Tuesday July 9-14, 2019 Edition

BUSINESS

FG carries N5.2 trn liability in petroleum industry•P19

Hoodlums matchet church teacher,gardener in Obiano’s community

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

SPORTS

CRIME

•P33

My academy s ustains my passion, keep in me busy –Okechukwu

racle •P37

www.oraclenews.ng

TUESDAY July 9 - 14, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.4 No.27 N200

Why fears about Ruga persist, by WIC, others

•RUGA only physical manifestation of conquest agenda—WIC •New name will replace route, colony or Ruga —Benue group •Ignoring Benue’s Anti-Open Grazing Law

violates the Constitution

•One surrounded by enemies is vigilant at all times —Ejiofor •P2

Ugwuanyi appoints J-Jay Okocha, others as reform committee s members

•Ayo Adebanjo •Gov. Orthom

•Nnia Nwodo

Page 23

•E. K Clark

Umeh: Oye must refund monies ‘extorted’ from Imo aspirants, resign

Seplat’s ANOH project profitably patriotic –Avuru

•P35

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 -14, 2019

NEWS

Why fears about Ruga persist--WIC, others

By PAMELA EBOH

T

HE announcement suspending the Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) Project has not done much to douse the tension the controversial project had generated. It is not surprising that the World Igbo Congress (WIC) and other groups in the country have warned Nigerians against lowering their guard, insisting that the “sinister motive” behind the idea, evident in statements made over time by those pushing the idea, has not been disavowed by the same Federal Government.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the establishment of Ruga settlements for herdsmen across the 36 states of the Nigeria, a project under which state governments would be compelled to hand out lands to serve as settlements for Fulani herdsmen.

The news was broken by the immediate past minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh who enthused that the project would stop open grazing by herdsmen and end herdsmen-farmers’ clashes across the country.

He explained that the establishment of Ruga settlements, which, according to him, had started in 12 states, would allow herdsmen stay in specific areas and graze their cattle.

The Ruga Settlement idea came as an obvious alternative to last year’s plan by the Federal Government to establish for herdsmen what it called “cattle colonies” across the country, an idea which drew the ire of many state governments.

“Just 10 days ago, President Buhari approved a programme called the Ruga settlement. We are going to build settlements where herders will live, grow their cattle and produce milk. The milk will be bought by a milking parlour thus preventing their wives from moving around with milk. This is especially to avert any conflict between the herders and the farmers,” Ogbeh was quoted as saying on May 21.

However, as with “cattle colonies,” the idea of “Ruga Settlements” also came under attacks

by Nigerians, especially in the south and Middle Belt areas, who saw it as merely a new name for an old, already rejected bad policy the motive behind which they perceived as “sinister.”

Torn between using strong-arm tactics to implement the policy and bowing to public pressure to scrap, the Federal Government chose the latter and announced the suspension of the controversial project.

In a tweet on Wednesday last week, President Buhari’s New Media aide, Bashir Ahmad confirmed the suspension.

“The Federal Government, after consultations with stakeholders has suspended the RUGA Settlement Project,” he said in his confirmed Twitter handle, adding: “Kebbi State governor disclosed that after a meeting with the Vice President.”

But, the WIC and other groups and organisations in the country have warned Nigerians against any form of complacency, stressing that if statements by Fulani nationalists over time are anything to go by, there is every reason to believe that the RUGA settlements Project is still alive and well—in its “original sense.”

Professor Anthony Ejiofor, Chair of WIC, in a statement, recalled

that in 2008, the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria a.k.a Miyetti Allah had declared that the massacre of innocent souls in Plateau State at that time was in retaliation for the killing of 300 cows belonging to the association, noting that such a statement simply means that the value placed on cows by the Fulani is higher than the value they place on human beings.

Ejiofor also recalled a statement by a group that goes by the name Fulani Nationality Movement (FULANM), which last year boasted that the Fulani would conquer the East and West and the Middle Belt down to the sea and that nothing would be left of the “Kaffirs” after the conquest except those who believe in the supremacy of Allah.

“In other words, they said they are for the total Islamisation of Nigeria and nobody can stop that,” Ejiofor further paraphrased the statement by FULANM. “It is against this background that President Buhari announced the establishment of RUGA Settlements in the 36 states, each measuring 30,000 square hectares of land,” he agonised, pointing out

that “RUGA Settlements” is only a physical manifestation of the mission of conquest and lab grab, which seems to define every activity of the Fulani in contemporary Nigeria.

Such a philosophy couldn’t be so easily abandoned by the people pushing it because of a mere pronouncement of suspension of RUGA Settlements, a project under the overall philosophy and or mission of conquest and takeover of people’s lands by the Fulani, Ejiofor added.

He, therefore, appealed to the Igbo to be vigilant in order not to be caught unawares in case of any eventuality, urging them to draw inspiration for self-protection from the civil war slogan of ‘he who is surrounded by enemies must be vigilant to be able to ward them off’.

While commending a lot of Igbo groups, which have, over the years, been mobilising the people for purposes of “self-preservation,” Ejiofor further appealed to them to continue to create awareness among the people of the need to be vigilant at all times and

be ready to defend themselves when the need arises.

Ejiofor’s position on the RUGA controversy came against the backdrop of allegations by Middle Belt groups that the reported suspension of the project was a ruse designed to hoodwink unsuspecting Southerners and Middle Belters into lowering their guard and getting sucked in by the government in its “next inevitably mischievous move” on behalf of the Fulani.

In a recent interview, Chief Edward Ujege, president-general of the three socio-cultural groups in Benue State, namely, Mdzough Tiv, Ochetoha K Idoma and Om’Ngede expressed doubts over the Federal Government’s sincerity in reportedly suspending the Ruga Settlement project, saying he believed they would bring the project back in another way. “…I don’t believe that it has been suspended,” he said, noting that, “it may be a ploy to come out with another thing aiming at the same goal. If we may recall, they started with cattle route, cattle colony and later Ruga settlement.

• L-R: Matthew Daniel, student of Wesley School; Olusegun Alebiosu, Chief Risk Officer, FirstBank; Seyi Olusanya, student of Wesley School; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank; Olayiwola Adeola, student of Wesley School and Mr. A.K. Alimi, Principal, Wesley School 1, during FirstBank’s visit to Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired at Surulere, Lagos as part of activities marking FirstBank’s CR&S week 2019.

They will come back in another form with the same settlement.”

Describing the Ruga Settlement as “forceful acquisition of land from the owners,” Ujege said it is different from ranching because the latter is “a private business concept where you apply for land, get the land and manage the place.”

“Why we are in the forefront in the fight against Ruga Settlement is because “we have a law which the whole of Benue State sat down and fashioned out in consonant with global best practice, which is ranching. That law is the Prohibition of Open Grazing Law 2017. The House of Assembly has the authority to make law for the people, but the Federal Government refused to recognise that law.

“It will be unfortunate if the Federal Government, which ought to obey and uphold the constitution, will now turn round to violate that constitution.”

Indeed, part of the national angst against Ruga Settlement stems from the fact that it is seen as a purely socio-economic welfare arrangement designed by the Federal Government exclusively for the Fulani to the detriment of other ethnic groups in the country, in clear violation of the extant provisions of the country’s 1999 constitution against discrimination against any person or persons or group in Nigeria on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religion or creed.

In a statement excoriating the Ruga Settlement project, Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation dismissed it as an “ethnic agenda”, insisting that ranching, as enunciated by Benue in its Anti-Open Grazing Law of 2017 “is the best way to go.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) echoed similar sentiments, calling on the Federal Government to institute the culture of ranching, as is done all over the world, instead of spending public funds to help individuals organise their private business.

Ugwuanyi appoints J-Jay Okocha, others into reform committees ...

E NUGU State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has named former Captain of Super Eagles, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and former Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mbah as members of the sectoral ad-hoc committees to design roadmaps for advancement of good governance in the state.

Inaugurating the committee Monday, Ugwuanyi listed Okocha as the technical adviser of youths and sports committee and Mr. Mbah as the Chairman, saying that it was part of his commitment to involve professionals, technocrats and experts to review various sectors of the state government and design roadmaps for optimized service delivery in the Enugu.

The governor recently inaugurated the first batch of seven adhoc committees in the sectors of education; health; public service reform; security; justice; water and chieftaincy/ community matters.

He inaugurated five other sectoral committees, namely agriculture and rural development; finance, review of Internally Generated Revenue and international

development partners’ funding; lands, housing and transport; sustainable environmental and urban management; and youths and sports development, Presenting the committees’ terms of reference, the governor expressed the desire of his administration to perform better in its IGR growth and other economic indices to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of Enugu State He said that the finance committee shall assist in designing “a roadmap to further boost positive returns on our assets, increase our IGR and optimize outcomes of development partner support.”

He added that the strategy was also in keeping with President Muhammadu Buhari’s call on state governors to prioritize their IGR drive for the wellbeing of their people, noting that “the economic viability of states in Nigeria is benchmarked on the parity between their IGR and their share of federal account allocations.”

According to him, “although Enugu is currently ranked as the 7th most economically viable state in Nigeria, we seek to perform better for the sake of improving the

lives of our people and fulfilling our electoral promises.”

On agriculture and rural development, Ugwuanyi, noted that Enugu is predominantly a rural and agrarian state, with a substantial proportion of its working population engaged in farming.

He disclosed that the committee on agriculture is expected to design a workable roadmap to boost farming/agro-allied businesses in the state to generate mass employment and proffer a sustainable strategy to boost orderly and integrated development of the rural areas.

On youths and Sports Development, the governor described the youths as the engine of economic growth as he pointed out that Enugu has talents who have won laurels within and outside the shores of the country, and that programmes and sponsorship are required to continue discovering and developing these youthful talents.

“The committee on youths and sports development will proffer strategies for achieving this, and for engaging the youth in sports development, character building, entrepreneurship, skills acquisi-

tion and participation in good governance”, he added.

Emphasizing the need to articulate a sustainable environmental management strategy that will deploy different initiatives to address various ecological issues affecting the state and forestall ecological disasters and environmental crisis, Ugwuanyi said that the committee on the sector “is expected to dutifully look at the totality of our interaction with terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric environment for sustainable development, having due regard to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance”.

Ugwuanyi further stated that the committee on lands, housing and transport is also expected to undertake a situation analysis of the State’s potentials and enviable status as one of the safest states in Nigeria to live in, ranking second in Ease of Doing Business and third in Ease of Starting Business, that has witnessed a growing demand for land, housing and transport.

“To meet these demands, we intend to improve our land administration and management,

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 -14, 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION North backward, uneducated, unhealthy –El-Rufa’i

K

aduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’i, on Saturday described the Northern part of Nigeria as backward, uneducated and unhealthy.

El-Rufa’i said during the Northern Youth Summit organized by Northern Hibiscus Initiative in Kaduna, that the region has made Nigeria a country of nations.

“Looking at the statistics, Nigeria appears to be a middle income country, but if we segregate those statistics across states and zones, you will see that in terms human development indicators, Nigeria consist of two countries; there is a backward, less educated and unhealthy Northern Nigeria and a developing, largely educated and healthy southern Nigeria.

“The theme of this summit, ‘Awakening the Arewa Spirit’ is very

timely. When we talk about awakening the spirit, it means the spirit is either sleeping or dead.

“We have to speak the truth to ourselves and ask why is it that, northern Nigeria has development indicators similar to Afghanistan, a country still at war.

“Nigeria has the largest number of poor people in the world, most of them in northern Nigeria. Nigeria also has the largest number of out of school children, virtually all of them in Northern Nigeria.

“Northern Nigeria has become the centre of drug abuse, gender violence, banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.We have also been associated with high divorce rate and breakdown of families.

“These are the challenges that confront us. This is the naked truth that we have to tell ourselves. We

must therefore as leaders at all levels have conversation about the way forward for our part of the country.

“Because increasingly, as many of you must have seen on social media, we are being considered as the parasite of the federal economy, even though, that is not entirely true.

“This is because Northern Nigeria still feeds the nation. The richest business man in Nigeria is still Aliko Dangote not someone from Southern Nigeria, thank God for that.”

He however noted that in spite of the negative statistics, northerners are generally considered to be more honest and less corrupt than other Nigerians.

“That is something we should be proud of. In addition, our demographic superiority gives us a very powerful tool to negotiate in politics and that is something we

should be proud of and we should preserve. So, we have every reason to unite and not be divided.

“So, we still have a lot to be proud of. We should be proud of our culture and tradition, as well as unity.

You hardly can find someone from Northern Nigeria convicted of 419 or being a Yahoo boy. That is something we should be proud of.”

El-Rufa’i said youth account for 80 per cent of the northern population as such the future of the region lies in their hands, “not in the hands of Dinosaurs like me.”

According to him, people of his age ought not to be in leadership if the youth will unite to assume their rightful place.

“In my view, we are here to prepare the next generation of leaders.

That is why the agenda for this summit is very important.

Stakeholders seek constitution of Diaspora commission board

APC approves indirect primaries for Kogi governorship ational Working Committee N (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved indi-

M

embers of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the Board of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in line with its establishment Act. The appeal came in an open letter to Buhari dated July 4 and signed by cCairmen of NIDO’s continental branches in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

They cited Section (1) (c) of the NIDCOM Act, which provides for a board consisting of a chairman and representatives of various institutions and organisations, including NIDO, as members.

“Accordingly, the various NIDO continental bodies have since forwarded to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation the names and CVs of their respective nominees.

“We had hoped that you would appoint the entire Board of the Commission together with the Chairman, but we have confidence in your judgment by acting otherwise.

“May we implore Your Excellency to consider following up with the appointment of other members of the commission,’’ they said.

The NIDO members, however, lauded the Buhari administration for establishing the commission to harness the “enormous professional and economic potential’’ of Nigerians in the Diaspora for national development.

Highlighting the national development activities of the organisation over the years, they assured the president of their “unequivocal commitment’’ to his Next Level agenda.

The letter was signed by Mr Obed Monago, Chairman, NIDO Americas; Mr Obinna Kingsman, Chairman, NIDO Africa; Prof. E. Ejiogu (Asia); Mr Kenneth Gbandi (Europe), and Mr Gary Unamadu (Oceania).

“So, you should take the panel discussions very seriously and come up with very clear and implementable decisions that you will circulate to all of us elected to lead in Northern Nigeria.”

He said that the outcome of the summit should be forwarded to the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum.

“We have to do something about the situation of Northern Nigeria and we must do so as a group of 19 Governors, not individual state Governors. I am however persuaded that, this gathering and its panel discussions will find solutions to the problems.” the governor said.

El-Rufa’i appealed to the organizers to make it an annual event, assuring that the Kaduna State Government will be happy to partly sponsor it.

•Governor of Ekiti State and Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (right) after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari (left) on the outcome of the security committee of the National Economic Council which reviewed security challenges facing the nation, Friday night

NFVCB introduces Film authentication seal to curb piracy

xecutive Director, National E(NFVCB), Film and Video Censors Board Alhaji Adedayo Thomas,

has made a public presentation of the Film/Video authentication seal toward reducing piracy.

Thomas made the presentation at a conference organised by the NFVCB in collaboration with the Department of Theatre Arts and Music/Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, in Lagos, Thursday.

Theme of the conference was: “Film Distribution and Regulation in Emerging New Markets in Africa.’’

Thomas said the seal was produced to distinguish every film or video that was classified by the NFVCB from those ones not classified and approved.

According to him, the seal have several unique security features that cannot be forged or manipulated.

“While it will aid the NFVCB to differentiate between classified and unclassified films, it will also reduce the incident of piracy to a large extent.

“When a film is classified and approved, the owner or distributor will apply for the label after payment of approved fees.

“He or she would be issued authentication labels for the number

of copies to be replicated as ascertained by the NFVCB. “We, therefore, need you to buyin on this laudable project which hopefully will clear the market of unclassified, unapproved and, of course, pirated films/video works.

“The NFVCB, among its other functions, is empowered to censor and classify all films and video works to be distributed and or exhibited in Nigeria, and licence all film and video distributors and exhibitors in Nigeria,” he said.

The executive director said that the conference was organised to bring both the practitioners and the regulator together to discuss salient issues that technology had brought to the fore in movie distribution.

Also, Prof. Olu Obafemi, a renowned Playwright and Poet, said one of the guarantees for financial success in filmmaking was producing high-quality films.

Obafemi said that this requires creativity, innovativeness and ample finance through clients, grants, private sponsors, investors, entertainment companies, product placement, among others.

“In order to ensure that the financial investments in the film production yield profits, the wide distribu-

tion network is essential.

“This will ensure that the film reaches a wide audience, the higher the viewership, the higher the profit.

“Money is essential in filmmaking; for a film to exist, there must be an initial financial commitment,” he said.

Earlier, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, LASU Vice-Chancellor, lauded the NFVCB for partnering with the institution in organising event that promote the university positively in the public.

Fagbohun, represented by Prof.

O.A.K Noah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, LASU, also congratulated the Faculty of Arts for consistently coming up with programmes that does not only enhance the image of the university.

“We are working to ensure that LASU becomes a globally competitive and welcome you all to our beautiful environment, please take advantage of our facilities.

Also, Prof. Sola Fosudo, Head, Department of Theatre Arts and Music, LASU, lauded commended the participants, hoping that the deliberation would propel a positive change in the film industry and the society at large.

rect primaries to elect the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Kogi governorship election.

The party said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its National publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Issa-Onilu said that the approval was given after a meeting of the NWC on Friday where a formal request from the Kogi executive and stakeholders was considered and deliberated on.

He recalled that the APC constitution, which was re-emphasised by a decision of National Executive Committee (NEC), provides for three mode of primary election to elect party candidates.

These, he said, were indirect and direct primaries as well as consensus depending on the peculiarities of the state and preferences of the stakeholders in respective elections.

According to him, the party’s timetable for the sales of forms and conduct of primaries will be announced in due course.

Issa-Onilu said that the party had also commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his reappointment of Mallam Abba Kyari and Mr Boss Mustapha as his Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation respectively.

According to him, these reappointments formally reiterate the determination of the president to step up on the Next Level agenda.

The ruling party noted with satisfaction the reaffirmation of the president’s confidence in the duo.

“Having worked with Mallam Kyari and Mr Mustapha in the last few years, we at the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party strongly believe that the president has made a well-informed decision.

“We are fully satisfied with their contributions so far and acknowledge that the duo fully understand the vision and direction of the APCled administration.

“Our party is confident that the reappointed Chief of Staff and the SGF would justify the implicit confidence reposed in them by President Buhari and discharge their responsibilities for the overall good of Nigerians and our great country,” he said.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Boko Haram crisis in North East worsening - UN T he United Nations Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) says the humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states needs renewed support in the face of the recent upsurge in violence and growing humanitarian needs.

IASC, made up of senior officials from UN agencies and NGOs, said this in a statement in Abuja at the end of a five-day visit of the mission to Nigeria.

The statement said the mission also raised the alarm on the development as the number of people facing food insecurity had recently increased to three million, up more than 10 per cent from October 2018.

“During the mission’s visit, the UN senior officials met with the Ministry of Budget and National

Planning, the Borno State Governor and a wide range of UN agencies, humanitarian NGOs and partners in Maiduguri.

“They also visited several camps for internally displaced persons and some of the towns most affected by the crisis in Borno State– Damboa, Dikwa, and Rann,” it stated.

It quoted Reena Ghelani, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division for the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNCHA), as saying that “the crisis in the Lake Chad Region is far from over.”

“This is not the time for the humanitarian community and the rest of the international community to spare any effort.

“We have met with women,

children and men who have been forced to flee multiple times and urgently need protection and assistance to survive and rebuild their lives.

“Millions of people here still need our urgent support. We cannot let them down. “Some of the people we met have been living in camps for internally displaced persons for several years.

“They deserve the helping hand that will lift them out of the crisis, whether it is a small mill to restart some kind of business or skills to make a living,” the statement further quoted Ghelani as saying.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, said ”all actors, including the government and the private sector in

Nigeria, need to join forces to help those affected by the crisis recover in dignity and restart their lives.

“Aid agencies have significantly scaled up and reached some two million people with aid this year.

However, much more support is urgently needed. We are extremely worried about the tens of thousands of people who have recently fled rising violence and are still sleeping outside in the open,” he said, adding: “With the rainy season progressing, they will face increased risk of diseases and need immediate protection.”

He stated that violence continues to disrupt livelihoods and deepen the impact of chronic vulnerabilities such as food insecurity, malnutrition and epidemics in affected

communities.

The UN and its partners have appealed for 848 million dollars to provide life-saving assistance to 6.2 million people in 2019. Six months into the year, the response plan is 32.6 per cent funded due to the support of generous donors.

Significant additional funding is, however, urgently needed to sustain the humanitarian response and avoid an interruption in life-saving services that would further exacerbate the dire situation.

In total, 7.1 million people need lifesaving assistance across the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Some three million people are facing food insecurity while malnutrition is threatening the lives of more than one million children.

Buhari signs N243.3bn FCT 2019 Budget into law

resident Muhammadu Buhari PFederal has signed the N243.37 billion Capital Territory Appropria-

tion Bill 2019, into law.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja.

Enang told State House correspondents that N130.7 billion of the amount is for capital expenditure while the remaining balance is for recurrent expenditure.

He said: “This amount is from the Statutory Revenue Allocation due to the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is in addition to the budgetary provision of N23,023,593,146 for capital expenditure made in the 2019 Budget earlier assented to by Mr President on May 27, 2019.’’

The presidential aide also disclosed that the president assented to bills for the establishment of two federal polytechnics in Nigeria.

He said the bills were signed “as part of his (President Buhari’s) de- Stakeholders in the Film/Video industry at the 2019 National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Nigeria Conference, organised in collaboration with the Lagos sire to improve and expand admis- State University (LASU), Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday in Lagos sion opportunities for children in tertiary institutions in the country”.

He named the two polytechnics as the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo, Gombe State; and the Federal Polytechnic, Daura, Katsina State.

Enang added that “the law estabMinority Leader of the House of uled for Friday July 5.

“I am surprised and shocked, that Onyema (PDP-Anambra) as Deplishing the named polytechnics is Elumelu said that he lost an aunt the National Working Committee uty Minority Leader, Rep. Yakubu standard with laws establishing oth- Representatives, Rep. Ndudi Elumeer federal polytechnics in Nigeria’’. lu (PDP-Delta) has expressed shock and left Abuja immediately after of our great party, the People’s Barde (PDP-Kaduna) as Minorover his suspension by the leader- Thursday’s plenary for Delta.

Democratic Party (PDP) can sit ity Whip and Rep. Muraina Ajibola ship of the Peoples Democratic The minority leader said that he and take a decision without giving (PDP-Oyo) as Deputy Minority Whip.

Party (PDP). left immediately after sitting not room for fair hearing.

However, the speaker announced Elumelu in a statement on Friday midnight and that his gate-man “I had expected that if the date in Abuja said that he was surprised received the letter of invitation at we suggested was not convenient Rep. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu as Miigeria Customs Service (NCS) that the National Working Commit- about 7.45p.m. on Thursday. for the party, they would have pro- nority Leader, Rep. Toby Okechukhas promoted 1,924 Junior tee (NWC) of the party would susElumelu said that the gate-man pose another day when we could wu as Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Cadre personnel of the service, the pend him without a fair hearing.

Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and called him at 8p.m. to inform him appear before them.

Customs’ Public Relations Officer, The NWC had earlier invited of the development and he tried “I have great respect for the par- Rep. Adesegun Adekoya- Deputy Mr Joseph Attah, disclosed in Abuja Elumelu and other minority princi- to reach out to other members ty and am ready to serve,” Elumelu Minority Whip. on Friday. Attah in a statement ex- pal officers of the house to appear named in the letter to see if they said.

Gbajabiamila had explained that plained that 51 Assistant Inspector before the committee and explain could be at the meeting.

In line with precedence, the PDP, the lawmakers were chosen across of Customs (AIC) were promoted to how they emerged principal officThe lawmaker said that he found being the major minority party in all minority parties in the house and Inspector of Customs (IC) General ers against the will of the party. out that other members were also house, earlier wrote to the Speak- that the PDP alone could not dicDuty, while 48 Assistant Inspector The principal officers who out of town so he directed a Special er, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila nominat- tate who leads the minority parties. of Customs (AIC) were elevated to emerged under controversial cir- Assistant to convey the message ing Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-RivAccording to Elumelu, it is unInspector of Customs (IC), Support cumstances however failed to ap- to the NWC and request for a new ers) as the Minority Leader. fortunate if the party suspends its Staff. He said 200 Customs Assistant pear before the committee sched- date.

The party chose Rep. Chukwuka most loyal members for towing the Grade II (CAII) got promoted to Cuspath of honour and constitutionaltoms Assistant Grade I (CAI), Supism. port Staff and 39 Customs Assistant “I owe my party and its leaders a Grade III (CAIII) to Customs Assisduty of care to advise appropriately tant Grade II (CAII), Support Staff. as one the ranking member of the According to him, 169 Customs ndependent National CommisOkoye said that the Speaker of conduct of bye-election to the said house and I have discharged that Assistant Grade I (CAI) are promot- sion (INEC) has fixed Aug. 3 for Plateau House of Assembly, Mr constituency which will take place duty. ed to Assistant Inspector of Cus- the conduct of a bye-election for Abok Ayuba, had in a letter dated on August 3.

“I advised my leaders appropritoms (AIC), Support Staff and 1,200 Pengana State Constituency in Pla- June 20, notified the commission of “Political parties shall conduct ately about the House Rules and Customs Assistant Grade I (CAI) teau. a vacancy in the Assembly follow- their primaries on or before July 10 provisions on nomination of leadelevated to Assistant Inspector of The commission’s National Com- ing the demise of a member-elect, and submit the list of nominated ership and that PDP alone cannot Customs (AIC), General Duty. missioner and Chairman, Informa- Mr Ezekiel Afon. candidates on or before July 12,” do it without other eight minority The spokesperson said others tion and Voter Education CommitThe letter stated that Afon died Okoye said, adding that campaigns political parties. were 179 Customs Assistant Grade tee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in after he was declared winner of the would end on August 1.

“On the Speakership, PDP had II (CAII) who got promoted to Cus- a statement in Abuja on Friday.

March 9 House of Assembly ElecHe urged all interested political no candidate, I followed my contoms Assistant Grade I (CAI), GenHe said that the commission ap- tion in the constituency. parties and their candidates to co- science, I follow what my constitueral Duty and 38 Customs Assistant proved the conduct of the election “Consequently, the commission operate with INEC to ensure a free ents clamoured for, I followed pracGrade III (CAIII) to Customs Assis- at its meeting on Friday. tices and conventions,” he said. met today, July 5 and approved the and fair election. tant Grade II (CAII), General Duty.

Elumelu expresses shock over PDP suspension

Nigeria Customs promotes 1,924 junior officers

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INEC fixes Aug. 3 for Plateau bye-election

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS NEMA distributes agro-chemicals to 2018 flood victims in Anambra

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ational Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Friday, began the distribution of agrochemicals and sprayers worth millions of Naira to farmers affected by the 2018 flood disaster in Anambra.

NEMA’s Supervisor for the National Food Council Emergency Agricultural Intervention, Mrs Bolanle Ojo, said at the Awba-Ofemmili distribution centre, Awka North Local Government Area, that

the agency will assist affected farmers to boost their yields.

Ojo said that the distribution of the equipment was to ameliorate their plights and avoid food shortage in the country.

She said the victims affected by the flood were from seven Local Government Areas: Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Orumba North, Awka North and Ihiala.

Ojo said the gesture was the third phase of the Federal

Government’s support to the 4,390 farmers and 7,251.72 hectares of farmland affected by flood in the state.

“The first was the verification of affected farmers, the second phase was the distribution of seedlings and now, this third stage is to support them with the necessary agro-chemicals to ensure that they have good yield.

“Some of the chemicals given to them are used to prepare the soil before the planting of crops, some are used to control worms,

others to control leaf holders and stem borer as well as pest control.

“The essence of the distribution is basically to really ensure that there is no food shortage in the country,” Ojo stressed.

The supervisor, who noted that the agro-chemicals were distributed to the farmers based on the crops they cultivated, assured them that they would soon receive fertiliser.

She disclosed that the Federal

Government has hired a group of consultants to organise training for the extension workers, who would also train farmers.

“The essence will be to train farmers on natural ways of treating their crops against pest, when they run short of money,” she added.

The agency had earlier distributed yam, rice, maize, tomato, pepper and vegetable seedlings as well as plantain suckers and cassava stems to the farmers in the state.

YESSO kicks off in Abia, trains 400, 000 youth From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (fourth right) flanked by newly-sworn-in commissioners including; Mrs Flora Alatan, Chief James Augoye, Rt. Hon Basil Ganagana, Barr. Peter Mrakpor, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Chief Festus Ochonogor, Hon. Chika Ossai, Chief Patrick Ukah, at the Government House in Asaba during the swearing-in ceremony of the first batch of eight commissioners as members of the state executive council, Wednesday.

he World Bank-assisted Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Public Work Fare (PWF), aimed at increasing access of the poor to youth employment opportunities and social services, would be formally inaugurated in Abia State this Thursday.

Already, training for the 3,863 beneficiaries selected from the six pilot local governments from across the three senatorial zones of the state has commenced at various centres.

Addressing participants during the orientation programme organized for the trainees and other stake holders at Amapu Ntigha Stadium in Isiala Ngwa North local government area, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Rita Okengwu, explained that the 3,863 beneficiaries were drawn from

World Bank-approved Single Social Register of the six pilot local governments, namely Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South (Abia Central); Ohafia and Umunneochi (Abia North) as well as Ugwunagbo and Ukwa East (Abia South).

She said that the training would equip the beneficiaries with skills that would make them self-reliant.

Abia YESSO Focal Person, Mr Ndubuisi Ezengwa, said that arrangements were being worked out to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

Ezengwa said that government would work with the leaderships of town unions and traditional institutions to monitor the implementation process, adding that the second phase, which would accommodate the remaining 11 local government areas in the state, would begin at the end of the first phase scheduled to last for 12 months.

AFCON 29019: Owerri soccer enthusiasts tip Super Eagles for trophy

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occer enthusiasts in Owerri, Imo State have tipped the Super Eagles of Nigeria to lift the 32nd ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.

The enthusiasts who praised Nigeria’s representatives at the ongoing continental soccer fiesta in Egypt for overturning a

1 – 2 first half deficit on Saturday said that the Eagles had the right fighting spirit.

One of the enthusiasts, Mr Emeka Okwuchi, a fashion designer said : “Cameroon is known to be tough but Nigeria is tougher today, proving that they are top contenders for the

trophy”.

Another enthusiast, a commercial motorcyclist who chose to be identified as Skido was full of praise for the players whom he described as ‘ never say die eagles ‘.

“Our never say die eagles were resilient from the

beginning until the last whistle.

I feel like they have landed the trophy already,” he said.

Mrs Angela Mbonu, a middle aged trader said that ” I have not been this fascinated over football in a long time.

“They made my evening and we are eyeing the trophy

already “.

A brace from Odion Ighalo and a 66th minute thriller from Arsenal FC forward, Alex Iwobi saw the Super Eagles of Nigeria snatch victory from the Indomitable lions of Cameroon in a tightly contested match that ended 3-2 in favour of Nigeria.

Anambra Govt., indigenous firm, sign MOU for N4bn housing project

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nambra State government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a local firm, Rotech Energy Services Ltd, for the construction of 500 housing units.

The project which would cost N4.25 billion will be sited at Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The ceremony was performed between Anambra Government and Rotech Energy at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia near Awka on Friday.

The housing units, which would occupy 50 hectares of land, would include schools, hospital and other facilities.

Gov. Willie Obiano who signed on behalf of

Anambra Government said his administration was committed to embarking on more housing schemes to reduce the accommodation challenges faced by citizens of the state.

Obiano said that the project would also stimulate economic development by creating numerous job opportunities for the citizens.

He said that the host community would benefit from the project through a Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

Director of Rotech Energy, Mr Austin Oguejiofor, noted that the job, which would boost development in housing sector, would be completed over the next 30 months.

“Not less than 500 Plots of land will be carved out from 50 hectares of land earmarked for the project.

“About 20 per cent of these plots will be fully developed with the construction of 4 & 5 Bedrooms fully detached duplexes by Rotech Energy. The remaining 80 per cent will be service plots with very high level of infrastructure provided with amenities.

“The amenities include Fire Service Station, Police Station, Schools, Worship Centres, Hospitals and Recreational Parks,’’ Oguejiofor said.

The Managing Director, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Mr Jide

Gov. Willie Obiano Ikeakor, said that the investment would improve government’s Internally Generated Revenue.

The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr

Mike Okonkwo, said that the project was part of government’s efforts at implementing strategic housing objectives to the benefit of Anambra people.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 -14, 2019

NEWS

FG designates Air Peace flag carrier on Lagos-Dubai route: Envoy N igeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognises Air Peace as Nigeria’s flag carrier on the lucrative Lagos-Dubai air route, a Nigerian envoy has announced in Dubai on Sunday.

“Air Peace is now recognised as a national carrier, based on the BASA and whatever the airline is doing will be linked to Nigeria,’’ Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UAE, Mr Mohammed Rimi, announced at a ceremony to formally welcome Air Peace to the Arab nation.

He, however, warned the airline to avoid anything that could tarnish the image of Nigeria, while servicing the route, advising the company

to ensure on-time flight services to sustain confidence and patronage.

Air Peace commenced flight operations from Lagos to Dubai en route the Sharjah International Airport in Dubai on July 5.

The ambassador recalled that some Nigerian carriers had previously serviced the Dubai route but could not sustain their operations, due to competition and other factors.

Rimi assured that Nigeria was keen to meet the terms of its BASA deal with the UAE, pointing out however, that Nigeria had yet to service four slots in the air services agreement with the Middle East nation.

Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the airline’s foray

into long-haul flights was aimed at connecting Nigeria to the world and creating jobs for its teeming populace.

“In less than four years, Air Peace has created 3,000 direct jobs and over 9,000 ancillary jobs for Nigerians and that is what is driving us.

“We believe that if more Nigerians are meaningfully engaged, the problem of kidnapping, militancy and ethnic violent clashes will reduce in our country.”

According to Onyema, the airline is targeting to increase its B777 aircraft being deployed for long-haul flights to six before the end of the year to accommodate more routes.

He said that flights from Lagos to Johannesburg would come before

the end of August while Guangzhou, Mumbai, London and Houston routes were also being planned.

Onyema said that Nigeria’s BASA with UAE and other countries were one-sided and had left Nigeria open to exploitation by foreign airlines.

He said the Federal Government should protect domestic carriers by halting the granting of multiple entry points for foreign airlines.

The Air Peace boss commended the Federal Government for the support being given to the airlines, citing the removal of value-added tax and waivers on aircraft spares.

He also thanked Nigerians for their support to the airline, which had seen it emerge as the biggest airline in West Africa.

Catholic medical professionals parley on drug abuse ....task govt, others on ethical conduct

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ssociation of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ACMPN) has appealed to the government, religious institutions, parents and other stakeholders to get fully behind the drive to cut drug addiction and its abuse to the barest minimum, given its impact on youths, who are the major users and the effect on society and Nigeria as a whole.

This is even as it cautioned colleagues in the profession, fellow Catholic doctors and dental surgeons “to always be the shining light in the complex recesses of the health industry, both in the care of patients and within the political economy and business of managing the health system,” and not give way to “situational ethics to justify unacceptable practices.”

The National President, Dr Emmanuel Okechukwu, disclosed this while welcoming guests to its 14th Annual Scientific Conference & General Meeting, and inauguration of Lagos chapter of the association.

Dr Okechukwu noted that embracing this right attitude by its members was necessary so they wouldn’t fall prey to antics of unethical professionals and profiteers.

“The motto of our association is: ‘Doctors Promoting Pro-life Culture’. We are thus in a strategic position to help other colleagues recognise and reckon with the pristine values of inviolability of life, human dignity, compassion and moral living in both personal and professional lives. There cannot be a dichotomy between what we know to be true and just, and that which we preach or practise.”

While welcoming new spiritual companions for the ACMPN, Fr Stephen Idahosa and Rv Sr Dr Mary Okafor as national chaplain and sister Adviser respectively, Dr Okechukwu urged more Catholic medical practitioners to follow suit, adding that the establishment of more parish chapters is key to their relevance.

Dr Emeka Ogbolu, consultant Psychiatrist LUTH in his keynote topic: ‘Effect of drug addiction on Integral Human Development,’ lamented that drug abuse is a major health problem affecting integrated human development, and most rampant among youths of between 25-39 years - the country’s youths’ main productive age range.

He therefore advised a preventive course of action that would recognize a functional family system, having good parenting style and communication; must be addressed early (before 10years of age); promote school mental health; stop stigma against drug abuse and other mental illnesses, among others.

Dr Alfred Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos metropolis, represented by Rev Julius Olaitan, urged young people to desist because it opens them to risky behaviour such as reducing their reasoning capacity, poor memory, dropping out of school, illicit sexual behaviour, theft, neglect and poor health.

Chairman of the opening ceremony Soni Irabor, in another perspective, said the real problem lies with inattentiveness of parents and guardians; even as those in power should be made to account for their actions or inactions and removed if need be.

Dr Francis Faduyile, president Nigerian Medical Association, speaking on ‘Brain drain in the health sector: Moving forward,’ lamented that $1.35bn was lost yearly to medical tourism with negative implications for the society.

Dr Patrick Ijewere, the association’s LOC Chair, noted that the theme was apt and a wake up call for everybody to connect, and hoped the 4-day conference would not only elevate the ACMPN and practitioners to relevance, and demanded that practitioners reposition the concept of health and healthcare.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

FAVOUR: I formerly known as NDUKWE UKAMAKA FAVOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as EZEKIEL UKAMAKA FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

SAMUEL: I formerly known and addressed as IKE OBED now wish to be known and addressed as ALELE, SAMUEL CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

CHILOTAM: I formerly known as OFFORDILE CHILOTAM. C. now wish to be known as NNATU CHILOTAM. C. Former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

•Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel (right) presenting a memento to Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe during a courtesy call on the Governor, at Exco Chambers, Governor’s Office in Uyo, Tuesday

Okowa salutes ‘dependable ally’ Senator Manager at 59 From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri wou Manager, CON, on the occasion of his 59th birthday anniversaelta State Governor, Senator If- ry. eanyi Okowa has congratulated “As Pioneer Chairman of PDP in Senator Representing Delta South Delta State, you set the pace for Senatorial District in the National the party’s winning streak and reAssembly, Senator James Ebiowou mained undefeated in the last 20 Manager, CON, as he turns 59 years years of our democratic experion 7th July, 2019. ence .“At 59, the immeasurable and In a congratulatory message invaluable contributions you have signed by his Chief Press Secre- made to national development is tary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Gover- indelible in the minds of Nigerians nor Okowa extolled the leadership even as your life epitomizes the idequalities and astute contributions als of diligence, humility, perseverof Senator James Manager towards ance, focus and dedicated service.” pioneering the winning streak of Gov. Okowa further described the PDP in Delta State, describing the Distinguished Senator as a pahim as a dependable political ally triotic Nigerian and a gentleman and a leader of inestimable value. par excellence, a team player and The statement reads in part, “On above all, a God fearing leader. behalf of my family, the govern- The Governor prayed that the alment and people of Delta State, I mighty God would grant Senator wish to felicitate with the pioneer James Manager longer life, good Chairman of our party in the state, health and strength to keep servDistinguished Senator James Ebio- ing the nation and humanity.

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CHANGE OF NAME EMMANUELLA: I formerly known as EMMANUELLA UKAMAKA AKUNNA now wish to be known as PETER EMMANUELLA CHUKWUNWA Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

Court orders interim forfeiture of Diezani’s $40m jewelry, gold iPhone

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ustice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, July 5, 2019, ordered the interim forfeiture of some pieces of jewelry and a customized gold iPhone all valued at $40m belonging to Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Justice Oweibo gave the order, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Alison-Madueke is the only defendant in the application filed by the EFCC pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences Act No. 14, 2006.

A statement by Tony Orilade Acting Head, Media & Publicity quoted the applicant, through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, as stating that in the application the items were found and recovered from the premises of the respondent, Alison-Madueke.

The EFCC further stated that it reasonably suspected that the items were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

In granting the order, Justice Oweibo directed the applicant, EFCC, to publish the interim forfeiture order in any national newspaper within 14 days for the respondent or anyone interested in the items to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The items are: Bangles (419); rings (315); earrings (304); necklace (267); wristwatches (189); necklace and earrings (174); bracelet (78); brooch (77); pendants( 74); necklace(48); necklace, bracelet, earring and ring (44); necklace, earrings and rings (32); pendants and earrings (30) and necklace and bracelet (18).

Others are: Earrings and rings (15); earrings, rings and bracelet (12); cufflinks (11); pendants, earrings and rings (6); single earrings (5); bracelets and earrings (5); necklace and single earrings (3); necklace and rings(3); travel clocks(3); brooch and cufflinks (3); pendants and rings (2); bracelets, earrings and ring (1); bangle and earring (1); necklace, ring and bracelet (1); bangle, ring and brooch(1); necklace, earring and two bracelets( 4); bangle and ring (1); brooch and earring (1) necklace and two pairs of earrings (3) and customized Gold iPhone (1).

CHANGE OF NAME IFEOMA: I formerly known as OLISA IFEOMA OBIANUJU, now wish to be known as OKEKE IFEOMA OBIANUJU. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ABIGAIL: I formerly known as NWEKE ADAEZE ABIGAIL, now wish to be known as EZEANI ADAEZE ABIGAILFormer documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

9

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS

Emmanuel suspends Unified LG Service Commission Board members

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he Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has suspended members of the Board of the Unified Local Government Service Commission from office.

This is contained in

a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem According to the release, dated Friday, July 5, 2019, the suspension is sequel to the outcome

of the audit report on unauthorised recruitment of persons into the Unified Local Government Service.

The release reads in parts,” His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom

State has approved the suspension from Office of Members of the Board of the Unified Local Government Service Commission till further notice.

“Consequently, the

suspended Members are hereby directed to handover all Government property in their possession to the Permanent Secretary of the Commission.”

The governor had recently suspended the

State Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr Valentine Attah from office following his alleged involvement in unauthorised recruitment of persons into the Unified Local Government Service.

NDDC promises new headquarters, barracks to police in Bayelsa

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iger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has concluded plans to build a new headquarters and barracks for the Police Command in Bayelsa.

The commission said it would start erecting the structures after it had procured a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and necessary documentation for the project.

NDDC’s Acting Managing Director, Prof.

Nelson Brambaifa, said this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, on Saturday.

Brambaifa made the pledge when he visited the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia, at the command’s headquarters in Yenagoa.

“The project, which is included in the commission’s budget, is part of our intervention to assist security agencies working in the Niger Delta region.

“We are here to provide the infrastructure that will aid all development agencies and organisations to enable them to work and function optimally,” he said.

Brambaifa added that security was a key factor to the development of any society, particularly the Niger Delta.

“So, we want to make the men and women who take care of security in the state comfortable by not only building the headquarters, but also barracks for them.

“We will also support the police with equipment and other things that can make life easier for them for working day and night to protect lives and property in our country,” he said.

The managing director noted further that the commission would not be able to carry out its mandate without the support of security outfits in the region.

On his part, CP Anozia thanked the NDDC for providing facilities to enhance operations of the police as well as other security agencies in the state.

He said the police needed the support and cooperation of corporate organisations to effectively carry out their duties.

“Today is a very significant day for the entire Bayelsa state police command for thks marks the beginning of good things to come.

“This is so, becuase since the creation of Bayelsa, the police headquarters had been in a makeshift building.

“We are pleading with the commission to complete the project in good time,” Anozia said.

Secretary to the Delta State Government, Chiedu Ebie (left) leading other top government functionaries including; ; Chief James Augoye, Chief Patrick Ukah, Prof Sylvester Monye, PS, (SSG) Mr. Jerome Morka, on an inspection tour of the 650 Units Delta affordable Housing Scheme located at Issele- Azagba/Otulu Road on the Asaba/Benin expressway ahead of its Commissioning.

FG refutes suspension of School Feeding Programme in Akwa Ibom

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n official of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the Federal Government, Dr Godwin Akpan, says it is not true that the National School Feeding Programme has been suspended in Akwa Ibom.

Akpan, the State Focal Person on National Home Grown School Feeding programmes (NHGSFP) debunked a publication of the alleged suspension of the programme in a statement in Uyo on Saturday.

He described the allegation as baseless and cautioned against the publication of unsubstantiated allegations.

Akpan explained that the purported suspension of Akwa Ibom from the programme allegedly due to poor quality of food was “misleading and untrue’’.

He said that the alleged delay by the Akwa Ibom Government in releasing money for vendors as published in some media was far from the truth.

Akpan noted that the role of Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom in the sustenance of the programme in the state could not be over emphasised.

“The misleading information is not only embarrassing to Akwa Ibom Government but seen as a deliberate plot by certain unpatriotic individuals to distort the true picture of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme in the state,’’ he said.

Akpan urged Akwa Ibom food vendors, care givers and the general public to discountenance the purported suspension of the state from the school feeding programme.

He, however, said that there is an ongoing verification and reconciliation between the states, Universal Basic Education Boards, National Bureau of Statistics and National Home Grown School Feeding Programme Office.

FRSC to commence clampdown on unregistered vehicles in Delta

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ederal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Delta Command, will on August1, commence mass arrest of owners of unregistered vehicles, including tricycles, the Sector Commander, Mr. Ocheja Ameh, has said.

Ameh who disclosed this on Friday in Asaba at a meeting with security agencies, commercial vehicle operators’ unions and other stakeholders in the state, said the mass arrest had become necessary following the rate of crimes committed in the state with such unregistered vehicles, especially tricycles.

“The FRSC in Nigeria has a mandate to reduce road traffic crashes and ensure general safety on our roads.

“However, the mandate is one that we cannot accomplish alone and that is why we are carrying all stakeholders along.

“It is worrisome to see the number of fatalities and crimes associated with motorcycles, tricycles and vehicles on our roads.

“Also, more worrisome is the fact that most of these motorists operate illegally without registration and licensing,” Ameh said.

The commander reminded Nigerians of the existing road traffic laws which he said provided for licensing and registration of motorists.

He noted that lack of enforcement over the years had given rise to rampant abuse of road traffic regulations in the country.

“In Nigeria, it is not that people don’t know that there are road traffic laws; it is just a case of non-enforcement which has given room to noncompliance.

“The National Road Traffic Regulation Law of 2007 is very explicit

on vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles registration and licensing.

“So, with effect from August 1, 2019, we will commence a clampdown on all unregistered vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles,” Ameh said.

He charged the union executives in the state to stamp out unregistered and unlicensed motorists who were committing crimes under the name of the unions.

In his remark, the Secretary, Tricycles Association of Nigeria, Delta chapter, Mr. Andrew Obodo, assured the FRSC of the union’s cooperation

in checking the activities of unregistered and unlicensed vehicle operators.

He said the union had a taskforce in place to ensure that commercial tricye operators in the state were duly registered and licensed.

“As a union, we are committed to strict compliance with road safety laws. We appreciate the efforts of the FRSC in this regard.

“We have a taskforce in place and we also have monitoring teams in our various units to check and apprehend illegal operators.

“Many a time, we have arrested unregistered operators and what we do is to impound their tricycles and hand them over to the state Ministry of Transport.

“Also, if we find out that these unregistered operators are involved in crime, we arrest them and hand them over to the police for necessary action,” Obodo said.

The stakeholders meeting was attended by representatives from the various transport unions, the police, the army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS Anambra creates business friendly environment for investors From OZO RAY, Awka

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he Managing Director of the Anambra State Investment and Promotion Agency (ASIPA), Mr. Jide Ikeako said that the state government

acknowledges the importance of the manufacturing sector to the economic development of the state and has duly encouraged industrialists to invest in the state.

Ikeako made the assertion at the Annual

General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) held at Golden Tulip hotel Agulu in Anaocha local government area of the state.

According to him, the state Governor Willie Obiano recognizes the

urgent need for investors to thrive in the state and the government has moved to ensure that a conducive and congenial business environment with electric power, security, logistics and other infrastructure necessary for their business exists in

the state.

Said Ikeako, “Also, our tax regime is business friendly and the state government has not fallen short of the expectations of investors in any aspect of their needs and they can confirm that Anambra is a safe haven and fertile

ground for industrialists.

He insisted that Anambra State has gone ahead of other states in the area of foreign direct investments due to its business friendly policies as well as the existing operating business environment in the state.

Abia Assembly sets up committee to probe killing of youth in Umunneochi From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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he Abia State House of Assembly has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the death of one Christian Egwu from Umunneochi, following reports of a commencement of activities at the quarry site on the boundary between Umunneochi Local Government Area and Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Ifeanyi Uchendu heads the committee which has two weeks to conclude its probe and report to the House.

During plenary on Wednesday, Hon. Okey Igwe (Umumneochi State Constituency) presented a Matter of Urgent Public Importance during plenary Wednesday, necessitating the setting up of the committee.

Igwe said that there was an existing peace deal between the two border communities and noted that their neighbours from Ebonyi violated the deal and resumed excavation at the site.

Amid speculations that shots fired by security personnel at the site killed the young man in question from Umunneochi, he prayed the house to investigate the killing to ensure that the status

quo with regard to the peace agreement between the communities was maintained.

He further asked that the House involve the National Boundary Commission to embark on a boundary demarcation between Abia and Ebonyi so as to determine the owner of the site.

In their separate contributions, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, the member representing Bende North, Mr Chijioke Chukwu and the member representing Ukwa East, Chief Paul Taribo, called for urgent steps to be taken to forestall further killings while making case for proper investigations to bring the killers to book

L-R: Matthew Daniel, student of Wesley School; Olusegun Alebiosu, Chief Risk Officer, FirstBank; Seyi Olusanya, student of Wesley School; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank; Olayiwola Adeola, student of Wesley School and Mr. A.K. Alimi, Principal, Wesley School 1, during FirstBank’s visit to Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired at Surulere, Lagos as part of activities marking FirstBank’s CR&S week 2019.

Enugu State creates Aguikpa Oruku Autonomous Community for peace

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or peace to reign in Oruku Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area, the Enugu State Government has acceded to the request of the community to create Aguikpa Oruku Autonomous Community from the Oruku Community.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Anibeze, noted that the traditional ruler of

old Oruku Autonomous Community, HRH Igwe Dr. C.A Nomeh (JP) should be addressed as the traditional ruler, Aguikpa Oruku Autonomous Community, while the old Oruku Community was directed to take immediate measures to elect a new traditional ruler.

The permanent secretary Ministry of Rural Development, Chuka Ezike, announced the dissolution of the existing town union executive of old

Oruku Community and the constitution of caretaker committees for the two communities for a period of six months.

Members of the committee for Aguikpa Oruku Autonomous Community are Chief Raphael Ani, (chairman); Chief Onwudiwe Ogbu, (secretary); Chief Godwin Inyaba, (treasurer) and Chief John Ani and Chief Longinus Inyaba as members.

The committee

for Oruku Community has Chief Emma Mba (chairman), Mr. Ikenna Martin Nwatu (secretary) and Mrs. Clementina Omaba (treasurer) and Mr. Chikezie Nnamani and Mr. Okechukwu Ukeh as members.

The protracted intercommunal dispute between Oruku and Umuode communities in Nkanu East LGA, was laid to rest after the leaders of the two communities signed an agreement

on land ownership and boundary delineation, at the Government House, Enugu, at the instance of the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The two communities had disputed over land ownership for over 25 years leading to persistent civil unrest despite interventions by past administrations.

The government decision brokered between the two communities by the Enugu State government, is expected to sustain peace.

Anambra Markets trustees reject govt’s disbandment of market association

By IBE NWACHUKWU

... Insist on election

raders in Anambra state, under the umbrella of Amalgamated Markets Traders Association of Anambra State, (AMATAS) have been gripped by apprehension, following the recent disbandment of the association, by the state government and its subsequent replacement with Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA now to be managed by the state government.

As a result, the Board of Trustees, BoT of AMATAS have vehemently rejected

the alleged disbandment of the association, insisting that they would soon conduct an election into the executive seat of the body to fill the vacuum created by the expiration of former executive members and the exit of their immediate past President-General, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo who is now representing Orumba North/South federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Acting Chaiman of AMATAS BoT, Chief Emmanuel Udegbunam, told newsmen in their office at Modebe Avenue,

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Onitsha that they have been consulting with the relevant stakeholders of the body, after which they would hold their election in utter disregard to government decision to disband the association.

He said the tenure of Ezenwankwo-led executive had expired by the end of June but because Chief Ezenwankwo wanted to formally hand over to a new executive, they fixed June 5, 2019 for the election which was postponed indefinitely on the request of Governor Willie Obiano, adding that it was in obedience to

the Governor that they postponed the election because they did not want to have any confrontation with him.

He wondered why the governor, through the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Christian Madubuko, who he identified as the arrowhead in the plot to disband AMATAS, announced a 70man Caretaker Committee including Electoral Committee and patrons with Chief Ekwegbalu Caretaker Committee Chaiman of Onitsha Main Market, an elder brother

to Ebelechukwu Obiano, the governor’s wife as the new AMATAS Caretaker Committee Chairman.

Udegbunam who maintained that there was no crisis in Anambra Markets to warrant government intervention or appointment of a caretaker committee, noted that in the first place, there is no provision for Caretaker Committee leadership in the Constitution of AMATAS, hence there is need for government to allow the traders hold their election and remain as a registered independent

body which it is.

In his own reaction, Secretary of AMATAS BoT, Chief Chuma Eruchalu, noted that the traders would come out with the timetable for the election of AMATAS executives because the tenure of the past executive expired by June 30 and would require an election to replace the past ones as the association’s constitution abhors vacuum, adding that those who want to contest for any elective position should indicate their interest5 to be shortlisted along side others earlier shortlisted.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS

U.S Consulate partners Akwa Ibom Govt. on drone technology development

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lobal Air Media (GAM), sponsored by the United States Consulate in Lagos in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government has kickstarted a 3-day drone technology workshop for primary and secondary students in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

GAM co-founded by Mr. Enobong Umoh, a U.S based drone technologist with a team from the Consulate’s office have begun a series of workshops between Wendesday and Friday.

The team, accompanied

by the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr and Personal Assistant on ICT, Mr Solomon Eyo visited Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Akpan Ishiet, Onna on Thursday.

The students drawn from Secondary School, Okat, Community Secondary, Commercial School, Ikot Ebiere, QIC Senior Science School, Ndong Eyo, Oniong West Secondary School, Ikwe, Onna People’s High School and Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot

Akpan Ishiet, all in Onna LGA had the opportunity to learn about how to make drones, the latest drone technology, robotics, engineering, 3D printing, and coding from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-licensed drone pilots.

The Governor’s aide on New Media, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr appreciated the US Consulate Office for chosing Akwa Ibom State for the training, noting that their vision is in line with Governor’s policies on driving development via new technologies and innovations.

PA on ICT, Mr Solomon

Eyo said that the training was a welcome development as the Governor’s ICT office will follow up to monitor the participant’s progress and organize similar programmes to encourage young people to learn about new technologies.

Co-founder of GAM, Mr Umoh noted that the objective of the workshop was for each school group to be able to build and take home their own drone for use at their respective schools.

“This 21st century technology is changing the world, and drones are being

Football fans in Calabar praise Super Eagles for Cameroon victory

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igeria’s Super Eagles’ fans in Calabar have praised the team for beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 3 – 2 in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 in Egypt.

The fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) immediately after the match on Saturday said the Eagles were more purposeful and deserved to win.

Mr Jones Adaka, a civil servant, said it was

a tough match but quite entertaining, adding that beating the defending champion and perennial arch rival was not easy.

He said he was grateful to God that the Eagles won.

He, however, advised the team to endeavour to take advantage of their chances in their subsequent matches as they might not be as lucky as they were in the Saturday game. ”I think the Super Eagles played well and were more purposeful; this is our

best match so far in this competition. ”I hope the team will continue to improve and learn to take advantage of their chances in their next matches if we must win this competition,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Sunday Effiong, a teacher, said his blood pressure almost went up as the match was in progress, but congratulated the Eagles on their victory.

Effiong urged the players to always be

confident as they continue in the competition. ”I am very happy this night. In fact, the Super Eagles have made my day. I was very jittery as the match was on, especially when the Cameroonians scored their second goal, but thank God our boys were able to respond in the second half. ”The coach should talk to the boys and build their confidence because anytime our confidence becomes shaky the team begins to make mistakes,” he said.

used heavily in agriculture, oil & gas, utilities, and real estate.

It’s important to encourage the entrepreneurship oppurtunities in this field for both youth and adults”, he added.

Earlier, the team paid homage at the palace of the Paramount ruler of Onna LGA, HRM, Edidem Raymond Inyang who welcomed the team to his domain. He thanked Mr Enobong Umoh, for beginning his training in his home, Onna and assured of his support all through the programme.

Global Air Media is a licensed drone services

company based in Baltimore, USA. It’s cofounder, Enobong Umoh has taught drone education workshops to youth worldwide and is part of the US State Department’s ‘US Speakers Programme’ GAM and the US Consulte General, Lagos would also host other trainings and a press briefing, where government officials, stakeholders, and press personnel would gather to discuss the benefits of drone technology, and how Akwa Ibom can be at the forefront of manufacturing, developing, and training on drone technology.

Lokpobiri joins Bayelsa governorship race

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mmediate past Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has declared his intention to contest for the November 16 Governorship election in Bayelsa on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lokpobiri made his intention known on Saturday after consultation with the state leadership of the APC at the party’s Secretariat in Yenagoa.

Lokpobiri told the party leadership that he was ready to lead APC to the “Creek Haven’’, Bayelsa State seat of power; so that he can build an economy beyond oil for the state.

“I am here to formally inform my political family about my intention to contest the governorship of Bayelsa State on APC platform. I have the support base to win the election

come Nov. 16, 2019.

“My plea to the leadership of our party is to ensure that the party remains united in order to form a formidable front to win this election.

“If party members work together, we will surely win the governorship election, come November.

“I am coming to give direction to Bayelsa State; develop the state and build the economy beyond oil,’’ he said.

The Chairman of APC in Bayelsa, Mr Jothan Amos, said that the primary to choose the governorship candidate would be free and fair.

He urged all aspirants to carry out their consultations peacefully, without any form of violence.

Lokpobiri was a twoterm senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before his appointment as a minister.

NIWA cautions illegal dredgers in Delta against threat to environment

United States-based drone technologist and Global Air Media (GAM) co-founder, Mr. Enobong Umoh, accompanied by the Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on New Media, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr and Personal Assistant on ICT, Mr Solomon Eyo at the Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Akpan Ishiet, Onna on Thursday, for a

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peaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has called on the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to present a private bill to the house for legislation against quackery in the medical profession in the state.

Okiye who made the call on Friday, when the executive members of NMA visited him at the assembly complex to felicitate with him on his emergence as speaker of the state Assembly, said that quackery in the medical profession had become a source of concern to the government, in view of the unnecessary deaths resulting from the phenomenon.

He said: “The human health is sacrosanct and as

Edo Speaker tasks medical doctors on private bill to check quackery such the assembly is willing to partner NMA in order to stem the rate of deaths as a result of quackery because it is everywhere.

“A private bill from NMA at this point should be sent to the assembly for consideration and passage in order to save and guarantee healthcare system in Edo.” The speaker assured the executive members of the readiness of the house to address the challenges of delayed promotion and unpaid salaries of health workers in the state.

“l do not think that the state government owes any worker but if you think that there are arrears of salaries to be paid, bring up the matter and it will be settled.

He said that workers in the state were usually the first to be paid every month, adding that the issue of promotion was receiving attention.

Earlier, the NMA state Chairman, Dr. Valentine Omoifo, said that the association was willing to partner with the state government to improve

healthcare services in the state.

Omoifo said that there was urgent need for a legislation to address quackery in the health sector.

He said that Okiye’s emergence as speaker was a deserving victory needed to boost the development efforts of the state government.

He further underscored the need for the Corona Law in the state in order to address the challenges associated with it.

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ational Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has warned those who engaged in illegal dredging in Delta to desist from the illicit act.

Warri Area Manager of NIWA, Mr Shaba Afeso, who gave the warning on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri, said that the authority would no longer condone such illegality, noting that the action was capable of causing environmental hazards in the state.

“We are sitting on a keg of gun powder in the state, if this illegal dredging is not addressed,” he said.

The area manager said that NIWA is working out modalities to phase out what he described as “small keke dredgers” which the people used to perpetrate the illegalities.

“I want to use this medium to send a strong warning to all the illegal dredgers in Delta to desist from carrying out illegal

dredging in the state.

“Illegal dredging is becoming an all comer’s affairs where people raised N1.5 million and ventured into the trade without due process.

“They buy small keke dredgers and moved to the backyard of any house where there is water and starts dredging without seeking approval from the authority.

“We are working on how to phase out Keke dredgers in the society completely because they are causing a lot of problem to the environment.

“They cannot carry big dredgers into the small rivers. This action is not vindictive, it is aimed at putting things straight to the benefit of our future and the environment,” he said.

Afeso, however, said that the authority would soon organised an enlightenment programme to educate the perpetrators on the dangers of what they are doing to the environment.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS Okowa salutes Manager, a dependable ally and leader From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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he Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated (Delta South Senatorial District), Senator James Ebiowou Manager, (Delta South Senatorial District) on his 59th birthday.

In a congratulatory message Sunday, Okowa extolled the leadership qualities and contributions of Manager in pioneering the winning streak of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, describing him as a dependable ally and a leader of inestimable value.

The statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, read in part, “On behalf of my

family, the government and people of Delta, I felicitate with the pioneer chairman of our party in the state, Distinguished Senator James Ebiowou Manager, on the occasion of his 59th birthday anniversary.

“As pioneer Chairman of PDP in Delta, you set the pace for the party’s winning streak and remained undefeated in the last 20 years of our democratic experience .

“At 59, the immeasurable and invaluable contributions you have made to national development is indelible in the minds of Nigerians even as your life epitomizes the ideals of diligence, humility, perseverance, focus and dedicated service.”

Okowa described the senator

as a patriot and a gentleman, a team player and a God fearing leader.

•Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa

NASS to accelerate PIGB passage

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he new leadership of National Assembly has pledged to give priority to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to restore stability and investor confidence in the sector.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajiabiamila, who hosted the outgoing Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, and the incoming GMD, Mr. Mele Kyari, pledged to give the bill speedy passage.

The Speaker also commended Dr. Baru for stabilizing the oil and gas industry during his tenure as Group Managing Director of the NNPC. “I thank you for working harmoniously with us, there were no fuel shortages, the usual scandals associated with

the oil industry were absent throughout your tenure”, Hon. Gbajabiamila said.

He restated the readiness of the 9th National Assembly to sustain the existing cordial relationship with NNPC adding that “as long as oil and gas remains the mainstay of the economy, we must get the industry right.”

On the incoming GMD, Mallam Mele Kyari, the Speaker described him as a highly respected industry professional whose reputation precedes his name, saying “I have no doubt based on what I have heard, that you will definitely make it.”

Speaking earlier, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, congratulated the Speaker on his election, describing him as the best person to take the

House of Representatives to the next level.

He said NNPC, even after his tenure, would remain focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people and also sustain constructive engagement with the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders.

The GMD assured the Speaker of the new NNPC Management’s capacity to take the oil and gas industry to the next level.

“I thank you for supporting me, I have no doubt that you will equally support the incoming GMD. We thank Mr. President for appointing him and he will surely not disappoint”, he said.

He said the visit was in appreciation of the cordial relationship he had with the National Assembly throughout his tenure.

Chief Mrs Azuogu buried

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he remains of the late Chief Mrs Love Chigbu Azuogu 98, (nee Ubani) were interned on Thursday June 27, 2019, in her home town Owo Ahiafo, in the Obingwa LGA, Abia State. The nonagenarian is survived by six children among whom is HRH Eze Amadi Azuogu, the Eze Amara II, who is also National President Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association, 23 grand children, six great grand

children, daughters and sons inlaw.

The District Leader of the Seventh Adventist Church, Pastor C.A. Nwogwugwu, in a tribute described the deceased as a kind hearted woman, who would be missed by many.

He enjoined family members, friends and well wishers of the family to bear the loss with fortitude.

Lekoil, Schlumberger enter MOU on Otakikpo JV

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ekoil and its partners in the Otakikpo joint venture (JV), Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some foreign companies to flow production through third party pipelines.

The foreign companies include Schlumberger and the local subsidiary of an unnamed major international oil company operating in Nigeria.

The MoU covers a comprehensive infrastructure sharing and drilling program greared around a group of marginal field assets in OML 11.

Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) is to act as the lead financial advisor for the project and perform financial advisory, security and banking services required for the project.

The phased development plan of the project consists of drilling up to five new wells in Otakikpo, expanding processing infrastructure to comprise an onshore terminal to be located outside the Otakikpo field operations area, construction of an export pipeline connecting the onshore terminal to an offshore buoy to handle Otakikpo and other fields in OML11.

The Otakikpo JV will partake in the costs of its field development with funds provided for such participation by the development

consortium.

Project management and associated asset management costs provided by Schlumberger will be shared between the Otakikpo JV and the operators and owners of other marginal fields participating in the project, the company stated.

Capital expenditure to be incurred by the Otakikpo JV is expected to be approx. $170 million covering new wells and processing infrastructure, of which LEKOIL is expected to fund $68 million. The anticipated costs consist of debt repayment to financing parties, including the major oil firm, in addition to a project implementation fee paid to Schlumberger.

Repayment of the facilities anticipated to be provided to the Otakikpo JV pursuant to the project will be made from production revenues from Otakikpo, in priority to any existing lending facilities (subject to agreement with existing lenders), future CAPEX and returns to equity holders.

Under the terms of the MOU, the Major Oil Company will provide funding to the Otakikpo Joint Venture alongside the other funding partners, subject to due diligence, project economics, entry into definitive documentation and final investment decision.

Hard times await touts at International market, Ogidi From OGE ONYEANUSI, Nnewi

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n a bid to sanitize activities at the International Building Materials market on the Enugu/Onitsha Express Road, Ogidi Anambra State, authorities in the market have declared war on touts, also known as market hustlers.

The project is largely aimed at giving the market a befitting image and attract genuine investors while boosting trading activities to erase the negative image, which touting had brought to the markets.

The ultra modern market, built through communal efforts by traders who carried out their trading activities at other adjoining streets in Onitsha is equipped with modern facilities, has fire-fighting equipment with trained fire

fighters.

Aware of how unscrupulous traders and touts were using the market to serve their ends, by selling substandard products, the President of the Market, Chief Jude Nwankwo said that the project was yielding positive results as “all identified market touts in the area have been sent packing. There is a new lease of life for genuine traders now and the we are gaining the confidence of the public. Fake revenue touts who flocked the market have been thrown out to enable genuine investors partner with traders for development and business.

He noted that materials bought from the market are considered to be from the right source in order to prevent fakes infiltrating the market through hustlers.

Traders bemoan activities of pirates in Nkwo Nnewi market From OGE ONYEANUSI, Nnewi

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he rate at which pirated and fake motorcycle and bicycle parts are flooding the market has been described as worrisome as stakeholder have called on regulatory authorities before the genuine marketers are chased out of business and more harm is done to the populace.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KOTEC Group of Companies, Chief Chika Emelike, a major importer of motorcycle and tricycle spare

parts at Nkwo Nnewi market, Nnewi, Anambra State raised the alert at the weekend in Nnewi.

He said that, “pirated products have continued to spring up at an alarming rate in the market to impoverish genuine importers of auto components whose businesses are also dwindling on a daily basis as a result of the activities of the pirates.”

According to him, the threat has made some genuine importers to begin to count their days in the market, noting that the most regrettable aspect of it

was that government has failed to take any significant measure to handle the situation.

He said: “The worst part of this menace is that the pirates go for the lowest quality of a product with the name of a genuine importer. And the more they reduce the quality, the more they bring down the prices. They do all they can to deceive and convince the unwary buyers.

“Mechanics who use those pirated spare parts to repair motorcycles or tricycles will always have problems with

their clients because they will be accused of not doing the job well. Such automobiles are likely to cause accidents. Some of the accidents on the roads are caused by fake spare parts.”

Emelike, who explained that the economy is also affected too since the pirates pay manufacturers overseas to produce the fake goods, called on appropriate government agencies to impound and destroy pirated products.

Explaining further the modus operandi of the fake producers,

he said that they monitor the products of big-time importers and when they discovered a product that is high demand, they would take the product and its package overseas and ask the manufacturer to give them the same product with poor quality at a reduced cost.

Lamenting how the importers benefit from where they did not work, he said the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) tried to checkmate piracy at the Nkwo Nnewi market, but believes that much could still be achieved.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS Lawmaker worries over condition of tertiary institutions in Abuja From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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he Majority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly Chief Solomon Akpulonu, has expressed concern over the level of revenue leakages in some tertiary institutions in the state.

Raising a Matter of Urgent Public Importance on Tuesday, the Majority Leader told the House that the situation was worrisome whereby some government agencies and parastatals that were supposed to be receiving subvention from government, pay staff salaries and even remit revenue to government,

now depend solely on government for salaries without proper remittances to the government.

The lawmakers therefore resolved to set up five ad-hoc committees for the purposes of investigating the parastatals and making recommendations on how to make them self-

sustaining and more viable.

The tertiary institutions include Abia State University, Uturu, College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, School of Health of Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, as well as the state broadcasting corporation.

The Speaker, Chinedum

Orji, announced named the chairmen of the committees to include Chief John Kennedy Njoku (Osisioma Ngwa North), Chairman for the Investigative Committee on Abia State University, Uturu and College of Education Technical Arochukwu; Chief Jerry Uzosike (Umuahia South) would Chair that of Abia State Polytechnic Aba;

Chief Emeka Okoroafor (Isuikwuato) will chair the committee on School of Health Sciences and Management Technology Aba while Chief Ginger Onwusibe (Isiala Ngwa North) is the Chairman of the committee charged with investigating the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia.

Abuja FCT hails Ugwuanyi on Criminal Justice Administration Act

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he Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello has commended Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for facilitating the adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in the state.

Hon. Justice Bello made the commendation Tuesday, when he led members of the Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion to the Government House, Enugu, on a courtesy call on Ugwuanyi.

Describing the adoption of the Criminal Justice Act Administration Act in Enugu as “revolutionary,” the FCT Chief Judge told the governor that the committee was in Enugu in exercise of its “mandate of visiting Nigerian Prisons to release inmates who have an option of fines in their various sentences and also to review cases of inmates that have stayed over five years awaiting trial in various courts.

“In a situation where they have overstayed the period of the sentence if they were convicted, we take the instant decision to let them go.”

The jurist advocated a uniform criminal justice regime Act to be adopted by component states, “without affecting the very substance intendment of the act”.

He congratulated Ugwuanyi and noted that, “we are very happy that you have made it possible and that Enugu is among the

states that have adopted the Act. Others are following suit because the Act will expedite delivery of justice, eliminate delays.”

The state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Priscilla Emehelu, told Ugwuanyi that his interest and commitment in ensuring that justice is done to people who are kept unlawfully away in prisons, earned him the visit from the delegation.

Ugwuanyi stated that his administration appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government in fast-tracking the decongestion of prisons and that Enugu has in many ways supported the rehabilitation of prison infrastructure and continues to pay lawyers’ fees assist for indigent inmates.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) presenting a souvenir to the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa (right) during a courtesy call at Government House, Yenagoa.

Photo by Lucky Francis.

Dickson flays NDDC for derailing from core responsibilities From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

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ayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has berated the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for channeling funds meant for the development of the region to the election of members of the ruling political party in the country.

While playing host Friday, to the Acting Managing Director òf the commission, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, at the Government House, the governor lamented that the development has

hampered NDDC’s capacity to actualize its mandate of bringing development to oil producing communities.

The governor said that that the use of NDDC funds for election and reasons other than what they were voted for, was unfortunate and should be a thing of concern to leaders of the zone.

Dickson joined the NDDC acting MD to demand the payment of N1.9 trillion owed the Commission, to enable it carry out its developmental responsibilities in the region.

The Governor called for effective collaboration with the Federal Government’s

interventionist agency to design critical projects such as construction of roads and bridges that would accelerate the development of the region.

He decried the politicization of the NDDC and called for the immediate constitution of the NDDC’S Advisory Council towards strengthening the commission’s controls and systems, which he claimed are lacking.

He said: “The NDDC is not a body that should be left on its own in doing all kinds of things at its whims and caprices. We want to see the NDDC fulfilling its maximum

potential and it has not been able to do this as a result of the deliberate politicization of the commission.

“NDDC funds are channeled for elections, into all kinds of activities other than the main reason for which it was set up. This is very unfortunate and has limited the capacity of the body to impact maximally on the challenges of the region.

But it is something that all stakeholders need to sit down to address.”

On the N1.9 trillion owed NNDC, he agreed to collaborate with the acting MD but he requested that “we should equally join hands

to demand for accountability, demand that projects that are conceived are not ones designed for power brokers but projects that really have the capacity to impact on the communities in need of development and so I call for a new approach.”

The governor tasked the new management to be collaborative in designing projects rather unilaterally deciding and designing projects for the region and for state governors without considering contracts for the construction of lasting infrastructure that will support the complete turn around for our people.

Industrialist faults government’s plan on job creation From OZO RAY, Awka

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ormer Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Chike Obidigbo claims that the Federal Government is more interested in sharing proceeds from the sale of oil in the Niger Delta region rather than creating job opportunities for the teeming unemployed in the country.

Speaking with journalists over the weekend in Agulu, Anaocha local government area of Anambra State on the roadmap to addressing unemployment in the country, Obidigbo said that “the country is faced with the danger of severe unemployment and the government is not showing signs of being responsible and responsive to the plight of the jobless.”

The business mogul maintained that the roadmap was dark because government was not helping manufacturers to enable them to employ more people and reduce the menace of unemployment.

He said, “more than half of Nigerians are unemployed and extremely poor. Today the National Bureau of Statistics will say that there are 30 million

unemployed youths but that’s not true.

“I know that more than half of Nigerians are unemployed. Even amongst the other half, half of that half is not fully employed. It is only people that are in very top positions in government that work in this country.

And only them too enjoy the fruits that are collected for this country.”

According to him, the

organised private sector (OPS) has very little to contribute in the country because the top leadership is deaf and dumb.

Obidigbo said government is always thinking of increasing wages and salaries without factoring in inflation while ignoring the fundamental issue of productivity.

Government should learn to focus more on production and productivity, without

which the economy will become comatose, he said.

As the chairman of Hardis and Dromedas Manufacturing Company, Obidigbo observed that increase in salary should go together with a commensurate increase in production, stressing that the success of any administration hinges on economic productivity and the number of people employed.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS

Okowa restates commitment to building stronger Delta From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has sworn in five Special Advisers assuring them that their knowledge and experience will improve the performance of his administration.

For their part, the new appointees assured the governor of their support, pledging to work loyally with him to move Delta to the next level.

Shortly after swearing the advisers at the Government House, Asaba on Friday, the governor said, “Special Advisers play important roles in our democratic setting; they are carefully selected for their specific policy expertise and ability to skillfully navigate the layers of bureaucracy and partisan viewpoints to deliver on the administration’s goals and objectives. Modern statecraft places a demand on them to lessen the burden of the demanding and complex workload of the Chief Executive.”

Those sworn-in as Special Advisers were, Prof. Sylvester Monye (Senior

Policy Adviser), Dr Kingsley Emu (Chief Economic Adviser), Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (Housing and Human Development), Rt. Hon Emmanuel Okoro (Rural and Community Development) and Hon. Efe Ofoburuku (Legislative Matters).

Noting that his first tenure ended on a high on most sectors, he admitted that “we cannot afford to rest on our oars because, the next four years promise to be as fulfilling as it would be challenging.

We must think outside the box in order to proffer creative solutions to unexpected developments as we march forward.

“This administration is willing to work with Deltans at home and in the diaspora as we welcome suggestions that will help us better the lot of our people and make our beloved State the pride of all.”

Prof. Sylvester Monye thanked the Governor for believing in their abilities to contribute to the success stories of his administration and assured that they will do their best to contribute towards achieving a Stronger Delta.

The pledge of support and loyalty by political appointees came from Prof

Patrick Muoboghare, a member of the Delta State Executive Council, who assured Deltans that members of the State Executive Council have keyed into the governor’s second term manifesto and would help the governor drive the implementation process of the manifesto.

At a reception at the weekend after his swearing in a commissioner, Muoboghare claimed that best is yet to come from the administration and enjoined Deltans to remain supportive to the Okowa led government.

Muoboghare noted that commissioners are Chief Special Advisers to the Governor at the various assigned ministries and would be guided by the body language of the Governor to understand and appreciate how he wants to go about fulfilling the promises he made to Deltans.

The don, who served as the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education during the second tenure of former governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, promised to assist in building a stronger Delta.t

Ukah resumes as education Commissioner in Delta From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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elta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah has urged the management and staff of the ministry to be serious with their duties in order to sustain the development strides in the education sector during the first tenure of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Making the charge Friday at a meeting with management and staff of the ministry, Ukah said that the education sub sector was part of the key programme of the SMART Agenda of the administration and the Government would continue to place more priority in construction and renovation of schools in the State.

Ukah, a former Commissioner for Information commended the staff of the ministry for their diligence and asked them not to relax as he assured that he would do all he need do to succeed in his new assignment.

Samsung wins award for Egina Job

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Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (5th right) his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah rtd, (2nd left) Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Tonye Isenah (left) and the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite (3rd right) pose with a cross section of PhD holders during a presentation and automatic employment of PhD holders/Medical Doctors and 1st Class Graduates from Bayelsa State and Ijaw Speaking Communities in Nigeria at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa. Photo by Lucky Francis

amsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) has won the Project of the Year award at the African Assembly, organized by the Oil and Gas Council in Paris.

SHIN received the award in partnership with Total for its work on the Egina FPSO, located offshore Nigeria. This is not the first award the pair has received at the African Assembly, the also won 2018’s Breakthrough Deal of the Year”.

The company beat out other nominees that included Eland Oil & Gas, ExxonMobil, and ENI. Speaking at the ceremony Wesley Johnson, VP of Corporate Development, EMEA of the Oil and Gas Council said, “We are impressed by SHIN’s endeavors and it is no surprise that such achievement should be celebrated on an international stage. I believe it means a lot for Nigeria, revealing the potential of Nigerian resources and the heights of success and development that can be reached with the right effort.”

Okowa harps on need for functional healthcare facilities From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has said that with the installation of functional and effective health care facilities in the country, the movement of Nigerians to other countries on health matters would reduce.

The governor, who made the observation when the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Abdulkaziz Mashi Abdulahi visited him in Asaba, the state capital, at the weekend, said, “when you are able to take care of the health needs of your people, you will see less movement of Nigerians travelling overseas.”

Okowa commended the Federal

Government for releasing counterpart fund for the basic healthcare fund and urged other state governors to make the counterpart funding of their state in order to fast-track more development and more improvements in the health sector.

He disclosed that the National Health Act was well structured to take care of the health needs of Nigerians and that the inclusion of a minimum of one per cent of the national budget for the Basic Health Care Fund and its subsequent implementation by the Federal Government will greatly improve facilities and services in the health institutions of the country.

He said: “The health of our people is very important and this fund even when it is not adequate, will help provide basic

care for all Nigerians, especially the vulnerable through proper disbursement.

“The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has a lot of work to do to ensure that funds are appropriately channeled. As a state government, we are already funding the compulsory health insurance scheme of people who are in the vulnerable group; we have received over 500, 000 enrollees from the formal and non-formal sector and with the release of the Basic Healthcare Fund to the states, we hope to surpass our target of one million enrollees by the 2023.”

Mr Abdullahi said they were in the state for the flag-off of the Basic Healthcare Fund and commended the state administration for recording giant strides in the health sector.

•Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

NEWS

Ikpeazu engages AFREXIM Bank on completion of Geometric Power project BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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bia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has held talks with the management of AFREXIM Bank on the need for quick realization of Geometric Power Project in Aba. However, details of Ikpeazu’s followup meeting with the Managing Director, IntraAfrican Trade Unit of the Egypt-based AFREXIM Bank, Dr. Kanayo Awani in Cairo, were not given, The Oracle Today gathered that

execution of the power project has recorded substantial progress since AFREXIM got involved in financing the private power project in which a former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has interest.

Ikpeazu is helping to facilitate a loan from the bank to enable Geometric complete the power project which is designed to supply electricity to Aba, especially now that the Enyimba Economic City is being established.

Speaking during the meeting, Ikpeazu assured

34 corps members rescind relocation from Anambra

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o fewer than 34 Batch B corps members u n d e r g o i n g orientation course in Anambra have rescinded their earlier decision to relocate from the state.

Mr Kehinde Aremu, Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) made the disclosure during the Cultural Carnival organised for them at the temporary Orientation Camp on Saturday.

Aremu said the activities on camp especially the knowledge of culture and ways of major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria had made them to appreciate the beauty of cultural interaction as well as relaxed some of the prejudices they haboured from their homes.

The coordinator said about 300 applications to relocate to other states were received.

“In the last four days, 34 corps members who applied to relocate from Anambra have withdrawn such application saying that they want to stay back and serve Nigeria in the state as well as learn more about the Anambra spirit.

“We have graciously granted their request and I can assure them that

they will be glad for the decision they made.

“Our beauty as a country is in our diversity and that is why NYSC has thought it wise to expose our youths to these cultures; each platoon was assigned a particular culture to study and showcase; I must commend them for executing their tasks so well,” he said.

Aremu urged the corps members to apply their knowledge of the orientation course and become part of communities they found themselves for their Places of Primary Assignment.

He also encouraged the corps members to explore the skill area they were thought during the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme for their economic advantage.

On her part, Mrs Ifeoma Nwafor, Chairman of the Carnival Planning Committee thanked the corps members for their cooperation during the build up to the event.

Nwafor said that NYSC had created mini Nigeria on camp with so much lesson for the larger society to learn.

that his administration would continue to vigorously pursue strategic collaborations for development of Abia.

In a statement made available to The Oracle Today and endorsed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Barr.

Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu said Abia has great potentials for growth and development, especially in the area of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

According to the governor, these potentials have created opportunities for great partnerships between Abia and international financial institutions such as AFREXIM Bank.

Ememanka explained that Ikpeazu also used the opportunity to discuss details of the outlay and prospects of the Enyimba

Economic City project as well as infrastructure projects in Abia with the Bank Chief.

“We are not unaware of the role continental financial institutions such as the AFREXIM Bank play in the development of the economies of African countries.

“We are fully aware of the key roles played by strategic collaborations between countries, federating units of countries on the one hand, and financial institutions such as yours.

“Our people are eager for development and our government will explore fully the opportunities available from such collaborations for the development of our state,” the governor was quoted as saying.

“Abia State,” Ikpeazu continued, “has great

potential for growth and development especially in the areas of SMEs. Opportunities exist for great partnerships between our state and institutions such as the AFREXIM Bank, and we look forward to working together on so many fronts.”

Managing Director of AFREXIM’s Intra African Trade Unit, Awani, assured the Governor of the Bank’s readiness to partner with his administration for the development of the State.

Abia is the 16th state to key into the programme in the country.

Speaking on Thursday’s formal launching of the programme in the state, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Barr.

Onyebuchi Ememanka, described it as another evidence of Ikpeazu’s networking prowess.

“One of the defining strategies of the Ikpeazu administration is the engagement with International Development Partners for the good of our people.

“Since his election in 2015, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has made this collaboration a key strategy of his development plan.

Under his watch, several programs and projects have come up. Ikpeazu has keyed into these programs and has followed up with ensuring that Abia meets up with all the conditions set by these agencies, including the prompt payment of counterpart funds.

The World Bank in particular has found in Abia, a strong development partner, and in Ikpeazu, a willing and committed leader,” Ememanka said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) with the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi after a meeting the representatives of the Technical Committee of National Executive Council (NEC) on the Farmers/herders crisis, National Food Security Council & Senior Officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on National Livestock Transformation Plan issues I Abuja, Tuesday

Peace, unity key factors of national development –Ikpeazu

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bia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has identified peace and unity as key factors for facilitating sustained national development.

Ikpeazu said this on Friday when members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Aba Depot, paid him a visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba. The governor said that every Nigerian had a responsibility to be patriotic by supporting causes that would encourage positive

growth and productivity.

“There is reason for every citizen to reflect on the essence of their existence in their environment, and the contributions that can make the nation a better place.

“If you are not mindful of the environment and don’t contribute to its socio-economic growth, everyone will be affected when things go bad,’’ he said.

He said that the state government would continue to evolve developmental

programmes and policies to create an environment conducive for small and medium scale enterprises to thrive.

Ikpeazu disclosed that the construction of Ekeakpara-Owerrinta road would commence on July 12 in order to bring a permanent solution to the poor state of the road and alleviate the suffering of the people in the area.

He said that the road construction would boost business activities, adding that the road was strategic considering that it led to the Aba Depot of

NNPC. He added that the state government had decided to change its funding plan to fast track the completion of road projects in the state.

The governor commended the IPMAN leadership for their commitment to peaceful coexistence within their ranks as an association.

He pledged to fulfill his promise to transform the petroleum sector in the state.

Earlier, Mr Bobby Eberechi-Dick, the Chairman of IPMAN in

Aba Depot, appealed to the state government to expedite action in fixing the damaged EkeakparaOwerrinta road.

“We have been experiencing some challenges with the pipeline in Aba and for the past two, AGO and DPK have not been received in Aba Depot,’’ EberechiDick said.

He called on the state government to find sustainable solutions to the challenges affecting the petroleum products business in the state.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

POLITICS

By EJEVIOME ELOHO OTOBO and OSELOKA H. OBAZE

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n the eve of the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Heads of State that took place on the 7th of July 2019 in Niamey, Niger; the federal government announced that it would sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This created audible sighs of relief around the region. Nigeria’s delay in signing that treaty – and its entry into force without her ratification – had raised questions as to whether Nigeria was abdicating her leadership role on the continent and, more importantly, whether she can still be regarded as a regional hegemon.

Long before now, Nigeria was accepted as a regional hegemon – a natural leader and voice for the African continent and West Africa in particular. That position devolved on her via her oil riches, demographics, Afrocentric policy assertiveness and the respect she had garnered as a responsible and proactive stakeholder in global affairs. The residual effect of the latter subsists as evidenced by the recent unanimous election of its incumbent permanent representative as the president of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Still Nigeria’s influence continues to wane in many important respects. Foreign policy begins at home. Whereas Nigeria is a recognized democracy, her seeming inability to use the democratic process to address its major political, economic and security challenges has adversely affected public confidence in, and international perception of, the stability of the country. Nothing illustrates this deficit of democratic process better than the number and frequency of military operations that have been launched to address various domestic challenges.

Equally, the high degree of lack of bipartisan orientation and discernible weakening of national cohesion portray Nigeria as a country experiencing severe turbulence. Nigeria’s dismal ranking in global indices of terrorism, fragility, corruption, insecurity, as well as the regional index on governance confirm this disturbing picture.

This unpromising national context is fur-

Is Nigeria still a regional hegemon? ther reinforced by the recent disclosure that Nigeria intends to close as many as 80 out of its 110 diplomatic missions due to paucity of funds. This was disclosed in early 2019 during the defence of the Foreign Ministry’s budget in the Senate, where it was revealed that the 2019 appropriations would only sustain 30 missions thus leaving 80 missions with zero-budget for FY2019. In actuality, the 2019 capital vote of N4.123billion for the missions reflected N7.209billion or 64 per cent reduction from the 2018 allocation of N11.333billion. Last May, four missions in SriLanka, Serbia, Ukraine and Czech Republic were closed, in what appears to be the first step of Nigeria’s retrenchment of its global diplomatic presence.

Pragmatic and cost-saving as it seems, such closures contribute to diminution of influence by reducing contacts, and trade representations since these missions serve a first line of interactions in the promotion of national strategic interests. Additionally, mission closures translate into lesser effectiveness of ancillary foreign policy institutions and agencies, such as Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Foreign Service Academy (FSA), Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) and Directorate for Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), which are all under the supervision of the ministry.

Nigeria’s active support for the liberation struggles in Southern Africa, in particular the fight against Apartheid, earned her a “frontline status”. In the 1980s and 90s Nigeria was renowned for international peacekeeping. In so doing, she played a critical role in consolidating peace in Africa and be-

yond. Nigeria led and singularly funded the first OAU peacekeeping operations in Chad in 1980. She played pivotal peacekeeping leadership and contingent roles in Namibia, Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia and later on Sudan, racking up at its zenith in 2008 over 6000 military, civilian police and experts’ deployment. Whereas Nigeria once was placed among the top 5 troops, police and experts contributing countries to UN Peacekeeping Operations; as of May 2019, she was contributing a paltry 338 military, police and mission experts, in eleven UN missions placing it at the 43rd position. The drastic reduction of

Nigeria’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping Operations was in response to its rising domestic security challenges.

Nigeria retains her niche as Africa’s largest economy with a GDP of $376.284bn, ahead of South Africa, ($349.299bn), Egypt ($237.037bn) and Algeria ($178.287bn).

However, she has failed to capitalize and translate such economic strength either in effective regional leadership or membership of growing blocs or economic networks. By contrast, South Africa is a member of G20, BRICS, and IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa). It ought to be disconcerting that since the inception of the African Union in 2002, Nigeria has not managed to secure an election into any of the Commissioners’ position at the African Union Commission.

At a time when the regional and global contexts are marked by much uncertainty and myriad challenges, Nigeria’s leadership role, especially in Africa, is all the more important and greatly needed. However, Nigeria’s regional hegemon position is under severe assault. A combination of factors is driving the onslaught including, her deteriorating fiscal situation, weak economic growth, domestic insecurity, a lack of robust elite consensus on the desired direction for the country, and a regional environment in which several actors – regional and extra regional – are jostling for influence.

Nigeria’s status as a regional hegemon risks further regression, absent the restructuring of its governance arrangements, creatively tackling its myriad security challenges, promoting inclusive economic growth, making significant strides in adapting new technologies to enhance its development pathway. The Africa in which Nigeria’s leadership was automatically acknowledged no longer exists. Nigeria will need to work much harder to re-assert its influence and be accepted again as a pre-eminent regional actor.

•Otobo is a Non-Resident Senior Expert at the Global Governance Institute, Brussels.

•Obaze is MD/CEO Selonnes Consult – a policy, governance and management consultancy firm, in Awka.

Oba of Benin and Obaseki-Oshiomhole ‘MAD’ project

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

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or the second time in a fortnight, I’m treating this issue not for its festering, but because Governor Godwin Obaseki and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole have spurned the pleas of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, to bury their political differences.

Rather, they’ve chosen the path of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) that doesn’t bode well for their platform - the All Progressives Congress (APC), and least of all the interest and well-being of the people and development of Edo State.

So, on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, the Omo N’Oba Nedo, at the head of a delegation of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, reported his “frustration” to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his intervention in the impasse.

He told the president: “We, as traditional rulers in Edo State, are concerned about the crisis between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and his Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, and Edo State House of Assembly.

“If this crisis is not resolved now, with immediate effect, it may jeopardize the progress of the state. On behalf of the good people of Edo State, we kindly appeal to Mr. President to use your good offices to intervene and stop this crisis.”

Even as he intimated the president that he doesn’t like to interfere in inter-party or intraparty matters, as “the Benin Crown is nonpartisan,” he said it’s difficult to turn a blind eye “because, if this crisis is not brought under control, it is likely to jeopardize the welfare of the masses.”

“This is why I, in my capacity as Chairman of Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and

Chiefs, supported by members of the Council, will endeavour to broker peace between the warring parties,” he said.

The watching public isn’t in the know if the Obaseki-Oshiomhole spat was principally the reason Oba Ewuare led a delegation to the president, as he (Oba) raised additional issues concerning the state and the Buhari administration.

However, that the Oba took the matter to President Buhari indicates his disappointment, and ostensibly annoyance at the refusal of two of the most prominent personalities in Edo State to heed his appeals and mend fences.

For the duo to ignore the revered Royal Majesty is a travesty of the age-long submission of Edo people to the traditional intercessory authority of the Oba (and the Enigies) of the kingdom.

If, Oshiomhole, now at the federal level, no longer has use for the “cover” given by the Oba to those that govern Edo State, Governor Obaseki, who’s barely two and half years in the saddle, and craves for a second term, needs the palace blessings and backing.

Recall Oba Ewuare’s prayer, three months to his crowning on October 20, 2016, when outgoing Governor Oshiomhole and members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), along with candidate Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Phillip Shuaibu, visited his palace.

Oshiomhole’s strategy was to present Obaseki, as the “next governor,” to the then Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa (Oba Ewuare II), who eulogized his “miraculous” achievements, “almost along the same line as the Governor of Lagos State at the time, (Babatunde) Fashola,” and “his (Oshiomhole’s) respect for the traditional institution.”

A photograph of that parley shows that as Oshiomhole stood speaking, and former Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, as Chairman of the PGF, sat on the right, both Obaseki and Shuaibu stood in the foreground, facing the Oba. Responding, Oba Ewuare wished “Mr. Godwin Obaseki well to be the next governor of Edo State,” adding: “So, we can only pray that may the Lord, God almighty, and our ancestors protect the gubernatorial candidates, and give them the wisdom to put food on the table of the masses. “Because for us, our first concern is the people, the masses.

“And, of course, he (Obaseki) will be a great respecter, like our Comrade Governor (Oshiomhole). I said he should do better than him, to be a great respecter of the traditional institution.”

It’s normal for Oba Ewuare to wish for another governor that would respect the traditional institution, as did Oshiomhole, whose veneration for the late Omo N’Oba Nedo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa, made him to be “adopted as a son,” and the palace became “his second home.”

Correspondingly, Oba Erediauwa endorsed the policies and programmes of Oshiomhole’s administration, including the infrastructural upgrade of Benin City, and particularly the expansion of the Airport Road that affected the palace wall.

It’s a taboo to touch such a monument, but Oba Erediauwa reportedly said that, “If the wall is going to prevent the expansion of the road, you (Oshiomhole) should remove it.”

That unprecedented gesture silenced the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had used, as a campaign tool, the alleged “provocative” plan by Oshiomhole’s government to pull down the fence, for the

road expansion.

Certainly, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa would have “handed over” Oshiomhole to his successor, Oba Ewuare II, to “take care of him.”

Perhaps, to enjoy a similar protective shield, Oshiomhole went to the palace, to introduce candidate Obaseki to the Oba. Against this background, why would both men, but particularly Governor Obaseki, defy the Oba’s advice and pleas to settle the political rift between them, to the extent that he had to externalize his frustration to President Buhari?

Where’s the “respect for the traditional institution” that the Oba desired from candidate Obaseki, if the governor couldn’t defer to the Royal Majesty as an arbiter in his quarrel with Oshiomhole? And did Oshiomhole’s respect for the Benin Throne end with the demise of Omo N’Oba Erediauwa?

The Obaseki camp may have won rounds one and two: Installation of (minority) presiding officers of the Edo House of Assembly, and the reported purging of Oshiomhole’s surrogates in the State Executive Council.

But how long can they sustain this “clapping with one hand” in the face of a very potent and formidable opposition PDP that stung like the bee the last time on February 23, 2019?

It’s time to reconcile, especially as Oba Ewuare II, who Obaseki and Oshiomhole couldn’t respect his mediatory role, has placed the case before the APC leader, President Buhari, to settle.

• Mr. Ezomon, journalist and media consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria and can be reached on 08033078357.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

INTERVIEW I have curbed criminality in Second-Hand Motor Spare Parts Market in Anambra– Ezeobodo Ogbuevi Samuel Okechukwu Samuel Ezeobodo is the Chairman of Old Motor Spare Parts Association, Ugwuagba Obosi, a.k.a Mgbuka Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. In this interview with OGE ONYEANUSI, he speaks on the effort his administration is making to curb crimes and criminialities in the spare parts market. .

How long have you been the chairman of Old Motor Spare Parts Association ,Ugwuagba Obosi, known as ( Mgbuka Obosi) in Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra Stat?

I have been the chairman of the SecondHand Motor Spare Parts Market Association, Mgbuka Obosi for nine months. I took over from the previous administration in November last year. Frankly speaking, every leader learns on a daily basis. New level of leadership position, new learning process and there is need for adjustment of behaviours towards the subjects. Since I came in as a chairman, there has been relative peace in the market. The traders conduct themselves credibly to my own assessment. That does not mean there were no pockets of misbehaviour, but we try to settle them amicably once they arise. I control it by ensuring that the dos and don’ts of the market are fairly, credibly and judiciously implemented. Nobody is given preferential treatment or taken undue advantage of because of his position.

Everybody’s right is respected including that of customers.

sioner does go round the market, identify and tackle their problems headlong.

What is your administration’s roadmap for the market?

Yes, I have four years to lead the market in a tenure, and people believe that infrastructure is the bedrock of assessment of every leader. Within the nine months of my administration, I have done palliative work on two major roads that lead to the market. Before, the road was impassable, but after the palliative work, container enters without hitches.

So, in a nutshell, I have achieved stable peace and security, passable roads for now, and the near completion of our hall, among others in the market.

The Anambra State government, under Obiano’s administration gave each market N10million for development. Has your market received hers and what use did you put it to?

The truth is that before my administration, before the Anambra State governorship election in 2018, the governor gave each market N10million for development projects and the predecessor said that the money was used to deck our hall. So, personally I have not received such disbursement since the inception of my administration.

Illegal erection of lockup shops is one of the problems often experienced by other markets, do you have similar experience here?

You know Second-Hand Motor Spare Parts Market Association, Mgbuka Obosi is a private market. It was relocated from Ochanja in 1984 to its present site at Obosi. Obosi people sold land to individuals who in turn built and own shops clearly demarcated by surveyor. So, the problem of illegal structure will not arise as nobody will build beyond the boundary of his purchased land.

How do you curtail the activities of Illegal revenue collectors in the market?

When I came in as the chairman, I noticed that there was a lot of unauthorized and unaccounted revenue collection in the market and I stopped it. I even stopped the authorized revenue collectors from collecting money from itinerant traders, food hawkers, corn roasters, among other such class of traders in the market who used to pay as from 250 naira and above daily. I made is a rule that if anybody caught deviating from the order, such perpetrator will be punished in addition to the refund of money so collected, to the owner.

What is the level of security put in place in the market and how often do you experi-

•Ezeobodo ence the incidence of stealing here, if any?

It is the responsibility of the market leader to ensure adequate security of property of the marketers. In the Second-Hand Motor Spare Parts Market Association, Mgbuka Obosi, we have credible security personnel.

We not only protect the wares of the traders but also ensure that customers within the market are protected with their money.

Apart from pockets of misplacement of goods by the marketers, which we do resolve, there has been no major incidence of robbery, burglary or other related social vices since the inception of my administration in the market.

How is the relationship between the market and the State government?

We have a very cordial relationship. Governor Obiano is a good manager of persons and resources naturally. He treats everybody equal irrespective of your social background.

He gives to market B what market A got, just as he disbursed equal amount to all the communities in the state whether large or small, same applicable to markets. So, the relationship is cordial and the traders are happy. I am particularly happy that the present commissioner for Commerce, Dr. Christian Madubuko is emulating the good gesture of the governor. He neither discriminates nor denies any market its statutory rights. The commis-

What is your advice to traders and their customers?

I advised customers to always report any misconduct or ill-treatment emanating from their business dealings in the market, to our office. They should shun resorting to police or other law enforcement agency over any perceived or real infractions on their rights in the market by traders and or any other category of operators in the market. We have credible and experienced executive members who can handle such conflict to the satisfaction of parties involved. Our article of trade is spare parts produced outside the country which may be far from being perfect. So, if there is any malfunction of the goods purchased in the market, We should be able to settle such a problem amicably in our office. I also advise traders to know that customers are the essence of their existence and progress in this market, so they deserve utmost respect and value for their money. I have sounded the warning many times that on no account should a trader deliberately sell substandard goods to the customer, because if such person is caught, he will be dealt with excessively, as one good turn, they say, deserves another.

Strong personalities versus strong institutions (2)

By DONS EZE Have we ever considered why many Igbo who served in various capacities in government had not been able to do anything for the Igbo? It does not mean that these people hate the Igbo or were unwilling to do anything for them. It is either that the system has overwhelmed them, or that they were out to build themselves in power, to accumulate wealth in line with others before them.

When Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Premier of Eastern Region, he was very useful to the Igbo. That was the time he established the University of

Nigeria, founded African Continental Bank, established Nigercem, Nkalagu, etc., but when he became President of Nigeria and went to Lagos, he became far removed from the people and was no longer as useful to the people as he used to be. Attention then shifted to his successor, Dr. M.I. Okpara.

It was at that time that Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Sarduana of Sokoto, who was the leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), would rather stay in Kaduna as Premier of the Northern Region than come to Lagos to become Prime Minister. He nominated his deputy, Alhaji Abuba-

kar Tafawa Balewa and sent him to Lagos to become Prime Minister of Nigeria. That time, residual powers were in the regions, rather than in the omnibus entity called Nigeria.

The point we are trying to make is that Igbo Presidency would be of no use to the Igbo under the existing unitary structure of the country, where the system would not allow such a President to do anything for his people. Such a President may have all the powers in the world, may have access to all the country’s resources to make himself a strong personality, but he would be caged and unable to do anything for his people outside

what the existing law permits, what the constitution allows.

Therefore, the Igbo are, or should be, less interested in what is going on in Abuja than what is happening in Igboland. They prefer the creation or the establishment of strong democratic institutions that will give the Igbo a sense of belonging to the creation of a strong Igbo man or an ‘Igbo President’ who would not be able to do anything for the Igbo because of the many hedges around him.

Dr. EZE, veteran journalist lives in Abuja.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

Ezeibe’s feat, celebrating the unyielding spirit of Ndigbo

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ET us ponder this staccato of questions against the background of the uncertainty of direction of the Igbo. Does my belief in Biafra diminish me from aspiring to be President of Nigeria.

Are Ndigbo trapped in a deadening hate, self-pity? Are our fathers who prosecuted the Civil War better off than us today? Have the Igbo a beggarly people as Obi Nwakanma wrote in an article: “Igbo dilemma: scaling up the conversation.” Are we, an “inferior Igbo people’’ just waiting, as Nwakanma wrote?

Can anyone be found in Igbo land of today who can compare with the legendary Zik of Africa, the courage of M.I. Okpara, Ojukwu, Mbakwe, Okadigbo or Ojike? Is it true that Ndigbo are only good at crying over marginalization rather than place Biafra in the World map with their achievements?

The article by Nwakanma, a Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Central Florida, would have been tagged utopian, but on second thought, I agree with him that Ndigbo have slacked in galvanising their strengths for the collective good of the people. Have Ndigbo lost their spirits of innovation, entrepreneurship and ingenuity?

Nwakanma’s piece was wake up call on Ndigbo to be united.

Has Nwakanma heard of the exploits of Ndigbo youngies at Silicon Valley, in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California?

Five young girls from Regina Pacis Secondary School Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria -Promise Nnalue, Jessica Osita, Nwabuaku Ossai, Adaeze Onuigbo and Vivian Okoye - represented Nigeria and Africa at the World Technovation Challenge in the Silicon Valley in San Francisco. They returned home with the Gold Medal, beating other youngsters from over 2,000 applications in the World. They developed a mobile application called the FD-Detector to help tackle the challenge of fake pharmaceutical products.

A few weeks later, four boys from Anambra won a bronze medal in Tunisia at the African Science and Technology competition (IFES).

The boys - Ugwuishi Meshack Ogonna, Chuka-Umeora Anthony, Machi Dominic and Nwachukwu Daniel - are students of St John’s Science and Technical School, Alor, Anambra.

They placed third out of 31 African countries with their two devices, the Adaptable Alternative Power Supply for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is a single, fullypackaged solar technology and another noiseless inverter system all sourced and produced locally.

Their School Manager, Rev Dr Francis Unegbu, said that about 251 projects were showcased at the competition from 40 countries across the world.

In

CORNUCOPIA

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Telephone number: 08060750240

E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has broken a jinx of electricity generation by using organic waste to install 100KVA Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) gasification plant for its Nsukka campus. The project was the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Prof Emenike Ejiogu of Department of Electrical Engineering led the research team on the plant. He noted that the project was designed and fabricated under special grant by Prof Benjamin Ozumba, former Vice-Chancellor. UNN had shone through Professor Njoku Obi of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, who founded effective an effective Cholera vaccine, which has helped in curbing the spread of the illness.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, lauded the feat, saying that the invention was clearly another attestation of the ingenuity of Ndigbo and is most remarkable at a time the relevance of fossil energy was diminishing.

The Igbo nation has offered much to the world in all spheres of knowledge, but the people have been subjected to humiliating and agonizing situations. There are many who believe that if Igbo leaders had galvanized their cerebral resources, Ndigbo would have startled West Africa if not Africa. What has happened in the interim is that they continue to pull one another down rather than encourage self-efforts. Are Ndigbo hurting themselves and busy blaming everyone for our condition?

The Civil war witnessed the emergence of indigenous Igbo technology, an indication that Biafra is a blessing and not a curse to Nigeria. Their ingenuity came to bear and they built the Uli airstrip, repaired it when it was bombed; refined petrol from variety of nonfossil fuels including palm fruits; manufactured surface to surface war missiles aka Ogbunigwe and converted commercial planes to fighter jets, as well as building the first Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in Black Africa. Nicknamed Red Devil in 1967 it was in used long before the Nigerian Army in 2012

•Prof. Maduike Ezeibe

rolled out ‘Igirigi.’

Ndigbo ingenuity continues to suffer. Entrepreneur, business magnate and investor, Ifediaso Chukwuma is the founder and CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria’s first indigenous automobile manufacturing company. They are punishing him today. His vehicle manufacturing company is in Nnewi. What happened to Izuogu Motors Factory is what is happening with Innossion. Innoson survived but Izuogu didn’t.

They are dealing with Innoson whose contribution to the automobile industry in Nigeria and beyond is amazing. His is being frustrated whereas his likes are supported by the Federal Government. Why can’t the Federal Government support Innoson?

Ezekiel Izuogu constructed the first all African car but was frustrated. Before Jelani Aliyu, from Sokoto State responsible for designing the new GM’s futuristic Chevy Volt, Izuogu had designed Z600, which prototype hit the TV screens 10 ten years ago. They sabotaged Izuogu’s intellectual property as some faceless people raided his project’s site at Owerri and removed the design history and moulds of the Z600 worth over N1 billion. Izuogu and his project faded in the public memory and that dream died?

Izuogu, by 1997, invented the first African car Z600, codenamed ‘African dream machine’ by the

BBC , and put it up for sale at $1800 per unit. Izuogu’s car got clean bill of health from the late Abacha’s 12 man panel; that was five years before India built their Indi. The Federal Government, represented

by Oladipo Diya, promised Izuogu a grant of N235 million before over 20 foreign ambassadors. What happened to that grant? This is certainly a million dollar question.

And then we have Prof. Maduike Ezeibe, the Head of Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. In February 2017, he announced that he had found a cure for the HIV/AIDS scourge.

First, he appealed to the Federal Government to assist him secure international patent for the drug; he got a national patent in 2014 but he needs the international patent before his research efforts are hijacked.

Does any care to consider the fact that Nigeria would benefit from royalties accruing from the drug as no other known therapy has so far been developed anywhere for the treatment of HIV/ AIDS? The Director-General, NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu, and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a joint statement dismissed the claims by Ezeibe as untenable. NACA and NCDC jointly said Ezeibe did not get clearance from them to conduct the research, but confirmed that the drugs

healed “evidently vulnerable patients’’ who gave their consent to be administered the drugs. Why the blackmail by NACA and NCDC? However, the Senate intervened and the Federal Government set up a joint committee to investigate Ezeibe’s claims of discovering the Medicinal Synthetic AluminumMagnesium Silicate (MSAMS), which normalizes immunity and terminates HIV-infections. They were convinced.

The committee came up with the recommendation that funds be made available to Ezeibe to carry out more research into his findings. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, honoured Ezeibe as an inventor last year, with a grant of N350,000. Laughable, but that was all Ezeibe got. What is N350,000 for an research with huge benefits when TERTFUND avails millions of naira for some lecturers without any attachment to their names as inventors to study abroad in Ivy League universities?

Ezeibe’s research was at its last stage, which required testing the drug on about 300,000 HIV patients at the cost of N71 per patient per day and needed funds for production of the drugs. Can N350,000 handle this? This has gone beyond Ezeibe.

The World has accepted Prof Ezeibe’s works but Nigeria is busy frustrating his efforts to get international patent. When will Nigeria begin to celebrate her own?

Ezeibe said that the two minerals used in developing the drug aluminum silicate, and magnesium silicate are in large deposits in Abia State. What can the management of MOUAU, and the Abia Government do to assist harness the full benefits of his scientific exploit?

Ezeibe, from Isiala Ngwa, Abia invented drug for bird flu in 2008 and explained that he started research on the therapy for HIV/AIDS since 1995 but had a breakthrough in 2011. The drugs have been used on over 500 HIV/ AIDS patients including a Jamaican and they have all been confirmed free. What are we waiting for to place Nigeria’s name on the map of drug invention? The results of the laboratory tests were presented and accepted at the 2015 World Virology conference in Atlanta, as well as the 2016 Antonio Conference in Texas. Why not Nigeria?

The Professor challenged those doubting his claims to engage him in a scientific debate or assemble experts for verification instead of dismissing his hard labour and years of studious research, without a superior argument. He is appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to come to his rescue with an international patent, after former president, Goodluck Jonathan enabled him in 2014 with a national patent.

A leading diagnostic laboratory, Seeding Labs, in the US chose Ezeibe, as the personality to celebrate. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seeding Labs, Nina Dudnik, extolled the don for “giving hope to the world.”

If international bodies including those in the USA are paying compliments to the Nigerian HIV/AIDS medicine invented by Prof Ezeibe, why not Nigeria’s regulatory agencies and the Federal Government, since the international recognition is a proof that Ezeibe’s claim (that Nigeria has found cure for HIV/AIDS) is convincing to the world? Why wait to celebrate Prof Ezeibe?

•Phone Number: 08060750240 e-mail: odogwuchampionawka@ yahoo.co.uk

19

BU$IN£SS The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

FG carries N5.2 trn liability in petroleum industry

Energy

Egina boosts Nigeria’s oil output with full capacity P22

By Sopuruchi Onwuka

T

he incoming Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, will have to evolve ingenious ways of managing a complex mix of joint venture cash call debts and project funding liabilities totaling $14.322 billion or N5.156 trillion.

Whereas part of the warehoused joint cash call arrears owed government’s partner in the conventional terrains of the upstream petroleum industry , the bulk of the financial commitments associate with third party project funding arrangements and debt financing.

According to a list of financial commitments the corporation currently runs with diverse partners in the industry, the management of NNPC will bother with offsetting the balance of $3.0 billion or N1.08 trillion debts owed government’s joint venture partners in the industry.

The rest will involve intricate management of diverse agreements that build a total financial commitment of $11.322 billion or N4.076 trillion.

The $3.0 billion or N1.08 trillion liability emerge from the remaining part of the accumulated $5.0 billion or N1.8 trillion cash call arrears warehoused by the corporation since 2015 when there was reconciliation and renegotiation of the piling debts that stalled work programmes in the upstream joint venture operations across the sector.

In a valedictory speech at the 2019 Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference (NOG), outgoing Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, declared that the corporation was able to pay $2.0 billion or N720 billion to offset debts to few joint venture partners in the period.

He said the payment was to

AVIATION

African airlines grow air freight capacity by 13.4%

P26

e-Platform

Fidelity Bank shines at PWM Global Wealth Tech awards

P27

• GMD, NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari encourage the existing players in the industry, particularly the traditional JV partners, in calculated efforts towards sustaining investment and renewing investor confidence.

He said the corporation, while avoiding the direct cash call debts, evolved venture based financing options to fund new projects that demand investment of over $11.322 billion or N4.076 trillion.

The new projects that took debt financing 2015 and 2017, he listed, include the the $1.2 billion multi-year drilling financing package from 2015 to 2018 for 23 onshore and 13 offshore wells in OMLs 49, 90 and 95 under the NNPC/Chevron JV. Next, he listed, is the $1.0 billion or N360 billion project with Shell; $780 million or N280.8 billion project with Chevron; and $700 or N252 billion project finance with First E& P JV and Schlumberger.

He said new third party

CBN Exchange Rates As At Thursday, June 20, 2019 Currency Buying(₦) US DOLLAR 305.95 Pounds Sterling 401.3146 EURO 346.1518 SWISS FRANC 305.0653 YEN 2.731 CFA 0.509 WAUA 424.7326 YUAN/RENMINBI 45.6075 RIYAL 81.5801 S/AFRICAN RAND 21.8806 DANISH KRONA 46.3673 SDR 425.3317

•Tourism

funding transactions totaling $1.8 billion or N648 billion for government’s joint venture projects with Shell and ExxonMobil were substantially over-subscribed.

Dr. Baru explained that NNPC/ SPDC Santolina III Project has an estimated cost of about $500 million or N180 billion; while the NNPC/MPN Satellite Field Development II Project has an estimated cost of $1.3 billion or N468 billion out of which NNPC to raise $700 million or N252 billion in third party financing.

Another project driven with third party financing, according to Dr. Baru, is the NNPC/NAOC Okpai II Independent Power Plant (IPP) project with estimated cost of circa $658.42 million or N237.03 billion.

He said the NNPC/TEPNG Ikike development project would be funded with $473.4 million or N170.424 billion through prepayment for gas by NLNG, adding that the price balance is to

flow to the Federation Account.

Another $2.5 billion or N900 billion is captured in a framework agreement between NNPC and NLNG to fund NNPC’s portion of cash call on upstream gas supply projects for SPDC, TEPNG and NAOC JVs. “We have,also, initiated negotiations for the Financing and Technical Services Agreements (FTSAs) for identified NPDC Assets - OMLs 13, 65 and 111. As you may be aware, NPDC currently contributes about 8% of current national daily production.

Further developments from these assets and NPDC JV assets are expected to move NPDC to over 300bopd equity.

“We have progressed negotiations with EPC Contractors and potential Chinese lenders on the third party financing for the AjaokutaKaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project of $2.89Billion,” he declared.

Money Market

CBN to fund creative industry with N23bn, unveils guidelines for funding

P29 Equity & Capital Market

Airtel Africa set to list on NSE P230

STOCK MARKET HIGHLIGHT AS AT THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

Summary

Central (₦) Selling(₦) ASI 29,851.29 DEALS 3,089.00 306.45 306.95 VOLUME 189,956,606.00 401.9705 402.6263 VALUE N4,161,622,651.03 346.7175 347.2832 EQUITY CAP N13,154,608,527,766.64 305.5639 306.0624 BOND CAP N12,506,600,342,304.10 ETF CAP N0.00 2.7354 2.7399 0.519 0.529 Top 5 Trade 425.4267 426.1208 S/N Coy (By Volume) Value(N) 45.6824 45.7574 1. ZENITHBANK 29,647,644 N592,873,874.25 81.7135 81.8468 2. GUARANTY 22,422,975 N700,200,184.80 3. WAPCO 14,776,254 N170,665,733.70 21.9164 21.9521 4. ACCESS 12,277,737 N84,380,584.75 46.4431 46.5189 5.

MTNN 9,756,433 N1,268,436,763.00 426.0268 426.7219

5 Top Gainers Symbols SEPLAT MOBIL NB DANGCEM WAPCO

Last Close N497 N164.5 N57.5 N182 N10.5

Current Change N510 13 N170 5.5 N60 2.5 N184 2 N11.55 1.05

%Change 2.62% 3.34% 4.35% 1.10% 10.00%

5 Top Losers NESTLE STANBIC CAP AFRIPRUD FIDELITYBK

N1400 N1350.3 N41.5 N40.65 N27.9 N27.5 N3.54 N3.41 N1.8 N1.73

-49.7 -0.85 -0.4 -0.13 -0.07

-3.55% -2.05% -1.43% -3.67% -3.89%

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

EDITORIAL

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Questions about the ‘Ruga’ Affair T

he federal government has set social media those who may be willing to sell theirs? inhabitants for land and other privileges. and a large part of the nation on fire with its Second, the federal government and its agents have There are valid reasons, therefore, for many to be plan to build “Ruga” settlements for cattle sceptical about the federal government’s motives. publicly declared that the “bandits” currently herders in every state. Until it offered explanaFor four years of the Buhari administration, it has terrorising crop farmers in parts of the country tions last Sunday through a statement signed by shown an unusual interest in the welfare of cattle. are foreigners. They have sacked several villages, Garba Shehu, the news was that each of NigeThat is a misplacement of priority: the welfare of murdered thousands of Nigerians and taken ria’s 36 states was to mandatorily give up large human beings should come first. Here is a governover their lands without receiving condemnaexpanses of land in six locations for the project. ment that has not completed any visible project in tions from the federal government. Kaduna But the statement from the Presidency suggests four years and yet eager to build estates and busiState governor Nasir el-Rufai once claimed that that only 12 northern states have offered to have ness premises for cattle herders. Between herdshis government had to appease these foreign“Ruga” and that no state would be compelled to men and people displaced by Boko Haram and ers so they would stop killing Nigerians. Are host one. The 12 states have yet to be named. “bandits”, who are needier? Has the government these AK 47-wielding herdsmen the same people “Ruga” has been “suspended”, not cancelled. In its rebuilt homes set aflame by the terrorists? The “Ruga” settlements would be prepared for? Are place, according to reports, will be the National wounds inflicted on the victims of Fulani herdsmen they being appeased, once again, in order, as Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) approved are still festering; this is the time to placate the Shehu’s release claimed, “to curb open grazing by the National Economic Council. Only recently, victims and not time to add insult to injury. of animals that continue to pose security threats former President Olusegun Obasanjo alerted the Not long ago, it was reported that the federal governto farmers and herders” and reduce “conflicts nation to a plot of “Fulanisation” and “Islamiment had handed Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body between herders and farmers”? If the foreigners sation” of Nigeria by the Muhammadu Buhari of cattle herders, N100billion. The government are Fulani from other African nations, have they government. “Ruga” perfectly lends credence to denied it, but an official of Miyetti Allah confirmed been arrested and prosecuted for the several the existence of such a plot. that, indeed, they requested more than N150billion. crimes they have committed against bona fide South-east and south-south governors are united If government has not given the herders N100bilNigerians? Do they hold valid visas or Nigerian in their opposition to “Ruga”, as are most lion, then, the nation ought to know how “Ruga” passports? Are their rifles licensed or do they south-west and north-central states. And an would be funded. Besides, the government should possess AK 47 illegally? overwhelming majority of opinions in the media Third, Shehu said the “Ruga” programme is volunprove its neutrality as different groups in the counand elsewhere are clearly against the scheme try take their stands on “Ruga”. It ought to have tary as “there is no government plan to seize state because they suspect an ulterior motive on the arrested members of a northern group that gave land, colonize territory or impose Ruga on any part of the government at the centre. We belong a 30-day ultimatum for the implementation of the part of the federation”. Is Benue one of the states to this majority. project nationwide. that have voluntarily approved “Ruga” even after The minority canvassing “no harm” in having Maybe the federal government just wanted to test the the state House of Assembly has since enacted “Ruga” across the nation should answer a few waters by flying a kite. The result is clear enough: a law banning cattle colonies? Yet, contracts for questions. almost all non-Fulani Nigerians reject “Ruga” and the construction of “Ruga” in Benue have alFirst, “Ruga” is a Fulani word for “home”. If the setwhatever it represents. Public funds (obtained ready been awarded and signposts indicating the tlement will be for herders of all animals from mainly from oil in the south-east and south-south) Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develevery part of the country, why does it not bear should not be used to support the private busiopment as clients of the contractors have been different names in different states? And if only 12 nesses of the Fulani under any guise. NLTP is likely erected. A permanent secretary from the ministry northern states have accepted to build “Ruga”, to be rejected too. has since confirmed that there was a directive to what is stopping them? If history is any guide, erect “Ruga” without due consultations with the we know that Fulani settlers in parts of the government and people of each state.

Our Vision country have never relocated from anywhere Fourth, the Nigerian constitution vests ownership of TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nithey set foot on. After a few decades in Jos, land on state governments. Whose land is the fedsouthern Kaduna, Ilorin and other places, they eral government going to seize in order to build geria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; created emirates and struggled with the original “Ruga”? Will it acquire land by force or buy it from to be a newspaper of records that effective-

ly 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.

Culled from Asukwo blogshot.com

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 Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

OPINION

Bayelsa on my mind

By CHRIS EZE

L

ast week, three ugly events happened in Bayelsa. One was the botched election of the sociocultural organization of the Ijaw nation, the Ijaw National Congress, (INC).

The second was the dastard killing of four policemen including a Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) who was Superintendent of Police and three sergeants among whom was a pregnant personnel, while the third was the razing of the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Glory Fm by a ‘mystery’ fire.

One analyst recently described Bayelsa State as a citadel of ‘hot news’. As small as the state is when compared to other larger states, no other can dwarf Bayelsa when it comes to churning out bad news.

Of all the notable socio-ethnic groups in the country, there is none known to have overly politicized its internal mechanism of choosing their leaders like the Ijaw nation such that a sitting governor saw the installing of the president of the organization as a matter of life and death.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum, The Afenifere, Middlebelt Forum, etc, have on several occasions had course to change their leadership either by election or any other model acceptable to them. It has never been reported that one governor somewhere was breathing down the organization’s neck to return or ‘elect’ one candidate willynilly.

In the build-up to the botched INC election, the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson had at a meeting of notable Ijaw leaders in Warri, Delta State urged other aspirants to the INC presidency to step down for the octogenarian former Police Affairs minister, Alawe Brodericks Bozimo. That was when it became clear to some stakeholders that the INC elec-

tion might have a ‘k’ leg.

So it was not a surprise on the election day, June 29, 2019 how things panned out at both the accreditation and election venues. From the story that ‘hoodlums’ had held delegates hostage at the Late Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Center accreditation center to the disruption of the vote counting and carting away of the ballot boxes at the Ijaw House where the election proper took place. The election finally ended in a fiasco! Shame, shame, shame!!

Recall that it was the same alleged overbearing interest of the governor that balkanized the youth wing of the Ijaw body, Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC) when the preferred candidate of the governor failed to emerge as president during the election which instead produced former spokesman of IYC, Eric Omare as president. Another election was thereafter hurriedly put together where a parallel president, Barr. Oweileami Peretubo who had the blessing of the governor emerged.

All this sad news was orchestrated from Bayelsa. Interestingly as the show of shame at the INC election was going on, the governor’s media aides quickly circulated a press statement condemning the disruption of the election by ‘hoodlums’ and accused the organizers of failing to heed advise to postpone the election. The statement also urged the security agencies to ensure that the ‘hoodlums’ were arrested and brought to book.

Meanwhile, all the security operatives mobilized to the venues to provide security had tactically disappeared to thin air, while the ‘hoodlums’ had a field day. Till today, no suspect has been arrested for disrupting an event that is so dear to the Ijaw nation! Investigation however revealed that the ‘hoodlums’ who disrupted the election had the backing of the state government when it became clear that the governor’s preferred candidate was

not going to emerge! That was why the security agents looked the other way while ‘hoodlums’ overran the venues.

The sordid event at the INC election has remained a talking point in the state as analysts are saying that it is a harbinger of what to expect in the build up to the forthcoming governorship election slated for November 16, 2019. That the governor as alleged, whether by himself or through proxies could unabashedly instigate such heist speaks volumes ahead of the governorship election, the analysts argued.

The analysts maintained that should the governor’s anointed governorship aspirant is by any means denied ticket of the PDP; the governor would rock the boat of the PDP! As the people were struggling to come to terms with the apostasy that took place at the INC election Saturday, early Monday morning, dare devil criminals invaded a police station at Agudama-Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area and left four of the personnel dead, collecting their rifles and uniforms. One observer just whispered after the attack: ‘the battle for the governorship election has just begun, the guns and the police uniforms they collected are for the election job’.

Another observer had quickly added, ‘if hoodlums could be organized to disrupt the INC election, what moral justification would the government now have to begin to hunt for these ones who have killed the policemen because the government is also inadvertently encouraging criminality?

So the forthcoming governorship election may not even be different from that of 2015 or the recent National and State Assembly elections in terms of the level of violence that may besmear the exercise. Indeed there is course to fear given the cult syndrome that is gaining ascendancy in the state.

The last event which has also remained a

talking point is the razing of the State owned radio station which was like laying the wreath on the dead because the radio house was already ‘limping’ on one leg because of underfunding and poor staff welfare.

It is being alleged that since the Peoples Fm station, a private radio station linked to the governor came on air; government attention to the Radio Bayelsa became very scanty.

Insiders are alleging sabotage on the fire which razed the station. Already, the General Manager of the station Dr. John Idumange has opened the Pandora’s Box, accusing the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson of complicity in the inferno that consumed the radio house.

Those who are buying into the theory of sabotage quickly point to the fate of the other two government’s owned media organs in the state, the television station, NDTV and Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the New Waves Newspaper which are already on the throes of death!

While the state of the art printing machines acquired by the previous administration for the state newspaper had been auctioned by the Dickson led administration, the Niger Delta Television, (NDTV) has been shut down with armed robbers paying regular ‘visits’ to the station to cart away vital items.

The New Waves which is now published once in a blue moon patronizes private printing press allegedly owned by one of the aides to the governor as the government did not see the need to retain ownership of its own printing press.

Some stakeholders are expressing concern that Dickson who will vacate office as governor on February 14, 2020 is bent on leaving many institutions he inherited from previous administrations in ruins.

Folly and falsities of Ruga Settlements

By OSELOKA H. OBAZE policies are made in the public and collective interest. Essentially, policy exPpertsublic agree that public policymaking is a process and not a one-off event; it is thus “characterized as a dynamic, complex, and interactive system through which public problems are identified and countered by creating new public policy or by reforming existing public policy.” Where any policy is contrived to advance sectional or vested interests, that policy ceases to be in the common interest. And that is exactly where Nigeria finds itself with the controversial Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) herdsmen settlement. The folly and falsities of that policy are deep-seated and very polarizing.

What is perhaps ever more disconcerting is the proclamation attributed to presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, that “It is true that government at the centre has gazetted land in all the states of the federation.” The ensuing pushback has been correctly strident; and criticisms of the policy trenchant. That is as it should be.

Across board, ethnicity and across party lines, state governors are repudiating the policy. They were not consulted and they did not acquiesce. Neither did the Ninth Assembly give its legislative imprimatur. It seems the executive branch seized on the twilight and gray zone created by the transition from the Eight to the Ninth National Assembly to insinuate the controversial policy into the realm of extant laws. Such subterfuge is condemnable in every regard.

If the intent and goal of the federal government in approving the Ruga settlements programme was to curtail the problems associated with open grazing system, that intention has backfired awfully. The

allegations of a hidden agenda seem correct and valid. The spectre of sectarianism is real. In theory and practice, every public policy ought to meet one of three definitional premises or a combination of two or all three to be efficacious. Hence public policies are essentially regulatory, distributive, or redistributive. The Ruga policy does not in any sense meet any of these parameters.

First, the Ruga settlement programme serves only those engaged in the business of cattle rearing. There is no indication of how it would dovetail into the needs of farmers, who have for long been in conflict with herders. It does not cater to any other sector or trade in the commerce or organized private sector. Shockingly, it does not have the buy-in of states and local communities where the settlements will be domiciled.

Essentially, the Ruga scheme is a preferential policy contrived by executive fiat, which will only serve marginal and sectional interests at public expense. No adjectival qualification defines such a policy slant better than the word, “folly”. Furthermore, Nigerians who are engaged on the matter now appreciate that the grounding premise, which is being masked as public interest is equally false. The way the policy is couched, hosting a Ruga settlement is not voluntary; it is decreed.

Theoretically, the Ruga policy does not pass the policy trajectory litmus test. While the insecurity associated with farmers-herders conflict has been discussed extensively and various panaceas sought, arriving at the Ruga Scheme as the singular and onesize fits-all solution, overlooks and indeed, ignores the essential stages of good public policy making, namely; agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation. It seems clearly that the federal government summersaulted

forward – in a hop-step-and jump fashion – from agenda setting to implementation.

Such policy rigmarole does not conjure confidence. It undermines trust; it raises more questions than it proffers solutions.

Beyond these observations, the federal government failed to convene town hall meetings to explore public reaction to such a divisive public policy. It also failed to call for the submission of memorandum from the public at large or interested parties, including public policy experts. Simply, the policymaking was not interactive. Yet it seems the FGN want to foist the policy on the people by all means. And the FGN seem to have forgotten that freedom is the Holy Grail of democracy. In a true democracy, you can’t force on people what they don’t want. Government policies are not entrenched by subterfuge.

Another critical missing component that negates this policy approach is the absence of consultations within the three arms and three tiers of government. Seemingly, the decision on Ruga was done with military despatch. But this is a democracy. For most of the presumed hosting state and local news communities, Ruga is literarily and figuratively, a Greek Gift and a Trojan Horse.

Finally, in proposing to set up Ruga settlement, the “eminent domain” clause cannot apply. Neither can the provisions of the Land Use Act be contrived as applicable. The pertinent proviso, stipulates that the use of any land so acquired, must be for “public purposes,” which may include housing development, road and bridges, schools, hospitals, police and military barracks and recreation parks. Private land cannot be acquired in the public interest and devolved to private profit making enterprises. Ruga should be like the fiscal bailout. Only those states that need or want it should get it.

The Ruga policy is fraught with folly and falsities. It has unquestionable ethnic coloration; and its processes are bereft of full disclosure. Indubitably, Ruga is not your quixotic think-outside-the-box solution. It is a bad policy that, in the short to long term, will do more harm than good. From the pushback so far, the FGN ought to know by now that it must resile itself and rescind the policy - in the public and national interest.

•Obaze is MD/CEO Selonnes Consult – a policy, governance, and management consultancy firm, in Awka.

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 Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

ENERGY

by Sopuruchi Onwuka

N

igeria’s crude oil output currently approximates 2.3 million barrels per day (mbd) mark following the rapid ramping up of production at the deepwater Egina Field operated by Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPN) Limited.

The giant floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel deployed by Total in Egina field on water depth of 1,600 metres some 150 kilometres offshore Niger Delta had started up production on December 29, last year.

Although the field has a nameplate production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, it started production at 60,000 barrels per day and has been adding marginal production volumes across past months before hitting full output design capacity.

With the attainment of peak production of 200,000 barrels per day, TRhe Oracle Today reports that Egina field is expected to maintain the output plateau over the next 20 years when natural production decline is bound to set in.

Outgoing Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, declared at industry conference in Abuja that the full stream production from Egina field bolstered Nigeria’s total crude oil production to 2.3 million barrels per day.

He noted in a valedictory speech to delegates that the country’s crude oil production currently averages 2.3 mbd, pointing at Egina as the new source of output where, according to him, production has “currently ramped up to 200,000 bopd.“ Dr. Baru who provided growth indices in the Nigerian petroleum industry as the basis for new capital inflow stated that total national crude oil reserves also increased from 22 billion barrels in (Bbbls) 1999 to 37.5 Bbbls in 20i8.

Pointing at the country’s standing with 2.2 percent of global oil reserves, Dr. Baru noted that Nigeria is home to the second largest crude oil reserves in Africa after Libya.

On the gas side, he said Nigeria holds the ninth largest gas reserves in the World with estimated proven and probable reserves of 201 Trillion cubic feet (Tcf) and an upside potential of about of 600 Tcf. He however noted that the

Egina boosts Nigeria’s oil output with full capacity

country is yet achieve full potentials of its gas resources.

Whereas gas production averages 8.4 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscfd), only 18 percent or 1.512 Bscfd is consumed in the domestic market which is dominated by power generation, industrial application and regional export through the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

Dr. Baru declared that 43 or 3.612 Bscfd of Nigeria’s total gas production is monetized by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited through liquefaction and export.

With no other available gas monetization channel in the Nigerian petroleum industry, Dr. Baru stated that 32 percent or 2.688 Bscfd of total gas production is re-injected for enhanced oil recovery and other operational uses like fuel gas.

He added that 7.0 percent or588 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of total gas production is currently flared.

The Oracle Today reports that the NLNG is currently working through processes for the construction of its seventh gas liquefaction train to add some 8.0 million tons per annum to its total export capacity. The new train, according to industry experts, is expected to significantly cut gas flares to only operational requirements.

Nigeria dominates $194bn African oil and gas FDI Sopuruchi Onwuka

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he Nigerian petroleum industry continues to attract the bulk of the estimated $194 billion of foreign investment flow into the African petroleum play in the next seven years.

According to the outgoing Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the nation’s leading role in oil and gas production in the continent as well as her positive industry outlook continues to recommend it as the prime investment destination in the Africa.

In providing explanations to The Oracle Today after a presentation at an industry conference in Abuja, Dr. Baru said Nigeria accounts for over $48.04 billion or 24.8 percent of the $194 billion estimated foreign direct investments into African petroleum industry between 2018 and 2025.

In pointing out that Nigeria would continue to lead investment attraction in the African petroleum play, Dr. Baru

said, “currently, Nigeria is a leading oil and gas producer in Africa. The nation’s energy outlook appears very positive even amidst the difficult operating and economic headwinds across the continent.

“It is also significant to state that out of about $194billion surge in the Capital Expenditure coming into upcoming oil and gas development on the African continent from 2018 to 2025, Nigeria today accounts for $48.04billion (over 24.8%) with other African countries sharing the rest.”

He reiterated that the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the industry would continue to present massive opportunities for foreign direct investments required to grow and develop the country’s economy.

Dr. Baru’s position on investment inflows into the Nigerian petroleum industry counters strident threats by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to freeze investments in development of operated deepwater assets.

Managing Director, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, had declared at the conference that full economic growth potentials of the $12 billion development project would be missed if the company’s demand for softer and clearer operating conditions are not addressed.

The Oracle Today reports that both Shell and Total had declared their deepwater development projects in 2013.

Whereas Total has delivered its 200,000 barrels per day Egina deepwater development with industry’s highest Nigerian Content records and below budget, Shell has continued shelving final investment decision on development of Bonga Southwest/Aparo fields.

The BSWA project is designed to entail construction of a new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility with nameplate production capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil per day.

However, the project has since outlived many Managing Directors of SNEPCO who kept promising that the project investment sanction was inevitable “under the right conditions.”

Gombe supports oil relieves NNPC of N1.07 trn search in Gongola Basin NLNG gas development burden

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overnment of Gombe State has declared support to the ongoing search for commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Gongola Basin.

Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, told the outgoing Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, that the corporation’s oil and gas exploration activities in the area has full support of state’s government.

The governor said communities in the state are ready to offer assistance to ensure success of the project.

“In Gombe State at the moment, the people are determined and willing to give whatever support the NNPC requires in order to attain its objectives,” he said.

Dr. Baru explained to the governor that NNPC’s exploration activities in the Gongola Basin was part of the corporation’s wider inland basin exploration programme with target to harness the nation’s abundant natural resources for the growth of the country.

Dr. Baru also disclosed that the prognosis of Kolmani River-II Well was good based on the preliminary evaluation reports.

Sopuruchi Onwuka

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igerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited might be under commitment to defray huge cash call obligation for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is involved in big ticket gas development projects with its partners in the country’s biggest oil and gas exploration and production joint venture.

Under a funding plan for the gas development projects also involving Shell, Total and Eni, NNPC would rely on funding deals with

NLNG to meet its cash obligations amounting to some $2.973 billion or N1.07 trillion.

The funding arrangement is part of a framework agreement between NNPC and NLNG to offset government’s portion of cash calls payable on upstream gas supply projects in joint ventures separately operated by Shell, Total and Eni’s Agip.

The Oracle Today reports that NNPC which represents government’s interests in the petroleum industry runs joint oil and gas exploration and development ventures with

a number multinational oil firms including Shell, Total and Agip. Interestingly, all the four companies are also partners in the NNPC/Shell/Total/Eni joint venture which gave birth to the NLNG, an incorporated joint venture for gas monetization and flare reduction.

Since its inception, NLNG has remained the single biggest upstream gas monetization company in the country, and key upstream gas customer to the NNPC/Shell/Total/Agip Joint Venture; NNPC/Total Joint Venture and the NNPC/Agip/ Oando Joint Venture respectively.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

ENERGY FG set to incorporate Joint Ventures

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ederal government says it working to migrate all oil and gas exploration and production joint ventures with various oil companies into incorporated entities but no specific time frame has been fixed for the shift.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which manages government’s interests in the activities of oil companies in the country, stated weekend that the plan is part of efforts to surmount cash-call challenges and put the upstream sector on a path of sustainable growth.

The Oracle Today reports that the NNPC is in a number of joint venture agreements with indigenous and multinational foreign companies including Seplat, ExxonMobil, Aiteo, Shell, Total, Agip and many others.

The corporation is also in other exploration and production agreements with same groups and other companies under the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC), Sole Risk arrangements and marginal field operations.

Under the planned operating incorporated joint venture model, the companies that currently operate joint venture agreements with NNPC would cease to demand equity funding for projects but explore debt funding from the money market to finance projects in approved work programmes.

If the arrangement comes to full implementation, then NNPC would become solely financial beneficiary in the operations of the Nigerian petroleum industry save, however, direct income from the commercial activities of its own business units.

So far the corporation has been unable to meet its equity funding obligations to operators of joint venture agreements in the industry where NNPC hold overriding 58.8 interest and

owed over $5.0 billion in cash call arrears before exploring alternative operating models to relive itself of project funding commitments.

The corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that government’s consideration for the IJV model was borne out of the need to encourage healthy business culture and growth in the energy sector.

Also, the Chief Operating Officer in charge of upstream business of the corporation, Engineer Bello Rabiu, said the IJV model, when implemented, would make oil and gas business more productive and beneficial to investors.

According to him, the current alternative funding arrangement was a temporary measure ahead of the IJV model to create a robust business system that allows for projects self-financing and guarantees a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

“The only option which is the same everywhere in the world is for any project or any business to fund itself and the only way it can fund itself is for the business to see itself as both funded by equity and debt. The incorporation element of IJV allows it to operate as an independent entity that can source capital to fund its projects and deliver dividends to shareholders at the end of each financial year,” he said.

Responding to the question on apparent lack of trust between the government and International Oil Companies (IOCs), he said that the trust level on both sides had significantly improved, adding that prompt payment of cashcall arrears and other measures initiated by the corporation contributed in restoring the confidence of the IOCs.

•President Muhammadu Buhari

GMD NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru (7th left standing) and GMD-Designate Mallam Mele Kyari (5th left standing), alongside NNPC frontier exploration team thumb-up ongoing drilling activities at the Kolmani River-II Well area, Saturday.

Seplat’s ANOH project profitably patriotic –Avuru

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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eplat Petroleum Development Company Plc has declared that its Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) gas processing project is patriotic investment for sustained national industrial development that will also deliver commercial returns for investors.

Managing Director, Mr. Austin Avuru, told investors and financial analysts during its 2019 Capital Markets Day at the London Stock Exchange that the project is based on solid business model that would deliver multiple objectives of driving national economic development, fueling industrialization and occupying commercial space to take advantage of projected energy demand boom.

The ANOH gas processing project is managed by Anoh Gas Processing Company (AGPC), an incorporated joint venture (IJV) between Seplat and the Nigerian Gas Company. AGPC shall develop a 300 million standard cubic feet per day (Mscfd) midstream plant at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 53 to process wet gas production from Seplat’s upstream unit.

Mr. Avuru said the ANOH gas processing plant would be the first stand-alone midstream joint venture business between the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a company in the private sector, adding that Seplat was positioning to become

the largest supplier of gas to the domestic market.

“By the time we commission the ANOH project, we will be able to produce 850 Mscfd,” he declared.

In pointing at the commercial viability and funding bankability of the ANOH project, Mr. Avuru stated that the business would lead domestic gas supply in a sustainable manner, adding that the midstream gas processing plant is designed to be scalable and modular in order to grow in capacity to meet rising demand.

On the commercial side, he explained that ANOH project is based on long term outlook on the Nigerian energy future, adding that demand would continue to grow with projected population explosion to provide sustainable market for the company’s rising gas supply capacity.

He explained that the company’s gas is for the domestic market, quipping that Nigeria has a notable population which is projected to continue to grow to 450 million people by 2050. “This will represent highest population growth in Africa, and Nigeria being the third most populated country globally behind China and India.

Evidently, the current capacity for electricity generation cannot be adequate,” he said.

“Thus, Seplat has strategically positioned itself ahead of that opportunity and with projected demand for gas and improved

fiscal regime, there is a compelling case for gas. Displacing diesel in Nigeria’s environment is a priority for the company. Currently Seplat gas accounts for 30 to 35 per cent of power generated and the company is determined to continue the lead in this area.”

“The market gas price remains strong and the long term outlook for gas in Nigeria and the regional market remain strong. Seplat is participating in major national development with its gas business, and the company is delighted to, through its gas business, deliver major national priority while earning revenue.”

He pointed at future gas prices as major spur for the project, arguing that the market was progressing towards full liberalization and price correction. He also added that the site of the plant provides full advantage of project economics with the presence of existing gas pipelines.

“The company is uniquely situated within existing gas pipeline network, and therefore leveraged on this to significantly expand its Oben gas plant. The revenues from the expanded Oben gas plant have been impressive motivating the company to seek further investment in gas.”

“For Seplat, our gas business is a national project. As a result, facilitating gas to power and gas to industry have become critical for the company.”

ExxonMobil, NNPC close $833.57m cash call arrears

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merican multinational oil major, ExxonMobil, has reached closure with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on outstanding cash call arrears after the company’s local joint venture unit, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited received payment of $833.57 million.

The payment is part of the $2.0 billion the corporation declared to have paid to different joint venture operators in the past three years to cut its pan-industry joint venture debts from $5.0

billion to $3.0 billion.

The corporation had in 2017 signed a Cash-call Repayment Agreement with its Joint Venture partners to defray cash-call arrears within a period of five years. the corporation’s spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that the feat was a product of the novel cash-call exit strategy to boost investors’ confidence and grow the nation’s oil and gas industry.

He explained that the funds used in the payment built from

incremental production revenues, adding that remittances to the Federation Account as it was not affected.

“It is gratifying to note that within two years of this agreement, the NNPC/MPN JV significantly executed in incremental activities that generated adequate proceeds to liquidate the $833.57 million cash-call arrears, whilst ensuring that revenue flow from the JV to the Federation remained stable,” outgoing Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti

Baru declared in a statement.

He explained that with the close-out of the repayment agreement, the entire incremental production which is over 45,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) has been migrated to Federation’s equity and would invariably lead to an increase in revenue to the Government.

Dr. Baru acknowledged the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and some relevant agencies in achieving the speedy execution of the repayment plan, adding the next level “is for NNPC

and MPN to within two years, migrate the Joint Venture (JV) into an Integrated Joint Venture (IJV) with its Board operating independently and paying dividends to its shareholders”.

On his part, the Managing Director of the Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr. Paul McGrath said the milestone was a victory for MPN, NNPC and Federal Government of Nigeria.

He expressed relief at the payment of the debt which he described as an intractable matter.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION Global insurance accounting rules under IFRS17 to be amended Stories by VICTOR NZE

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n international standard setting body has proposed a oneyear delay and changes to the first global accounting rule for insurance contracts following industry calls for a cut in compliance costs and more time.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published its IFRS17 standard in May 2017 to replace a patchwork of national rules, but met opposition from insurers which said it would be costly to implement in too short a time.

The IASB formally

Insurers generate N400bn premium in 2018

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otal volume of business underwritten by operators in the country’s insurance industry reached N400bn in 2018 from N363 billion posted in 2017.

Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Tope Smart disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held Thursday in Lagos.

The chairman who also doubles as GMD of NEM Insurance Plc said the industry paid a total of N160.5 billion claims to its claimants in 2018.

He explained further that the insurers settled N142.83 billion claims in 2017, while life insurers paid N72.31 billion, nonlife operators paid N70.52 billion.

The NIA boss added that the association is working closely with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to promote the business of insurance and increase its contributions to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said: “some of the initiatives include the insurance industry rebranding project; regulation on micro insurance; collaboration on financial inclusion; bancassurance guidelines and others which will

impact positively on the business of insurance companies.”

On challenges confronting business environment, he lamented that power outage, failure to abolish or amend CITA 2007 remain huge burden for the insurance companies.

“Growing Herdsmen/ Farmers clashes across the country, insurgency and armed banditry in the North, rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes as well the internecine communal clashes in some states all combined to negatively affect the bottom line of many insurance companies”.

Also, the DirectorGeneral of the association, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, noted that in a bid to encourage good relationship with the insuring public, the Customer Compliant Bureau established by the association has effectively resolved over 40 conflicts received from policyholders and 30 between member companies.

She assured that the association is assiduously working to reduce complaints from policyholders to a minimal, stressing that this has encouraged confidence of the insuring public.

proposed a one-year delay to 2022 on Wednesday, along with changes it said would reduce compliance costs for a standard that took 20 years to formulate.

“The proposed amendments are designed to minimize the risk of disruption to implementation already

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of six attacks on tankers since early May. The incidents, which American officials blamed on Iran, prompted an adviser to insurers to classify the entire Persian Gulf as a riskier area for shipping, giving underwriters scope to charge bigger premiums.

“This will get passed on the the customers,” said Sandy Fielden, an analyst at Morningstar Inc. “Refiners are paying more for crude and they will pass on the cost to customers if they can.

If refiners choose not pass that along, their margins would get squeezed.”

The insurance prices being lifted fall into two categories: one is for the vessels themselves, the other for their cargoes. While the cost of covering the tankers surged as soon as the most

requiring companies to present insurance contract assets and liabilities in a less detailed way.

Olav Jones, deputy director general of Insurance Europe, an industry body, said insurers’ extensive testing, which was coordinated by the European Union’s advisory

body on accounting, highlighted important issues with the standard and the need for a two-year delay.

“While some helpful improvements have been suggested in the IASB’s consultation, a number of important issues remain unaddressed,” Jones said.

Over N3.40bn contributions not credited into states’ employees’ RSAs –PenCom

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ational Pension C o m m i s s i o n (PenCom) has disclosed that based on records from pension fund administrators (PFAs)’ returns, over N3.40 billion pension contributions was not credited into state employees’ RSAs as at 31st May 2019.

Director General of the Commission, Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar, disclosed this to participants at the second Consultative Forum organized by the commission for States and

the FCT in Lagos.

The Director-General who was represented by Dr. Dan Ndackson head of States Operations Department, said that the age analysis showed that over 38 per cent of this amount had been outstanding for over one year.

She also disclosed that about N8.09 billion was remitted to the commission as pension contributions of State employees in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019 by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

She frowned at the recurring issue of uncredited remittances which denies concerned employees the investment income that should have accrued to them.

She added that “As part of efforts to engender best practices and to recognise excellence among States in their implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, the commission has instituted an Annual Recognition/Award Event to recognize and award States and operators that are

foremost in implementing the CPS. The maiden edition according to her, for the year 2019 would be coming in the first quarter of 2020. Details would be discussed at this Forum in the course of the year.

She added that the Commission has desire to implement a uniform set of rules, regulations and standards to guide the administration and payment of pensions, notwithstanding the differences in the pension laws of the various States.

Past Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Eddie Efekoha; Director-General/CEO, NIA, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, and Chairman, NIA, Mr. Tope Smart, at the 48th annual general meeting of NIA in Lagos.

Insurance for Middle East oil shipments scales $.5m he cost of insuring Middle East oil shipments is soaring as tensions mount in a region responsible for about a third of all seaborne petroleum.

So-called war risk premiums for a standard oil cargo from the Persian Gulf and the tanker hauling it can now cost upwards of $500,000, according to people familiar with the insurance market.

Earlier this year, the same premiums would have cost owners less than 1/10 of that.

The vulnerability of maritime traffic to mounting tensions came into sharp focus on Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump said other nations need to do more to help protect navigation from the Middle East in the wake

underway,” the IASB said in a statement.

“They do not change the fundamental principles of the standard or reduce the usefulness of information for investors.”

The amendments would mean excluding some banking products from the scope of the standard, and

recent attacks happened, the surge in prices for the cargoes only happened over the past week.

Underwriters are now aiming to charge anywhere from $150,000 to $325,000 to cover a cargo valued at $130 million, the people familiar with that market said. Until this week, the same cover cost $1,000 or less. Insuring the tanker itself now costs in excess of $200,000, based on a $75 million vessel. That’s up from less than $30,000 at the start of 2019.

It’s not just the insurers who’ve turned more wary about the Middle East. Ship owners themselves are raising rates to lift barrels from the region, despite signs that there are plenty of vessels that in theory are available to haul cargoes.

Standard Alliance Insurance names Ododo as MD/CEO

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tandard Alliance Insurance Plc has named Mr Richard Ododo as its next Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

This followed the resignation of the former occupier of the same position, Mr Bode Akinboye, after meritoriously serving the company for four years.

“The board of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc is pleased to inform the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), its shareholders, the investing public and other stakeholders of the appointment of a new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Richard Ododo following the resignation of the former Managing Director/ CEO, Mr Bode Akinboye,

after meritoriously serving the company for four years,” a statement issued by the insurer disclosed.

It was disclosed that Mr Ododo is armed with over 30 years of insurance industry experience cutting across various functional areas.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Lagos and an MBA (with specialization in Insurance and Risk Management) from Enugu State University.

Ododo also holds the professional qualification

of Associate Chartered Insurance Institute Nigeria (ACIIN).

Similarly, the insurance firm has announced the appointment of Mr Oduniyi Odusi as the Executive Director in a charge of Technical.

Odusi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Insurance also from the University of Lagos and a professional qualification of Associate Chartered Insurance Institute Nigeria (ACIIN). He is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School.

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

Travel & Hospitality

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‘No seizure of forex from transiting passengers at Addis C Ababa airport’ –EA clarifies

Address challenges in wildlife conservation –National Park urges stakeholders

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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thiopian Airlines (EA) has denied reports making rounds in Nigeria regarding alleged seizure of foreign currency from Nigerians by personnel of the Ethiopian Customs and Revenue Authority (ECRA) at the Addis Ababa airport, saying the information ‘incorrect and misleading.’

The report has claimed that any passenger transiting Ethiopia with foreign currencies in excess of $3 000 will have their money seized and face further legal action if they do not inform the ECRA in advance.

Reacting to the said report, in a statement attributed to General Manager Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Firihiewot Mekonnen, ‘some media outlets in Nigeria are circulating said incorrect information as a report posted on the website of a major television network in based in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, under the headline ‘Ethiopia Steps Up Seizure of Foreign Currency from Passengers’.

Faulting the report, the airline explained that the information is

incorrect as passengers in transit who do not leave the airport can take their money in excess of the above amount where they are going “This is an incorrect and misleading statement that needs correction. Any passenger transiting Addis Ababa without leaving the airport is free to board his/her next flight carrying whatever amount of foreign currencies from the previous flight.

“However, if passengers enter Ethiopia carrying money in excess of $3000 (three thousand US Dollars), they are required to declare the money they carry to ECRA personnel as they exit the airport and take declaration form for smooth check-in for their next flight. While this procedure is not unique to Ethiopia and is practiced by many countries, we inform our passengers by making repeated announcements on all of our flights and the Customs authority also displays the procedures on notice boards at Addis Ababa International Airport.

“In fact, travelling to Ethiopia has been made easier, more convenient and simple with Visa on arrival and electronic visa.

onservator-General, National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, has urged stakeholders in wildlife conservation to address the challenges bedeviling the sector.

Goni made the call at a meeting organised by Wildlife Society of Nigeria in Abuja, Thursday.

He said wildlife conservation in Nigeria was faced with challenges despite measures taken at different quarters to confront them.

According to him, the challenges include agricultural projects, highway/urban development, illegal hunting, burning, mining and climate change aggravation.

“More worrisome is the use of the forest by miscreants to carry out organised crime, kidnapping, armed robbery, rustling, herders and farmers clashes, which have now become a major security threat.

“As professionals, we have a duty to come up with solutions to this national issue. We also need to set standards for wildlife practices in Nigeria to prevent the sector from being taken over by quacks.

He urged the participants to rub minds and proffer solutions to the problems and develop a benchmark for wildlife practices in the country.

On his part, Chairman, Wildlife Society of Nigeria, Prof.

Ibukunoluwa Ayodele, stated that the society would deal with the challenges of wildlife management, environment and tourism, stressing that if the wildlife and the environment were not protected, there would be desert encroachment, adding that one of the biggest challenges include killing of the animals, poachers and herdsmen.

SAA, Emotions DMC promote destination Mauritius in Nigeria

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outh African Airways (SAA) Nigeria has announced a partnership agreement with a destination management organization (DMO), Emotions DMC, to woo travel agencies in the country in selling the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius to Nigerian travellers.

The partnership deal was signed at a workshop for top-selling travel agents in Lagos which was organized

by Africa’s leading Airline, South African Airways and Emotions DMC. South African Airways National

Marketing Manager, Kemi LekeBamtefa, recommended travel agents to sell the airline beyond South Africa, identifying Mauritius as one of its strongest routes.

“Mauritius is one of our strongest routes. It is a recognized tourism destination in the world and SAA have two flights daily to Mauritius from our hub in Johannesburg. The beauty of Mauritius is its visa on arrival for Nigerians, and when you are traveling on SAA you don’t need a transit visa,” Kemi stated.

She explained some benefits

of flying SAA to Mauritius, “when you fly SAA from Nigeria to Mauritius, you can combine the two destinations on one trip, which allows your journey to be seamless.

You can also enjoy the net fares option for group travels on SAA.” Mauritius is stunning. From the white sand beaches, waterfalls, rocky mountains and richness in cultural diversity to incredible hospitality, it has become a top destination for family vacations, group travellers, wedding and conferences.

UNESCO designates ancient Babylon city ‘World Heritage Site’

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he United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last Friday designated the ancient city of Babylon as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its “outstanding value to humanity.”

“The inscription represents a recognition of the outstanding human value and the unique significance of this ancient city and of the civilizations of Mesopotamia and their contributions to humanity,” the Iraqi government said in a tweet.

UNESCO said Babylon’s “remains, outer and inner-city walls, gates, palaces and temples,

are a unique testimony to one of the most influential empires of the ancient world.”

Babylon’s listing brings the number of World Heritage Sites in Iraq — long considered a cradle of civilization — to six. The listing also gives the ancient city, founded in 2,300 BCE as an Akkadian town, protected status under international treaties.

A just-concluded meeting in Baku, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee voted in favor of listing the Iraqi historic site just years after another protected site was destroyed by extremist militants.

In 2015, the Islamic State (IS)

terrorist group announced that it had bulldozed the ancient city of Nimrud, saying its pre-Islamic “idols” amounted to heresy. The group also destroyed other pre-Islamic sites in Iraq and Syria.

Babylon, once home to Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II, has a history punctuated by architectural interventions.

The late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein built a palace adorned with replicas of his face overlooking the site. After he was overthrown during the US-led invasion of Iraq, American and Polish soldiers built a base in Babylon, significantly damaging parts of its ruins in the process.

South African Airways (SAA) National Marketing Manager, Nigeria, Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, with Emotions DMC Managing Director, David Collard, during a workshop for top-selling travel agents in Lagos organized by SAA and Emotions DMC.

Four Points by Sheraton Lagos introduces executive chef

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our Points by Sheraton Lagos has announced the latest addition to its associate family – executive chef Leslie Quarmyne.

Leslie who hails from Ghana, is a seasoned chef with a track record of delightful meals and creative food presentation.

He is a culinary expert with 22 years of practice in five star hotels and resorts in two different continents.

“We are super excited to bring Chef Leslie on-board,” says Mr. Jonathan Patterson, the general manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Lagos “He possesses an incredible mixture of experience, education and culinary background. We are confident that our customers are going to appreciate him and what he creates for them.”

Leslie comes with a knowledge base from different trainings; he holds professional certificates from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore USA, College of Professional Management UK, and Management Development and Productivity Institute Ghana, to mention but a few.

Leslie previously worked as the executive chef at the Golden Tulip Hotel Accra, Ghana. He is a member of Chef Associations in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa Chapters. He speaks English and French.

At the Four Points Lagos, Leslie will support and add versatility and creativity to the kitchen team operations, while offering wide ranging and tasteful delicacies to add to the dining experience of customers.

Hotelier advocates traditional architectural design for hotel construction

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xecutive Chairman, Maaha Beach Resort, Mr Frank Buah, urged hoteliers across Africa to adopt traditional architectural design for hotel construction to spur creativity and boost tourism.

Buah who made this call, Thursday, in Ghana, said adopting African traditional architectural designs for hotels using local materials like raffia would endear tourists more into African countries.

According to him, aside the aesthetic value of engaging local materials in hotel construction, these materials support ecofriendly environment and they are cheap.

He said that this developmeng would create common identity for Africans in the hospitality, travels and tourism industries.

“Tourists are likely to be more enticed with traditional architecture; all they have explored were bricks and mortar

buildings, so we, hoteliers should learn to be creative and make tourists explore more.

“Traditional African settings offer contemporary hospitality.

The word “Maaha” was derived from the local materials used in constructing this resort, which is raffia but in my dialect, it is known as maaha.

“All materials used for the construction of this resort were assembled from this town (Atuabo), I only engaged professionals in the construction.

“So as Africans, we should try to be creative in this industry to carve a niche for ourselves,” he said.

Buah assured hoteliers of the durability of the rafia building materials when used for hotel construction.

“When raffia is guided by other building materials, not to have any contact with the floor, it remains like that for years without spoiling or getting old,” he said.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

AVIATION African airlines grow air freight capacity by 13.4%

…Post 2.1% increase in passenger traffic Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), decreased by 3.4 per cent in May 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.

According to the agency, Friday, this remained a slight improvement on the 5.6 per cent contraction in April.

Similarly, African carriers posted the fastest growth of any region in May 2019, with an increase in demand of 8.0 [per cent compared to the same period a year earlier, continuing the upwards trend in

FTKs that has been evident since mid-2018 and makes Africa the strongest performer for the third consecutive month.

The region also grew capacity by 13.4 per cent year-on-year.

In seasonally-adjusted terms, the level of FTKs increased modestly for the third consecutive month, suggesting that the low point of this cycle may be behind us, although the market remains weak.

Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), rose by 1.3% year-on-year in May 2019. Capacity growth has now outstripped demand growth for the 13th consecutive month.

Air cargo demand has suffered from very weak global trade volumes and trade tensions

between the US and China. This has contributed to declining new export orders. The indicator for new manufacturing export orders, part of the global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), has indicated falling orders since September 2018.

Commenting, IATA’s Director General and CE, Alexandre de Juniac, said: “The impact of the US-China trade war on air freight volumes in May was clear. Yearon-year demand fell by 3.4 per cent. It’s evidence of the economic damage that is done when barriers to trade are erected. Renewed efforts to ease the trade tensions coming on the sidelines of the G20 meeting are welcome. But even if those efforts are successful in the short-term, restoring business

confidence and growing trade will take time. And we can expect the tough business environment for air cargo to continue.”

While airlines in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East suffered sharp declines in year-on-year growth in total air freight volumes in May 2019, North America and Europe experienced more moderate declines, even as Africa, and Latin America both recorded growth in air freight demand compared to May last year.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand for air freight contract by a hefty 6.4 per cent in May 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. The US-China trade war and weaker manufacturing conditions for exporters in the region have significantly impacted the market.

Delta set to unveil wholly reinvented int’l Main Cabin experience

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ir travellers can expect to be impressed on board Delta Air Lines’ international routes starting this November when the airline debuts its industryleading Main Cabin experience.

Free “Welcome Aboard” cocktails featuring Bellinis to start, hot towel service and mix-and-match options for premium appetizers and larger entrees are just a few of the ways Delta is differentiating its international Main Cabin service.

“This is about investing in every single customer who chooses Delta, no matter where they sit on the plane,” said Allison Ausband, Delta’s S.V.P. — In-Flight Service, adding: “The thoughtful touches we’re investing in throughout the new Main Cabin experience were designed by flight attendants with one goal in mind: delivering an exceptional experience that our customers will rave about and one that our team, the best in the business, is proud to deliver.”

Designed to delight and create “wow” moments that feel like dining in your favorite splurge restaurant, Delta’s reinvented Main Cabin experience has been met with high marks – with increased customer satisfaction scores on the more than 700 flights it’s been tested on between Portland and Tokyo (NRT) over the past year.

The experience launching in

Air Peace Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema, flanked by other aviation professionals, cutting the cake during the airline’s inaugural flight to Sharjah-Dubai, UAE , Friday, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja

November isn’t the same service Delta started testing more than a year ago. Rigorous reviews of the service through nearly 14,000 hours of flight time, information from over 1,800 customer surveys, robust crew feedback and input from a design team made up of 24 flight attendants resulted in a number of changes to perfect the innovative service for Delta’s international flights.

“With this service, at the end of the flight I know I’ve made a difference in the customer’s journey,” said Michael Miller, a New York-based flight attendant and

member of the design team behind the new experience. “I know I’ve had the opportunity to not only offer an exceptional onboard experience, but also to engage with customers and create special moments for them.”

In addition to these enhancements, over the past several months, Delta has provided specialized training to its team of more than 3,000 Pursers – the lead flight attendants on international flights. Responsible for the customer experience from nose to tail, the Purser role at Delta has been elevated to include pre-flight

introductions in the gate house and personal greetings at the boarding door – just a few examples of the important connections between crew and customers that lead to memorable moments and a delightful experience all around.

Also, in addition to recently upgraded amenity kits, more international onboard enhancements are coming soon — like refreshed ear buds and headsets — to further demonstrate the airline’s commitment to creating a best-inclass experience all customers can look forward to.

FAAN constitutes traffic management task force at MMIA

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ederal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the constitution of a traffic management task force to ‘foster landslide traffic management’ at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement to that effect signed by General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Yakubu Henrietta (Mrs.), and made

available to Oracle Today, Friday, said the task force is charged with ensuring an improvement in vehicular movement which has been characterized by a logjam at the arrival terminal especially.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria hereby notifies passengers and other airport users that in a bid to foster effective landside traffic

management, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has constituted a task force to ensure improvement in the flow of vehicular traffic.

“The objective of the task force, which is made up of officers from the aviation security department and other relevant security agencies shall be to control vehicular movement,

prevent unauthorized parking at terminal forecourts/curbsides and enforce the drop-off/pick-up zone policy of the airport,” read the statement.

Although members of the task force were not listed in the statement, FAAN advised passengers and drivers ‘ to please cooperate with the officials and ensure compliance to the guidelines given by the officers.’

Air Peace commences muchawaited Dubai operations, gets FG backing

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ndigenous carrier, Air Peace, got a rousing reception at the Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following an inaugural flight to commence services to the Gulf nation.

The flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at about 10.15 p.m. on Friday and arrived at 9.10 a.m. on Saturday at the Sharjah-Dubai Airport.

The B777 aircraft was operated by the Chief Pilot of Air Peace, Capt. Victor Egonu.

Among the dignitaries on board the flight were the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, former Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi and the Rector of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, Mr Benjamin Adeyileka.

Others include Nigerian musician, Kingsley Okonkwo (Kcee) and Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fibrerisima.

The inaugural flight was given a rousing reception by aviation authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and the business community at the Sharjah International Airport.

Speaking to reporters at the reception ceremony, Onyema said that the airline had acquired four B777 air planes for its longhaul operations with three of the planes already delivered.

According to him, the airline which started flights on Oct. 24, 2014 currently operates into Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

“We have been designated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to operate flights into six international destinations, including Dubai.

“The launch of our flight operations into Dubai, UAE, will mark a major milestone in our vision to seamlessly connect the West coast of Africa to other parts of the world thereby contributing to the region’s economy.”

Onyema said that Johannesburg, London, Houston, Guangzhou and Mumbai would soon join the airline’s international route network.

He thanked Nigerians for their support to the airline, which he said, had made the company to become a major player in the West African sub-region.

Air Peace has scheduled to operate flights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Dubai, while Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays would be for flights back to Lagos.

The airline is currently the only Nigerian carrier operating on the lucrative Lagos-Dubai route, following the suspension of flight services on the route by Medview Airlines in March last year.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has lauded Nigerian carrier, Air Peace for expanding its flight operations to SharjahDubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

27

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

e-Platform

Apple working on foldable iPad

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side reports that Microsoft is planning to do a foldable Surface tablet, it has now also emerged that Apple is seriously looking into this concept too.

Inside sources at Apple say that the United States tech giant, might be working on a foldable iPad According to analysts with inside information, the Cupertino-based company is working on an iPad with a flexible display, which is going to be somewhere between 11 and 15” big. The most surprising part is that Apple is looking to launch the device as soon as next year.

Additionally, the report mentions Apple’s A-series highend processors coupled with 5G capability although, Apple still hasn’t released a 5G-capable smartphone, so it needs to catch up first.

Fidelity Bank shines at PWM Global Wealth Tech awards Stories by VICTOR NZE

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idelity Bank Plc covered itself in glory at the 2019 edition of PWM Wealth Tech Awards held in London, United Kingdom (UK) recently, carting away the top prize.

The event is organised by Professional Wealth Management (PWM), an industry magazine owned by the Financial Times.

The platform is used to celebrate and reward excellence in wealth management technology and Fidelity Bank was part of the organisations invited to be celebrated.

The financial institution joined other recipients of the awards through its specialized Division known as Fidelity Private Banking.

At the ceremony, which drew attendance of top players across various professions, Fidelity

Bank was adjudged as the ‘Best Digital Networking Bank for Entrepreneurs, Africa 2019’.

This was in recognition of the lender’s support for business owners on the African continent through the use of technology.

Editor-in-Chief, PWA at Financial Times, Mr Yuri Bender, presented the Wealth Tech Award to the Divisional Head of Fidelity Private Banking, Ms Chioma Nwankwo at the event.

Speaking after the award ceremony in London, CEO of Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said that the award was a recognition of excellence, achieved through commitment to the ideals of the bank.

Also present at the event were the Head of Investor Relations at Fidelity Bank, Ms Sam Obioha; and the Chief Operations & Information Officer of the bank, Mr Gbolahan Joshua.

Editor-in-Chief, PWA at Financial Times, Mr Yuri Bender, presenting the Wealth Tech Award to the Divisional Head of Fidelity Private Banking, Ms Chioma Nwankwo at the 2019 edition of PWM Wealth Tech Awards organised by Professional Wealth Management (PWM) which held in London, the United Kingdom, recently.

NCC cautions states against multiple taxation in telecomm sector

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igerian Communications Commission (NCC) has cautioned state governments against the adverse effect of multiple taxation on the growth of telecommunication sector.

Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, of the commission, Mr Sunday Dare, raised the concern at the NorthEast Stakeholders’ Parliament meeting with Relevant Agencies in Charge of Telecommunications Matters on Thursday in Yola.

Represented by Mr Alkasim Umar, the Head of Compliance and Monitoring of NCC, he said communication is very critical to social and economic growth of a state, adding that everything needed to be done to encourage its expansion.

“It is therefore a matter of great worry that at this point in our history, we are still talking about protecting telecoms infrastructure from interference by agencies of government, or from multiple taxation and regulations, when all levels of

government should actually be the ones encouraging and incentivising operators to build infrastructure in their domains.

“In essence, we all must take a long-term view of the need to provide a conducive environment for the spread of telecoms infrastructure, be they BTS sites or fibre infrastructure.

“The current practice of imposing heavy sector-specific taxes and charges on telecoms infrastructure; levying huge Right-of-Way charges and decreeing onerous regulations may appear to bring immediate revenues to the coffers of the state. But let us be clear: multiple taxation and regulation of the telecoms industry discourage investment.

“They deny government of long term revenues and they destroy the foundation for future growth.

“This is why we must all work towards win-win solutions that enable operators to rollout fast and efficient networks which create opportunities for

our citizens and develop our economies,” Dare said.

He noted that there was empirical evidence provided by World Bank that improvement in penetration of broadband and ICT infrastructure by 10 per cent would boost national GDP by 2.5 per cent in one year, saying the revenue from communication is catching up with oil.

The high-point of the meeting was the presentation of papers on “Harmonisation of Taxation/Regulation of Telecommunications Infrastructure” and “Legal Framework for Telecommunications Infrastructure Rollout,” presented by Prof. Abiola Sanni and Paul Usoro (SAN), respectively.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is collaborating with relevant agencies to eliminate e-waste of fake handsets in the sector and Nigeria at large.

Director, Zonal Operations Department, NCC, Mrs Amina

Shehu made this known at a sensitisation visit by NCC officials to Bwari Area Council on Thursday in Abuja.

She said the commission was collaborating with are: the Consumer Protection Council, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service, Law Enforcement Agencies and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) among others Shehu talked about the effects of non-type approved handsets on quality of service and health of the users of e-waste.

She said: “it includes negative impact on quality of service, health concerns associated with electromagnetic field emissions from non-type approved handsets and the negative.’’.

She said that NCC was undertaking an initiative at the regional level in collaboration with stakeholders to form a regional synergy in developing a framework for combating counterfeiting ICT devices in the

African sub-region.

The stakeholders include the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), West African Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) and Mobile and Wireless Forum (MWF) accordingly.

In view of the challenges posed by the proliferation of non-type approved handsets and other substandard ICT products, Shehu urged other stakeholders to join hands and fight this menace.

She hoped that the workshop would provide a platform for operators, mobile equipment manufacturers, vendors, consumer groups and other stakeholders to raise the level of understanding and awareness on this issue.

According to her, at the National level, the Commission has in place a robust type approval regulation, seeks to discourage the use of counterfeit and substandard ICT products in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

e-Platform

Over 10 million users tricked into downloading fake app for Samsung devices

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amsung users take note: You don’t need third-party apps to update the firmware on your devices, and more importantly, you don’t have to pay for them.

An expose by malware analyst Aleksejs Kuprins of CSIS Security Group shows that 10 million unsuspecting users have been tricked into installing the Updates For Samsung app, which claims to provide “every Android update for Samsung devices”.

It redirects users to a blog website, first enticing them with free firmware downloads, then pushing them to pay for updates that in reality are available for free.

Kuprins notes that the download speed for the “free” version is limited to 56KBps (kilobytes per second) so a typical firmware could take up to four hours to download and possibly even crash halfway.

Frustrated users will be pushed to pay for the “premium” package that offers faster download, and they will be charged a US$34.99 (RM145) yearly fee.

The payment doesn’t happen on Google Play, where the app is surprisingly still available, according to Kuprins – instead the app sends the user’s credit card info to another site.

If you own a Samsung device, the firmware update, if any is available, can be found under Settings.

After you select Settings on your device, tap on About Device and then Software Update.

The Samsung website states: “Operating system updates are released periodically for your device. Please note that updates may take some time to install and can be large in terms of data. We recommend downloading the update via a WiFi connection to avoid using up your mobile data allowance.”

You can choose to auto update the firmware as and when an update is available, or do it manually. Either way, the updates come straight to your devices and are free of charge.

NITDA rewards 6 Nigerian students in Huawei ICT global competition N ational Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has rewarded six Nigerian students that represented the country in the 2018/2019 Huawei Information Communication Technology (ICT) competition Global Finals in China.

Head Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

The six students, who were from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, took part in the competition in May, while three of them emerged winners, making Nigeria first in Africa in the contest.

According to Umar, Dr Isa

Pantami, the Director-General of the agency rewarded the students with learning tablet with internet facility of three months and cash prize of N500, 000 each.

She quoted the directorgeneral as thanking the students adding that the agency was focused in developing and regulating IT in the country.

“NITDA on behalf of the Federal Government is committed to supporting talented Nigerians in reaching their potential. Our youths and students need to think outside the box, come up with revolutionary ideas that will help in solving social challenges and will also make them employers of labour.

“The country’s future relies on ICT as it is the driver of all aspects of the economy,’’ she said.

Huawei, in October 2018, launched the ICT competition in Nigeria in partnership with local universities.

The aim was to harness local ICT talents, promote a greater understanding and interest in ICT, and developing a healthy ecosystem for the sustainable growth of ICT sector.

Through the competition, Huawei Technologies seeks to improve comprehensive capabilities of students, transfer cutting-edge technologies information and explore the business requirement of the industry.

Smartphone app spending in H1 2019 hits $39.7bn A

lmost $40 billion was spent on smartphone apps in the first half of 2019. The figure comes courtesy of Sensor Tower, which takes into account both Apple’s App Store and Google Play downloads. The figure was 15% more than the same period last year meaning we are on track to a new record in H2 and 2019 as a whole. iOS users alone spent $25.5 billion in the App Store for the period, which is a 13% increase compared to H1 2018. On the other side, their Android counterparts shelled out $14.2 billion across Google Play which

is near 20% more than last year.

The highest-earning apps were unsurprisingly in the gaming category which brought in $29.6 billion. Tencent’s Arena of Valor (also known as Honor of Kings) brought in $728 million across iOS and Android. Second place was for Fate/Grand Order with its $628 million revenues followed

by Monster Strike which totaled $566 million.

In the non-gaming world, Tinder amassed the largest fortune with $497 million followed by Netflix with its $399 million and Tencent Video which brought in $278 million.

In terms of total app downloads, H1 2019 saw an increase of 11% despite a slowdown in iOS installs. 56.7 billion apps were downloaded for the period with Android accounting for nearly 42 billion of those while iOS installs were only 14.2 billion.

As a whole Apple’s platform still generates almost 2 times more revenue despite having 1/3 of the installs.

The most downloaded apps across both platforms continued to be led by WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook. TikTok and Instagram complete the top five.

Redesigned Samsung Galaxy Fold ready for relaunch

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wo days ago DJ Koh, director of the mobile business at Samsung, admitted his company messed up the Galaxy Fold launch that eventually led to the delay of the phone. Now a new report reveals the company is done with the redesign.

People, linked to Suwon, South Korea-based tech firm revealed there have been improvements of the display protector film and the hinge.

The biggest problem was the film screen that many reviewers mistook for a screen protector and tried to peel off, just to render the phone unusable. In the second-generation Galaxy Fold the film is stretched and tucked under the outer bezels of the device so you cannot peel it. The other issue was the hinge that now comes with extra protection both for the display and from the elements.

Samsung will soon start shipping components to its factory in Vietnam while the company is deciding on a launch date. Rumors suggest the redesigned phone will be unveiled at the August 7 launch of the Galaxy Note10 series, but at this point that seems unlikely.

This is against the backdrop of the fact that the Galaxy F remains a huge product bound to change the industry (if it has better luck in its second attempt), and Samsung will likely dedicate it a separate event.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market

Airtel Africa set to list on NSE Stories By JEROME USHAKANG

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced that Airtel Africa reputed to be Africa’s second largest telecoms operator, will be listing its shares on the main board of the Exchange Tuesday July 9, 2019.

The Exchange in a statement said the company’s listing will give it a market capitalisation of US$3.8billion, making it the third most capitalised stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange after Dangote Cement and MTN Nigeria.

According to the Exchange, the clarification became necessary as there are various media reports stating the postponement of Airtel Africa listing on the NSE to Monday, July 8, 2019. The listing was initially scheduled for Friday July 5, 2019 but was later postponed.

However, the NSE said that the official date for the listing of Airtel Africa is Tuesday July 09, 2019.

Recently, following Airtel Initial Public offering of (IPO) of US$750million, the company’s shares made a lackluster opening on its initial trading day on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), as its shares fell by as much as 16 percent to 0.67 pence.

Although the shares have since recovered some of its losses, it is believed that the read-across from the LSE may result in the shares trading below the minimum threshold share price of N363 per share on its debut on the NSE. The offer price implies a 2019 (end-Mar) EV/EBITDA of 5.8x. This compares with MTN Nigeria’s 2018 (end-Dec) multiple of 6.4x (or 4.7x 2019E).

According to key highlights gleaned from the company’s IPO memorandum below shows that Airtel is the second largest mobile operator in Africa by number of active subscribers with a welldiversified footprint spanning 14 Africa countries and serving an aggregate of 98.9 million subscribers and 14.2 million mobile money customers.

Nigeria represents the group’s largest single country subscriber base, accounting for 37.6 percent of the firm’s total subscribers as at FY 2019 (end-Mar), with 43.4

L–R: Ms. Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, NSE; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director/CEO, Airtel Nigeria; Awuneba Ajumogobia, Member, Airtel Africa Board during the Airtel Africa Plc Facts Before The Listing presentation at the Exchange last Friday. percent of subscribers in East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia) and the remaining 19.1 percent in the Rest of Africa (DR Congo, Rep. of Congo, Gabon, Chad and Niger Republic) segment.

Airtel operates in three main business lines, mobile voice, mobile data and Airtel Money. Mobile voice - The mobile voice business line comprises pre- and post-paid wireless voice services, international roaming, fixed-line telephone services and interconnect revenue paid to the group by other telecommunications providers.

The mobile voice business line is the largest component of Airtel’s revenue, representing 66.4 percent and 62.2 percent in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Mobile data - mobile data business line comprises data communications services, including 2G, 3G and increasingly, 4G data services, and other Value-AddedServices for mobile subscribers.

The mobile data business line accounted for 18.9 percent and 22.2 percent of Airtel’s revenue in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

On an aggregated basis, the mobile business lines before inter-product elimination and

including infrastructure tower sharing income accounted for 94.8 percent (95.4 percent ) of the Airtel’s consolidated revenue and 92.7 percent (95.2 percent) of the group’s underlying EBITDA in 2019 (2018).

Airtel Money - Mobile money services, offered under the Airtel Money brand, are an increasingly important part of the group’s service offerings. Airtel Money services are available across the group’s footprint in which Airtel serves 14.2 million customers.

In Nigeria, Airtel offers Airtel Money services in partnership with a local bank and has applied for a mobile banking licence. The Airtel Money business line before interproduct elimination accounted for 7.6 percent of the group’s consolidated revenue and 7.3 percent of the group’s underlying EBITDA in 2019.

Relative to the mid-teens revenue growth delivered by MTNN Nigeria (MTNN) over the 2017-18 period, Airtel’s average revenue growth over the 2018-19 (end-Mar) period was more modest at c.3 percent. However, its 2019 (end-Mar) revenues were up by 5.7 percent to US$3.1bn.

Although the company’s 2019

(end-Mar) EBITDA margin of 42.5 percent compares favourably with the 41. percent 8 delivered by MTN Nigeria (MTNN) in 2018 (end-Dec), its bottom line earnings were weighed down by elevated interest expenses due to its debt burden (net debt/ EBITDA of 3.1x end-Mar compared with. 0.28x for MTNN in 2018).

As such, although Airtel’s full year 2019 Profit Before Tax(PBT) margin of 12. 1 percent improved markedly from negative territory in full year 2019 (end-Mar), it pales in comparison with MTN Nigeria’s 2018 PBT margin of 21.3 percent.

The company’s capital structure shows high levels of leverage with a net-debt/EBITDA (including finance lease) of 3.1x as at 2019 (end-Mar) vs. 0.28x for MTN Nigeria. As such, the net issue proceeds of US$750m are to be used to deleverage its balance sheet to achieve a target ratio of c.2.5x (based on Underlying EBITDA), and free-up free cash flow to provide flexibility to pursue growth opportunities.

Airtel Africa targets a minimum dividend distribution of 80 percent of free cash flow as long as a ratio of net debt to Underlying EBITDA between 2 to 2.5 times is maintained, subject to all regulatory, statutory and monetary restrictions.

Nairobi opens second derivatives market

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he Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has announced that the first trades on its new derivatives market NEXT went smoothly on July 4, 2019 .

In a statement, the Securities Exchange disclosed that the NEXT market is set up to trade equity index futures and single stock futures. It also revealed that initially trading is offered in five single stock futures and futures on the NSE 25 Index.

The NSE is the second exchange in sub-Saharan Africa after Johannesburg to launch derivatives trading. According to media news report, this week’s launch is a soft launch restricted to a few investors, and the market will open to all investors after a week of trials.

Xinhua news agency reports a statement from NSE: “The NSE NEXT derivatives market has successfully conducted its first futures trades.

The initial trades were executed

by Standard Investment Bank and Kingdom Securities who cleared through the Co-operative Bank of Kenya.”

The market is mostly for individual and institutional investors looking to better manage risks, hedge, arbitrage and speculate over the future value of the participating stocks and the index.

For the meantime, the regulator, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) gave approval to the NSE to launch and operate the “Derivatives Exchange Market” in an announcement on May 29, 2019, thus paving the way for Thursday’s launch.

CMA Chief Executive, Mr. Paul Muthaura, stated: “‘The approval granted to the NSE to operationalize a derivatives market marks the achievement of a flagship project under the economic pillar of Kenya’s Vision 2030. The derivatives market will facilitate deeper and more liquid capital markets and position Kenya closer to becoming the heart of capital markets investment in Africa, as envisioned in the Capital Markets Master Plan”.

The launch follows a successful six-month derivatives pilot test phase in July-Dec 2018, and resolution of key issues that arose. Stanbic Bank and the Co-operative Bank of Kenya have been approved by the banking regulator, Central Bank of Kenya to provide clearing and settlement for the derivatives market.

NSE has been working with CMA and other stakeholders for years to prepare for the launch, as reported in this blog in December 2014. What can you trade?

NSE donates N20m to fight cancer as it hosts 6th Corporate Challenge

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he Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) has donated N20million to support the early detection and treatment of cancer in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has disclosed at the 6th edition of the Corporate Challenge known as “e-Race Cancer” in Lagos.

Onyema said since its inception in 2014 over 2,000 people have participated in the annual event. He said the five kilometer competitive race, jog and walk event served as a platform to mobilize efforts to support the purchase of Mobile Cancer Clinics and create more awareness for the prevention of

the disease.

According to him, “Cancerrelated deaths in Nigeria are set to rise if urgent action are not taken to raise awareness about early detection of the disease and to develop practical strategies to address the increasing burden.

Such is the idea that inspired the NSE Corporate Challenge in 2014.

The NSE Corporate Challenge has adopted exercise as a vehicle to drive its cancer awareness initiative and further stress the need for regular exercise and overall healthy living as ways to reduce the risk of cancer”.

Onyema, lauded the Ambassadors of the NSE

Corporate Challenge namely; Alibaba Akpobome, Kate Henshaw, Waje, Burna Boy, MI Abaga, Gideon Okeke, Wole Arole, Simi, Sheyi Shay, amongst others.

The NSE CEO in an interview said well over N68million has been raised from the Corporate Challenge to support the efforts of addressing the cancer scourge in Nigeria.

At the end of the race Austin Ani of Stanbic IBTC emerged the overall winner, while Paul Alabi of Aluko & Oyebode Law Firm and Aliyu Lukman of Fidelity Bank Plc came second and third respectively.

Adaobi Anikwe of The Nigerian

Stock Exchange, emerged the winner for the Female category, while Mr Rene Gabriel of Nigerian Breweries Plc emerged the winner of the Senior Citizen category for runners aged 50 and above The event featured free cancer-screening tests for participants provided by partner medical service firms for the corporate challenge.

Some of the corporate leaders that attended the event included Mr Yinka Sanni, CEO Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr Demola Sogunle, CEO Stanbic IBTC Nigeria , Mr Ike Chioke, CEO Afrinvest and Mr Danladi Verheijen , CEO Verod Capital.

The sixth Corporate Challenge

had as sponsors and partners the following companies; Stanbic IBTC, Dangote Cement Plc, Beta Glass Plc, FCMB, MTN Nigeria, FBN Holdings, IHS Towers, Transcorp, Fidelity Bank Plc, UBA, SAHCO, AIICO Plc, CSCS Plc, Seplat, EKEDC and Sterling Bank Plc. Other companies like Emergency Rescue, Lotus Fitness, ATS Travels, Kenya Airways, Sofresh and Blackhouse offered contribution in kind.

Notable Media Outfits that supported the Corporate Challenge included; Channels Television, CNBC Africa, TVC, BusinessDay Newspaper, NTA, Proshare, Silverbird TV, Rhythm FM, Plus TV and Enterprise TV.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 – 14, 2019

MONEY Market FirstBank to CBN to fund creative industry with empower 500 N23bn, unveils guidelines for funding widows F T he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it plans to fund the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI) with seed money of N22.9 billion from the AgricBusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee.

Nigeria’s creative industry reportedly accounts for 2.3 percent, approximately N239 billion of its GDP in 2016, even as experts say the sector can perform better given the country’s rich resources.

According to an accompanying circular to all deposit money banks in the country, signed by Joseph Gana, for its director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, the CBN said the initiative is “to improve access to long-term lowcost financing for entrepreneurs and investors in the nation’s creative and information technology subsectors, as part of efforts to boost job creation in Nigeria, particularly among the youth.”

The initiative is also expected to harness the entrepreneurial potentials of youth within the country’s creative and IT subsector for economic development while complementing other development finance initiatives of the CBN to accelerate financial inclusion.

The initiative is for existing enterprises in the creative industry, start-ups engaged in the creative industry and students of higher institutions engaged in software developments.

According to modalities for the funding published on the CBN website at the weekend, information technology is billed to take the lion’s share of N5.5 billion; followed by N5.4 billion for music; while N4 billion each is earmarked for movie distribution and fashion. The remaining N3 billion is for movie production, which is disaggregated into N1.5 billion each for movie production and equipment financing; just as N1 billion is voted for student software development loan.

While the software development and movie loan components of the initiative will enjoy 9 percent (all inclusive) like all CBN interventions, the student software development loan, movie production, and distribution

components will have single obligor limits of N3 million, N50 million, and N500 million respectively. Student software development loans under the initiative are to have three-year tenor, 9 month moratorium from the date of the loan disbursement and monthly repayment schedule, just as movie production and distribution loans will enjoy 10-year tenor and 24-month moratorium, with a quarterly repayment plan.

As security for the loans, obligors (beneficiaries) minimum equity contribution for student software loan is zero, a university degree certificate, NYSC certificate, credible guarantor and personal guarantee.

For the other two, minimum equity is 30 percent, in addition to the legal mortgage, all asset debenture, and personal guarantee, in addition to a credible guarantor for movie production loans.

In addition, software development loans require that the beneficiary gains admission into a training organization that has job placement contracts with a preference for areas with low IT penetration, just as he/she should have no bad credit history with Credit Risk Management System

or any commercial banks in Nigeria.

While movie production distribution loans do not require admission into training organization, they must, however, have a minimum of three years of relevant experience, just as there should be a preference for areas with low cinema penetration.

The funding structure, according to the CBN guideline, is such that the software facilities will be granted as 100 term loans by the banks, while the other two will be 70 percent term loans given that the beneficiaries will have 30 percent equity contributions.

Loan disbursement will be in phases according to agreed milestones, just as repayments of the software loans will be from proceeds of software sale or patent usage. The movie production and distribution loans are to be repaid “from the proceeds of movie tickets at the box office and other channels of distribution.”

For fashion, IT and music producers, equipment purchase and rental/service fees, with an interest rate of 9 percent and 10year tenor, while moratorium will be 36 months after the date of loan disbursement.

Repayment is quarterly, just as minimum equity contribution is 20 percent across the board, with security such as mortgage debenture, legal mortgage, and a lien on stock of trade and items of equipment. They must also have at least three referrals from recognized sponsors or bodies or associations; minimum three-year relevant experience and must not have a bad credit history with CRMS or any commercial bank in the country.

Funding will be 80 percent from the banks as term loans, with disbursement in phases, according to the agreed milestones and repayment from proceeds of the business, sale/income from services provided and music record sale or shows.

To participate in the initiative, the CBN requires prospective applicants to approach any of their banks with a business plan or statement detailing how much is needed for his her business proposal. The bank will provide the applicant with the documentation requirements for accessing any of the loans and shall be as acceptable by the respective bank for credit requests by its customers.

Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Fidelity Bank Plc., Osaigbovo Omorogbe; Advisory Partner & Chief Economist, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Dr Andrew Nevin, at a press conference in Lagos to unveil the forthcoming Fidelity SME Funding Connect - Lagos themed: Entrepreneurship Meets Capital.

Business man, nine others win big in DiamondXtra Season 11 monthly draw

O

nyekachi John, a business man and nine others emerged winners over the weekend at the May monthly draw of the DiamondXtra season 11 reward scheme powered by Access Bank Plc. Speaking shortly after receiving the N1 million prize cheque, John told newsmen that he had been a customer of Access Bank for years, adding that he never knew he would emerge winner someday.

According to him, “I feel so happy and so excited and did not even believe I would become a winner in the first place. All I had to do was to top my DiamondXtra

Savings account which I started with N5000 before I constantly topped it with bigger amounts which as a result made me N1 million richer today.

“I want to say a big thank you to Access Bank as they are stronger and bigger now, I will also encourage other Nigerians to partake in this initiative because whatever they say they will do, they end up making their customers happy”.

According to the Head, Consumer Liability Products, Access Bank, Osita Ede, “The DiamondXtra reward scheme is open to new and existing customers and all you need

to do is visit the nearest Access bank branch, open a DiamondXtra account and fund it with N5,000.

The more multiples of N5,000 you save, the higher your chance of winning. The draws scheduled to hold across the six geopolitical zones this season reaffirms Access Bank’s commitment to financially empower more Nigerians,” concluded Osita.

Also speaking, Product Manager, DiamondXtra, Access Bank, Chukwuma Agu, noted that the inspiration behind this initiative is to encourage customers and Nigerians to save and also get rewarded for saving.

He said, “This is the 11th year of the DiamondXtra reward scheme and we have rewarded over 4,950 customers with N5.5 billion.

DiamondXtra is bigger and better now which is why this edition is tagged “Bigger and Better” so we hope to have bigger wins and better the lives of our customers”.

DiamondXtra is an interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third party cheques. Hybrid means a combination of both savings and current account features. The DiamondXtra reward scheme was launched in 2008 and has been running till date.

irst Bank of Ngeria Limited is to empower 500 widows in 2019 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities and Sustainable Week (CSR).

Already, the Bank has empowered 125 widows as identified by the International Women Society (IWS) vis-àvis their initiative for widows, Widows Trust Fund with funding to grow their micromedium scale businesses.

Speaking at the 125 widows’ endowment empowerment programme in commemoration of FirstBank 125th Anniversary, the Group Executive, International Banking Group (ITBG), First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu, explained that the Bank’s partnership with IWS was designed to further the empowerment of women, especially widows.

She also stated that the CR&S week themed: ‘Ripples of Kindness; You First’ reflects the brand promise to always put its stakeholders first and is designed to offer employees and other stakeholder opportunities to give their time and resources to defined causes.

Odunewu, who was represented at the event by the Business Development Manager (ITBG), First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Kunle Olorunfemi explained that as part of the Bank’s employee giving and volunteering programme, the week focuses on wide range of activities under the SPARK (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) initiative, which include partnership with IWS for the empowerment of widows, as well as visit and donations to orphanage/less privileged homes, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and deepening the values of SPARK amongst school children.

According to Odunewu, “A world without active collaboration amongst people, organisations, nations and regions is inconceivable. We are here because of our collective desire to pursue synergies that would generate progress for us and future generations. That is the focal piece of sustainability.

I am, therefore, optimistic that this partnership will help drive sustainable development.

“At FirstBank the partnership amongst people and stakeholders have sustained us for over 125 years. As you might be aware our impact traverses virtually every sector of the economy. This indeed resonates our 125 anniversary theme ‘Woven into the Fabric of Society’ “Such partnerships have also provided the opportunity for us to help create an enabling platform for Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive and develop the national economy.

“The partnership with International Women Society is designed to advance social and economic impact by providing capital and capacity building for women running small businesses including widows.”

12

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 -14, 2019

HEALTH

Infertility or subfertility: Reconciling male and female issues in our contemporary Society (Part 1 ).

F

rom puberty, reproductive health (sex organs) of humans begin to manifest as a reality.

Puberty is the time of preparation of the males and females between childhood and adulthood. Nature naturally prepares humans for certain fulfilments in life, biologically, reproductively and otherwise. The mechanisms that initiate puberty are not clearly understood but are thought to result from withdrawal of central inhibition of growth releasing hormone. Environmental and physical factors are involved in the timing of puberty, including body fat changes, physical excercise as well as genetic factors, example, a growth protein-coupled receptor gene (GPR) required for pubertal maturation. The maturation ushers one into adulthood.

A good number of luteinising hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) hormones act and inter-play as chemical messengers.

Luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) are both low in the prepubertial child.

In early pubety, FSH begins to rise first, initially in noctural pulses.

This is followed by a rise in LH with a subsequent increase in testosterone/Oestrogen levels. Nature made everything perfectly good; but changes may occur in the process of growth and development right from the beginning of life or in between changing life. In the process of life, hormones play a lot of roles in changing nature of man (humans).

Fertility, subfertility or infertility inter-plays in human life. Subfertility or infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive and bear a child or children after one or two years of uninterupted-unprotected adequate sexual intercourse. A couple cannot be regarded as infertile untill after

3 – 5 years of constant coital relationship. In human infertility, male and female may have a significant proportion of contributing factors. Such factors are considered below.

Inadequate intercourse, hastile cervical mucus and vaginal factors are uncommon in general population, but put at five percent and fifteen percent of cases appear to be idiopathic and natural fertility decreases with increasing age, from 50 years and above. About 30 to 40% of couples have a major identifiable male factors. There are some evidences that male sperm counts, morphology and motility are declining in many populations.

Untreated male hypogonadism of any case and infections are likely to be associated with subfertility.

Female tubal problems account for 20% and similar proportion have ovulation disorders. Any cause of oligoamenorrhoea (irregular length of cycle above 32 days) or amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation for 3 months in a woman) is likely to be associated with suboptimal ovulation or anovulation.

Clinically, both partners should be seen and the following factors checked, for a male (man), previous testicular damage (orchitis, trauma) undesended testes, urethral symptoms and veneral problems, local surgery, use of alcohol and drugs should be checked. A semen analysis early in the investigations is essential for proper assessment. For a female (woman), surgery, alcohol intake, smoking and adequacy of body weight are necessary to consider. Both couple need frequency and adequacy of intercourse, and use of lubricants has to be avoided to ascertain how naturally a woman can lubricate or wet the vagina.

HEALTH With Dr. JOHN

NWABUEZE •Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

Counselling of both partners is essential. Any defect(s) found should be treated and adherence to instructions from the professionals are necessary for effective result. Ovulation can usually be induced by exogenous hormones if simpler measures fail. IVF –In vitro fertilisation and similar techniques are widely used, especially where there is tubal blockage, Oligosprmia or idiopathic subfertility.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) appears particulating effective for severe oligospermia and poor sperm function.

Disorders of sexual differentiation are rare but may affect chromosomal, gonadal, endocrine and phenetopic development of the male or female gender. Such cases always require extensive, multidisplinary clinical management.

An individual sex can be defined in several ways: (1) A chromosom-

al sex: The normal female is 46 xx, and the normal male is 46 xy.

The Y chromosome confers or describes the male sex; if it is not present, development follows female lines. (2) Gonadal sex: This is obviously determined predominantly by chromosomal sex, but requires normal embryological development. (3) Phenotypic sex: This describes the normal physical appearance and characteristics of male and female body shape.

This in turn is the manifestation of gonadal sex and subsequent sex hormone production. Socially, any male or female gender who does not attract the opposite sex should then avoid relationship and not to talk of sexual intimacy.

Infertility of two persons living together starts from the mind.

Some persons may have had abortion and concluded that they are no longer fertile, may be as a

“

There are some evidences that male sperm counts, morphology and motility are declining in many populations. Untreated male hypogonadism of any case and infections are likely to be associated with subfertility. Female tubal problems account for 20% and similar proportion have ovulation disorders ... likely to be associated with suboptimal ovulation or anovulation.

“

•Polycystic ovary syndrome: Common cause of female infertility

result of higher extent of damage during the abortions felt or experienced, and the persons keep having spontaneous abortions. But there is always away out.

There are some products of (TCM) Traditional Chinese Medicine discovered in to turn of century –Kedi/Fidson products that are certified to be effective in correcting anormalis of a rather disorder in hormones of the males and females of child bearing age.

The product line for male who want to achieve fertility with kedi/ fidson products should look for: Revive, Reishi, Vigor essential and Golden hypha. Revive builds the sperm count and stimulates libido and strengthens erection in a man. Reishi roots out every blockage of the vas deferens and open chanelles for free flow of blood, fluids and sperm from testis to the penis, which makes sexual intercourse possible and meaningful. Vigor essential and golden, hypha are useful in terms of virility, prostate nourishment and desertification of infection and maintenance of morphology and motility of sperm . calmazine also maintains the quality of sperm and its viability.

For females who need to conceive soonest; go for: Reishi which takes care of hormone imbalance of the Oestrogen, prolactin and progesterone. It promotes immunity and quality of life. Golden six is responsible for the quality production of ova which makes ovulation very possible which therefore makes fertilisation a reality. Other products very active for female use, are:Gynapharm, Calmazine and Haemocare. Other product combinations for males and females are: Cordy active and Cordy royal jelly for nourishing and correcting hormones.

In absence of congenital abnormalities, the only biomedical challenge that would stop couples from achieving pregnancy are menopause, sometimes hirsutism and damages caused by major surgery.

The products above (natural medicines origin) have passed several clinical trials and have been recommended for use worldwide for fertility achievements. Infetility should be no longer an isue in the families hence, the solution is here.

•Dr. John Nwabueze

32

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

Crime

Plan to mark ‘cultism anniversary’ in Kwara uncovered

K

• The Nigeria Police K9 Unit on parade during a special ceremony by the Inspector General of Police (IGP),to officially announce the deployment of the component of the Operation Puff Adder to railway stations across the country which held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Why we deployed K9 unit to railway stations – IG Adamu

Stories by VICTOR NZE

I

nspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has disclosed that the decision of the police high command to deploy the Force’s Animal Branch, also known as the K9 Unit to railway stations across the country was informed by the need to complement existing security measures emplaced for the security and safety of passengers and critical infrastructure of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

Speaking during the official deployment of the K9 component of the Operation Puff Adder at a ceremony which held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Tuesday, Adamu said the plan was to maximize the unique qualities of the K9 unit to complement other sections that have been deployed as part of the broad policing architecture which, according to the police chief, have been in place towards addressing our internal security challenges.

“This initiative is within the context of Operation Puff Adder and it is planned to complement the existing security measures emplaced for the security and safety of passengers and critical infrastructure of the Nigeria Railway Corporation across the country.

“The deployment of special breed and exceptionally-trained police dogs for security duties is as old as human civilization. Hence, their utilization in combating crimes and sundry internal security threats in the 21st century cannot be over emphasized.

“Indeed, K9 are known to possess extra-ordinary capacity for detection of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), narcotics and other illicit drugs, firearms and other prohibited items which criminals usually engage for the perfection of their criminal activities. The deployment of Police

dogs is therefore meant for detection or prevention crimes along the railway corridors. Their brief shall be for patrols, surveillance, detection and apprehension of felons in and around railway facilities.

“The Nigeria Police prides itself as having one of the most equipped, experienced, highly-trained, and functional K9 Section. They also have commendable antecedent of successful anti-crime, crowd control and civil disorder management operations in the country. Indeed, it is on record that the Nigeria Police Force Animal Branch has been instrumental to the training and development of similar branches for other security agencies in the

country.

“By this event today, our plan is to maximize our unique K9 strength to complement other sections that have been deployed as part of the broad policing architecture which we recently emplaced towards addressing our internal security challenges.

Adamu who recalled that already the force has about one thousand additional personnel deployed to the Nigeria Police railway Command, explained that the K9 deployment was ‘designed to address the manpower gap of the Command and reposition them to address vulnerabilities, projected threats, and security challenges which the increasing human traffic and expanding assets

of the Nigeria Railway Corporation may present.’

Continuing, in his address at the ceremony, the police chief solicited the cooperation of the general public in helping the force to curb criminality in the society.

“We however, continually solicit the cooperation of all. We encourage all citizens to embrace the concept of ‘if you see something, say something’. Indeed, our appeal now is ‘if you suspect something, say something’. This is a civil obligation of all citizens and this is the most potent weapon towards collectively winning the war against elements bent on threatening our security,” he said.

Police arrest notorious house, shop breakers in Anambra At about 5:15am on July 6, 2019 while on stop and search operation along Ifite road Awka, a police patrol team attached to the ‘B’ Division accosted one Elendu Wisdom ‘m’ aged 26years, and upon a search on his person, some house/shop breaking implements such as hammer, knives and a sawing device were found concealed underneath his wears.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, SP Haruna Mohammed, read: “Suspect was immediately searched and the following exhibits were recovered from him, (I) Assorted sachets of hot drinks, Chamdor bottle wine, food stuffs, cigarettes and others which he confessed upon interrogation to have stolen from a shop at First Market Ifite Awka at about 04:am of today.

“The scene was visited by Police detectives and incident confirmed by the shop owner, one Chinwe Madukegbu ‘f’, who put the value of the stolen items at N75,000.

“The suspect, a plaster of paris

(POP) work designer, who hails from Asa in Ukwa West local government area of Abia state, but resides at Awkuzu in Oyi council, was recently released from the prison over a similar case.

“Consequently, on the 05/07/2019 at about 2:pm,Police patrol team attached to Awada Division arrested one Chika Udeze ‘m’ aged 26years of no fixed address.

“Suspect broke into the residence of one Ifeanyi Igwe ‘m’ of No 22B Isunje Aba Street, Awada and stole various items of clothing apparels.

He has confessed to the crime and other cases of house breaking, burglary and stealing within the area.”

Meanwhile, all items stolen by the suspect from the residence of his victim have been recovered.

Continuing, Haruna said: “Furthermore, On the 6/7/2019 at about 5:am, along Ifite Road Awka, Police patrol team attached to ‘B’ Division intercepted a white Toyota truck with registration number Lagos, XT 676 SMK conveying iron rods, with two occupants namely- one Adama

Michael ‘m’ driver of the vehicle and one Michael Okonkwo ‘m’ a local vigilante at Ifite.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects allegedly stole the items valued at N200,000 belonging to one Ifeanyi Jideobi ‘m’ from his building site at Ntuku Ngbagu area of Ifite Awka.

“All cases are under investigation after which suspects would be charged to Court for prosecution.“

•CP, Abanj John

wara State Police Command says it has uncovered plans by some elements to ‘mark the anniversary of cultism in the state.’

A statement by DSP Okasanmi Ajayi, the Police Public Relations Officer on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, said ‘Credible intelligence available to the Command indicates that some criminal elements with different identities/ nomenclatures have concluded plans to disrupt the peace and tranquility currently existing in Kwara State, last Sunday, in the quise of marking the anniversary of cultism in the State.’

Continuing, the statement read: “The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, Acting CP Kayode Egbetokun finds this development unacceptable and has put in place adequate security measures throughout the State.

“He is also using this medium to call parents/guidance to monitor the activities of their children/ wards. Students generally, are advised to shun any suspicious gathering of young men and women in their environments and report any suspicious movements and activities of criminal elements to the Police, through the following phone numbers. 09033871133 07015338157 08070734277.

“Members of the public are advised to go about their lawful endeavours without any fear of molestation, please.”

95yr-old ‘Indian hemp’ dealer nabbed in Ondo ames Salihu, 95, has been appreJCommand hended by men of the Ondo State of the National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for allegedly dealing in Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as ‘India Hemp.’

Salihu, a native of Supare-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State was nabbed for being an addict and selling the illicit drug.

The suspect was nabbed at his residence on No 5, Idofin Street, Supare Akoko on a tip-off to the agency, which showed that he had been operating in the area for years unhindered.

Meanwhile, due to his age and alleged ill-health, the nonagenarian was granted administrative bail with a doctor detailed to monitor and attend to his poor health condition.

Since he was confirmed not fit for a journey by the doctor to the state headquarters of the agency in Akure, the state capital, he was consequently given what was described as a “management arrest”.

The family doctor, it was learnt, has since commenced the treatment of the man, whom the agency said would be transferred to Akure, when his health condition is better.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Haruna Gagara described the suspect as an irresponsible old man who failed to live a life worthy of emulation by the younger generation.

Gagara assured that the prosecution of the suspect will begin as soon as he is confirmed fit by the medical doctor.

33

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

CRIME Anambra, Rivers get new CPs Stories by VICTOR NZE

I

nspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate posting and redeployment of Commissioners of Police in charge of Anambra and Rivers States Commands.

Consequently, a new Commissioner of Police, CP Abang John, formerly of the Department of Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja has been posted to Anambra State Police Command; while the erstwhile Commissioner of Police in charge of Anambra State, CP DanDaura Mustapha has been redeployed to Rivers State as the new Police Chief.

The postings are with immediate effect.

The former Commissioner of Police in charge of Rivers State, CP Usman Alhassan Belel completes the triangular movement as he returns to Force Headquarters, Abuja to take over as the new Commissioner of Police in the Department of Research and Planning.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Frank Mba, said the postings which are strategically routine in nature are ‘designed to enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency of policing services in the affected States and Departments.

Commenting, IGP Adamu advised the newly deployed Commissioners of Police to ‘bring to bear their experiences and expertise in dealing with the peculiar challenges in their new places of work.’

Horror as hoodlums matchet church teacher, gardener in Obiano’s community St.Peters Anglican Church Aguleri in Anambra-East Local Government Area of Anambra State was a victim of a horror that occurred in the wee hours of the morning recently when some daredevil hoodlums found their way into the church compound and unleashed terror and mayhem on the catechist and gardener of the church, leaving both victims fighting for their lives. Information had it that the hoodlums neither came to steal nor to dispossess them of their belongings but the mission was to capture and kill the resident priest whom they couldn’t get due to their inability to find their way to his apartment upstairs even though they had placed a ladder on the wall of the one-storey building to achieve their set target. From Awka, OZO RAY reports. .

Police commence full investigation into Abbo assault nspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a Icomprehensive investigation into

the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on a female Nigerian by Senator Abbo Elisha.

Specifically, the IGP directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Bala Ciroma to provide a personal and round-the-clock supervision of every facet of the investigation, including the Forensic analysis of the video currently in circulation as well as the actions/inactions of the Policeman seen in the video footage.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Frank Mba, said the IGP, while assuring citizens of utmost professionalism by the Police in the handling of the matter, promised that the Force will ensure that justice is manifestly done in this case irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Bala Ciroma has already established contact with the victim of the assault and has commenced investigation in earnest into the case.

The IGP thanked Nigerians for their massive show of empathy and concern for the rights of their fellow citizen and urged continuous citizens’ engagement in the tackling of the wider challenges of security in our country.

The church teacher, Mr.Christopher Chukwu who had come out in the dead of the night to ease himself was said to have seen strange flashlights in the church premises and proceeded towards the direction of the light to ascertain what it was only for the hoodlums to pounce on him using matchets and other weapons on him . His cry for help however alerted the resident priest Rev.Akachukwu Ikedilo and the gardener one Mr.Mathew Nwude who was said to have suffered the same fate in a bid to rescue the catechist from the marauders . Rev.Akachukwu Ikedilo who narrated the ordeal to our correspondent said that it was the church teacher and the gardener who encountered the hoodlums and that from what he was told the miscreants cut him with an axe and that in a bid to escape the hoodlums inflicted more injuries on him and the gardener . That when he came down to ascertain what happened , the criminals had fled and left the church teacher and the gardener in a pool of blood .

The President-General Aguleri Community Assembly Chief Barr.

Hipo Onwuegbuke who also narrated the sad event to our correspondent in Aguleri recalled that he got a distress call in the wee hours of last week Wednesday morning at about 3:45 am from one of their relatives one Joe Nwokedi who lives close to St.Peters Anglican Church Aguleri that the church was under

siege by hoodlums . The PresidentGeneral said he immediately alerted the police and local vigilantes who stormed the church premises just in time but unfortunately the miscreants had escaped through Umueri , a neighbouring community . The PG said the police and local vigilante operatives saw the ladder with which the hoodlums wanted to climb to get to the resident priest . According to him , “ what I was told was that the catechist who lives downstairs came out to ease himself and saw two men and went there and said what are you people doing here and they started matcheting him . The man is still in the hospital receiving treatment as we speak now . We have gone to police and made statements and the Bishop of the Diocese is also involved in this matter . “ Onwuegbuke however opined that he was flabbergasted when the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police alleged in a report that the horrible event that occurred at St.Peters Anglican Church Aguleri was an attempted armed-banditry , wondering why the police should hold such position in a sensitive matter of such magnitude even though he said it falls within the purview of the police to conduct investigations and come up with reliable information . The President-General noted that inspite of the ugly episode of last week Wednesday at St.Peters Anglican Church Aguleri , vigilante operatives foiled another attack

on the same church on Thursday 4th July at about 2 am . He alleged that some people with pump action came to the church with over seven motorcycles and were flashing lights on the sign post of St.Peters Anglican Church only to be accosted by local vigilantes who challenged them and thwarted their plans . Although the President-General noted that Aguleri was not at war with its neighbours , he also disclosed that there is an existing Joint Peace Committee comprising Umueri and Aguleri people , a platform set up to broker peace and harmonious existence between the two communities even though he said accusing fingers were pointing in the direction of Umueri as they suspect that the hoodlums that attacked the Anglican church were from the community .

But in a swift reaction to the allegations levelled against Umueri on the St.Peters Anglican Church saga , the traditional ruler of Umueri His Royal Majesty Igwe Sir Ben Izuchukwu Emeka said such allegations were baseless and that his community can not be held culpable for what happened in Aguleri or any other surrounding community . He said “ if anybody is linking Umueri or anybody from Umueri to a crime that is committed in Aguleri , he is being wicked and very malicious .

Because in Aguleri there are crimes and in Umueri there are crimes too .

The ones that happen in Umueri we have never attributed it to anybody . If a crime is committed it is left for the police to unravel and investigate where the criminal elements come from . So for anybody to say or go to the social media and be alleging that it is people from Umueri that did it is the most wicked and malicious act .

I am an Anglican . The Bishop called me around 3 am and said crime has taken place and I quickly called our local vigilantes from Umueri . So am surprised that somebody will go to the social media and be writing that it is people from Umueri . Well , what I want to say is that there are so many people writing damaging things about Umueri . I don’t know what they want . So they should stay on their own and not create the kind of communal war or hatred amongst the two communities . Umueri and Aguleri are brothers .

The communal war that happen in 1999 , most of these boys writing these things were not born by then .They have not experienced war .

They should mind the way they talk .They should not preempt police investigations saying that it is people from Umueri . Whoever that wrote that kind of thing is being wicked and very malicious . What they are writing is a figment of their own imagination and nobody can instigate Governor Willie Obiano against me through malicious social media contents . “

racleToday

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247,600.00

9”x 6 cols

334,269.00

9”x 3cols 167,130.00 9”x 4cols 222,840.00

N

Full Page (14x cols) surcharge of 30% 676,000 10 x 5 cols surcharge 30% 402,350 Half page (7x6 cols)

surcharge 30% 351,000 Quarter Page (7x3 cols) surcharge of 30%

168,987 Inside Front cover (full page) surchage 30% 780,000 Inside Back cover (full page) surcharge 30% 780,000 Outside Back page (full page) surcharge 30% 1,000,000 (Earpiece

400,000

Special Position

N

Front Page strip 2 x 6

465,000

Backpage strip

2 x 6

450.000

7”x5 cols 216,650.00

Back Page strip

6 x 2

530,000

7”x4 cols 173,320.00

Front Page solus 6 x 2

500,000

Quarter Page

Earpiece Window (2 x 2) Front 205,000

8”x5 cols 247,600.00 8” x3cols 148,560.00

125,000.00

6”x3 cols 111,426.00 6”x2 cols 74,280.00 2” x6 (Strip ROP)

74,280.00

4”x3 cols 74,280.00 4”x2 cols 49,520.00 3”x3cols 55,710.00 2”x2 cols 24,760.00 1”x3 cols 18,570.00 1”x2cols 12,380.00 1”x1 col 6,190.00

Earpiece Window (2 x 2) back 179,000 Centre Spread

1,000,000

Double Spread

850,000

Wrap Around

16,500,000

Half Wrap Around

10,000,000

Classified

3,000

Loose Inserts Rate Per 1000 Copies 43,000.00 Handling Charge 45.000.00

For adverts placements and bookings contact the following number: 09061836916, 08033580234, 09078310060

35

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 -14, 2019

NEWS

Ugwuanyi appoints J-Jay Okocha, others into reform committees ...

Umeh: Oye must refund monies ‘extorted’ from Imo aspirants, resign From PAMELE EBOH, Awka

F

ormer national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh has called for the resignation of his successor, Victor Oye saying that he must also refund monies he allegedly extorted from governorship aspirants of the party in Imo State.

Umeh who made the statement in an interview with journalists said his position was occasioned by the fact that Oye cannot go to Imo State to run any activity for APGA in the light of what had happened.

He maintained that the action could lead to the death of the party.

Oye, in a leaked email written by Umeh and sent to Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who is also the chairman Board of Trustees of the party, had been accused accused of collecting over N800million in bribe from aspirants in Imo State with a promise to hand them the gubernatorial ticket of the party.

The letter, however, resulted in a protest against Umeh by loyalists of Oye, but Umeh has insisted that no amount of protest against him would stop him from demanding that the right thing be done in a party he struggled to build.

Recall that Umeh had in a leaked email he wrote to Anambra State governor,

Chief Willie Obiano, accused Oye of collecting over N800million in bribe from aspirants in Imo State with a promise to hand them the gubernatorial ticket of the party.

The letter resulted in a protest against Umeh by Oye’s loyalists but Umeh said that no amount of protest against him would stop him from insisting the right thing be done in a party he worked hard to build.

He said: “Let me start by saying that I forgive the protesters, for they do not know what they were doing. I, Senator Victor Umeh is the oldest member of APGA in Nigeria today, from 2002 till today, I’ve been in this party.

“I have a very huge stake in the party, in the sense that I with my colleagues in leadership nurtured this party out of the turbulent times and established it firmly in Nigeria as a very popular political party.

“I am a life member of the Board of Trustees of this party. Whatever happens in this party, I have more than any other person’s interest in the party. I am the number one person that’ll see to protection of this party.”

“When Ojukwu was dying he handed this party over to me and enjoined me never to allow this party to die. So, at any time I see things that are not working well in the party, I will remember

Cont’d from Pg 2

that directive from Ojukwu to act.

“I am somebody nobody can intimidate, once I see anything that is not going well in the party. I will speak out to ensure that this party is kept very strong for our people. It is clearly obvious to all party members that in October 2018, when we had our primaries, party people complained across the South East, that they were not treated well.

“I felt that the National Chairman did not do his work well. It was clear to me that he did what he ought not to do at all.

If you are in a position of leadership, you must ensure that you do not do things that will tarnish the image of the party.

“When people produced evidence of huge sums of money collected from them for the same position and at the end nothing was done. It became a moral burden for me to intervene on their behalf.

“I won’t be alive and somebody will endanger this party and lead to its death and I will keep quiet. I will not. So I maintain my stand. I am not supporting him to continue as Chairman of APGA because if he continues this party will die While saying that he was not prepared to leave the party, but would rathet remain to fight whatever wrong doing that could arise, to fulfil the promise he made to late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who according to him handed the party over to him before his passing.

boost orderly housing development and establish a modern intra-state transport system”, the governor said.

Appreciating members of the committees for accepting to serve the state, Ugwuanyi expressed confidence that they will deploy their wealth of experience, expertise and commitment to add value to the governance of Enugu.

Responding on behalf of other members of the five inaugurated committees, the chairman of sustainable environmental and urban management sector, Prof. Smart Uchegbu, thanked the governor for assembling “the cream of professionals” to carry out the all important assignment.

He expressed delight at the pioneering innovation adopted by Ugwuanyi to improve service delivery and good governance in Enugu, saying: “I am really overwhelmed that for the first time, we see a dynamic governor joyfully assembling a cream of professionals to work with him, to assist him achieve more of what he has already achieved”.

The Professor commended the numerous achievements of the governor towards the rapid development of the state, adding that he was proud that “Enugu is number one state in the area of security and one of the cleanest and most beautiful states in Nigeria” and firmly in the hands of God.

PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, Oji-River Industrial Layout Off Old Enugu-Onitsha Road Invitation For Pre-Qualification 1.0 Preamble

The College Wish To Embark On The Implementation Of The Its 2019 Approved Budget. Interested And Reputable Contractors With Relevant Experience Are Hereby Invited To Forward Their Budding Documents For The Project Listed Below; 2.0 Scope Of Work Lot 1 Construction Of Student Lecture Hall Lot 2 Construction Of 250 Capacity Student Ict Centre Lot 3 Purchase Of 200Kva Generating Set Lot 4 Training Of Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Members Lot 5 Capacity Building For Consumers Cooperative Society Members/Managers In Onicha Clan Ebonyi State Lot 6 Supply Of Stater Packs For Skilled Women And Youth In Anambra Central Lot 7 Supply Of Stater Packs For Skilled Women And Youth In Anambra Central Lot 8 Training And Empowerment Of Youth And Women Of Umerum In Oyi/Ayamelum Fed Consti. Anambra State Lot 9 Training On Commercial Agricultural And Agro Business Entrepreneurship For Select Cooperatives And Youths In Udi Central And Ezeagu North Of Enugu State Lot 10 Empowerment Of Women Cooperative Socieites In Afikpo North L.g.a., Ebonyi State Lot 11 Provision Of Motorcycles To Rural Cooperative Farmers In Afikpo North L.g.a. Of Ebonyi State Lot 12 Provision Of Motorcycles To Rural Cooperative Farmers In Afikpo South L.g.a. Of Ebonyi State Lot 13 Capacity Building For Rural Cooperators On Commercial Agriculture On Fish Production In Ahoada East Lga, Rivers State Lot 14 Umuebem Community Hall, Mbanabo, Enugu State Lot 15 Training Of Farmers On Multipurpose Cooperative Societeis On High Yeilding Cassava Cultivation In South East Lot 16 Training And Empower Of Farmers Cooperative Societeis On Commercial Rice Farming At Anambra East/ Anambra West Lga. Lot 17 Entrepreneural Development Of Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Members In Izzi Lga, Ebonyi State On Improved Yam And Cocoa Yam Cultivation Lot 18 Capacity Building For Rural Cooperators In Various Locations Of Ebonyi State Lot 19 Training Of Youths On Installation And Maintenance Of Solar Powered Street Lights To Livestock And Other Farms Lot 20 Construction Of Model Lock Up Stores For Produce Marketing Lot 21 Provision Of Farm Tools And Materials For Selected Youths In Osun And Oyo States Lot 22 Capacity Building For Cooperative Farmers In Agricbusiness Lot 23 Empowerment Grant For Women/Youths In Nnewi Federal Constituency Lot 24 Grant For Market Women Empowerment At Nnewi Federal Constituency Lot 25 Grant To Centlyo Youth Empowerment Program In Nnewi Fed Constituency Lot 26 Supply Of Agricultural Equipment To Farmers In Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency Of Abia State

Lot 27 Training And Empowerment For Women And Youths In Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency Of Abia State Lot 28 Construction Of Community Hall At Amokwe Isiama Onicha, Ebonyi State Lot 29 Construction Of Farmers Market At Obuagu Isiama Onicha Lga, Ebonyi State Lot 30 Establishment Of Piggery Farm At Obuagu Isiama Onicha Lga Ebonyi State Lot 31 Construction Of Ict Center At Enuagu, Onicha Lga Ebonyi State Lot 32 Construction Of Police Station At Egunkwo Onicha Lga Ebonyi State Lot 33 Agricultural Skill Acquisition On Fishery Production For Women & Youth In Ezeagu And Udi Lga Enugu State Lot 34 Capacity Building And Empowerment Of Active Women Cooperatives On Cassava/ Sweet Potatoe Processing Value Chain At Nsikka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Enugu State Lot 35 Training And Empowerment Programme On Youth In Agriculture On Root Crops Production And Processing Value Chain In Nsukka Enugu State Lot 36 Procurement Of Improved Seedlings Etc, For Rural Farmers In Nsukka/Igno-Eze South Federal Constituency Enugu State Lot 37 Completion Of Civic Center At Ugbo In Awgu Lga Of Enugu State Lot 38 Agriculture And Entrepreneurship Training For Unemployed Youths In Ezza South Local Government Area, Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Ebonyiy State Lot 39 Strategic Training And Empowerment Of Youth & Women In Fish Farming In Afikpo South Lga Ebonyi State 3.0 Pre-Qualification Requirement 3.1 Evidence Of Company Incorporation With Cooperative Affairs Commission (Cac) 3.2 Evidence Of Current Tax Certificate Verifiable From Federal Inland Revenue Services (Firs) 3.3 Evidence Of Vat Registration 3.4 Company Profile 3.5 Evidence Of Similar Job Done 3.6 Evidence Of Registration With The College And Any Other Document That May Be Relevant 4.0 Submission Of Pre-Qualification Document

Completed Documents Which Must Be Sealed With The Title Of The Project Are To Be Submitted To The Office Of The Provost.

Note: All Submissions Should Reach The Provost On Or Before Friday, 25Th July, 2019.

5.0

Opening Of Pre-Qualification/Tender Document Signed SECRETARY College Procurement Committee

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

36

37

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

SPORTS •President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari, Atiku, others salute Eagles on victory over Cameroon

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ollowing the superlative performance of the Super Eagles in their game against perennial rival the indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 match, President MuhammaduBuhari has extended his felicitation to the team for defeating Cameroon to progress to the quarter finals of the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

The Oracle Today Sports reports that the Eagles ousted rivals, Cameroon from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after a 3-2 victory on Saturday.

The President in a tweet on his official Twitter handle hailed the team for its display of hardwork, team spirit and sportsmanship.

He also assured the team of his full support on their quest for glory in Egypt.

In the same vein,former Vice President AtikuAbubakarhas equally praised the Super Eagles

for their resilience and show of quality, adding that he was proud of the team.

Some football enthusiasts also took to their Twitter handles to react to Buhari’s tweet.

OlufemiAdegbulugbe@femiadegbulugbe noted that the team’s shocking loss to Madagascar was a blessing in disguise as it helped spur it to victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

“Today, the Super Eagles showed the whole world what Nigeria is all about. That we are champions and Nigeria plus every Nigerian has the capacity and capabilities to turn things around. – “Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise.

The disappointing loss to Madagascar brought out the best in the Eagles.

“I pray that your current challenges at work, home and health will turn to joy soon. You will laugh soon,” he said.

Godwin Enakhena@genakhena on his part, singled

China 2019: D’Tigers open camp in Buffalo

My academy sustains my passion, keep in me busy –Okechukwu

N

By SAB OSUJI

F

ormer Super Eagles captain and center back, Okechukwu Uche, has revealed that he ventured into football academy in order to sustain his passion for the game since he quit active football, The Oracle Today Sports reports.

Okechukwu, nick named ‘Gentle Giant’ following his towering posture and composure in the senior national team back line, told Nigerian Express that though he has other (undisclosed) business, running his academy, Abia Greater Tomorrow Football Academy, gives him opportunity to catch them young.

“What I’ve been doing since I stopped playing?,” the former Brondby of Denmark stopper queried rhetorically.

“I’ve my business. I also have my football academy called Abia Greater Tomorrow Football Academy.

“It (the academy) is almost a year (old) now. And it keeps me busy all the time.

“That’s one of my passions, football. It gives me opportunity to catch them young and give them a career break-through in the game.

“In other words, one is giving back to the society.”

UcheOkechukwu was a part of the golden generation of the Super eagles that won the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia for the second time for Nigeria. He was also part of the squad Clemens’s Westerhof took to USA ‘94 World Cup when Nigeria made her debut in the tournament.

He featured in three World Cup finals, in 1994, 1998, 2002 and four AFCON finals in 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2000 during his illustrious career.

out Ighalo for praise, adding that he has continued to deliver for the team when it mattered most.

“OdionIghalo is without doubt the new leader of this set of Super Eagles.

“Time and time again he has carried the weight of the entire team on his shoulders, delivering when it matters most. Keep soaring.

“Credit also to Ola Aina, the right back , Ahmed Musa, Iwobi and Ndidi too . They’ve all been superb.

“What a delightful victory, the Eagles are Super again,” he said.

MakShonowo@Rimeldo_k said: “So Cameroon thought they could beat Nigeria using players like ONANA and BANANA just because they drew goalless with GHANA. “Well we just took their wheels off like a SPANNER and the Super Eagles are flying even higher than DANA still holding on to the #AFCON2019 BANNER. #NGACMR.” DimejiTaiwo@dimeji_taiwo in response to the President’s tweet asked if the he could replicate what the Eagles have done in his administration.

“Can PMB play like our Eagles did, to defeat our terrible economy, insecurity, unemployment, bad roads, high house rent, etc?

“We hope we will be congratulating you too when insecurity in the country is totally eradicated,” he wrote.

UgonnaUtolor@Ugonnautulor said: “How we wish you can also deliver like the Eagles. Get our economy working. Jobs?

“That’s what we masses expect from you, we’ve all suffered in your first half. Please do it right this time around, period!,” she wrote.

Samuel Toki Sunday@Sunday_toki said: “What full support are you talking about? When it comes to the time of paying for their work, it won’t be done at the right time.”

AdamuHussaini@abarbash said: Congratulations our able Presido! We are rightfully behind your administration as you have brought happiness to the faces of ordinary Nigerians. Up Eagles!”

Colin NOT Collins@Colinudoh wondered if Nigerians should accept the Super Eagles’ victory over Cameroon as makeup for the Madagascar loss.

“Maybe Rohr knew something we didn’t know when he lost to Madagascar because Nigeria’s path to the semifinal just got easier. Way easier!” he said.

The Oracle Today sports also reports that the Eagles will now meet BafanaBafana of South Africa in Wednesday’s quarter-finals after the South Africans against all odds beat hosts, Egypt to end their dream of winning the title for a record eight times.

•Okechukwu Uche

igeria’s men national basketball team, D’Tigers who are the first African team to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup billed for China from August 31-September 15, yesterday (Sunday) open her first phase camp in Buffalo, New York, under the watchful eyes of the team’s head coach, Alex Nwora, and other members of the technical crew.

According to the General Manager of the team and former national team point guard, Musa Adamu, while speaking ahead of the camp stated that the first phase camp would give the technical crew an opportunity to assess players ahead of the friendly international against the Dominican Republic and Canada, respectively.

Already, the Dominican Republic are getting set for the Nigerian side with the games billed for July 20 and 22, at the Palacio de DeportesVirgilioTravieso Soto.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had last week, released a list of 44 players for the World Cup camp.

The camping exercise, which holds in Erie Community College, Buffalo, USA, and will include D’Tigers captain, Ike Diogu, Ben Uzoh, Ike Iroegbu, Agada Caleb, EmeganoObinna, Efevhera Michael, Portland Trailblazer’s Al FarouqAminu, Stanley Okoye, Jordan Nwora, AminuAlade, TosinMehinti, ZanaTalib, Chris Obekpa and AyodejiAkindele, who all featured during the qualifiers.

Others include David Nwaba (Cleveland Cavaliers), Josh Akogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nwamu Ike (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Michael Eric, Charles Bassey, Ike Obiagu, Achiuwa Precious, TK Edogi, Stephen Ugochukwu and Ado Abdul, ChimezieMetu (San Antonio Spurs), EkpeUdoh (Utah Jazz) and recently drafted trio of Miye Oni (Miami Heat), ChumaOkeke (Orlando Magic) and KezieOkpalla (Phoenix Suns).

Nwora also extended invitation to five Nigerian based stars, AguAbuchiIbe, OkpeOcheibi Victor, Abdul Yahaya, Vincent BuchiNwaiwu, Victor Koko Anthony alongside former Golden State Warriors player, Festus Ezeli, Michael Oguine, and Jordan Ogundiran.

38

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

SPORTS Squirrels victory over Morocco confirmation of ‘no more minnows in football’–Etoroma

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F •NFF President, Amaju Pinnick

NFF’s alleged fraud: I don’t know anything about it –Lawal

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer national team utility player, Garba Chindo Lawal, says he does not know anything about the alleged embezzlement of about the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA)’s $4.3 million by the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

According to the member of the NFF’s Technical Committee and former general Manager of Kaduna United, he got to know about the allegation via the media just like every other Nigerian.

He explained that one of the persons accused of embezzling the said FIFA $4.3 million, Shehu Dikko, happened to be his very good friend saying since the story broke out they have never spoken about it.

He explained that since the matter is already in court, it will be sub-judiced for him to be discussing

it, especially as he does not really know the crux of the matter. He advised that Nigerians should wait and see how the matter will unfold.

“Well, I don’t know anything about the alleged misappropriation of the said FIFA money by the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick,” Lawal began.

“I don’t really know the truth about the allegation. I got to know about the allegation through you people (media). I have no other information about the story than what I read in the papers. So, like I said, I don’t really know the truth about the matter.

“More importantly, since the allegation was made public, those involved are not talking for us to know what is happening or what happened. So, it is difficult for me or any other person to discuss what he or she does not know about.

“Of course one of those accused of embezzling the said $4.3million

FIFA money is Shehu Dikko. He is a very good friend of mine and since the story broke out, we have never spoken about it.

“And again, since the matter is already in court, there is no need discussing it before one is accused of contempt of the court. So, I advise that we should all wait for the matter to take its natural course in court since it is already there,” Lawal advised.

It is recalled that just last week, it was widely reported that the court ordered the arrest of Amaju Pinnick and four others that included the 1st Vice President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, 2nd Vice President and the Chairman of the League Management Company of Nigeria (LMC), an organisation that runs the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Shehu Dikko, the General Secretary of the Federation, Dr. Sani Mohammed and one other person in connection to the matter in court.

Anambra FA seal Air Peace partnership deal

By SAB OSUJI

V

ice Chairman of Anambra State Football Association, Barrister JBC Obikwelu has revealed that they are in talks with aviation giants, Air Peace for partnership in an effort to take football to an all time high in the state.

He further hinted that another prominent citizen of the state, Chief Jerry Ndu, has also joined the FA train in their bold move to muster forces and funds together for the good of the game in the South East state.

“Two prominent individuals in the state have shown willingness to come strongly into the football space in the state,” Obikwelu, a retired referee began.

“Air Peace has agreed to sponsor a competition in Anambra. They have held talks with the FA under the leadership of Senator (Dr.) Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah in this regard.

“We also have another prominent citizen of the state, Chief Jerry Ndu, who is also coming in to bankroll one of our competitions”.

Obikwelu also disclosed that the FA is geared towards returning

...As Chief Ndu is to bankroll football

•Clarence Seedorf

Seedorf attributes Cameroon’s loss to slow start

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

C

•Senator Ifeanyi Ubah Anambra State to it prior status as the football Meca and destination of the country.

In this regard, he pointed out the creation of the Sports Development Commission by the state governor Chief Willie Obiano is playing a pivotal role in this regard.

“There is Military and Paramilitary football competition which involves all the Army, Navy, Police, Immigration, Customs, Federal Road Safety Commissions,

ormer member of Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Ejiro Etoroma, has declared that Friday’s Round of 16 matches, between the Squirrels of Benin Republic and the Atlas Lions of Morocco that ended in favour of Benin Republic is a confirmation of the fact there are no more minnows in world football particularly on African continent.

He explained that before the encounter, everybody that matters in African Football gave victory to the Moroccans because of their pedigree and their current ranking in global and African football but said the West African country of Benin Republic demystified the Moroccans to the astonishment of global football audience.

He disclosed that the Squirrels of Benin Republic despite being reduced to 10 men in a very

Civil Defense and Nigeria Prisons formations in Anambra State,” Obikwelu began.

“There is also The Schools Challenge which is tagged Kiddies Cup. This competition involves Primary Schools in the state.

“Also, we have The Principals Cup competition for secondary schools in the state and also The Markets Cup competition meant for all the markets in the state.”

controversial manner were able to hold their own till the end of the encounter and emerged victorious. He explained that the same scenario played out at the COPA America where Peru were able to defy all odds to reach the finals despite nobody giving them any slightest opportunity hence, confirming the fact that there are no minnows in world football.

“Well, like you rightly pointed out, it was a big shock for many people to watch the Atlas Lions of Morocco booted of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations by less fancied Squirrels of Benin Republic,” Hon. Etoroma began.

“What happened in that match between Morocco and Benin Republic is a confirmation of the fact that there are no more minnows in world football particularly in Africa.

You underrate your opponents at your own peril. That is the truth and that is football for you.”

larence Seedorf, the coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon has blamed his players slow start for their 3-2 loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations second round fixture played at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt on Saturday.

Lions Indomitable The commenced the game at the back-foot when they conceded a goal through OdionIghalo but quickly fire two goals in the final five minutes of the first half and turned the game in their favour at end of the first half.

But the Nigeria regained the initiative in the first quarter of the second half when Ighaloequalised and gave an assist for Alex Iwobi’s goal.

Seedorf stressed that his boys would have given Nigeria a good run for their money had they maintain the tempo with which

they ended the first half.

“I think Nigeria started off better in the game,” Seedorf told journalists.

“We were just a little bit passive and too slow to break down the Nigerian defence. But I think we got better towards the end of the first half and in the second half when we started to play a little more beautiful and faster too.

“But after we were leading 2-1 they slowed down a little instead of going in search of the third goal.

“Nigeria has the quality to score goals and I think it is just a little bit of what happened in general.”

With the result the Super Eagles have continued to dominate the Cameroonians as the five time champions have never beaten Eagles in open play since 1989. As a matter of fact, Eagles have better head-to-head in their encounters against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

39

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 9 - 14, 2019

SPORTS Gwangju conducts successful test events

P

•Javier Aguirre

2019 AFCON: Egypt’s coach admits responsibility for his side’s defeat

By MADUABUCHI KALU

“I’m responsible for all the selections and the end results, but I’m still proud of this group of players.”

Aguirre, who had also managed Atletico Madrid in his long tenure as a coach, seemed resigned to fate as well.

“The next step will be decided after I meet with the Egyptian FA board tomorrow,” he said following the match, though the decision was apparently taken to part ways prior to any meeting on Sunday.

And the manager believes the game was decided by his side’s inability to put away their scoring chances against BafanaBafana.

“The game was open and witnessed scoring chances; the only difference was that South Africa scored a goal that helped them to qualify.

“We also had our chances but couldn’t convert them,” he concluded.

F

ollowing the elimination of hosts Egypt from the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, their coach, Javier Aguirre, has revealed who caused his side’s 1-0 loss to South Africa in the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations on Saturday.

South Africa shocked the 7time continental champions Egypt in front of their huge crowd to progress to the quarter-final where they will face Nigeria.

The former Japan and Mexico coach blamed himself for the loss.

Aguirre, who was sacked immediately after defeat, signed a four-year deal to replace Hector Cuper last year.

“I am the one responsible (for Egypt’s exit),” Aguirre said at the post-match news conference.

Lawan hails Super Eagles’ victory over Cameroon

D

istinguish senator Ahmad Lawan, the President of the Senate has congratulated the Super Eagles for beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 3-2 in the on-going 2019 African Cup of Nation (AfCON) in Egypt.

Lawan said the victory which advanced the Super Eagles to quarter-finals of the tournament was welldeserved considering the high skills and dexterity exhibited by Super Eagles.

The Senate President stated this in a statement via his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity which quoted the President of the Senate saying, “Coming behind, after taking the lead, to beat Cameroon reinforced what our Eagle are known for; never to

be counted out until the final whistle.

“This victory could never have come at a better time than now when Nigeria is desperately looking for a unifying act.

“Your victory today as usual has brought all Nigerians irrespective of the divide to stand solidly behind you in prayers and encouragement”.

He urged the players not to relent until they achieve final victory by winning their subsequent matches.

While congratulating the players and the technical crew, Lawan said, as head of presidential delegation to the tournament, he would ensure that all their needs are promptly attended to.

We’re not investigating match fixing allegations –CAF

By MADUABUCHI KALU

T

he Confederation of African Football (CAF) have revealed that they are not investigating allegations of match-fixing involving Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations following their 4-0 defeat to DR Congo, but insist the governing body has zero tolerance for graft in the game.

Mouad Hajji, the General Secretary of CAF, says no official complaint has been received over the group stage game despite media reports in Zimbabwe that the continental governing body is investigating the match.

Zimbabwean newspaper, The Herald had reported that DR Congo could be kicked out of the tournament by CAF for trying to influence the result of the match against The Warriors on June 30 after a report by the Zimbabwe FA. According to the report, the match was being investigated by a CAF emergency committee, who could remove DR Congo from the tournament and ban the country from the continental tournament for three years as well as issue a hefty fine.

The newspaper alleged that wealthy DR Congo politician and businessman, MoiseKatumbi was involved in a plot to sway Zimbabwe goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to underperform in the 4-0 loss.

However, Hajji says it has not received any complaint from the Zimbabwe FA but insists any serious information on any match fixing on any game will be seriously investigated

•CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad

by CAF. “At the level of the CAF, there is no suspicion,” the Moroccan said at a press conference in Cairo on Friday when asked about the media reports of CAF investigating the match between Zimbabwe and DR Congo.

“There is no hint of corruption about the Zimbabwe-DRC match in the third Group A match played on June 30, in Cairo.

“But if it turned out that there was anything, and not only for this match, I remind you that our policy is a zero tolerance policy on corruption. As of today, there is no correspondence or issue.”

DR Congo are due to play Madagascar in the last 16 of the tournament being played in Egypt.

reparations for the 18th edition of the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, are in full swings as a record participation is expected. The Organising Committee said it has finished the conduct of series of test events in the various venues that will host the prestigious biggest aquatic event in less than 5 days now, from July 12-28.

The Organisers hosted the 91st edition of the DongAg swimming competition at the Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Centre, the venue that will stage the swimming events this summer from July 21-28 with heat sessions in the morning and finals at night. A total of 2400 athletes, ranging from kindergarden kids to students and adults took part in the swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming competitions for this test event.

This ultimate test event for the Gwangju World Championships has confirmed that the venue is fully functional and ready to host FINA showcase offering optimum conditions for the athletes, coaches and officials.

FINA Facilities Committee Chairman Joaquin Pujol made final inspection of all the swimming pools. Design and operational standards have been reviewed and it was confirmed that all FINA requirements are being met.

FINA Official partner Mrytha Pools was in charge of installing the pools and ensured highest benchmarks are respected.

Myrtha Pools provided and mounted two pools for artistic swimming (competition and warm up), two water polo pools (competition and warm up) and one diving pool.

In parallel, the International Broadcaster Centre (IBC), located on the campus of the Nambu University, has opened its doors on Thursday June 27. The Centre will provide video and sound signals from all the competition venues to right holding broadcasters (RHB) around the world. The Centre’s role is crucial as it allows the broadcasters to relay vivid moments and outstanding performances of this gigantic aquatic festival across the world for the fans.

Host broadcasters, MBC of South Korea and TV Asahi of Japan, will be in charge of sending out the international signals of the FINA World Championships.

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-sup, also Gwangju 2019 COO, said at the opening ceremony of the IBC that the municipality and the Organising Committee are committed to extend their full support to the IBC for the success of the Championships.

Athletes Village The athletes’ village, the heart of the World Championships, opened last Friday July 5. Asian hospitality is renowned internationally, and Gwangju is no exception to the rule. Gwangju 2019 mission is to provide the athletes with the best service so that they feel at home and well rested before the competition days.

The athletes’ village has been ingeniously planned.

The teams of experts have worked tirelessly to develop the most comfortable, peaceful and pleasant environment. The village is located no more than a 30min drive from each venue, with shuttle buses running regularly and efficiently. Moreover, numerous amenities will be available on site. This includes a restaurant, medical service, bank, convenience store, post office, fitness room and beauty salon.

Opening and Closing Ceremony highlights The Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships will officially kick-off on July 12 at 8pm with the Opening Ceremony. The theme of the ceremony will be “Light of Water”, a representation of the world’s waters rising to form a single wave in the spirit of democracy and peace. Over 700 cast members will perform with special effects that reflect South Korea’s technological advancement and will guarantee a breath-taking show.

The celebrations will come to an end with the Closing Ceremony on July 28, as cultural representations will be held under the theme of “Beautiful Circulation”. The show will include cultural arts of the South Jeolla Province combining the stream of water and harmonious circulation of life. After the cultural performance, the FINA flag will be handed over to Fukuoka, Japan, the host of the 2021 FINA World Championships.

TUESDAY July 9 - 14, 2019

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A Vision of Apocalypse

I

n 1992, then military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida literally expressed surprise that the nation’s economy had not collapsed. It was a frank observation. But after the publication of African Concord’s cover story entitled “Has IBB Given Up?” the military goons of that era ran amok. MKO Abiola (the magazine’s publisher) reportedly asked the then editor, Bayo Onanuga, to apologise to IBB, prompting Onanuga to resign along with a few others, and they subsequently co-founded The News magazine.

At last, it seems the answer to the question IBB asked 27 years ago has been found. It has taken a band of propagandists who have no idea of how to run a modern economy to put Nigeria in its place. The nation’s economy has finally collapsed! And I believe IBB too must have read the handwriting on the wall when he recently declared that it’s time to restructure Nigeria.

A satisfactory answer to IBB’s 1992 question is this: In spite of the regular assaults on the nation’s treasury, the entire economy had not crashed because treasury and oil thieves were making money and spending it in Nigeria. Perhaps 1 to 2 million barrels of crude were stolen daily until the Buhari regime came and made an attempt to curtail bunkering. The government has also implemented the TSA and blocked other loopholes, but it has failed to provide an alternative source of money needed to circulate through the economy’s veins.

In other words, the Buhari regime has been killing Peter (or Farouk) in order to save Paul (or Funmi). The outcome is what we are seeing today: asphyxiation.

The resilience of Nigerians, especially the Igbo people, which has also held the economy since IBB asked his question, is finally giving way. Operators of the informal economy did not give up when part of the loot from government coffers still trickled down. With the Buhari administration closing the tap – they’re still battling with the 2017 budget – it’s small wonder that almost everyone is broke.

One by one, Nigerians are drowning in the sea of incompetence that is the Buhari administration.

Apocalypse doesn’t happen in just one day. In Nigeria, it’s been occurring in instalments: Many employers in the private sector can’t pay salaries, nor can most state governments. Struggling entrepreneurs like me are being owed by clients who lack the ability to pay for jobs done. Jobs have disappeared and workers are being laid off, just as businesses are failing. Everyone seems to be indebted to someone else.

More warning signs of the end: A Nigerian can now take his life out of frustration. Suicide bombing is no more a

Aniebo

Nwamu

•Babagida

fairy tale. Each year, more than 1.7million candidates seek admission into university; 80 per cent of them do not gain admission. Each year, more than 2million leave schools but fewer than 50, 000 get jobs, even if underpaying. Tens of millions are currently starving to death!

Prices of goods are high, yet there’s no money. Many know they’re sick but can’t seek treatment.

Here is a story a friend (now deceased) told me to back up his belief that Nigeria is irredeemable. He heard it from a participant in a civil service robbery: Workers in a government agency were detailed to travel to Lagos and take delivery of goods worth several millions of dollars. They took with them a long truck. On their way back, they conspired to divert the goods to a private warehouse. After doing that successfully, they returned to the road and, in the dead of night, vandalised the truck itself before setting it ablaze. The story

they took back to the office was that the vehicle caught fire mysteriously and consumed the goods. After an inquiry, they were exonerated from any crime. The office rewarded them with promotions.

And they have lived happily ever after!

When I see this vision of apocalypse, I see the truth spoken by John Kennedy in his inaugural speech in January 1961: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Are the rich of Nigeria safe? Not with kidnappers around. And robbers!

Even armed robbers know there’s no money, however. The cases I hear these days are mainly about those stealing food from kitchens or crops from farmlands.

Things were different in 2002 when the bandits broke into my home for the first time. The first question they asked me (after giving me “two minutes” to open the door) was, “Where’s the dough?”

“The dough?” I responded. “Come with me.”

With their pointed guns and flashlights, they followed me to a room where I kept loose change. I gathered the naira notes available – I think coins were no longer legal tender in the country even at that time – and handed over to them.

They ordered me to count, and I counted N650.

“If we search and find any other money here, we’ll waste you,” one of the hoodlums threatened. I nodded.

They did not search, but refused to take the money I counted and quietly went out in search of “dough” in other homes.

Actually, I had told the robbers the whole truth. Even in those days, before the coming of the ATM, I did not keep money at home.

When another gang repeated the attack 10 years later, in Abuja, the story was less happy. They asked the same question: “Where is the money?” They shot at us after robbing us of all valuables – cash, laptops, phones, jewellery, and more, including a N6m car. We were lucky to survive the attack after several weeks in hospital. The law agents are still looking for the car and the robbers (one of whom has been identified as Muazu Maishayi from Kano). Some suspects were arrested but taken on bail. The court has not sat to hear the case for six years now.

Those who think confessed kidnapper “Evans” of Lagos may not escape or be freed are naïve. More attention-catching scandals have since come up to swallow all the noise. Who still remembers the subsidy fraudsters? Who remembers the power probe report? And the pension thieves? Who owns the N15bn found in Osborne Towers? The in-thing currently is Ruga or Fulanisation. No, not among the youth: it’s about an alleged “randy” pastor and an alleged victim of rape 20 years earlier. With inanities like these, many Nigerians have forgotten they’re starving (not for too long anyway) or that there are no ministers yet.

With the present system of things, Nigeria seems irredeemable. But the youth are growing impatient. All the tension in the land, all the talk of militancy or Boko Haram or Biafra, I’m sure, are the youth’s response to social injustice and a failed economy. What peace or progress is possible in a country where nothing works, where electricity is scarce, where only thieves “prosper”, and where the leadership is lethargic?

May God save Nigerians as they contend with their country’s economic collapse!

Nwamu, an entrepreneur, is the CEO of Eyeway.ng. +234-8054100220 (SMS/WhatsApp only)

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.