that it does not guarantee total independence for the commission.

When you leave a serious responsibility like that in the hands of one powerful partisan politician, there is every indication that the people, especially fellow politicians who are in the opposition, will view his motive as suspect, even if he or she has the best of intentions.

Three countries out of those cited above have already conducted general elections

this year. They are South Africa, India and Nigeria. It is instructive that the elections in the first two countries which EMBs were constituted through institutional processes enjoyed wider acceptability among the people.

In cases where there is no confidence in the electoral commission, the results of elections are usually challenged in court by candidates who doubt the impartiality the umpire.

For instance, by the end of April 2019, Nigeria’s Election Petition tribunals had received no fewer than 766 petitions from those challenging the outcome of the 2019 general elections.

What this tells us is that the continent urgently needs to review and harmonise its standards for constituting the institutions responsible for the conduct of elections, in order to properly equip them to truly earn the confidence of the people.

The African Union guideline for electoral observation and monitoring missions requires African nations to establish “impartial, all-inclusive, competent and accountable national electoral bodies staffed by qualified personnel, as well as competent legal entities including effective constitutional courts to arbitrate in the event of disputes arising from the conduct of elections.”

This is however not far-reaching enough as it comes across as mere suggestions for nations going into elections. In this regard, I urge the African Union to work towards establishing minimum standards and benchmarks for constituting electoral management bodies and encourage member-nations to ratify such.

The AU should, through its Political Affairs Department, set up a team of electoral experts to study different models and recommend the system they consider best for the continent.

Such benchmarks should also take cognizance of the need to review the election judicial processes to ensure that, where election tribunals are set up to specifically handle election cases, one judicial officer does not handle the role of appointing all members of the tribunals.

Since neutrality of the security services is absolutely necessary in ensuring free and fair elections, it is also important that the Af-

rica Union establishes a code of conduct that should guide security officials in charge of elections. All these recommendations should be accommodated in AU’s procedures for elections that should serve as guidelines for election observers.

CONCLUSION When I pointed out earlier that elections alone do not deliver good governance, it was on the understanding that good governance in a democracy takes a deeper and more nuanced consideration to attain.

I have said elsewhere that a driver of good governance must be developmentminded, visionary and selfless and he or she must never seek power at all costs nor wield it for its own sake. Nations only develop when national institutions are strengthened and all citizens, both the leader and the led, come under the control and protection of the rule of law.

As I close, let me emphasise that Africa’s leadership problem has more to do with weak institutions than the case of leaders serving in office for long periods of time.

When the democratic institutions are strong they will develop firewalls that will resist attempts to alter the constitution and manipulate electoral processes for selfish reasons.

Democracy is not about holding periodic elections but conducting credible, transparent, free and fair polls. African elections must meet minimum acceptable standards for democracy to be beneficial to the people of the continent.

Anything short of that can at best be considered as pseudo democracies. African nations must improve their electoral processes by establishing systems that will support and deliver credible elections. That is the impetus the continent needs to achieve lasting peace that will catalyse growth and sustainable development.

I thank you all Dr. GOODLUCK E. JONATHAN, Chairman of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) made this presentation at the International Leadership Conference (ILC) organised by the Universal Peace Federation held on June 7, 2019 in Johannesburg,, South Africa

17

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

ANALYSIS

Despite challenges, Africa’s debt is still under control says African Development Bank •In 2018, the Bank earned $214 million in allocable income, 48% of which has been reinvested in the institution to reinforce reserves and its business growth capacity

•Akinwunmi Adesina

T

he African Development Bank remains strong with growing operating revenues and allocable income generated since 2010 reaching $2.5 billion, the Bank Group’s Treasurer, Hassatou Diop N’sele has

said.

In 2018, the Bank earned $214 million in allocable income, 48% of which has been reinvested in the institution to reinforce reserves and its business growth capacity.

The bullish numbers were revealed during the Bank’s Financial presentation las Thursday, a highlight of the 2019 Annual Meetings of the Bank currently underway in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The panel was led by N’sele and Simon Mizrahi, Director of Service Delivery, Performance Management and Results at the Bank.

During the presentation attended by delegates, governors, executive directors and Bank staff, N’Sele noted that the Bank could chart a new path on account of its ability to raise funds on the capital markets.

“The amount of infrastructure financing covered by private sector could double if African countries harness the full potential of

their capital markets.”

According to N’sele, a number of African countries could save as much as $1 billion on a 20year loan, if they borrow from the African Development Bank, instead of from the Eurobond market, due to preferable lending rates.

Delegates were informed of the Bank’s successful issuance of the first-ever NOK social bond sold in Norway and sealed in 2018.

Despite challenges, Africa’s debt is still under control On debt sustainability, Africa’s debt has increased in recent years “but not to unsustainable levels,” Mizrahi indicated but pleaded for caution. “We need to continue to generate financing and spur growth without in-

creasing debt,” he said.

Sharing insights on Africa’s path forward, Mizrahi underscored the need to harness the continent’s incredible potential in renewable energy.

Africa is the most vulnerable continent and suffers the most from climate change but “with the right vision, investments and political commitments, Africa can lead a global energy revolution and leapfrog to renewable technologies.”

This is why the Bank is putting its money where its mouth is and investing more than any other development Bank in helping the continent transition towards more resilient and sustainable economies, he concluded.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfTCA) ushering a new era in intra-African trade According to Mizrahi, AfCTA paves the way to the world’s largest free trade area with an integrated market of 1.3 billion consumers.

“This is important because Africa will struggle to be competitive at the global scale, if it continues to operate as 54 fragmented economies. The continent needs to be more integrated, needs larger economic spaces so that Africa can attract more investors, create more and better jobs, boost internal trade and create continent-wide value chains that are globally competitive,” Mizrahi stressed.

The panel moderated by the Victor Oladokun, the Bank’s Director of Communication, noted that AfCFTA is expected to boost cross-border infrastructure, drive competitiveness and make the continent a smaller place by integrating markets.

In her concluding remarks, N’sele expressed the Bank’s appreciation for Canada’s unwavering support to the institution with the recently announced $1.1 billion callable capital.

“This will allow us to continue to meet our financial ratio before a decision is made on the 7th General Capital Increase,” she said.

“We are, the continent’s only triple-A rated institution. Our rating means that our bonds are the absolute safest in the world.

It gives confidence to investors across the globe that their investment in African Development Bank bonds is secured.”

The discussions included gender issues, especially the Bank’s flagship Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme, which seeks to mobilise $3 billion to close the financing gender gap for women entrepreneurs.

(APO)

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 17 - 25, 2019

PEOPLE

C

hief Godwin Uba Okeke no doubt got a bit of his interest in business from his parents. His father, Chief Joseph Ikeokwu Okeke, was a carpenter, who later in the 1960s became a textile merchant, with stalls at the Main Market and on Bright Street in Onitsha.

His mother, Christiana Nwaoye Okeke (nee Ezenwa) Ocheze was a merchant of wholesale foodstuff in Ose and the Main Market in Onitsha. She was so prominent that she was supplying foodstuff to secondary schools in Onitsha, Nnewi and Oba. GUO, the sixth of eight children, was born on June 6, 1949. Ages 6, he started his primary education in 1955, at Central School, Onitsha. For his Secondary Education, he attended Community Grammar School, Nnobi from 1963.

In The Beginning His inclination towards leadership showed up quite early. In 1966, he attended a “Man O’ War” leadership training scheme to hone those leadership skills on his way to being a school’s prefect. The training, similar to any leadership training elsewhere, certainly prepared his young head for the treacherous waters of business. But perhaps, most immediately readied him for the Civil war. He went through the war a boy and came out a man, strengthened by the experience, because he had the survival skills.

Whilst in school, he was the goalkeeper of the school football team and participated in long distance race competitions of the province held in Onitsha.

An avid tennis player, he is member of the prestigious Onitsha Sports Club and for six years was President and member of Board of Trustees. Godwin didn’t just stumble into the Club because he was looking for a place to ease tension on some days. He had always been a sports man. Back to his secondary school days, he was the goalkeeper of the school football team and was a regular competitor in marathons organized held in Onitsha.

The War, And The Making of GUO As Sir Godwin sits atop the peak as the Chairman, Board of Directors, G. U. Okeke & Sons Ltd, and Chairman, Board of Directors, G. U. Okeke Transport Services Company Ltd, he will look to that day, January 15 in 1970 when the civil war ended. That day has a lot to say on the birth of GUO Transport and also the entire business empire of Godwin.

When the news filtered on January 15, 1970 that the civil war had ended after three years of bloodshed and surviving on the edge of a knife, three years of living with fear, not knowing “whence cometh death,” Godwin and his brothers couldn’t believe it.

Like the unbelieving Thomas in the Bible, they could only believe if they saw. But what would they see to believe? They decided to embark on 12 kilometer walk from Adazi-Ani to Nnewi. If they came back, then the war was truly over, and if they didn’t, then, the others would know that “don’t believe all you hear.”

They returned home to confirm that the war truly over. The day after, he told his parents that he will be going to Onitsha and they released their Peugeot 404 saloon car to him. He had gone to assess the condition of his parent’s properties. To his relief, the properties were all intact.

He went to the Fegge Area of Onitsha where he saw people busy buying and selling. As he made his way to the car to return to Adazi-Ani, he noticed a horde travellers milling around his car. They were all going to Enugu and wanted to know if he was going to Enugu. His sharp business mind kicked in and he thought out the profit side of the opportunity. He picked eight passengers and conveyed them to Ogbete in Enugu. Each paid him £1, Nigerian currency, which was extremely scarce at that time. At Enugu, travelers heading to Onitsha besieged him.

And as soon as the passengers alighted, those going to Onitsha swarmed into. He had another eight passengers back to Onitsha at the same fare. Back to Onitsha and there were still travellers going to Enugu. It was already getting dark and he refused to make another trip.

Meanwhile, at home in Adazi-Ani, his mother was a nervous wreck, sick with worry and in tears wondering if truly the war was over. What had happened to her son?

Unknown to the mother, her son was busy test running the wheels of a transport com-

GUO @

70:

The man, entrepreneur and Godwin FOR a man, whose corporate name GUO is more popular than the owner, nothing prepared him for the fame those three letters have brought him. Incidentally, GUO, the initials of the man, Godwin Ubaka Okeke, is an embodiment of what Godwin stands for. Behind the success he has made in business, and in life generally, are three words: Integrity, Hardwork, Grace. ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU reports... growth? In 1975 two 911 trucks were added to the fleet for haulage. They were doing good business then charging N9,900 each for trip.

And six years down the line in 1981, GUO deployed luxury buses.

Behind Every Good Man… As the business grew, Godwin showed up the humane part of him that was always at the core of his business: caring for others, the part of him that is always looking to make life easier for his fellow human beings.

He embraced philanthropy. And started building others and contributing to society, to make it better.

He offered scholarships to indigent students, built a three-storey building designed to accommodate 400 students at Paul’s University, Awka. He is the patron of the Anambra Blind Students Association, Central School for the Deaf and Dumb. As their patron, blind students are ferried free to any part of the country on GUO buses. Knowing how started, Godwin is ever ready to offer financial support for start-up businesses and mentors budding entrepreneurs.

•Godwin Ubaka Okeke

pany.

He didn’t stop transporting travellers between Onitsha and Enugu. He cashed in on the scarcity of vehicles to make several trips a day. And GUO Transport Services was well and running, what was absent then was the official launch.

With the transport section up and running, Godwin ran the tape rule over his other trading activities, combining it with the transportation business. The schedule was to combine the transport section with trading, which he has been doing during weekends from school and helping his parents at the various markets.

The war was over and life was returning to normalcy. As his business activities stabilized, he heard of the Federal Government announcement that the Biafran currency should be deposited in the banks. He made to enquiries in the bank on the modalities of the pronouncement and found out that irrespective of the amount of money deposited, a predetermined uniform receipt would be issued.

A smart thinking lad, he came up with an option. He told the family that they should

split whatever amount they have and take it to bank separately. This will increase the number of receipts that will be issued. This idea helped the family as each member of the family had receipts in their respective names.

On redemption of the receipts issued earlier, the Government paid £20 for each receipt.

When the receipts were pooled, it came to decent amount. From there, he started a poultry farm with his parents at Adazi-Ani to complement the shop for merchandise that he was operating in Ogbete, Enugu.

The Road of Accomplishments It is so difficult to pin down Godwin. He is successful in all he puts his mind and hands to, not one to lack initiatives or the drive. In 1971 he was supplying eggs to the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus.

Two years after the war ended and he had used his father’s 404 Peugeot car to test run the transport business, he deployed a Volkswagen Combi bus, which was the common brand of vehicle to ferry passengers on the Onitsha to Lagos route.

He was growing. The transport arm was getting making progress. The indices of

Success Has Its Rewards His contributions to the development of people and society have not gone unnoticed. He has been honoured several times different groups and bodies. And he has accumulated quite a lot of titles too as an indication of his own growth.

The Federal Government honoured him with a National Award as Member of the Order of the Niger (M.O.N.) in 2007 and he is a Knight of the Diocese on the Niger (Anglican Communion).

In 2008, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka gave him an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Business Administration (D.BA).

In 2001, he was made the life Vice President Onitsha Chamber of Commerce after serving as the President, Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) in 1988 to 1991 and President General, Onitsha Main Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA) from 1991 to 1993.

He is the Onwa Anaocha Local Government and Adazi-Ani, the Agunecheibe of Amandugba, Imo State and the Babalaje of Otto and Lagos Mainland.

The Family Man Godwin values family. Not only was he very close to his parents, he owes so much to them. His father knew this. When Godwin was looking for his missing rib, a wife, his father joined in the hunt and as the President of Adazi-Ani Town Union, and his bosom friend, Sir F. C. Ozoh the Secretary, he directed the steps of his son towards Patricia, Sir Ozoh’s daughter.

They were married. Lady Okeke, a retired civil servant is the Proprietress and Principal of Supreme Knowledge Schools, Nkpor, Onitsha.

With six boys and their wives, two daughters and their husbands, Sir and Lady Okeke have a community of twenty-four grandchildren. And it is yet morning in their lives.

BU$IN£SS

19

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

Economy: Buhari’s optimism dampened by poor indicators R

Country

% of population in extreme poverty SDG1 status

Nigeria 46.7 Poverty rising Democratic Republic of Congo 77 Poverty rising Ethiopia 23.4 On track Tanzania 35 Off track Mozambique 61.8 Off track Kenya 30 Off track Uganda 34.2 Off track South Africa 24.6 Off track South Sudan 93 Poverty rising Zambia 57.2 Poverty rising rise.

In referring to claims of poverty mitigation efforts by the Buhari government, Ms May had argued that if progress was actually made in creating wealth in the economy, then very few people benefitted from the fruits of the programmes while large majority of the people wallowed in poverty.

The figures regularly churned out by the World Poverty Clock threaten to permanently peg Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, on the top of the world’s poverty list, and also Africa’s leader in poverty index. It also implies that Nigeria remains at the performance bottom of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Apparently starring at the country’s embarrassing position in the global economic performance ranking, President Buhari whose second tenure in office ends in 2023 promised to lay foundation for 10 year economic recovery programme that would adopt strategies used by China, India and Indonesia in lifting millions of citizens out of extreme poverty.

He pointed at foreign reserves of $45 billion and projected GDP growth rate of 2.7 percent, saying his administration has been working on policies, programmes and legal frameworks to create social stability and stimulate economic

NSE, REDmoney partner to accelerate Islamic Finance in Nigeria

•Aviation

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA educed private sector dynamism in the first quarter of the year, investors’ concern over multiple exchange rates, falling gross domestic product (GDP), rising inflation, fluctuating purchasing managers’ index and rigid monetary policies strongly challenge the projections of rapid economic improvements promised

by President Muhammadu Buhari to launch about 100 million into prosperity in the coming 10 years.

In discounting gloomy economic indices monthly pumped out by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, The World Bank , International Monetary Fund and global risk analysts, President Buhari declared at his deferred inauguration speech that he would assemble a team of technocrats that would operate strategies that would improve the Nigerian business environment, ensure security and promote even development across all sections of the country.

The president who declared a 10-year target to lift at least 100 million people out of poverty obviously works on plans to reverse the nation’s new shameful status of global poverty capital; and the new rising poverty in the country and associated hunger propelled crime explosion hang as major and most visible appraisal symbol for the government that inherited Africa’s biggest economy in 2015.

World Poverty Clock created

by World Data Lab of Vienna and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development declared in the middle of last year that 86.9 million Nigerians now lived in extreme poverty.

Also in an update early in the year, the World Data lab again declared that additional three million Nigerians slipped into extreme poverty between November 2018 and February 2019; indicating that 91.16 million Nigerians lived in abject poverty as at February 13, this year.

The figure represented over half of the country’s estimated 180 million population, with analysts projecting that the poverty rate in Nigeria would spin out of control with the expected population to become the world’s third largest by 2050.

Former British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May, also lamented that too many Nigerians suffer acute poverty despite the official reports of economic progress regularly trumpeted by the agencies of the federal government.

President Buhari’s government had declared over N1.0 trillion in social investments in 2019 alone to cater for the poorest Nigerians. His vice, Professor Yomi Osinbajo, also spread over N56 billion on petty traders during election campaigns.

But poverty index has continued to

Equity & Capital Market

growth in the country.

“We now have witnessed eight quarters of positive growth in the economy and our GDP is expected to grow by 2.7 per cent this year.

Furthermore, our external reserves have risen to $45 billion enough to finance over nine months of current import commitments.”

To condition the economy for greatness, he said his government would reform tertiary institutions, develop technology, open modern roads and bridges, arteries of transportation and accelerate healthcare and engage medical personnel.

“Over the next four years, we are committed to assembling a strong team of Nigerians, and allies, to implement our transformative plans and proposals,” he said.

President Buhari reiterated his focus to lift the masses out of abject poverty through plans to integrate rural communities into national economic grid supporting small and medium scale enterprises and boosting local production.

He charged state governors and council chairmen to promote investments and infrastructural development in rural areas of their domain, cut the cost of governance, arrest corruption and improve ease of doing business.

“The principal thrust of this new administration is to consolidate on the achievements of the last four years, correct the lapses inevitable

•e-Platform

in all human endeavours and tackle the new challenges the country is faced with and chart a bold plan for transforming Nigeria,” the president declared.

However, President Buhari’s account of the state of the economy and medium term projections stand against prevailing situations and indices expounded by global analysts.

The country’s economy entered 2019 on a softer note following contraction in the oil sector, with GDP growth decelerating to 2.0% on an annual basis in the first quarter, down from 2.4 percent in the last quarter of 2018 and below expectation of market analysts for 2019.

Indices from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also showed that growth in the non-oil sector fell to 2.5% annually in the first quarter, reflecting slower growth in both the industrial and services sectors. Industrial output growth also stagnated in Q1, largely due to weaker gains in manufacturing production.

Similarly, softer activity in the information and communication as well as trade industries impacted growth in the services sector.

However, NBS reported that output in the agricultural sector picked up in the period, supported by higher crop production.

Against the president’s economic growth projections, FocusEconomics panelists project that the economy will grow 2.3% in 2019, which is unchanged from last month’s forecast. In 2020, growth is seen rising to 2.7%.

Again, slow implementation of reforms, commodity price volatility and potential disruptions to oil production have remained key concerns about the generous promises of the president in the period.

Meanwhile, concerns remain high over slow down in local operating environment as purchasing managers index (PMI) points to a slight loss of momentum at the start of the year.

According to data published by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) the PMI fell for the third month in a row in February which, coupled with a less upbeat outlook among firms in the same month, hint at reduced private sector dynamism in Q1 2019.

The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI edged down from 55.5 in April to 52.9 in May, the lowest reading since June 2017 although the figure still lies above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction in business conditions, pointing to solid growth in the private sector.

Weaker growth in business activity and new orders was largely behind May’s fall, the bank pointed out, adding that business confidence slid to its lowest point in the year thus far.

According to NBS, inflation also rose from 11.3% in March to 11.4% in April, and further above the Central Bank’s target range of 6.0%–9.0%.

Consumer prices rose 0.94% on a month-on-month basis in April, driven by faster growth of food prices.

FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect inflation to average 11.7% in 2019, which is down 0.2 percentage points from last month’s forecast. In 2020, inflation is seen averaging 11.5%.

Whereas analysts at Focus Economics, Quartz, and Moody’s expect the raise in minimum wage

P29

•Tourism

to boost consumer spending and stimulate patronage of goods and services in the economy, funding the new wage could also inflict significant strain on falling oil income following OPEC production restrictions and associated low receipts.

As analysts expected, major changes may not happen in the nation’s financial policy with Buhari’s re-election and subsequent retention of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Under Emefiele, the nation’s financial regulations have remained largely rigid with monetary ratio and exchange rates defying criticisms.

The CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) left the monetary policy rate as well as all other monetary policy parameters unchanged at its last meeting in May. Nine out of the 11 MPC members voted in favor of keeping monetary policy parameters unchanged; the remaining two voted for a 25 basis points policy rate cut.

Thus, the policy rate remains at 13.50%, which had been unexpectedly cut from a recordhigh 14.00% in the previous March meeting, with the asymmetric corridor at plus 200 and minus 500 basis points around the monetary policy rate.

In addition, the committee left the liquidity ratio at 30.00% and the cash reserve ratio at 22.50%.

The measures are targeted at elevated inflation which has hovered within the 11.1%–11.4% range for nearly a year now, remaining well above CBN’s target of 6.0%– 9.0%. In addition, GDP growth has slowed to 2.0% on an annual basis in the first quarter while output has been below potential.

The MPC thus deemed that a rate hike would adversely impact the already-fragile state of the economy while a rate cut would exacerbate price pressures, and thus decided to stay put.

Again, the reappointment Godwin Emefiele to a second five-year term has also reduced uncertainty over the nation’s foreign exchange policy ahead; and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is exploring measures against Nigeria’s multiple exchange rates.

The central bank pegs an official rate of N306.5 to a dollar (N306.5/$) for government bodies and fuel importers at a level about 20% stronger than the importers and exporters market price of N360.46/$.

Mr. Emefiele explains that the current system, which includes restrictions on imports, is the best way to diversify Nigeria’s oildependent economy and boost manufacturing.

According to Renaissance Capital, Nigeria and Venezuela are the only emerging markets in its coverage that have multiple exchange rates; and the IMF warns that it would review how it would deal with such countries.

The Fund warns that absence of a single exchange rate creates confusion and deters foreign investment.

“By limiting the circumstances in which Fund members may introduce and maintain multiple exchange rates, the multiplecurrency practices policy aims to promote orderly exchange arrangements and a stable system of exchange rates,” it said in a statement.

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

racle www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Today

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Help Patients with Depression

O

wing to the hard times witnessed in the past few years, many Nigerians have come down with different types of mental disorder. It is no surprise that cases of suicide are rising in the country. Yet, our people do not even understand that many who commit suicide are just patients that deserve treatment or care.

Depression is a medical condition marked by loss of interest or pleasure, inability to sleep, weight loss, constant fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, back pain, restlessness, feeling of guilt, and thoughts of suicide. One interesting fact is that this sickness affects every class of people: rich and poor, old and young, employed and unemployed, educated and uneducated, married and unmarried, men and women.

The World Health Organization states that depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, as the number of people suffering from depression and or anxiety disorders have increased by almost 50% since 1990.

In commemoration of the World Mental Health Day 2018, recently, the Nigeria National Depression report states that at least 60 million Nigerians are at risk of suffering from depression. It further found: “31.6% of polled respondents reported experiencing depressive symptoms. Putting this in perspective, 3 out of every 10 Nigerians are at risk of depression; 27.8% of respondents reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

While both physical and mental health is important for a flourishing life, mental illness explains more of the misery in the society more than physical illness, poverty or unemployment.”

A depression patient could jump into a well or river and drown. She could deliberately drink a poisonous substance. He could tie a rope to a tree and hang. She could fall from a tree or highrise building. He could run into a vehicle on an expressway. He could become addicted to drugs in a vain effort to “cure” his worries. Suicide

bombers used by terrorists could be patients with depression too. When a man decides to give up his life for a cause, he means business.

Anyone who shows signs of depression should be watched closely. One pervasive form is the one that usually afflicts women during pregnancy (prenatal depression) or after they have given birth (postnatal/postpartum depression). And medical authorities say it afflicts two out of every 10 women of childbearing age. Left unprotected, she could easily commit suicide.

Of the 60 million Nigerians estimated to be depressed, perhaps half a million are already dead.

Only high-profile cases are reported. Many communities choose to live in denial: they attribute deaths by suicide to supernatural forces or “the enemy” at work. Some heap blames on the victims. At times, even the relations of a suicide victim refuse to disclose the actual cause of death, for fear of being despised.

Things are getting unbearably tough in the country, and mental diseases like depression, which are rarely treated here, are taking their toll on Nigerians. It is only when a mental case becomes irreversible that family members chain the victim and seek psychiatric doctors.

We are great pretenders, however. Many Nigerians live false lives – they buy big cars and houses with money borrowed from banks. Until recently, smiling faces were common wherever you went, despite the misery in the land.

We do not approve of suicide or thoughts of suicide in any way. Only a coward would take their own life. Many people who faced extreme poverty a decade ago are millionaires today, and it is not because they took to armed robbery, cybercrime or other crimes.

The Nigeria National Depression report advises: “Nigeria needs to be proactive in taking mental and emotional health seriously by reviewing the national mental health policy and creating

Culled from Asukwo blogshot.com

a viable legislative framework to meet global standards, investing in public education to influence the culture to one that promotes resilience and creates safe spaces for emotional and mental healing, and investing in research, innovation and development.”

Those who control the resources of the nation should give their compatriots hope, or else they will continue to live in fear with suicidal neighbours. Acts of injustice and economic recessions fuel suicidal tendencies. Over 130million Nigerians live below the poverty line today; they have become nervous wrecks. Frustration has kept many in beer parlous where they take illicit gin or sniff Indian hemp.

“Only when people are sustainably happy can they truly flourish, innovate, and make the world a better place,” said Damola Morenikeji, one of the authors of the Depression report. “The collective roles of governments, businesses, and other stakeholders have to transcend from creating an environment purely for wealth creation to creating environments that facilitate the genuine well-being and flourishing of people.

“Human misery is real; the goal of every intervention should be to reduce misery while increasing the happiness of people. Investing in citizens’ happiness and well-being should not be a luxury, but a necessity.”

Nigeria has no job for psychologists yet. Thankfully, religious houses have taken over the job. Let people understand, however, that mental illness is of various types. It is not only the people admitted in psychiatric hospitals or who roam the streets and eat from dustbins that are “mad”. It takes a mental illness for one to consider taking their own life.

Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its obligations to society, government and the workforce.

Mission WE INTEND to contribute to the development of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of the dark sides of our national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually engender and sustain national debates that would ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, equity and fairplay, transparency, good governance, resulting, in themselves, the egalitarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will give voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian people can see a bright light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all this in absolute trust in God who blesses good intentions.

21

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

OPINION

When a country loses its sense of justice

By DONS EZE

N

igeria is a country that was founded on injustice, built on injustice, and sustained by injustice. It is a country where everybody will be happy to see every other person suffer injustice so far he is not the victim; a country where there is conspiracy of silence, where nobody hardly raises a voice against injustice, so far he is not the one suffering.

Before now, we have witnessed various forms of injustice perpetrated on some people in the country, but we have never witnessed the level of injustice that is as barefaced, as brazen, as unapologetic, and as conscienceless as the current injustice being meted out by the present administration on the people of the South East, or the Igbo, in particular.

Nigeria, we were told, was built on the geographical tripod of the East, the West, and the North, and when reduced to ethnic level, is made up of the Igbo, the Yoruba, and the Hausa/Fulani.

Successive administrations in the country always tried to manage or maintain this tripod, to create a semblance of its existence, the balance of power, no matter how ephemeral, how awkward, how jaundiced, they may seem to be.

The belief was that if any of the legs of the tripod was wounded or has a problem, it would create some ripple effects, some

spillover effects on the system, and the entire country would be worse for it. That what happened in 1966/67, when some vicious people unleashed terror attacks on the people of former Eastern Nigeria resident in different parts of Northern Nigeria, but nobody was bold enough to speak against the attacks, against that injustice, to condemn it. That was how Biafra was born.

With the complete exclusion of the over fifty million Igbo people from participation in the governance of what they say is their country, there appears to be no much difference between what happened to them in 1966/67 and what is happening to them now. The battle cry of the 1776 American war of independence was “no taxation without representation”. And the people of the South East are expected to pledge their full allegiance, and perform their civic duties before a government that has completely excluded them.

In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari categorically stated that his political reward system would be based on 97% versus 5% voter ratio, and he kept to his words.

This time around, everybody is expecting a worse scenario. That was why the APC led federal government of Nigeria has decided to share out all positions in the executive, the legislative, and the judicial arms of government, without considering anybody from the South East or the Igbo area suit-

able or worthy of any of the positions.

Look at how the APC has allotted out key positions of its government: *President North West. *Vice President - South West *Senate President - North East *Deputy Senate President - South South *Speaker House of Representatives - South West *Deputy Speaker - North Central *Chief Justice of Nigeria - North East.

Thus, the APC, with the active support of President Buhari, has shared out the country’s principal positions in government and completely excluded the entire South East zone. But the Igbo people are not perturbed. They are not disturbed. They are not apologetic. They are not beggarly.

They already knew it was going to be like that.

Olaudah Equiano, a nineteenth century Igbo slave boy, who later bought his freedom, said his people, the Igbo people, were “happy clean people, without beggars, without unemployment, without prostitution...”

When the South East voted against the APC in 2019 election, they knew what to expect, that they were not going to be fairly treated, and they were prepared for it.

When Chief Orji Uzor Kalu said he was going to contest the position of Deputy Senate President, some people thought he was serious. But, alas, Orji Uzor Kalu, at the last minute,decided to chicken out, probably due to pressures from the powers

that be. This was to make way for a mace snatcher, a brigandage, to coast home to victory, unchallenged.

Who then would take up the gauntlet?

Who would take up the challenge to ensure that the South East or the Igbo registered their presence in the contest no matter what happens? That was why we should commend Senator Ike Ekweremadu for bracing up to the challenge, even though he probably might have known that it was not going to be an easy task, that he was swimming against the tide.

Ekweremadu coming out to contest for the position of Deputy Senate President had two important effects. One, if he did not come out to contest, they would have said that had a credible Igbo person come out to contest, they would have voted for the person. But now that Ekweremadu contested and did not vote for him, it becomes clear that they really do not want the Igbo around.

Second, it really sounds odd, very reprehensible, that somebody who led some thugs to snatch a mace in parliament should be rewarded for such impunity, such brigandage, by leaving him unchallenged to clinch the exalted position of Deputy Senate President.

But this is Nigeria where anything goes in so far you are part of the system.

•Dr. DONS EZE, a veteran journalist and columnist lives in Abuja.

Ninth NASS poll: Ekweremadu’s political faux pas

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON The most timid and lame excuse for entering into an elective contest - the exalted position of the Senate Deputy President for that matter - was offered by Prof. Ike Ekweremadu on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. It’s at the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

The 107 (of the 109) Senators-elect present had just chosen former Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, as the Senate President.

He defeated his sole opponent and also a former Senate Leader, Mr. Ali Ndume, by 79 votes to 28 votes - a margin of 51 votes.

The presiding officer for the inauguration and Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori, then called for nomination for the position of Senate Deputy President, and Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege was nominated.

A call for any further nomination threw up Senator Ekweremadu, who relinquished the seat on June 6, 2019, when the Eight National Assembly was formally dissolved.

He had held the same position for 12 years, from 2007 to 2019.

Following the nomination, a hush fell on the noisy floor of the ‘Red Chamber’ - an indication of surprise by the Senators-elect, as Ekweremadu was never in the jostle for any of the leadership positions.

So, how did it happen? It’s on the spur of the moment, as he supplied. According to him, his decision at the last minute was to redress alleged desecration of the “Hallowed Chambers” by Senator Omo-Agege on April 18, 2018.

On that day, while Ekweremadu was presiding, “political thugs,” accusingly sponsored, and directed by Omo-Agege, invaded the Senate, assaulted some lawmakers and staff of the chamber, and made away with the Mace, the symbol of authority of the Parliament.

In his nomination speech, and as he fielded questions from the press, Ekweremadu said he wanted his colleagues to use the

election as a referendum on Omo-Agege.

In other words, he wasn’t in the race to compete, but to stop Omo-Agege from being rewarded for his alleged sponsorship of thugs to invade the National Assembly. Fair enough! But it beggars the question: Would he have declined the seat if he had defeated Omo-Agege?

Well, it’s clear that Ekweremadu’s untenable excuse was to cover up his “inordinate ambition” for an unbroken record fourtime occupation of the office. But he didn’t bring this desire to his opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The minority PDP in the National Assembly, relying on its assumed political adroitness, didn’t go to sleep, and allowed its bitter rival (APC) to have its way it couldn’t find in 2015.

It threw its weight behind two APC “renegades,” Senator Ndume and Rep. Bago, who vied against the party’s endorsed candidates, Lawan and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, for the position of Senate President and House Speaker, respectively.

The PDP backing, conveyed on the eve of the inauguration, said the final resolution on Ndume and Bago was reached at the end of a “decisive meeting” of the party’s leaders, and urged that all senators and members-elect on its platform “are to be guided accordingly.”

If Ekweremadu were in the picture, the party would have factored him in, and made it public. He appeared on a solo run and that, perhaps, explains his summoning of a meeting in his home at the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, after the PDP leaders had announced their backing for Ndume and Bago on June 10.

Indeed, Ekweremadu said his resolve to vie was taken that Tuesday, June 11 - in the morning of the inauguration. As he told newsmen, the decision was made “because actually, we weren’t minded to run for any office, but we thought that our friends in APC will be able to come up with another candidate to replace Ovie Omo-Agege.”

Definitely, Ekweremadu’s ambition was laced with malice! Because the APC, which isn’t his platform, failed to “replace” OmoAgege with another candidate, he decided to force himself on the Senators-elect. Or did he have recourse to the PDP caucus?

Evidently hiding under the canopy of the PDP, he joined other ambitious memberselect in the legislature to unnecessarily heat-up the polity with boastful campaigns, and resort to religious, ethnic and regional divides to gain undue advantage.

They probably wished for a repeat of the 2015 scenario in which the majority political party, the APC, was ambushed by two of its “non-conformist” members and their allies in the party.

Working in cahoots with the PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki and Rep. Yakubu Dogara denied the APC the joy of having its “preferred candidates” mount the rostrums of the Senate President and House Speaker.

Having secured the posts for themselves, Saraki in particular, guaranteed that the minority PDP, unprecedentedly in a democratic setting, produced the Senate Deputy President in Ekweremadu.

As it’s in 2015, the APC in 2019 has the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives to swing the votes in its favour - a factor that wasn’t lost on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The former governor of Edo State boasted that this time, the APC wouldn’t share, in whatever guise, the principal offices with the PDP, which, once again, wanted to muddy the waters for the APC. And he’s right. Besides having the majority, the APC was more cohesive, determined and energized to deliver the presiding officers’ positions to its contesting members-elect, as firstly demonstrated in the landslide victory of Senator Lawan over a boastful Senator Ndume.

That sent a clear and unambiguous message. And yet, Senator Ekweremadu, for the fleetest moment, guessed that as many as the APC members, and even PDP mem-

bers that ensured his “default” election in 2015, would repeat the same “mistake” in 2019. It’s a costly political miscalculation!

The moral of the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly is that in democracy, people should be allowed the opportunity to ventilate their aspirations, and test their popularity, such as has humbled Senators Ndume and Ekweremadu, and Rep. Bago.

No wonder Oshiomhole summed up the poll as APC’s “finest hour, particularly when you bear in mind what happened in 2015. It is the mischief of 2015 that we have tried to correct, and I am happy that it has been settled!” * Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

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

22

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

BUSINESS

Despite challenges, Africa’s debt is still under control says African Development Bank

•In 2018, the Bank earned $214 million in allocable income, 48% of which has been reinvested in the institution to reinforce reserves and its business growth capacity

T

he African Development Bank remains strong with growing operating revenues and allocable income generated since 2010 reaching $2.5 billion, the Bank Group’s Treasurer, Hassatou Diop N’sele has said.

In 2018, the Bank earned $214 million in allocable income, 48% of which has been reinvested in the institution to reinforce reserves and its business growth capacity.

The bullish numbers were revealed during the Bank’s Financial presentation las Thursday, a highlight of the 2019 Annual Meetings of the Bank currently underway in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The panel was led by N’sele and Simon Mizrahi, Director of Service Delivery, Performance Management and Results at the Bank.

During the presentation attended by delegates, governors, executive directors and Bank staff, N’Sele noted that the Bank could chart a new path on account of its ability to raise funds on the capital markets.

“The amount of infrastructure financing covered by private sector could double if African countries harness the full potential of their capital markets.”

According to N’sele, a number of African countries could save as much as $1 billion on a 20-year loan, if they borrow from the African Development Bank, instead of from the Eurobond market, due to preferable lending rates.

Delegates were informed of the Bank’s successful issuance of the first-ever NOK social bond sold in Norway and sealed in 2018.

Despite challenges, Africa’s debt is still under control On debt sustainability, Africa’s debt has increased in recent years “but not to unsustainable levels,” Mizrahi indicated but pleaded for caution.

“We need to continue to generate financing and spur growth without increasing debt,” he said.

Sharing insights on Africa’s path forward, Mizrahi underscored the need to harness the continent’s incredible potential in renewable energy.

Africa is the most vulnerable continent and suffers the most from climate change but “with the right vision, investments and political commitments, Africa can lead a global energy revolution and leapfrog to renewable technologies.”

This is why the Bank is putting its money where its mouth is and investing more than any other development Bank in helping the continent transition towards more resilient and sustainable economies, he concluded. support to the institution with “We are, the continent’s only The discussions included gender the recently announced $1.1 billion triple-A rated institution. Our issues, especially the Bank’s The African Continental callable capital. rating means that our bonds are flagship Affirmative Finance Action Free Trade Agreement “This will allow us to continue the absolute safest in the world. for Women in Africa (AFAWA) (AfTCA) ushering a new to meet our financial ratio It gives confidence to investors programme, which seeks to era in intra-African before a decision is made on across the globe that their mobilise $3 billion to close the trade the 7th General Capital Increase,” investment in African Development financing gender gap for women According to Mizrahi, she said.

Bank bonds is secured.” entrepreneurs. (APO) AfCTA paves the way to the world’s largest free trade area with an integrated market of 1.3 billion consumers.

“This is important because Africa will struggle to be competitive at the global scale, if it continues to operate as 54 •Central Africa’s real income could increase by as much as 7% in one of the scenarios that fragmented economies. researchers describe in the 2019 African Economic Outlook The continent needs entral Africa stands to the potential outcomes of panel discussion by Finance for African ministers of trade to be more integrated, benefit the most from the AfCFTA, ranging from and Economic Planning to work on how to facilitate needs larger economic the African Continental one (least impact) to four Ministers, who are also the launch of the AfCFTA spaces so that Africa can Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), (greatest impact).

Governors of the Bank. during a summit meeting on attract more investors, data from the African Devel“While there are Aïchatou Kané, from 7 July 2019. create more and better opment Bank shows. differences in gains, all Niger, said the Economic The AfCFTA will constitute jobs, boost internal trade Hanan Morsy, Director African countries are better Community of West African the world’s largest free and create continent- of Research at the Bank, off with regional integration States, ECOWAS, was in the trade area, consolidating “fast lane” of integration an integrated market of 1.3 wide value chains that revealed the findings at than without,” Morsy said.

Morsy said current and planned to have its own billion consumers with a are globally competitive,” the launch of one of the Bank’s flagship reports in levels of growth were not currency in 12 months. combined gross domestic Mizrahi stressed.

Kané’s comments were product (GDP) of about The panel moderated Malabo, where the African adequate to generate jobs Bank is for millions of unemployed echoed by Burkina Faso, $3.3-trillion. It is estimated by the Victor Oladokun, Development hosting its Annual Meetings. Africans, but regional Zimbabwe, and Tanzania that Africa’s GDP growth the Bank’s Director of Morsy said Central Africa’s integration could stimulate who all agreed that could reach 6% a year with Communication, noted real income could increase the growth needed to make integration would help the a borderless continent that AfCFTA is expected by as much as 7% in one of the a dent in unemployment. continent remain relevant as (UNECA). to boost cross-border scenarios that researchers Morsy said Africa needed to a global economic player.

The four-day Annual infrastructure, drive describe in the 2019 African grow between 4% and 6% in Regional integration is one Meetings are being hosted of the Bank’s High 5 strategic in Malabo, the capital of competitiveness and Economic Outlook. By the order to turn the tide.

The Outlook predicts areas and the theme of the Equatorial Guinea. More make the continent same calculations, East 2,000 ministers, a smaller place by Africa, currently the star that Africa can add 4.5% 2019 Annual Meetings. The than performer on the continent, to its GDP, provided that AfCFTA is the cornerstone government officials, integrating markets. would experience an governments do away with of the integration project. development partners and In her concluding increase of around 4.2%, bilateral tariffs and non-tariff The AfCFTA was launched in civil society representatives remarks, N’sele expressed followed closely by North barriers and keep rules of March 2018 and the key 22nd have gathered in the island the Bank’s appreciation Africa. origin simple. ratification was received in capital to discuss Africa’s for Canada’s unwavering The scenarios measure The launch included a April 2019. The next step is development agenda.

Central Africa could be the continent’s rising star, thanks to the African Continental Free Trade Area

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23

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

ENERGY OPEC PRODUCTION (in million barrels per day) Country Algeria Angola Congo-Brazzaville Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Gabon Iran Iraq Kuwait Libya Nigeria Saudi Arabia UAE Venezuela TOTAL

May 1.03 1.45 0.33 0.53 0.11 0.21 2.45 4.82 2.71 1.12 1.86 9.70 3.05 0.72 30.09

Change +0.01 +0.04 -0.01 0 -0.02 +0.01 -0.12 +0.15 +0.02 +0.02 -0.09 -0.12 0 -0.06 -0.17

Apr 1.02 1.41 0.34 0.53 0.13 0.20 2.57 4.67 2.69 1.10 1.95 9.82 3.05 0.78 30.26

Nigeria’s crude output down 90 kbd in May

OPEC PRODUCTION Vs ALLOCATIONS (in million barrels per day) Country

May

Algeria Angola Congo-Brazzaville Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Gabon Iran Iraq Kuwait Libya Nigeria Saudi Arabia UAE Venezuela TOTAL NON-EXEMPT

1.03 1.45 0.33 0.53 0.11 0.21 2.45 4.82 2.71 1.12 1.86 9.70 3.05 0.72 25.80

Nigeria’s average crude oil production eased by 90,000 barrels per day in May as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) generally cut output ahead of June 25 meeting where it is expected to agree with other 10 producing countries to extend deliberate suppression of global oil supply by 1.2 million barrels per day (mbd).

According to production chart on OPEC members compiled by the Platts’ market intelligence group, Nigeria produced crude oil in May at the rate of 1.86 mbd, which translates to a reduction of 90,000 barrels per day from the 1.95 mbd produced by the country in April.

Nigeria’s production declined in the month is linked to the Trans Forcados crude pipeline fire that led to its shut down and subsequent imposition of force majeure on the Bonny Light crude oil grade. The force majeure was however lifted in the middle of May. Figures used in the Platts estimates are similar to the ones also published

by OPEC on its members’ production performance in the month. However, production figures by both OPEC and Platts are usually at variance with the ones published by government agencies in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

Whereas figures published by Platts and OPEC do not account for condensate and Natural gas liquids, figures declared by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and sister agencies in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources generally include

Quota

Over/ Under 1.03 0 1.48 -0.03 0.32 +0.01 0.51 +0.02 0.12 -0.01 0.18 +0.03 exempt n/a 4.51 +0.31 2.72 -0.01 exempt n/a 1.69 +0.17 10.31 -0.61 3.07 -0.02 exempt n/a 25.94 -0.14

all upstream liquid petroleum output, a situation that puts the government figures higher.

Nigeria which is a prominent OPEC member is bound by the group’s supply control mechanisms to cut production to allocated quota as members and other cooperating producing countries struggle to drain oversupply from the market and support high prices of the commodity.

Last December, OPEC and 10 nonOPEC partners agreed on a new supply accord, which runs from January when Qatar left OPEC to June and exempts Iran, Libya and Venezuela.

The Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and a group of 10 non member allies led

by Russia have been working since the beginning of the year to deliberately cut global supply by 1.2 mbd.

The initial production control tenure was six months which is due to expire this month, and a meeting is scheduled on June 25 to review the market situation on decide on extension of the output cut till the end of the year.

However, a number of events in the industry affecting OPEC members have taken toll on the group’s total production and market influence. Venezuela whose petroleum industry has suffered mass investment flight following fiscal disputes has seen drastic production declines while Iran whish has come under crushing trade sanctions from the United States has also suffered steep production decline.

Again, Saudi Arabia has demon-

strated group leadership by restraining more production volumes than allocated by the group; while Russia and its allies are also slowing output rate to counter efforts by the United States to fill supply gaps created by OPEC and other producers.

A survey by S&P Global Platts showed that OPEC crude oil output shrank by 170,000 b/d to 30.09 mbd in May as Saudi Arabia and other key members went lower than April levels.

Nigeria is one of the six OPEC members that collectively cut output by 420, 000 barrels per day in the month of May, suppressing production addition of another six members that collectively increased output by 250,000 barrels per day.

According to Platts, Saudi output reached a four year low at 9.70 mbd, while Iran, OPEC’s second largest producer, also sank to 31 year low at 2.45 mbd following trade hammer from the United States.

According to the production table published by both OPEC and Platts, other countries that posted exceptional cuts in production include Congo-Brazzaville whose production sankby 10,000 barrels per day from 340,000 barrels per day in April to 330,000 barrels per day in May. Equatorial Guinea shed 20,000 barrels per day in the month from 130,000 barrels per day in April to 110,000 barrels per day.

Iran went lower by 120,000 barrels per day from 2.57 mbd in April to 2.45 mbd in May. Saudi Arabia also shed 120,000 barrels per day in May at 9.70 mbd, falling from 9.82 mbd in April.

Output from Venezuela grew worse at 720,000 barrels per day, falling by 60,000 barrels per day from 780,000 barrels per day posted by the country in April.

The total production suppression by the listed OPEC members outweighed production increase from some six members which collectively added 250,000 barrels per day in the month.

Algeria added 10,000 barrels per day to boost output from 1.02 mbd

in April to 1.03 mbd in May; Angola which began shipments of new Mostarda crude grade also added 40,000 barrels per day to raise its production volumes from average of 1.41 mbd in April to 1.45 mbd in May. Gabon increased its output by 10,000 barrels per day from 200,000 barrels per day in April to 210,000 barrels per day in May; while Iraq which appeared to flout its production quota recorded a boost of 150,000 barrels per day from 4.67 mbd in April to 4.82 mbd in May. Kuwait also raised its output by 20,000 barrels per day from 2.69 mbd in April to 2.71 mbd in May; while Libya also added 20,000 barrels per day to grow its output from 1.10 mbd in April to 1.12 mbd in May. Two OPEC members maintained production plateau across the two months. Ecuador retained its production rate at 530,000 barrels per day; while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) retained output at 3.05 mbd across the two months.

The Platts survey which was released Friday showed that OPEC has so far avoided a bruising intra-bloc market share battle, with Saudi Arabia appearing to deliberately lowering its crude oil production to a four-and-a-half-year low in May, to accommodate sanctions-hit Iran and crisis ridden Venezuela whose respective outputs continue contract.

Saudi Arabia kept some fields offline, and the month-on-month decline matched that of Iran, which is struggling to find buyers after the US declined to renew sanctions waivers that expired at the beginning of the month.

Iran, once the second-highest producer within OPEC, pumped its fewest barrels since November 1988 and many analysts expect further shrinkage due to the sanctions, though it has been able to maintain some exports through grey market channels to avoid detection.

In all, OPEC’s 14 members pumped 30.09 million b/d in May, a 170,000 b/d fall from April and the lowest since February 2015, before Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic

of Congo joined and Qatar was still a member.

Despite a ratcheting of regional tensions, including attacks on a key Saudi pipeline that kingdom officials have blamed on Iran, and pressure from the US to keep the oil market well-supplied, Saudi Arabia has kept its crude output relatively muted, saying it saw no need to raise production.

In fact, Saudi production has been well below its quota of 10.31 mbd under an OPEC/non-OPEC supply accord, which went into force in January, with the kingdom persisting in its aim of draining what it sees as a glut of oil in storage to bolster prices.

Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih has been in Russia since last Thursday, meeting with Russian counterpart Alexander Novak to debate the future of the 1.2 million b/d supply cut agreement, which is set to expire this month.

Falih said he believes the cuts will be extended, though talks were ongoing on whether Russia and the other non-OPEC partners could see their quotas eased.

Russia, the world’s second largest oil producer after the US, reported May output of 11.11 million b/d, compared to its quota of 11.19 million b/d.

Venezuela, which has seen its output almost halved in a year, with its spiraling economic crisis exacerbated by US sanctions that began in January, produced its lowest since a nationwide strike debilitated its oil industry in January 2003.

Among OPEC’s 11 members with quotas under the supply accord, compliance stood at 117% in May, led

by Saudi Arabia, which was 610,000 b/d under its cap. Iraq was the least compliant, at 310,000 b/d above its limit.

The OPEC/non-OPEC agreement exempted Iran, Libya and Venezuela from quotas.

The Platts OPEC figures were compiled by surveying OPEC and oil industry officials, traders and analysts, as well as reviewing satellite imagery and proprietary shipping data.

24

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

ENERGY New brand for NNPC’s trading units

SOPURUCHI ONWUKA Trading partners to former Duke Oil, Hyson and Carlson will now have to reset their transaction documents to reflect the emerging identity of the three companies which belong to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to the corporate spokesman of the corporation, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the three companies are being bonded together for effectiveness and stronger influence in the crude oil trading business.

He said that following a reorganization that is currently being worked out in the corporation, Duke Oil, Hyson and Carlson would now be integrated into a single company known as NNPC Trading.

Also, a separate corporate office is being established for the new company in Abuja to give it some level of administrative and financial independence that would enable it function without undue political influence from the corporation which is a currently controlled by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. MaikantiBaru, who

tasked staff of the corporation on productivity inaugurated new office complex for NNPC Trading in Abuja.

He said the new conducive office environment would promote productivity and optimum productivity and profitability.

“I have been appropriately briefed on the design and location of the new office building. I am pleased to inform you that it has all the necessary features capable of bolstering staff productivity,” Baru submitted.

He declared that the introduction of new business models which saw the merger of Duke Oil, Hyson and Carlson into a single company was beginning to pay off.

He stated that the company was competing favourably well with other local and international crude oil trading companies, adding that he was impressed with the performance of the company in the last couple of years.

He explained that the company was still operating under the name of Duke Oil pending the resolution of some legal issues.

The highpoint of the vent was the unveiling of the company’s logo.

Prelude FLNG ships first cargo

Shell shipped its first LNG cargo from the Prelude FLNG project. The project is located offshore Western Australia and is the world’s largest FLNG facility in operation.

The shipment marks the startup of one of the world’s most anticipated LNG projects and will raise Australia’s LNG export volumes as it ramps up

capacity in the coming months.

Prelude FLNG is expected to produce 3.6 mtpa of LNG and 1.3 mtpa of condensate at full capacity.

The project is operated by Shell with a 67.5% interest in a joint venture with Japan’s Inpex, South Korea’s Kogas and Taiwan’s Overseas Petroleum and Investment Corp.

NNPC seeks collaboration with new legislators Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which was the subject of numerous legislative enquiries and investigations over management of resource revenues is beginning early to woo cooperation of the newly elected leaders of the national legislature.

The corporation which is supervised by President Muhammadu Buhari who functions also as the Minister of Petroleum Resources appears to me launching a subtle political strategy that would shield it from traditional proxy wars between the executive and the legislature.

The Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru who faced endless summons from the 8th National Assembly, congratulated principal officers of the 9th National Assembly; stating that he seeks cooperation from the legislators who are all party allies of the president.

Eventhough the principal officers of the 8th National Assembly belonged to the same All Progressive Congress (APC) before moving en masse to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of

NNPC GMD Maikanti Baru

the April elections, they frequently launched enquiries into the flow of funds from the oil revenues channeling from NNPC. Dr. Baru stated it his congratulatory message to new leaders of the legislature that “the oil and gas industry would count on their enormous support to move the sector forward.”

In a separate letters to Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Deputy Senate President Ovie

Nigerian firm takes ROC field Nigerian indigenous firm Pelfaco has signed a production sharing deal with the Republic of Congo (ROC) for access to a 32-million-barrel oil field, according to the ROC’s Ministry of Oil. Pelfaco is run by Gesi Asam-

aowei, a little-known businessman from Nigeria’s oil producing Niger Delta region.

The ROC Ministry said in a statement that the field in the south of the country would last for 25 years. It gave no further details.

Omo-Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase; Dr. Baru expressed confidence that NNPC would get greater cooperation from the National Assembly.

Dr. Baru stated in the letters that he was hopeful that the 9th National Assembly would work in harmony “with other arms of government” for the development of the country.

25

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION

Okada’ firms move to offer e-payment, insurance services C ommercial motorcycle taxi (Okada) companies are expanding in West Africa with backing from investors betting that the meteoric rise of two-wheeled taxi firms in Asia can be replicated in some of the fastest growing countries in the world.

Four bike taxi firms are now battling it out in Lagos and the oldest, Nigerian motorcycle taxi firm max.ng, is planning to launch in Ghana and Ivory Coast this year, as well as a fourth Nigerian city.

While informal motorcycle taxis have been around in Africa for years, the new companies are hoping to win market share by offering trained, accountable drivers and the convenience of booking rides through a mobile app.

the region and say ‘what pieces are missing?’ financial infrastructure for mobility doesn’t exist, ride-hailing technology for two-wheeled and three-wheeled mobility doesn’t exist,” Bamiduro said.

Africa offers huge potential for motorcycle ride-hailing firms due to low personal car ownership, rapidly expanding populations and a lack of efficient mass transport systems in fast-growing cities that are clogged with cars.

Known as okadas in Nigeria and Ghana and boda bodas in East Africa, informal motorbike taxis are part of the African transportation fabric. In Nigeria alone, there are an estimated 8 million okada drivers, according to max.ng and rival Gokada.

As in Asia, the companies are also looking to turn their ridehailing apps into one-stop mobile shops offering a host of services from e-payments to deliveries to insurance – the kind of strategy that transformed Indonesia’s GoJek into a $10 billion company in less than a decade.

Max.ng co-founder Adetayo Bamiduro said its expansion would be funded by a recent investment round that raised $5 million-$7 million and that it was targeting an accumulated total of 2 million rides by the middle of 2020, up from 200,000 by May. The company started out as a motorbike delivery service in 2015 in Lagos and added an app for ride-hailing in 2017, as well as credit facilities for would-be drivers to lease new bikes and pay for them over time.

“What we’ve done is to look at the market in Nigeria and across

(From left): Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wapic Insurance, Adeyinka Adekoya; Chairman, Aigboje AigImoukhuede and Company Secretary, Mary Agha at the just-concluded 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the firm in Lagos, Tuesday

Nigeria has Africa’s biggest economy and largest population while Ghana and Ivory Coast are two of the world’s fastest growing economies, according to the International Monetary Fund.

While the motorbike taxi firms in West Africa are small now, investors hope some can replicate the success of the Asian ride-hailing unicorns.

“Go-Jek showed what could be achieved in a market like Indonesia, then the Uber and Lyft IPOs led to a global interest in mobility,” said Aubrey Hruby, co-founder of Tofino Capital, which invests in emerging market tech firms.

“People are looking at mobility and they’re looking at the next big opportunity,” Hruby said.

Workers on pension scheme hit 8.5m in Q1, 2019 – NBS

Stories by VICTOR NZE

N

ational Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that the number of registered workers under the pension scheme in the first quarter of 2019 hit 8, 569, 037 compared to 8, 410,184 registered workers in fourth quarter, 2018.

NBS said this in its “Pension Asset and RSA Membership Data’’ for first quarter, 2019 posted on its website.

The bureau said the Pension Fund Asset, under management as at first quarter, 2019 stood at N9.03 trillion as against N8.63 trillion in

first quarter, 2018.

According to the bureau, Federal Government Bonds have the highest weight percentage of 49.37 per cent of the total pension fund assets.

This, it said was closely followed by treasury bills with 21.44 per cent weight and local money market securities with 9.68 per cent weight.

The bureau said foreign money market securities had the least with 0.25 per cent weight in the period under review.

It said participants within the age

distribution 30 -39 years had the highest percentage composition with 35.77 per cent, closely followed by participants within the age bracket of 40-49 years with 28.12 per cent.

According to NBS, participants between 50 and 59 years are 18.02 per cent, while participants above 65 years have the least percentage composition with 2.78 per cent.

In arriving at the report, NBS said data was supplied administratively by the National Pension Commission. It was verified and validated by the bureau.

Bamiduro declined to name the investors in max.ng’s latest funding round, but said two had also invested in Singapore’s Grab which, like Go-Jek, expanded quickly thanks to consumers using smartphones to shop, commute and make payments.

Besides max.ng, the other three companies offering motorbike taxis in Lagos are Gokada, SafeBoda, which started out in the East African, and ORide.

Gokada is funded by U.S. and Gulf investment and venture capital funds while SafeBoda counts GoJek and Allianz among its backers.

When the German insurance giant’s Allianz X digital division announced its investment in SafeBoda in May, it said the firm

had substantial growth potential with scope for developing financial services and insurance products.

Founded in Uganda in 2015, SafeBoda launched in Kenya last year. Babajide Duroshola, who heads its Nigeria operations, said the West African country’s population of about 190 million made it appealing.

By comparison, about 120 million people live in the East African Community, which is made up of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

ORide, the latest motorbike ride-hailing app to enter the Lagos market, is part of OPay in which Norwegian software firm Opera has an equity interest.

The company said it hopes ORide will help both its Opera web browser and OPay expand their reach into new services.

The idea of booking a motorbike taxi through a company that has trained drivers and provides passengers with a helmet appeals to some commuters in Lagos.

Gokada launched in Lagos in January 2018 and its bright green motorbikes and helmets have become a fixture on the city’s streets.

Founder Fahim Saleh, who set up motorcycle taxi firm Pathao in Bangladesh in 2013, said the company was planning to launch services in the northern Nigerian city of Kano and southern oil hub Port Harcourt by the end of this year.

He said the expansion into new cities, along with repair centers and rider training schools, will be funded with some of the $5 million it raised this year. Gokada then plans to start rolling out other services.

“Within the next couple of months we will start developing a wallet that would allow you to pay for rides,” he said. “We want to be in all forms of transport. And also food, and services – a hairdresser delivered to your door, or a masseuse.”

Lagos Govt. pays accrued pension rights to 297 retirees

L

agos State Government has presented Retirement Benefit Bond Certificates worth N821,561,436.03 to 297 Public Service retirees at the 63rd Retirement Benefit Bond Presentation Ceremony held recently at NECA House Auditorium, Ikeja, Lagos, The Director-General, LASPEC, Mrs. Folasade Onanuga in her remarks during the event assured retirees of the Government’s interest in their wellbeing and welfare, saying Governor

Babajide Sanwo-Olu will ensure continued prompt payment of entitlements of all beneficiaries of the pension scheme.

While imploring the retirees to choose carefully between the two benefit options available under the Contributory Pension Scheme dispensation, she enjoined all the beneficiaries to take very good care of their health and remain physically active as well as desist from frivolous spending in retirement.

NIA lauds choice of Nigeria as 2020 AIO conference host

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hairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Tope Smart, says the choice of Nigeria as the 2020 host of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) conference is a positive development.

Smart told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that there were so many benefits to be derived from hosting the conference.

The NIA chairman was reacting

to a statement by the SecretaryGeneral of AIO, Mrs Prisca Soares, at the just-concluded 46th AIO conference on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, which indicated that the conference would take place in Abuja from May 31 to June 3 in 2020, with the theme: “The African Insurers; In The Face Of Digital Disruption”.

The NIA chairman disclosed that activities were already on to make

the conference a huge success, adding that the association was already discussing with relevant government agencies.

Smart, who is also the Managing Director of NEM Insurance Plc, said delegates to the conference would have some of their best experiences during their visit to Nigeria.

He said NIA members were capable and ready to host their colleagues from various

countries who would attend the conference.

“Nigeria is populated by over 190 million people, with insurance penetration below one per cent. The population figure shows enormous opportunities and potential for the insurance industry in Africa’s most populous nation.

“Our guests will be exposed to various tourist centres and attractive areas the country is

blessed with. Nigeria is also blessed with hospitable people, who speak over 250 languages and have some attractive national monuments and heritage,” the NIA chairman said.

AIO, comprising insurance practitioners in Africa, has the aim of consolidating and strengthening the region’s insurance industry in order to provide better quality services to Africa’s population.

26

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

Travel & Hospitality UNWTO demands more from Nigeria, others on sustainable tourism policies Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ountries around the world are integrating sustainability in their tourism policies but the evidence on the results of their implementation remains limited, research carried out for the first “Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns into Tourism Policies” has found.

The Baseline Report, prepared by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment (UN Environment) and with support from the France, is the first global assessment of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) factors within national tourism policies.

A total of 101 UNWTO Member States participated in this groundbreaking exercise.

All the tourism policies analyzed refer to sustainability as part of their objectives or vision and 55

per cent address sustainability as a cross cutting element. At the same time, 67 per cent of tourism policies include references to resource efficiency and 64 per cent connect sustainability with the competitiveness of the sector.

Tourism policy makers are aware of the importance of SCP but the references to policy instruments aiming at SCP implementation are limited and so is the evidence available for other aspects beyond the economic performance of the sector.

Remarking, while celebrating the release of the Baseline Report, the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Sustainability and competitiveness go hand in hand. Destinations and businesses can flourish while making a meaningful contribution to sustainability in several ways, including through the efficient use of resources, promoting biodiversity conservation and taking

(From right): International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu, with the Director General and CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac, officially launching the new ICAO legal guidance on the management of unruly and disruptive passengers

action to fight climate change”.

UNWTO remains the lead of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme with France as CoLead and in collaboration with UN Environment.

The programme acts as an implementation mechanism for SDG12 and the Baseline Report and Sustainable Tourism Policy Talks directly contribute to the implementation of One Planet objectives.

Balafon Awards unveils winners for tourism in West Africa

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frican Travel Quarterly (ATQ) has released the list of winners of the prestigious Balafon Awards to be recognised at the annual West African tourism and travel fair, Accra Weizo.

Balafon Awards of Excellence is an annual award organised to recognise pioneers and best players in the industry for the ECOWAS region.

This year, the organisers are using Balafon awards to draw attentions to the best conference centres in West Africa.

In 2017, it hosted the awards for ‘Top 100 Tourism personalities in West Africa’ and at the 2018 edition it hosted the ‘Top 100 Hotels in West Africa’.

Beside its annual Balafon award in 2019, atqnews.com seeks to position in positive light the leading conference centres in West Africa.

The winners of the categories were selected via nominations to atqnewsawards@gmail.com, which ended on June 3.

The 5th Accra Weizo 2019 is organised by Akwaaba Travel Market in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority with the theme, “Seamless Travel is West Africa,” is expected to bring travel and tourism professionals from across the West Africa region.

Chief Allen Onyema (Air Peace), Captain Solomon Quianoo (Ghana), Amaechi Ndili of Golden Tulip West Africa, African World Airline (AWA), Kempinski Goldcity Hotel top the list of awardees at the event in Ghana, Eko Hotel & Suites Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, The Landmark Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, Muson Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, King Fahd Palace Hotel, Dakar, Senegal.

Others lined up to be honoured

Focus on sustainable tourism in Lagos – Jumia chief tasks Sanwo-Olu

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anaging Director of Jumia’s hotel and flight marketplace, Ms Omolara Adagunodo, has urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to focus on sustainable tourism to further boost the chances of the state becoming a 21st-century economy.

Adagunodo in a press statement, issued Friday, also called on SanwoOlu to take Nigeria’s tourism industry to the next level by ensuring that the sector contributes more to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

“Like the previous Lagos administration, I am happy that the new government featured tourism as one of its developmental agenda.

As the government is settling down to work, I encourage the administration to concentrate on Sustainable Tourism.

“This is because the next phase of tourism is for it to become sustainable, and for Lagos to establish a robust tourism industry, it requires a roadmap that takes full account of tourism’s current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

“In fact, a combined report by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, International Trade Centre and Enhanced Integrated

in various categories include: the Kotoka International Airport, Ghana, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), Ghana Tourism Authority, Carnival Calabar, Nigeria, Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, La Palm Royal Beach, Accra, Ghana, Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra, Ghana, Labadi Hotel, Accra, Ghana, Alisa Hotel North Ridge, Ghana, the Abuja International Conference Centre , Nigeria, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria, Abuja Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, and many more.

Also: Salle de Conference, Dakar, Senegal, Kairaba Beach Hotel, Gambia, Coral Beach, Brufut, Gambia, Palais Des Congress, Cotonou, Benin, Hotel du 2 Fevrier, Lome Togo, Sofitel Abidjan Hotel I’voire, Abidjan, and the Hotel President, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire are included in the roll call.

Framework (EIF) reveal that tourism (sustainable) is widely recognized as a key sector for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), given its major potential to contribute to jobs and wealth creation in the developing world. Tourism is estimated to represent 10% of global GDP and generates directly or indirectly one in ten jobs globally.

“Interestingly, the development agenda of the Governor is geared towards achieving sustainable tourism. Tagged Project THEME, the administration’s pillars of development will focus on traffic and transportation, health and the environment, education and technology,” she said.

I the agenda setting statement, Adagunodo added that alongside sustainable tourism, the government should invest massively

Explosion: Port Harcourt Mall safe for customers — Management assures

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he management and owners of the Port Harcourt Mall have commiserated with all the injured people in the gas outburst that happened on Wednesday, June 12 2019.

This statement was made by the Mall Manager, Mrs Chioma Okorie, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to her, the management of the mall empathizes with all the victims of the unfortunate incident that happened recently, noting that an extensive analysis of the situation has been done alongside other agencies of government, assuring customers that the mall was safe for use.

In her words, “the gas outburst happened in the evening of June 12, 2019, as a safety conscious organization, we have hitherto trained all our security personnel on managing emergencies. Our internal firefighting team were able to curtail the situation within 20 minutes.

Simultaneously, mall staff evacuated everyone from the mall, and all those injured were taken to the hospital immediately, and are currently recuperating, we wish them swift recovery.”

“As an organization, we will want

to reiterate that the mall is installed with the best safety measure and our safety equipment are top-notch because the safety of all of our tenants and shoppers is of utmost importance to us,” she added.

Mrs Okorie noted that the commitment of the management and the staff of the mall has kept us from such emergencies in the last five years in which the mall has been in operation. She assured customers that the mall is a very safe place where various family bonding activities takes place and people can get their quality products from all the stores in the mall.

The award-winning Port Harcourt Mall located at Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has been described as the city’s number one lifestyle destination where global brands are located to address various needs of Nigerians. The mail is ready to serve all residents and visitors to Port Harcourt.

The mall was given the Leisure Spot of the Year Award by Garden City Advancement Award in 2016 and 2018 respectively, this was in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the advancement of

Arik Air fetes orphanage in Abuja, Lagos

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rik Air celebrated the 2019 Children’s Day in style with two notable events in Abuja and Lagos.

In Abuja, the airline partnered the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to stage the 6th edition of its Children’s Day at the NTA Arena on May 23. More than 1,200 school children and children from orphanages within Abuja and its environs were in attendance.

The event featured dancing competition, quiz and other variety shows.

In Lagos, Arik Air visited the Love Home Orphanage, Magodo where assorted food items and groceries were donated to the children in

the spirit of the celebration.

Receiving the items on behalf of the orphanage, Customer Service/ Front Desk Personnel, Funmi Ajasa thanked Arik Air for the kind gesture and show of love.

The chief executive officer of Arik Air, Captain Roy Ilegbodu commented on the airline’s partnerships: “As a socially responsible organisation, we want to touch the lives of the children and the less privileged in our society. We identify with the significance of Children’s Day which is a day of giving love, attention, affection to children all over the world, and helping in charting a greater path to their development.”

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

AVIATION ICAO, IATA unveil new legal guidance on management of unruly air passengers Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu, and the Director General and CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac, have officially launched new ICAO legal guidance on the management of unruly and disruptive passengers.

The new ICAO Manual on the Legal Aspects of Unruly and Disruptive Passengers (Doc 10117) is a key result emerging from the adoption of the Protocol to Amend the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft (Montréal Protocol of 2014).

Its chief aim is to assist national governments in legislating appropriate and better harmonized legal measures to

prevent and deal with unruly and disruptive passenger incidents on international flights.

“Unruly and disruptive passenger conduct can pose distinct threats to the safety and security of aircraft, flight crew and passengers,” commented Dr. Liu. “It can also generate costly disruptions to airlines and passengers alike in situations when aircraft must be diverted to manage these incidents.”

“Enhancing safety is the shared goal for governments and airlines, and deterring unruly and disruptive behavior on flights is key to this,” Mr. de Juniac said. “IATA welcomes today’s new ICAO guidance, which is intended to help governments address unruly passengers under their own national law. It covers many practical measures for consideration by policymakers, including ‘on the spot’ fines to

boost enforcement action.”

The launch ceremony for the new guidance, which took place on 7 June 2019, was attended by Mr. Michael Comber, Director, Member and External Relations, ICAO Affairs; Dr. Jiefang Huang, Director of the ICAO Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau; Mr. John Thachet, Chairperson of the ICAO Task Force on Legal Aspects of Unruly Passengers; and Mr. Andrew Opolot, Secretary of the Task Force and ICAO Legal Officer.

The Manual’s publication is also expected to encourage more States to ratify the Montréal Protocol of 2014. With the recent deposit on 5 June of the instrument of ratification by Uruguay, the Protocol requires two more countries to formalize their ratification before its official entry into force.

Turkish Airlines named ‘Most Valuable Brand’

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urkish Airlines has emerged as one of the world’s leading independent organizations in brand valuation and strategy consulting.

This was made known by Brand Finance during the 2019 result announcement evaluation.

According to the results, Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more destination in the world, was declared as the most valuable brand of Turkey in all sectors. The national flag carrier, who repeatedly assumed this title before, reinforces its leading position in Turkey with recent results.

Commenting on the results, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı

said, “We are proud of our achievements which have been crowned with our strategy to become the best airline company in the world.

Continuing the last years’ success indicates that our performance is sustainable. It shows that we are on the right track. We know the value of being the flag carrier of Turkey as we keep our flag flying in 124 countries.”

Brand Finance, which evaluates thousands of brands on a global scale through the researches centred on finance and marketing variables, annually announces its ranking results, which are shaped according to the brand power and value criteria to the attention of world public opinion and sectors every year since 1996.

Link int’l, domestic wings of MMIA to ease passenger transit – U.S Embassy urges FAAN

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nited States Embassy in Nigeria has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to link the international and domestic terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to facilitate transit of passengers.

Deputy Economic Councilor at the Embassy, Mr Michael Carney, who made the call when he led his team on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Hamisu Yadudu on Thursday, in Abuja, said that the current arrangement where transit international passengers would have to struggle to access the domestic terminal before flying to other destinations in the country was not good for its personnel.

He, therefore, urged the authority to take urgent action to address the situation, adding that the embassy was ready to provide technical support to FAAN, if called upon, as, according to him, the airport transfer in Lagos was not effective and convenient for travellers.

The councilor further noted that it was especially cumbersome to take another private transport in

order to move from one terminal to another, just as he advised FAAN to provide authorised vehicle for the transfer of passengers between terminals at the airport.

“At US Embassy, we have many people who want to travel to Nigeria and often times they would want to combine trips. Some may be coming from South Africa, some from Uganda and different places. But my point is this; Abuja is very limited in the number of international flights.

“Trying to work schedules out is not as convenient as trying to get people to Lagos.

“The problem is that US government is not going to allow its personnel to go on public transport and find their way on public travel, to get away to Abuja.

It is not going to happen for obvious reasons.

“Our request is that, if there are ways in which FAAN can mobilise transport between the various terminals, behind the secured parameter, to facilitate transfers of passengers even if they have to wait for an hour, it is okay.

“There should be some sort of route in which the bus can move from one terminal to the next.

(From left) United States Embassy in Nigeria officials including: Tyler Nunley, General Services Officer; Scott Clayton, Economic Officer; Michael Carney, Deputy Economic Counselor, with Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu and other top management staff of the agency; Nehemiah Auta, Chief of Staff to the MD, FAAN; Alh. ML Sani, RGM, North Central/AM NNIA, Abuja; Lawal Abdullahi, SA-Tech to MD-FAAN & Mrs.

“I just want to put the request to you, that at least it is in the interest of the country to facilitate passenger traffic, especially in Lagos, where you have the highest number of flights and passengers. But particularly for US government, we will directly benefit from that because we need to facilitate travels for our personnel who travel to Nigeria,” he said.

Responding, FAAN MD, Yadudu, assured the delegation that the authority had a plan to construct a short monorail, between the domestic and international terminals.

He said that the authority

nevertheless, also had plans to do something as a palliative before such major project would be executed to facilitate passenger movements at the airport.

According to him, such development would make the airport more attractive to passengers because FAAN is for passengers and stakeholders.

Yadudu pledged that FAAN would take urgent steps to address the challenge.

“I am guaranteeing you that we will sit down and go through this, ahead of the completion of the expanded terminal.

“Ahead of the completion of

Kaduna int’lDirector, airport no longer viable -- Ethiopian Airlines anaging improves. to operate multiple destinations

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International Services of the Ethiopian Airline, Mr. Esayas Hailu has explained reasons behind the carrier’s recent announcement of suspension of flight operations at the Kaduna International Airport barely three years after flag-off.

According to Ethiopian Airlines chief, the drastic drop in passenger traffic volume in addition to the high running cost of developing the route informed the decision by the East African carrier to suspend operations at the airport.

Esayas stated that the airline which operated into Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna, had to suspend operation to Kaduna as the airline could no longer develop the route at a very huge cost, while the traffic remained low, adding that it does not make economic sense.

He disclosed this in an interview with journalists after a tour of the airlines, facilities in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

He however assured that the airline would return to Kaduna when the traffic volume on the route

“We used to fly to Kaduna. We flew to Kaduna for three years, and then, the traffic volume has not been forthcoming. We have been developing it even at a cost. We have spent alot of cost to develop it, but because it is in-between Kano and Abuja and we fly to both of the two places, the economic sense has not been guaranteed. We have to suspend it for the time being, but whenever the economics is justified, definitely we are going to go back there,” Esayas assured.

On why Ethiopian Airlines decided

into Nigeria, Esayas stated that the essence of these flights was not only to give the best value proposition to its loyal customers but to bring the airline’s service to the doorsteps of its customers in other states.

According to him, “There are a lot of plans for the Nigerian market, first of all, we fly to four gateways into Nigeria, Kano, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos. This Is because we want to give the best value proposition to our loyal customers. This is because other people use to drive or fly from other parts of the country to

the building, let us see how we can connect the airports, even if it is a shuttle service using luxury buses and create proper routes for them, where they can embark and disembark.

“In the next two months, we will keep you updated in case we might need some kinds of technical advice from you since you have the experience,” he said.

Yadudu also informed the delegation that the government had developed a plan on how to remodel the existing terminal when it moved operations to the new terminal.

fly from Lagos, so we have to go to their door steps. Secondly, Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA),Lagos has a very big number of passengers, so parking space, slots, arrival and departure, embarking and disembarking passengers, so to reduce the burden, of the Murtala Muhammed Airport. It Is good to diversify the traffic to everywhere and those people coming from there, will be more convenient when we airlift them from there, It is also a good service for them and by so doing, we are dispensing justice to all the geo-political zones of Nigeria.”

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

e-Platform

NCC harps on need to protect telecom infrastructure for quality services Stories by VICTOR NZE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need to protect telecommunication infrastructure in the country to ensure quality services.

NCC Director, Zonal Operation, Mrs Amina Shehu, made this known at a sensitisation programme on protection of telecom infrastructure held in Obajana, Kogi, on Thursday.

Represented by Mrs Khadijah Abari, Principal Manager, Zonal Operations Department, Shehu said that the sensitisation was a platform to enlighten the public and other stakeholders on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.

He added that the programme was also intended to present a platform for cooperation between stakeholders in the telecom industry to reach an understanding toward putting into proper perspective, the concerns most often expressed by the public about telecom infrastructure.

He said “the programme is an initiative of NCC to sensitise stakeholders, as well as create awareness about the importance of telecom facilities in our domain.

“Infrastructure such as Base Stations and other facilities have been targets of vandalism, theft and hostility from host communities.

“It is therefore, imperative for the public to regard telecom facilities as a collectively-owned infrastructure that are crucial and essential for the provision of efficient and acceptable quality service and need to be keenly protected.”

He explained that vandalism of telecom facilities had continued to be a major challenge in the indus-

• NCC Director, Zonal Operation, Mrs Amina Shehu

try, adding that NCC continued to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure adequate security for the facilities.

Shehu said that the commission’s attention in recent time had been drawn to rising public concerns regarding alleged negative health implications of Electromagnetic Frequency radiation emanating from telecom infrastructure.

According to him, those negative concerns about this subject have in some cases led to interference and agitations against deployment of required infrastructure to the detriment of delivering quality services.

He added that “in response to these growing concerns and commitment to public safety, NCC, through Zonal Operations Depart-

ment deems it necessary as one of its core functions to organise such sensitisation to enlighten the people.”

Manager, Technical Standard and Network Integrity Department of NCC, Mr Lawal Bello, also emphasised the importance of protecting the facilities.

Bello said that quality service depended on these infrastructure so there was need to protect them.

According to him, telecom operators cannot continue to deploy their infrastructure if they are not protected.

He said “there is urgent need to consider ways to protect these infrastructure to ensure quality and efficient network services.

“His Royal Highness, Idowu Isenibi, the Oba of Obajana, had

commended NCC for the initiative to educate stakeholders and create awareness on protection of telecom infrastructure.”

Oba Isenibi also said that Obajana community needed such programmes to enlighten the people.

He said “vandalism is one of the setbacks of development of any community so we should put our heads together to push it out of our domain.

“We also use this opportunity to call on telecom operators to extend their social corporate responsibility to assist the people of Obajana.”

Meanwhile, the NCC has disclosed of plans to establish an “Internet Industry Code of Practice” for service providers in the country to mitigate the effects of cyber crimes on broadband consumers.

Deputy Director and Head, Information and Reference Unit, NCC Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, said this during the 50th edition of the organisation’s Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, last Monday.

The CTM had as its theme: “Mitigating Effects of Cyber crimes: The Roles of Telecom Consumers.”

Adedigba said that the move became necessary as the liberalisation of the telecoms industry led to unprecedented increase in the usage of internet-based services, which exposed more consumers to cyber threats.

He added that “the Internet Code is another regulatory intervention by NCC, expected not only to help secure cyberspace but to also address issues relating to online child protection, privacy and

Samsung denies Galaxy Fold July launch date Samsung has officially denied the rumoured July launch date for its embattled Galaxy Fold device.

A Samsung official had now hinted at a possible July launch of the Galaxy Fold only for the company to issue a statement denying the report as well as the official in question.

It was suggested that Samsung will be holding a media briefing very soon and during the event will announce a release date for the handset. The firm’s spokesperson, however, said that if there was a media briefing planned for the following weeks, we would have heard something about it.

So it appears that the foldable smartphone announced alongside the Galaxy S10 series might not even beat the Galaxy Note10 to the shelves. data security.

“Let me emphasise that while the regulatory intervention and other initiatives are ongoing to sanitise our internet space, telecom consumers must play their roles as well. Consumers must be cautious of the type of information they post online and imbibe responsible internet and phone usage etiquette.

“Telecom consumers must install filtering software that helps to block access to inappropriate websites and exercise caution while clicking on flashing pop-ups or adverts as this may open up other compromised pages.

“They must also monitor the contents accessed by children or wards, as well as sign up into sites that can be remotely monitored for digital footprints and activities.

NIPOST, Fidelity Bank to facilitate FG’s financial inclusion policy

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igerian Postal Services (NIPOST) says it is partnering with the Fidelity Bank to facilitate the Federal Government’s financial inclusion policy to transfer funds between citizens for mutual benefits.

Postmaster-General, NIPOST, Mr Bisi Adegbuyi, said this at the Launch of Integrated Agency Banking and Treasury Single Account (TSA) Collections in Collaboration with Fidelity Bank on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, the growth of e-commerce has forced many postal administrations to explore ways of expanding their frontiers through collaboration with relevant stakeholders to meet the emerging challenges.

He said the launching of the agency banking was part of the efforts to extend financial services at affordable costs to sections of disadvantaged and low income segments of the society.

“The integrated agency banking services incorporate the collections of TSA on a single platform. With this

• Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, MD Fidelity Bank

development, customers can also get banking services in the post offices nationwide and can deposit and withdraw money, including payment of bills for utility services in post offices.

“The partnership also avails Fidelity bank the opportunity to expand its network using the

over 1800 post office facilities nationwide to take banking closer to the people.

“In line with the Federal Government financial inclusion policy to provide financial services to the under-banked and unbanked populace, who work in the informal sector of

the economy without or less access to financial services,’’ Adegbuyi said.

He added that the model also supported the United Nation’s goal of providing access at a reasonable cost for all households to full range of financial services.

Adegbuyi while stressing the need for the partnership, said over 20million adults of the total population get their main source of income from subsistence and commercial farming.

“Over 47 per cent of Nigerian farmers do not have access to financial services because they are mostly based in rural areas and of the 1800 post offices 70 per cent are in the rural areas”.

Adegbuyi said concerning the benefits of the launch that Fidelity bank now would have its Point- of -Sale (POS) used in NIPOST facilities throughout the country.

“The project has the potential to increase the revenue base of both organisations and enhance the saving culture of the rural dwellers as well as help in

mopping excess cash from rural areas,” he said.

Deputy Managing Director, Fidelity Bank, Mr Muhammed Balarabe, on his part, said the bank would start the project with 266 branches across the country.

“Fidelity will collaborate with NIPOST to deliver quality banking so that those individuals, who do not have access to banking services before will begin to do so. So, we are encouraging everyone to go and try us out and we assure you that you will not be disappointed.’’

Head, Digital Financial Services, Financial Inclusion Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Stephen Ambore, said over 36.6 million Nigerians were not financially included.

According to him, the CBN was committed to ensuring that over 80 per cent of this population was included in all financial services by 2020.

He said that the CBN would encourage collaborations by all to make innovative products available to the citizenry.

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market

Ellah Lakes acquires Telluria Limited, appoints new Managing Director of finance both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He has over two and a half decades of experience in private equity investing, investment banking, and investment research.

He has been responsible for oversight of the CBO’s management and investment activities and currently sits on the boards of CBO portfolio companies. In addition, Mr. Mordi led the firm’s efforts in publishing and distributing proprietary Africa macro and sector research, producing investment conferences, and developing active Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.

Mr. Mordi began his career as an Equities Analyst at SBC Warburg, before moving to Hardman & Co. Ltd. where he focused on UK AIM stocks. At InterSec Research

Stories By JEROME SHAKANG

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llah Lakes Plc, has announced the acquisition of 100 percent equity stake in Telluria Limited in order to diversify its product offerings in the Agric-Business sector.

Ellah Lakes in a statement notifying the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of the deal and signed by the company’s Secretary, Mr. Kenechi Ezezika, said that the principal objective of the acquisition is to strengthen Company’s balance sheet, restore customer confidence, provide access to new markets, improve operations and create organizational efficiencies that will drive profitability and increase shareholders’ value.

Ezezika explained that the Board of Directors and Management of Ellah Lakes have considered the acquisition to be in the best interest of the Company and expect the transaction to among others revitalize management; create access to diversified expertise and financial strength; improve administrative and operational efficiencies of the Company as well as strengthening the Company’s market position by aiding access to new products and markets.

He stressed that having complied with all the necessary regulatory requirements; the acquisition was approved by both the Nigerian Stock Exchange and by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In another development, Ellah Lakes last Thursday announced the appointment of Mr. Chuka Mordi as Managing Director, with effect from June 12, 2019. Mr. Mordi takes over from Mr. Frank Ellah, who moves on

•Chuka Mordi Managing Director Ellah Lakes Plc

to new pursuits.

The appointment was made at a board meeting of the company on June 12, 2019 and follows the board’s agreement to a business merger with Telluria Limited which would strengthen Ellah Lakes’ balance sheet, restore customer confidence, provide access to new markets while enhancing operations that will ultimately drive profitability and deliver value to shareholders.

Prior to the appointment, Mr Mordi was a Director in Telluria and the Managing Partner of CBO Investment Management.

…To host IFN Nigeria Forum

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investors, to exchange their views and experiences on opportunities in the Nigerian Islamic finance market. It will feature a mix of panel sessions, onstage interviews and interactive sessions on a number of themes in Islamic finance including, Corporate Financing and Capital Raising in Nigeria.

Already, some of the speakers who confirmed to participate in the event include Director-General, Debt Management Office of Nigeria,(DMO), Ms Patience Oniha, Acting Director-General, National Pension Commission, Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar,; Mr Jude Chiemeka, Divisional Head, Trading Business, NSE; Hajara Adeola, Managing Director/CEO, Lotus Capital; Adeola Sunmola, Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie and Oluseun Olatidoye, Head, Debt Capital Markets, FBNQuest Merchant Bank.

Speaking about the forum, Mr

FHC Lagos fixes hearing between Oando’s GCE, SEC on June 24

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Mordi said: “I am very excited to be taking up the position of Ellah Lakes Managing Director. The combination of Ellah Lakes and Telluria establishes a platform with a significant existing land portfolio, access to finance and investments in the domestic production of oil palm, and a variety of cash crops. I look forward to an exciting future as we put Ellah Lakes back on a path to growth.”

According to the company’s board, Mr. Mordi has an impressive track record across all segments

NSE, REDmoney partner to accelerate Islamic Finance in Nigeria he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), is in partnership with REDmoney Group, to hold the inaugural edition of the IFN Nigeria Forum with a theme, “Harnessing the Islamic Finance Sector for Infrastructure Development and Economic Growth”, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

The forum is aimed at promoting the growth and development of the Nigerian Islamic Finance industry and facilitate the growth of a new asset class in the capital market.

The IFN Nigeria Forum 2019 which will be headlined by Acting DirectorGeneral, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Mary Uduk, and is expected tol bring together a stellar line-up of speakers, comprising senior industry players, decision makers, regulators and

Corp. he led the Global Investment Management Research Team for Europe (UK) & the Far East (Japan & Singapore). At Societe Generale Asset Management (SGAM) UK, he covered European Emerging Market Equities and worked on Asset Allocation and Economic analysis. Prior to launching CBO Investment Management in 2009, Mr. Mordi was Head of Infrastructure Financing at First City Monument Bank. Mr. Mordi holds a Philosophy degree from King’s College, University of London.

Ellah Lakes Plc was one of Nigeria’s foremost agriculture businesses, specializing in Fish Farming. It was incorporated on July 2nd 1980 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on January 14th 1993.

Jude Chiemeka, Head, Trading Business Division, NSE, said that “Islamic assets are gaining momentum as an alternative investment avenue in Nigeria and globally. The IFN Nigeria Forum affirms our commitment to stimulating non-interest capital market products innovation. It will offer us the opportunity to deepen our engagement with our stakeholder. It will also provide us with important insights that will enable us to take a leap forward in the development of innovative and practical solutions to propel the Islamic capital market which will aid Nigeria in achieving its Sustainable Development Agenda”.

IFN Nigeria Forum is the first stop in the inaugural three-part IFN African Roadshow 2019. After the IFN forum in Nigeria, the Roadshow will continue in Kenya and South Africa.

The Federal High Court (FHC) Lagos has Adjourned hearing between Oando Plc’s Group Chief Executive (GCE), Deputy Group Chief Executive and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to Monday June 24, 2019.

The Federal High Court Lagos presiding Judge C M A Olatoregun took the decision on Thursday, June 13, 2019 when the case between Oando Plc’s Group Chief Executive, Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, and Deputy Group Chief Executive, Omamofe Boyo, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came up for hearing.

The Court also directed that the Respondents’ Preliminary Objection and the substantive application for enforcement of fundamental Rights should be taken together at the next adjourned date. Consequently, the Court adjourned to June 24, 2019. The Court ruled that all parties involved are to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion.

However, Oando Plc, in its press release dated June 3, 2019, reported that the court had granted the following orders pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s motion for interlocutory

injunction: That an order of interim injunction restraining the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), its servants, agents, employees and or privies from taking any step concerning or acting on the decisions contained in its letter of May 31, 2019 imposing a fine of N91,125,000 on Jubril Adewale Tinubu and barring both Jubril Adewale Tinubu and Omamofe Boyo from being Directors of public companies for a period of five years.

An order of interim injunction restraining Mutiu Olaniyi Adio Sunmonu from acting as the head of the Interim Management of Oando Plc. An order restraining the SEC, its servants and its agents from directing, requesting any Agency of the Government from acting upon the SECs decisions contained in its letter dated 31st May, 2019.

Pursuant to the court order, Oando’s management team and Board of Directors as at the date of the release, save for the two Non-Executive Directors departure announced on June 7, 2019 remain unchanged pending the outcome of the hearing of the various applications filed by the parties.

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 -25, 2019

MONEY Market

‘Africa’s debt still under control despite challenges’

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) remains strong with growing operating revenues and allocable income generated since 2010 reaching $2.5 billion, the Bank Group’s Treasurer, Hassatou Diop N’sele, said.

In 2018, the bank earned $214 million in allocable income, 48 percent of which has been reinvested in the institution to reinforce reserves and its business growth capacity. The bullish numbers were revealed during the bank’s financial presentation Thursday, a highlight of the 2019 Annual Meetings of the bank currently underway in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The panel was led by Ms N’sele and Simon Mizrahi, Director of Service Delivery, Performance Management and Results at the bank.

During the presentation attended by delegates, governors, executive directors and bank staff, Ms N’Sele noted that the bank could chart a new path on account of its ability to raise funds on the capital markets. “The amount of infrastructure financing covered by private sector could double if African countries harness the full potential of their capital markets.”

According to Ms N’sele, a number of African countries could save as much $1 billion on a 20year loan, if they borrow from the African Development Bank, instead of from the Eurobond market, due to preferable lending rates.

Delegates were informed of the bank’s successful issuance of the first-ever NOK social bond sold in Norway and sealed in 2018.

On debt sustainability, Africa’s debt has increased in recent years “but not to unsustainable levels,” Mr Mizrahi indicated but he pleaded for caution. “We need to continue to generate financing and spur growth without increasing debt.”

Sharing insights on Africa’s path forward, Mr Mizrahi underscored the need to harness the continent’s

incredible potential in renewable energy.

Africa is the most vulnerable continent and suffers the most from climate change but “with the right vision, investments and political commitments, Africa can lead a global energy revolution and leapfrog to renewable technologies. This is why the Bank is putting its money where its mouth is and investing more than any other development Bank in helping the continent transition towards more resilient and sustainable economies,” he concluded.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfTCA) ushering a new era in intra-African trade According to Mr Mizrahi, AfCTA paves the way to the world’s largest free trade area with an integrated market of 1.3 billion consumers.

“This is important because Africa will struggle to be competitive at the global scale, if it continues to operate as 54 fragmented

economies. The continent needs to be more integrated, it needs larger economic spaces so that Africa can attract more investors, create more and better jobs, boost internal trade and create continentwide value chains that are globally competitive.”

The panel moderated by the Victor Oladokun, the Bank’s Director of Communication, noted that AfCFTA is expected to boost cross-border infrastructure, drive competitiveness and make the continent a smaller place by integrating markets.

In her concluding remarks, Ms N’sele expressed the bank’s appreciation for Canada’s unwavering support to the institution with the recently announced $1.1 billion callable capital. “This will allow to continue to meet our financial ratio” before a decision is made on the 7th General Capital Increase,” she said.

Second FGN Green Bond records 200% subscription

T

he Federal Government’s second Green Bond offer has recorded about 220 percent subscription.

Debt Management Office (DMO) which announced the result said investors staked N32.93 billion for the N15 billion offer.

According to the agency, “Total value of subscriptions received was N32.93 billion, representing 220 percent of the N15 billion offered.

“Similarly, the number of subscribers doubled when compared to the figure for the first Sovereign Green Bond issued in December 2017.

It also worthy of note that the number of individuals who subscribed for the second

Mrs. Hamda Ambah, Managing Director, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited; Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ Securities Exchange PLC; Ms. Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office, Nigeria; Mr. Kobby Bentsi-Enchill, Executive Director & Head, Debt Capital Markets, Stanbic IBTC Capital during the signing of the FMDQ bonds listings register at the Listing Ceremony for the US$2.50bn Dual-Tranche and US$2.87bn Triple-Tranche Federal Republic of Nigeria Eurobonds at Exchange Place, Lagos.

Sovereign Green Bond more than doubled.

“The amount of subscriptions grew by almost 201 percent with the share of total subscriptions rising to 1.43 percent compared to 0.67 percent for the 2017 Sovereign Green Bond.”

Although the offer was oversubscribed, the DMO allotted only the N15 billion that was offered for a tenor of seven years, at a coupon rate of 14.5 percent per annum.

According to the DMO, there was a stronger participation of retail investors, an indication of financial inclusion and deepening of the domestic financial market, which were some of the key objectives of the DMO instrument programme.

The Offer, which opened to the general public on Monday, June 3, 2019 and closed on Monday, June 10, 2019, was preceded by road show meetings with investors and other stakeholders in Lagos and Abuja.

The DMO said, “The results of the second Sovereign Green Bond issuance revealed increased knowledge and awareness of Green Bonds by subscribers, and a greater level of commitment from the general public towards protecting the environment.”

It added that the proceeds of the Green Bond would be used to finance projects in the 2018 Appropriation Act, which would contribute to Nigeria’s commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The projects would include Off-Grid Solar and Wind Farm, Irrigation, Afforestation and Reforestation, as well as, Ecological Restoration.

Heritage Bank gets CIBN nod on established academy, trains 300 new intakes

I

n line with its commitment to ensure greater efficiency and boost its workforce, Heritage Bank Plc has received a nod from the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) for its establishment of a full-fledged learning and development institute, with the training of 300 new employees.

The Institute dubbed “The Refinery” being supervised by the Bank’s Human Capital Management Group is currently training 300 new intakes who are fresh from universities across and outside the country with diverse academic backgrounds and impressive academic records, in an ongoing intensive 12-week rigorous and thorough academic programme at the school, in Port Harcourt.

The Refinery is a tailored learning experience Institute with the perfect blend of technologies, techniques and methodologies

to optimise training experiences, which will help employees succeed in ensuring that the bank’s business stays ahead of the curve with the banking sector along with Heritage Bank’s target goals.

Having visited The Refinery in Port Harcourt during the ushering in of the new intakes, the Group Head, Learning and Development of CIBN, Babatunde Apena in his commendation stressed that Heritage Bank’s training facility is the best in Nigerian banking industry and at par with international best standard.

According to him, despite the training facility still undergoing various upgrades for accreditation, it stands out as one of the best in the industry.

The MD/CEO of the bank, Ifie Sekibo, has described Heritage Bank as a forward looking business whose strength lies in the ability to spot and mould talents into great

professionals.

He noted that the Refinery was established to train, nurture and arm young employees with the right skills needed to fast-track development and enable teams to flourish.

Sekibo further explained that at the Academy, “we hire young graduates who want to advance their skill levels, which will lead to a direct and indirect improvement of life for their families and communities that will culminate toward more productive, resourceful persons.”

According to him, any business that hopes to survive the current economic challenges must devise a creative way of harnessing the full potentials of the talents that abound among the nation’s teeming youth population.

He urged the lucky intakes that after their graduation, they should see the opportunity as a privilege

to contribute their quota towards the development of Nigeria by imbibing the bank’s mantra of commitment to spreading the culture of Wealth Creation, Preserve and Transfer.

“Just as the word Refinery connotes, the Heritage Bank Plc Refinery is a Facility where crude talents or abilities are converted or ‘refined’ into ‘finished’ jewels for optimal performance.

“The training program is designed to take each participant on an enriching, rigorous and intellectually engaging learning journey to equip them with the fundamental competencies required of a professional banker.

The Curriculums are structured to accommodate both Core and NonCore Banking competencies such as finance, credit and accounting, organizational and behavioral competencies to mention a few”, Sekibo stated.

The bank’s helmsman also

pointed out that Heritage Bank was assimilating the large number of new hands at a time when gainful employment was becoming hard to come by; stressing that the bank had always remained optimistic and pragmatic in deploying its resources for developmental ends.

According to him, “In recent times, operators in the banking sector have discovered that margins are shrinking, costs are rising and yet nothing is changing. You are coming into an industry that most people think it is impossible to survive but we at Heritage Bank see opportunities in place of despair.

So, therefore, your employment comes with uniqueness and promise. Everything you are about to learn at the Training School is very important to our balance as an industry and as a company as well as your progress as individuals.”

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

P

ORTING is to process of transferring a phone number from one network provider to the other. The processes and documentation leading to that is called Mobile Number Portability (MNP). I want to port, but to which network.

Of the five networks, my favourite was Mtel before it went moribund. I still have my number and unused recharge cards. Then, I switched to MTN both for my cell phone and data line. I am upset that Mtn does not know that I exist; it’s services fall short of my expectations, but, I have never considered porting.

But then, why should I port, when, I am not sure where I am porting to?

I was desirous of porting from Mtn but not in the sense of it, but switching to make Airtel, my major line before I lost my Mtn. I went to Airtel office to reclaim it but it was like climbing Mountain Kilimanjaro. I provided all that was required, but the line never came back to me. I gave up, but shockingly, I called the line weeks after and a female voice answered.

It meant Airtel had sold it out to another user. That was how I lost my cherished number.

I turned to Glo line but I noticed that after recharging my card, it finishes in hours without making calls. I sought out for solution but nothing was quick in coming, so I halted that intention. The next, I shall try is 9mobile.

Mobile portability by telecommunication operators in Nigeria is declining to about 53 per cent in the past two years as it recorded a total of 14,491 incoming and outgoing porting activities in November 2017 compared to 31,077 in November 2016, according to data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Mobile number portability was introduced by NCC in 2013 for consumers to enjoy quality service on all the mobile networks and encourage competition. Actually, subscribers have an association with a President. The President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, described mobile number portability as a crucial service in the industry.

He once said: “Porting occurs when a subscriber is dissatisfied with a particular network or when a person is relocating to another place. Someone may be using a

“

Subscribers should report to the NCC if they are denied the opportunity to port. Some network operators do not like people porting, as such, they will ensure they frustrate them.”

Porting and NCC’s drive against unregistered, improperly registered SIMS (1)

In

CORNUCOPIA

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Telephone number: 08060750240

E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk

particular network that has good signal strength in a particular location, but may not get a good signal in a new location.

“Subscribers should report to the NCC if they are denied the opportunity to port. Some network operators do not like people porting, as such, they will ensure they frustrate them.”

Just as well, as the President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, Olusola Teniola, was quoted as noting that many subscribers had discovered that the tariffs and quality of service on various networks were similar hence the decline in porting.

“The issue is that a lot of users are finding out that the quality of

service of network providers is not so different; the pricing is also not very different,” he said.

In the first 14 months of porting as at June 25, 2014, over 87,887 subscribers ported from one network to the other. But the worrisome issue is the problem of unregistered sim cards.

The NCC had set up a 12-man

31

committee to look into the issue of unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards. This is a welcome development in the face of several complaints about pre-registered and fraudulently registered SIM cards, as criminally minded people used the SIM cards to breach security, and commit fraud.

All telecos are represented in the committee, which should do the needful and highlight the way out for a mandatory registration of all SIM cards issued in the country since the law came into existence in 2010.

The committee has two major objectives, to mitigate security issues of tracking the criminal use of telephones and create a comprehensive, central data base of SIM card subscribers to facilitate and back up the national identification system.

Are telecom operators not expected to put in place a robust and active backend to check cases of improperly registered SIM cards before activation? Why should Nigeria still be talking about unregistered SIM cards?

Identifying all those in the country’s cyberspace will help in reducing fraud and crime. It is the service providers’ obligation to identify all callers on their respective networks.

My question is why the proliferation of unregistered and pre-registered SIM Cards? Has the regulator, NCC been doing its duties? NCC must have relaxed to allow unregistered or improperly registered lines to proliferate.

How did the notorious alleged kidnapper, Chukwudubem “Evans” Onwuamadike, have 126 SIM cards, all pre-registered. He allegedly purchased those lines at the Computer Village, Lagos, according to police.

The nightmare continues. The NC arrested 4 persons with 70 pre-registered SIM cards in Dutse, Jigawa State and the Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai, raised a fresh alarm how proliferation of rogue SIMs was frustrating the military’s anti-terrorism, anti-crime efforts.

Why should it be so? Why can’t telecos insist on registering SIM cards properly before activation?

Crime would have been reduced to its barest minimum, if registered SIM cards are tracked?

Already, Nigeria has over 216 million lines connected and 149 million active phone lines with teledensity of 110.09 per cent. And with this, there is need for tough control over sale of SIM in open market and service providers be held responsible for every SIM issued. With modern Hi-tech equipment, fraudsters would be checkmated.

Crime thrives on the use of phones, the Internet and our security agencies should be able to monitor communications of suspects to capture criminals without stress through technology. Why would Mtn or any teleco allow so many unregistered and pre-registered SIM cards to permeate the system?

Phone Number: 08060750240 e-mail: odogwuchampionawka@ yahoo.co.uk co.uk

“

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 27, 2019

NEWS EXTRA

‘We welcome EU suggestions on improving elections in Nigeria’ – Presidency

T

he Presidency has welcomed the report of the European Union (EU) on the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, promising to analyse it fully and act on the recommendations in the best interest of the country.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made this position known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

Shehu noted that the EU observers were invited to the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and welcomed by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stated that this action was a clear indication of the administration’s good intentions, commitment to a pure democratic process and desire to improve on the next elections.

The EU noted in their report that there were marked improvements from previous elections, although stating that more work needed to be done. ”The administration of President Buhari will work with all Nigerian citizens, state institutions, parties, civil society, the media and other experts to make sure that the improvements recommended by the EU are implemented, and that these areas of concern are addressed. ”It is noteworthy that INEC is in receipt of a number of recommendations that form a part of the EU report. ”The Presidency assures that the Commission is in safe hands and happy that they are currently engaged in root and branch reviews of the 2019 general elections and will input lessons learned into its recommendations for electoral and constitutional reforms. ”We believe that the commission conducted a good election and will continue to improve on its processes and procedures,” he said.

While it is regretted that the elections in a few parts of the country witnessed some violence, among other shortcomings highlighted by the EU, Shehu noted, however, that none of these hitches affected the overall outcome of the elections.

He said: “Thankfully, EU did not question the results of the presidential election. ”This is further proof that the polls reflected the overall will of Nigerians, and that the world is solidly behind the election of President Buhari for a second term.”

• Buhari

Delta Assembly Deputy Speaker assures of improved service delivery From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

eltans have been assured of an improved service delivery from the legislative arm of government, that will affect their socio economic well-being in line with State government agenda for a stronger state.

This assurance was given by the New Deputy Speaker of the Seventh Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, who was unanimously elected during inauguration of the assembly on June 10, 2019.

Rt. Hon Ochor representing Ukwuani Constituency in the State House of Assembly, made the prom-

ise in a chat with The Oracle Today in Asaba.

He hailed the vibrancy of the Sixth Assembly adding that the Seventh Assembly will aspire to uphold the bench mark already set by their predecessors.

He called on Deltans to remain supportive and peace loving, adding that the Seventh Assembly will effectively pass bills to better the lots of Deltans.

The Deputy Speaker who attended a reception in his honour by kinsmen, friends and well-wishers said the time of his elevation to the State House Of Assembly and his subsequent elevation as a Deputy speaker was the handiwork of God, showing

that the time was ripe for him to represent his people at the State level.

He thanked all who had been with him from the start of the journey, through the primaries and election period and promised they will not regret the confidence reposed in him.

Also speaking at the reception, the wife of the Deputy Speaker Mrs. Ann Ochor thanked Ukwuani People especially the women who stood solidly behind her husband’s vision.

She said her husband has been a grass root politician right from the days of The Grassroot Democratic Party, GDM, days with mentors like past Governor James Ibori and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and as such is well grounded and will deliver to his peo-

ple the dividends of Democracy.

It could be recalled that during the 2019 State House of Assembly Election, the now Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 17,536 votes to defeat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Eze Omolu who polled 7, 172 votes.

Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor who took over from Honourable Alphonsos Ojo as the member representing Ukwuani Constituency in the State House of Assembly was the first Executive Director, Social Services Development in the newly structured commission in 2015.

Okowa inaugurates Solomon as Senior Political Adviser From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

• Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, appreciating the Nigeria Police Force veteran Clifford Omoegboria and the Women Team for making the force proud at the 3rd Edition of Chief of Defence Staff Half Marathon Championship, Abuja 2019

Ebola: Nigeria signs health security agreement with German firm

N

igeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has intensified preparedness for infectious diseases including Ebola virus as the agency, Friday, signed a joint declaration of intent with Germany’s national public wellbeing institute, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), to strengthen health security in the country.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 2,000 cases of the epidemic had been recorded in DRC since last August when the Central Africa nation declared a 10th outbreak in North Kivu province with an overall death toll of 1,405.

With the agreement, the NCDC said Nigeria was better prepared to contain any possible epidemic, as it had continuously developed capacity for response in this regard.

Head, Communications of the NCDC, Jeremiah Agenyi, in a statement, said the new Nigeria Centre for Disease Control: Capacity De-

velopment for Preparedness and Response for Infectious Diseases (NiCADE) project would involve partnerships with tertiary hospitals under the coordination of the disease centre with support from the German outfit.

The collaboration is to include surveillance for Hepatitis E, Rotavirus and AMR. The new pact comes less than two years after NCDC began to collaborate with RKI in a project that led to the development of a national training manual for infection prevention control (IPC) in Nigeria.

Agenyi said as a follow up to the successful venture, both organisations had extended collaboration to include scrutiny of endemic viral infections of high public health concern and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as well as antibiotic stewardship and improvement of infection prevention and control (IPC).

At the event Friday, in Abuja, RKI President, Prof. Dr. Lothar H. Wieler, noted that the partnership

holds positive outcomes. “As national public health institutes of federal republics, NCDC and RKI have similar structures that will provide strong learning opportunities for each other,” he said. As part of the deal, the German institute would provide technical expertise and advice to the Nigerian agency towards strengthening international health regulations (IHR) capacity.

“The partnership between NCDC and RKI is a mutually beneficial opportunity for national public health institutes to collaborate towards global health security. It greatly demonstrates the fact that countries are mutually dependent on one another for health security,” he added.

Nigeria, and indeed the rest of the world, are disturbed because Ebola killed 11,000 people and ravaged West Africa between 2014 and 2015.

A case each was detected in Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom at the time.

elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has inaugurated Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon as his Senior Political Adviser, saying that his second term will be a busy one as his administration is determined to build a stronger State.

“This second tenure promises to be quite busy; every appointment that we make is a call to serve for us to deliver on our mandate for a stronger Delta State,” Governor Okowa said at the inauguration ceremony which took place at the Government House, Asaba and witnessed by wife of the Governor, Dame Edith, former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Benjamin Elue, among others.

Governor Okowa described Rt. Hon. Solomon as “a man of great candour, courage and character who has been well prepared for the office of the Senior Political Adviser and I urge him to put his political views on hold in order to be able to analyse every situation dispassionately and proffer workable solutions; fairness, equity and justice must guide all your utterances, decisions and actions.”

He continued, “as a political leader of repute, I expect you (Rt. Hon. Solomon) to know that politicians can be quite vexatious; but, you should be able to rise above petty sentiments, even in the face of obvious provocation; you must be above board and, at all times, demonstrate maturity, patience and calmness in dealing with the political class; it is a tough call but, I have full confidence in your ability to navigate the tempestuous political terrain, and help us achieve our vision of a Stronger Delta” The governor congratulated Rt. Hon. Solomon on his appointment and expressed confidence that he will succeed in his new assignment.

Rt. Hon. Solomon who was the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation in 2019, in his response, thanked Governor Okowa for finding him fit to be the Senior Political Adviser, assuring that he will carry out his functions diligently to the glory of God, and satisfaction of Deltans.

33

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 1 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Revealed: The biggest MYTH about the clitoris and why the CAT position is the best for female orgasms

W

hen you think of sex education classes, you might remember a sheepish-looking teacher, lots of awkward giggles and something about a condom and a banana.

What you might not remember is lots of the facts about genitalia and their functions - which is something two women are out to change.

Medical academics, Dr Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl, are the co-authors of the bestselling book, The Wonder Down Under - which arrives in Australia this month.

The Wonder Down Under aims to explain everything you ever wanted to know about the vagina but didn’t dare ask, from the truth about the clitoris’ inner life to whether the elusive G spot really exists.

‘One new hypothesis is that the G-spot is not a separate physical thing at all, but simply a deep-lying inner part of the clitoris that’s stimulated during sex,’ Dr Nina and Ellen wrote for FEMAIL earlier this month.

‘Hold on, you might say. The inner part of the clitoris? What inner part? And this brings us to perhaps the biggest myth we discovered in our research,’ they continued.

‘We’ve been brought up to believe the clitoris, the site of all female sexual pleasure, is roughly the size of a raisin.

‘But the truth is this little button is just the tip of an iceberg, a small part of a large and extraordinarily sensitive organ that extends deep into a woman’s pelvis.’

It’s not just the G spot that’s exposed, either. Dailymail

Name: Eve Tel: 08089728173 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 Is this the end of under-eye bags? Women are going wild for a gel that promises to banish dark circles in DAYS

T

here are myriad lotions and potions on the market that promise to banish undereye circles for good.

But the latest product to make such a claim is receiving such rave reviews that sales are reportedly up a staggering 9,000 per cent on Amazon.

Baebody’s Eye Gel is packed with Hyaluronic acid, Matrixyl 3000, vitamin E and plant stem

cells with women claiming the potent formula is ‘the best they’ve ever used’.

It is is now sweeping social media after some 9,800 people, mainly women, left reviews on the online marketplace, with many claiming it trumps its pricier counterparts.

Many have even posted before and after photos showing the results, with wrinkles and

dark circles appearing visibly reduced after using the gel which is around £18 for 50ml pot.

As well as bags, the cult product promises to tackle wrinkles, crow’s feet and puffiness, as well as firming and hydrating skin - leading to the huge spike in sales according to Popsugar.

Women have taken to Amazon’s review section in their

droves to hail the ‘dramatic’ effects of using the gel with some claiming to have noticed results in as little as a week.

One customer wrote: ‘I’ve been using for 20 days. Pic on right is current. My eye lines are very deep so I knew it was going to take some real magic.

‘Already I see they are starting to fade. I will continue to use because I like that they are beginning to fade.’

Another enthused: ‘I was very skeptical even after reading reviews. But I have to say I see a

Romantic Joke Car Door If a man opens the car door for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

difference after just one week. My skin doesn’t seem dry at all and I use it twice a day.’

And Joshua Beattie wrote: ‘I used this once last night. As soon as I applied it, I could the formulation was thoughtfully crafted. I saw notable improvement in skin texture around my eyes after getting this morning.

‘Dark circles show marked improved also after waking up from 1 single application.

This is the first & only review I’ve done on Amazon but felt compelled to write one given the results.’

34

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

True Confession Baby, every night I long for you like the desert longs for rain.

It all started when I was sacked from a bank. My search for a new job took me to a company in Ibadan. At the interview, I sat before the female Managing Director. I noticed how sexy she looked in her suit.

Her skirt was quite short and I ogled at her sweet thighs. She was busty and had a perfect figure. I resolved to chase her and get her to fall in love with me when I got the job.

I was employed as personal assistant to the Managing Director.

As her personal assistant, I was able to get close to Funke, my Managing Director. My MD was still single and didn’t appear keen on marriage.

I wanted to show her that I love and care for her although I’m married. So I invited her for a party just for the two of us.

“I’m having a party at a club this Saturday and I’d like you to be my guest,” I said. “That’s wonderful, Bayo.

“

I saw a lovelier side of my boss, and I was carried away with her very affectionate attitude. Wasn’t this what I’d always wanted?

I and my boss made love for the first time that weekend and became tight lovers I’ll be there,” she replied. “Hope your wife won’t mind.” “No, she won’t.”

That Saturday, I saw a lovelier side of my boss, and I was carried away with her very affectionate attitude. Wasn’t this what I’d always wanted? I and my boss made love for the first time that weekend and became tight lovers.

At the office we tried to be discreet, but we couldn’t avoid a kiss whenever we thought nobody was looking.

Funke and I continued seeing each other and making sweet love after office hours. She looked so beautiful whenever I held her in my arms.

At those moments, it was like only

“I can’t stop dating my boss, because my wife denies me sex” the two of us existed in the whole wide world. We were so much in love.

Through the grapevine, my wife found out about our romance.

She demanded for an explanation and threatened to bring down the roof.

But I told her that my MD was a very wicked woman who had the habit of retrenching workers every 6 months at the company and that my name had been penciled down for retrenchment.

For that reason, I had to seduce her to keep my job. My wife initially believed my lie, but soon she discovered the truth that my MD wasn’t sacking anybody and she threatened to commit suicide if I

don’t stop.

My wife has now given me one month to resign my appointment with the company, but I can’t.

When you point a finger at others, four fingers are pointing back at you.

How can I resign just like that?

Besides, the real reason I’m happy with my relationship with my boss is because unlike my wife who denies me of sex, my boss lets me have sex with her anytime.

My wife denies me sex but my boss is a very passionate woman.

I’ve explained to my wife that I won’t resign because it would be difficult for me to get another job. And she’s furious.

But what I didn’t tell her is that as long as she continues to deny me of sex, I’ll continue to date my boss. She’s busy pointing accusing fingers at me instead of her to look inwards.

In marriage, sexual satisfaction is not rocket science. Women should understand that if only they can satisfy their husbands sexually, there will be little or no need for the man to look outside.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

35

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

Relationships and Love Advice

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage

Chizoba, 35, from Imo, works in Lagos, HIV positive, needs a HIV positive man from 40 years and above for marriage.

08064177446.

Linda, 20, loving, caring, romantic and kindhearted, needs a loving, understanding soulmate looking for a companion to enjoy life with and be happy. 09037154601.

Gift, 35, from Imo, needs a man of 40-50 years for a serious relationship even if he is a widower. 09068433969.

Vanessa, 20, chocolate, young, calm, supportive, patient and sweet needs a mature, wealthy man for a very happy relationship. Distance is not a barrier. Call +2348171590309.

Precious, Igbo, with great potentials needs a genuine rich widower with 2 -3 kids, must be presentable, born again, educated, of 40 years & above for marriage. 07065658063.

Stella; 32; fair; from Enugu; living in Lagos; needs a clean rich man for a serious relationship: 08028003811.

Chiommy, very tall, fair, sexy, hippy, busty, needs a sugar daddy who will take good care of her and she will satisfy him very well. 09028379398.

“He always talks about his former lover” Dear Love Doctor,

I have been married for 12 months. My husband and I are living together, we have no kids yet. He has grown up kids with his girlfriend before, (he ddnt marry the woman), and he got married and got divorced as well. Now that we are living together he always talks about his ex, and other past girlfriends too. I am the sort of person who doesn’t like to talk about my ex boyfriend because I don’t really see the

Chinyere, 35, dark, single mum, humble, works, seeks a hardworking man from 38 years and above for marriage.09038028331.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage point in talking about it since it’s past. If he asks me about my ex boyfriend, that’s the only time that I talk and just briefly too, not to the extent of telling him everything my ex boyfriend did to me. What can I do to stop my husband from always talking about his ex?

From Augustina.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Augustina, I think he’s carrying some feeling that’s unresolved regarding his exes.

Maybe he feels hurt, wronged and angry. The bottom line is we don’t keep ruminating and mentally revisiting issues and people from our past unless we’re feeling unresolved.

However, to get him to stop, you

would ask a question like, “When you speak about your exes, I’m not sure how you want me to feel?”

At this point, you can check out your interpretation by saying, “Do you want me to feel hurt or disrespected?”

When you ask this question, it will wake him up to the fact that you are feeling hurt and disrespected. Then

he’ll say, “Of course I don’t intend this.” This way, he’ll realize how you’re feeling without your making him feel attacked.

Then once you’re talking, you could ask him what’s still troubling him. Getting him to talk about the unresolved feelings will help him put the old business behind him.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

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36

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

Crime

‘Operation Puff Adder:’ Oyo tops with 9,500 recovered live ammunition

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has called for tougher legislations against kidnapping and banditry including possible state seizure of assets linked to illicit proceeds from their perpetrators as well as other heinous crimes.

This, the IGP believes, will act as a strong disincentive to potential kidnappers and other violent criminals.

A statement by Mr Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, quoted the IGP as making the call while addressing a delegation of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State Chapter, led by Alhaji. Aminu Muazu Maifata, who had paid him the traditional Salah visit in his official quarters in Abuja, Wednesday.

According to Mba, IGP Adamu noted that the call has become necessary against the increasingly daring resort to these forms of crimes by criminal elements in the society.

The IGP also seized the opportunity of the visit to apprise the visitors on the successes recorded by “Operation Puff Adder” in the ongoing fight against criminal elements across the country, even as stated that since the launch of Operation Puff Adder on 5th April 2019, till date, a total number of 63 kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt by Police operatives.

In a similar vein, the police chief disclosed that the Operation nabbed a total of 2,175 suspects for the following offences: Kidnapping (852); Armed Robbery (865); Murder (359) and Cultism (99).

With respect to arms recovery, the IGP noted that 834 arms, including 2

Anambra police nab woman for buying a stolen baby From PAMELA EBOH, Awka

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ETECTIVES attached to Awada Police in the commercial city of Onitsha Anambra State have arrested one Juliet Onweagba of No 3 Onyekwere Street, Onitsha Awada for buying a stolen baby.

It was learnt that the 50-year-old suspect conspired with one 49-yearold Edith Ewudo of Orsumoghu Street, Awada to purchase a newborn baby girl.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed said the baby was stolen from the mother, Faith Udechukwu, a 23-year-old woman living at the popular 3-3 area in Onitsha, shortly after delivery on June 2, 2019.

According to him, the baby was sold for N550,000 to one 35-year-old Ndidi Egeonu of Odume Obosi.

He said the baby was, however, recovered, explaining that the was still under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

…As IGP calls for tougher legislation against kidnapping, others rocket launchers, 19,009 live ammunition recovered, with the Oyo State recording the highest number of 9,500 live ammunition.

The IGP stated that the Police are rejigging their strategies to ensure proactive interception of illicit weapons destined to our country and at the same time mop up un- author-

ized weapons in circulation.

According to the IGP, while a good number of the cases are already being prosecuted in courts across the country, many of the cases are still under active investigation owing largely to the complexity of investigating and managing organized crimes.

While commending his men for a good job, the IGP stated that the mind-boggling size of the arrests and arms recovered so far is a testament to the efficacy of Operation Puff Adder and more importantly to the unalloyed and unwavering support of the public to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

•Participants during the documentation of Public Complaint Bureau Desk Officers for A 2-day capacity building workshop on Reviewed Force Order 235 - Complaint Against Police Officers, organized by the Nigeria Police in conjunction with the Nigeria Policing Programme, which held at the Bon-Sunshine Hotel, Presidential Road, Enugu, the Enugu State capital, Thursday and Friday

Rivers police parade over 20 suspected criminals

T

he Rivers State Police Command has paraded 20 suspects, including eight cultists, three kidnappers, four armed robbers who have been terrorizing some parts of the state.

The command also displayed ten recovered cows, fifty-five live ammunition, eighty-two cartridges, three pump action guns, five magazine, fourteen locally made pistol, two AK47 riffles, fake hundred dollars note, three vehicles and some chemical substances.

Briefing newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the commissioner of police, Usman Belele said police officers of the Eagle Crack Squad stormed an uncompleted building in Eleme to rescue a kidnapped victim.

Men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by David Shadare had trailed the suspected kidnappers to their camp in Igbo Etche where the victim was rescued. CP Belel also disclosed that the command foiled three armed robbery incidents, as men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad acting on information traced a syndicate of cattle rustlers to Eagle Island where they recovered ten live cows.

“As a command, we have rejigged our strategy and repositioned our

personnel for optimum productivity. Rivers State shall no longer be conducive for criminals, hence we remain irrevocably committed to sustaining the onslaught against all criminal elements in the State.

“On 3/06/2019 at about 2200hrs, one Emmanuel Ezebuemie “M” of Eligbolo Town, Rumuokoro in Obio/ AKpor L.G.A was kidnapped from his shop by four armed Men and taken to an uncompleted building in Eleme, where he was kept.

“In the course of Investigation, the kidnappers who had earlier called for ransom, were negotiating with Police Officers of the Eagle Crack Squad, where they were tracked and arrested one Abiodun Yahaya “M” 27 yrs and rescued the victim from where he was kept.

“His confession led the team to Ebubu-Eleme where two others were arrested. They are namely: Wasiu Ojo “M” 24yrs and Ayomide Abiodun “M” 33yrs.

“On 3/6/19 at about 1030Hrs, Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit and Men of the Old GRA Police Station in a joint operation stormed a criminal hideout at Ahiamakara in Ogbunabali Town, Port Harcourt, in an uncompleted school building, arrested

one Henry Gbosi “M” a notorious cultist/armed robber and a member of Iceland secret cult whose gang is responsible for all the criminal activities in and around Ogbunabali Town, including snatching handsets from people at gun point.

“On 3/6/19, at about 1800Hrs, three Armed Robbers operating in a Volkswagen Golf Car attempted to rob a man at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Junction (RUST).

“Responding to the distress, personnel of the Nkpolu Division, swiftly moved in and in the process, arrested two (2) suspects namely: Timothy Samuel “M” 28yrs from Imo State but resides at No. 106 Emenike Streetand Kelvin David “M” 24 yrs from Akwa Ibom but resides at No: 100 Echue Street all in Mile II Diobu, Port Harcourt.

“On 3/6/19 at about 0930Hrs, acting on credible information, the Akpajo Anti-Crime Patrol Team in a covert operation stormed the Sandfield, where they were engaged in a gun battle by the hoodlums. In the process, Promise Okparaji, alias Antelope, a strong member of Deygbam was fatally wounded, while others took to their heels,” he said.

Man, 40, in police net for allegedly defiling 7-year-old minor A 40-year-old man, Shaibu Sani, of Ungwar Rimi District in Kaduna North Local Government area of Kaduna State has been arrested by men of the state police command for allegedly defiling a seven yearold-girl.

The suspect was said to have allegedly committed the act in an uncompleted building located in Dambusha in Chikun Local Government Area of the state on June 8, 2019.

The suspect, who is a labourer that is hired to work on people’s farm is alleged to have lured the girl to the uncompleted building, where he held her for over 20 minutes and sexually defiled her.

It was gathered that the incident started when Shaibu Sani entrapped the victim in an uncompleted building near her house where he seized the chance to pin her down and then raped her.

The father of rape victim, Abubakar Suleiman, said that he came back from work around 11am and somebody called him that there was trouble outside involving his daughter.

The man explained: “I ran out and saw my daughter crying, saying Baba! Baba!!! with blood coming out of her private part. I carried her and she told me that it was a man on a black cloth that did this to her.”

Narrating the ordeal, he added that men in the community immediately combed the area, and as God will have it, they saw a man on black cloth coming out from the uncompleted building.

“We confronted him, initially he denied and later confessed and blame the devil. We then took him to U/Rimi Divisional Police Station where he was arrested, while my daughter was taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Police nab notorious armed robbery suspect in Enugu

P

olice Command in Enugu State said it had arrested a notorious armed robbery suspect, names withheld, who has been terrorising residents of Holy Ghost and Rail-line axis of Enugu metropolis.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement in Enugu on Friday that the suspect was arrested on June 13 by police operatives of the Central Police Station, Enugu.

He said the police also recovered phones, bag containing some amount of money and a black plastic pistol the suspect used to inflict fear on unsuspecting victims.

Amaraizu said that the suspect was nabbed following a distress call received after he allegedly robbed his victim of Infinix 5 phone on gun point.

According to Amaraizu, the suspect is a resident of number 28 Mbanugo Street, Coal Camp in Enugu.

He said that the suspect had been helping the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command in their investigation into his nefarious activities.

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The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

SPORTS Funding bane of Nigerian Sports - Etoroma .Charges FG, States to have tutorial from Delta State

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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enowned sports administrator and former member of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Ejiro Etoroma has declared that funding is the cog in the wheel of progress in Nigeria Sports.

The Engineer turned sports administrator disclosed that funding should be placed on a first line charge because sports is not like every other sectors of the national economy because it is time bound. He explained that when the time for any championship elapses, it is gone forever hence, there is need to place it on top priority list by both states and Federal governments.

He, therefore, called on the various ties of government to borrow a leaf from Delta who he said has continued to maintain top spot in sports in the country over the years, saying the difference between Delta and other states is the fact that Delta placed sports on its top priority list and at the same time ensured that it is adequately funded.

Hon. Etoroma stated this in exclusive telephone interview with The Oracle Today Sports at the weekend while responding to the alleged $135,000 wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2017 which has since been declared as missing until last week when the authorities owned up that it was used to provide kits and other things for the CAA Senior Athletics Championship that held in Asaba, Delta State last year.

According to Etoroma: “It is most unfortunate and embarrassing that we find ourselves in this type of a mess,” Etoroma began.

“It is very shameful that this type of thing happened and as we speak; nobody has gone in for it. How do you reconcile the fact that an international organisation in International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that we are affiliated wrongly crediting us with more than what they intended and when they discovered the error,

they alerted us and all we could do is denying or refused to return the excess funds. How are they going to look •Solomon Dalung at us and we say we are fighting corruption. What type of corruption fight is that?

“More importantly, I want to state here that the former minister of Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Solomon Dalung did not or handle the matter maturely.

“Why am I saying so? Since the start of this embarrassing situation, his utterances and behaviour never portrayed him or the country in good light,” Etoroma declared.

“I want to use this opportunity to ask the authorities never to sweep this matter under the carpet. This matter should be thoroughly investigated and those found culpable in this international embarrassment prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who may have such fraudulent intensions in the future.

“Having said that, I would like to advise the Federal

Government to take steps in refunding the money and at the same time, continue their investigation if at all they are investigating it. And when they are through, then they take very serious actions against those who have brought this shame and embarrassment to the country.

“This is a very serious matter that should be given serious attention and ensure that the culprits do not go scot free by ensuring that they are made to face the full weight of the law,” Etoroma declared.

“Moreover, I believe that sports is not given the priority it deserves. I do not know whether the authorities do not know that sports is not like any other sector of our national lives. What do I mean? You may ask me!

“What I mean is sporting events are not like any other events in other sectors. Sports events have timelines of which if you miss it you have missed it forever. Therefore, the way other sectors are funded is not the way sports is funded. Therefore, the biggest challenge of sports in this country is lack of funding and inability of stakeholders to realize that sports should be put on the first line charge.

“Sports should be placed on first line charge like it is done in Delta State. It is because we understand the importance of sports that we have been up there for years.

We give sports priority and make funds available for it. That is the way it should be.

“The idea of funding sports like every other sector is wrong. Funds should be made available to fund sports at all times if we are serious in the development of sports in this country and I want to urge other states and even the federal government to borrow a leaf from Delta State in order to move our sports forward in this country,” Etorma said.

Patriotism caused me my place in Chelsea - Mikel ...Says “I have no regret over that”

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

uper Eagles’ captain and former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel has revealed that the love for fatherland caused him his place in Chelsea following his decision to represent the country at the Football event of the 2016 Rio Olympic against the wish of his then coach, Antonio Conte.

He alleged that his former gaffer stopped fielding in games because he represented Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics against the wish of the Italian manager.

Mikel revealed this in an interview he granted recently as the Super Eagles prepare for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He, however, disclosed that he has no regret preferring his fatherland to club duties.

“For me, it was a decision I had to take because when the opportunity came up to either go to Rio or play for Chelsea, I chose to represent my country and I have no regret doing that,” Mikel began.

“As you are aware, we were two Nigerians in the Chelsea squad not minding the fact that Kenneth Omeruo was on loan. So, having looked at the situation, I decided that Victor Moses, who was the younger and hasn’t played yet for the club, should stay back while I go to the Olympics as two of us were invited as over aged players.

“Victor stayed back and I went but when I got back, the manager never spoke to me again and did not even put me in the team, so I had to leave the club. For me, my commitment to play for the national team will never change till I stop playing,” Mikel said.

Mikel joined Chelsea in the winter of 2006, spending 10 seasons before leaving the club in January 2017 after dropping down the pecking order.

It is recalled that Mikel led Nigeria to its only medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Meanwhile, the veteran midfielder has advised upcoming players not to be influenced by greedy agents

who want to make money from them, while urging them to remain patriotic in their quest to serve the nation.

AFCON 2019: Rohr declares no star player in Eagles

By MADUABUCHI KALU

J

•John Mikel Obi

ust like what happened before the 2018 Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) World Cup in Russia, the national team Technical Advuiser, Gernot Rohr, has once again declared that his squad for the 2019 African Cup of Nations has no star player.

The Franco-German, however, expressed confident that Nigeria will qualify for the knockout stage.

It is noted that the Super Eagles will do battle with Burundi in their Group B opener before games against Guinea on June 26 and Madagascar June 30. ”I think we have a young team without any stars.

There are not many great players like Nigeria had in the 80s or 90s but our young team will be able to come out of the group and to try to go far,” Rohr told DW Kick off.

The former Burkina Faso coach also spoke of the challenges being faced by up-and-coming footballers in Nigeria today and complained about the lack of infrastructure. ”The grassroots is very important especially for Nigeria. Nigeria has so many young people who like football so much. They must have opportunity to play.”

38

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

SPORTS

International Dream Cup:

•Amaju Melvin Pinnick

Future Eagles lose 1-4 to Japan

Am not surprised Iheanacho N was dropped - Ijeh

.Says “identifying Eagles strength, building on it, the only remedy”

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer national team forward, Peter Emeka Ijeh, has disclosed that he was not at surprised that the 2013 Under-17 World Cup winner who equally emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Kelechi Iheanacho was unable to make Gernot Rohr’s final list of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Cup squad.

According Ijeh, he was not surprised that Iheanacho couldn’t make the squad because the Leicester City striker has not been having playtime at his club and at the national team, the Super Eagles.

Ijeh explained that it is the responsibility of the coach to pick players based on specialized positioning, team cohesiveness

and strategy and as a result if the does not believe that you will be able to fit into his strategy, there is no likelihood that he is going to select you.

The former international bared his mind in exclusive interview with the Oracle Today Sports.

“I am not surprised about the dropping of Kelechi Iheanacho,” Ijeh began.

“I said so because so far, Iheanacho hasn’t been having playtime in his team likewise the national team, the Super Eagles.

“Meanwhile, it is the coach’s responsibility to pick players based on specialized positioning, team cohesiveness, strategy and formation,” Ijeh declared.

Continuing he said: “It is my view that the competition will test the overall competence of the technical crew,” Ijeh declared.

On his opinion on Eagles’ chances at the biennial continental championship, the former Julius Berger forward disclosed that the Gernot Rohr’s Eagles lacked offensive initiative, lacked midfielders’ creativity and defensive depth.

He explained that identifying the strength of the team and building on it is the only remedy that will see them through in Egypt.

“So far, the Eagles lack offensive initiative. They also lack midfielders’ creativity and defensive depth. Identifying the strength of the Eagles and build on it through team cohesion is the only remedy due to time fact. This is the only way that they can make the much expected and desired expectations of millions of their fans,” Ijeh declared.

igeria’s Under-15 boys on Friday, lost their second match of the 2019 International Dream Cup tournament to host nation, Japan 1-4 at the Yurtec Stadium in Miyagi.

Following their 3-1 win over Mexico’s Under-16 on Wednesday, the future Eagles were confident of a good result against the Japanese but the reverse was the case as they got a lesson in marksmanship and staying power by the Japanese.

Shinnosuke Katsushima, who would eventually annex the match ball with a hat-trick, opened the floodgates in the 16th minute.

But Adeyeye Damilola equalised for Nigeria 10 minutes later.

Katsushima got his second goal four minutes after the restart, and then made it three for himself and Japan in the 52nd minute. Suwama Kosei made it 4-1 with seven minutes to go.

NBA: Toronto Raptors’ victory is for Africa — Eto’o

Weah named Africa’s Best Ever Player

•Samuel Eto’o

F

ormer AC Milan striker and Liberian President, George Opong Weah has been named as Africa’s best ever player, in a 30-man list compiled by France Football.

The French publication, who are widely regarded as one of the top football outlets in the world, named the former Liberia international as the best ever player to come from the African

B continent.

He is followed by Cameroonian duo of Samuel Eto’o and Roger Milla, while Ghanaian great, Abedi Pele - father of Andre and Jordan Ayew – and former Ivory Coast international, Didier Drogba round off the top five.

Al Ahly legend, Mohamed Aboutreika and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah also

made the list, alongside Michael Essien, Seydou Keita and Emmanuel Adebayor among others.

Top 10 best African footballers in history according to France Football: George Weah, Samuel Eto’o, Roger Milla, Abedi Pele, Didier Drogba, Rabah Madjer, Jay-Jay Okocha, Mustapha Dahleb, Salif Keita and Laurent Pokou.

arcelona and Cameroon legend, Samuel Eto’o Fils has congratulated Toronto Raptors duo of Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam after their historic NBA triumph.

A 114-110 win over Golden State Warriors in the game 6 of the finals was enough for Raptors to become the first Canadian team to win the championship title on Thursday.

Cameroon’s Siakam and DR Congo’s Ibaka put in top-notch displays at the Oracle Arena,

with the former scoring 26 points, to help their team with the win the best-of-seven NBA finals 4-2.

“Thank you for carrying our colours so high my brothers Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka.

We are extremely proud of you! Your victory is Africa’s!

Congratulations champs,” Eto’o wrote on Instagram. It is also worthy of note to state that the President of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri is a Nigerian, an Africa for that. So, Eto’o is right that the Raptors’ victory is African victory.

39

The Oracle Today Monday June 17 - 25, 2019

SPORTS

Why Joshua lost his titles - Nwamkpa .Says “spiritual docility bane of former champion”

Eagles in Egypt, worth €196,55Mill (N77bn)

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer continental and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Obiosia Nwamkpa, has given reasons why he believes Nigerian-born British heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua lost his three belts to Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr. According to the former national boxing coach, any man who is not spiritually reliable is not worthy to be a strong man or a legend saying that a great man must be technically and spiritually strong.

He disclosed that for you to be up there, you must believe in something otherwise you will not last. Nwamkpa stated this in exclusive interview with The Oracle Today Sports at the weekend saying a champion must be spiritually strong because the spiritual controls the physical.

“Well, I want to start by saying that any man who is not spiritually reliable is not worth being referred to as a strong man or a legend for that matter,” Nwamkpa began.

“A great man must be technically and spiritually strong. He must believe in something otherwise he is not a strong man or champion. As a champion or a winner, you will be spiritually strong, rely on God. This is because there is nothing that anyone can

do without God’s hands. Therefore, you need to identify with God in truth and in spirit to enable Him direct your steps and guide you to a success,” the Abia State born former national team disclosed.

Speaking further, Nwamkpa explained that before the day of the event and in every event, there must be technical and spiritual declaration that takes place before the event which the person must be aware of otherwise the individual is spiritually blind.

“You see, before the day of the event and in every event for that matter, there must be spiritual declaration that must take place before the D day of the event, otherwise the individual is spiritually blind.

“A man who is spiritually blind is incomplete and should not talk. He should close his mouth or shut up because he is not spiritually minded.

“It is important for people to realize that in all things concerning human beings, there must be spiritual and physical decisions. And again we should realize that the spiritual sphere controls the physical affair man.

“So, as far as I am concern, I believe that Joshua lost his three titles to Ruiz Jr because he didn’t pay attention to his spiritual life. If he had paid attention to his spiritual life and refrain from women, I doubt whether the less fancied Mexican can withstand him. It is a lesson not only to him but to all of us,” Nwamkpa declared.

T

he Nigerian national team to the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tagged Egypt 2019 is worth a whopping €196,55million about N77billion in total.

Below is the market value of each of the players.

It is important to note that from the list the most valuable Nigeria player is Leicester City and Eagles’ midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi who is worth €35million. There is no gain saying that since making the move from Gent of Belgium in 2017 to Leicester City, the 22 year old Nigerian has been on top of his game. He is followed Villarreal of Spain sensation, Samuel Chukwueze at €30million and in the third position is the team’s Alex Iwobi of Arsenal at €25million.

It is interesting to note that the combined value of the three highest valued Nigerian players is more than the remaining member of the team as they stood at €90million out of the €177million of the total sum.

Below is the market value of each of the players

Dalung slams NFF over non-inclusion of AFCON 2019 in budget .Says “they should own up, apologize to Nigerians”

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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he immediate past Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Solomon Dalung has lambasted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the non-inclusion of the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2019 campaign budget in their overall budget they submitted to the government and that would explain why the Super Eagles are strapped of cash in Egypt.

It is recalled that the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick had raised alarm about two weeks ago that they just discovered that the AFCON 2019 budget was not in the national budget signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

Before now, all accusing fingers were directed at the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, whose frosty relationship with the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation was open secret.

However, Dalung has come out to clarify the issue putting the blame on the doorsteps of the leadership of the NFF following various media reports that his ministry was responsible for the money problems the Eagles are facing in Egypt.

Accoring to him: “For whatever reason, they failed to include the AFCON (in the budget),” Dalung began.

“It might sound unbelievable, but it’s the truth.

“I even found it ridiculous that they did not include the AFCON at the budget office.

“My office is not at all responsible or has anything to do with the failure of the NFF to discharge its responsibilities.”

He continued: “I believe they wanted to test this claim that football can do without government funding, which has now backfired.

•Amaju Pinnick “It is a costly experiment in the search for so-called autonomy in the proposed NFF bill.

“The NFF are fully responsible for the predicament of the team at the tournament and nobody else.

“They should own up and apologise to the nation.”

The Eagles are drawn in a first round group with Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea.

They are on a bonus of $5,000-man in the first round of the tournament.

23. Francis Uzoho, Anorthosis Famagusta € 1million 16. Daniel Akpeyi Kaizer Chiefs € 700 Thousand 1. Ikechukwu Ezenwa Katsina United FC € 150 Thousand 22. Kenneth Omeruo CD Leganés € 5million 5. William Troost-Ekong Udinese Calcio € 4million 20. Chidozie Awaziem Caykur Rizespor € 3.5million 6. Leon Balogun Brighton & Hove Albion € 2million 3. Jamilu Collins SC Paderborn 07 € 1.50million 2. Ola Aina Torino FC € 10,00million 4. Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City € 35million 10. John Mikel Obi Middlesbrough FC € 3.5million 8. Oghenekaro Etebo Stoke City € 7million 19. John Ogu Hapoel Beer Sheva € 1.50million 12. Abdullahi Shehu Bursaspor € 700 Thousand 18. Alex Iwobi Arsenal FC € 25million 11. Henry Onyekuru Galatasaray SK € 13millio 15. Moses Simon Levante UD € 3million 25. Samuel Chukwueze Villarreal CF € 30million 13. Samuel Kalu FC Girondins Bordeaux € 10million 24. Victor Osimhen RSC Charleroi € 13,00million 7. Ahmed Musa Al-Nassr FC € 12million 9 Odion Ighalo, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua € 9million 17. Paul Onuachu FC Midtjylland € 6million

MONDAY June 17 - 25, 2019

The

www.oraclenews.ng

By OBI NWAKANMA

Nwanna, many years ago, the General, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu spoke about the “Biafra of the mind.” Only a few, I think, understood him. Well, they say, only the deep speak to the deep.

But let me attempt here to tease out Dim Ojukwu’s prescription: the greatest proof of Igbo survival and aspiration must be to model, wherever Onye-Igbo stands, the ethos of innovation, excellence, ingenuity, and ability that marked the Igbo endeavor in Biafra. We must also use Biafra as the stepping stone to a higher vision of the Igbo place in the world.

There is no single proof or evidence today that the Igbo of this generation are capable of transforming any nation to which they lay claim. I have looked; I have studied the Igbo situation, and I have listened to my Igbo kinsmen, and I think something is fundamentally wrong: the Igbo are trapped in a deadening hate, self-pity and nostalgia. It is the kind of nostalgia that is both defeatist and deadly because it continues to romanticize the past while the future speeds away.

The Igbo cannot wait until they achieve Biafra or a separate nation in order to build and secure Igbo land. Soon after the end of the war, Igbo survivors of the war, girded their loins and embarked on the work of restoration. With singular grit, they revived the economy of the East, and by 1979, just nine years after the end of the war, were ready to take on the rest of the nation again. We their children are a disgrace to the spirit of those men and women.

The Igbo are today a beggarly nation of impotent, lachrymal people now weeping about “marginalization” and waiting for Nigeria to collapse or let them go, so that they will go and make something of themselves.

This is an overindulged generation. The last of the Igbo are old and dying; the current Igbo are “inferior Igbo.” They are just waiting for Godot.

Now, you say, the only time the Igbo will work is if power remains in the South. I think this is too simple. Take a look around you, where are those Igbo men and women? Which Igbo today have the sagacity of Zik, or the courage of Okpara, Mbakwe, or Ojukwu, the capacity of Ojike or Okigbo, the fierce pride and stabilizing force of the old Igbo women, the organizational acumen of an RBK Okafor, the selfless pride of those Igbo of the last generation, who always rose to the occasion when the Igbo summoned them to great causes, including giving their widows mite without question, for as long as “they Igbo have said...”

Now, what I’m trying to say, people, before I lose you, is that the Igbo have left the land, and the land has left the Igbo. There is incoherence. And an Incoherent people cannot run an independent nation, simple.

Bring proof to me that the Igbo have turned Igbo land into an oasis of prosperity different from elsewhere in Nigeria, and I shall agree that the current Igbo know exactly what they are saying. There is no Igbo state with a budget that is not bigger than the budget of the Republic of Ghana.

Indeed, put together, the budget of all the states in Igbo land is bigger than the national budget of ten West African states. What have we done with it in terms of rebuilding public services? Creating liveable cities? Developing new infrastructure? Developing the Igbo world.

The North or the West has never run down our schools.

They did not dismantle the Government Colleges at Umuahia, Owerri, Afikpo, and

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racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

Igbo dilemma: Scaling up the conversation •The current Igbo are “inferior Igbo”

GUEST COLUMNIST

OBI

NWAKANMA

•President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Nnia Nwodo

the Queens School at Enugu.

They did not destroy our hospitals or primary schools.

They did not stop us from building our cultural infrastructure - Community centers; recreational centers, or building up our libraries; or public parks, or city centers, or trunk B & C feeder roads.

They did not destroy our civil service.

They did not stymie the growth of our cities.

They did not forbid the Igbo from creating strategic means of employing their greatest resource - their highly trained manpower- and using them to create a powerful regional economy that would continue to startle West Africa.

The North or West did not say we should not build an efficient trans-regional trans-

port metro system, by jointly developing the old Oriental lines, that would create a network of contacts all over the East and ease the strategic movement of people, or take advantage and rebuild, and expand the Rail system that connects Port-Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe, Ovim, Afikpo, Enugu, to Eha-Amufu. Even if the rail system is a federal project, there has never been a consortium of the Igbo states and consortium of investors that have mounted pressure to force the Feds to hands off the Eastern Rail system, to be run as a regional Terminus. We have never made the argument.

Mbakwe threatened in 1981 that if the FGN did not build an airport in Owerri, he would mobilize and build one. He did it. He threatened that if they did not build the Pet-

rochemical plant in Izombe, he would build one by 1984. The land for the construction of the Imo Petrochemical Plant was already cleared when the soldiers struck on the last day of 1983.

When Mbakwe arrived government house Owerri in 1979, the three major cities in old Igbo - Owerri, Aba, Umuahia still had houses operating “bucket latrines” and the cities still employed nightsoil men (ndi Oburu nsi) and ran waste landfills. The first statewide public safety and hygiene law passed under the Mbakwe administration gave every landlord and household in these cities 4 months and a tax rebate to change the infrastructure from the bucket system to the water system, failure of which the houses would be marked as public health hazard zones. This was fully accomplished in three months.

By 1982, there was a marked upsurge and population shift as more Igbo began to leave Lagos and other places to return to Owerri and invest and settle. Nobody told them to return, the conditions were simply made amenable. By 1984, Igbo business men, particularly in the North, were moving their money and opening accounts with the Imo state Progress Bank, and the capital was growing for both accessible credit and for capital borrowing for infrastructural development in the East.

I point this to simply suggest that there is nothing the Igbo wish to accomplish in Nigeria that anyone can stop, if the Igbo hold down their lines. But we’ve deceived ourselves for too long - we have now made Nigeria into the convenient excuse for our own failures and self-indulgence. Now, there is a man called Onwuka Kalu. He gave the first N100, 000 as donation towards the Imo state Airport Appeals Fund in Owerri in 1981/2. There is not a single plaque to honour this man’s gesture at that airport. It will not be the Federal government that will do it; it will be the initiative of those who put value to memory in Igbo land.

But in the Imo/Abia/Ebonyi/Anambra/ Enugu divisions that now pervade the Igbo mind, no one will remember. This is no recipe for a people moving towards transformation. Let me now, tell this whole truth: onweghi onye ji Ndi Igbo, Ndi Igbo ji Onwe ha (no one is to blame for the Igbo predicament but Ndigbo). Those who wrestle with Ala, the Earth goddess, often forget that no one has ever lifted the earth. Ala-Igbo is the earth, Anaghi Apa ala Apa! (No one can lift the earth). Period.

The Igbo of this generation are wrestling with the earth left to them by their ancestors. And they are busy blaming everyone else for their condition. We who have done, “Ihe Nzere” should tell the truth, or may our tongues cleave to our gums.

•CULLED •NWAKANMA is a Professor of English at the University of Central Florida, USA.

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