Wednesday 14th March 2018 Edition

The VOX POPULI SACRUM

racle

Today

www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOL.3 No. 10 N200

Save Nigerians, look further for illegal arms

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HAT is intriguing is not the order that the Inspector General of Police Idris gave about arms in private hands. It is possibly within his powers to do so, and some of his predecessors did give such orders. The manner of the order and its vicarious implications, are outstanding.

ARMS and ammunition are

THE ORACLE TODAY COMMENT

under the control of the Federal Government. They are matters under the exclusive legislative list, meaning that only the Federal Government makes laws on them, and also implements those laws. The 1999 Constitution has them as Item 2 on that list.

IN a way, it would be accepted

that depending on what the Federal Government considers to be the security situation in the country, it could take measures within the law, to regulate the use of arms and ammunitions.

FIREARMS Act, Firearms Act - CAP. F28 L.F.N. 2004 (Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria)

is explicit on who can make a proclamation, or an order to prohibit the possession of arms.

There are no provisions for the delegation of those powers. We think this matter is so important that every care should be taken in its execution.

ACCORDING to Section 36 0f the Act, “(1) The President if he thinks fit may at any time

by proclamation prohibit the possession of or dealing in any firearms or ammunition, either throughout the Federation or in any part thereof, and either absolutely or except subject to such restrictions or conditions as may be specified. “(2) A proclamation under Contd on page 24

• Armed Fulani herdsmen: Will they be disarmed?

Citizens attack order on firearms

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu, BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia, NATH OMAME, Port Hacourt, CHUKS COLLINS, Awka, CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki, THEO RAYS, Onitsha, CHIDI UGWU, Abuja

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HE 22 February order by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris that civilians, vigilante

Continued on Pg 2

• IGP has no power to verbally withdraw licensed firearms Refine products • Order is malicious locally • It will leave communities defenceless – Oil workers • States created Vigilantes

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA • No evidence of violation by licensed arms-bearers HITE collar workers in the • Order against illegal weapons - Police petroleum industry have

How Achuzia fought for Biafra

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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S TEARS still flow for the late Biafran War hero and Ikemba Asaba, Col. Joe ‘Hannibal’ Achuzia, information pieced to-

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gether by The Oracle Today has revealed how the heroic, almost maniacal exploits, on the battlefield, of the man they nicknamed Hannibal, saved many lives and communities on the Biafran side.

fighter and battlefield commander that ensured that the war in which the Biafrans were outnumbered, out-equipped and outgunned was Pieces of historical information not a walkover for the Nigerians in put together by The Oracle Today the end. on the war show that Achuzia, a “But for people like Achuzia, the trained aeronautic engineer turned infantry soldier and commander, Continued on Pg 2 put up sterling performances as

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demanded government to enact legislations and declare policy directives to compel oil producing companies to refine a portion of their output in Nigeria. National Executive Council, NEC, of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, which met in Warri, Delta State weekend

Continued on Pg 2

Revisiting FG’s revenue allocation formula

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS How Achuzia fought

Refine products

Continued from Pg 1 war would have ended almost as soon as it started; it would have been what General Gowon said it would be-a police action- and that would have been an unmitigated humiliation for the Biafrans,” said a war veteran who would not like to be identified. “But, through sheer grit, extraordinary willpower, unmatchable bravery and, of course, Mother Luck, the Joe Achuzias of the Civil War constantly turned the tide in favour of the ‘underdog’ Biafrans thereby earning for the Biafrans, in the process, the respect of the world as a ragtag rebel army that held its own against a mighty national army that was openly supported by three rival Cold Warera world powers (USA, USSR and Great Britain), for 30 solid months.”

Prior to joining the Biafran army in May 1967, Achuzia had been a soldier in the Nigerian army but had to flee to the East in fear of anti-Igbo sentiments among his fellow soldiers.

After Biafran soldiers were forced to retreat across the River Niger Bridge into Onitsha on September 20, 1967, barely four months into the war, Achuzia was promoted to Major and given command of the Biafran 11th Battalion responsible for defending the area between Atani and Ndoni, from an imminent Nigerian attack.

After the Biafran 18th Battalion under Colonel Assam Nsudoh was forced to retreat from Onitsha after eight days of bloody house-tohouse fighting, the 11th Battalion under Major Achuzia linked up with the 18th Battalion east of the city and made plans to counter-attack.

The 18th Battalion swung south along the Old Market Road while the 11th Battalion under Maj. Achuzia swung north along the New Market Road in a coordinated Pincer movement.

By the time the counter attack ended, majority of the 5,000-man Nigerian 2nd Division stationed in Onitsha, according to reports, was either dead or taken prisoner by Achuzia’s men.

Unwilling to accept the humiliation, the Nigerian 2nd Division made two separate counter-attacks in the days following the Biafran assault but both were thwarted by the 11th and 18th Battalions stationed in Onitsha.

Achuzia was given total control of the Biafran 11th Division on 19 January 1968 by Ojukwu once the Nigerian 2nd Division under Murtala Mohammed reached Awka, giving the Nigerians a direct route to Onitsha.

The 11th Division under Maj. Achuzia managed to hold off the Nigerians for two months until an offensive launched on 20 March resulted in the Nigerians breaking through the Biafran defensive lines surrounding the city.

The Nigerians were forced to pay with heavy casualties but they managed to capture Onitsha and forced the Biafran 11th Division to retreat to Nnewi.

On 19 May 1968 Maj. Achuzia was transferred to Port Harcourt and made commander of all Biafran soldiers within the city. Port Harcourt

Continued on Pg 44

Continued from Pg 1

• The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, celebrates 30 years and vehicles are on Nigeria roads in this manner

Citizens attack order on firearms Continued from Pg 1

groups, neighbourhood watch security groups and hunters, among others, must surround their firearms with the licences in 21 days, has drawn flaks from members of the public who insinuate that the directive was intended to leave communities unprotected in the event of attacks by herdsmen and other criminal gangs against whom the police have proved helpless or unwilling to defend the people.

Their suspicion is fuelled by fears that counter-attacks in Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna by locals defending themselves against invading herdsmen have proved fatal against the herdsmen in whose interest the IGP appeared to have spoken recently when he said the police could not implement anti-grazing laws because such laws allegedly did not take the cattle herders’ interest into consideration before they were enacted.

Although security and licensing of firearms is the exclusive preserve of the federal government, some lawyers who spoke with The Oracle Today on this matter noted that the directive to withdraw licensed firearms was ‘rather precipitate’ and was no anchored on any known security threat to the nation by those licensed to bear arms.

According to Venatius Odo, an Enugu-based legal practitioner, the IGP should rather seek ways to strengthen the vigilante, having lost 80 per cent of his men to politicians.

“How can the IGP issue such directive?” he queried. “It would certainly be counterproductive.

Such order is only justifiable where the personnel in question do not have licenses to possess the firearms. How cannot be sending police men or DSS to go after vigilante groups who were licensed

to bear arms for the protection of their neighbourhood?”

Imputing motive into the action, Odo said: “Nigerians need to probe beyond the directive because who knows the motive is to prevent people from protecting themselves against criminal Fulani herdsmen; who knows whether the IGP’s boss has directed him to issue such order so that they will ensure that people are helpless when herdsmen attack them?”

So, while we do not know where the order is coming from, the fact is that the order will be incapable of implementation against those who have licences given by the Police themselves. They were licensed to bear arms and without withdrawing the licenses, you cannot go and possibly take the arms from them because they were duly licensed to bear arms. Withdrawal of such arms must follow legal process. If you want to either cancel or withdraw, you have to formally inform them that there is a change of policy and that you want to withdraw their licences, on grounds that they have either obtained them illegally or abused the arms as the case may be. But in this case, they were duly obtained, they have not expired, coupled with the fact that these vigilante groups were established legally via acts of various State Assemblies across the country.”

Still wondering what led to the directive, Odo noted that the IGP appears to be cutting his nose to spite his face.

“This IGP that wants to disarm the vigilante, who does he think are even the actual people that guard the neighbourhoods? Has he been able to withdraw the 80 per cent of the Nigeria Police work force, which he recently lamented, that were attached to politicians across the country? He should rather be seeking ways to strengthen the vigilante, after losing 80 per cent of his men to poli-

ticians. There is breakdown of law and order, and insecurity everywhere because he is left with only 20 per cent of his men to police the federation. His order is incomprehensible!” Odo declared.

A lawyer in Umuahia who craved anonymity, whiling arguing that the IGP “cannot invalidate a law made by a State House of Assembly,” blamed the order on what he described as the “weakness of the governors of the Southern region.”

“The point is that the Southern governors are cowardly disposed,” he said, adding, “The IGP has no right to verbally invalidate any law made by a State House of Assembly.”

For his part, a human rights activist, Comrade Ogbonnaya Iheaka maintained that the IGP’s order came at an inauspicious period when Fulani herdsmen are marauding the entire country, killing and maiming people as they go.

He stressed that stripping the vigilantes, who were the last line of defence for the locals, amounts to laying them bare for deadly attacks by herdsmen.

“The security of this country is disproportionately skewed to the advantage of the North. Until the security apparatus is equitably distributed among all tribes in the country, the IGP’s order is nothing but exposing people to danger,” Iheaka a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council, said.

However, for Mr. Gideon Agbedo, a legal practitioner, IGP’s order is in order “because control of small arms is desirable.”

“This is because you cannot control a person with arm. Although the state may have armed the person for a good purpose, he might misuse the arm. So, I support the IGP’s order but again he should go

Continued on Pg 44

also implored the government to declare a state of emergency on the nation’s refineries as part of the solutions to Nigeria’s unending fuel crisis.

In a communiqué signed by the PENGASSAN President, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, and the General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the group whose activities have been causing ripples in the industry in the past few months tasked the national legislature which is currently tinkering with the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to insert clauses that would make it mandatory for oil producing firms to invest in local refining.

The union asked government to float a policy that would compel producing companies in the country to build refineries in Nigeria. The workers’ union demanded that legal framework in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) under legislative process at the National Assembly should allocate a percentage of the production by International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in Nigeria for refining in the country.

PENGASSAN also lashed at the National Assembly for halting ongoing rehabilitation work at the domestic refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and challenged the national legislators to evolve alternative arrangements to revive the moribund refineries.

PENGASSAN stated that it was worrisome and embarrassing that Nigeria remains not just the only member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, still importing fuel but also the largest importer in the world.

According PENGASSAN in the communiqué, “The NEC-in-Session commends NNPC Management in its efforts of negotiating with Investors and Financiers to carry out complete rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries. The NEC-in-Session supports it and is always ready to collaborate with NNPC Management towards the achievement of this initiative.

“The NEC-in-Session frowns at the directive of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the state of the nation’s four Refineries to halt the process of their proposed Turn-Around Maintenance, TAM, by the Government/ NNPC. The House Committee should provide an immediate alternative to the good proposal; otherwise the process should be allowed to continue in the best interest of the Country.

“The NEC-in-Session urges the Federal Government and NNPC to expedite the process of rehabilitating the Refineries through the Investors and Financiers.

“The NEC-in-Session also notes the positive impact of the planned modular and other Private Refineries in the industry and the economy as a whole. The NEC-in-Session appeals to the Federal Government to encourage private sector participation in this regard.

The Oracle Today reports that a directive by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to compel multinational oil firms to build refineries in the country failed when the oil firms pointed at the nationalisation of their refinery and downstream

Continued on Pg 14

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Invest more in school meals programmes – UN urges Nigeria, others

By VICTOR NZE

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HE United Nations World Food Programme has urged the Federal Government as well as other in West Africa to invest more money in school meal programmes so these can act as a catalyst for improved economic and social welfare communities across the region.

The call was made, Thursday, on African Day of School Feeding which is being celebrated for the third year in a row.

WFP’s regional school meals programme which aims to assist about 2.7 million children this year, faces a US$60 million funding gap. According to the UN body, the programme will fall short, leave many vulnerable students hungry and at risk of dropping out of school if not properly funded.

WFP partners on school meals programmes with some 40 coun-

tries in Africa, providing more than nine million school children annually with daily meals in school.

In some countries, WFP itself implements the school meals programme while in others it offers technical support to the government provider. In most countries, WFP offers a combination of both services.

“It is a win-win opportunity which governments must seize,” said Abdou Dieng, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa, adding: “Children enjoy healthy meals that make it more likely that they will stay in school and learn for a better future while jobs are created and businesses develop.”

Increasingly, school meals in Africa are of the home-grown variety. This means that the food for the meals is sourced from smallholder farmers within the community. The idea is that homegrown school meals provide local

farmers and businesses with a predictable outlet for their products, leading to more stable incomes, more investment, higher productivity and the creation of jobs for youth and women in the communities concerned.

In Burkina Faso, for example, the introduction of yoghurt in school meals has had multiple benefits

– a women’s group that collects milk locally has recently set up a processing plant for yoghurt that is now delivered to schools by young people on motorcycles.

Some governments in the region are showing a growing interest in investing more in national school meals programmes. The Government of Benin has allot-

ted US$47 million to feed 400,000 children over the course of five years in partnership with WFP, using a home-grown school meals model.

“We applaud Benin for showing leadership in investing in its future generation. This is a standard that other governments in the region should follow,” Dieng said.

SMEDAN flags off N2bn CGS scheme in six states

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he Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) has flagged off the pilot phase of its N2 billion Conditional Grant Scheme CGS for Micro Enterprises aimed at formalising micro businesses across the country.

The pilot phase is being executed in 6 states of Katsina, Gombe, Ebonyi, Oyo, Akwa Ibom and Benue comprising a total of 145 local government areas.

Speaking at the flag off of the scheme in Daura, the Director General SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Radda said the main objective of the project is transforming micro enterprises from informal to for-

mal sector, creating jobs, wealth, and poverty alleviation in the society.

According to him, 90 micro business per local government shall be provided with 50,000 each and expected to guided professional on how to boost their operations noting that ‘ the agency shall help them with Corporate Affairs registration, insurance for a year to make their businesses formal.

He said, the present initiative looks at promoting the activities of micro enterprises across the country in the areas of capacity building and the delivery of post intervention support services such as access to finance, market, workspace and technology.

(From left to right): Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo with Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu inspecting exhibition stalls and designs by exhibitors at the Technology & Innovations Expo 2018, 2018 organized by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and holding at the Eagle Square, Abuja, yesterday.

Boundary dispute: Ekiti, Kwara to set up joint committee

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kiti and Kwara State Governments have agreed to set up a six-man joint committee to look into the boundary dispute between Eda Oniyo Ekiti and Obo Ayegunle during which eight persons were

Cholera kills 2 in Bauchi State

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xecutive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Mr Adamu Gamawa, has confirmed the death of two out of the 20 people suffering from cholera in Bauchi metropolis.

Gamawa who disclosed that the deaths occurred last weekend while briefing newsmen, Monday, said that the agency in collaboration with development partners had made adequate preparations toward preventing the spread of the disease.

“The State Rapid Response Team has commenced surveillance across the 20 local government areas in the state. We recorded 20 cases of cholera in Bauchi metropolis and two out of them had been confirmed dead.

“The agency has written to all its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) such as the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Water Board to take measures to prevent its spread. The water board is to ensure a constant supply of potable water to the public and ensure environmental sanitation. These are

keys to preventing the spread of the disease,’’ he said.

Gamawa added that BASEPA would also embark on fumigating Bauchi environment as part of its preventive measures against cholera.

It would also be involved in the provision of the Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) and other consumables needed for the treatment of

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the disease.

“We have a place at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH) that can serve as an isolated camp for cholera patients.

However, the situation has not reached that extent,’’ he said.

He advised the public not to panic, but urged them to ensure personal and environmental hygiene as proactive measure against diseases.

seriously injured following a clash.

Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, disclosed this in AdoEkiti on Wednesday during a peace meeting between leaders and members of the two communities.

In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said he would get in touch with his Kwara State counterpart on finding amicable way of resolving the crisis.

He, however, urged the two communities to maintain peace and stop further bloodshed.

“We are not interested in bloodshed and we must toe the path of peace. Backers of violence must stop such act. Most of the time we fight over nothing. I am unhappy about violence. We will investigate the matter.

FG lauds Kebbi on rice revolution

By VICTOR NZE

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inister for Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed says, the Federal Government will sustain massive investment into agriculture.

A statement signed by Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the Minister gave this assurance in Birnin Kebbi at a Dinner in his honour at the Government House, in Birnin Kebbi.

The Minister led an entourage of journalists on tour of rice farmlands to appreciate Kebbi State’s example

for its rice revolution. He had earlier visited farmlands in company of reporters as well as the famous International Onions Market Aliero.

Mohammed commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for practicalising the policy trust of the agricultural development of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for food security, poverty reduction and foreign earnings.

The Minister expressed delight about the cordiality between the state government and the media saying Governor Bagudu also deserved praised for making Kebbi a united entity in peace and tranquility.

In response, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu acknowledged that revival of agriculture facilitated the exit of Nigeria out of economic recession.

He emphasized the necessity to invest enormous funds into Agriculture towards making the sector major revenue source and employment provider proportionate with oil.

The Governor remarked that the commitment of his administration to improving rice production has led to establishment of four rice mills in Kebbi State, expending billions of naira on paddy rice as the raw materials while Aliko Dangote has finalized arrangement to site another Rice Mill in the state.

“If you fight for years, you will still come to the round table to resolve the matter. When you promote violence, you won’t know who it will consume. I am warning the traditional rulers of the two communities not to promote violence because if they do, the government will not hesitate to sanction them appropriately,” he said.

Fayose later gave N500,000 to the injured on both sides to take care of their health.

The leader of the Kwara delegation, who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Leke Ogungbe, described Fayose as a very unusual leader worthy of emulation.

He praised the governor for his pragmatic approach to issues.

Also speaking, the traditional rulers of the communities, Oba Samuel Adelodun of Obo Ayegunle and Oba Julius Awolola of Eda Oniyo Ekiti, said they were in support of the peace initiative and promised to allow peace to reign.

They also gave the assurance that they would impress it on their subjects to also toe the path of peace.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Why we took road safety campaign to schools – Iwuanyanwu CHIDI UGWU, Abuja

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HE Chairman/Founder, Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has explained that the overall aim of taking road safety campaign to secondary schools was to ensure that students imbibe road safety awareness at young age.

Iwuanyanwu, who spoke to select journalists in Abuja, said the partnership between Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Scheme (INAS) provided a platform for intellectual drill among participating students and helped equip secondary students with the basic knowledge of road safety.

It was gathered that eight schools within the FCT participated in the maiden edition of the INAS inter secondary school road safety debate competition in Abuja organized in conjunction FRSC. According to the elder statesman, intellectual drill on the issues of road safety among secondary school students is part of strategies to further reduce road traffic crash among school chil-

dren in 2018 by the FRSC. He commended former the Military President, President Ibrahim Babangida for establishing the Federal Road Safety Corps and commended the ingenuity of Professor Wole Soyinka who birthed the idea.

Iwuanyanwu expressed delight over the students’ display their literary prowess, while commending the innovations of the Corps especially under the leadership of the present Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi in championing the cause of road safety campaign in the last 30

years of its existence.

“FRSC is blazing a new trail in grapping some of the endemic problems confronting Nigeria as a nation. Problem of road traffic crash can only be solved when the youth are given the right education/orientation from the cradle. We strongly recommend the stride/ and initiatives of catching them young of FRSC to other institutions of government to emulate” he added.

An orphan, and SS3 student from Government School Wuse Isiting Edet Samuel Ita, was awarded scholarship by

the Iwuanyanwu Ambulance Scheme, a gesture which provoked tears of joy from the audience.

The FCT Director, Education Resource Centre, Barrister Oniah Edmond, who chaired the occasion admonished students to imbibe the safety attitude at all times. He further commended FRSC for always manifesting sincere commitment to road safety campaign of traffic rules in Nigeria.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, admonished students to ensure that they

Constitution amendment: Sokoto lawmakers reject independent candidature

Herdsmen’s attacks: Ortom calls for synergy among stakeholders

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okoto State House of Assembly, Tuesday, rejected the alteration of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for independent candidature in election.

The rejection followed the consideration of a report of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the adoption of the alteration of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Presenting the report, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo), said that the committee conducted town hall meetings that covered the three Senatorial zones of the state.

He said that all relevant stakeholders, local government area, politicians’ development partners, women groups and unions among others were invited to give their input on the bills.

Bello said, “The committee observed that alteration bill to abrogate the state joint local government accounts and empower each local government, to maintain its own special account had the support of the 23 local governments in the state.

The deputy chiarman also said the 23 local governments supported the four other alterations, including the strengthening of local government administration in Nigeria and to change the name of Nigeria Police Force to ‘Nigeria Police’. He said the belief of the local governments was that the alteration would reflect the core mandate of the institutions of providing civil service. Constitution amendment: Sokoto Assembly rejects independent candidature

imbibe the culture of safety at all times. He noted among other things that the programme was designed to ensure that the safety education is a available a priority in our schools.

Bisi quoted the Corps Marshal Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi saying “FRSC has come to a point where it can no longer tolerate the death of school children on ou roads as a result road traffic crashes” The Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Scheme, (INAS) the National Coordinator, Mr. Chinedu Nsofor, commended the Corps and explained that the Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance has over the years played complimentary services to FRSC through voluntary rescue of accident victims, safety education, raising safety ambassadors among others.

These efforts according him, are aimed at complimenting FRSC to achieve its Corporate strategic goals of reducing accidents by 15% and fatality by 30%.

In a competition involving eight secondary schools within the FCT, Pace setters Academy Wuye emerged the overall winner of the maiden edition while, Government Secondary School Garki was the runner up.

•Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed (l), with the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during a dinner in his Mohammed’s honour at the Government House, in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, Monday.

Eko Disco deploys soldiers against theft, vandalism

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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KO Electricity Distribution Company has stated that it secured the assistance of security forces in dealing with the menace of energy theft vandalism of its equipment and violent attack and harassment of its staff.

A media release from the company has it that General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of Nigerian Army in Lagos, Major General Enobong Okon Udoh, pledged that the army could support the campaign by facilitating synergy between the company and other security agencies especially the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Police.

Gen. Udoh though admitted that the responsibility of protecting electricity equipment and staff of the distribution company against violent attack and harassment does not primarily belong to the army.

Speaking further, Maj. Gen. Udoh, who received a courtesy visit the management of EKEDC, added that protecting electricity facilities against vandalism is for the socioeconomic development of the country and as such a task to be tak-

en serious by all patriotic citizens.

Commenting on the debt owed by the army in respect of electricity bills, the army chief said the army, not being a profit generating outfit, depends largely on funding from the Federal Government to meet its financial obligation.

He further disclosed that a committee to review electricity bills

owed by military formations nationwide had been set up and assured that every debt owed by the armed forces would eventually be settled.

Major Gen. Udoh also assured that EKDC officials would be allowed free access into the barracks to carry out their official duties without any fear of harassment or molestation.

Al-Makura submits names of NASIEC membership to state Assembly

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asarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa Statehas submitted six names to the State Assembly for confirmation as chairman and members of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC).

Al-makura submitted the names of Mr. Henry Omaku and four others: Ibrahim Musa, Abdullahi Jaji, Isa Yusuf and Godwin Maikeri for confirmation as chairman and members respectively, yesterday.

The Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi, announced the nominations at the plenary in Lafia, after the Majority Leader, Alhaji Tanko Tunga (APCAwe North) had read the governor’s letter.

“The governor said that the appointment of the nominees is to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the tenure of the NASIEC chairman and members. Mr. Henry Omaku is nominated as chairman with Ibrahim Danladi Musa, Abdullahi Jaji, Isa Yusuf and Godwin Maikeri as members of the commission,” he said.

The speaker directed the clerk of the house to communicate the nominees to appear for screening and possible confirmation on March 13.

“They should submit their curriculum vitae to the house on or before the screening date,” he added.

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enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of Benue has called for synergy from all stakeholders to check incessant herdsmen attacks on communities in the state.

Ortom made the appeal on Tuesday at Omosu, Edumoga Community in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue, where herdsmen killed more than 30 persons, Monday evening.

The governor described the attacks as unfortunate, unwarranted and uncalled for.

Ortom who expressed regret that in spite of efforts by the Federal Government to restore peace to the state, some Fulani mercenaries were thwarting the efforts, as he recalled that in the past Fulani herdsmen interacted with the farmers without skirmishes until the coming of Fulani mercenaries from foreign countries.

The governor said that the mercenaries usually killed, maimed and raped people’s wives and daughters, as well as attack security agents.

He said that more efforts were urgently needed to tackle the incessant attacks on Benue people

by Fulani herdsmen.

Ortom noted that when Zamfara enacted Sharia Law no one resisted it and wondered why people were opposed to the AntiOpen Grazing Law 2017 of Benue.

He said that justice should be given to Benue people by ensuring that the perpetrators of the killings in the state were arrested and prosecuted.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

declared by Nikc Oparandudu

end the Ohakim

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS

Immunization: Agency decries harassment in Ebonyi

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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ATIONAL Primary Health Development Agency, South East zone, has accused security agencies of incessant harassment and intimidation of its workers during immunization of children against killer diseases in Ebonyi state and insisted that such must stop.

The accusation came on the heels of an upcoming immunization program slated for 8-13th March and 15th-20th March this year.

South East Coordinator of the Agency, Ebenezer Nwachukwu made the allegation in Abakaliki during training of Journalists and health workers on the upcoming immunization campaign against children between 9-59 months.

He described as worrisome and embarrassing, alleged harassment of health workers by security agents during immunization exercises.

“There are instances whereby security agents harass health workers, they will arrest them and intimidate them. It is an embarrassment to us, I see no reason why policemen will be arresting health workers. If you look at the police act, they have their

Ebonyi: Ogah joins race for Reps

By CHINEDU NWFOR

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ormer National President of the Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, has formaly joined in the race for represent Ezza South/ Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi state at the Federal level under platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The official declaration came barely one week after commercial motorcyclists (okada) numbering over 2000 staged a solidarity rally for him, urging him to make himself available for the race.

The riders promised to offer an assistance of conveying the constituents for voters registration across the 31 Wards of the constituency.

Ogah who is also the National Coordinator of Buhari/ Osibanjo Initiatives for Demonstrating Change made the declaration, Wednesday, when he visited elders and stakeholders of Ohatekwe in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state.

Ogah said for equity and fairness, Ezza people having consistently occupied the position for over a decade, it was the turn of Ikwo people to produce the next representative.

He promised to offer qualitative leadership and development to the constituency.

functions and the DSS have their functions and they have terms of reference.

“This arrest has been reoccurring and I expect the Commissioner of Police to read newspapers, listen to radio and television to get information on what is happening so that this harassment of

health workers will not be reoccurring”, he said.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of Ebonyi state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. James Nwali said a total of 671, 711 children between 9-59 months representing 97% will be immunized against measles.

“Our main target in this immunization is every Ebonyi child.

Mothers should take their children within 9-59 months to the health facilities or immunization post nearest to them. The vaccine is free, save and effective”, he said.

•Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left); Chief Executive Officer Premium Steel and Mines Limited, Mr. Prasnata Mishra (2nd right); His Royal Majesty,(Barr.) Odelekpe, Owhorhu I, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom (left) and Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, during the Official Commissioning (Flag-Off) of the Rolling Mill of Premium Steel and Mines Limited Plant, at Ovwian -Aladja, Delta State.

Onitsha widows pray for Obiano ahead inauguration

By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

A

HEAD of the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Willie Obiano for second term in office scheduled to hold next week, a group of widows in the city of Onitsha have offered prayers to God for him to have a smooth second term in office.

The widows who comprise fruit and vegetable sellers beside the Coca Cola Plant along the Onitsha - Asaba- Benin Highway in their numbers spent hours praying ‘for God who made Obiano governor in 2014 and gave him victory for second term at the polls last year to continue to guide, protect and mentor him to consolidate on service of good governance to the good people of the State.’

Mrs Gloria Aniebonam (alias Small girl) who spoke on behalf of the women said they were inspired to throw their weight behind Obiano because ‘of the security measures he put in place among other things he has done to make people feel the service of good governance’ further noting that they voted for him during the election last year.

Mrs Aniebonam said: “We voted him last year and he won, so we decided to organize special prayer for him so that he would have a smooth run in office as he goes in for his second tenure. Our prayer is that God will continue to empower him with wisdom, grant him good health as ever, guide and protect him against

the enemies of progress in the State.”

However, ‘Small girl’ drew the attention of the Governor to their plight calling on him to assist them financially ‘to enable them meet up with financial challenges facing them as helpless widows who have children to take care of at home.’

“The situation of things in Nigeria is hitting hard on us, the daily feeding of our children, school fees, house rent and other bills are too

much for us to carry, our business is buying and selling fruit and vegetables, these are perishable items and it has not been easy at all, so we are calling on our Governor to remember us with financial help.”

She also commended their landlord, Chief Edwin Ogbonna (alias Super) describing him as ‘a caring father who always look after them’ even she prayed that ‘God will bless and provide him with ‘all his heart’s desires.’

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

capital of Ebonyi state.

He disclosed that religious leaders and the entire Christians in Nigeria would no longer sit and watch politicians play with the future of the generality of Nigerians.

He further urged Christians to take over power from career politicians in order to end growing corruption in the country’s polity.

“People, especially the Christians should go and get their voters card in preparation for the 2019 general elections. I know that some people are reluctant to do so because of the past experiences, where politicians are not sincere about elections. “It is worrisome that sometimes, people will actually get this voters card, go to the polling unit and vote, expecting a popular candidate to win but at the end of the day, the votes will be counted elsewhere. They will manipulate it and

Igwe Achebe laments constant flooding in Onitsha

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

he Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe has expressed concern over the menace of flood in various parts of Onitsha, saying that he observed that flooding, silted drains, building on flood channels and waste management have been the major bane to the development of Onitsha.

Speaking during a study that will seek to find lasting solutions to the menace of flooding in Onitsha metropolis, Achebe who was represented by the President-General of Onitsha Improvement Union, OIU, Chief Chinyelugo Anionwu commended the efforts of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state for undertaking lasting solutions to the problems in partnership with the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

The one–day stakeholders’ consultative forum was convened by the state government, in partnership with NEWMAP through Enviplan International Limited to focus on the drainage discharge platforms in the ancient commercial city of Onitsha.

Earlier in an address, the project coordinator of Anambra NEWMAP, Mr Michael Ivenso explained that the study was aimed at mitigating the perennial flooding in the metropolis and environs, adding that the present state government under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano has sourced funds from the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) to address the menace. Ivenso disclosed that a master plan which will guide the study has been designed with detailed blueprint for the implementation of infrastructures and projects, aimed at reducing flooding, identify and assess the storm water drainage needs of the town.

In their separate remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr. Emeka Asoanya and the Managing Director, Anambra state Waste management Agency (ASWAMA), Mr. Phil Chinwuba explained that the issue of waste management requires attitudinal change and the cooperation of the public, calling on citizens to imbibe the right environmental practices.

2019: Get your voter’s card – Cleric urges Christians B

ishop of Methodist church Nigeria, Diocese of Abakaliki, Rt. Rev. Lawson Elom, has called on Christians to go to the various Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) registration points in their localities to register for their permanent voters’ card in readiness for the 2019 general elections in the county.

Elom said he was not unaware of the reluctant of people to get registered as a result of the past experience but insisted that only when they participate in electoral exercise that they could make the needed change.

The Bishop made this known while briefing journalists shortly after a pre- synod of the diocese that took place at the cathedral church located along Oguja road, Abakaliki,

give votes to whoever they feel like they will give it to, not the popular candidate.

“There is malpractice in election and it is weakening people’s interest in going to the polling booths to vote. However, as a church, we have encouraged people and urged our members to join politics because when the righteous is on the throne, the people will rejoice. We are believing that our members will get their voters card and vote for people we think should rule us.

“If you leave this country in the hands of fake politicians, that is people who are not true Christians, this country will keep on deteriorating especially the political system. People that we want to vote into power in 2019 are true Christians and not those who are not sincere. A True Christian cannot be corrupt especially if voted into power in 2019.

The Oracle Today

7

Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS

Chidi Lloyd will face trial ‘under a different law’ – Wike

R

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that Former Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Mr Chidi Lloyd, will still face prosecution for attempted murder.

A statement signed by Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, quoted Wike as making the declaration while addressing the people of Omuma Local Government Area before flagging of the construction of UmuezeUmuogba-Umuokpurukpu-Umueke- Umunju-Umuellechi-Eberi road in Omuma LGA, weekend.

Wike, however, affirmed that the State Government will prosecute Mr Lloyd under a different law.

It will be recalled that the Former Majority Leader attempted to murder another lawmaker, Mr Michael Chinda using the mace on the floor of

Rep empowers 120 graduate trainees

By OGE ONYEANUSI

M

ember representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon (Engr) Chris Azubogu has equipped one hundred and twenty graduates with empowerment training.

The beneficiaries were trained at the National Engineering Design Development Center(NEDDI) at Nnewi, Anambra state.

In his speech during the graduation of the graduate trainees, Hon Azubogu said that he is trying to lay a foundation for the institute where graduates can be trained to become employers of labour and not just job seekers.

The lawmaker who noted that the center was set up by the federal government to better trained the youths of because they are enterprising people, also reassured the institute to continue to empower NEDDI to carry out its constitutional duties.

Hon Azubogu, thereafter handed over to the graduate trainees seed money to start up their small scale businesses even as he advised them to set up cooperative societies so that they can take advantage of loans provided by Bank of Industry (BoI) and other institutions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of NEDDI, Dr Arinze Nwosu thanked the lawmaker for giving the institute the privilege of carrying out their constitutional mandate to input engineering design principles into the operation of Small and Medium Enterprises.

for their overwhelming support, Governor Wike assured them that they will enjoy key projects, noting that his administration has linked Omuma communities to the National Grid while the General Hospital, Eberi is nearing completion.

“There is no way that Omuma Local Government Area will not continue to benefit from key projects. The Lawmaker representing Omuma State Constituency, Rt Hon Kelechi Nwogu has performed creditably and we can see his constituency project.

“Those who represented Omuma Local Government Area in the past, what is their legacy?

For this administration, we shall develop the area”, Governor Wike said.

In his remarks, Member Representing Omuma State Constituency, Rt Hon Kelechi Nwogu thanked the Rivers State Governor for his commitment to the development of the area, just as he assured that the people of Omuma Local Government Area will support his re-election.

On his part, Commissioner for Works, Dum Dekor said that the road spans 16.2 kilometres and will cover seven communities of the Local Government Area, adding that 350 youths will be employed during the execution of the road project which will last nine months.

Highpoint of the occasion was the defection of APC Members •Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel receiving a sourvenirs from the Chinese Ambassador to led by Hon Chimezie Nwogu to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian, who led a delegation of Chinese investors to the Government House, Uyo, Friday. the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) people.

Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Chidi Lloyd will be charged to court under a different law.

He cannot escape justice,” Wike said.

Berating the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders for failing to attract any tangible project to the state since 2015, Wike said that ‘the Rivers APC leaders who are working

with the failed APC Federal Government should remain quiet because they cannot deliver.’

“The Federal Government has no tangible project in Rivers State after close to three years in government. These APC leaders from Rivers State have been unable to attract a single project. If you know that you cannot deliver projects to

the people of Rivers State, you better keep quiet and allow us develop the state,” Wikie said.

The governor said that as a Minister of State for Education, he was able to attract 22 key projects to the state and grants for Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic.

While thanking the people of Omuma Local Government Area

Igbo leader to IGP: Don’t disarm community vigilante groups

By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

I

GBO spiritual leader, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka (Ogilisi Igbo) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris not to disarm community vigilante groups who are established for security purposes in their respective communities in rural areas, urging the police boss to allow them to continue to make use of their arms for effectiveness.

The IG had last week ordered the Anambra State Police Command to recover illegal arms in the State within 21 days following which the Commissioner of Police Garba Umar set up a 9-man member committee headed by Baba Maiyaki, an assistant commissioner of police for the recovery exercise in the State.

Speaking on the development Umar said: “The vigilante uses only double barrel guns and that is the only weapon allowed for them to be used. All other weapons and ammunition in wrong hands, suspected militia, criminals/unlawful gangs or groups, shall be recovered henceforth.”

Ezeonwuka in a swift reaction during a chat with The Oracle Today said that vigilante groups who are established by a community to operate under the supervision of the Divisional Police Headquarters, town unions and tradition rulers should be allowed to make use of Pump Action to enable them work effectively in protecting the people against armed robbers and kidnap-

pers.

He added: “The order to mop up illegal firearms in the State is a security measures which is acceptable to all and sundry and I commend the IG for that but the issue of restricting local vigilante groups to only double barrel guns is not enough considering the fact that armed robbers, kidnappers and trigger-happy herdsmen parade

highly sophisticated weapons.”

He maintained that the double barrel rifle is now meant for hunters and not for dare devil, heavily armed criminals noting that the firearm ban amounts to leaving the vigilante groups and the communities under their watch extremely vulnerable to armed criminals.

“I don’t know the observation of the IG and the report he has on his

table, however, my position is that the vigilante boys have to be allowed to make use of Pump Action guns for the purpose of community policing. As a resident I can attest to the fact that security situation in Anambra State improved remarkably when the vigilante groups started making use of Pump Action and the results are there for everyone to see.”

ICAN moves to train professional accountants in Onitsha

By OGE ONYEANUSI

I

n a bid to produce qualitative professional accountants in Onitsha and its environs, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Onitsha and District Society, have disclosed of plans to raise N100 million for the construction of an ICAN institute.

To realize the said amount, ICAN has fixed March 28 to raise fund for the project.

Making this known, in Onitsha, recently, Chief (Sir) Kevin Obieri Agujiegbe, who is the Chairman of the Planning Committee while briefing newsmen on the extent of preparations for the event, said: “We want to set up an institution, a monument where people can come in, get assistance, resources to advance their career in accountancy.

“I mean to have a place that is segregated for that purpose,

open for everybody like in Abuja and Lagos where people can come for, to download or make a check. In Lagos young people go on excursion to the NBA National Headquarters, among others, and get ideas on how to become professionals.

“In Onitsha here we have factories, industries that are thriving but no records. We want our young men who could not go to university direct because of financial constraints to get means of help here instead of remaining at home and become frustrated and before you know it he has joined trading.

“But from here they will survive and later they can still get degree certificate. Government can as well send their accountants there for training because some of them are not trained.

People still have options in life”.

On whether they need assistance from the state govern-

ment, he said: “Governor Willie Obiano is our member and can give us land in any choice location for the building of the ICAN edifice and equip it with computers, books and other office equipment.”

The committee chairman hinted further that “any amount we realize during the fund raising, ICAN will double it for us to help in the building”.

According to him the chairman of the occasion is HRH Igwe Orann Chris Chidume of Omor while Lady Adaora chukwudozie who is the Managing Directress of Dozie group of companies, Onitsha is the co-chairman.

Also expected to grace the occasion are the Obi Of Onitsha, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, who will be the father of the day and Chief Alex Chika Okafor, Chief launcher while ‘the Chief host, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammadu Zakari will be within reach.’

The Oracle Today

8

Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS

Dickson, Okowa, Ibori affirm commitment to development of S/South

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

B

AYELSA State Governor, Alaowei Seriake Dickson, his Delta State counterpart, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and former chief executive of the state, James Ibori have expressed their commitment to the development of the South South region.

They spoke during the conferment of chieftaincy titles on Dickson and Ibori by the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom in Patani local government area of Delta State, HRM Erebelu Shedrack, Aduwo III. “Our voice as a people will never be drowned, as a people, we will continue to take the pride of place in this nation, we will speak strongly for our people, we should ensure that our votes are in the direction where our people will be respected and our voice will be heard,” Governor Okowa said, asserting, “I believe that the way we are moving, we will never get it wrong for our people.”

Governor Okowa who commended the Pere for the titles, described Governor Dickson and Chief Ibori as two great sons of the Niger Delta region.

“It only takes a wise man to make the wise choice of recognising these great men because,

they are bold, strong, courageous and good advocates of our people,” Okowa said.

Governor Dickson in a brief speech, said: “Governors from our region are bold and holds Chief Ibori in high esteem, I am aware Governor Okowa is doing very well and we will continue to speak with one voice in the region.”

Chief Ibori had thanked the Pere for the titles, assuring that they will not let Kabowei Kingdom down in their interest and progress of the region.

“I am very interested in what goes on and we will continue to watch what goes on in the region, any referendum will be based on the interest of the region,” Chief Ibori who lauded the developmental strides of Chief Dickson and Senator Okowa in repositioning the socio-economic life of the people said.

The Pere in his speech stated, “a man who has done very well will be celebrated by his friends and we are proud of Governor Dickson and former Governor James Ibori.”

Governor Dickson was conferred with Izonopute (Rock) Chieftaincy title while Chief Ibori bagged Tiemwei (Pillar) at the occasion which was attended by personalities from different parts of the country.

Wike to oversee approval certificates for private schools

By NATH OMAME, P/Harcourt

G

overnor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, will now personally sign the approval certificates issued to private schools operating in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Tamuno Sisi Gogo-Jaja stated that the governor has directed that the commissioner, permanent secretary and director that hitherto signed such approvals to abstain from doing so, and henceforth forward such request for approvals to the office of the governor.

He explained that the decision was taken by Governor Wike to forestall the issuance of fake certificates of approval to private schools which he claimed has been occurring in the past.

“The new registration certificate for private schools to be signed personally by the governor will have security features. The governor has directed that all private schools should apply for fresh registration to ensure that they obtain the new registration certificate.”

“The ministry is using the first quarter of this year to process approval and the renewal of their certificates. Before now, what was given to private schools as approvals were papers. The governor has directed that security measures should be taken to avoid forgeries and leakages.”

The commissioner pointed out

that quacks were in the habit of issuing papers as approval letters to proprietors of private schools in the state. “Schools that were earlier granted certificates of approval would now have to revalidate their approvals with the new certificate that has security features.”

In another development, wife of the governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has stated that education of the girl-child will lead to gender equality in the future.

Speaking after the Thanksgiving Service to mark this year’s international women day at the Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Rumuepirikom, at the weekend, Justice Nyesom-Wike urged families to prioritise girl-child education.

She said that the level of women education determines the level of their contribution to the development of the society, noting, that her programme ‘Rivethics” which runs on five radio stations weekly, educates and informs women on key areas for social cohesion and development.

She stated that for the attainment of gender equality, necessary steps must be taken to empower women with the right education and information.

Justice Nyeson-Wike emphasized: “If we give every girl the opportunity to access education, it would form the needed foundation for them to contribute meaningfully to societal growth”.

•Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel (l) , Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State in attendance at the scheduled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors meeting at Gombe State, Monday.

2019: Lawmaker drums support for Umahi

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

M

EMBER representing Afikpo South West state constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Prince Nkemka Onuma, has called on the people of Edda clan to rally support for the reelection bid of governor David Umahi come 2019.

Onuma who made the call at the end of peace road walk organized in support of the reelection of Gov Umahi at Nguzu Edda, said the people of Edda had not had it so good than the present administration since the creation of the state, hence, the call.

He commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state stressing that Edda people were solidly behind in his reelection bid.

“Edda people are commitment to the reelection of Gov David Umahi because of what he has done to Edda people and Ebonyi state in general. He has changed the style

of politics in Ebonyi state”, he said; declaring that “Edda people are for PDP, and there is no opposition here”.

He said the road walk which started from Igbara Edda to Ebuwana, Ekoli down to Nguzu was embarked to spread the gospel of peaceful election in Edda and to mobilize support for Gov Umah’s reelection Hon Onuma, Chairman, House committee on SDGs explained that he had embarked on the reconstruction of 10km Aliokwa layout roads with grading and laitraiting in Nguzu Edda, youth and women empowerment and furnishing of Ward PDP offices.

He reiterated his commitment to providing more quality representation and legislation in the area as well as continue to engage in activities that have direct bearing with the constituents.

“For the past two and half years I have diligently demonstrated the pollical will, focus and determina-

tion to keep to the promises I made to the people during my electioneering campaign”.

The first term lawmaker who emphasized the need for regular interaction with the people said he had executed many people oriented constituency projects.

He thanked the people for the support and urged them to continue to support the administration of Engr David Umahi in his avowed determination to develop Ebonyi state.

Others who spoke including the Chairman PDP Afikpo South LGA, Mr Dickson Udu, the Coordinator Akubaraoha Youth Assembly, Afikpo South, Mr Amos Okporie and the State PDP ex-officio, Mrs Janet Okocha, appreciated the quality leadership of Umahi and Hon Nkemnka Onuma and pledged to continue to support their administration and work towards their reelection. Highpoints of the event was the adoption of Umahi and Onuma for second term in office.

stated: “Some of these bodies have been in our mortuary for over ten years. There are over 800 bodies which have been unclaimed and you can imagine what that is doing to us.

Anybody who has a corpse here should come and take it away because we will give all unclaimed corpses a mass burial in two weeks.”

“After this announcement we will give them a mass burial. This announcement is what the law requires us to do. And by this announcement, the public is hereby notified that we will give any corpse that is unclaimed in two weeks a mass burial. That is the legal implications of this announcement regarding all unclaimed corpses.” Prof Ugboma also said that the referral health

institution has suspended the cashless payment system in the hospital. “I had to suspend the cashless system we are practicing. When I came on board, I carried out an audit review of the accounting system and I discovered that we were making more money when people paid directly prior to the introduction of the cashless system”.

He stated: “The hospital is in dire need of funds. As a chief executive, you need to do what is necessary to raise the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. And the evidence before us indicates that stopping the cashless payment system in favour of the direct payment is a good thing. We are making more money through the

UPTH plans mass burial for over 800 abandoned corpses From NATH OMAME, P/Harcourt

T

he University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has raised an alarm over the more than 800 abandoned corpses at the hospital’s mortuary.

Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof. Henry Ugboma, said some of the corpses have been in the mortuary for ten years, noting that family members of the deceased have not shown up to collect the bodies.

He warned that the copses will be given a mass burial in two weeks if they are not collected by the families of the deceased.

The chief medical director, who spoke in Port Harcourt,

direct payment.”

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

POLITICS

IPOB: Very soon we will Nigeria making great progforce Buhari to produce ress under Buhari, says Nnamdi Kanu! Johnny, APC Chieftain Pg 11

Pg 15

Corruption killing Zik’s Greater –Nigeria dream, cries Idabor The negative impact of corruption on Nigeria has, among other things, killed the legacies of the founding fathers of the nation, especially those of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha who championed the cause of one great, united Nigeria that would be truly Africa’s giant and pride of the Black Race. This is the view of President of Zikism Association of Nigeria (ZAN) and former Special Adviser to former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra State, Hon Amechi Idabor, who spoke with Correspondent THEO RAYS in his office in Onitsha.

Let’s start by looking at the group called ZAN; what is the group all about?

Thank you very much. ZAN is about a group of responsible Nigerians who believe in the qualities, legacies and dreams of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha and first President of Nigeria. I am the leader of the Association and we have come a long way. At the outset, we were called Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN), later on we changed the name to Movement for the Propagation of Azikiwe’s Legacies (MOPAL) and now we are known and called ZAN. Most of us were followers of Zik when he was alive, others joined because of what they heard or read about Zik. Personally, I followed him bumper to bumper as a student and as a young man in those days. In addition to being his staunch follower, when he died I had the opportunity to be one of the pal bearers of his remains before he was laid to rest. So, I can say that I have a long-standing admiration and relationship with Zik. Here in ZAN, our aim is to make sure that all the legacies that Zik left behind are upheld from dispensation to dispensation and from generation to generation. We believe that toeing the path of Zik in championing the cause of one Nigeria would take Nigeria to the Promised Land and that we are committed to do.

What can you pin-point as the major thing from the legacies of Zik and which you wish to transfer or transmit to the present day Nigeria and its future as well?

The major thing about the legacies of Zik is his uncompromising stand on one Nigeria.

Prior to Independence, Zik envisaged a Nigeria that is thickly united in oneness and love without regard to tribe, religion or political party; Zik foresaw a Nigeria that is economically buoyant and strong to meet the needs of its inhabitants till thy kingdom come and a Nigeria that is politically a great nation of Africa capable to favorably compete with its contemporaries in Africa and also compete with European and American countries in years to come. So, as Zikists or followers of Zik, we are champions of one Nigeria cause. We are living the dream of one Nigeria. We believe that Nigeria is better together than split because together we have all it takes to realize a greater nation that is interesting to all and sundry. So our message is that we have a country set up for us to build into greatness and global reckoning by our fathers, therefore let us be proud children and grand children by building this country according to the vision of our fathers. Let us love one another regardless of our tribe, religion or political parties.

Considering the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria such as corruption, killings here and there, abduction among others, some people are saying that one Nigeria is no longer possible, therefore it is better to split the country; others are calling for restructuring of the county into confederation and all that.

What is your take on these divergent views about the country?

The major problem we have in this country is corruption. Yes, if we can eliminate corruption, every other problem will disappear from the system. Corruption killed the vision of the founding fathers of this country. Corrup-

laid down by Zik. Zik’s Mausoleum has remained a project on the pipeline; what is your Association doing over it?

We are pushing for its completion but it is not in our hands, it is not our project, it’s a government project. It has been very difficult to reach both the State and Federal Governments on the project and we cannot fold our hands and sleep. We have written letters to the appropriate quarters and we will continue to write until the project is completed.

• Hon Amechi Idabor tion killed the foundation of a greater nation of Africa laid by the Zik and other nationalists who fought for our Independence. How do I mean? Corruption diverted the visions of politicians from thinking about how to work for the overall interest of the inhabitants to how to embezzle public fund for personal enrichment. Corruption weakened the system in such a way that qualities, merit, credibility, creativity, distinction, good name and innovation have no room to operate in the system, so there is no way the country can move forward under the corrupt circumstance we find ourselves. If you ask me again and again, I will tell you without mincing words that corruption is the bane of Nigeria and if we are to make a head way, we must fight corruption on a more serious and effective note.

How do we correlate corruption with killings here and there, abductions and other violent crimes in the country?

Yes, corruption melts like kerosene. When corrupt leaders are in the saddle, nothing works in the interest of the people and when things are not working in the interest of the people, they can react in any form they like.

When leaders start to use the fund meant to pay the salary of workers to buy personal property the workers can revolt in any form they deem right. When leaders start to use fund meant to provide quality education and good health care delivery to build estate and hotels for themselves and their family members, the people can react in any form they consider befitting to them. What I am saying is that corruption gave birth to failed leader-

ship in this country and failed leadership gave birth to every other problem you can mention, be it Boko Haram, killings by herdsmen, militancy, agitation for Biafra, abduction and other violent crimes hurting the country at the moment.

According to analysts, there is also a problem of incompetence among leaders, which is worse than corruption, do you agree to that?

Yes, but why should we allow incompetence in the system? Incompetence is also part of corruption. We have a situation where somebody who is not prepared to lead is railroaded into leadership positions as President, governors and chairmen because the interest is to embezzle public fund for selfish purposes and not to provide service for the welfare, development and progress of the people. The kingmakers or godfathers who control the system are not interested in quality and merit; they are interested in surrogates who are willing to obey the last order in keeping to “Irrevocable Standing Payment Order” to the detriment of the public whom they are mandated to serve.

So because they have corrupt tendencies, they are not interested in Zik’s legacies; they are not interested in one Nigeria and a great country that is economically buoyant and politically stronger among the nations of the world. Any president or governor or chairman who is toeing the part of Zik won’t do badly.

So, I believe that corruption is the key to all the problems we have in this country and to get rid of it, we have to retrace our steps and go back to the foundation of one Nigeria as

During the governorship campaign last year, it was alleged that Governor Willie Obiano has not done much in Onitsha. As he is about to be sworn in for a second term, what would you ask him to do in Onitsha?

First of all, let me correct the impression that Obiano didn’t do much in Onitsha in his first term. Obiano made impact in Onitsha in so many ways during his first tenure. To the best of my knowledge, Obiano executed projects in all Markets we have in Onitsha under what is called N10 Million Market intervention projects and also equipped some markets with fire service vehicles stationed 24 hours to forestall fire outbreaks. Over the years, the traders and their markets were neglected by successive administrations but Obiano gave the traders good attention and delivered them from the problems they face in their markets.

I learnt that he even gave the traders appointments as SAs and SSAs. And, interestingly, the reciprocated his gesture by voting for him during the election last year. The overwhelming victory of Obiano in election last year is not unconnected with the votes of traders in Onitsha. When you talk about Onitsha traders, you talk about the entire State because Onitsha traders spread all over the State. Secondly, Obiano built roads in Onitsha such as Dumomodi lane, MCC bypass and several others, so for anybody to say that he didn’t perform well in Onitsha is not true.

Coming for a second term, we in ZAN want him to pay attention to Zik’s Mausoleum by getting in touch with Abuja for the completion. Let him also do more works on the road network in the city. The issue of multiple taxation is also important for him to address because everybody is complaining about multiple taxation orchestrated by touts and illegal revenue agents in Onitsha. Most important is the issue of water. Onitsha needs government-driven public water supply and if Obiano provides that, the people will hail him much.

What is your take on the poor number of registered voters in the southeast and what is ZAN doing to help mobilize people to go and register and obtain voters cards?

One of the things that qualifies people into membership of ZAN is having a voter’s card. If you don’t have a voter’s card, we cannot admit you as one of us. It bothers me that a large chunk of people in the southeast don’t see the importance of voter’s card. In ZAN, we are embarking on crusade moving round through the churches, markets and streets to sensitize the people on the need to go to INEC office or registration unit to register and obtain a voter’s card. It is a task that must be accomplished and we are deeply involved in the task.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

INTERVIEW

‘Kaduna and Lagos were fully developed

by FG but Enugu is foot-dragging’

T

here were pleas from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Deputy President of Senate as well as Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma among others, to the federal government to develop the Enugu International Trade Fair at least to be at par with those of Lagos and Kaduna; has there been any federal government move in that direction so far?

Nothing has changed as yet. For the past two decades, we have been going to Abuja doing the needful – lobbying, talking to those in authority both in the National Assembly and the Executive. We have also been doing our best in terms of advocacy and the rest of it. But I would also add that in such difficult economic times as we are, capital outlay is usually a major problem, although I do not think that is really the reason.

What is the issue then; who owns that Trade Fair Complex, federal government, state or the chamber?

All over the world, fair exhibition is a private sector-driven affair. But, in the case of Nigeria, it is the federal government that gave hosting rights to city chambers, through our national association. So, the federal government provides the infrastructure for exhibitions that are taking place in Nigeria such as those of Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu International Trade Fairs. Kaduna and Lagos trade fair complexes were fully developed by the federal government; the Private sector is yet to have that capacity to develop modern exhibition facilities, so to say. So, the federal government provides the necessary facilities for the chambers to use and organise their fairs.

So, why is the case of Enugu different; what do you think is the reason?

I can only say that it has been footdragging since 2001, when its foundation stone was laid. It is an issue and we believe that the messiah would come one day and change the face of the international exhibition centre in Enugu. However, the chamber of commerce in Enugu has been doing its best, on its own, to ensure that we have, at least basic amenable infrastructure for us to host our fairs. It was in 2007 that contractors moved out of complex site, claiming that they were being owed and that the project was not being funded, which is true anyway.

Since then, nothing has happened, and we have been asking the federal government to earmark adequate fund for the development of the fair complex, to no avail. Nothing has actually changed, but we keep hope alive because when hope dies then the man in you is dead. We would continue to hope that one day, God will bring a messiah who would see the project as a priority and do the needful.

We have even asked the government to hand it over to the private sector to develop but the government is not in a hurry to do that. They said they were planning to use the infrastructure concessional regulatory agency to do it. But those are all grammar; we have not seen the effect. We have made very strong efforts for the site to be handed over to the chamber for the chamber to use its own dynamics, through private sector development to do it but the federal government seems to be resistant to do it. That is where we are. They keep saying that they will do it over the years and we have been waiting for action. But unfortunately action is not forthcoming.

Looking at the gigantic ECCIMA building that you inaugurated recently, one may say that federal government’s seemingly reluctant attitude towards the Enugu chamber does not weigh you down; does it?

Oh it sure does, to a large extent, at that.

But you know that the trade fair is one of the things that the chamber does and that is for the trade fair complex. But the chamber, on its own, has other programmes, activities

In a matter of days, the 2018 Enugu International Trade Fair exhibition will kick off, precisely on March 16, with the theme: ‘Engendering the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the global market’. But the situation at the site, which is situated at Golf Estate, GRA, is nothing to write home about, as it has been engulfed by bushes due to lack of permanent structures. To many analysts, it smacks of national mockery for a 21st century international exhibition to take place without at least basic facilities.

Director General of the chamber, Barr Emeka Okereke spoke to CHUKS EZE about the challenges facing the chamber, among other things. Excerpts

• ECCIMA DG Emeka Okereke and visions of what we want to accomplish.

Like you pointed out, we had our new building commissioned in January, even though there are still works to be done there. However, we have gone a long way to bring hope alive for the organised private sector, not just in Enugu State but in the entire South

East, because that is the only mega facility complex you can find among all other city chambers in the country, perhaps, except Lagos and relatively, Abuja. So, for us, it is a major milestone and it is going to re-validate the image of the chamber, its outlook and its potentials. It will enhance our service de-

‘Another thing few people are afraid of is that I harbour hate or that I am coming to loot the treasury. But, if I did not loot before, I don’t think I will loot now. I left N26.6bn in interest yielding account, which I handed over to Governor Okorocha. I did not loot the money. I was governor for four years and I did not allocate any land to myself and did not confiscate anybody’s land. I did not revoke anybody’s C of O. And there will be nothing left to loot after Okorocha. If a government cannot pay salary, it means that that government has gone bankrupt. In a bankrupt situation where there will be no land left, no money left but a debt overhang of N200bn, including judgment debts, which is about N9bn, anybody talking about Ohakim coming to loot is afraid of his shadows’

livery to stakeholders and it will also attract other affiliates and partners to work with us because it creates a lot of confidence that since we have that facility, we can be trusted with more responsibilities. We are very grateful to God for the milestone that we have achieved and we are still looking ahead beyond that. But it is really a major milestone and stepping stone for us that would stabilize the operations of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce and we are very grateful to our partners who made it possible for us to be where we are today, while calling on more partners to enable us get the complex fully completed.

What informed the choice of the theme for this year’s Enugu international trade fair?

The theme was inspired by our concerted effort to deepen our commitment towards diversification of the Nigerian economy. We all know that the issue of diversification had been a singsong before now; we have relied on mono product, which is oil. Our quest for diversification has been more of lip service and we are saying that there is a need for us to walk the talk as it concerns diversification of sources of revenue for Nigeria. So, this year’s theme for the fair was chosen to give crescendo to our efforts to diversify the economy. The truth is that as at now, whether we like it or not, we are still dependent on oil as our major source of revenue, although that is not to say that effort that is being made to diversify the economy is not being appreciated. But we really need to be focused, and as I said, walk the talk, not out of euphoric tendencies or spur of the moment, because the price of oil has gone down. We need to be dedicated and focused to really expand the base of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. That is why we are looking at engendering the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the global market because it is when we are able to export that our sources of income would expand as well.

So, export driven by agro-allied products and industrial manufactured products would really help the country’s economy. And in so doing, our business environment needs to be properly put in place. For us to have such vibrant industrial sector, production is of essence. When you produce, you can feed your population and still have enough to export.

It is very important that we remain determined and focused in the effort to expand the economic base of the nation, especially as regards foreign exchange earnings through export. That was what informed the theme of this year’s trade fair, and we hope that the fair would give credence to the theme so chosen. We want to see Nigerian products in the global market, and what that means is that when we start competing in the global market, we would be competing in the best international standards and practises (ISO) standard products, because before you can compete effectively in the world markets, your products must be qualitative, including processing, packaging and everything. That is the intention of our theme for the 2018 Enugu International

• Continued on page: 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Bold n Blunt

IPOB: Very soon we will force Buhari to produce Nnamdi Kanu!

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB’s) Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, in this no-holds-barred interview with THEO RAYS vows that the group will sooner than later force the federal government to produce the embattled leader of the group, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose whereabouts has remained unknown since September 14 last year when soldiers invaded his father’s palace in Afara-Ukwu village, in Umuahia, Abia State and reportedly killed some people and abducted some others.

• Nnamdi Kanu

• Buratai

• Gov. Umahi

• Nnia Nwodo

How can you convince Nigerians that the leadership of IPOB doesn’t know Kanu’s whereabouts?

Our ongoing effort to compel the government of Buhari to produce our leader is gathering momentum and will become more direct very soon. The recent Amnesty International report on the activities of Nigerian Army for the year 2017 made it clear that at least 12 people were shot dead by soldiers who invaded the home of our leader in Umuahia on the 14th of September 2017. This is a verifiable fact. We still don’t know how they came up with the figure 12 when they saw 28 bodies. Even in their legal defence, the army acknowledged going to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s home to look for him. Any right thinking society will not need further convincing that Nigerian Army is culpable in the disappearance of our leader.

Short of picking up arms, anything and everything will be done by the global family of IPOB to force the Buhari regime to produce our leader sooner rather than later because they invaded his residence and killed 28 of our people who were there with him on that fateful day of 14 September 2017. Since that invasion, he has not been seen and evidence of gun shots in his bedroom indicate the army shot at him.

Why is it that extensive gunshot damage to his bedroom is not being reported? The live footage of the invasion abounds and was widely reported at the time. It is not the duty of IPOB to convince the public, that responsibility lies with the media to publish the facts of the matter and allow people to draw their own conclusions. It is your duty and that of every responsible media outlet to inform the world, not just those that reside in Nigeria, regarding what truly transpired when the Nigerian Army invaded, with lethal

force, the home of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The most logical question to ask is, why did the army invade his home with lethal force if not to kill him? He was out on bail preparing to go to court on the 17th of October 2017 with no outstanding warrant against him and the next thing we know is Nigerian soldiers storming his home a full month before he was due in court, killed 28 people, arrested countless others, with the whereabouts of our leader unknown. Under such circumstance, would it not be sensible to think that the army must have killed him?

We don’t need to convince anybody that we are unaware of our leader’s whereabouts; all we need to do as we are doing is present the facts of the matter as they are. Any impartial observer of the treatment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and parents will reach the inescapable conclusion that the Nigerian Army must have killed or abducted him. To suggest otherwise will mean that the army is a law unto itself which will confirm that Nigeria is a bona fide Banana Republic. After all, no court of law in Nigeria gave the army the go ahead to invade his home.

Since Kanu disappeared, IPOB seems not to be as vibrant as it hitherto was. Does that mean the government has succeeded in its attempt to reduce the group’s influence in the South East?

First of all, we must correct this misleading impression that our leader simply disappeared! He is not a ghost and although he is a super naturally gifted individual, going by his predictions, we know he is still mortal and could not have grown wings and flown when the army invaded his home and attacked him in his bedroom. Secondly, anybody peddling the myth that IPOB influence has waned is only doing so to impress his or her paymasters in Aso Rock. The name IPOB has become a lucrative source of income for idle minds and government informants in Ohaneze Ndigbo looking for money and South East governors seeking re-election.

Every man, woman and child across South East and South South is IPOB. So, rather than diminishing, our influence is growing daily from strength to strength. We are still rallying all over our towns and villages but we remain conscious of the fact that nobody can command media attention and large

following the way our leader does, so it is impossible to replicate the large crowds that turn out to welcome him on his tours. If you are expecting millions to march on the streets on a daily basis when we evangelise then you will be disappointed because we have different approaches and strategies.

In the run up to our referendum this year, the world will witness something totally unexpected and unique. Operation Python Dance II, it must be stated, was initiated by Nnia Nwodo and South East governors to diminish the rising popularity of Nnamdi Kanu.

It was borne out of greed, envy and jealousy and nothing more. The only thing they accomplished is to finally expose themselves for the self-confessed saboteurs they are.

Hence our resolve that Ohaneze Ndigbo will never successfully hold any public gathering in Biafraland unless the topic under discussion is self-determination.

First of all, we must correct this misleading impression that our leader simply disappeared! He is not a ghost and although he is a super naturally gifted individual, going by his predictions, we know he is still mortal and could not have grown wings and flown when the army invaded his home and attacked him in his bedroom.

Put in another way, would you say IPOB’s silence is a strategy or the FG has succeeded in boxing the group to a corner?

I don’t know where you keep getting this twisted impression from that IPOB is silent.

Did Lai Mohammed the Nigeria Information Minister and the Presidency not confirm a few weeks back that IPOB is more dangerous than Boko Haram? How can a group that cost Nigeria millions of dollars in media consultancy and lobbying be described as silent? There are two ways to generate heat-one is by visible fire like firewood, charcoal and gas but the other is microwave. You don’t see microwave radiation; it is silent but more deadly. We protest when it’s time; we apply some other pressures as at when necessary. Whatever methodology we apply,

Continued on page: 14

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

HEALTH

Encomiums as Onu bows out as Okopoly rector

I

t was all praises and thanksgiving to God for Prof. Godwin Onu, the out-going Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state as he bowed out of office honourably, after eight tumultuous years as head of the tertiary institution originally founded by the late former Vice President of the federation, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

Onu was appointed Rector in 2010 and he completed two terms of four years each with enormous human and infrastructural developments on ground to show for those years.

Which is why the development-minded intellectual could proudly beat his chest and declare: “I came, saw and conquered.”

At a public lecture/farewell ceremony/commissioning of numerous completed projects termed “commemoration of excellent stewardship,” recently organized in his honour by the management and staff of the school, prominent Nigerians, including the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka who represented the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu were in attendance.

Other personalities in attendance at the public lecture included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige who was represented by a former Commissioner for Information in Anambra state, Chief Charles Amilo; Member representing Orumba North/ South Constituency in the National Assembly, Chief Ben Nwankwo; former Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala, traditional rulers, captains of industry and fellow academics.

Among those who paid glowing tributes to the out-going Rector for what they termed his monumental achievements in the institution were the traditional ruler of Ezira community in Orumba South Local Government Area, Prof. Onu’s home town, Igwe Samuel Uche (II) who stated that Onu has done him and the entire Ezira community proud for his giant strides in Okopoly.

Others who also paid tributes to Onu were the traditional ruler of Omor community, Igwe Chris Oranu Chidume; former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University UNIZIK, Awka, Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN); former Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Emeka Sibeudu; Rector of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Fr. Wence Madu; Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Dr. Sadiq Yahya; Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Afikpo, Venerable Ogbonnia Ibe-Enwo; Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Arc. Olusegun Aluko; National Board for Technical Education, NBTE; Federal Character Commission (FCC); Association of Heads of Federal Institutions, Ezira Improvement Union, EIU, among others.

In the public lecture entitled: “Science, Technology and Innovation in Nigeria: The Role of Polytechnics”, the guest lecturer, Air Vice Marshall Humphrey Chuks Okpala, urged polytechnics to imbibe research culture, adding that through research efforts, the polytechnics can add value to our products.

Air Vice Marshall Okpala contended that a situation where the nation exports crude oil at a cheaper rate and imports finished products at exorbitant rate calls for questioning the role of tertiary institutions in the country, pointing out that polytechnics should concentrate on the mandate approved for it as a way forward for solving the nation’s economic quagmire.

“Let the polytechnics authorities take a holistic look at the nation’s problems and then give it out to their students as projects, after carrying out a thorough research work on such problems so that our students will come out and become employers of labour and not employees or job seekers,” Okpala said.

He also suggested that the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma, HND and First Degree Certificate should be abrogated and replaced with more emphasis on practical training than theory, as well as establish partnership between higher institutions, manufacturing industries and the government.

In his keynote address, Prof. Anwuka who described the Federal Polytechnic, Oko as the “polytechnic of the moment”, courtesy of Prof. Onu’s magic wand, commended Onu and the polytechnic authorities for making

Waving the olive branch to his critics, Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Professor Godwin Onu completes his tour of duty and bids staff and students farewell in a grand style, writes IBE NWACHUKWU

• Prof Onu (middle) and other guests

• Prof. Anwuka (on black attire) going around to commission the projects judicious use of intervention funds from the federal government so far.

Anwuka, therefore, warned against frivolous petition writings which he said were capable of disrupting academic excellence in the institution, adding that government is making efforts to establish what he called ‘finishing school’ whereby every student who had studied various professions in the school would spend an extra one year in the school for professional training, as obtained in the law and medical professions.

At the end of the lecture and key note address, Prof. Anwuka went round and commissioned some 18 projects executed by Onu’s

administration within his eight years in office as Rector.

The projects include a two-storey bloc wing A medical centre, tw- storey bloc wing B medical centre, two- storey bloc CBT examination hall, two-storey bloc Mass Communication Complex, two-storey bloc School Of Engineering Technology Department building, twostorey bloc Science Laboratory Technology Department building.

Others are two-storey bloc Exams And Records building, two-storey bloc Central Library/Virtual Resources Centre, Central Auditorium with digital public address system, the Polytechnic Tower, one-storey bloc Confucius

Centre/Chinese Language classroom, one-storey bloc Central Stores Building, one-storey bloc Hospitality Management building, Skills Acquisition Centre, Mass Communication FM radio (98.7 Moments FM), Cement Road 1, Cement Road 2 and Water Fountain.

There are also 19 on-going projects and six procurements initiated by the Onu administration, which include two-storey Agricultural Engineering building at Ufuma, massive storey buildings for Food Science and Technology complex, massive bungalows for Fine and Applied Arts, Department Of Aircraft Mainte-

Continued on page: 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

INTERVIEW

Kaduna and Lagos were fully developed by FG • Continued from page 10 Trade fair – that even when we are producing, we must produce quality goods that must stand the test of competition in the global market.

In line with the issue of diversification of the economy, the National Council of State recently approved the injection of $1 billion into the agro-allied industry sector. How do you feel that ECCIMA seems to be on the same page with the federal government?

I would say that it is same vision; same onerous efforts by all stakeholders in the country, both public and private sectors – to ensure that we do the needful to boost the country’s economic growth and prosperity for the citizens. It is not just about growth, but development for the citizens as well.

So, we are pleased that the federal government’s effort is in tandem with what ECCIMA is doing. Remember that these are operators in the field and they know where it pinches.

We have been canvassing the diversification of the economy for several decades back, and it is cheering that the government is now listening to the long advocacy of the organised private sector. We are happy that government is earmarking $1 billion to support the Agro-allied sector, but we hope that it gets to the real operators.

What method do you think that government should adopt to ensure that disbursement of the fund gets to target individuals and groups?

We have been speaking out that although most development funds being set up by government are usually beautiful ideas, when it comes to implementation or disbursement of such funds, you see a lot of obstacles, bottlenecks, challenges and what have you, which encumber the process

• Gate 1 of Enugu International trade fair complex thereby making it difficult for the real operators or target beneficiaries to access the funds. We have counselled, from time to time, that government should work closely with the organised private sector such as the chamber of commerce and Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria (MAN). Bring them into the administration of some of these funds to ensure that it gets to those who really deserve it and who can add value by having access to such funds.

With due respect to government’s efforts, I would say that disbursement of such funds should not be left solely for the public sector, which does not understand the dynamics in the private sector operation. They need to work closely with the chamber of commerce

in the disbursement of such funds. Just recently, some researchers came here, under the platform of the National Bureau of Statistics, and I asked them what stops government from working directly with the private sector in the disbursement of its development economic funds. Things would work so effectively if they can work with the private sector. For instance, when you come to the Enugu Chamber, we know our members; we know those who are into the agricultural sector, those into automobile and what have you. And for any funds that are earmarked for each sector, we know what our members can do – who is capable of doing what. We can as well serve as guarantors for our members that we recommend to government

to give money. We can ask government to give funds to so, so and so and assure them that the beneficiary can increase productivity within a specific period and that he has the credibility to pay back the fund, if it is a loan.

That would make both the administration of the scheme and accessibility of funds easier. It would also make productivity and turnover of that fund, whatever it is meant for, much more plausible than the normal conventional way of administering the funds, which has always posed a lot of problems.

So, we have heard about the release of so, so billions by government over the years but the truth is that operators have not felt it positively.

ized that the mission and antiques of the hills were not edifices for beauty but monsters of tsunami.

“I met some lecturers of ancient mode and mole resistant to creativity to my final day and sojourn to this citadel of learning. The struggle was a raging inferno where physical and spiritual weapons of warfare were deployed.

My ambition for greatness of the institution was politicized, scuttled and faint, those with minds of Lilliput and Ichabod, were bamboozled and deceived to a greater unprecedented cost for the future of this citadel.

“However, in all these, I thank God that the journey has come to an end successfully. Whoever is with God is with Majority. I saw the future with a few while the rest did not and are unwilling to transit beyond the immediate.

That is the tragedy of this great institution.

May I at this juncture call on the Federal Ministry of Education to encourage all academic intuitions in the Country to adopt the CBT mode of examination in semester examinations. This is the tested part to sanity in examinations for today. Tertiary Educating Trust, TET Fund should make out special allocation for ICT development in tertiary institutions and special budget for computer and CBT examinations.

“Your excellency, no country can develop without proper funding of the education sector starting from the ministry to primary schools. The polytechnics require increased funding to fulfill their mandate. I also call for the conversion of one Polytechnic in each of the geopolitical zone to Polytechnic University. A Polytechnic University is not the same as University of Science and Technology. A Polytechnic University should retain the middle level manpower curriculum and award National Diploma, Higher National Diploma cap it up with Bachelor of Technology and Masters of Technology and Doctor of Philosophy in the same discipline.

“Lecturers in such institutions can grow up to the rank of Professors. Hon. Minister Sir, this to my mind is the best way of bridging the raging controversy of dichotomy between

the polytechnics and universities.

“I discharged myself at Federal Polytechnic Oko. I offended many by not giving them jobs, contracts and other opportunities. I want to say that I am sorry about all these. Find a place in your hearts to forgive me. I am not always in control of these opportunities and there are a lot of institutional constraints.

“We are equally mindful of petitions from this institution. It is difficult to govern those who think they know better how to do it. As an outsider, it is believed that the authority to give employment and contracts lie with the Rector. It is not so. Any one angry with me should use what I did well to forgive the ones I did not do well. I am not God and I am not perfect. We commenced with rescuing the physical environment from dilapidation from both entrances of the gates that were used for defecation and refuse dumps. We planted trees, put grasses, planted flowers and tarred the roads across the campus. We pulled down old rickety bungalows with rusty corrugated zink which replicated what Robert D. Kaplan (1 994) in his epistle of coming anarchy in West Africa. We commenced the process of changing the manual typewriters, tiling every office and classroom and interlocking the whole environment. We commenced the process of fund raising and putting structures in place. We opened up for capacity training, giving computers free and embarked on digitalization. Today we are branded a digital Polytechnic. Every office is computerized. Examinations are computerized in line with the Federal Government’s Policy on Education.

Federal Polytechnic Oko is the first to fully implement Section 1 5 1 and 1 52 of this policy by adopting CBT as mode of Assessment in internal conduct of examinations. This is our gift to the Nigerian Educational Sector. It is a major milestone in curbing examination malpractice. Those who are against it do that in bad faith and out of ignorance. The future of functional education in Nigeria lies in the use of ICT. “We established a Chinese Confucius classroom and today 30 of our students are

in China under various Chinese Scholarship programmes. Many of them that graduated earlier are employed by Chinese businesses in Nigeria. We experimented on the first cement road in the country and it was a huge success”.

“Hon. Minister Sir, since I came in 2010, there has been no students uprising and Federal Polytechnic Oko is cult-free. No student has been stabbed or chased about as a result of cultism. In my honest submission, the Hon. Minister, recruitment into the position of Head of Polytechnics should be thrown open if the country wants to get the best in the sector.

“The issue in the Polytechnic Act of ‘Chief Lecturer or its Equivalent’ should be properly interpreted to avoid creating confusion and litigation in the process of recruitment of Rectors. If we want the best for the system, whoever becomes a Rector of an institution should not come through an emotional process loaded with sentiments. The system should go for the best by throwing the application for Rectorship open and get the age to 55 upon assumption of office. No one can do this job with walking stick.”

“I also recommend that special fund should be made available through TETFUND to all tertiary institutions to provide their own electricity through the quantum of waste generated in the institutions including toilets through a renewable energy process. Each institution should be given three years to do this and also sell energy to the neighborhood. Institution which fails to do this should be sanctioned.

“The Honourable Minister sir, every Polytechnic should establish an ICT academy and every student passing though it should be ICT compliant as it is in Federal Polytechnic Oko. This will prepare the graduating students for the job market.

“We also recommend the introduction of Anti-Cult Academy in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force to make our institutions cult-free as it is in the Federal Polytechnic Oko”.

Encomiums as Onu bows out as Okopoly rector • Continued from page: 12 nance and Aeronautics Engineering Technology at Akili Ozizo9 (Atani Campus), two-storey building for Department of Public Administration, massive bungalows for CBT examinations at Ufuma Campus, massive bungalows for CBT examinations at Atani Campus and 1500 capacity lecture theatre, among others.

In his valedictory speech, Prof. Onu declared: “I came in with great ambition to conquer the environment, exploit the environment and make it better. I came in to transform human and material infrastructure and translate my dreams into reality.

“I came in not to enrich myself but to make history and lay a solid foundation for future assignments. I came in with the great love I have for students, these young sons and daughters that God has bequeathed unto our care, who are here to learn, obtain knowledge and be taught. I came in with the resolve to make them learn, make them great engineers and scientists and technologists as well as administrators, communicators and business entrepreneurs.

“I came in with a vision, a mission and a dream of the best Polytechnic in Nigeria and Africa. I came with the spirit of creativity and innovation, which I believe are gifts that God gave to me. Anywhere that I had worked, I had always left something positive to remember. Even as a student Union leader in my remote village, as Kparapo leader in the University of Ibadan, those who knew me will always testify. In the Nnamdi Azikwe University, I was the first staff to win the Vice-Chancellor’s best Lecturer of the year 2000. My Faculty was declared the best by the then Senate.

“At the Federal Polytechnic Oko, where I commenced the Journey again to unleash my potentials and transformation, I was greatly misunderstood by men and ladies of institutionalized old tradition. The traditional and analogue staff that kept the institution down for decades, bleeding it to death and stupor.

I met a host community where some section saw me as an outsider and others later real-

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Bold n Blunt Continued from page: 11 the outcome is decisively the same always.

We have rendered the name Nigeria useless before the civilised world. Biafra is getting closer and closer with the passage of each day. The warped narrative that IPOB has been subdued due to the abduction of our leader is false. Our activities are going on in earnest all over the world and preparations for our referendum are gathering momentum, so we remain unstoppable as ever.

Kanu’s wife threatened that if her husband is not found there will be no election in 2019, what are the plans of IPOB for the 2019 general elections having failed to stop the Anambra election?

Let me correct this erroneous impression: we did not say we would stop Anambra election; we said we would boycott it and we did so successfully. The fact that INEC announced a result was to be expected. Nigeria is by its very essence corrupt and the powers that be wouldn’t want to make public their humiliation in the hands of IPOB. That was why INEC inflated the figures to give the exercise some respectability. The wife of our leader is right in insisting there will be no elections because we will not vote. They can falsify and publish fake results, that’s up to them but we will paralyse activities in and around Biafraland on election days come 2019. We challenge INEC to publish true copies of result sheets from polling booths in Anambra governorship election. Less than 1% of eligible voters participated in that poll and we are confident we will achieve maximum compliance with Buhari’s name on the ticket. In fact, we are certain that Middle Belt and Southern Kaduna will join our election boycott due to this regime’s support for Fulani terrorists. If what Fani-Kayode and Yoruba elders are saying carries the day, we expect total boycott of the presidential election too in Yoruba land. Aso Rock should worry more about other nationalities who have expressed their desire to boycott all elections until the national question of which way Nigeria is resolved via referendum.

Should an Igbo man emerge as Nigeria’s president, will that change the quest for Biafra campaigned by IPOB We have crossed the point of no return. If they like let them give an Igbo grand-mother or Ibibio woman the presidency for 10 consecutive terms, it won’t change anything.

They can pave every road in Biafraland with gold, still nothing and we mean nothing, will ever alter our resolve. Our mind is made up and firmly set in stone. Whatever outcome we are confronted with after the referendum, we have to live with it. The people of Biafra will decide in a referendum not a few compromised and dirty politicians negotiating our future away in the name of restructuring Nigeria. IPOB is not like anything Africa has ever seen before. We are uncompromising in our quest to restore Biafra and that is the only outcome acceptable to us.

Kanu once said he would ride on the wings of civil disobedience to actualise Biafra; however he is nowhere to be found.

What are IPOB’s latest plans to ensure Biafra is achieved with or without Kanu?

You conveniently forgot to mention that a detachment of Nigerian Army stormed his home and killed him or took him away. When people say he is nowhere to be found, it is either they are gifted with ignorance or their faculties are not entirely intact. If the United States were to invade Nigeria and in the process storm Aso Rock to take away Buhari (or whoever is impersonating him), would you say Buhari is nowhere to be found? Sensible people will say, ask the US because they invaded his residence. This is not complicated philosophy but simple common sense.

People should apply their thinking faculties when evaluating the impact of the full military invasion and massacre of 28 people that took place at the residence of our leader on 14 September 2017. We are a well-oiled machine that can function perfectly well with or without our mentor and leader because the blueprint he himself laid down is what we

• Military tank during last September’s Operation Python Dance. Kanu has not been seen since then are following. Mazi Uche Mefor is our deputy leader and with the support of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS) under the able leadership of Mazi Chika Edoziem, our modus operandi remains intact as laid down by our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Our deputy leader and DOS oversee the day to day operations of our global movement in the absence of our leader. We are following the philosophy of our leader, which no doubt is guiding us towards our singular goal of Biafra restoration in the not too distant future.

How does IPOB tend to run Biafra govt if actualized?

It is up to the people of Biafra to elect who will serve them not IPOB. IPOB will not metamorphose into a political party but there will be laid down rules and principles, which will form part of the constitution as Biafra will be run as a transparent constitutional democracy. Nothing like it would have been witnessed in Africa before. Rights and freedoms of citizens will be woven into every facet of day to day governance and law enforcement. For example, there will be no armed police patrolling the streets looking for whom to intimidate, extort money at gun point from, molest, rape or kill. Soldiers will never be deployed on the streets of Biafraland to quell civil disobedience, only in times of war. Lawmakers will be mandated by law to hold weekly surgeries at their constituen-

cies. Education will be free and compulsory to university level. Every human being will be equal before the law regardless of sex, religion and orientation. Every nationality like Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Igede, Idoma, Igbo will be autonomous self-governing regions with 100% resource control enshrined in the constitution. Biafra will be a confederation of equal nationalities. No politician or law enforcement officer can order the detention of any person without the permission of the courts. Children of politicians and officials of state must attend public schools nearest to them. Same applies to hospitals. The culture of allocation will be abolished and government will be decentralized. Police chiefs will be elected not appointed. A culture of independent powerful judiciary capable of ruling against a sitting government will be encouraged. There will be absolute separation of powers. No hint of totalitarianism will be tolerated. The list is endless but rest assured it will not be like anything that obtains in black African countries.

Any time-frame within which Biafra would be actualised with or without Kanu?

We hope to restore not actualize Biafra in the nearest possible with our able leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu leading us to victory.

There is no timetable because only the Most High Chukwu Okike Abiama can determine when the appointed hour will be, not man.

What we know is that we are doing every-

thing humanly possible to restore Biafra in the shortest possible time.

IPOB has continued to insist that Kanu is in custody of the Nigerian government, an accusation the government has denied; what effort is being made to ensure that Kanu’s whereabouts is known?

We are insisting and will continue to insist until the army comes clean about what they did with him. They can deny all they like but the fact speaks for itself. Nigerian Army, and Buratai in particular, must tell the world who sent them to assassinate our leader and what they were doing in his house. Therein lies the clue to exactly what became of him.

Binta Nyako’s court feigned ignorance of this important question but we don’t think that a jury at the appellate court will so easily exonerate them. Regarding army denial that he is not in their custody, what do you expect them to say? The culture of lying and deception has eaten so deep into the fabric of the society in Nigeria that people are no longer repulsed by it. Lying is a way of life in Nigeria so the army will be expected to try lying themselves out of the mess they are in. The 64 million dollar question remains, what were soldiers doing in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s residence and who sent them? Until the army can answer this question, every idle speculation and denial by them is nothing more than an exercise in futility.

NEWS Extra

Refine products locally – Oil workers Continued on page: 2

prior to the nationalisation policy, originally built the refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri. Since their nationalisation, multinational oil firms that operate upstream joint ventures with NNPC have reclined from downstream investments.

The PENGASSAN communiqué, which sounded like an unsolicited advocacy for NNPC, also called on government to reimburse the corporation subsidy incurred from payment to marketers.

It argued that NNPC has continued to shoulder the responsibility of providing products to close gaps created by the withdrawal of other marketers owing to non-payment of subsidy claims from 2015 to 2017.

The union stated that the extra burden

absorbed by NNPC is depleting the corporation’s finances and consequently hampering effective discharge of its statutory obligations.

It expressed worries over the delayed payment of subsidy and debts owed oil marketers and therefore called on government to come to the table and resolve the differences as this will help in averting loss of jobs in the oil and gas industry.

The union frowned at the anti-union posture by indigenous companies and marginal field operators, and therefore resolved to resist any management that infringes on the workers’ Rights to Freedom of Association and Lawful Assembly.

The PENGASSAN condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies against our armless members during picketing and other legitimate industrial actions, calling

on the Army and the Police to call men and officers to order and refrain from harassing innocent and armless workers, especially PENGASSAN members.

Meanwhile, The Oracle Today survey in filling stations in Lagos revealed that the enforcement of the NNPC order that only four litres of fuel be sold in kegs at filling stations is being enforced apparently only in the South East as consumers still freely bought as many litres as they wanted in kegs in most filling stations visited in Lagos.

Only recently, the NNPC started clamping down on filling stations selling in kegs to consumers in Onitsha and other parts of the South East, ignoring explanations that they were buying the product for their generators and similar machines that must be powered by PMS.

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

POLITICS

Nigeria making great progress under Buhari, says Johnny, APC Chieftain Chief Micheal Johnny is the immediate past Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State. In this interview he speaks to OBI OTESIRI on the challenges in the Niger Delta and other issues of national importance.

Excerpts: How would you describe the state of the Niger Delta at the moment?

The major problem in Niger Delta region has been that of bad leadership and lack of purposeful representation. We have had different persons occupy sensitive positions, but what we saw were people abandoning the development of the region and pursuing their personal wealth and enrichment. Sometime in 2016, I read in the media, a statement credited to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that there was nothing on ground to justify the over $40 billion that has accrued to the Niger Delta region in the past 12 years through various intervention agencies.

According to the minister, the $40 billion came mainly from oil companies, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 13% derivation and other intervention funds.

So, one would be wondering where are these monies or who are those keeping the money.

So, we are beginning to realize that we are responsible for the problems bedeviling our oil rich Niger Delta region. The Federal Government has been releasing the funds but what we have done with the funds is another problem. Our people in positions should have a change of mind toward the region, and whatever funds meant for the development of our communities must be used judiciously.

I was chairman of Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation; we made sure the funds released to us by our partner, Chevron Nigeria limited, were transparently used, before I left office. My administration and financial book was audited and found to be clean.

That is how leadership should be!

Do you think Buhari is committed to Niger Delta development and peace?

Yes, the President is committed to the development of the region. The President’s

• Chief Micheal Johnny role is to ensure that funds entitled to the region are being released, while ours is to ensure that the funds are used for the right purpose and not diverted to private pockets. I also read about the reports from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which revealed that oil producing states in Niger Delta, received N7.006 trillion as payments under the 13 per cent Derivation principle over the last 18 years, from 1999 to 2016.

The oil producing states are Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Edo, Bayelsa, Abia, Ondo, Imo and Anambra. But can anyone pinpoint what the over N7trillion was used for? Certainly nothing on ground to justify it! It was not foreigners that received these funds; they were received by the same indigenes of Niger Delta who claim to love Niger Delta too much. So, the case of the Niger Delta is that of a house divided against itself!

Analysis of the payments showed that from 1999 to 2003, N360.4 billion was paid to oil-producing states; N1.338 trillion was paid to the states between from 2004 and 2007; 2008 to 2011 saw the states receiving N2.36 trillion, while from 2012 to 2016, the states received N2.947 trillion. Ironically, the 2017 budget of all the states, inclusive of Lagos, stood at N3.165 trillion, about half of the amount states received from the Federation Account under the 13 per cent derivation principle.

The huge sum notwithstanding, the Niger

Delta region is still suffering from massive infrastructure decay, widespread poverty and environmental degradation, insecurity among numerous others.

May be it will be better for the Federal Government to be paying the money directly to the oil producing communities, since the law said the money belongs to the host communities.

So far, how do you rate the current NDDC board? Do you see them alleviating the plight of the people of the Niger Delta?

First, the NDDC board works with available funds. Secondly, the Commission was not created to throw money around as most people would believe. The NDDC was established to build infrastructures and the truth is that the present board is executing a number of projects. We shall continue to encourage them to do more and shall also criticize when necessary. But, as for the present board, they are doing their best for the region. However, we must accept the simple fact that the Commission is not a tribal entity.

There has been clamour for restructuring of the Nigerian state as a way out of the problems in the country. Do you concur?

Even if we restructure our institutions and do not restructure our minds or repent from our greed and corrupt acts, believe

The oil producing states are Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Edo, Bayelsa, Abia, Ondo, Imo and Anambra.

But can anyone pinpoint what the over N7trillion was used for? Certainly nothing on ground to justify it! It was not foreigners that received these funds; they were received by the same indigenes of Niger Delta who claim to love Niger Delta too much. So, the case of the Niger Delta is that of a house divided against itself!

me, we are just wasting our time!

Are you really convinced that Nigeria is making progress under Buhari?

Yes, the President has shown to Nigerians that the country was in a wrong direction until he became President in 2015. From all indication, and going by the judgment of international community, it is obvious that Nigeria is making great impacts; it is only that corruption is fighting back seriously from the opposition party.

How do you see to the Federal Government plan to spend $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram insurgency?

No amount of money is worth the soul of any Nigerian. The senseless killings by Boko Haram and criminal elements wasting the souls of innocent Nigerians must be condemned and every right thinking Nigerian must support the Federal Government’s plan to tackle the menace.

Would you say the president is doing enough to bring the country together?

President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently appealed to Nigerians to live together as one family; he is doing his best to keep Nigerians and the country more united and peaceful. But there are opposition agents around his government!

In what ways can we address Nigeria’s security challenges for sustainable peace and development?

We all must come together to ensure peace and security in our only country – Nigeria and separate criminality from gentle agitation and most importantly, we should support the anti-corruption fight of President Buhari, because a country where few persons have stolen and enriched themselves with state funds, leaving majority of the masses – Nigerians to wallow in abject poverty, the results would be insecurity and restivenes

The Oracle Today

16

Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS Extra

Edo LGAs share N2.8bn for January, commit to ending herdsmen/farmers’ clashes

T

HE Edo State Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) has said that N2.8 billion accrued to the 18 local government councils in the state from the Federation Account in January and disbursed in February.

Head, Local Government Administration, Esan South East Local Government, Macaulay Ehonor, disclosed this at the end of JAAC meeting held at Government House, in Benin City and presided over by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

“The total receipt for the month of January disbursed in February is two billion, eight hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and three thousand, nine hundred and fifty-six-naira, forty two kobo (N2,825,303,956.42)”.

He said the total mandatory expenditure, which include teachers’ salaries, pension fund, health special intervention fund, training fund, five per cent for traditional council, stood at 1, 580, 942, 458.06.

He added that the total distributable fund that was shared by the 18 local government councils is 1, 230,234,978.03.

Ehonor also explained that clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state was deliberated at the meeting, noting: “As you will recall, the governor has directed the establishment of special committee in the local government councils to ensure that there is cordial relationship between the farmers and herdsmen to avoid breakdown of law and order in the state”.

He said the committees at the local government areas are chaired by the heads of local government administration.

Other members at that level of the committee include Divisional Police Officer (DPOs) in their respective local government councils; the officer-in- chargeof the state security service (SSS); two traditional rulers, the Seriki of Fulani and Hausa, making it a sevenman committee in each local government council.

Bayelsa Govt. wades into persistent power outages

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

B

AYELSA State government says a high powered delegation of officials of the state government would meet with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to proffer lasting solutions to the power situation in the state, including issues of arbitrary electricity bills.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson who disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after the 90th State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, said the Council deliberated extensively on the problem, noting that, the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), would chair a meeting with the Power Company.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power, Chief Partner Jim-Ogbolo, noted that the Council expressed displeasure over the arbitrary payment of electricity bills and called on the Company to provide meters to its customers towards ensuring that consumers pay bills according to the power consumed.

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, decried the attitude of health workers to work, especially those at primary care level.

According to him, henceforth, such health workers who decide to take laws in their hands concerning the government policies will be summarily dealt with.

Prof. Etebu, therefore, appealed to them to turn a new leaf, particularly as the government embarks on the immunization for measles across the state.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon. Kuroakegha Dorgu, said the Council has resolved to recover all government lands encroached upon by private individuals, as it is poised to embark on a demolition exercise to reclaim them.

He listed such areas to include, the Ox Bow Lake, behind the Law School at Agudama-Epie, close to the National Content Development and Monitoring Board, Niger Delta University, Amassoma among others.

The Commissioner for Education also highlighted efforts by the government to train and certify teachers for both public and private schools towards promoting professionalism and efficiency.

He also noted that, the award by the Silverbird Group conferred on Governor Dickson, as the best Education Governor in the country, was presented to the Governor during the Executive Council meeting.

•(From left to right): (Front row): Anthony O. Kaduna Eboigbodin, Head Uhunmwode LGA; Mrs. Florence Iyoha, Head, Esan North East LGA; Macaulay Ehonor Esq. Head, Esan South East LGA; and Akeens Ade-Akhani Esq. Head, Owan East LGA; with other Heads of Local Government Administrations (HOLGA) in Edo State, after the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JACC) meeting, at the Government House, Benin City.

‘Ayadecare’: C’River woos NGOs, media From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar dents, who buy into it, substantially reduce their medical expenses.

ROSS River State governSpeaking in Calabar during a ment is engaging in a tripar- two-day workshop between the tite working relationship the government, NGOs and the memedia and non-governmental or- dia, the state commissioner for inganisations (NGOs) in the state, formation, Mrs. Rosemary Archias part of its desire to improve bong called on all residents in the the efficiency and affordability of state to embrace the project in health services in the state. view of its enormous potentials.

This working relationship, OraShe disclosed that the workshop cle Today learnt is to ensure that a was necessary in order to hargreater segment of the populace ness inputs and contributions of embrace the state’s health insur- NGO’s and the media whom she ance scheme tagged; “Ayade- described as critical stakeholders care” which was last year inaugu- who are well placed to ensure the rated and signed into law by the success of the project. governor.

Speaking on the concept of The Ayadecare project is a health health insurance in general and insurance scheme which is mod- the concept of Ayadecare in geneled after the Obamacare in the eral, the commissioner said those United States as well as the Na- who key into the project will have tional Health Insurance Scheme unfettered access to health serv(NHIS) in the United Kingdom. It ices in the state. is aimed at ensuring that with a “Once a person keys into the minimum monthly contribution of scheme, such an individual will N1000, a greater segment of the not be too scared of accessing populace particularly the low in- health care facilities on the bacome earners and the vulnerable sis of finances because there is a can access quality and healthcare policy in place to cater for this. The The project which is named af- amount for the policy is just a toter the state Governor, Professor ken of a thousand naira and with Ben Ayade seeks to ensure that in- this, one could walk into a health digenes of the state as well as resi- facility in the state and get quality Medicare”.

According to her, the task of developing the health sector of the state is a collective responsibility Harcourt have no DPR license. Very and advocated for continuous synsoon DPR and security officials will ergy between the government, go embark on a monitoring exer- non-governmental organizations cise and those who are dealing in in the state as well as the media. gas without license will be arrested In a presentation, a representaand prosecuted. tive of USAID in collaboration with “The risks are enormous if you Health Finance and Governance, are not trained to handle gas, you Mr. Somto Mbelu disclosed that may get involved in de-counting.

De-counting means the turning of globally, health finance is the way gas from one cylinder into another to go.

Members of the society of the which is very risky. It can kill both society who buy into it stand to the dealer and the buyer. It can even harm those who are passing benefit because they monthly contribution they make are paid by the roadside.”

C

DPR to clamp down on illegal gas sellers in Rivers From NATH OMAME, P/Harcourt

F

ederal Government would soon commence prosecution of gas sellers along major roads and streets in Rivers State who have yet to obtain the required operational permits authorizing them to carry out such sensitive business.

Head of Gas, Department Petroleum Resources, DPR, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Patrick Emordi, said sellers of gas who are doing so illegally constitute environ-

mental hazard. He warned that those who were not trained by his department to handle such combustible substance may endanger lives and property as the gas cylinders could explode if not properly handled.

“We call those who sell gas by the roadside, resellers. We train and give them a license known as ‘Category D’. We normally train and educate them on what to do: how to handle gas. About 50 per cent of those who sell around Port

into a pool and with this, the state collectively benefits as the money revolves and everyone in the state cannot fall sick at the same time.

“Health insurance is the way to go. Some people hardly go for checkup because of money as well as those who are sick.

Most people on the other hand pay a fortune from their meager resources to access medical services but this is not so with health insurance because it covers both the rich and the poor and the fee needed to access it is just a token.

“Those who key into the scheme will pay much less per annum on medical services because the token they pay is paid into a pool which never dries up”, he said.

Also speaking, the State Programme Coordinator of Health Finance and Governance, Mr. Ibiam Azu Agwu whose organization prepared a working document to the government on effective health insurance said health insurance is a means of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He also said UHC is about population, cost and service coverage and the advantages of UHC is quite enormous stressing that with health insurance everyone benefits because resources are pulled together and overtime, it becomes very robust and can adequately accommodate everyone.

In his presentation on the merits of insurance and government’s preparation for the effectiveness and efficiency of the scheme, the Special Adviser to the governor on Insurance, Godwin Iyala said 196 health centres are being prepared for the scheme and called on the media to help sell the scheme to members of the public so that they can reap the benefits embedded in health insurance.

The Oracle Today

17

Wednesday March 14, 2018

BU$IN£SS

•Energy •Finance

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Revisiting FG’s revenue allocation formula

By VICTOR NZE

T

HE recently released Quarterly Review of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), entitled: ‘Analysis of FAAC Disbursements in 2017 and Projections for 2018,’ indicated that Federal Government disbursed a total sum of N6.418 trillion in 2017, while the figures disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the country recorded 12.2 billion dollars capital inflow in the period under review.

However, economic and financial experts have now raised concerns over the revenue sharing formula deployed by the Federal Government in terms of capital projects allocations and infrastructural development spread across the country.

While the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) uses the NEITI figures released last Tuesday in its sharing formula of federal allocations, the NBS figures are contained in its “Nigeria Capital Importation for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Report,” posted on its website, Monday.

This is even as facts behind the NEITI figures emerged indicating a skewed balance in the sharing formula by the FAAC of generated revenues by states in the country in huge disfavour to oil producing regions, which accounted for the jump in earnings in the first instance.

According to NEITI, the rise in revenue showed an increase of 25.8 per cent and 6.8 per cent when compared to total disbursements of N5.1 trillion and N6.011 trillion in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

The NEITI review attributed the revenue increase in 2017 to rising oil prices, improved oil production, and greater attention towards development of non-oil revenue sectors, while also projecting brighter prospects in 2018 as a result of the current oil price which recently hovered around $70 per barrel, in addition to upsurge in oil production.

However, the situation may have also served to firm calls for a revised sharing formula for revenues generated by states for the Federal Government.

The report released, Tuesday, showed that the South East states received a combined total of

N191.66bn, while the South South states got a total of N539.99bn in the outgone year, totaling N731.65bn and representing less than one-third of all allocations.

While Akwa Ibom N143.61bn got the highest single allocation N143.61bn in 2017 of the South South states, Imo, also an oil producing state in the south east received the sum of N38.12bn in the period under review, a figure representing the lowest.

“When you consider the plethora of abandoned and pipeline projects still hanging in the air, you wonder why the region which produces the most is lacking the most also in federal infrastructure. Imagine the Nigerian Customs also generates the most revenues from the Lagos, Calabar and Warri ports in that order, yet even to complete the RORO port at Onitsha, or the Niger Bridge itself is a problem. So there is need to evolve a new sharing formula for the government revenues,” according to Mr Mike Anuforo, a financial expert with a Lagos-based consulting firm.

According to the NEITI figures, value added tax (VAT) disbursements in 2017 were N967.7 billion and N811 billion in 2016. This represented an increase of 19.3 per cent in 2017 over the figures for 2016. Also, total VAT

CBN EXCHANGE RATES MARCH 6, 2018 Currency Buying(NGN) Central (NGN) Selling(NGN) US DOLLAR 304.85 305.35 305.85 EURO 375.1179 375.7332 376.3484 SWISS FRANC 324.9654 325.4983 326.0313 YEN 2.8855 2.8902 2.8949 CFA 0.5466 0.5566 0.5666 WAUA 439.362 440.0826 440.8032 YUAN/RENMINBI 48.0675 48.1468 48.2261 RIYAL 81.2847 81.418 81.5513 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 25.5109 25.5527 25.5946 DANISH KRONA 50.3576 50.4402 50.5228 SDR 442.0325 442.7575 443.4825 POUNDS STERLING 421.2417 421.9326 422.6235

disbursements in 2015 were N778.7 billion. This represented an increase of N188.9 billion (24.3%) over the 2015 figures” From the review, the 36 states received the highest share of VAT revenues of N464.5 billion in 2017, followed by N325.1 billion shared among the 774 local governments, while the Federal Government received the lowest share from VAT proceeds with N139.3 billion. This is on the account of the fact that states take 50 per cent of VAT, while LGAs and the Federal government take 35 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

“To be frank, the south of the country generates the much revenue, especially the VAT proceeds, but look at that figure from the FAAC, you can see how the proceeds are shared and tell my why we are not getting more than others where you wonder what they are consuming to generate VAT in the first place,” opined Dr Terver Torsho, a Business Administration lecturer at the Benue State University, Makurdi.

Many have also expressed the worry over the number of key projects still to come on-stream in the south south region, with particular mention of already started ones like the East-West Road, a major economic project which lifts the business en-

vironment of the region, as well as the perennial eyesore called the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagba, which has been under remodeling for nearly a decade.

However, for while the figures by the FAAC could be a political ploy to calm frayed nerves who agitate who continually raise alarm over marginalization, the question remains how regions that generate the most returns appear to be same ones suffering dearth of federal infrastructure while government continues to throw up excuses of dwindling revenues.

It would be noted that Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, last week, informed a delegation led by one-time Minister of Finance, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, that in 2017 alone, the sum of N1.2 trillion was released by the ministry for implementation of capital projects.

“How long will it take for the government to fix the Apapa-Oshodi expressway? Do you know how much the Apapa ports alone generate for Nigeria. Are you telling me that some of the so-called road projects in other parts of the country slated for construction are much more viable? That is the politics of federal infrastructure in the country. If the Lagos State is waiting for Federal Government to fix things, nothing will be done, and that’s the truth. And that is aside the fact that we here generate a lot of receipts for the country,” said Mr Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, a top official of the Lagos Finance ministry.

A breakdown of the amount disbursed in 2017 showed that the Federal Government received N2.564 trillion; the 36 States got N1.859 trillion while the 774 local governments shared N1.502 trillion.

The review noted that though FAAC disbursements increased in 2017 over the preceding years, they were still 34.1 per cent and 25.3 per cent lower than total disbursements of N9.742 trillion and N8.595 trillion in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The NBS report, on its part, said that the capital inflow in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 5.32 billion dollars, compared with the 4.14 billion dollars recorded in the third quarter of 2017 and 1.54 billion dollars recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

It stated, however, that the growth in capital inflow in 2017 was mainly driven by an increase in portfolio in-

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Labour dispute threatens Nigerian Content policy P20

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Ndoma-Egba to address NANTA AGM P26

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Lagos settles N841m pensions, N85m as insurance death benefits P28

Stock Market Highlights As At 6th MARCH, 2018

Summary ASI 43,609.77 DEALS 5,078.00 VOLUME 445,501,335.00 VALUE N5,963,563,689.43 EQUITY CAP N15,666,666,893,250.97 S/N

Coy (By Volume) Volume

STERLNBANK FIDELITYBK ZENITHBANK FBNH GUARANTY

101,908,250 49,215,486 37,851,358 34,364,623 30,996,212

5 Top Gainers SEPLAT UNILEVER FLOURMILL DANGSUGAR NASCON

N760 N54.1 N33.05 N21.45 N23.8

Value(N)

Five Tope Losers

N191,587,510.00 N147,659,306.08 N1,182,049,787.35 N393,935,014.20 N1,503,154,463.75

NESTLE TOTAL GUARANTY ACCESS

N785 N59.6 N34.6 N22.5 N24.5

N1400 N1380 N254 N250 N49.35 N48.5 N13.45 N13.15

25 5.5 1.55 1.05 0.7

3.29% 10.17% 4.69% 4.90% 2.94%

-20 -4 -0.85 -0.3

-1.43% -1.57% -1.72% -2.23%

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

BUSINESS

UBA secures $100m loan from Chinese bank to grow SMEs

By VICTOR NZE

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and the China Development Bank (CDB), the world’s largest development finance institution have announced the signing of a letter of intent for $100 million seven-year loan deal to finance the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

The deal was formalized last Tuesday.

The $100 million loan will enhance UBA’s capacity to provide access to finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 19 African countries where UBA currently operates.

“We are excited to partner with China Development Bank (CDB), the Development Financial Institution of the Chinese Government, on this historic transaction, as we strongly believe that the facility will serve as a catalyst to the sustainable development of commerce and industry in Africa through provision of critical financial interventions to SMEs across our presence countries,” said Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka.

Uzoka noted that fund would be timely, as it should complement the recovery of economic activities. It will also further encourage African entrepreneurship particularly as the funds will be applied

to SMEs, which are important for inclusive growth on the continent.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chairmanship of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu said that the fund will boost small and medium scale enterprises across Africa, noting that CDB’s interest in supporting SMEs aligns with UBA’s vision in growing business across Africa.

“In UBA, CDB would have an enduring partner in reaching out to Africans as UBA provides banking services to over 14 million people across 20 African countries, and like CDB, UBA funds critical infrastructural projects on the continent’ Elumelu said. He expressed that he would like to see an even stronger relationship grow with CDB and UBA as well as with China and Nigeria.

Also commenting, the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie, said the loan intent is the beginning of cooperation between UBA and CDB that would translate into an enduring business relationship between China and Africa and Nigeria in particular.

“UBA is a leading and dependable bank not only in Nigeria but Africa, and this partnership will help our Bank to accelerate its business objectives in Africa, more importantly as we deepen our investment in energy, road and rail constructions, infrastructure in Africa,” Zhije said

S/Africa leads in economic crimes – Survey

S

outh African organizations continue to report the highest instances of economic crime in the world with economic crime reaching its highest level over the past decade, according to PwC’s latest biennial Global Economic Crime Survey.

South African organizations that have experienced economic crime are now at a staggering 77 per cent, followed in second place by Kenya (75 per cent), and thirdly France (71 per cent). With half of the top ten countries who reported economic crime coming from Africa, the situation at home is more than dire.

The Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey examines over 7200 respondents from 123 countries, of which 282 were from South Africa.

“Economic crime continues to disrupt business, with this year’s results showing a steep incline in reported instances of economic crime.

“At 77% South Africa’s rate of reported economic crime remains significantly higher than the global average rate of 49 per cent. However, this year saw an unprecedented growth in the global trend, with a 36% period-on-period increase since 2016,” said Trevor White, PwC Partner, Forensic Services and South Africa Survey Leader.

Economic crime in South Africa is now at the highest level over the past decade. It is also alarming to note that 6 per cent of executives in South Africa (Africa 5 per cent and Global 7 per cent) simply did not know whether their respective organizations were being affected by economic crime or not.

While the overall rate of economic crime reported was indeed the highest for South Africa, the period-

on-period rate of increase for South Africa and Africa as a whole was below that of our American, Asian and European counterparts.

From a regional perspective, the biggest increase in experiences of economic crime occurred in Latin America, where there was a 25 per cent increase since 2016 to 53 per cent in respondents who indicated they had experienced economic crime.

•From left: Director General, Global Cooperation Department – Americas and Africa, China Development Bank (CDB), Mr Jin Tao and GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka signing a $100 million loan facility agreement to fund SMEs in Africa. (Background): President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie and Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, at the UBA House in Lagos on Tuesday.

GE Power, Azito Energie to boost Côte D’Ivoire’s electricity

By VICTOR NZE

G

E, the world’s premier Digital Industrial Company has announced that its GE’s Power services business has signed an agreement with Azito Energie S.A. to increase power output by up to 30MW at the Azito Power Plant in the Yopougon district of Côte d’Ivoire.

The agreement involves the upgrading of two gas turbines with GE’s hardware upgrade and Operations Optimisation digital solutions designed to reduce CO2 emissions and save fuel.

This will be GE’s first GT13E2 MXL2

gas turbine upgrade in Sub-Saharan Africa. The upgrade allows for increased efficiency, improved power output and extended service intervals. The upgrades also include the installation of GE’s Predix-based optimisation solution which will allow the Azito Power Plant to operate optimally.

The Predix solution will assist in improving overall plant performance by equipping Azito with deep insights and key performance indicator-based analytics. This means that Azito will be able to evaluate its operational performance against targets and benchmark its results against GE’s global power fleets.

HP unveils new printers for high-volume home users

H

P Inc. has unveiled the new HP DeskJet GT 5820/10 Allin-One series targeted at high-volume home users looking for a wireless ink tank printer that never stops.

“High volume home users are focused on efficiency and are constantly on the look-out for innovation that can reduce cost and minimise disruption to their work,” said Kevin Van Wyk, HPS Category Manager for South Africa, adding: “The new HP DeskJet GT series makes high-quality, reliable printing more affordable and wireless printing and ink refill easy and fussfree.

“The HP DeskJet GT series prints up to 8,000 pages with a set of three HP colour bottles or up to 5,000 pages with a HP black ink bottle out of the box.1 Original HP inks are specially formulated to deliver sharp text, vibrant graphics and photos that resist water and fading 4 and professional quality, borderless printing.

“Replenishing ink is also clean and easy with HP’s innovative spillfree refill system5. The bottles can simply be plugged into the tank

without any squeezing required. Users can also easily monitor ink levels with the transparent ink tanks.

“The working environment today needs to be connected and wireless. The new HP DeskJet GT 5820 All-in-One printer makes it easy for users working remotely to connect via smartphones and tablets. The printer can be set up out of the box

using just a mobile device. Even without a wireless network, Wi-Fi direct enables users to directly connect their printer to the mobile device at home.”

The new HP DeskJet GT 5810 Allin-One presents the same functionalities as the HP Deskejet GT 5820 All-in-One but without Wireless capabilities.

By SAMSON AKINTARO

ment, attendees at the event leveraged MainOne’s unlimited access to the Internet during the event and took advantage of the opportunity to freely browse the Internet and engage on social media platforms.

The organizers of the event also used the unlimited capacity to provide live streaming to thousands of participants not physically present at the event.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Head of Marketing at MainOne, Tayo Ashiru described the event as an industry platform to help people and businesses connect and share trends, ideas and inspiration focused on improving better efficiency in a hyper-connected world.

MainOne powers SMW with free Wifi

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or the third consecutive year, West Africa’s leading connectivity and data center Solutions Company, MainOne has provided internet connectivity to participants at Social Media Week (SMW) Lagos as the exclusive technology partner.

In a partnership targeted at delivering true value to the organizers and event guests MainOne designed and installed an advanced managed Wi-Fi solution at the event venue, providing up to 1Gbps data capacity unhindered and free to users throughout the facility and for dedicated livestreaming of the event.

According to MainOne in a state-

“With the Azito Power Plant producing more than a third of the electricity in Côte d’Ivoire, these improvements will have a widereaching impact on the country’s energy landscape. Until two decades ago, the country was heavily reliant on hydroelectric power and fell into an energy crisis when the electricity output from its dams was drastically reduced due to droughts.

With this project, we look forward to supporting Azito in its efforts to help Côte d’Ivoire achieve its strategic energy objectives to increase existing plants’ efficiency and double the installed capacity by 2020,” said Elisee Sezan, General Manager of GE’s Power Services business for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Azito, which is based in Abidjan, was founded in 1997 in an effort to meet the growing demand for electricity in the country and to utilise domestic natural gas resources.

The Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme reports that the growing economy of Côte d’Ivoire is putting the current power supply under pressure. The government therefore set goals to increase its power production capacity to about 4,000 MW by 2020 and 6,000 MW by 2030 to meet the rising demand. In addition, the country aims to play a central role as a net exporter in the West African power pool.

“As the electricity sector has undergone significant reform in Côte d’Ivoire, new regulations have helped foster a more welcoming environment to help Ivorians gain access to electricity,” said Luc Aye, Managing Director of Azito Energie, adding: “At the centre of this agreement with GE is our commitment to provide the people of Côte d’Ivoire with access to more reliable electricity. With GE’s upgrade package and digital solutions, we will produce more power, improve the efficiency of the plant and reduce our carbon footprint.”

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

BUSINESS

NSE, U.N to promote gender equality with ‘Press for Progress’

By SAMSON AKINTARO

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will join other global exchanges on March 8, 2018, to ring the bell for gender equality in celebration of the 110th International Women’s Day (IWD), at the Stock Exchange House, Marina, Lagos.

Themed; “Press for Progress”, this edition of the celebration is aimed at motivating and uniting everyone to think, act and be gender inclusive.

As part of the activities lined up for the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration, the NSE said it would organise a half-day symposium which would be headlined by the Deputy British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils and Dame Abimbola Fashola, former First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman, Learn NGO/ Ella Care. “This free to attend symposium will also feature panel discussions by an array of thought leaders that include Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, Regulation, NSE; Patience Kunene, Executive Director, World Bank; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, CEO, NSE; Ali Baba, Nigeria’s foremost Standup Comedian and Actor; and Dan Agbor, Partner, Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie amongst others”, the Exchange said.

The symposium is being organised in partnership with Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, United Nations Women, United Nations Global Compact, International Finance Corporation, the World Federation of Exchanges, Women in ETFs, and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ). It will attract about 200 female participants from the corporate, education, government and non-governmental sectors,

who will stand a chance to win great prizes during the raffle draw.

Commenting on the planned celebration, Olumide Orojimi, Head, Corporate Communications stated: “As a sustainable stock exchange, we are pleased to offer our platform to putting the required spotlight on the call for recognition of the achievements of women, and supporting the call for equality and justice. This initiative reaffirms our pledge for parity at the NSE and serves as a stimulant for our ecosystem to do same. We look forward to great insights that will accelerate the bridging of the gender gap, as we think 217 years, as contained in the World Economic

Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2017, is a long time to wait to achieve gender parity”.

“Currently at The Exchange, we promote a working environment that is inclusive for all as we believe that achieving gender equality is paramount to developing the society. We have a female to male employees’ ratio of 1:2 and we are making sure footed steps to increase the number of women in our employment and especially those in leadership positions. The Exchange, in 2017, took steps to address the lack of female representation on its National Council by electing three (3) female members at the last 2017 Annual Gen-

•(From left to right): Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart, Abukakar Atiku Bagudu, when the VP declared open the Lagos-Kano Joint Economic and Investment Summit in Epe, Lagos, Wednesday.

agos State has commenced the distribution of the 2018 Land Use Charge demand notices for properties across the state.

This is also as the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), is set to hold a dialogue session

that will renegotiate grey areas in the new Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State following debates over the new law.

The implementation which commenced last week ought to have been carried out much earlier in the year, but was delayed by a review of the Land Use Charge Act by the State House of Assembly.

government is seriously concerned with the engagement and employment of youths because it will help them to get something doing so that they will not be a distraction and create problems in the state”.

He commended the NBTI for grouping the trainees into co-operatives stressing that this is very necessary as government has a number of programmes and incentives which they can key into through the cooperatives.

In his remarks, the Director General of the NBTI Engr. Mohammed Jibrin who was represented by the Zonal director South South, Mr. Kennedy Eze said the programme is a national exercise which is going on simultaneously in about six other locations in the country including Lagos, Kaduna

and Nnewi.

Also speaking, the Centre Manager of the NBTI, Calabar Mr. Emmanuel Asuquo disclosed that the training is quarterly and the trainees are the first set of trainees who have graduated for the first quarter.

The training he said is being organized by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in conjunction with Technology Incubation Centre, Calabar. He also said the youths were trained in various kinds of fabrication of agricultural machines, production of battery chargers and preservation of perishable goods.

Some of the youths who spoke with Oracle Today commended the government for the training and called for seed funds from the government.

L

C/ River Govt, NBTI partner on business incubation, skills acquisition

C

ross River State Government has announced that it will broaden its partnership with the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) to ensure that more youths are trained on business incubation as well as skills acquisition.

This was disclosed by Chief Offu Ebirigor Aya, the Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Communication Technology during the graduation of over 50 youths who were trained in various skills by the NBTI. According to him, “the governor is excited about the training and wants the youths to be independent rather than job seekers which is the direction the society should go. The State

By VICTOR NZE

M

inister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelameh has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), alongside other agencies and parastatals under his ministry.

Prince Dapo Abiodun is the new Chairman of the CAC. Other Governing Boards inaugurated alongside the CAC include; Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), National Automotive Design and Development Centre (NADDC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Also, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, SMEDAN, Nigeria Commodity Exchange, NEPZA, Lagos Trade Fair Management; and Tafawa Belewa Square Boards were inaugurated.

In his Inaugural Speech, the Minister congratulated the Board Chairmen and members for their well-deserved appointment stressing that he recognized the important role of the Board in the management and oversight of Agencies.

He commended President Mohammadu Buhari for the calibre of men and women appointed into the Governing Boards, adding that the Federal Government was committed to the Change Agenda of tackling security issues, corruption and revitalizing the national economy.

The minister recalled that Economic Recovery Growth Plan 2017 – 2020 was articulated in February, 2017 as a Comprehensive Medium-Term Plan to revitalize the economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.

LCCI dialogues as Lagos Govt implements reviewed land use charge

By VICTOR NZE

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

eral Meeting. Today, NSE has 23% female representation on the National Council as opposed to the zero representation in 2016”, Orojimi added.

The NSE International Women’s Day Symposium provides an opportunity for participants and women in particular, to partake in the exchange of stimulating stories of women’s achievements as well as celebrate what women have done and what women can do. It is also an avenue to showcase the NSE and its partners’ commitment to supporting the aspirations of women and girls as essential ingredients for building a more sustainable world.

FG inaugurates Boards of CAC, SMEDAN, SON, NEPZA, others

The review process entailed a repeal of the old law, public hearings and enactment of a replacement by the House of Assembly on January 28, before it was signed into law on February 8.

According to the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, the State House of Assembly decided to review the law in the light of some of the inefficiencies that had become associated with the old Land Use Charge act. “ The new Land Use Charge regime, said Ashade, sets out to correct the shortcomings in the previous regime. For instance, the new regime allows for property owners to calculate by themselves the rates payable by them, once they have determined the market value of their properties.

“This way, rates payable are transparent and standardized such that property owners are charged identical rates for properties of identical dimensions being used for identical purposes in the same locality.”

Ashade added that the State Government is very mindful of the impact of the current economic situation in the country on resi-

dents of the State, pointing out that the new Land Use Charge regime has several inbuilt reliefs for Lagosians.

Meanwhile, the (LCCI in a statement signed by Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI, Friday, in Lagos, said that the planned session, scheduled for March 9, would examine the provisions of the recently-passed law viz-a-viz its implications for residents and businesses operating in Lagos State and its environs.

“In continuance of its Public Policy Advocacy Initiative, it behoves the LCCI to provide a platform, such as this, to aggregate the views of stakeholders (both public and private) on the new Land Use Charge Law in Lagos, which has generated heated debates in the public space.

“This platform will enable stakeholders in Real Estate, Construction and other related sectors to engage the Lagos State Government on the recently-passed Law and re-negotiate its grey areas,” he said.

Yusuf added that seasoned Professionals, Leaders of Businesses in the Private Sector and top Public Sector Officials would be available to dialogue with participants at the event.

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

ENERGY Labour dispute threatens Nigerian Content policy

.Over 1000 workers laid off as PENGASSAN battles indigenous firms

•Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

B

ILLIONS of dollars staked by government and investors in growing local capacity for incountry delivery of oil industry jobs are at risk following prevailing war by labour leaders against fledgling indigenous service companies that form the engines of the policy drive.

It was gathered that labour crisis in the service segment of the petroleum industry arose from futile struggle by indigenous companies to retain indigenous workers they groomed under various capacity building programmes that took substantial investments.

The raging dispute has led to sack of nearly 1000 field operations staff as the service companies shrink down to avert further exposure to labour union liabilities.

The workers’ unions protest write down in financial entitlements while the oil service companies point at low oil price cycles, dearth and outright cancellation of contracts by operators whose projects have dropped from investment tables, as well as elongated downtime due to call-off contracts.

President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade F.O. Johnson declined call put to his cell phone on the matter but other members of the group confirmed that the

oil workers’ union is driving a movement against nearly 20 companies that fail to meet their demands for internal unionism, reinstatement of sacked workers and payment of fat exit packages to disengaged staff.

It was gathered that some of the workers demanding severance packages are leaving for foreign multinational oil service firms after they have been employed as pupil staff and trained by the indigenous firms to meet industry skills standards.

Foremost indigenous well intervention and wellsite health, safety and environment (HSE) contractor, Weafri Well Services, though not involved in the current crisis, had unsuccessfully driven a campaign against poaching of groomed employees by foreign companies. The company had decried the glee with which workers it spent fortunes to train walked over to foreign competitors on the promise to work abroad.

Managing Director, Mr. Chris Onyekwere, whose company had vehemently fought against massive poaching from Halliburton, had argued that regulators should insist that poaching must carry a condition that the foreign employers must first offset the training cost of the employees they seek to pull out from indigenous companies.

The workers who regularly succumb to the allure of working aboard for foreign service companies also seek full exit entitlements from wound-licking indig-

•Comrade F.O. Johnson, President Pengassan.

enous firms, thus triggering a war cycle that draws in mother Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and sister blue jacket National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Attacks launched by both unions against mainly indigenous oil service firms, it was gathered, led to downsizing and outright shut down that resulted in massive lay off in the past six months. And demand for exit entitlements has also become cyclical as more demands from sacked workers pour in against weakened capacity of the companies to write cheques.

Currently, over 17 indigenous service companies based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are battling to save their businesses from impact of attacks from NUPENG and PENGASSAN over unresolved entitlement issues.

Other five companies have received demand notices from the workers’ groups.

One of them, Ciscon Nigeria Limited, has been forced to declare insolvency as hostility from labour unions and sacked employees take threatening dimension. The situation has led to massive staff load off after resolution agreement failed.

The company pointed at low business cycle in the industry as the reasons for delays in payment of entitlements.

Chairman and Chief Executive of Ciscon, Mr. Shawley Coker, explained that the company had to downsize in response to activity downturn in upstream

operations after weak oil prices and low oil income forced operators to call off projects and cancel contracts at a time government offered no buffer for companies that staked funds on equipment and facility acquisition.

He lashed at the leadership of PENGASSAN for being too parochial in their appraisal of prevailing situation in the industry and advised them to get clear understanding of their roles as partners in building the nation’s economy and not to align with agents that demolish business structures that create jobs.

He reminded the labour leaders that PENGASSAN was formed to protect the local economy from the activities of the foreign multinational oil firms that were exploiting national resources at the expense of the Nigerian people.

He lamented that the current labour leaders were trying to outsmart the system by projecting personal interests ahead of national interests.

He also blamed government for folding its arms and allowing few interests in the industry to inflict the economic losses associated with prevailing investment flight on the country. He said that most of the companies under attack have started relocating from the country and shedding local staff.

With the massive downsizing going on in the oil services segment of the petroleum industry, he said, the country has recorded active job losses, shed substantial industry capacity to create

employment for fresh graduates, and lost deep pocket investments in local job delivery capacity.

Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Bank-Antony Okoroafor, said the group was working with all parties in the disputes to address the worrisome development.

He said a meeting has been scheduled this Wednesday to look into series of complaints by workers and employers involved in the disputes. He clarified that over 15 other companies outside PETAN are also affected by the labour dispute.

He admitted that low activity cycle affected the financial capacity of most service companies in the country, adding that labour leaders should situate the prevailing crisis in the industry in the context of the current economic condition of the country and close ranks with investors to move the sector up from the doldrums.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who deplored the labour crisis in the service sector, said government is working to attract the right level of investment capital to keep the Nigerian Content scope of the industry vibrant in the short to medium term. He however stated that it would require over $100 billion worth of investments to recalibrate activity the industry.

He acknowledged existence of the conflict and pledged to wield into the crisis with a view of finding a middle point between the employers and labour leaders.

He admitted that the problem deserves greater attention that it currently receives from government and explained that Ministry of Labour should lead intervention while Ministry of Petroleum Resources assists with details.

“I have appealed to the unions to bring labour issues in the industry to me for initial dialogues before they become labour issue.

My advice is that ultimatums and work stoppage are something that must be used very sparingly.

In a typical year, we lose a lot of time because we are back to back with strike.

“It is almost like that the organized labour in the industry believes that the only way to get attention from us is to go on strike.

But it shouldn’t be. When we are not doing things right we need to correct ourselves.

“I will pay attention to this more that we have already done because I must confess to you that we have not given enough attention to some of the developing labour issues in the industry,” the minister promised.

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

ENERGY

FG considers PSC, two consortia C for refinery rehab

GE, Noble pioneer offshore digital drilling

Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

F

EDERAL government is working to engage a new set of contractors for rehabilitation of the nation’s moribund refineries after industry stakeholders deplored continued neglect of the midstream segment of the petroleum industry.

Secondary sources have it that original refinery builders and their representatives in Africa are not part of the deal, inferring that earlier arrangements for third party contractors to use parts from original equipment manufacturers for simultaneous rehabilitation and upgrade might have been dropped.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which owns the three refining companies located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna is said it working on arrangements with a number of companies that would merge forces to deliver on the order.

However, the emerging consor-

tia involving traders, integrated energy companies and technology firms are raising industry concerns over their pedigree in managing complex refining facilities as well as maintaining and upgrading plants built by unconnected party.

It was gathered the first is a five firm consortium that comprises indigenous Sahara Group and MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in partnership with multinational Vitol, Saipem, GE. The partners are being considered for double package that involve revamping the 125, 000 barrels per day (135 kbd) Warri Refinery and the 110 kbd Kaduna Refinery.

The second consortium hosts indigenous energy group, Oando along with its foreign partners including Italian ENI, Spanish Cepsa and Trafigura.

The Oando consortium is being considered for the second job package that involves rehabilitation of twin plant 210 kbd Port Harcourt Refinery.

Under the contracts modelled

after upstream Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), the contractors would deploy funds and services in reviving the plants and recoup their investments as cost fuel from the output of the plants.

less than 35 million litres per day to more than 60 milion litres per day.

The rise in demand, Dr. Baru said, is in sharp contrast with established national consumption pattern. “’NNPC is concerned that continued cross-border smuggling of petrol will deny Nigerians the benefit of the Federal Government’s benevolence of keeping a fix retail price of N145 per litre despite the increase in PMS open market price above N171 per litre,’’ he said.

He noted that based on the heightened petrol consumption rate of 50 million litre per day, the corporation was incurring an under-recovery of N774 million every day.

OLLABORATION between GE Oil and Noble Energy have seen introduction of world’s first digital drilling vessel that would cut cost by 20 percent and enhance offshore drilling efficiency.

The vessel is targeted to to unlock the immense potential of digital solutions for offshore drilling operations where operators have long relied on individuals, leading to significant performance inconsistencies and variance.

The downturn of the industry has challenged drillers to look for innovative ways to achieve operational excellence. Senior Vice President in charge of Operations at Noble Corporation, Bernie Wolford, said: “We are very excited to showcase the launch of the Digital Rig solution and the world’s first digital drilling vessel as we continue to expand data-driven operations support while gaining significant efficiencies in drilling operations. The potential of digitalization will go beyond a single vessel, opening the door to transforming our entire fleet. The data backbone paves the way towards autonomous drilling, and digital technology is facilitating a new era of drilling and asset performance improvements that are unprecedented.”

Also, General Manager at GE’s Marine Solutions, Andy McKeran, said: “Partnering with Noble, we are in a unique position to unlock synergies together—from drilling operations to equipment expertise and software analytics skills—to drive holistic transformation of the offshore industry. We are excited to be able to move an important step closer to achieving our vision of a more autonomous future for marine operations.”

“Noble Drilling has been a vanguard of industry digitalization, and today’s milestone is testament to how industry leaders can collaboratively transform the industry,” he added. The Digital Rig solution, powered by GE’s Predix platform, deployed on the Noble Globetrotter I drilling vessel has been successfully connected to all targeted control systems, including the drilling control network, the power management system and the dynamic positioning system.

to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Suffyan Koroma commended the federal government initiative saying the approach will support the efforts to rebuild livelihoods in the region, paving way for intervention strategies to cascade from humanitarian to development nexus, as the insurgency ebbs out.

He said, “the Northeast is not strange to FAO, our interventions in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the three states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, has helped Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in camps and those returning to liberated communities, including host communities, to return to their farms and pick up the bits and pieces of their lives again”.

Alberto Piatti, Eni’s Executive Vice President for Responsible and Sustainable Enterprise, said: “Public-Private Partnerships allow institutions to leverage on the skills of the private sector, and help companies to respond to development needs identified by institutions. They are an opportunity to enhance the role companies can play in sustainable development”.

The Access to Water project is the first initiative promoted in the FAO – Eni collaboration. Within this project, FAO will provide support in identifying the areas of intervention for the wells as well as technical expertise and

know-how in the targeted areas, whereas Eni will drill the boreholes and provide them with photovoltaic power systems, including training for their use and maintenance for long term sustainability.

This Collaboration Agreement is an example of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to be implemented at local level. PPP are an essential tool in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015 – the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although this initiative supports all the 17 SDGs, it is more specifically focused on the following: Goal 1, which seek to end poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 2, ensuring zero hunger; Goal 6, ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; Goal 13, calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; and Goal 17, which places emphasis on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development. This collaboration responds to this call, in particular with regards to establishing multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to support the overall achievement of the SDGs.

The deals also imply that the companies would form the initial fuel offtakers from the refineries when they rebound, and would recoup fu investments under the agreement before NNPC regains full control of products from the plants.

•Maikanti Baru, NNPC GMD.

Smuggling: Nigeria loses 34 m litres of petrol per day W

HOPPING 34 million litres out of national daily supply of over 60 million litres of the premium motor spirit remains unaccounted for in the domestic market just as scarcity of the product appears to have become a permanent feature in the nation’s commercial centres.

The supply deficits translate to huge daily commercial and sundry economic losses to the country where petroleum products from government sponsored imports pushed into the market under the partial deregulation mechanism.

The Oracle Today reports that Nigeria’s total daily peak demand for petrol is officially estimated at 32 million litres while NNPC claims that it supplies over 50 million litres per day from its storage facilities across the country.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is currently bears sole responsibility for government sponsored fuel imports states that it records daily loss of N774 million in meeting estimated national average peak demand of 50 million litres of petrol per day.

Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the double misfortune of mysterious fuel shortages and related associated huge commercial losses on large scale importation is traceable to strong suspicion of massive smuggling of cheap imported petrol from the domestic market to regional markets.

He pointed at proliferation of fuel stations in communities with international land and coastal borders across the country, insisting that the fuel stations are facilities for cross border smuggling of subsidized fuel from Nigerian to neighbouring countries.

He said that the cross border leakages have made it difficult to sanitize the fuel distribution system in the country.

Dr. Baru who spoke at the office of Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed

Ali (Rtd), is enlisting the cooperation of the Nigerian Customs Service in checking cross border fuel smuggling.

Dr. Baru pointed at clusters of marketers’ retail stations at the country’s border communities as strong indications of cross border fuel smuggling, arguing that there was no way scarcity would linger so long in the domestic market that receives over 50 million litres daily.

According to him, marketers in the country have a total of 5003 filling stations with combined storage capacity for 362.94 million litres of petrol clustered in border communities alone. This, he said, suggests that almost half of the subsidized petroleum products supplied to the local market leaks across the borders for higher margins.

He stated that 16 states with 61 Local Government Areas with border communities, account for 2,201 registered fuel stations with combined capacity of 145 million litres of petrol.

Another eight states with coastal border communities in 24 council areas account for 866 registered fuel outlets with combined petrol tank capacity of 73.5 million litres.

A further breakdown of the finding shows that among the states with land border, three council areas in Ogun State account for 633 fuel stations with combined petrol tankage of 40.5 million litres while nine LGA’s in Borno State have 337 fuel outlets with combined petrol storage capacity of 21.15 million litres.

One LG as border community in Lagos State has 235 registered fuel stations with total petrol storage facility of 19.9 million litres.

On the coastal front, Lagos with six LGA’s leads with 487 registered fuel stations with combined in-built storage capacity of 50.24 million litres; Akwa Ibom with five coastal LGA’s has 134 registered retail outlets with capacity to store 8.3 million litres; while Ondo State with two coastal LGA’s has 110 fuel stations with capacity to store 3.9 million litres.

Dr. Baru explained that because

of the obvious differential in petrol price between Nigeria and other neighbouring countries, it had become lucrative for the smugglers to use the frontier stations as a veritable conduit for the smuggling of products across the border.

The situation, he said, has resulted in a thriving market for Nigerian petrol in all the neighbouring countries of Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Chad and Togo and even Ghana which has no direct borders with Nigeria.

He said that the activities of the smugglers have led to recent observed abnormal surge in demand at the corporation’s fuel depots from

ENI, FAO sign pact for clean water in Nigeria

I

TALIAN oil supermajor, Eni, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have signed yesterday a Collaboration Agreement to foster access to safe and clean water in Nigeria by drilling boreholes powered with photovoltaic systems, both for domestic use and irrigation purposes.

The project aims to contribute to the humanitarian interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities, suffering from the North East – Lake Chad crisis, which have led to unprecedented levels of population displacements and prolonged disruption of agricultural, livestock and fishing activities.

The collaboration addresses Nigeria’s Federal Government request to Oil and Gas Companies to provide support in alleviating the sufferings of the victims of insurgency in the North East region, by launching sustainable intervention programmes that will have a positive impact on the lives of affected communities. In this framework the project is aligned to the “The Buhari Plan-Rebuilding the North East” for comprehensive humanitarian relief and socio-economic stabilization of the North-East region.

The FAO Country Representative

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 14 , 2018

e-Platform

Broadband: NCC rallies stakeholders for 60GHz spectrum Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

T

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is ramping up its efforts to push Nigeria to the 30 percent broadband penetration threshold this year. To that end, the Commission is seeking the release of additional spectrum in the 60 gigahertz (GHz) by the National Frequency Management Commission (NFMC), for operators to use in deploying broadband services.

With a 30 percent broadband penetration target, Nigeria currently has achieved close to 22 percent and now has less than ten months to hit the mark. But the NCC believes that if the 60GHz spectrum is released, the country would be able to move faster and achieve the target by the end of this year.

Speaking at a consultative forum on the process leading the release of the spectrum, which also had in attendance representatives of NFMC and telecom operators, the Director, Spectrum Administration, Mr. Austine Nwaulune, said though the licence is not yet being utilised in Nigeria, as it is the case in United Kingdom, Canada, United States, among others, the Commission is pushing for the release of the

spectrum to enhance broadband delivery and ease the pressure on currently utilised spectrum resources.

According to him, “when the spectrum is eventually released, companies interested in using it doesn’t need to pay for its usage, they are not going to apply for its use; they only come into the spectrum, use it and then notify us. We have already made a request for the spectrum. It is not restricted as it can be used for anything that technologies allow a company to use.”

Nwaulune said while the spectrum does not require licensing, it is, however, regulated by the Commission, stressing that some form of control is still needed to ensure standards and guidelines are complied with. Speaking on the benefits, Nwaulune said the 60GHz spectrum comes with socio-economic benefits through the enhancement of broadband service delivery, such as ease the pressure on currently utilised public spectrum bands used for WiFi, Utilisation of Green Field Spectrum band, its utilisation would bring moderate revenue for the government through equipment type approval.

Earlier at the forum, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Dambatta, said the radio frequen-

cy spectrum is the fundamental resource for the provision of wireless communication services and has increasingly become scarce due to the emergence of new technologies and the growing demand for wireless services. Explain- NCC broadband ing reasons for the forum, Danbatta, who was represented the Director, Research and Development at the Commission, Abigail Solanke, it was organised in line with the NCC’s eight-point agenda and its traditionally-institutionalised policy of ensuring participatory regulation by conducting industry-wide consultation with all relevant industry stakeholders. Danbatta added that, as worldclass communications regulatory organisation, the Commission believes that its actions must be guided by decisions that take into considerations he inputs from all stakeholders.

According to him, the Commission decided yet again to provide an avenue for stakeholders and users of telecoms resources to converge and make inputs to be con-

sidered in the opening up of the 60Ghz spectrum band and the draft regulatory framework for amateur radio. At present, Danbatta said radio spectrum in the 60Ghz band is yet to be opened for deployment of service in Nigeria, noting that the Commission recognises that to boost the eminent advantages that are coming with the 5G and to also support indoor short range machine-to-machine communications, there are advantages in the opening of the band for unlicensed applications. He said the goal of unlicensed band exists on 57-64 Ghz, a wide spectrum of up to seven Ghz just as it is largely uncongested compared to the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz public bands currently used for wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi). The chief telecoms regulator said the band

has both short range and wide area application characteristics. He said the initiative will complement he spectrum in the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz unlicensed bands currently being utilised in the country.

This will allow operators and enterprise sectors of the telecoms industry to effectively meet their broadband needs. Danbatta explained that, over the years, the growth in broadband traffic as well as the scarcity of available spectrum to meet the need is eventually leading to a congestion of wireless delivery medium. This, he said, could degenerate to a point where it will become highly challenging to entertain new requests for such resources. “A proactive approach is, therefore, apt at his time” he said.

Organisations rely on Automation, AI against cyber threats – Cisco C

ISCO, the worldwide technology leader, has released its 2018 Annual Cyber-security Report which revealed security leaders rely on and invest in automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence to defend against threats.

Findings from the report show 39 percent of organizations are reliant on automation, 34 percent are reliant on machine learning, and 32 percent are highly reliant on AI. Malware sophistication is increasing as adversaries begin to weaponize cloud services and evade detection through encryption, used as a tool to conceal command-and-control activity.

To reduce adversaries’ time to operate, security professionals said they will increasingly leverage and spend more on tools that use AI and machine learning,

reported in the 11th Cisco Annual Cyber-security Report (ACR).

“While encryption is meant to enhance security, the expanded volume of encrypted web traffic, both legitimate and malicious, has created more challenges for defenders trying to identify and monitor potential threats. Cisco threat researchers observed more than a threefold increase in encrypted network communication used by inspected malware samples over a 12-month period.

John N. Stewart, Senior Vice President and Chief Security and Trust Officer, Cisco states “Last year’s evolution of malware demonstrates that our adversaries continue to learn, so we have to raise the bar now, there is too much risk, and it is up to us to reduce it.’’

Some additional highlights from Cisco 2018 Annual Cyber-security

Report include: The financial cost of attacks is no longer a hypothetical number; Supply chain attacks are increasing in velocity and complexity; although security is extremely vital, it’s getting more complex and the scope of breaches is expanding. Also, from the report, it was revealed that security professionals see value in behavioral analytics tools in locating malicious actors in networks; Use of cloud is growing; attackers taking advantage of the lack of advanced security; Trends in malware volume have an impact on defenders’ time to detection (TTD), etc.

The report had in it some recommendations for defenders, which include; to confirm that they adhere to corporate policies and practices for application, system, and appliance patching; access timely, accurate threat

intelligence data and processes that allow for that data to be incorporated into security monitoring; to back up data often and test restoration procedures,

processes that are critical in a world of fast-moving, networkbased ransom ware worms and destructive cyber weapons.

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

e-Platform

New Android malware records your calls, experts warn Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

S

ECURITY researchers have discovered a new Android malware designed to steal mobile users’ data and record their calls for the purpose of blackmail. The malware known as RedDrop is said to be nastier than all existing malware, hence, mobile users have been warned against downloading applications from untrusted sources.

The researchers at U.K.-based Wandera said that RedDrop targets sensitive data like mobile contacts and photos. It also gathers information about people’s phones; from the apps they have installed to the WiFi networks they are near. “The most frightening thing about RedDrop, however, is that it can hijack your phone’s microphone. That allows it to eavesdrop on conversations you or anyone else might be having near the infected device. A lot of that audio won’t be of any value, but something sensitive is bound to come up eventually.

Confirmation codes for banking or transaction details, for example.”

“Even if that never happens, RedDrop has a backup plan for making money off its victims. It racks up charges by stealthily communicating with a premium-

rate SMS system. Messages are erased from the infected phone as soon as they’re sent, making the malicious activity that much harder to track” the researchers said.

They add: “RedDrop wants your files, but not the way that most of today’s malware does.

It’s not out to encrypt your files and force you to fork over a payment in order to unlock them. Instead, RedDrop wants to steal all the information it can from your phone, just in case, there’s something juicy in there that its creators can use against you.

The researchers at Wandera said they have already discovered more than 50 Android apps infected with the Trojan. Fortunately, they’re all being served from third-party app stores based in China. Worryingly, Wandera said that “RedDrop is one of the most sophisticated pieces of Android malware that we have seen in broad distribution.”

Experts however note that mobile users that are installing apps from Google Play may not need to worry about the malware as it usually creeps in through other untrusted app stores, but warn users to always be at alert as the malware authors are making efforts to breach the Google app security on daily basis.

• Android malware

Mastercard unveils digital payment solution for SMEs Mastercard, the payment solution company, has announced plans to use Facebook Messenger to provide technology to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa and Asia. This, the company said, is aimed at driving affordable acceptance of electronic and mobile payments, adding that access to digital payments will help these businesses expand to new markets, and unlock financial services and products that enables them to grow their livelihoods.

According to Mastercard, the Messenger experience will launch in Nigeria, where it will pilot a new Masterpass QR bot to help business owners’ move beyond cash transactions to accepting QR payments.

“The pilot in Nigeria is the beginning of a larger plan by our bank partners, Ecobank and Zenith Bank, to include more businesses into the digital economy” the company said According to research done by The Fletcher School and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, of the $301 billion of funds flow from consumers to businesses in Nigeria, 98 percent is still based on cash. “Every business owner is looking for ways to increase sales and draw new customers into their stores. By offering QR-based digital payments, smaller retailers can achieve these goals and create greater customer stickiness with little to no investment beyond the phone they already have,” said Jorn Lambert, Executive Vice President, Digital Channels and Regions, Mastercard. “Masterpass QR opens up new commerce channels

for these merchants and enables them to create auditable transaction records. These advances open doors to other financial tools and products such as loans to drive added business growth.”

“Brands and developers around the world are turning to messaging to connect with the 1.3 billion people who use Messenger each month,” said Kahina Van Dyke, Director of Payments and Financial Services Partnerships at Facebook. “We are pleased that Mastercard is developing a service on the Messenger Platform to help small merchants use messaging

to manage their business and connect with their customers.”

Speaking on the solution, Patrick Akinwuntan, Group Executive, Consumer Bank, Ecobank Group said: “In line with our goal to serve 100 million Africans by the end of 2020, Ecobank is delighted to collaborate with Facebook and Mastercard to enable underserved and unbanked micromerchants with the opportunity to open an Ecobank account almost immediately and begin to receive instant payments using Ecobank Masterpass QR on the Facebook Messenger platform. Micro merchants in Nigeria are already benefiting from

Masterpass QR and will soon be in 32 markets across Africa, enabling them to move away from cash. That is true economic empowerment.”

Also speaking, the MD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc. Mr. Peter Amangbo said: “Our Bank is partnering with Facebook and Mastercard to introduce Masterpass QR as a means of driving financial inclusion and creating a new payment ecosystem for MSMEs and consumers. He said the initiative would help the bank encourage financial inclusion within the country in line with the strategic thrust of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Google enhances search to help job seekers

S

EARCH engine giant, Google, has unveiled a new job search experience designed to help job seekers find employment opportunities. Unveiling the feature in Lagos, Google’s Country Director, Ms Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said the new job search would help millions of Nigerians in searching for new opportunities.

“We believe that the web allows anyone, anywhere, of any age, to grow their business, learn the skills they need to get a job, to grow in their career, become an entrepreneur or developer. “This new jobs search tool will be a key driver for connecting job seekers to open opportunities, helping more people to Grow with Google “For the first time, when someone uses their phone or computer

to search on Google for a job; they will see a streamlined experience letting them explore, research and find relevant local job postings. “This launch builds on Google’s existing commitment in Sub Saharan Africa to improve economic opportunities for job seekers and employers, demonstrated through its Grow with Google initiatives.

“The Digital Skills for Africa programme, Google’s commitment to train one million African youth between April 2016 and March 2017, was achieved and surpassed. “In July 2017 this programme was extended to see 10 million youth trained by 2022 as well as 100 000 developers trained across the region, these are in bid to get the youth employed,’’ she said.

Ehimuan-Chiazor said that “as of

today, job seekers in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria would be able to use the new job search experience to help them quickly and easily find opportunities suited to them.’’

She said that it would be through an immersive experience that would let them explore jobs from across the web and refine their search to meet their specific needs. “Users will be able to view at-a-glance details about the posting, such as job title, location, whether it’s full-time, part-time or an internship, as well as detailed information should a job be of interest. “Using Google Maps integration, job seekers can search for jobs any place they can find on the map, and if they are signed in, they can even see how long it will take to commute to the job from home.

iSON Technologies wins 2018 ICT Leadership Excellence award

i

SON Technologies, a leader in technology services and consulting, with presence in 25 countries in Africa, has bagged the 2018 ICT Leadership Excellence Prize. This announcement was made during the official award ceremony of the Africa Corporate Leadership Excellent Prize which took place recently in Lagos.

The award was in recognition of iSON Technologies’ outstanding contribution to the development of the continent, the economic aspirations of its citizenry, and the transformation of Africa’s image in the international market; while also displaying high standards of good corporate citizenship, social, and environmental responsibilities. The award also aimed to encourage the company to further develop innovative and creative technology solutions, which will uplift the image of Africa both locally and internationally.

Receiving the award, Mr. Henry Erigha, Deputy Sales Director, iSON Technologies, expressed his excitement and gratitude for being a part of the award ceremony on behalf of iSON. “We at iSON are truly honoured to receive this award. iSON is excited about the development of the continent through innovative technology and its contribution in expanding the ICT industry across our footprints around the world, and especially in Africa due to its tremendous potential. To be recognised by the African Institute for Leadership Excellence is a rewarding achievement for us” Mr. Henry Erigha said.

For over seven years in Africa, iSON

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Save Nigerians, look further for illegal arms Cont’d front page 1

may be specified. “(2) A proclamation under subsection (1) of this section, may require the surrender of firearms and ammunition within a specified time and to a specified authority, and any person neglecting to make such surrender, or being in possession of or dealing in any firearm or ammunition during the period that such proclamation is in force, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand naira or imprisonment for two years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

A GENERAL assumption would be that the orders Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police issued would be in line with this provision. It is not, and it should not be mistaken to be so. We are in full expectation that the police in discharging the responsibilities.

THE security situations across the country demand that an exercise of this nature is carried out in a manner that the main purpose which should be to mop up illegal arms, would be achieved. The ease with which violent crimes are committed across the country, by armed individuals and groups, should be a source of concern to the authorities.

WE, however, think that the authorities should not be under the illusion that arms, illegally acquired, could be so easily mopped up. A lot of intelligence would be required, and the de-

termination of the authorities to do a thorough job would be important, without discrimination against individuals or groups.

MANY checkpoints are in place. In many parts of the South East and South South, the number of checks travellers undergo from different security agencies already hampers road travels.

Measures are required to ensure that travellers are not further hampered.

THE police’s statement that announced the operations on 22 February 2018 stated, “A Police Joint Task Enforcement Team has been set up at the Force Headquarters by the IGP, “while the commissioners of Police and the assistant inspectors general of Police in the states and zonal commands respectively have been mandated to immediately set-up similar Police Joint Task Enforcement teams in their States and Zones to commence the mop-up, seizure and recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition from wrong hands, suspected militias, militants, criminal/unlawful gangs.

The operation will equally include cordon and search and raid, seizure from any premises, hideouts, dwelling houses or buildings or sites (completed or under construction) or any other location where these illegal/prohibited firearms are kept or on reasonable suspicion are believed to be kept or being used.” It gave a 21-day deadline for illegal arms to be turned in to the authorities. From the statement, the concentration is on internal operations, and suspected sites of illegal arms.

FREQUENT statements from some criminals that the police arrest, indicate that the sources of their arms are from arms that were officially issued to security personnel. It would be critical that the operations cover that angle. If what we are dealing with are illegal arms, finding them is more difficult that stopping the sources of those arms.

THE porosity of our borders appears to be an issue that has not been effectively tackled. With all the checkpoints near the borders and seaports, some arms and ammunition still get into the country from those points. The current exercise would be futile, if after it is concluded, criminals could restock without hassles.

THE tone of the statement, particularly aspects that dealt with imploring, “concerned citizens, general public, states and local government authorities to prevail on their vigilantes, neighbourhood watch, civil security outfits and watch night men and others attached to any organisation including public and private institutions in the country to surrender within the time limit of 21days, all the prohibited firearms in their possession to the Police and be law abiding,” creates the impression tat these groups have been operating with unlicensed arms over the years.

IT could mean that the police had failed to keep to the provisions of the Firearms Act, which under Section 33 (11.) states, “A police officer to whom the Inspector-General of Police has delegated any power to issue licences or permits shall render to the Inspector-General of Police the following returns in the prescribed forms(a) a monthly return of all licences or permits issued by him during that month; (b) a half yearly return of the total number of all categories of firearms for which licences are held by persons residing in the licensing area for which he is responsible, together with a return of the total number of firearms in such area for which no licences have been issued.”

HAD these provisions been followed, it would be faster for the police to know who had illegal arms. The efforts at retrieving arms before checking the book for valid licences would be wastes. The provisions of the law were not only meant to licence the arms, but to effect monitoring.

OUR expectations are that the operation would mop up illegal arms, reduce crimes, while not jeopardizing the security of communities while the police are at it. We also ask the authorities not to reduce this to witch-hunting exercise against political opponents.

REASONS given for the exercise are impressive. “This Operation which among other purposes, is aimed at the full enforcement of the Firearms Act, mopping-up and recovery of all prohibited firearms and illegally acquired weapons will enable the Nigeria Police Force deal decisively with herders and farmers clashes, kidnappings, armed robbery, cattle rustling, militancy and terrorism,” the statement added.

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.

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

Mission

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

OPINION Why Europe has no chance of solving Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2)

By ANDERS PERSSON

I

sraeli, Palestinian and some U.S. officials, have, for a number of different reasons, continuously tried to connect the EU’s differentiation strategy to the BDS movement, claims which have almost always been repudiated by both EU officials and spokespersons for the BDS movement.

But those repudiations haven’t always been so resonant: Today, 24 U.S. states have enacted legislation against boycotts of Israel, including not just the internationally-recognized Israel within the 1967 borders, but also against what they call “Israeli-controlled territories,” another term for the illegal settlements.

Of course, the idea that there is no difference between targeted sanctions of the settlements and the entirety of Israel, and that both constitute an “antiSemitic” act victimizing the Jewish state, is precisely the line taken by the Israeli government.

As Israel has struggled for five decades now to erase the Green Line, the EU has likewise struggled for almost the same period to reaffirm the Green Line as the border, with some modifications, between Israel and what it hopes will one day be a Palestinian state.

This has been mostly a verbal commitment, with the exceptions of some of

the differentiation measures mentioned above and the billions of euros in aid to the Palestinians over the years.

In his first major interview with the Israeli press, the new EU ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, was asked whether the EU was planning “more steps in the future against settlement building”: he answered, “No.” That, of course, reinforces the perception that the EU’s commitment to end Israel’s occupation and create a Palestinian state will continue to be verbal rather than practical.

It is not that the EU lacks practical tools vis-à-vis Israel. The EU’s economy (in nominal GDP) is more than 50 times bigger than Israel’s, but the EU has chosen not to use its economic leverage against Israel.

This is probably mostly because of American opposition, rather than because of the legacy from the Holocaust, internal division or pro-Israel lobbying.

The EU is unwilling to stray too far out of the lines of U.S. Mideast policy. If a U.S. president – be it Obama, Trump or anyone else – would have used all its leverage to force Israel to end the occupation, the EU would actively assist in such a process.

But the EU can’t lead the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in place of the U.S. With some relatively minor exceptions,

the historical record clearly shows that the EC/EU played at best a marginal role, if indeed it was present at all, in the series of important peace negotiations through the years: the 1978-1979 Camp David Accords, the 1993-95 Oslo Agreements, the 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty, the 2000 Camp David Summit, the 2003 Road map, the 2007 Annapolis conference and the 20132014 Obama-Kerry negotiations. There is nothing suggesting that this pattern will change in the Trump era, even if his much-expected peace plan won’t lead anywhere.

A final EU measure on the conflict that might have repercussions – one that falls somewhere between the verbal and the practical - is recognition of the State of Palestine, even before a final status agreement is reached. Some analysts, such as David Makovsky in a recent Haaretz op-ed, contend “a big wave of European countries” will recognize Palestine in 2018. My own diplomatic sources in Europe tell me that things are indeed moving, but it will be more like a small wave of about five European countries may together recognize Palestine, if France takes the lead, but it is not yet certain to happen.

Since Sweden recognized Palestine in 2014 – a move which changed the political climate more in Sweden than in Palestine, with bitter divisions in the Swedish Parlia-

ment, a harsh Israeli pushback campaign and massive online hate against Foreign Minister Margot Wallström - it has been rumored many times that other European countries were about to follow.

So far it has not happened, but even if it would, the critical question plaguing the EU for 50 years will still be there, namely: What commitment and capability does Europe really have to help resolve the conflict, end the occupation and create a Palestinian state?

With an EU in relative decline and with the rise of various right-wing, nationalist or populist governments and parties in Europe, many of whom are pro-Israeli and anti-Muslim, it seems that the EU’s commitment and capability to help resolve the conflict is, in fact, far less than it has been – and way below Palestinian expectations.

ANDERS PERSSON is a post-doctorate researcher at the Centre for European Politics at the University of Copenhagen.

This op-ed is based on research from his recent study EU differentiation as a case of “Normative Power Europe” (NPE) in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, published in the Journal of European Integration.

Culled from Haaretz, an Israeli English Language newspaper

Governors’ perversion of council polls

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

2018 (last Saturday), the party was poised to win all councils in Edo State (as the arly January, the spokesman of the PDP shunned the elections).

Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Looking at the polls’ processes, the Ologbondiyan, accused the All ProEnugu State Independent Electoral gressives Congress of “mortally afraid of Commission (ENSIEC) initially illegally going into any election, particularly at the disqualified 73 APC councilorship candigrassroots” because the party had “lost dates, lifting the ban only on the eve of the goodwill of the people” since it came the elections, while in Akwa Ibom, the PDP government’s reported intimidation, to power in 2015. and manipulation prompted the APC to To prove otherwise, he challenged withdraw midway on Election Day. the APC to “conduct free and fair council polls, in states it controls, in order to In Ekiti, with Governor Ayodele’s electest its popularity,” even as he credited toral theory of “100% of 100” (PDP must the Delta and Ekiti council elections as win all seats), the APC tactically excused reflecting the said loss of goodwill by the itself from the polls; and in Delta, the process was flawed by deadly clashes, party. torching of a DSIEC’s council office, and In my Monday, January 22 reposte, I queried Mr. Ologbondiyan’s depicting of snatching of ballot papers and boxes.

While alleged malpractice trailed the Delta and Ekiti polls as a symbol of free and fair franchise, positing that win- the elections in Kwara won by the APC, ning at that level had nothing to do with the balloting in Osun was novel in two the people’s goodwill or popularity, but respects: the state government adopted “about who controls the levers of power, the Parliamentary System, with 318 of who appoints the election umpire, and the 389 councilors returned unopposed, how far the incumbent authority wants leaving 71 candidates that stood for voting cold-shouldered by the PDP. to deploy that power to its advantage.”

And in Kano, the APC sweeping of Truly, state governors (virtually all of them) have no qualms taking advantage the polls, neglected by the PDP, became a subject of investigation by the Indeof such power, especially in their desire to “capture” the grassroots, which they pendent National Electoral Commission hope to use in fighting re-election in 2019 (INEC) over charges that the KANSIEC (Akwa Ibom, Delta, Enugu and Kano) and used its voter register at the elections in in 2020 (Edo), or the election of their suc- which “underaged voters” reportedly cessors in 2018 (Ekiti and Osun) and 2019 participated. However, INEC’s panel said (Kwara). on Friday it did not find any merit in the Let’s look at the council polls conduct- allegation. ed by PDP-controlled states since late The outcome of the council elections 2017, prior to Mr. Ologbondiyan’s claims. in Edo was yet to be publicised before In November 2017, the PDP won all coun- this article was sent in on Saturday for cils in Enugu; the same thing occurred in publication, but it might follow the same December 2017 in Akwa Ibom and Ekiti, pattern of “100%” victory for the ruling and in January 2018 in Delta.

APC government.

Likewise, in December 2017, the APC Well, the APC, having picked Mr. won all council seats in Kwara; in FebruOlogbondiyan’s gauntlet and won overary 2018 in Osun and Kano; and in March whelmingly in Kwara, Osun, Kano and

E

surely in Edo, the PDP should be educated that triumphing in council elections is not about popularity test or the goodwill of the people, but the willingness of the governing power to allow votes to count under its watch.

If differently, the PDP in Osun could have trashed the APC, considering the government’s “orchestrated” inability to pay workers regularly. Perhaps sensing defeat, the PDP beat a strategic retreat.

A similar thread ran through the polls in Ekiti, where the APC withdrew, and in Kano (PDP fielded one chairmanship candidate) and Edo, where the party did not participate.

Two scenarios are thrown up in the processes of the council elections: deployment of incumbency power, and selfimposed censorship by the opposition parties. The first outline is the tendency of the incumbent government to “manipulate” the elections, as happened in Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Kwara.

The second story line is the spurning of the elections by the opposition due to “intimidation” by the incumbency, such as in Ekiti, Osun, Kano and Edo, although some of the boycotters hinged their non-participation on ongoing suits they instituted against the constitution of the electoral bodies and/or conduct of the elections.

A word of caution, though. Boycotting council polls undercuts a political party’s viability for the next elections. Thus, unless the unexpected happens, the PDP has essentially surrendered Osun, Kano and Edo to the APC, while the latter has ceded Akwa Ibom and Ekiti to the PDP. Yet, in this narration, we shouldn’t miss the classic advice in an article in the Delta State-owned The Pointer of Tuesday, January 13, 2018, entitled, “As PDP overruns APC at Delta LG polls,” which reads: “The winning streak (in council

elections) showed itself in Lagos, Kano and Cross River states and it would have been an aberration for Delta State to concede any councilorship seat to the opposing parties. It is a dog eat dog scenario.

It has nothing to do with being a gentleman. You either crush or get crushed in the political battlefield.”

That sounds like a page from Governor Fayose’s playbook of not yielding any seats in an election, and hence the travesty of Nigeria’s electoral system at the grassroots.

Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

THE GROUP Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Advert Manager Andrew Udeh Circulation Manager Felix Oti

The Oracle Today

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

Travel & Hospitality

26

Ndoma-Egba to address NANTA AGM Stories by VICTOR NZE

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HAIRMAN, Board of Directors of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba is expected to present the lead paper at the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA).

The NDDC boss is also the chairman of the event slated to hold in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, this month.

This is just as President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the NANTA initiatives at repositioning the sector, by way of ridding the industry of unprofessional agents, just as he assured Federal Government’s support towards partnering with NANTA to create the necessary enabling environment for major players in the sector to the sustainable economic and social development of Nigeria.

The President made the declaration through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, when he received a NANTA delegation to his office in Abuja.

Senator Ndoma Egba who received the NANTA president, Mr. Bankole Bernard and his entourage at NDDC head office in PortHarcourt last week, promised not only to attend the conference with a theme “symbiotic relationship of Aviation and Tourism – A key to economic sustainability” but also partner with NANTA to drive rural cultural tourism in the Niger Delta areas.

He expressed immense joy and happiness at NANTA visit and acknowledged that NDDC has the mandate to grow rural tourism and help change the ugly narratives of Niger delta people whose history and disposition to hospitality had been distorted through many

years of unexplainable restiveness and economic dislocation.

“At NDDC, we want to create militant force of aggressive development, economic empowerment and showcase a culture of hospitality, tourism, arts and crafts noted with hospitable people of Niger delta areas” the senator added, noting “we want to see our food, fashion, arts and crafts, unique culture dances exported to the world which in the long run, will help attract investments into our delta areas and also change the sad story of our people mismanaged by unseen forces.

He called on NANTA president to come back with proposals on how NDDC can partner with NANTA to open up Niger delta rural areas to tourism economy.

Earlier, Bernard has informed the NDDC chairman of the notable and game changing strides at NDDC since he became chairman and invited him to share his experience with NANTA members during their conference to held in Port-Harcourt in March.

According to NANTA president, Senator Ndoma-Egba apart from been found worthy to share his tourism thoughts with top grade aviators, ministers and destination managers, he (Senator) will also join in unveiling NANTA anti-corruption and fraud bursting practitioner identification card.

Bernard lamented the negative narratives about Niger delta areas and Port-Harcourt in particular, noting that such stories are exaggerated and vented to rubbish the huge culture and tourism endowments of the people and therefore urged NDDC to partner and support NANTA as destination marketers to tell the real story of the region.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has also assured of its support to NAN-

•The National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals (ITP), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo (l) displaying the ITP’s License as the Awarding Body for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Sector in Nigeria, while Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Mrs. Chika Balogun (r), shows off the NIHOTOUR’s License as Sector Skills Council during the flag-off of NSQF ceremony, recently.

TA in all its progressive endeavours particularly in projecting the good image of Nigeria as a safe place to invest in tourism and aviation business in Africa.

Adesina who received NANTA president and his delegation at the Aso Villa, assured NANTA that President Buhari will be briefed about the association’s effort to check fraud in travel trade business in Ni-

Lagos Govt unveils calendar of arts, culture programmes

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agos State Government on Thursday released a calendar of over 70 state-sponsored and endorsed arts, as well as culture programmes slated for 2018.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, in a statement, said that the calendar was drawn up in a bid to garner visibility for tourism-oriented art programmes.

Ayorinde described the calendar as a novel exercise designed to front-load state and privately-driven arts, culture and entertainment events that would have positive effects on tourism promotion.

“This is in fulfillment of the State Government’s promise to announce a yearly calendar of events to guide programming, tourist and visitors’ decisions,” he said.

Ayorinde said that the idea of creating a calendar of events for statesponsored and state-endorsed programmes was to make events planning, tour bookings and business decisions easier for tour operators and the general public.

He added that the calendar was part of the state’s innovation to

project arts, entertainment and leisure benefits inherent in Lagos state to makes the state attractive to domestic tourists, business travellers and stop-over passers-by.

The commissioner said major events listed in the calendar included the Gidi Fest, Lagos Water Regatta and the Fanti Carnival around the Easter Period.According to him, the International Jazz Day celebration on April 30 will be dedicated to the South-African Jazz legend, Huge Masekela, while the Lagos Comedy Festival is for May 6 and the Eko Art Expo would hold in the last weekend in May. The commissioner said that June would be rich with the first-ever Lagos Golf funfair and the Lagos cinefest, which was designed to take the cinema-going experience to all the five divisions of the state.

He said that the Lagos Festival of Plays would be a major highlight in the third quarter of the year, likewise the Lagos Fishing festival (Oshoroko) in Ibeju-Lekki, the Akwaaba Travel Market and the Faaji Agba – a special concert for the elderly to mark World Elders Day.

“October to December will be the most intense period on the calendar with the Olokun Festival, the MUSON Festival, AFRIMA, AFRIFF, the Kayo-Kayo Festival in Epe, the Lagos Luxury Summit/Fair, the Felabration, the Lagos Books & Arts Festival (LABAF), as well as the One Lagos Fiesta.

“The State is grateful to corporate sponsors who will make many of these events happen.

“Our aim is to use the calendar and other strategic initiatives to enrich the entertainment and cultural content to drive tourism promotion in this mega city,” Ayorinde added.

•Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor

geria and the readiness of the Presidency to encourage the ease of doing business in the downstream sector of the aviation industry.

Also, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe, has expressed his agency’s readiness to change the entire conference outlook of NANTA gathering in Port-Harcourt, noting

that the culture and tourism industry in Nigeria needs an association like NANTA to occupy the private sector tourism space.

“NCAC will be in Port-Harcourt and we shall unveil a new template of Nigeria’s culture industry never seen before,” said Runsewe when he received the NANTA delegation in Abuja.

Invest in tourism, others to improve economy – Experts urge FG T wo economists have called on the Federal Government to invest the country’s growing revenue in other key sectors to improve economy.

Dr Lukman Oyelami and Dr Babatunde Adekunle of the Economics Department, University of Lagos, gave the advice in Lagos, Thursday.

Oyelami said that as oil sales exceeded the projected 44 dollars per barrel benchmark in 2017 and 45 dollars per barrel in the proposed 2018 budget, there was need to urgently tackle the non-oil sectors.

“We are richly blessed and have a lot of untapped resources in the nonoil sector of our economy. Sectors like mining, tourism and agriculture are underutilised. They can be explored and exploited to generate foreign income, which in turn, will have multiplier effects on the economic growth.

“The country must become dependent on other sectors of the economy so that oil revenue can then be seen as excess monies which can be used for other economically beneficial initiatives,” Oyelami said.

According to him, oil price is about one of the most volatile commodity price which goes up and down.

He said that Nigeria was currently at the beginning of the boom, urging government to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in key infrastructural developmental projects.

“This will go a long way to cushion the effect which a drop in the price of oil in the international market can bring in the near future,” he said.

On his part, Adekunle pointed out that the world was gradually changing from an oil economy into technology and knowledge-based economy.

“As a nation blessed with abundant mineral and human resources, Nigeria possesses the capacity to make it economically without the revenue generated from oil. Personally, I will advise the government to keep a greater portion of the excess revenue in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as this will help to cushion the effects of bad economic times.

“Other parts of the excess fund should be invested in the education, health and agricultural sectors.

“These sectors need the urgent attention of the government, because it directly affects the lives of the citizens,” Adekunle said.

The Oracle Today

27

Wednesday March 14 , 2018

AVIATION

Akure cattle invasion: FAAN to prioritize airports’ perimeter fencing in 2019 budget Stories by VICTOR NZE

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EDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is to capture the construction of perimeter fencing at all airports in the country in the 2019 budget in order to address the spate of runway incursions and other security breaches at the facilities.

This is just as the Airport Authority has stopped the renewal of On Duty Cards (ODCs) for former airline and FAAN workers to ensure strict personnel monitoring, stop touting around the airport.

General Manager, Corporate Communications FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, in an interview in Lagos said the issue of security across the airport remained a great concern to the agency.

She explained that the incident at Akure which saw cattle invade the runway of the airport was regrettable but was being addressed stressing that though the airport had perimeter fencing, there was, however, a loophole through which the cattle breached it and invaded the runway.

According to her, FAAN civil engineers were already at the

Akure airport to fix the collapsed section of the fence.

As part of measures to further strengthen the security of the airports across the country and further weaken the activities of touts at the airport, Yakubu revealed that FAAN has stopped the renewal of On Duty Cards (ODCs) for former airline and FAAN workers to ensure strict personnel monitoring.

According to her, cards renewal will be thoroughly scrutinized by the agency.

Yakubu explained that all security measures have been reviewed

while 10 vehicles have been added to the ones on ground to enhance runway patrol in order to minimize aircraft runway attacks.

While grass cutting has been stepped, Mrs Yakubu noted that all abandoned aircraft on the air side have been moved to the mortuary adding that those in Kano, Jos and Benin airports will be moved out soon in order to create space.

She further explained that the aviation security personnel AVSEC have been working hard to ensure that the activities of touts and touting were curtailed.

Ethiopian lifts highest number of int’l passengers out of Nigeria in 2017 T HE Ethiopian Airlines has topped the list of foreign carriers operating in the country, as it emerged airline that has lifted more passengers out of the country in 2017.

The airline made the disclosure during a ceremony in Lagos where it also received the award of Excellence in Aviation following its outstanding contribution to the development of the continent, the economic aspirations of its citizenry and transformation of Africa’s image in the international Market place.

The award instituted by the African Institute for Leadership Excellence is organised annually.

According to Dr. Stanley Ohemhen, the Chairman of the General Committee of the institute, it had outlined the values that qualified Ethiopian Airlines for the Award.

Receiving the award on behalf of the airline, Mrs. Firihiewot Mekonnen, the General Manager for Ethiopian Airlines operations in Lagos, thanked the organisers for the Award, just as she told the audience that Ethiopian is the new Spirit of Africa and has been defending the interest of Africa since inception over 70 years ago.

trax 4 star Airline in Africa is now flying to 5 destination in Nigeria, Lagos, Abuja, Kano , Kaduna and Enugu.

“Ethiopian lifted the largest number of international passengers out of Nigeria in 2017 as per the analysis done by NCAA. This is history that an African airline carried the highest number of passengers in another African Country.

Even when you look at the figures released by NCAA non-African airlines carried majority of the passengers.

“We are happy that we were able to defend Africa. That’s why we seek partnership with other African countries to strengthen their capacity to thrive like we are doing with ASKY in Togo, also in Malawi, Zambia and now Guinea,” Mekonnen said

•Ethiopian Airlines Sales Executive Adetola Alabi with General Manager Ethiopian Airlines Mrs Firihiewot Mekonnen during the presentation of the award for Excellence by the African Institute for Leadership Excellence in Lagos.

According to Mekonnen, Ethiopian Airlines will be organising an All women Operated Flight on March 8 to Buenos Aires in Argentina to Mark Women’s Day with a motto

of; “Inspiring the African girl.”

She invited the Audience to fly Ethiopian Airlines as Airline of Choice. Giving her reasons she said: “Ethiopian Airlines, the only Sky-

Executive Order has broadened horizon for FAAN operations – Yadudu D irector of Airports Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu, has said that the Ease of Doing Business has brought about a lot of efficiency in airport operations and synergy among security agencies.

According to him, the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business has broadened the horizon for the airport authority in entrenching safety and seamless facilitation.

Yadudu who spoke on the benefits of the executive order said:” Efficiency. If you want to manage how you spend your time at the airport, the order will help out. It

would help the agency save money and it would enable us (FAAN) have prudent use of our resources. It will enable us know how to react to customers and stakeholders and give us a better understanding of how to serve them better.”

He further said that as part of efforts to provide passenger a satisfactory experience at the nation’s airports, FAAN has subscribed to an ACI Program on Airport Service Quality that would aid the agency improve on service.

ASQ is the only international survey measuring passengers’ satisfaction while they are at the airport. This type of benchmarking allows you

compare your airports’ performance against industry best practice.

According to Yadudu, the programme uses Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to let the airport in use of the program know when it is over-performing or under-performing and where improvements are required or where investments are needed or likely to yield larger.

“FAAN has also subscribed to and has paid for an ACI Programme, the Airport Service Quality Program (ASP) which will help the agency measure our passengers reactions to all levels of our operations.

“This program is all about gath-

3.49m passengers travelled through NAIA in 2017

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total of 3.49 million passengers in 51,831 aircraft movements travelled through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja in 2017, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed.

FAAN’s Annual Traffic Analysis for 2017 released, Thursday, in Abuja stated that 2.78 million domestic passengers were recorded during the period.

As contained in the Analysis, 708,532 international passengers comprising 684,669 scheduled and 23,863 non-scheduled passengers travelled through the airport in the year. The traffic analysis showed that 307,961 passengers comprising 243,085 domestic and 64,886 international passengers traveled through the airport in the month of January.

It further revealed that 233,167 passengers comprising 188,344 domestic passengers and 44,823 international passengers travelled in February.

According to the traffic analysis, only 82,599 passengers travelled through the airport in the month of March before the airport was shot for runway rehabilitation that lasted for six weeks.

The airport also recorded 113,742 passengers from April 19 when the airport was reopened till April 30, comprising 96,270 domestic and 19,467 international passengers.

In May, 291,629 passengers travelled through the airport comprising 234,970 domestic and 56,679 international passengers while 288,792 passengers were recorded in June. July saw 356,394 passengers, while there was an upsurge of passengers in August with 378,501 passengers.

In September, 342,221 passengers were recorded while in October and November 356,632 and 356,746 passengers were recorded respectively.

Hajj 2018: NAHCON cautions prospective pilgrims on 5% VAT he National Hajj Commission tralise the exercise so as to ease Ttioned of Nigeria (NAHCON) has cau- the hardships people could enprospective pilgrims on five counter,’’ he said. per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) introduced by Saudi Arabian government on goods and services during the 2018 Hajj operations.

Commissioner in charge of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Saleh, who gave the caution on Thursday in Katsina during an enlightenment programme on the 2018 hajj, said it was part of the new policies introduced by Saudi Arabia during the 2018 hajj. ”For instance, if you buy 100 Saudi Riyals (SR) recharge card, five SR will go to the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, you will be left with 95 SR, likewise on other goods and services,” he said.

Saleh said that pilgrims should also conduct biometric data capturing before going to the holy land for Hajj.

He, however, explained that the capturing would be conducted only in Abuja, Lagos and Kano states.

“We have already written to the Saudi Arabian authority to decen-

He said that March 31 was the deadline for collecting deposits from prospective pilgrims before the final announcement of the fares.

According to him, such pilgrims were expected to deposit N1.5 million in line with directives given by Saudi Arabia.

He also advised them against traveling with prohibited items like kola-nut and other drugs to the Holy land adding that second timers for hajj and lesser hajj (Umrah) were also expected to pay additional 2,000 Saudi Riyals.

He said that only 32 kilogrammes of luggage would be allowed per pilgrim and 8 kilogrammes of hand bag.

The commissioner, therefore, urged religious scholars to intensify efforts toward enlightening prospective pilgrims on the new policies, rules and regulations governing the conduct of the Hajj.

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Wednesday March 14 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION Lagos settles N841m pensions, N85m as insurance death benefits Stories by VICTOR NZE

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AGOS State Government, in conjunction with LASACO Insurance Plc, has paid N85 million as Insurance Death benefits to families of 32 deceased public servants who died while in active service.

This is just as the State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has released N838 million to settle accrued pensions to its retirees for February.

Speaking at the presentation of cheques to the families of deceased staff, the State Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Folasade Adesoye, commended the government and LASACO Insurance Plc for prompt payment of the benefits to relatives of the deceased staff.

She said the payment will serve as encouragement and motivation to those in active service and encouraged them to continue to contribute positively to the development of the State by supporting the government to achieve its set goals and objectives.

Adesoye, however, appealed to the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously by ensuring that it is invested in the education of the children left behind or in a legitimate and worthwhile business venture after due diligence.

The HOS advised them to seek guidance and professional advice from financial consultants and small business experts before taking decisions on the utilization of the benefits.

Earlier, the Permanent Secre-

tary, Lagos State Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Balogun while thanking the Government for the kind gesture, also implored the beneficiaries to invest the money wisely.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria Lagos State, Comrade Bamidele Olayide commended the State Govern-

ment for its welfare package for the workforce.

According to him “Lagos remains the number one State and the most outstanding State in workers welfare package, pension programmes and salary payment in the whole of Nigeria”.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Adedolapo Adegboye thanked the Lagos State Government for

making the payment possible and pledge judicious use of the benefits.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Friday, signed by its Director-General, Mrs Folashade Onanuga, said that the N838 million to its retirees for February, was paid to 141 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme

•Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Dr. Olufemi Oyetunji (left); Non-Executive Director, David Sobanjo; and Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs. Abimbola Falana at the event announcing the company’s honours.

(CPS).

She gave the assurance that the payment of the accrued pension rights would continue monthly under the current administration.

“The payment is well structured, transparent, efficient and based on the law of equity. I assured all the retirees that the Pensioners’ Identity Card is in progress and wilk be provided as soon as the necessary approval is obtained,” she said.

Also in a statement, Dr. Benson Akintola-Oke, the state Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, said that N34, 781 billion had been paid into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of 8,548 retirees since 2015.

Akintola-Oke, who represented Ambode at the 48th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation (RBBCP) ceremony, implored retirees to put their money only in businesses they could manage.

Akintola-Oke said that the state government was committed to providing retirees with incentives that would give them peace in retirement.

“Ambode focuses on payment of pensioners and other entitlements, and this has earned the state accolades. This priority is to eradicate poverty amongst the elderly in our society,” he said.

Continental Re bags NSE’s CGRS rating

2018 SMW: Utilise ICT to meet clients’ expectations C – Experts urge insurance firms

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iscussants at the on-going Social Media Week (SMW) in Lagos on Friday urged the insurance firms to leverage on technology to meet their clients’ rising expectations.

The discussants spoke on the topic: “How Technology can Change the Insurance Industry’’

at the final day of the sixth edition of the Social Media Week which began on Monday.

One of the discussants, Moses Dickson, said that technological innovation had the potential to change any industry for the better.

“The insurance industry cur-

rently has much opportunity for growth and by leveraging on technology and social media, it can increase awareness.

“The only way for the industry to get the attention of the youth market is to leverage on tools like mobile apps and web applications that enhance customer experi-

burden themselves.

She said the move would attract more Nigerians to key-in into insurance and support the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) market development initiatives, adding further that because some holders were not demanding claims, some operators had cashed on this loophole.

“What they do is to rate-cut policies to unreasonable price, with the assumption that the insured will not demand for compensation, a pathetic situation NAICOM always frowned at.

Because of the low rate they de-

manded on their insurance policies in most cases, they outbid their competitors for businesses and consumers always want to go for policies with lower rates.

“However, in the event of claims, the overzealous underwriters do default because the premium they charged is not the actual value of the products,” she said.

Adegbayi also advised Nigerians to report defaulting underwriting firms to NAICOM and the law enforcement agents, said that necessary steps would be taken to pay commensurate claims to the aggrieved insured.

Leadway boss harps on genuine Insurance claims

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xecutive Director, Leadway Assurance Limited, Miss Adetola Adegbayi has advised Nigerians who bought insurance policies to demand claims from their insurers whenever they incurred risk on what they had insured.

Adegbayi who said this at a media training session by the company in Lagos, noted that some Nigerians with insurance policies were ignorant of when and how to make claims, just as she advised policy holders to always endeavor to meet their insurers to make claims, instead of deciding to bear the financial

ence,’’ said Dickson of TRIAX Solicitors.

Also speaking, CEO of Disrupt, David Idagu, said that insurance companies needed to go beyond creating digital tools and focus on communication narratives that would educate, engage and influence the attitudes of Nigerians towards insurance.

“One of the key problems of the Nigerian insurance industry is the lack of trust in the industry, especially in the area of claims recovery,’’ Idagu said.

According to him, only valueadding communication through strategic content marketing can help insurance firms to achieve their goal of reaching out to the youth market.

Similarly, Seye Olurotimi of Cedar Tribe said that most insurance companies in Nigeria had invested in technology and social media but they needed to do more.

“Telling people to buy insurance is not enough, you have to also tell them why they need it and then make it easy for them to access your services,” he said.

ontinental Reinsurance Plc has been recognised as one of the listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), with high ranking in the Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS).

The company received the award during the CGRS certification ceremony in Lagos.

Six directors of the company were also recognised for passing the Fiduciary Awareness Certification Test during the event.

The directors are: Dr. Olufemi Oyetunji, Ahlam Bennani, Paul Kokoricha, Foluso Laguda, Lawrence Nazare, Merrick Oeschger, David Sobanjo, and Ian Tofield.

The Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Oscar Onyema, congratulated the recipients of the awards, saying their success is a testament that they were promoting good corporate governance, which will improve their profitability.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive, the Convention on Business Integrity, organisers of the awards, Soji Apampa, said companies and individual directors were being honoured for distinguishing themselves in particularly difficult business environment to demonstrate their preparedness to do the right things.

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Wednesday March 14 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

PFAs allay fears over delay in payment of pensions

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RESIDENT, Pension Operators (PenOp) in Nigeria, Mr Eguarekhide Longe, has allayed fears by pensioners and retirees over the safety of their contributions and entitlements with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

Longe said, Tuesday, in Lagos that pensions deducted from public workers’ salaries and credited to their Retired Savings Accounts (RSAs) were safe.

He also assured retirees that their contributions under the Contributory Pension Schemes (CPS) would not be embezzled.

Longe explained that the Na-

tional Pension Commission (PenCom), Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) and PFAs had not deviated from their mandate of overseeing pensioners’ welfare and payment of pensions.

He said the operations of PFAs and PFCs were well regulated by PenCom and the Pension Bill of 2004 repealed by that of 2014.

“The 2004 bill repealed by that of 2014, Section 14 subsection 100 (1) says any PFA, PFC or other bodies that diverted pension funds, on conviction, is liable to an amount equal to three times of the amount diverted or not less than 10years’ imprisonment.

“Or both penalties, that is, amount equal to three times of the misappropriated fund and 10 years’ imprisonment,’’ he said.

Longe explained that the Accrued Rights (pension liabilities) was specifically for public sector workers had experienced some hitches, while the CPS which is for private sector works seamlessly.

He said the Accrued Rights was funded by the Federal Govern-

ment by paying five per cent of monthly payroll into Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund (RBBRF), which is domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to him, the RBBRF payment has been irregular since December 2014 when the Nigerian economy experienced a downturn.

Longe condemned the agitations by some retirees on the

piecemeal payment of pension entitlements.

“Now, if your total pension entitlement is N15 million and your RSA reads N3 million, do you think it would be wise to spread the N3 million as lump sum and pension before the N12 million is paid? It distorts the entire pension calculation of the retiree and this is the reason it is not done that way,’’ he said.

Kwara Assembly halts payment of pension to Saraki, others

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he Kwara State House of Assembly has passed an amendment bill halting payment of pension to former governor, Bukola Saraki, as well as other ex-chief executives of the state, deputy governors and other officers holding political offices after their tenure in office.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Establishment and Public

Royal Exchange plans corporate restructuring

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oyal Exchange Plc, has announced major plans towards corporate restructuring of the firm in order to address needs of its clients across the country.

Unveiling the plan during a media parley to celebrate its Centenary anniversary, Group Managing Director, Auwalu Muktari, said it will keep the company relevant in the Nigerian insurance market for the next 100 years.

“Royal Exchange Plc has been operating in Nigeria since 1918, and this year marks our 100 years of offering best-of-breed insurance services to various clients in the country Speaking further, he said: “Our restructuring process rests on three main pillars, namely Digital Transformation; Efficient Distribution Channels and Business Process Remodelling.”

On digital transformation, Muktari said, “Royal Exchange seeks to build and develop digital tools, as an enabler to reach our clients and conduct more efficient back-office operations. This will entail our deployment of digital solutions that will ease our business operations, and also the use of various social media tools to reach our current and potential clientele today and tomorrow.”

He stressed that one of the goals of the restructuring project is to develop and implement an efficient and cost-effective distribution channel that will support the earlier objective of being nimble, and give the group leverage in delivering products and services faster and better and more reliable to customers.

Service at the Committee of the Whole House sitting in Ilorin.

The motion for the passage of the bill was moved by the Deputy House Leader, Segilola Abdulkadir and was unanimously adopted by members.

The Deputy Speaker, Matthew Okedare, who presided over the plenary, directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina, to prepare clean copy of the bill for governor’s assent.

The bill, which was forwarded to the House by Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed, sought to review the existing law where payment of pension for former governors and deputy governors after their tenures would be suspended.

Staff of Union Bank Nigeria Plc, including Head Personnel Banking, Tolulope Aderibigbe and Head of Retail, Paul Aseme, celebrating with winner of the Data Enrichment Promo, Mr. Julius Ijibadejo and his wife.

Osun Govt. presents cheques to 2,006 pensioners F

ollowing the release of N1.2 billion by Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the payment of pensions and gratuity, the state government has commenced the issuance of cheques to 2006 pensioners who retired from the state civil service in 2011/2012.

The cheques were handed over to the pensioners by the Head of Service, Mr Fetus Ologboyega Oyebade, and other government officials at the state Secretariat, Abere.

According to Olowogboyega, a total of 2006 pensioners that retired from Ministries, Departments, Agencies and parastatals have been listed for the payment of the pension.

Olowogboyega explained that the cheques were being given to every pensioner who had perfected their retirement documents with the government.

He added that for any of the pensioners that have died, his or her next of kin would have to present documents like death certificate, letter of administration and other necessary papers to the government for collection of the cheque.

The HOS commended Governor Aregbesola for providing the whopping sum of N1.3bn

to pay pensioners despite the paucity of fund in the state, describing him as a people friendly governor.

It would be recalled that Aregbesola had last week approved

the release of N1 billion for the payment of pension to retired civil servants in the state while a sum of 200 million was provided to pay gratuity to those who retired ahead of the com-

mencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The governor, he said had also directed the release of an additional N150m which will be distributed to some more pensioners soon.

Brexit: Over 20 insurers, others to move HQs to Luxembourg

M

ore than 20 major international institutions have opted to relocate activities to Luxembourg, the country’s financial development agency said, Thursday, citing the decision to Britain’s move to leave the European Union (EU).

The tiny EU-member state is one of several countries vying for a slice of Britain’s lucrative financial services sector as slow progress in its talks to exit the bloc prompts firms to move ahead with contingency plans to secure EU market access.

During 2017, five banks including Citibank, JP Morgan and China Everbright; more than a dozen global asset managers including Blackstone and Carlyle; and 10 global insurance companies decided to establish or expand their presence in the duchy, Luxem-

bourg For Finance said in a statement.

“Following the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, last year alone over twenty top-ranked international institutions chose Luxembourg to set up all or part of their activities and benefit from the specialization that exists within the Luxembourg financial ecosystem,” it said in a statement.

A total of 139 banks from 28 countries are based in Luxembourg, it added, with a focus on investment management, private banking, and the business and trade finance sectors.

“Luxembourg is expecting further announcements from businesses over the coming months, whether in the insurance, fund management, banking or fintech sectors,” it said.

30

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

CRIME Chinese national, 16 others arrested for smuggling T Stories by XAVIER NDAH

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit(FOU), Zone ‘A’, has said it has arrested a Chinese National, Mr. KO Sin Yin for alleged illegal smuggling in endangered species.

The Unit further disclosed that it arrested 16 Nigerians over the interception various contraband valued at N1,035,232,046.13.

These arrests and seizures were made in the Month of February, 2018.

Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, the Area Controller of the Unit made this known in Lagos last week.

According to him, the seized items include 18 assorted vehicles, 4,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice(about seven trailer loads), 2637 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1,105 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 2,637 pieces of used tyres, 1,333 bales of used clothing, 2,001 kg of Pangolin, 343kg of Elephant Tusks among others.

Comptroller Uba further revealed that the detained exotic vehicles include one Rolls Royce, one Chrysler, one Audi, Q 7, one Land Rover HSE, one Toyota Venza, one Ford Taurus, one Honda Cross Tour, four Mercedes Banz, three Kia Rio, one Escalade among others.

The models of the vehicles according to the Customs boss ranges from 2008 to 2015, adding that some of them were intercepted along Ijebu Ode Expressway, others were evacu-

• Some of the exotic cars siezed by NCS, FOU Zone ‘A’ ated from a car mark located in Lekki. vention of International Trade in En“Remarkably, within the Month dangered Species (CITES 1973) entails under review, the warehouse opera- that Customs Administration globally tions team led by Assistant Comptrol- protects wild life by intercepting illeler Mutalib Sule, while on intelligence gal trade on such animals. It further raided an apartment at No. 38, Ogun- prevents the killings of endangered lana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, species since the tusks are only availLagos and evacuated 55 sacks of able after killing of the Elephant and Pangolin Shells weighing 2001kg and Pangolin. In the spirit of inter-agency valued at N408,319,317.6, 218 pieces collaboration, the seized Pangolin of Elephant Tusk weighing 343kg and and Tusks have been handed over to the Nigeria Environmental Standards valued at N85,156,649.96” “You will recall that the responsi- and Regulatory Enforcement Agency bilities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NESREA) for further investigation in have undoubtedly increased tremen- collaboration towards protecting our dously overtime because of the imple- natural habitat,” Uba said.

According to him, the actions of mentation of different international protocols and conventions. The con- the Unit were in line with the provi-

sions of Sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap. 45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (power to patrol freely).

“Also, a 1x20ft container number CAIU0961053 was seized for false declaration, which is tantamount to seizure. Seventeen suspects have been arrested in connection with these ninety seizures including Mr. KO Sin Ying, a Chinese national.”

He further disclosed that the Unit received N67,945,158.00 from Demand Notices(DN) raised on goods intercepted while attempting to beat the system through transfer of valuable and under-declaration, making a cumulative of N1,103,177,204.

uck ran against two members of kidnap syndicate when they engaged men of FSARS in gun battle in a bid to rescue an abducted woman during the week in Ogun state.

Trouble started at about 1:00pm

when a distress call was made to the Police that one Mrs Ajayi a pastor’s wife has been kidnapped along Abeokuta Ibadan road.

The Oracle gathered that the woman who boarded a taxi going to Eleweran was forcefully taken to Odeda a

It was gathered that the pastor quickly informed the Police, consequence upon which the Commissioner of Police Cp Ahmed Iliyasu gave a marching order to the officer incharge FSARS DSP Uba Adam to go after the hoodlums, rescue the victim and apprehend the suspects.

In compliance with Cp’s directive, the officer in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad traced the location and led his men to the bush where the suspect was kept.

The police said on sighting the police they engaged the police in a gun duel which lasted for about 45 minutes.

It was gathered that at the end of the encounter, two members of the syndicate were shot and arrested but gave up the ghost on the way to hospital. However, one Policeman who was injured police say is undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital while the victim was rescued unhurt.

Recovered from the suspects are two locally made single barred guns and four live cartridges.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Cp Ahmed Iliyasu who praised the gallantry display of his men has enjoined members of the public to always report any Criminal incident to the Police on time with an assurance that prompt action will always be taken.

T

EFCC docks lawyer for N4m fraud

Police kill 2 suspected kidnappers, rescue 2 women

• The suspected kidnappers

L

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Rose-Marie Iwezie, a lawyer, before Justice Tukur of the Kaduna State High Court on onecount charge of criminal breach of trust and illegal diversion of funds to the tune of N4million.

The petitioner alleged that sometimes in April 2016, he instructed the defendant to sell his property

located along Ring Road Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna, at the rate of N30million. After selling the property, the defendant allegedly remitted the sum of N26million to him leaving out a balance of N4million. Efforts by the petitioner to recover the bal-

suburb of the state and held hostage.

Police source said the kidnappers then put a call across to her husband who is a pastor informing him that his wife is in their custody and demanding for N2million to be paid for her release.

ance proved abortive. Hence, he petitioned the EFCC. Investigations revealed that after selling the property at the agreed sum of N30million in February 2017, Iweze collected the money through the account of her legal firm; Rose

Marie Iweze & Co. domiciled in one of the old generation banks, but refused to remit same in full to the owner even after being paid her legal fees of N1.5million.The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Tukur granted Iweze bail

ICPC to court: Richmond Open University VC has only School Certificate

A

n operative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Chidi Orji has told a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu that the highest formal education received by the proprietor of an “illegal” university was from a secondary school.

Testifying at the ongoing trial of the proprietor of Richmond Open University Ltd Enugu, Mazi Chris Okoro, before Hon Justice A. M. Liman, Mr. Orji stated that investigation undertaken by the Commission had revealed that Mazi Okoro whose highest educational qualification was acquired from a commercial secondary school in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, was the Proprietor, Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Academic Director of the university.

The witness further told the court that Okoro was solely responsible for awarding academic degrees and certificates to “unsuspecting members of the public” who had been made to falsely believe that a judgment delivered by Hon Justice Allagoa who was then of the Federal High Court, Enugu, in suit no FHC/EN/CS/76/2006 between one Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo and the National Universities Commission had granted the Richmond Open University “a decree to operate freely” as a medium for dissemination of knowledge pursuant to S. 39 of the 1999 Constitution without recourse to the National Universities Commission(NUC) for accreditation of its academic programmes and thereby pay money to enroll in the university.

Led in evidence by ICPC’s prosecution counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, the witness further revealed that Richmond Open University did not have a Senate, Council or Academic Board like legal conventional universities and that Mazi Okoro took on the title of “Professor” without any formal training or publications to his name simply because people called him that.

The witness tendered copies of academic prospectus, certificates, and financial records of fees paid by students undergoing various undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Criminology and Accounting which were recovered from the school premises at No. 31, Zik’s Avenue, Enugu, following a warrant issued

by Hon Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja to facilitate a nationwide crackdown on 67 operators of illegal degree-awarding institutions by ICPC and NUC in 2013.

It should be noted that Mazi Okoro is being prosecuted by the Commission in Charge No. FHC/EN/ CR/87/2013 for false assumption of authority contrary to Section 107 of the Criminal Code and obtaining money under false pretences contrary to Section 8 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 The case was further adjourned to 21/3/2018 for continuation of hearing.

on self-recognizance and ordered the defendant to deposit her international passport with the EFCC. “The defendant must not travel outside Kaduna State without the permission of the court”, the judge added.

The case has been adjourned to April 26, 2018 for commencement of trial.

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

CRIME

Man diverts $56, 000 after hacking into Oyedepo’s book store mail account

T • The suspects

Oil Theft: Court admits exhibits against 9 foreigners, 2 Nigerians Stories by XAVIER NDAH

J

ustice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, March 1, 2018 admitted in evidence several exhibits tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against nine foreigners and two Nigerians facing trial for alleged illegal oil bunkering.

The defendants are Mohammed Ejaz, Naseer Khan (Pakistanis); Oleksandr Mazarenko, Oleksandr Kashernvi (Ukrainians); Romeo Annang Francis Ahorlu Kwesi Attah (Ghanians); Victor Mikpayi (Beninois) and Fredkrik Fatin Omenu (Indonesian) and their two Nigerian accomplices: Victor Azebiri and David Otuohi.

The defendants were arraigned alongside a company, Asztral Shipping Corporation SA and a vessel, MT

TECNE (a.k.a MT STAR) on November 21, 2017 on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, dealing in petroleum products without a license and tampering with oil pipelines.

At the sitting, counsel to the EFCC, Ahmed Arogha presented two witnesses - Imarhiagbe Mathew and Noga Lolade.

Mathew, a Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Navy, told the court that the defendants were arrested on April 24, 2017 by NNS Delta, while siphoning crude oil at SHELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Afremo ‘A’ Terminal, South East of Escravos in Burutu Local Government of Delta State.

According to him, the defendants used hose to connect the SHELL Platform to perpetrate the act.

He stated that the vessel used for their operation, MT TECNE, was load-

ed with about 903,000 metric tons of products suspected to be crude oil.

In her testimony, Lolade, an operative of the EFCC, told the court that the defendants were handed over to the EFCC on July 21, 2017 by the Military Defence Intelligence.

The prosecution tendered the letter of hand over and the investigation reports, which were admitted as exhibits B and C.Also tendered were statements made to the EFCC by David Otuehe 2nd defendant; Nasir Kan, 4th defendant and Francis Aholu, 8th defendant. The documents were admitted as exhibits ‘D’, ‘E’ and ’F’ respectively. The additional statement made by the 4th defendant on 31 July, 2017 was admitted as exhibit ‘G’.

Thereafter, the court adjourned to March 7, 2018 for continuation of trial.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arraigned one Chimezie Chuta before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on onecount charge bordering on stealing to the tune of $56,000.00.

The offence is contrary to Section 285(7) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.

The defendant, a former employee in the publishing unit of Dominion Book Stores, an online book store belonging to The Living Faith Church Worldwide, allegedly hacked into the company’s mail and diverted payments for some goods bought by online customers to his personal account.

The defendant, who was said to have been an active member of the Living Faith Church Worldwide for six years, sometime in 2013, proposed to the church to build an online digital media store that would showcase all of Bishop David Oyedepo’s books and audio messages online to enable members of the church in the Diaspora to buy them and also receive digital copies.

Investigation revealed that the project was approved by the Church absolutely free of charge on contract basis.

It was further revealed that the de-

fendant handed over all the relevant materials to the ICT Department of the church.

However, the defendant was alleged to have later gone behind to hack into the computer server of the church to perpetrate the fraudulent act.

• Chuta

• Oyedepo

Market along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The governor also announced plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop in response to the yearnings of traders and residents of the area, with the contractor expected to begin work on the bridge next week.

Speaking during an inspection of ongoing projects across the state, Ambode said the extension was to complement the Airport Road reconstruction in line with the regeneration of the entire Oshodi axis.

Ambode, who also inspected ongoing construction of roads around Ladipo market, called on traders to leave the road to enable the contractor complete the projects.

“There is no point doing the Airport Road if we don’t extend that contract to where I am standing here and so I want to do it from Oshodi to The Guardian newspaper axis; I want to rehabilitate the road and turn it to a modern road. The only way I can do it also is if you don’t do any trading on the road.

“I promise you I will also do a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop.

So, the contractor that is doing the

Airport Road will commence work on the bridge on this road next week if you allow me. That is why I have come here personally; I was here yesterday. I don’t want to inconvenience you but I have come to appeal to you; just be patient with us; we will bring growth and development to this place,” the governor said.

Accompanied by key members of his cabinet, the governor expressed concern that the presence of traders displaying their wares on the road was hampering the construction work and delaying the completion on schedule.

Responding on behalf of the traders, Vice President of the market, Mr. Jude Nwankwo, commended the governor for delivering on his promise to transform the axis. He gave the assurance that they would cooperate with the government and vacate the roads to enable the contractor complete the project on schedule.

“We would cooperate with you, we do not have any reason to do otherwise, because all that you have promised to do, you have done it.

More so, we are all beneficiaries of all the good work you are doing in Lagos,” Nwankwo said.

The one-count charge reads: “That you, Chimezie Chuta, sometime between the months of August 2013 and August 2016, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being a staff of Dominion Book Stores stole the sum of $56,000 (Fifty-six Thousand United States Dollars), property of Dominion Bookstores, a publishing unit of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, through the Dominion Bookstores online platform dominionlinestore.org. ” When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Gabriel Akaogu, asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, the defence counsel, R.E. Osige, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Dada adjourned the case to March 7, 2018 for hearing of bail the application and commencement of the trial.

Ladipo market election: Aspirant pledges utmost security A s election into executive positions at the much acclaimed foremost spare parts market in Nigeria The Ladipo Market in Lagos takes place today, an aspirant for the Chairmanship position of the Ladipo Auto Central Executive Dealers Association aka LACEC Honourable Cyril Onyemachi aka ‘CYC honesty’ has pledge to make security as the topmost in his agenda if voted into power.

CYC told The Oracle that he will do everything at his disposal to ensure that security challenges which have bedeviled the market for sometimes now will become a thing of the past.

CYC who is presently the president of the Aguji Ironsi International Market Traders Association(AIIMTA) a unit under LACEC said insecurity in the market is borne out of disagreements and failure to engaged idle youths in the market to earn a living.

“If there is crisis within that is where enemies outside will infiltrate to cause problem, I promise in my own tenure there will not be any gap for enemies to come in. Since I took over as the Chairman of AIIMTA there has not been any serious trouble here as it used to be so this should be a case study and same way will be applied when I get to the higher level as the president.

“If I am elected into power there is a way I do my own things I always manage my issues towards getting a lasting solution so since I am part and parcel of this market I know where the problems lies and I have already started planning and I have seen it that there will be no problem, it

won’t happen because I know what to do and where to go” he explained.

“A gift of leadership comes from God some leaders are born to be tyrant some are charismatic in 2014 I was voted for two years and I told them I won’t stay a day longer than necessary and if I get there that is what I will do, if I lose I know God has a plan for me and I will support the winning team.

“It is when people are not engaged with no hope of what to eat that they look for short cut and take to crime but when they are recruited for jobs and are lectured on living a good life crime will be eliminated in this market automatically.

“For example recruitment of all Nigerians as policemen in this country cannot stop crime but training them and showing them the path to follow and pay them well it reduces crime automatically. So in this market I will organize seminars to let them know the implications of crime. In this market there are so many who are idle and we have to add value to their lives the ones we know can carry truck we must engage them give them trucks to move goods and by so doing you have added value to their lives. I will be accountable to their welfare and if there is no room for idleness where will problem come from, so that is my target in the area of security I promise this market will be calm and it will be very safe for business because that is why we are here” he explained.

Speaking on the issues of cultism alleged to have infiltrated the market, CYC said in his unit the AIIMA there

has never been incident of such although he has heard about it in other areas but “here we are united if I can maintain such feat here I wish to go beyond expectation and instill discipline in the whole market. I am not a cultist and I don’t know their logo but what I know some politicians use them. If I am voted in I will use my position to eliminate it, I will tell them here is not conducive for that, so please don’t do it here’.

CYC while rolling out his plans for the market if elected promised to also take the issue of environment serious to make the market convenient for business and also to work cordially with the various ministries in the state to achieve meaningful results.

It will be recalled that umpteenth time the market has been closed down by the Lagos state government ranging from uproar, environmental issues and more.

Ladipo Market also known as Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market is a market located in Mushin local Government area of Lagos State.

The market which is considered the biggest auto spare parts market in Lagos is opened on a daily basis except on Sundays.

In recent times, Ladipo Market has been the hub for political campaigns and social awareness gatherings due to the mass population of people in the market.

The Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved extension of the ongoing reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport Road to Ladipo Auto Spare Parts

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Meghan Markle will be baptised by Archbishop Welby this month before marrying Prince Harry

M

Name: Edna Tel: +234 816 633 9597 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Prostate test ‘breathrough’ in NHS trial • A state-of-the-art MRI scan could reduce prostate cancer diagnosis by weeks

T

he NHS plans to cut prostate cancer diagnosis times from six weeks to a matter of days, NHS England has said.

Currently a test for men with prostate cancer requires an MRI scan and a biopsy where a dozen samples are taken, requiring multiple hospital visits.

But a new “one-stop” service will be trialled in three west London hospitals which hopes to complete all the necessary tests in one day.

NHS England CEO Simon Stevens said the programme was “world-leading”.

A new MRI scan, known as an mpMRI, provides higher quality imagery and provides up to 40% of patients with a a same day diagnosis.

For people who need a biopsy, ultrasound images with 3D MRI scans are used to target areas for taking tissue samples.

The NHS claims the technique virtually eliminates the threat of sepsis.

‘Encouraging breakthrough’ The new technique is being trialled

eghan Markle is set to be baptised as an Anglican by the Archbishop of Canterbury this month, a report claims.

Prince Harry’s bride-to-be - who was raised a Protestant, went to a Catholic school and married a Jewish man - will be welcomed into the church at a service in Kensington Palace.

Among the people expected to attend the private event are Meghan’s father, Thomas, and her mother, Doria Ragland.

Thomas - who was Episcopalian (an American branch of Anglicanism) when Meghan was born - will travel from Mexico, while Doria who was a Protestant - will come from California, according to The Sunday Times.

Meghan has reportedly asked for Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to perform the ceremony because she has ‘formed a close bond with him’.

A source told The Sunday Times: ‘She and Harry have been doing wedding prep with [the archbishop].’

Meghan went to Catholic Immaculate Heart high school as a teenager and later married Trevor Engelson, who is Jewish.

While she did not take his faith, their wedding - in Jamaica in 2011 was conducted with many Jewish traditions, with the couple being lifted on chairs.

Why Protestantism reigns in England King Henry VIII’s reign saw England turn in favour of Protestantism and split from the Catholic Church.

The split came about after the Pope refused to annul the King’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which he wanted because she could not give him a male heir.

The King in turn declared himself head of the Church of England.

From then on, only Protestant worship was permitted and Roman Catholics were ousted.

He also started to close down monasteries, taking their land and money.

Britain swayed between Protestantism and Catholicism during the tenures of Henry’s successors, Edward and Mary, but Protestantism was ultimately victorious with the elevation of William III to the throne.

In 1701, the Act of Settlement barred Catholics from the throne.

Meghan’s decision to be baptised is not strictly necessary for her to be married in the Church of England, but is believed to desire it out of respect to the Queen’s strong faith and the traditions of Protestantism in the monarchy.

They divorced two years later.

Meghan was not required to formally become an Anglican to marry Harry, but it is thought she wanted to do so out of respect for the Queen, who is the head of the Church of England.

While many people brought up in the faith are baptised as children, adults can undergo the religious ceremony too.

‘You are never too old to take this step, and being baptised as an adult is a wonderful experience,’ the church’s website states.

During the ceremony water is usually either poured on the person’s head at the font or they may be fully immersed in a special pool within the church.

The service of confirmation can only take place if a person has been baptised, and is about confirming the promises about their faith that were made at the baptism.

Meghan could be baptised and confirmed in the same ceremony.

Meghan and Harry will be married at Windsor Castle on May 19.

Romantic Joke SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE

at Charing Cross Hospital, Epsom Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton, where about 5,000 men will be tested over the next two years.

Imperial College London chairman of urology Professor Hashim Ahmed said: “Fast access to high-quality prostate MRI allows many men to avoid invasive biopsies as well as allowing precision biopsy in those men requiring it to find high risk tumours much earli-

er.”

“What we are hoping to do is show the NHS that this can be done, that it can be done cost-effectively and that we can improve the outcomes for men in a much better way than we were doing.”

Mr Stevens said: “This is an encouraging breakthrough in prostate cancer diagnosis that is genuinely world-leading.

“While still early days, the potential benefit to men with suspected cancer is significant.”

An old man goes into the Social Security Office and fills out an application. Too old to have a birth certificate, he is asked to prove he is old enough. He opens his shirt and shows them the gray hair on his chest and they accept that as proof.

He goes home to his wife, shows her the check, and explains to her what has happened. She replies, “Well get back down there, pull down your pants, and see if you can get disability!”

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

True Confession

‘I married my friend’s ex and I have no regrets’ • Hold my hand and fly with me, • Let us share these wings of love, • And paint the skies the colour of passion.

M

y name is Grace. Ten years ago, I was at the University of Ibadan. My best friend, Bunmi, asked me to go on a double date with her and I agreed. I agreed because she was always dating older men for money although she had a boyfriend on campus, and she had put me under so much pressure to do likewise.

So before the outing, I took my time to prepare very well so that I would look as sweet and sexy as possible to any man who looked my way.

I hated miniskirts because I felt they debased womanhood by exposing the thighs of a woman who ought to keep herself for her husband’s eyes alone.

However, because I needed more cash than loving at the time, I knew I had to let go of my high moral standing. After all, they say that a woman stoops to conquer. So I had to morally stoop, as it were, in order to get what I want.

You can describe my reasoning as twisted but the fact is that I was really desperate for money at that time and was willing to double date or to put it plainly, to even sell my body if only I would get enough money to meet my needs, which indeed were many.

We went out that night and it turned out to be a different night. The big man that my girlfriend was interested in was interested in me.

So Bunmi had to go with another man that she wasn’t interested in. From the look in her eyes, I knew that she was jealous of me and I decided not to go out with her ever again.

Later on when we had returned to school, her boyfriend Dave came to see her. He asked her where she had been the previous night and she lied to him.

I didn’t know how to lie because I pitied Dave since I could see that he loved Bunmi so much. So I took him aside privately and confessed to him that we had gone to visit some old sugar daddies.

Dave really liked my girlfriend Bunmi, but she was a gold digger and was just using him. She was always asking him for money and he was always hurt and upset about the way my best friend treated him.

Finally, Bunmi broke up with Dave and moved to Abuja. But occasionally, I would chat with Dave on phone and still maintained contact with him.

In 2004 I realized I had a lot of feelings for Dave but I was in a relationship and he was in another relationship as well.

I didn’t want to destroy his relationship because I thought he was happy. I also didn’t want to risk losing his friendship if I told him how I felt.

I kept it all secret and made little jokes about how I felt to him, never letting him know how I really felt. I broke up with my boyfriend in 2005 and moved

In 2004 I realized I had a lot of feelings for Dave but I was in a relationship and he was in another relationship as well. I didn’t want to destroy his relationship because I thought he was happy. I also didn’t want to risk losing his friendship if I told him how I felt. back to Ibadan to continue schooling.

I told Dave I was back at Ibadan and he promised to visit me.

At Ibadan, I refused to live in the same room off campus with any promiscuous female student because what they were doing was affecting my safety.

She could go out and bring home men from the bar when her boyfriend was

not around. I hated lying to anybody’s boyfriend because I was really against cheating. So I lived with a Christian sister.

When Dave came to visit me, we had fun for a week but one night changed everything. We went out to a club. Then we went dancing on the floor and I realized we were both alike.

We both danced the same way and loved it. It is rare to find some one like that. My feelings welled up inside of me.

I wanted to give Dave a simple kiss on the cheek and as I did that, he moved his head and we kissed.

I confessed to him that night that I have always loved him. He was not surprised. We went to his hotel room that night with passion on our minds.

We made love that night and almost everyday after that.

Within one month he took me to see his parents and they approved of our getting married. Now we are happily married with three kids.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

“How can I get another chance to make him love me?”

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Uchechukwu, 37, a graduate, tall, needs an evangelist or God fearing, tall, educated, employed and naturally endowed Igbo man for marriage. 08069088945.

Bimpe, 34, needs a responsible, employed man. 08184384600.

Joy, 29, a caterer in Lagos, from Delta Igbo, needs a responsible, matured, working man based in Lagos for marriage and job support. 08158522286.

Gloria, 42, from Cross River, wants a mature and responsible man that is HIV positive between the ages of 45 to 50 years ready for marriage. 09094582013.

Joyce, 26, in Lagos, romantic, wants a caring sugar daddy who can also help her get a job. 08050572880.

Sarah from Jos needs a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage.

08090925014.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Dear Love Doctor, My name is Maureen and I live and work in Lagos. I used to have a boyfriend who loved me very much.

But sometime last year I felt tired of our relationship especially because we were always having quarrels and fights and decided to break up with him. But now I regret my action because I’m not getting younger and need to get married. But he no longer seems interested in me again. Please how can I get another chance to make him love me?

Mike, tall, living in Lagos, needs a fair, busty nurse or lawyer between 20-35 years from Delta Igbo or East for marriage. 08077821830.

Thanks, Maureen.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Maureen, Let him know that you’ve truly changed and that you no longer do those things that used to cause fights or quarrels between both of you.

You can write him a note or send him a text signifying your love for him and your readiness to be committed to him, this time for good (and mean it if you sincerely want him to love you

again).

You can also wear something attractive and sexy and hang out where you’re likely to meet him.

People normally respond positively when your feelings come straight from the heart.

But if you’re faking it, or trying to make him love you again for your own selfish reasons, it won’t take long for them to

Men seeking relationship/ marriage

know and fall back out of love with you!

So before you make any move or do anything about getting another chance to make him love you, search your heart or think about it, because in the end it will only be worth it if your heart is in sync with your desire and design!

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840.

Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714, 08131161840.. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

Chigozie, 37, from Ebonyi, fair, 5.6ft, works in Lagos, needs a God-fearing, working class lady for a relationship leading to marriage. 08164630953.

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Nathaniel, living in Abuja, huge, works, needs a honest and trustworthy lady who is ready to genuinely love and settle down for marriage. 08124647578.

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

It happened to me:

My husband had an affair with my Dad!!

I was disgusted by what I saw - pictures I of my husband and this man kissing in ’m a 28-year-old woman, my husband’s 32, and we have two children, a four-year-old son and a two-yearold toddler.

A few months ago my husband began receiving suggestive text messages from someone claiming they were having an affair with him.

I asked him outright if there was anything going on, but he denied it.

However he kept getting these sexually suggestive texts and had recently began buying new shirts and t-shirts, having his chest waxed, and even going to the tanning salons and becoming obsessed with going the gym.

He even had his teeth whitened... and spent all his time looking good and ignoring me.

I asked him why he was having all this treatment, and he said it was to look good for me.

However, we haven’t had sex very much at all, he refuses it most times I initiate it, when we do have sex he wants to stop after 15 minutes.

He’s also been coming home late from work as well too, he claimed he had a lot of work to do but we don’t seem to have much extra money coming in.

I hired a private investigator to find

a car park, and footage of them getting into gay clubs, and even bar-hopping around Canal Street (people in the UK will know where I mean).

out if he was cheating on me or not as he had been coming home late from work regularly.

The private investigator carried out his investigation over the next few weeks, and when I got the results last Friday, I was shocked.

The private investigator told me he’d seen my husband driving to the gay area of town, with another guy a lot older than him, and had heard their conversations too - he showed me the footage and photos he’d got of them. I was disgusted by what I saw pictures of my husband and this man kissing in a car park, and footage of them getting into gay clubs, and even bar-hopping around Canal Street (peo-

ple in the UK will know where I mean).

The private investigator told me he’d heard my husband saying to the guy “Let’s leave our wives and get together, our wives are boring pieces of sh*te! Well, we’ve been doing this for a year and a half now, and no-one’s noticed, heh heh!” and the other man saying “Well, that’s OK, because I’m dumping the wife for you anyway, and I’ve bought us a nice new riverside flat!

Let’s dump our loser wives and get together!!” and then the conversation got more explicit, apparently with references to them having had sex together frequently.

I was stunned to see who the other man was, and asked if I recognized

him - which I did - the other man in the photo was my dad. I feel disgusted knowing about my dad’s secret life.

I thank the private eye for bringing it to my attention. At least now I know why my husband was so obsessed with his looks.

I feel disgusted and sick to the stomach. The two men closest to me in my life having an affair with each other - it makes me want to throw up and when I think about it, I just feel angry, upset and disgusted.

My husband’s now away on a training course with work for 3 weeks, how should I deal with this when he returns?? I also haven’t seen my dad for a few weeks either as well.

How do I tell my mum about it??

This whole situation’s making me feel upset and worried. I can’t cope, and I feel stressed.

I haven’t seen my husband or my Dad since Christmas...

What do I do?? Where do I go next??

Please help me.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Love & Living

Change starts with the woman A WOMAN would never do anything without the express approval of a man. Now it doesn’t matter if that man is her man or even her dad, the point is that men run women. They decide everything.

She has got a certificate and desires to work and earn some resources but still doesn’t go for it. Not that she can’t walk the talk but because he says NO. He tells her what to wear and what hair to make; who to be friends with and places not to go. And if she wishes to shave her own pubic hair, it just has to be with his approval else...

Real women are supposed to be warm, subservient and dependent, so he doesn’t entertain any form of negotiation but rather gets her pregnant anytime, not minding her psychologically and emotional state. It’s his world and so he does whatever they wants, whenever he wants and however he wants it.

Men control women. What can a woman ever do without his endorsement and consent? Absolutely nothing! Except she wants to see his other side and can she handle it? What if he gives her a black eye, uses hard words to break her or even leaves...

But few women are rethinking things and deciding to be responsible for themselves by breaking out of the box and charting their own causes. Even fellow women who have resigned to fate, in fear, in fact consider a woman who does that “a man”. So, that’s where we are and it appears that the majority of

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HERE is a recent trend and it is alarming at the rate at which it is increasing. Many women are running away from their marriages, leaving behind their children, ignoring their vows and the covenant they made in the presence of friends, families and well-wishers who came to celebrate their public display of undying love for one another.

What is alarming about the trend? A massive number of weddings are taking place each Saturday and on some weekdays as more and more persons are sealing their love affairs in marriage.

They are making the same vows that some are running away from, some albeit without thinking about what marriage entails and some others basking in the euphoria of the I-am-in-love feeling.

Marriage is a beautiful institution, but not one that anyone should embrace without deep thoughts and intentional choices and decisions and with no prior plan as to ascertain the purpose of the marriage. The issue of the purpose of the marriage should not be a matter for speculations Many marriages fail for lack of purpose. The partners never had deep conversations about the decisions they were about making.

Marriage was not just intended for recreational purposes, neither is it just an institution every human that clocks a particular age is expected to be involved in; it is much more that.

The institution called marriage is huge. It unravels for each person as the days and years roll. It is not something anyone should approach casually, or

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

The Nigerian woman may not even contemplate pressing for change now despite the global call for it at this time but she does need a better deal - to be allowed a fair chance to be human and live freely. women would rather die in silence than live a voice.

Now we are charged to #pressforchange.

That’s the theme of this year’s international Women’s Day. Sounds good and worth doing but can we even dare to mention it in Nigeria with all the risks involved? We have been taught that no woman is complete without her man and there isn’t much she can achieve without him. If we do press for change, can we stay a day away from his harsh

words or his hand hitting our faces?

Aren’t we already getting used to that?

And if we give up and leave, would we be any better elsewhere? Or would we only be postponing the evil day? Would we be better off pressing for change in this so-called era of “change”?

He is dominant but that has become part of our lives and we no longer know how to do anything for ourselves. Where do we start from and how can we even press for change seeing how unprepared we are? Clearly, the odds are against us

as in the days of Biafra. Do we even want any change after all?

The Nigerian woman may not even contemplate pressing for change now despite the global call for it at this time but she does need a better deal - to be allowed a fair chance to be human and live freely. She needs a fair chance to change and be who she should be and not what she’s been conditioned to become. The change Nigerian woman needs now is that of self-image and sense of self worth. It’s time to quit letting external factors define who we are.

They lie, telling us we are less but our inner selves know the actual truth. That lie has not helped our situation and sometimes we almost believe it. And now, though we mostly lack capacity, we can start where we are by pressing for our own change. Can we start to rebuild our confidence and regain our self esteem? When we hear him say NO, can we smile and keep the dream alive? We may not be allowed to defend our cause for fairness, neither can we press for far reaching social change but we keep pressing for change from within because we know deserve a better social contract and can get it.

Happy international Women’s Day to every woman, who is pressing for her own change and not giving up on it.

Please email recommendations, commendations, and condemnations to ifyaruonu@gmail.com

Marriage, marriage failures

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

Marriage was not just intended for recreational purposes, neither is it just an institution every human that clocks a particular age is expected to be involved in; it is much more that.The institution called marriage is huge. It unravels for each person as the days and years roll. try to minimise by defining it. Marriage rather defines us, refines us, and uncovers us in more ways than we anticipate.

When the purpose of a thing is not established, abuse is inevitable.

Aside some of the other reasons people marry, this is the one of the most important consideration you should make before choosing a marriage partner. What is the purpose of marriage?

It is better to still go steps further by personalizing that question. What is the purpose of my marriage?

Marriage is intended for partnership in purpose deployment: Every individual was born or created for a purpose; and in fulfilling that purpose, one may need help along the line and the gift of a partner whose interest is in line with what you do goes a long way in

contributing to making more impact.

For those of us who are still single and hope to be married someday, the basis for choosing and selecting who we are to be married to should go beyond how they look, walk; what they wear, drive. What they own and smell like or where they work and how much they have in their accounts, are phases and parts that may not have anything to do with particular marriages.

The pre-dominant consideration should be if they are purpose fits; that is, if they fit into and support your purpose journey or even if they will be worthy purpose partners. Once they fit into that purpose, other qualities can follow.

It would mean that before anyone ventures into marriage, he or she should have discovered the purpose for living and should have started living towards fulfilling the purpose or already on the tracks of beginning the journey. These situations would provide more clarity for a marriage.

Trust me, a person who has already discovered his purpose and is on tracks has a chance of a better character and one can vouch for the maturity level.

A life of purpose is a life that has direction, and without direction, many things can go wrong. Marriage is too important a journey to be embarked on without direction.

Please send comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

What happens if your spouse dies?

INTRODUCTION his topic is one of those topics that most people hate hearing, but the truth is that it is an inevitable end that must come when it must come. Nobody likes to die whether rich or poor, that is why when there is danger everyone wants to escape it. In law there are two kinds of circumstances which characterize the deaths of spouses, namely Testate and Intestate; but these will be discussed later in the series.

The funniest aspect of it is that in some cases the spouses forget even their own children when running for their safety, only to remember after their escape that they have children.

That is why this edition’s topic is very crucial and important to all and sundry, whether rich or poor. I once was driving around a major street in my area which harbors some beggars which include the blind, lame and disfigured, and all of a sudden a KAI vehicle appeared and the officers started arresting the beggars nearby.

To my utmost surprise, there was pandemonium and those beggars (even the blind) started running for their safety to the extent that one of them almost put me in trouble when he ran with great speed across my moving car, but I as usual was not speeding. I thank the Lord but what struck my mind was that even these helpless destitute care about their lives. This informs our discussion in this edition.

Let me ask: who knows the exact time and how he or she will die? Also, how prepared will you be when this inevitability occurs? What becomes of all your acquisitions on earth and those you will leave behind if such occurs? Apart from the religious aspect of preparations, do you know that the Law of this our great country, Nigeria, has made adequate provisions for you to plan and execute your future intentions even after your death? Do you know that you can still be controlling, directing

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and speaking to the loved ones that you left behind from your grave after your death through a very simple legal act? This is the result of something you must have performed when you were alive by approaching a lawyer to advise you and prepare a WILL for you in a proper way that cannot cause problem(s) in your family after you must have died?

Come to think of it, since one is not sure of when death beckons at one’s door, it is very important to make adequate preparation in time before it comes. One of my clients is from a very rich family; the father has mansions, I mean mansions in very high brow area of Lagos State. This his father was living a flamboyant type of life that even at his old age he still befriended some young wayward ladies who had children from other men and they would come with those children to his home and he harbored them as his children but at the detriment of his legally married wife and children.

He was made by these ladies to neglect his legal and social responsibilities to his legal matrimonial family. Instead, he was facing those ladies with their ‘migrated’ children in his home. In addition, his cousins and those acclaimed relatives who wish to celebrate with his riches at his death, contributed to confuse him the more. This rich man never thought that he would soonest die at the time he did. One funny thing was that he saw his home in shambles even in his lifetime.

He lived with ‘other beautiful ladies’ more beautiful to him than the great beauty of his legally married wife and he stopped eating in his home and promised those illegal girlfriends and self acclaimed wives that both they and their children would never inherit from his wealth.

Do you know that this man was making preparations for his legal wife and children’s comfort earlier before he got entangled with those charming wayward ladies and he forgot him-

CASE 1 My father legally married my mother, but his brother took over his property after his death Dear Lawyer, In one of your discussions you explained about the different forms of marriage in Nigeria but my father married my mother in both the native, church and statutory forms of marriage. He lived almost all his life in Lagos were he contracted the church and statutory marriage in 1972. Also, he worked, lived and acquired all his properties in Lagos state except one in our village before death. He obtained chieftaincy title in our village but lived all his life in Lagos. He lived with many relatives and some girlfriends later in his life. When he died, without any will, one self-acclaimed uncle with some of our village members forcefully collected my father’s corpse from my elder brother whom they intimidated, took the corpse home and buried him in a customary way without my family consent and even shared his property in Lagos among them applying Customary Law. Please, my mum and her children are confused and do not know what to do……..please advise us.

self and never consulted any lawyer for advice?

One faithful day, he felt some pain at the upper part of his penis and instead of visiting a specialist hospital in Nigeria or abroad, he went to a low profile hospital near his home for treatment and he was told that an operation was to be conducted on him, which he accepted, thinking that it was a minor thing. The operation was conducted but he died from it unprepared legally.

His corpse was taken secretly by his so-called relatives – the gold diggers – to his home town without the knowledge of his legal family members and buried contrary to the Marriage Act of Lagos State. Even when the legal family members, who were informed of his death by one of his numerous lady-friends who felt neglected in the scheme of benefitting from him, went home to safeguard his documents and his property at his residence, those so-called relatives and ladies conspired and invited the police who arrested them with charges of house-breaking and illegal trespassing and later released them on bail with an undertaking not to go to their ‘legitimate home’ again because they were “trouble makers”. In addition, the same set of ‘Gold-diggers’ buried this rich man without the consent of the legal family consent and shared his property to themselves. But they found it difficult to obtain ‘probate’ to collect his money in the bank. How did the legal wife and children obtain probate to collect the man’s money in the bank?

Probate is the only authority that banks in Nigeria respect when it comes to obtaining a deceased person’s money or property. More about legal implication of death will be discussed later in this series; but if your problem on this topic cannot wait till then, please call or email me or any lawyer close to you for assistance.

CASE 1 Can I make my Will now, even though I’m still a young man?

I am a very young man but wealthy with a lot of property. I think I still have many more years to live since I am still a young man and not married. However, I think it would be right for me to write a Will. Please, can I make my WILL now?

From, Henry, Abuja.

From Peterside, Benin, Edo State.

Lawyer’s Answer:

Lawyer’s Answer:

Dear Peterside,

Dear Henry,

Your situation is very unfortunate but it happened that way because your father made the mistake of believing that he controlled his life, therefore he never consulted any lawyer to assist him in planning for his family in a way that he can still be speaking and directing from his grave.

However, since he married your mother in the statutory or what is popularly known by most Nigerians as Court Marriage, and worked and lived most of his life in Lagos State before he died without a will (i.e. intestate), the Marriage Act Section 49(1) of Lagos State gives priority in order of administration of his estate to first, your mother, then you the children etc.

It is where none of you is alive that your direct uncles (fourth in the list) can come in. Hence, these uncles to the best of my knowledge as a lawyer erred in law. However, the burial ceremony can be fashioned customarily since there is no ‘Burial Act’.

First of all, you didn’t tell me your age. Also, your marital status is not known.

However, you are free to make your will at anytime you so desire if you meet up the requirements as the Law demands.

Also, it is better for you to meet a lawyer now to prepare a will for you. You can renew it at your choice at anytime. Please, contact me on my phone lines or any other lawyer around you for more details on how to go about making your Will.

Feel free to call me or any lawyer around you for more information and further advice and actions on such matters because a lawyer knows it best.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

Winning Little Princess of the Universe has opened doors for me -- Daniella Okoye A while ago she was in the news after her 15th birthday photo shoot went viral and indeed Nigerians were shocked to discover that child actress and model, Daniella Okoye had come of age.

Recently, Oracle Today caught up with the actress who is currently starring in a new movie entitled Isabella, and she opened up on the journey so far revealing that indeed, winning the Little Princess of the Universe has opened doors for her.

What has changed about her since she won the coveted crown.

A smile brightens her features as she responds: “Yes, quite a lot has changed. It has given me the opportunity to partake in educative programmes like that of the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos State. I have met and interacted with prominent people in Nigeria and abroad including the Governor of Bodrum in Turkey. With respect to fame and stardom, it has not been easy but I am myself in my relationship with people.”

She adds reflectively: “The Little Princess journey is six years gone and still counting. I have been myself. It opened new doors for me as I was among those that acted a movie called Elisa and I played lead. It has ben an exciting journey for me.”

Happiest moment Sharing her happiest moments, the indigene of Enugu-Ukwu in Anambra State continued: “My happiest moment was when I was present at the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant at Eko Hotel and Suites. I was touched and can’t wait to get to the age to participate.”

Ever since she hit limelight, it has been a roller coaster experience for the starlet. Her role in Elisa got her a CAMA award for best Teen Actress among others. And now, she has landed another lead role in a new movie entitled Isabella.

How is she coping with stardom?

“CAMA award took me to new heights I never believed I could achieve that so quickly before I clocked 15. Truth is I can’t believe I am 15 already. I give God the glory because it can only be God. The CAMA award blew me out of my mind! I was surprised and at the same time happy. I felt encouraged especially as I got to know that I

am the first teenager to win such award. Where ever I go fans just keep screaming and calling my name and it could be overwhelming sometimes.

Burden of stardom “However, there are lots of things that I can’t do any more. Being a celebrity has robbed me of my privacy.

Yes, I am acting and it is a lead role.

However, I wouldn’t want to say much because we are still working on set. Isabela is going to be another award winning movie and I am calling on my fans to watch out.”

Her 15th birthday pictures went viral recently, have boys started courting her? She breaks out in laughter as she responds: “You know the world we are in. People with different characters and temperaments. I thank God for His wisdom that enables me to dismiss them politely.”

Nollywood How has she been balancing Nollywood and her academics? “Nollywood does not affect my education because it is normally during the holidays. I just entered Senior Secondary and I am studying Art subjects. I have not made up my mind on the course to study in the University. However, I would like to be a super model, open a school that will train girls who want to contest in beauty pageant and also, I want to be a fashion designer.

Which of your parents did you get your looks from? “A lot of people say I look like my mom but funny enough, my dad says I look like him.

But if you ask me, I will say I look like my parents because they both look alike.”

Daniella Okoye has a piece of advice for wannabes. She says: “They should be good in anything they do and above all, they should be God-fearing.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Entertainment

Tony Okoroji to NCC: I am not accountable to you

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OSON chairman, Tony Okoroji has admonished Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Afam Ezekude over a letter from the regulatory body which called on him to stepdown in favour of sacked COSON board member, Efe Omorogbe.

Speaking with Oracle Today he said: “It is the belief of the COSON Board and Management that the NCC overstepped its bounds in trying to control the internal affairs of COSON, a private sector organization, I do not see anywhere in the letter where the NCC says that I should step down as Chairman.

“It is the social media age and people can use the social media to twist anything as they please. Someone has tried to spin the NCC letter and misinterpret it to serve his purpose. I have read the letter several times,” an angry Tony Okoroji said.

“I was not elected by the NCC but by members of COSON. I am doing my work as the Chairman of COSON. I am receiving one hundred per cent support from our Board, management and thousands of members of COSON across the country. Please, do not believe everything you read on Facebook or Instagram. Let me assure you that COSON is working.”

• Tony Okoroji protesting infront of Federal High Court, Lagos According to him? “I have spent much of my adult life building the copyright system in our country for the good of our nation. I have not done it for fame or fortune. Several times, I have put my life on the line because of my dedication to this cause. People who only think of immediate cash for themselves want to hijack the sys-

tem, milk it and destroy it. Members of COSON have not forgotten what happened to PMAN. They have asked me to defend their heritage that we have given so much energy to build, a heritage that gives them enormous pride. I can assure you that we will defend COSON. Nothing will happen to COSON.”

what God has done for me so far. And I think I should let the whole world know that, if He can do it for me, He can also do it for them, by turning to Him. “I know that God has given me the grace to handle the different talents that He has given to me; so, I have been developing myself from childhood, is not so much a challenge. It is also the ability to be able to plan. And I have a good team too,” she said.

She said gospel music is about the substance of worshiping and praising the Lord, adding that through music,

she had been able to mentor and be a role model to many women in the church. “I mentor people through singing, emails, telephone and you don’t have to be physically in contact with people to influence them because action speaks more volumes than mere talk.”

Some of the guest artist that will perform at the launching include Segun Nabi, Leke Apashe, Yomi Olafare, Alewilese band, CAMC Choir, L/Evang Mary Mary, L/Evang Abosede Oluranlowo among others.

December date for ZUMA Film Festival

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ll is set for the 2018 edition of ZUMA Film Festival which runs from December 1 to December 7 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Abuja recently, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, NFC’s Managing Director and Chairman, Organising Committee of ZUFF said that the NFC was poised to deliver on a world class event.

According to him, ZUFF 2018 will provide the platform to sustain the recognition of Nigerian film makers who are adding value in the development of the art and business of filmmaking.

The world, according to Dr. Maduekwe is being driven by digital technologies and therefore filmmaking in Nigeria must adapt.

Meanwhile, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya has been named as Chairman of Jury, ZUMA Film Festival, 2018. A renowned filmmaker and television director, he was Jury President, Video/TV Category, FESPACO 2009. He was a member of Jury NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) ADVERTS AWARDS, 1993; and a member of the1992 Nigerian NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE among others.

ZUFF 2018 AWARDS categories are Best Cinematography, Best Script, Best Animation, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary, Best Foreign Film, Best Student Film, Best Picture and Best Indigenous Film. Entry opens on March 1 2018 and closes on September 30.

Gospel singer to launch album

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gospel singer Deaconess Oluwafunmilayo Oyebade is set to launch her new debut four tracks album titled UNSTOPPABLE GLORY on March 25 by 12pm prompt.

The venue is Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC), Shyllon street Ilupeju Palmgrove Lagos. According to the singer, entrepreneur and business woman, the album is to show appreciation for what God has done in her life.

“This album is titled UNSTOPPABLE GLORY and the whole idea is to give glory back to the Creator, who has helped me. It is like a testimony to

Akin Shuga’s double joy

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• Akin Shuga

Just Before I Do set to hit cinemas

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new movie, Just Before I Do will hit cinemas on April 13, Speaking, filmmaker, Omilani Oluyinka, the producer of the movie revealed that Just Before I Do is a blend of romance, drama and comedy.

He said: “We don’t have the biggest of stars and marketing budget but we dare say we have one of the most unique stories ever told in Nollywood.

Our strength lies in our unique storyline and plot twist which will get you glued to your screen till it’s over. It’s a drama with a difference.

“The casts are mainly an expression of the uniqueness and depth of the story. Each of the cast member was carefully selected for the roles they played. It had nothing to do with how popular they were but how competent they are.”

Just Before I Do tells the story of a conniving mother-in-law, a young unmarried couple and a lawyer who are torn inbetween love and the fight to win a selfish battle; each one fighting for his own.

kin Shuga, the leader of the 14-piece live band, Shuga surely has cause to celebrate. In just a months, he has bagged two ambassadorship deals courtesy, the Rotary International District 9110 Polio Ambassador.

In his reaction to his appointment as a National Rotary Polio Ambassador, Akin Shuga expressed his gratitude to God while also displaying his passion to see the end of polio in Nigeria and Africa in general.

“This is a great honour for me. It was just about a month ago that I was made District 9110 Polio Ambassador and we were just starting work before this new national ambassadorial one.

This shows that there is a lot of work to be done. God has been faithful to me and I am grateful.“ “I am deeply passionate about seeing the end of polio in Nigeria and beyond. I suffered polio from the age of five and I know what I had to go through. No one deserves to go through it when it is avoidable and this is why I have accepted this new roles as they will help me further in my vision of seeing an Africa that is totally free from polio. I am grateful to the National Rotary Club for deeming me fit as an ambassador and I promise to represent the organization well as we work hand in hand to achieve a greater vision and purpose”, he concluded.

• Nancy Isime

How I interpreted my role in Disguise-Nancy Isime

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tar of Disguise, Nancy Isime, has opened up on how she was able to pull of her role in agatha Amata’s Disguise where she plays the role of a guy named melvin and which premiered recently at IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos.

“I rehearsed everyday and I asked questions from guys around me and of course, my director, Agatha Amata was awesome! I am one of my biggest critics. Funny enough watching it I felt I did not do enough so I don’t really think I killed it. I will leave that for viewers to answer.”

According to her: “Coming into Nollywood was not something I planned. I was modelling and doing beauty pageants and from there I just stumbled on acting after someone advised me to give it a shot and and advised me to go for an audition which I did and it worked out and from there it just kept growing. It was Galaxy TV’s Echoes, a TV series that ran for one year.”

Isime added that it was interesting working as a model and she worked for brands like MTN, Glo, Mai Atafo, Lanre Da Silva, Adebayo Jones and House of Marie among a host of others.

Opening up on her challenges interpreting her role in Disguise she said: “

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME DIVINE REDEMPTION TABERNACLE This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR UGWU PHILIP ANAYO 2. ONWE CHINENYE EBENYI

(CHAIRMAN) (SECRETARY)

AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel to the world.

2. To prepare people for rapture.

3. To promote the spiritual and physical growth of mankind.

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• Eze Benard Enweremadu handing over the key that symbolised Ukwa Ngwa endorsement of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for a second tenure at Great Ukwa/Ngwa Declaration II convened by Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba

Traders panic as FG mulls demolition of Enugu market From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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ROPERTY owners around the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and environ have expressed apprehension over federal government’s current move to demolish the market and other properties within the vicinity.

This followed a hint by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during a facility inspection tour at the airport, Monday.

The Minister had in an address during the tour, declared that the market, especially the abattoir section, constituted a huge threat to air safety, adding that the affected facilities should give way to enable government effect final procedures of upgrading the airport to international status.

Other opposing facilities, according to the Minister include the monumental newly-established Enugu Empower Free Trade Zone, some masks believed to belong to some radio stations and telecom service providers, and other buildings, among others.

Sirika, who also announced that the federal government had released the sum of N1.7 billion for upgrading work at the international wing of the airport, however, pleaded with the Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to give up the Enugu Free Trade Zone, assuring that more funds would be released by government after the passage of the 2018 budget by the National Assembly.

According to the Minister, the decision of the federal government to enlarge the runway from 2.5 kilometres to 3 kilometres was to accommodate more international aircraft, pointing out that work in that regard was stopped midway due to public encroachment on the area within 100 meters on the runway.

While raising specific concern over the site of the Orie Emene market, Sirika noted that the abattoir in the market ‘attracts vultures which portend danger to aircraft in flight,’ adding that a road leading to the Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR), is in terrible state.

He said the VOR functions 24 hours because it guides pilots in their flights, adding that without it, the airport cannot be operated.

“The road is 1.5 kilometres and we need to build it because it is impassable during the rainy season,” he noted, adding that the airport would not be certified internationally except all security concerns were addressed.

Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi assured the Minister of his full cooperation towards government’s quest to fully upgrade the Akanu Ibiam Airport to international status, stressing that it would be to the economic and social benefit of citizens of the state and the general public.

However, some traders at the Oye Emene market, in separate interviews with our correspondent, have condemned the move alleging that the market does

not pose any security threat but rather that government was employing diversionary tactics to shy away from its responsibility of upgrading the airport.

According to one of the traders, who identified himself simply as Mr Nnacheta, the federal government is not being sincere about their current move.

He accused the minister of acting out alleged official script which is intended to cause chaos in Enugu ahead of the 2019 election. He questioned how a market that had existed in the area for decades suddenly became a security threat to the airport.

Another trader who deals in electronics at the market, Chijioke Ugwuodo, believes that the present administration has been playing politics with the Akanu Ibiam international Airport, even as he wondered why government “always comes up with one excuse or the other over the upgrading of the airport”.

According to Ugwuodo, the current move by the federal government could be government plan to continue to buy time and maintain the marginalization of the south east.

“How can they say that Orie Emene and the multi-million naira Empower (Free Trade) Zone should give way for the airport?

How can they say that vultures at Orie market pose a threat to aviation security in Enugu? Has there been any reported vulture threat or attack on aircraft in that area since the existence of that airport? The minister’s

declaration was a product of APC research; that was why they singled out mega facilities which are capable of springing up immense controversy; facilities that would be difficult to forgo,” he said.

On her part, a female developer who said her property was affected during the earlier demolition exercise that was carried out by the federal government during the Goodluck Jonathan administration also accused the federal government of always embarking on programmes without proper feasibility studies.

She wondered why the federal government would now shift attention to the Orie Emene market and Enugu Empower Free Trade zone axis after they had earlier carried out demolition exercises on several marked structures at Nike end of the airport.

However, former SecretaryGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya believes that the issue should be handled with caution, as he called on the affected stakeholders – federal government, Enugu State government – and other relevant individuals or bodies to put heads together and find a lasting solution to the matter.

“It is simple; you cannot have your cake and eat it. It is either those facilities that they have mentioned give way or you remove the airport from its present site. That is the most pragmatic way to deal with it,” he said.

P

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42

Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS

Timber market fire: Ugwuanyi releases N14m for immediate rebuilding of shops

By CHUKS EZE, Enugu

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed the immediate rebuilding of the 72 shops at the Kenyatta Timber Market, Enugu, which were razed down by fire over the weekend as a result of power surge.

Speaking when he revisited the market in company of his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Nkechi Eneh, among others, the governor also promised to assist owners

of the shops with the sum of N7.2 million to enable them restart their businesses.

The governor, who sympathized with traders over the “unfortunate” incident, said that he had to end the meeting of the State Executive Council (EXCO), when he received the news of the fire outbreak to visit the site and ensure that adequate intervention was made to put off the inferno.

Directing that work should commence “now”, after approving and releasing the N14.68 million budget estimate presented by the Chairman of the Kenyatta Timber Dealers Association, Mr. Levi Obi on be-

half of the affected traders for the rebuilding of the 72 shops, Gov. Ugwuanyi declared: “I am here to wipe away your tears”.

He reassured the affected traders that his administration will do everything possible to ensure that they remain in business, saying: “When I first visited here on the night this unfortunate incident occurred, I was touched when one of the affected traders told me that he was going back to the village.

But I told him ‘you will not go back to your village because of this challenge’’’.

While praying that such incident does not happen again, Gov. Ugwuanyi also wished the

traders a bountiful success in their new investment.

Earlier, the Timber Dealers Association chairman, Mr. Obi on behalf of the traders thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his prompt intervention and constant visits to the market since the incident in spite of his tight schedule, especially the night when the fire outbreak occurred.

Obi described Ugwuanyi as “responsive and a governor for the poor and everybody”, adding that the traders were overwhelmed with joy despite the challenges they were confronted with when they saw the governor at the site of the inferno the night it occurred.

He also commended the governor for development projects his administration has executed within the area, such as the Ndemde Bridge that links the timber market and Achara Layout, Enugu as well as the Lomalinda-Timber Market road, adding that 24 traders in the

market have so far benefitted from the state’s Traders Empowerment Scheme.

Regretting that the incident was caused by the power surge, Mr. Obi called on the Enugu Electrical Distribution Company (EEDC) to provide a dedicated transformer for the market to enable the traders take precautionary measures at the close of work.

He urged the traders to ensure that they register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards to reciprocate the governor’s kind gesture by returning him to power in 2019.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Ugwu, while welcoming the governor to the market commended him for his timely intervention, saying that “the governor has not slept since this fire incident happened”.

By OGE ONYEANUSI

neighboring towns of Agulri and Umuoba-Anam; demarcation of boundaries between Umueri and neighboring towns which has been the cause of dispute over the years; empowerment of youths of the town; attracting government patronage for the construction of several roads in the town and the celebration of Ofala and Iwaji for the first time in 23 years.

President-General of Umueri General Assembly, Chief Pious Ejimofor Okonkwo, who spoke to newsmen during the event, noted that for the past 23 years, precisely 1995, when the former Igwe Nelson U. Okoye (Okebo I of Umueri) joined his ancestors, the town remained without Igwe and has been losing a lot from government until February 28, 2017, when Igwe Bennett Emeka was coroneted.

Okonkwo said that since the emergence of Igwe Emeka, Umueri had witnessed a lot of developments, peace and tranquility.

According to him, under the new Igwe, Umueri became the first town to complete the first and second phases of the N20m ‘Choose your Project’ initiative, Amb. Chibuzor Okenye, the National Youth President of Umueri, also told newsmen that youths of the town are fully behind the Igwe because the Igwe is youth-friendly, adding: “90% of what the Igwe has been doing in the town benefits youths directly.”

Other notable personalities that graced the occasion including Hon. Obinna Emeneka, representing Anambra East Constituency; Chief Mathias Ameke, PPA Chairman in Anambra State; Jude Igboanugo as well as Sir John Nwakibie, among others, congratulated the Igwe and people of Umueri on the August event.

Umueri monarch marks 1yr coronation anniversary with thanksgiving

L Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State acknowledging cheers from jubilant traders of Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, after he inaugurated the major access road in the market rehabilitated by his administration, yesterday.

Delta police commence mop up of illegal firearms

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

elta State Police Command has constituted a task force headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge Operations Department, ACP. Wagbara Peter to immediately commence the mopping up of banned categories of firearms in the state.

The development follows the new directive of the InspectorGeneral of Police for total enforcement of the Firearm Act banning the possession and use of illegal and prohibited firearms, ammunition, weapons and devices locally fabricated or modified that can cause death or injury to persons.

This much was disclosed to journalists by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Mustafa, stating that all those in possession of prohibited firearms in Delta state, should surrender them to the Commissioner of Police through the Area Commanders of their places of domicile within 21 days with effect from March 1, 2018.

“Consequently, the general public, individuals and groups such as vigilantes and neighbourhood watch, town unions, hunters and watch night men or any group or association under any capacity or guise other than statutory Security Agencies recognized and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to bear firearms of specified category, who are currently possessing and using prohibited/ illegal firearms such as pump action gun of all categories and the likes for whatsoever purpose in the state are hereby given twentyone (21) days with effect from today, 1st March, 2018, to surrender them to the Commissioner of Police through the Area Commanders of their places of domicile.

“No license will be given or recognized in respect of prohibited firearms and ammunition except if granted by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police.

“I therefore implore concerned citizens, general public, and Local Government Authorities to prevail

on their vigilantes, neighbourhood watch, civil security outfits and watch night men and others attached to any organization including public and private institutions in the state to surrender within the time limit of 21 days, all the prohibited firearms in their possession.

“Anyone found with prohibited firearms after the expiration of the 21 days will be arrested, investigated and prosecuted, as the police will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on any individual or group whose conduct, under any guise, run contrary to the law of the land,” Mustafa said.

The police chief, therefore, implored members of the public to be vigilant and report to the Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers nearest to them anyone bearing, possessing or in custody of the above mentioned prohibited firearms anywhere in the state and to continue to repose confidence in the police and providing necessary cooperation in their desire to reduce crime to the barest minimum level in the state.

ast Sunday, March 4, will remain fresh in the annals of Umueri Community in Anambra East council of Anambra State as the community together with its friends and well-wishers joined the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Bennett Emeka, to mark the one year anniversary of his coronation as Okebo II of Umueri.

The community had existed for 23 years without a king.

The event which started with a thanksgiving service at the Christ Apostles’ Church (Inc.) Umueri, attracted traditional rulers from the state and beyond, state government representatives, youth and women organizations as well as friends from far and near.

In his homily during the service, the Senior Pastor of the Church, Alex Okoye, urged the traditional ruler to remain focused on his duties as Igwe, not minding the multitude of distractions that are coming his way; because, according to him, God installed him for a purpose. To the people of the community, he urged to be submissive to their monarch since the institution of the monarch is ordained by God. “When you are submissive to the monarch, all the good purposes of God towards your community will be made manifest”, he added.

Remarking, Igwe Emeka expressed gratitude to God for what he called a glorious one year as monarch, while also thanking his subjects for their unalloyed supports, as he proceeded to reel out some of his achievements since he was crowned to include but not limited to fostering peace between his town Umueri and

43

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

LIFE

I

t was another day of joy and merriment for indigent widows in Ebonyi State, when they converged at the Widowcare Centre, Abakaliki, for the annual new year party, which holds at the instance of Chief Mrs Eunice Ukamaka Egwu, former First Lady and wife of former Ebonyi State governor and serving Nigerian Senator, Dr. Sam Egwu.

Mrs Egwu has been running the foundation for over 20 years; a platform through which she attends to the needs of indigent widows and their families, as well as aged and less privileged women. The outfit is concerned with providing various supports to indigent widows such as construction of residential buildings, cash donations or award of soft loans to set up business, school fees support, as well as provision of medicare and skills acquisition, among others.

Numbering over 1000, the women who came from various parts of the state, most of them looking troubled and dejected, were treated to various revitalizing items such as prayer sessions, praise and worship, deliverance, dance-drama as well as distribution of cash, refreshment and other gift items. Each of the women smiled home with a special package containing N3000 stipend, half bushel of rice, condiments, wrappers, foot wears and take home cooked food and soft drinks, among others.

The official commencement of the event was preceded by series of intercessory prayers, praise/worship and dancing. By the time the host walked in to officially kickstart the main show, the atmosphere was already charged up, and the widows’ were already wearing cheerful faces. Their sorrows seemed to have been rolled back by the soul-lifting preliminary session, at least for that day.

The guest preacher at the event was Rev. Ephraim Ononye, the Spiritual Director of Power House of Prayer Interdenominational Ministries, with headquarters in Ebonyi State. He urged the widows not to allow whatever they were passing through to weigh them down or discourage them from having absolute faith in God. Using several biblical and true life story illustrations, Ononye, who entitled his sermon, “Do not conclude with your present condition” advised the women to avoid redundancy and laziness, assuring them that God was aware of their plights and that He would always blesses their efforts and resilience.

“You may appear down and out today but that is not your final portion. You may be at the lowest point of your life, but I can assure you that God has the capacity to take you to a point where zero will become hero,” he said.

The popular vocal priest also enjoined the women to emulate his own mother, who he said, rose above all challenges after the death of their father and singlehandedly raised him and his siblings and as well, struggled to fund their education. He said through their mother’s hard work, resilience and prayers, their family could today boast of very successful professionals including himself, an influential priest, to the glory of god.

In her address, Mrs Egwu thanked the women for honouring her invitation for the 2018 party, stressing that it is not everybody that would extend invitation to people and it is honoured. She also poured gratitude on her husband, Senator Dr. Egwu, for his support since she started the Widowcare Foundation over 20 years ago. Egwu who entitled her speech, “I boast of God the most high”, also said she had been able to keep the foundation afloat due to her husband’s support, encouragement and freehand.

According to the former First Lady, her concern for widows and less privileged dates back to when she was still a little girl back in the village. She argued that one did not have to wait until one has surplus before one could share with friends and the needy. She pointed out that a little gift to the needy could mean the world to them.

Succour to indigent widows Former First Lady gifts widows cash, other items at 2018 Widowcare party. CHUKS EZE reports from Enugu.

“This is my little way of appreciating God for his grace and favour upon me; it is my little way of sharing the little that I have with poor widows. You cannot imagine what these women go through in their respective homes. I do; and that is why we always organise this party at the beginning of every year, to give them some nice treat so they can at least, forget some of their troubles and sorrows,” she said.

She thanked those who supported the programme with various cash and gift items including the Ebonyi State governor, Chief David Umahi, her husband, Sen. Dr. Sam Egwu; Chief Protocol Officer to Governor Umahi, and Dr. Mrs Adeline Idike among others. Mrs Egwu later directed her coordinators to enumerate gate-crashers, who had gathered around the hall, in their numbers, without any proper identification, and extended her largesse to them as well.

There were so many guests who are not widows, but they attended the event to extend their solidarities to the philanthropist, who is popularly called ‘Nwanyi di oha ree’ (A woman loved by all), in Ebonnyi State.

They included wife of the Anglican Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Lady Nwanyieze Charity Nkwoagu, and the Chairman of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), Hon. Mrs Patience Odgodo. Others were some

serving and former political office holders, as well as a college of priests of various denominations, who attended the event from different locations within and outside the state.

Meanwhile, a cross section of guests as well as some of the widows, who spoke to our reporter, described Mrs Egwu as a unique breed.

Hon. Mrs Patience Ogodo was marvelled that Mrs Egwu has been able to singlehandedly sustain the Widowcare Foundation for over two decades, without ever bragging about such feat. According to her, such long sustenance is a testimony that God was behind the project.

“I thank God for her and pray that God continues to sustain her. This woman always humbles herself every year and organises this special and all-encompassing party for widows in our state. She is an amazing woman. It is not easy to always give out without anything returns”, she said.

For Pastor Evan Chike of Grace Life Church, Abakaliki, the event was simply awesome, highly enriching and a total package. He informed that he had attended several past editions of the occasion, and pointed out that, “it is an event that once you attend, you cannot help but break down in tears while witnessing the way God is using this

woman to touch the lives of widows and the less privileged”.

He concluded that most of the widows were able to hang on for another year because of what they benefited, body and soul, from the annual party. He however, urged various government agencies, spirited individuals and corporate organisations to support the Widowcare project to make it more enriching. The pastor suggested that since Widoecare already has a formidable platform, all that it needed was more financial support to enable the outfit to expanded and be able to reach out to other widows even outside Ebonyi State.

And for one of the widows, Celina Ogbuabor, who was a first attendee; she was delighted to be part of the 2018 edition. She said that she had always looked forward to being part of Widowcare events since the death of her husband in 2013, but that she had always missed out due to lack of early information.

“This woman has done marvels for us.

You would notice that I am still filled with goose bumps. I have never seen a woman like this, who could do all these in spite of all the hardship in the country. May God bless her, protect her and her family, and keep her for us,” she said.

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

NEWS

How Achuzia fought for Biafra Continued from Pg 2

was subjected to heavy Nigerian artillery bombardment but defending Biafran troops fiercely resisted.

During five days of heavy fighting, Port Harcourt’s airport and army barracks changed hands on numerous occasions but by 24 May most Biafran troops had been pushed out of the city into the surrounding areas.

Maj. Achuzia continued to fight against the Nigerians before narrowly escaping death after almost being run over by an armoured car.

Thereafter, he abandoned fighting and retreated to Igrita.

On 22 September 1968 Maj. Achuzia took part in an attempt to re-capture the Obingwa Airstrip from the Nigerian 22nd and 44th Battalions but was instead forced to retreat.

On 15 March 1969, the Biafran S Division under Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu made a frontal assault on the 16th Brigade but was forced to halt after suffering heavy casualties. Maj. Onwuatuegwu placed half of his men under the command of Maj. Achuzia and was able to get within 1 km of the city.

Major Achuzia demanded total control of the S Division but was refused by Onwuatuegwu and the

• Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commissioning the Kenyatta Market access road, Enugu

two men almost shot each other after drawing their guns.

Ojukwu stepped in and gave Major Achuzia control of the S Division for one week, continuing the frontal assault on Owerri. However,

Achuzia’s plan ultimately failed and he retreated after suffering heavy casualties, forcing Gen. Ojukwu to immediately restore Onwuatuegwu as commander.

But on 9 January 1970, Ojukwu

officially placed all remaining Biafran soldiers under the command of Maj. Achuzia and gave his Vice President Philip Effiong his title of President.

Three days later on January 12 Ef-

Citizens attack order on firearms Continued from pg. 2

a step further and offer the security that people protected by the vigilantes need,” he said.

According to an Igbo group, which addressed the press in Awka during the week, the order to disarm the vigilantes is suspect.

The group, which addressed the media under the aegis of Igbo Patriots noted that disarming local vigilantes that were legally established by the laws of the state under certain security guidelines as enshrined in the nation’s constitution, would amount to putting the people at the mercy of outlaws, arm-wielding Fulani herdsmen and other criminal gangs without let.

The National chairman of the Igbo Patriots, Evangelist Joseph Agbo said: “There are relevant laws in Nigeria that allow people to carry certain level of arms, especially those within the security sector, including the Neighbourhood Watch and State Vigilantes to carry arms.

“We do not want to believe the IGP will disarm well constituted vigilante groups. These agencies, which work hand in hand with the police, are actually the foot soldiers, legs, hands and eyes in the policing of our communities.

So we don’t want to believe they would withdraw their arms. They are actually the ones on ground.

There are requisite laws that authorised them to carry arms. It would be better that police only want to disarm those who illegally acquired arms. “(Therefore) we hope the IGP has already disarmed all those AK47 automatic rifles in pos-

session of the murderous Fulani herdsmen,” the group stressed.

Similarly, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned IGP’s order against local vigilantes.

In a statement made available to The Oracle Today by the Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze, Barr. Uche Achi-Ogbaga, Ohanaeze noted that the South Eastern States have recorded appreciable safety of lives and property and general crime reduction through vigilante groups and could not fathom the reason behind the IGP’s order.

The statement read, “The South Eastern States especially Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu have demonstrated appreciable increase in safety and severe reduction in crimes and would undoubtedly rank among 10 safest States in Nigeria. This is attributed to a well-planned network of local policing through the vigilante groups. Whatever has made the IGP to want to dismantle and disarm the system that is yielding fruitful results is surprising and thought-provoking.

“One may not be controverted to posit that it is an attempt to give more advantage to the dastardly Fulani herdsmen who are heavily armed with poisonous knifes and all manner of riffles machine guns.

“This is buoyed by the fact that the IGP had made judgmental statements to the effect that the incessant killings by herdsmen were caused by communal skirmishes when it is contemporaneously and crystally clear that it is the terrorist Fulani herdsmen that are pulverising farms and villages and killing people in tens and hundreds.

“Plausibly, how could the IGP unilaterally cancel legal licences

given and backed by State laws to protect their respective environments? With the prevailing situation, l see colossal and precipitous peregrination because the obvious alternative is to resort to selfhelp, which, in its wake, would be tantamount to war. I advise the IGP to reason like a trained police officer and wash himself off prejudiced decisions and ethnic chauvinism.”

However, in his own contribution, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Edmund Ebri noted that the right to bear arms is exclusive to the federal government, adding that the constitution has not granted any powers to state government agencies or in whatever name they are called to bear arms.

“The power to bear arms is exclusive to the Federal Government. That is the position of the Constitution,” he said. “The Fire Arms Act also gives the IGP to power to grant licence to some person to own fire arms. Therefore, the IGP also has the powers to withdraw such licence. Only the President or acting through the IGP can grant license to anyone or agencies to bear arms. Therefore, the IGP has the constitutional right to give the directive asking security agencies to disarm state vigilante’s that are bearing arms.”

But, raising security concerns, former President of Onitsha Market Amalgamated Traders Association, OMATA Chief Pius Ozoanaekwe condemned the IGP’s directive saying that disarming vigilante groups would leave the people defenseless.

Ozoanaekwe pointed out that any attempt to disarm community vigilante groups would spell

doom because it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the police don’t have enough human and material resources to fight kidnappers, armed robbers and armed herdsmen, insisting that community vigilante groups should be allowed to carry pump action guns for the security of lives and property.

“This morning (recently) vigilante boys foiled attempts by robbers operating on three motorcycles and armed with pistols to rob residents and passers. The robbers had started operation before the vigilante boys confronted them fire for fire; the police was not aware of the robbery attempt at Ezenwa Street, so it would have been a successful operation for the robbers without vigilante boys,” he said, citing an example.

He urged the Police boss to quash the order because “it is anti-people”, adding that the order is also generating rumours from many quarters that it is meant to disarm community vigilante groups to pave way for Fulani herdsmen to invade Anambra State and kill as many people as possible.

“Since the news about the order from the Inspector General of Police broke out, rumours have started making the rounds that it is aimed at paving the way for herdsmen’s attacks on farmers in the State; this is not good even for the IGP,” he said.

He called on South East Governors as chief security officers of the region to take it up with the Police boss and tell him to withdraw the order immediately because it is anti-people and “is generating rumour and tension in the land, not just in Anambra

fiong, Achuzia, and other Biafran officers made their way to Amichi and later Owerri to broadcast their final surrender to General Olusegun Obasanjo.

“He deserved the nickname Hannibal,” added the war veteran who didn’t want his name in print. “As you may have read, Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian general considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. To the extent that he was an exceptional battlefield commander, Achuzia was, indeed, our own Hannibal.”

A traditional stakeholder in the affairs of Asaba where he held the title of Ikemba (the strength of a people) until his death, Achuzia was generally sympathetic towards Biafran secessionism, but preferred a restructured Nigeria, which would grant measures of autonomy to its constituent parts.

A member of the Supreme Council of Elders of IPOB, Achuzia in his last interview with The Oracle Today in Asaba in January spoke extensively on the proposed cattle colonies, which he described as a continuation of the Uthman Dan Fodio agenda with its implications.

While condemning plans by the Buhari administration to establish grazing reserves and cattle colonies in each State of the federation, Achuzia alleged that the move was a ploy by Buhari to plant the Fulani in different parts of the country in preparation for a future jihad.

Achuzia also wondered why herdsmen should be given preferential treatment over and above other Nigerian farmers and livestock business people.

While insisting that President Buhari is only pursuing the Uthman Dan Fodio agenda, Achuzia noted that the idea of cattle colonies is a ploy to favour the Hausa-Fulani folks in preparations for a future jihad, describing such move as “bad, horrifying and detrimental to the unity and progress of Nigeria.”

“Once a State accepts, it becomes almost a local government in the State dedicated to the Fulani herdsmen. First, we have not given them space and they already took so much space; what happens then when we create a community for them?” he quipped.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

SPORTS

World Cup: Mikel targets knockout stage Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

S

UPER Eagles and Tianjin TEDA captain, John Obi Mikel, has disclosed that he is focusing on Nigeria advancing to the knock out stage at the World Cup by the Super Eagles.

He, however, noted that he must return to China immediately after the tournament as the Chinese Super League will resume July after a two month break and said it was going to be a daunting challenge.

“I am looking forward to both teams doing well but now I am totally in Tianjin TEDA,” Mikel told reporters in China.

“It will be a long year for me now; I have all my energy in Tianjin TEDA for the new season.

“I will wait after the start of the World Cup and then I will transfer the same energy to the Nigerian team,” Mikel said.

“This year, I will be well prepared to deal with the Super League and the World Cup, these two events for the two teams I will certainly be balanced.

“I am looking forward for Tianjin TEDA achieving a good result in the Super League but also

hope that the Nigerian team can go farther and better in the FIFA World Cup,” Mikel declared.

Meanwhile, Oghene Karo Etebo has sent a warning signal to Nigeria’s group opponents at the World Cup even as the La Pamas of Spain midfielder is sure the Super Eagles although the least rated among the teams in the Group D will ruffle feather s.

He said classification was deceitful saying: “They think because Nigeria is the least ranked by FIFA in the group, Nigeria will bow out at the end of the first group games but that is not going to happen,” Etebo began.

“The World Cup is very important not only for me as a player, but for all Nigerians too. I said it before that we should not go there to mess ourselves up. Nigeria are a great team, nobody thought we will qualify but let see how it goes.

“We have a tough group apart from Argentina and Croatia. Iceland are tough opponents. The World Cup is four months from now, hopefully with hard work and support from the fans to boast our morale, we want to make sure we come out in flying colours in Russia as a nation,” Etebo enthused.

Taribo tutors Balogun, Ekong on ‘defence mentality’ F

ormer Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has lectured the current national team central defenders; William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun on how to make great impact in Eagles’ World Cup participation later in the year.

According to West, the duo of Ekong and Balogun should develop a strong mentality, if they are to excel at the FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia even as he praised them for what they have been able to achieve in Eagles’ defence so far.

The former Nigerian and Inter Milan of Italy Inter defender, who played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups said that modern day defending was more of mental attitude than strength and as a result; the duo who he described as the backbone of the Super Eagles need to brush up mentally in order for the team to benefit more from their contributions during the Mundial.

“I must commend both playersBalogun and Ekong for they have been doing a great job with the defence and we can all see the results. Before the Cameroon game, I was scared because of the physical strength of the Cameroonians but they showed great intelligence to mark them out,” Taribo said.

“During our time, we had rugged defenders, but that is not

the case today because we now have more defenders using their mental strengths than their physical strengths on the pitch.

“The game against Argentina exposed us a bit, but I’m sure the coaches will look into it and

with our wealth of experience, I believe we can work as a team and help improve the team generally,” Taribo concluded.

It is noted that the former Inter Milan defender was recently appointed into the NFF Technical

Study Group saddled with the responsibility of collating, analyzing and putting at the disposal of the Federation, data and new thinking that can enhance the rapid development of the game in Nigeria.

Fasugba backs Emmanuel’s allegiance switch

F

ormer Nigerian speed star, Olusoji Fasugba, has thrown his weight behind Bamidele Emmanuel’s decision to switch his international allegiance to another country.

Emmanuel who is listed in the 33-man squad for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia left the national team camp in Port Harcourt ahead of the Games without permission.

Speaking on the controversial disappearance of Emmanuel from the National camp in Port Harcourt, the Technical Director the Athletics Federation of Nigeria

(AFN) Sunday Adeleye, confirmed the development even as he disclosed that AFN has reported the incident to International Association for Athletic Federation (IAAF).

Reacting to AFN’s declaration via its technical director, Sunday Bamidele, former sprinter who helped the country win bronze in Athens Olympics in 2004 took to his Facebook to back Emmanuel saying his compatriot has taken the right step.

He queried the claim by AFN that they spent money on the athlete saying the way they operate is not the way to go. He explained that putting athletes in what they regarded as camp and barely feed them is not how to take of athletes in other climes.

According to Fasugba’s face book post: “What! Did I just hear the AFN say they have invested in the athlete? Are they kidding me?” He asked.

“I might not say much these

days but honestly, Bamidele I wished you luck, as you are on the right part. “You can’t say that to those who prepare their athletes the right way, not just put them in the so called camp and barely feed them in a country that will end up with no athlete,” Fasugba predicted Meanwhile, Nigeria wrestlers who are in camp preparing for the2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, who boycotted training last week in protest of none payment of arrears of camp allowances and bonuses have rescinded their decision and are back in training.

According to them, their reason for soft peddling in their demand is due to the assurances that they have received from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Olusade Akinsola that they would receive part of their allowances and bonuses before the Games in Australia.

Okocha, Baffoe join German Bundesliga ‘Legend XI’ B

arely two weeks after making it at the maiden AITEO/ NFF Awards as one of the country’s “Legend XI”, former Nigerian and Bolton Wanderers captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has again, been rewarded with another award this time from far away Germany as one of the Bundesliga ‘Legend XI’, according to the German Leagues’ official website.

Okocha is one of the only two Africans that were able to achieve the feat as he shares the honour with Ghana’s legend and CAF Deputy General Secretary, Anthony Baffoe as one of Bundesliga “Legend XI”.

The former Super Eagles and Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, it is recalled etched his name in gold when he featured for his Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt and messed up one German’s greatest goalkeepers, Oliver Khan during a league match with his dribbling skills.

According the Bundesliga official website: “His sublime skills and tremendous tricks brought joy to fans of Eintracht Frankfurt and lit up Germany’s top division for many years; and now it has been announced that footballing icon, Jay-Jay Okocha is the latest star to join the Bundesliga Legends Network.

“The newest member of an elite group of former playing greats to become part of the illustrious Bundesliga Legends Network, Okocha set Germany’s playing fields alight between 1992 and ’96 when the Nigerian ace scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists in 90 memorable matches for the team known as The Eagles.

“Never to be forgotten among the sides he has represented, it is with warmth and delight that this footballing artist is remembered among the denizens of Eintracht while followers of the Bundesliga will forever continue to delight in the legend that is Jay-Jay Okocha.

Welcome to the Bundesliga Legends Network,” a Bundesliga statement reads.

The German Bundesliga was bewildered by the quick feet, spellbinding step-overs, dream-like dribbles and eye-catching creativity of one of the developing stars, and characters, of the world game.

On August 31, 1993, Okocha combined all of the above traits to score one sensational goal that had beaten goalkeeper Oliver Kahn tweeting over 20 years later, “I’m still dizzy,” even now said the former German keeper.

Bundesliga giant Kahn entered folkloric status at Bayern Munich, but it was while at Karlsruhe that the highly decorated shot-stopper faced his Nigerian nemesis on a night when he, and several defenders, were left with a sense of motion sickness following Okocha’s jawdropping exploits.

Following his spell in Germany, the attacking midfielder took his skills to Turkish team Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-German and Bolton Wanderers, among others.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

SPORTS

I actually owned a private jet–Amokachi

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ORMER Super’s attacking sensation, Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi, has put to rest the controversy of whether he once owned a private jet as a player or not.

Amokachi, a member of 1994 World Cup history making Super Eagles squad said he actually owed a private “I went to aviation school in Morocco when I was at Everton and when I moved to Besiktas, I stopped. So, I didn’t end up getting my license.

“What happened was that when I was in Besiktas, we played a game and after that game, I flew into Nigeria when we have a derby game in Istanbul against Fenerbahçe and they don’t joke with that you know.

So, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nobody saw me you know.

“The President then called and said where are you and I said my mummy is sick and I have to be in Nigeria and he said listen, we need you to come and play on Saturday and you can go back and I said I cannot do anything and he said don’t worry, please come.

“He said where are you? Lagos or Abuja? I said I am in my village in Kaduna and they sent a

private jet to Kaduna. Private jet picked me up in Kaduna, took me to Istanbul, dropped me at the Airport and a chopper took me to the stadium, dropped outside the stadium and I played that game and we won by a lone goal.

“And after the game, the next day the president called me into his office and said; I am sure you enjoyed the lifestyle and I said who wouldn’t, you know. And he said okay, I love you so much and Besiktas love so much, I will enroll you as a family group.

“Do you know what a family group is? Family group in an airline business is one, where one, two or three people have their name (s) on a Private Jet and it is for your service anywhere in the world. Just a phone call the plane comes for your service.

“They can brand the plane with your name. So, Besiktas did that for me. So, apparently I owned a jet. I enjoyed that moment and since then I can call a plan and they can brand it with my name.

“After my injury, I told the President listen, I cannot, I won’t allow you to bother and he said Okay, there is no problem you can have this million and we will take you name off,” Amokachi explained.

Eagles tipped to ruffle feathers in Russia T

he Super Eagles of Nigeria have been tipped as one of the seven teams to ruffle feather at the 2018 FIFA World Cup despite the world’s attention being focused on traditional heavyweights like Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain among other football heavyweights when hostilities get underway in Vladimir Putin’s country later in the year.

The Nigerian national team Nigeria according to report have been tipped as one of the seven countries that will prove bookmakers wrong when tournament gets underway in June basically because of the way they qualified for the World Cup without conceding defeat.

The Super Eagles who find themselves in a tough group that have the like of one of the favourites Argentina, Croatia and debutants, Iceland in Group D are currently ranked the least among their group opponent.

But like what happened during the World Cup Qualifiers when the draws were made that saw the three time African champions (the Super Eagles) being grouped alongside reigning African champion, Cameroon, the then FIFA ranked No1 team on the continent, Algeria and former continental champions Zambia, which by every standard was a very tough group, the Nigerians qualified in grand style to the amazement of doubting Tho-

mases.

With is scenario, world football watcher are saying, wait a minute and watch out for the Super Eagles as they are expected to be one of the revelations of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. More importantly, what is giving the respective hope of Nigeria doing well in Russia is the achievement recorded by the team since the arrival of the German gaffer Gernot Rohr, especially in the World Cup qualifying series where the team qualified

with a game to spare.

World football followers are insisting that the Super Eagles will indeed cause a major upset when the World Cup gets under way if they could repeat their World Cup Qualifying feat.

Meanwhile, the coach of home based national team, Salisu Yusuf, who led the CHAN Eagle 2nd place finish at the recently concluded Championship of African Nations (CHAN), has advised Nigerians not to rule the homebased players out of the squad

that would engage Poland and Serbia in international friendlies scheduled for this month.

Many Nigerian have criticized the home based Eagles following their embarrassing defeat by Morocco in the final of this year’s CAF organized Championship of African Nations (CHAN). A competition meant for players who ply their football trade on home soil. But Yusuf believes that there are talents in the domestic league that can make the squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Nigerian Bobsled Team receive rousing welcome in Lagos .To be hosted by President Buhari today

N

igerian Bobsled Team to this year’s Winter Olympics in Peogychang South Korea, were last Tuesday given a great welcome by enthusiast supporters at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on arrival from South Korea where they made history as the first African women to have participated in the Winter Olympic Games.

The athletes who on their own without any government support trained and qualified for the Winter Games even as they rejected offers from other countries like the United States of America to represent them; returned to the country last Tuesday to the waiting hands of a crowd of supporter.

The overwhelmed athletes on seeing the crowd of supporters waiting to receive them showered encomium on them for their love and support before, during and after the Games.

Meanwhile barring any hitch, President Muhammad Buhari will on the today, host the team to a Presidential reception in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will present 90 athletes and 45 officials at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled to run from April 4-15.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Development disclosed that Nigeria will feature in 10 events including athletics, basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, table tennis, gymnastics, Para-table tennis, Para-athletics, Para-weightlifting.

Bring on Poland, Onazi roars

O

genyi Eddy Onazi, the vicecaptain of the Super Eagles has declared that he knows the enormity of the task ahead of the Super Eagles even as he expressed his readiness to square up against the Polish national team that have the like of Robert Lewandowski, Wojciech Szczesny, Arkadiusz Milik, Pawel Wszolek and Filip Starzvnski amongst others on the 23 of March in Warsaw.

He explained that it is going to be fantastic for them to take on the Robert Lewandosski among his teammates as it will help them as they prepare for the World Cup in Russia.

“It will be a fantastic friendly for us to be able to test our strength before the World Cup. They are playing in Europe, they are a European country.

“They have almost the same style of play like Iceland we know they are a very strong team like that.

“For me, the games against Poland and Serbia are good for our preparations because they are going to help us have a clearer picture of what to expect from our European opponents,” Onazi explained.

“Playing against a player like Lewandosski is an added advantage as he going to be a part of the Polish team. There is no gain saying that Lewandosski is a world class player.

“He is one of the most respected players in Europe. His exploits with Dortmund and Bayern is there for everybody to see and he is not slowing down a bit.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

SPORTS

Rivers Angels win maiden NWFL Champions League

By MADUABUCHI KALU

R

IVER Angels Fc of Port Harcourt Sunday took their pound of flesh on reigning Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) champions, Nasarawa United of Lafia as they lifted the maiden NWFL Champions League at the expense of their Nasarawa opponents.

The match started at exactly 4:03pm saw representative of the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Mrs. Abosade Yinka Ogundimu took the traditional kick-off to herald the maiden edition of NWFL Champions League.

Mrs. Ogundimu was assisted on the task by the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and other dignitaries such as the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tando, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) among other personalities.

It was Rivers Angels who took the kickoff and immediately took the battle to their opponents but their effort did not yield any result even as Nasarawa Amazons immediately took control and returned the heat to their Rivers opponents.

There was not dull moment but all the mesmerizing moves by both teams didn’t yield any result until the 42nd minute, when as a result of defensive slip, Alice Ogede of Rivers Angels broke the deadlock.

She was so over joyed that she pulled her jersey half-way which led to the centre referee giving

S

•Winners of maiden NWFL Champions League, Rivers Angels. her a yellow card. The efforts of Nasarawa Amazon to equalize in the remaining few minutes were thwarted by Rivers Angels. There was a raffle draw at half time where four lucky winners smiled home with GOtv decoders.

On resumption, Nasarawa equalised on the dot of 64 minutes via Adejoke Ejalonibu. The game ended 1-1 and they moved into penalty shootout. It was Nasarawa Amazon that took the first kick via their captain and she scored same with River Angels. Both teams scored their first two kicks but the Rivers Angels shot stopper saved Na-

sarawa’s 3rd kick. Thinking that they have been advantaged, the Rivers Angels player while taking her third kick gifted it to her opponents’ keeper thereby keeping the result same.

Nasarawa scored their fourth kick while Rivers did the same.

Nasarawa missed their last kick as Rivers Angel keeper parried the ball away while Rivers scored their last kick, thereby ending the game to 4-3 in favour of Rivers Angels who before the commencement of the game had voiced out their desire to avenge the defeat they had suffered in the hand Nasarawa Amazons.

The highlight of the event was the handing over of the shield to Rivers Angels which was performed by the representatives of the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Mrs. Ogundimu and ably assisted by Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Kweku Tandor, and the Chairperson of NWFL, Aisha Falode.

Other dignitaries that graced the occasion include, Super Falcons’ coach and former player, Maureen Madu, Super falcon goalkeeper trainer, Precious Dede, a board member of NWFL, Henrietta Ukaigwe amongst other personalities.

gentina if he could play for 60 minutes. With this arrangement, you can be sure that Messi could be encouraged to play for more than by just 60 minutes to enable his football association smile home with the mega buck.

This also means that for every minute that Messi spent on the pitch, he will be earning $60,000 for Argentina which is about N18million per minute that he spends on the field of play. That is what having a

country makes when she has a sort after star in the mode of Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the question is when will Nigeria produce such a mega football star? The answer is in the womb of time.

Messi to earn N1.1b for Argentina in 60 minutes W

ho says football is not a serious and lucrative business? If you hold such opinion, you may be forced to change it after reading this story.

Of course a good number of people are aware that the beautiful game is money spinning particularly if you based your view on Europe’s top five leagues (EPL, French League One, Bundesliga, Seria A and Spanish La Liga) but this story has nothing to do with league football; rather it has to do with national team football.

Argentina Captain and five time World Footballer o Year, Lionel Messi is set to set yet another world record if he could feature for La Albiceleste in a pre-World Cup friendly tie against Israel come 9th June.

The Argentine and Barcelona talisman Messi according to the terms of agreement between the Israeli and Argentine Football Associations and the Argentine Football Association for the friendly match that would take place on the 9th June in Tel Aviv, Israel, the Argentine Football Association will be smiling to the bank with $3million if Messi could feature in the game and last for 60 minutes which amount to N1.1bn.

In other words, Lionel Messi will earn a whopping N1.1billion for Ar-

Indian Wells: Am ready, says Serena Williams

Motivation key to Eagles’ success in Russia – Weah

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ormer World Footballer of the Year and President of Liberia, George Opong Weah has thrown his weight behind the Super Eagles of Nigeria to win the most prized diadem in world football, the World Cup. Weah, who spoke to journalists after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock Villa, however said motivating the players before and during the championship will go a long way in ensuring that the team remained focused on the task ahead of them.

The Liberian president admonished the Sports Minister, Hon Solomon Dalung and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) let by Amaju Pinnick to ensure that the players are paid their entitlement as denial of such entitlements unsettles the players.

He explained that the Super Eagles are not going to the World Cup to represent not only Nigeria but the

entire African continent. In his word: “I hope they will prepare very early because they are going to represent Africa and we will be there to watch them, for them to win the trophy for the first time if possible,” Weah began.

“If you win the World Cup, it will be a pride to Africa, it is not just to Nigeria, so, we must do everything to ensure that the players are not stressed, they must concentrate, make sure their incentives are given to them to motivate them.

“Some of the things you see at the World Cup, is that an entire team go to represent a whole country and you will hear that one minister took the money, they did not pay these players and they are causing problems.

“When players are going to camp, it is to relax and focus. In camp, they must have everything there.

Speaking further, the former Liberian captain who appointed a retired

footballer as his country’s Sports Minister expressed displeasure over the attitude of African leaders who are reluctant to invest in sports.

“I have been fighting for so long for my national team to qualify. I said to President Emmanuel Macron of France, that FIFA built one stadium in Liberia and we have one Balloon d’Or, so if you build 10 stadia in my country, you will have10 Ballon d’Or winners.

“I think Nigerian team is a model, we all followed them. I have played with great Nigerian players, I played against them. Now, you have a new generation, the fact that they qualified is a good thing for Nigeria.

“Remember, I played in European setting, when we went camp we had nothing to do. The only thing we did was to take a shower and prepare for the game, everything was laid down there and so you have no excuse.

erena Williams says she frequently wondered how she would keep going after returning to the practice courts following the birth of her first child.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion will return to the WTA Tour at Indian Wells in California this week.

In an interview with BBC Sport, the 36-year-old American said she is motivated by the thought of playing long enough for her six-month-old daughter to have memories of watching her.

“It’s been hard,” she said.

“There have been so many days, even still, when I’m like, ‘how am I going to keep going?’

“It’s been really, really difficult but I keep going and I know that I might not be at my best yet, but I’m getting there and every day is a new day and every day I should be getting better.

“As long as I’m moving forward, even if it’s at a turtle’s pace, then I’m OK with that.”

Williams was speaking before competing at the Tiebreak Tens event at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

In an article for CNN last month, she wrote she feels “lucky to have survived” Alexis Olympia’s birth, having suffered a pulmonary embolism after an emergency Caesarean section.

But now, having played an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi in late December and a doubles rubber for the US Fed Cup team against the Netherlands last month, she says the time is right for her to return.

“I’m ready, or else I wouldn’t be here,” she said.

“If I’m not ready now, I’m just never going to be ready. I feel in two months I’ll be way better than I am now, but you have to start somewhere. I don’t want to keep sitting on the sidelines and thinking about it.”

• Serena

WEDNESDAY March 14, 2018

The

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racle Today

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Nobody can stop Almighty Rochas Okorocha

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NE of the challenges Nigeria faces is that it refuses to accord geniuses their rightful place. We abhor honesty. We shun full disclosure. We are anti-truth. The height of our hypocrisies is that while we loudly crave openness, inclusiveness and forthrightness in our dealings, we ignore examples right before us.

The latest victim of our collective opprobrium is Owelle Kanayochukwu Okorocha, governor of Imo State, Chairman of the All Progressives Alliance Forum, friend of President Muhammadu Buhari and friend of a motley of Presidents (former, forming, formed) across the globe, celebrated philanthropist and a man who is a class apart.

In a rare moment of acknowledgement of the fullness of what Okorocha stands for, one comedian admitted that whether you praised Okorocha or abused him, he was more than anything you could call him. That about captures the essence of Okorocha.

He is different. He is indifferent. He is diffident. He is defiant. He is desultory.

You can add to the list without exhausting the man who treats Imo State like a part of his fiefdom.

Nobody knows Okorocha. Those who claim to have grown up with him in Jos have different versions of his story. I stick to the one by him.

“At the age of nine, I bought a television set, at 14 I bought a bus, at the age of 19/20 I became head of a commercial school, at 22/23 years, I became a proprietor of a school and I went into cement business (BBC) in Gboko, Benue State.

And at the age of 24 plus I got married.

At the age of 29 I became a member of National Constitutional Conference, I became a member of Federal Character Commission.

“Thereafter, I went to contest for governor and failed and shortly after that I ran for presidency and later became a presidential adviser. I ran for presidency again. You see, I moved on and on in life with hard work and challenges,” he told Thisday in a December 2013 interview.

His politics is no less interesting. Within the last 19 years of civilian governments, Okorocha has been a member of five political parties, with his longest stay being in APC, where has spent five years – • Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he contested the governorship primaries against Achike Udenwa in 1999 • All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), an unsuccessful effort as presidential candidate in 2003.

• PDP’s President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Special Adviser on Inter-Party affairs.

• Action Alliance (AA), which he formed in 2005, aiming to run for the presidency in 2007 on its platform • PDP in September 2007 with interest in becoming PDP National Chairman • All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to run as APGA candidate for Imo State governor in the April 2011 national elections, though APGA had suspended

• Okorocha

him in December 2010 • All Progressives Congress (APC), was Rochas’ next stop in 2013 to seek a second term in office.

He has been called a serial political decampee. He considers it a compliment. Complaints about uncompleted projects in the State are met with similar treatment.

Never one to shy away from a fight, he declared himself the best governor of Imo State since it was created in 1976.

It was a way of depreciating anyone who was considered better, especially Dr. Sam Mbakwe, whose foresighted development of Imo State remains a reference 35 years after Muhammadu Buhari and company overthrew the civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari on 31 December 1983.

When Okorocha thought Mbakwe was an inadequate comparison, he said whatever the revered Dr. Michael

Iheonukara Okpara, former Premier of Eastern Region, whose development strides have been benchmarks for decades, achieved, was nothing compared to the transformation of Imo State under Okorocha.

Still not satisfied, he said a combination of the efforts of Dr. Okpara and all former governors of Imo State still paled beside his. Imo people have been benumbed mostly to silence.

Dr. Okpara remains highly regarded for the master plan of Eastern Region that spans 10 States in the current political map. All parts of the Region were developed based on the resources they had.

MI, as he was fondly called, was so selfless that he never owned a house of his own while he was in government.

He went on exile to Ireland at the end of the Nigerian Civil War. Before his return from exile in 1979, his close associates and beneficiaries took up a collection to

build him a house in his village, Umuegwu. Okpara died on 17 December 1984.

How can Okorocha compare himself with such man if he was not out to lower his own well-known standards for acquisition of wealth? He cannot be like MI. He would never be MI. He should not even bother.

Where would Okorocha who told Tell magazine, “My ideas drive me crazy”, borrow the intellectual capacity to match an MI? Okorocha would be remembered for pulling down the Central Library, Owerri, for a new church building many say is his personal building. His demolitions of people and places are adequately recorded.

His other interests have been in erecting statues, re-naming roads, and extending his family to top positions in his government. Some governors could be in wondrous admiration of how Okorocha runs a State that is known for its intellectual power and the unwillingness of its people to tolerate nepotism.

Imo State is Okorocha’s county. He surveys it with sure and certain steps. He is beyond correction or instruction on anything that concerns Imo State. In a skewed democracy, the State House of Assembly earns its existence by fawning over the governor’s interests. It is difficult not to forget that there are elected legislators in the State.

History beckons on Okorocha. When he jumped from one party to the other, until APGA provided the platform for his first term as a governor, we saw it as the beauty of democracy. We are watching how he intends to implement his plans of giving democracy a new dimension.

Son-in-law, who is also his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, is the next governor of Imo State, according to Okorocha. He has drawn God into the plan.

“And no amount of blackmail or tricks would change the plan of God on the young man to govern the State. It takes someone alive in the things of the spirit to know that Uche Nwosu is a ‘child of destiny. He has the divine mark and anyone fighting him is fighting his God. And no one can battle with God,” Rochas announced.

Has the fight against God started?

Members of a group that supports Nwosu attacked the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna. The attack was as Obinna spoke during a funeral service, where he condemned Okorocha’s policies, including the choice of Nwosu as his successor. Okorocha says reports of the attack, a video of which went viral, were sheer blackmail.

My concern is not whether Mr. Nwosu would become the governor of Imo State or not. When almighty Okorocha speaks in definite terms, in this manner, the opposition has a bigger fight in its hands. Democracy will face an entirely different farce in Imo State.

Nobody would say an early warning was not served. We should be grateful to Okorocha for the warning.

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