Wednesday April 10, 2019 Edition

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

WEDNESDAY April 10, 2019

racle www.oraclenews.ng

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.4 No.13 N200

‘Economy in dire need of skilled manpower’ •P5

•Government should set up academies to train workers •UNN, ESUT, others to showcase technological innovations •Reconciliation between Enugu and South East Chambers ongoing •ECCIMA’s Green Houses will sell

vegetables to Shoprite, others

30th Enugu International Trade Fair kicks off Friday, April 5 From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

T

he 30th edition of the prestigious Enugu International Trade Fair begins on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Organised by Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), the 10day trade fiesta will end on Monday, April 15, 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the opening ceremonies of the trade exhibition, which will take place at ECCIMA’s Permanent Fair Ground at Gulf Estate, Enugu.

The federal government is yet to complete the construction of permanent structures for ECCIMA, as has been done in Lagos and Kaduna States.

In an interview, ECCIMA President, Pharm Sir Emeka

Page 7

Udeze (Ogene Ogidi), Vice President Trade Fair and Chairman Planning Committee, Jasper Nduagwuike and DG ECCIMA, Sir Emeka Okereke told The Oracle Today, official newspaper of the Fair, that despite the lull in economic activities occasioned by the recent election, the Enugu trade exhibition would be a huge success.

They said that although they feared that the election might be become problematic with its aftermath making travels by participants/ exhibitors unsafe and unprofitable, they were elated that the nation pulled through the election largely unscathed, an indication that many exhibitors would feel free and safe to come to Enugu and participate in the trade fair, especially also because Enugu is a peaceful

place, which has scarcely had any security challenges in recent time. “ We had fears about the election: possibilities of disruptions, of violence, you know, of the country being in turmoil. But, thank God, it hasn’t gone that way. So, we are very hopeful that this fair will be a huge success,” Udeze enthused.

Added Nduagwuike: “It is beyond argument that Enugu is one of the most peaceful States in the country. We have stability also because the governor is running an all-inclusive government.

For the past seven years of doing this, we have not had one single security challenge. We have no reason to believe that this year will be different.”

As official newspaper

Cont’d on page 33

•Sir, Emeka Udeze, ECCIMA President

Shell pays Nigerian govt, agencies $6.397bn

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

2

3

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION IDPs: ‘Nigeria steering towards another deadly Cholera outbreak’ Stories by VICTOR NZE

O

VERCROWDED displacement internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps coupled with a lack of basic sanitation facilities and hygiene will cause another cholera outbreak in northeast Nigeria if action is not taken now to prevent it, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

A record high number of 10,000 cases of cholera was recorded in northeast Nigeria in 2018, with more than 175 registered deaths, although the actual number may be higher.

“If the camps are not decongested and sanitation facilities improved, cholera will inevitably return, and vulnerable displaced people will bear the brunt of the epidemic again,” warned Eric Batonon, NRC’s Country Director for Nigeria.

Over the last decade, northeast Nigeria has been affected by cholera on a yearly basis. Now, following a rise of violence in late 2018 forcing over 100,000 people to flee, displacement camps and sites are overcrowded. This has resulted in a deterioration of the living condi-

tions and a lack of sanitation facilities. For instance, 466 people are sharing one latrine at one of the displacement camps in the state of Borno, according to the Humanitarian Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

This is nine times above the agreed humanitarian standards, which is set at 50 people per latrine in emergency situations. As a result of lack of sanitation, people choose to defecate in the open, exacerbating an already vulnerable situation and increasing the likelihood of the spread of disease.

“The conflict in northeast Nigeria has now lasted for about ten years, and we should have learned the lessons of past cholera outbreaks and be able to prepare adequately to limit the impact,” said Batonon.

“We are calling for Nigerian authorities to provide additional land to develop decongestion plans and to enable the construction of new water and sanitation facilities. At the same time, the international •Enugu State Governor and Governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) welcoming the Catholic Bishop of Enugu community should provide the nec- Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, when the Bishop led members of the Doicese’s Curia to the Government House, essary funding to respond quickly Enugu, to congratulate the governor on his reelection, yesterday. and efficiently so we can end the cycle of yearly cholera outbreaks in the region.”

Sterling Bank declares N152.2bn gross earnings in 2018

S

TERLING Bank Plc on Tuesday announced gross earnings of N152.2 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2018.

The gross earnings were higher by 14.09 per cent when compared with N133.4 billion declared for the corresponding period of 2017.

Its profit after tax stood at N9.2 billion against N8.5 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2017.

The bank, in a statement, said the performance affirmed the potency of its medium to long-term strategy.

Commenting on the financial performance, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer of the bank, said, “Our 2018 performance demonstrated our commitment to the race we set out on at the beginning of the year.

“We continued to identify more with our strategic pillars- agility, digitisation and specialization- enabling us to set the stage for positive and sustainable growth across the business.

“Our investments in people and technology platforms drove significant traction in the retail and consumer segment, in line with our medium to long term goals.

“Overall, the bank delivered a 14.9 per cent growth in profit after tax to N9.2 billion,” Suleiman said.

He said that consumer loans were up by 108.3 per cent driven by SPECTA-Nigeria’s leading lending digital platform.

Suleiman said that mobile channel usage grew over 80 by per cent following the launch of Sterling OnePay, an omni-channel mobile banking platform as transaction volumes doubled on the instant payment platform.

Suleiman said the bank increased its financing efforts in the agriculture sector which accounted for 10 per cent of its loan book.

He said this was in line with the bank’s commitment to sectors that would create jobs, improve living

standards and bring about economic growth.

According to him, the bank maintained a healthy capital and liquidity position at 13.3 per cent and 42.2 per cent respectively, on account of additional tier two capital injection.

On future prospects, Abubakar said: “We would maintain a more customer-centric approach to achieving growth and strive to scale our digital products.

“Specifically, we will further diversify our loan book by targeting 20 per cent share to Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation- our HEART sectors,’’ he said.

Restricted routes: Lagos task force impounds 109 okadas

O

PERATIVES of the Lagos State Task Force have impounded 109 commercial motorcycles for riding on restricted routes at the 2nd Rainbow end of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the team during the enforcement operation over the weekend, disclosed that the exercise was carried out after several warnings to motorcycle riders to desist from plying restricted routes, particularly highways and bridges across the State.

He stated further that complaints were received from the general public on illegal and criminal activities perpetrated by the motorcycle

operators and therefore, it became necessary to curtail their activities.

According to him, “While some of them harass innocent members of the public at various bus-stops, others engage in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing Lagosians within the axis of valuable items such as phones, jewellery and bags.

They also attack motorists held in traffic in the morning and evening”.

CSP Egbeyemi maintained that a total clampdown on illegal activities of motorcycle operators on restricted routes will be vigorously sustained on daily basis with the full support of other Divisional Police Officers and the Area Commanders across the State.

The Chairman warned dispatch riders using power bikes (200cc above) to desist from engaging in illegal commercial activities as anyone caught violating Lagos State Traffic Laws will be prosecuted.

He also urged all motorcycle riders’ associations across the State to always dissuade their members from plying all 475 restricted routes in Lagos as well as educate them on the inherent danger in plying any of the restricted routes.

The Chairman revealed that over 2500 illegal commercial motorcycles impounded by the Agency in the last 3 months (January to March 2019) would soon be crushed by the government to serve as a deterrent to others.

NCDC to establish disease treatment centres in 36 states, FCT

N

IGERIA Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says it is working towards establishing treatment centres in the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to ensure quick response to infectious diseases in the country.

Director-General of the centre, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who said this on Tuesday in Abuja, explained that the treatment and

isolation centres would be established in collaboration with state governments by the end of next year where such facilities were lacking.

“There are confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 22 states; some of them have one or two sporadic cases but our goal is to have a treatment centre in every state capital.

“They won’t all be at the same level and the same capacity but

Nigerian Military School set to conduct 2019/2020 entrance examination

N

IGERIAN Military School, Zaria, has announced that entrance examinations for 2019/2020 Academic Session will hold simultaneously on Saturday, 18th May 2019 in all the States of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja starting at 8 a.m.

According to a release by the School, the sale of online application form for the entrance examination into NMS commenced on the 10th February 2019 and will

close on Saturday 11th May 2019.

The statement, therefore, advised all interested candidates to access the forms online from the NMS admission portal: www. nms1954.sch.ng, adding that applicants should study the requirements carefully before filling the forms.

It assured candidates that examination coordinators in liaison with State representatives would ensure a hitch-free exercise.

our hope by the end of next year is to have treatment and isolation centre as well as an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in every state capital in Nigeria.

“This will help to coordinate the response to infectious diseases from our Incidence Coordination Centre (ICC) at the headquarters with all the EOCs in the various state capitals.

“We already have EOCs in 12 states and they were established within the last two years, but gradually we keep increasing.

“So, step by step, we are covering the entire country with our Emergency Operation Centres as well as treatment and isolation centres for infectious diseases,” Ihekweazu said.

According to him, plans have been intensified for the inauguration of Plateau, Anambra and Rivers EOCs in April.

This, Ihekweazu said would bring the total number of EOCs in the country to 15.

He noted that NCDC often collaborates with the state ministries of health in establishing the centres.

The NCDC DG said “The state provides the building, while NCDC goes in to equip it with all the communication equipment needed.

“NCDC also provides the infrastructure, the telecom, the screen; we train them for a period of two weeks and mentor them for another two weeks, and then we hand it over to them to run.

“We keep on supporting airtime for communication and things like that to make sure internet access are working; we have now done this in 12 states and we will continue state by state.

“It is not a very simple thing to do because states have to identify a location and we see if that location is appropriate and all of that.

Ihekweazu pointed out that Nasarawa State Government was already constructing and equipping a large treatment centre for infectious diseases which would be integrated into the network of treatment centres in the country.

“I visited the centre about a month ago and great progress has been made and we are supporting the state and advising them on what to do,” he added.

4

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Community decries killing of Nigerian in South Africa

P

RESIDENT of the Nigerian Community in South Africa, Mr Benjamin Okoli, has decried the killing of a Nigerian, Mr Ire Chinello by an unidentified assailant on March 31 in South Africa.

Okoli, who gave this information in a statement, described the killing, which he said was cult related as senseless, adding that the killing was not a xenophobic attack but a cult related crisis among Nigerians living in South Africa.

Okoli explained that the deceased, popularly called Ire, was shot and killed at Sunnyside Pretoria, South Africa in what appeared like a cult related killing.

“There has been a spate of cult killing among Nigerians that had claimed so many lives, as many as no fewer than 25 Nigerians lost their lives over a period of less than two years.

“This senseless killing has reduced us to near nothing in the

eyes of the South Africans and the police, who see us as killers, cultists, fraudsters and drug dealers.

“It makes the police not to take our cases serious, having considered it a good riddance to bad rubbish. ”Our appeal, however, to the South African authorities is that the police must consider every case and investigate same on its merit with the aim of bringing the culprits to justice,” he said.

The Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Godwin Adama, who decried the killings said the situation had assumed an alarming rate.

“The killing of Mr Ire Chinello, a case of cult related killing at Sunnysidde Pretoria; eyewitness account indicated that he was killed by unidentified gunmen, who fled the scene. Cult related killing among Nigerians has assumed an alarming proportion in South Africa,” he added.

Acute hunger affected 113m people in 2018 – Report

N

O fewer than 113 million people were affected in 2018 by very serious food shortages, including famine, a report by the European Union and two United Nations agencies said on Tuesday.

“The worst situations were, in order of severity, in Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan and Northern Nigeria,’’ the Global Report on Food Crises said.

Jose Graziano da Silva, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said that the number of seriously hungry peo-

N

ple, even though down from 2017’s 124 million, was “still far too high’’.

The World Food Programme (WFP), another UN agency, also contributed to the report.

“To truly end hunger, we must attack the root causes: conflict, instability, the impact of climate shocks,’’ WFP executive director David Beasley said.

In September, in a report covering a wider definition of undernourishment, UN agencies said some 821 million people, one ninth of the world’s population, did not have enough to eat in 2017.

•Hon Talib Tebite,member of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC),(4th left) and friends during an in-law greeting in Warri weekend.

Kaduna police debunk kidnap reports

K

ADUNA Police Command has debunked reports in the media which claim that about 30 people were kidnapped along Abuja-Kaduna expressway, Monday, describing the report as fake.

A statement issued by the command said the false story coincided with a sad incident, same day, ‘when at about 18:30hrs some Armed Men at a point near Gidan

Visa along Abuja-Kaduna expressway intercepted a Toyota Hilux with REG NO. CT 01 AF belonging to the Judiciary, opened fire on the vehicle in the process of which one Mshelia Sulaiman was injured and took away the occupants.

“The attention of the Kaduna Police Command has been drawn to a fake story going round on social media to the effect that about

ted to cooperating internationally to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of all migrants.

“To this effect, the African Group supports the free movement of people and goods within countries as it foster rural-urban inter-linkages, and regional integration,” he said.

According to him, African Group emphasised the need for developed countries to promote policies that foster the integration and reintegration of migrants and returning migrants.

thirty (30) people have been kidnapped along Abuja-Kaduna expressway yesterday and their vehicles abandoned by the road side.

“The Command wishes to unequivocally refute the story as fake fictitiously fabricated by some unpatriotic elements to create panic in the minds of unsuspecting citizens who ply the road for their legitimate businesses.

“However, it is unfortunate that this fake news coincided with a sad incident yesterday 01/04/2019, when at about 1830hrs some Armed Men at a point near Gidan Visa along Abuja-Kaduna expressway intercepted a Toyota Hilux with REG NO. CT 01 AF belonging to the Judiciary, open fire on the vehicle in the process of which one Mshelia Sulaiman was injured and took away the occupants.

“Patrol Teams within the axis quickly moved to the scene, rescued the injured person and rushed him to the hospital. A Combined team of operatives from the AntiKidnapping Unit, PMF and the Conventional Police have immediately been mobilized to the area for intensive general search operation with a view to rescue the victims and apprehend the culprits.

20 are on death row in Saudi Arabia.

She described the news of recent execution of a Nigerian woman in that country for drug related offences as pathetic, tragic and sad.

“We know that drug issues in Saudi Arabia attract death penalty, that will be the eighth Nigerian to be executed for drug in Saudi in the last few years and we have about 20 on death row for drug in that country and about 12 that have been sentenced to various jail terms.

“The issue with drug in Saudi is this, there are cases of syndicates who work with airlines who actually put these drugs in the bags of unsuspecting pilgrims.

“But we have had cases where truly they did commit the offence; so, we are appealing to the Saudi authorities to make the trial fair,

open and ensure that justice is done; even if you are going to die, you die for an offence you have committed.

“I appeal to Nigerians, especially those going to Saudi with stuff; obey the laws of the land; even kola nut is treated as drug; so we continue to appeal to the Saudi authorities to treat some of the cases with some form of leniency,’’ she said.

The special assistant said that while Nigerians are expected to be law-abiding, the Saudi authorities should ensure that justice truly is done before somebody is sentenced to death.

According to her, the federal government will ensure proper intervention on behalf of Nigerians to ensure that justice must be done.

NPC puts Nigeria’s life expectancy at 52 years

ATIONAL Population Commission (NPC) has said that the current overall life expectancy of Nigeria stands at 52.2 years.

Acting Chairman of NPC, Alhaji Hassan Bashir, stated this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

According to the World Health Organisation, life expectancy refers to the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply.

The population chief said Nigerians “60 years and over currently represents less than five per cent of the entire population, while overall life expectancy is 52.2 years”.

Bashir added: “As you may be aware, Nigeria estimated population is currently at over 198 million with an annual growth rate of 3.2 per cent.

“The total Fertility Rate remains at 5.5 per woman; 63 per cent of the entire population is under the age of 25; 42 per cent is under the age of 15 years.

“Fifty per cent of the female population is in the reproductive years, while 54.8 per cent of the population constitutes the working age,” the Nigerian population chief said.

According to him, Nigeria recently concluded the field work of its national demography and health survey in 2018 and while it awaits the outcome of that survey, early

and child marriage still persists.

He said data available indicated that unintended and unwanted pregnancies were common as 23 per cent of the adolescent girl age 15 to 19 years have commenced reproduction.

Bashir said the situation had put women, especially young girls, at risk of maternal death which stands at 576 deaths per 100,000 live births.

He added that 61 per cent of women of reproductive age who had live births within this period received antenatal care from skilled providers.

However, only 36 per cent of them had their deliveries in health facilities and 38 percent of the deliveries were attended to by skilled birth assistants, he said.

He explained that the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) had been conducted regularly with plans to conduct a census during the 2020 round of census.

Bashir, however, bemoaned the major challenge of unavailability of timely information and robust disaggregated data for tracking progress aimed at achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Some of our critical concerns include addressing the needs of over 66 million adolescents and young people, aged 10 to 24 years (half of whom are girls) to gain access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health information and age appropriate services.

“There is also the need to address the contraceptive needs of 14 million internally displaced persons affected by increasing insecurity, as well as the needs of over 13.2 million out-of-school children including school-drop-outs due to unintended pregnancies.”

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, while delivering a statement on behalf of African Group, said Africa recognised the urgent need to unleash the creative initiative and energy of its large youth population.

Bande, Chairman, African Group, UN, said Africa remained commit-

Presidency appeals to S’Arabia for leniency over 20 Nigerians on death row

F

EDERAL Government has expressed concern over the number of Nigerians awaiting execution in Saudi Arabia and those already executed over drug related offence.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who briefed State House correspondents on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, appealed for leniency on Nigerians still on death row in the country.

A Nigerian woman alongside two Pakistani men and a Yemeni man were executed on Monday for drug trafficking, bringing to 53 the number of people put to death in 2019 in the country.

Dabiri-Erewa said so far, eight Nigerians have been executed while

5

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS Until now, the big stories of the Nigerian labour market were youth unemployment and under-employment.

For instance, the rise in the number of people within the labour force who did not have a job and did nothing at all (unemployed) rose from 18 million in 2017 to 21 million in 2018, representing 43 percent of the working population.

This ugly phenomenon was recently dramatized by the recruitment project of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which attracted 25.6million applications for graduate entry jobs within two weeks of job advert placements.

The adverts were placed for far less than 1000 vacancies.

However, another worrisome feature of the Nigerian labour market has been highlighted by Sir Emeka Udeze, President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), who said, in an exclusive interview with The Oracle Today that the economy is in ‘dire need of skilled manpower’.

“What worries me most is the unavailability of skilled manpower to drive the economy; most of our graduates are unemployable,” he agonised. “I make pharmaceutical products. Most of the equipment we use are, of course, imported. But even to operate them is a problem. To maintain them is a bigger problem. That is why you see tractors bought for agriculture break down and are parked for years because we don’t have the requisite manpower to repair them. Lack of skilled manpower is the fundamental challenge facing the economy today. No matter what you do, if you don’t have people who will operate or maintain your equipment, you are as good as not having started anything.”

According to the ECCIMA President, the solution lies in government setting up, sort of finishing schools where industry would sent their workforce to go and do practical training in their fields of study.

“If we must import from India, the manufacturers must send in tutors to teach in the academies so that local technicians can acquire knowhow in operation and maintenance of the equipment.

And the government doesn’t have to pay because private sector persons who will send their workers to the academies for training will pay. It is cheaper to set up academies here than to send people abroad to understudy the manufacturers. Even if we succeed in establishing steel mills here, such effort will amount to nothing in the end if we do not have skilled manpower to use the facilities to create things,” Udeze said, stressing: “The greatest challenge facing this economy is the lack of skilled manpower. There are so many little things here that are bad that shouldn’t go bad. We have to focus on manpower training, using academies where nation’s workforce will be given practical training in equipment handling, repairs and maintenance. Indeed, if you don’t have skilled staff, you are finished. Just five skilled workers will do the work of 30.”

On his dreams as President of ECCIMA, Udeze said he has embarked on development of agriculture, explaining that ECCIMA has engaged Dizengoff, an Israeli agricultural technology firm to build Green Houses at the Fairgrounds.

He explained that the Green

Economy in ‘dire need’ of skilled manpower, says Udeze Houses, which last for eight to 10 years, would be a stable source of revenue to ECCIMA and major suppliers of tomatoes and other vegetables to Shoprite and other outlets.

“Right now, we are in high-level talks with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the horticultural department led by a deputy director, who has given us a lot of talks on this and how we can benefit from organic inputs from his department. I want to make the fairground the agricultural input centre of the South East. All the inputs that are supposed to come

to the South East will be warehoused at the fair ground. This is so that every input that is due to the South East will be available to the other South East States from here. I am trying to get what is due to us in the South East from the Federal ministry of Agriculture.”

Udeze said that he looked at the direction the government was going and took a cue so that it would be easy to get assistance from the government, to be listened to and be able to benefit from whatever largesse the federal government would be dishing out.

He expressed the optimism

that the fair would be a success, despite the prevailing economic situation in the country.

“The Enugu International Trade Fair is being organised not outside the prevailing circumstances in the country. So, if I tell you that the fair would be like the fairs, we organised 10-15 years ago, that won’t be correct,” he remonstrated.

“But I can assure you that we have worked very hard to make this fair a success. And looking at the economic realities, this fair is going to be very good. We had fears about the election: possibilities of disruptions, of violence, you know, of

the country being in turmoil. But, thank God, it hasn’t gone that way.

So, we are very hopeful that this fair will be a huge success. We have started having a lot and lot of participants making payments for our stands.”

Among the participants, he pointed out, are NNPC, ANAMCO whose participation Udeze described as delightful because ‘it shows the company is coming up again’ as well as most federal parastatals.

“Indeed, our expectation is up-

Cont’d on page 33

•President Emeka Udeze with ECCIMA Council members

Nduagwuike assures exhibitors, investors of great experience Barrister Jasper Nduagwuike, Vice president, Trade Fair ECCIMA and chairman of its planning committee of the 30th Enugu International Trade Fair is a very calm and soft-spoken man who picks his words with care and deliberate ease. Not for him raised voices and wild gestures. Yet he manages to hold his own in group and one-on-one conversations. Jasper performs this feat, every time, not by any sleight of hand, but by lowering the decibel, compelling you to listen, to stop multi-tasking and to tune in. He spoke with The Oracle Today team at ECCIMA House, Enugu.

We have tried to make the 30th Enugu International Trade Fair as unique as possible. Every fair is unique, but for this one, we have gone the extra mile to ensure that it is very unique.

Before now, we were not doing online registration. Now the fair is completely online. People register online, people get their space online, people book the space and block it and no one else can

•Vice President Trade Fair, ECCIMA, Barr. Jasper Nduagwuike

take that space. It’s all thanks to this particular fair.

We have a lot of inquiries from people outside. Consequently, we are going to have, for the first time, what we call fair guides who will handle all the inquiries about

the fair, about investment opportunities in Enugu State, how the Chamber is helping and other issues of interest to those making such inquiries. There are portfolio investors who just want to see what we are doing; who may ask

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

6

7

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Shell pays Nigerian govt, agencies $6.397bn •Pledges greater corporate transparency

O

ver $6.397 billion was paid to the Nigerian government and its agencies in 2018 by Shell exploration and production companies in Nigeria comprising The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo). The payment represents a 48 per cent increase over payments by the companies to Nigerian government in 2017 which was $4.322 billion.

The payments formed part of the four documents released on Tuesday by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Dutch Shell, Ben Van Beurden, to signal the global oil giant’s renewed commitment to greater transparency. The documents are: Shell Sustainability Report; Industry Associations Climate Review; Nigeria Briefing Notes; and Payments to Government Report.

“Shell must remain at the forefront of the drive for greater corporate transparency.

We will continue to be more open about what we do and why we do it,” said van Beurden. “We want to help people better understand Shell’s performance, values and principles. These reports outline our approach and activities in the crucial areas of sustainability and our relationships with industry associations and governments.”

In the breakdown of the 2018 payments, the Shell companies paid $3.776 billion to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation as production entitlement while $1.286 billion was paid in taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Another $1.253 went to the Department of Petroleum Resources for royalties and fees, while $81.5 million was remitted to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, described the reports as a further testament to Shell’s efforts to increase transparency around activities that are important to investors, governments and civil society. “We are irrevocably committed to transparency just as we are to business integrity part of our core values and central tenets of the Business Principles that govern the way we do business.”

The Shell Nigeria Briefing Notes detail the activities of the Shell Companies in Nigeria for 2018. These include production, environmental performance, social investment, economic contributions, gas initiatives, deepwater operations, security and Nigerian content development.

The Industry Associations Climate Review assesses for the first time Shell’s alignment with 19 key industry associations on climate-related policy. The report also details

new governance principles to improve how Shell manages its memberships of industry associations on climate-related topics.

The 22nd edition of the Shell Sustainability Report outlines Shell’s approach to sustainability and covers its social, safety and environmental performance in 2018. It sets out how Shell is playing a role in the transition to a lower-carbon world and its contribution to society, which includes helping to achieve universal access to cleaner, affordable energy.

In addition, Shell published its 2018 Payments to Governments Report covering 34 countries where it has extractive activities.

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

officially established but sources noted that it may not be unconnected with the electricity power surge and fluctuations that was experienced in the school premises at the time.

The school Commandant O A Kudairi was not disposed to any interactions as she was seen practically assisting firefighters in frantic efforts to extinguish the flames.

Eye witness account disclosed that some students upon seeing the flames in their hostel had attempted to make it to safe their belongings but were all stopped by the school officials.

The school authorities are presently calling parents to come for the children since they are done with exams but students in JSS 3 and SSS 3 are however expected to stay back for extension classes.

•Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria.

Fire guts Navy Secondary School in Akpabuyo

B

arely twelve hours after fire razed six houses and four shops in Calabar South, another fire tragedy has hit Cross River state.

This time, fire razed the male hostel of the of the Nigerian Navy secondary school, Akpabuyo which is approximately 20 hours from Calabar, capital of cross ri0ver state.

Oracle Today learnt that the fire which started at about 12 noon affected the Blue House (Adeneye Hall), Male hostel and destroyed belongings of over 230 students.

The tragedy was however mitigated as no life was lost as the occupants of the hostel numbering over 230 were in classrooms at the time of the incident.

The cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be

8

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS

NASS leadership: Group drums support for Lawan, Gbajabiamila

By CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

P

ro-Buhari group, Initiative for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria, has called on the returning and newly elected National Assembly members of both chambers to support the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the Federal House Representives respectively.

National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ogah stated this in a press briefing in Abakaliki.

Ogah noted that the contributions of Lawan as the Majority Leader of the Senate for the unity of the country projected him as a core APC loyalist and man of the people.

The group maintained that the choice of Lawan and Gbajabiamila was very apt and square pegs in square holes for the legislative fortunes of the country.

They urged members elect of the APC in the two Chambers of the national Assembly to display total loyalty to the supremacy of the party, to avoid the repeat of the scenario of the 8th Assembly.

They further called on members elect of other political parties to put the interest of the country above Party politics and forge a common front that would promote cohesion and unity in the nation’s legislative arm.

“Ahmed Lawan has displayed maturity as the true leader that will unite the national Assembly. He is a lover, intelligent, humble and believer in one Nigeria. We should elect him as the Senate President because he has displayed love that he does not put party interest above national interest”.

“We are also supporting Femi Gbajabiamila for the speakership of the House of Representatives because despite his lost for the position in the outgoing Assembly, he was never antagonistic to the leadership of the green chamber. He displayed love and loyalty in the service of this country”.

“The two candidates are Godfearing leaders who believe in the unity of Nigeria. We, the Initiative of Demonstrating Change in Nigeria strongly support the position of the National leadership of APC on the choices already adopted to avoid the aberration which led to the crises in the outgoing Assembly”, the group said.

Ogah, the National Coordinator of the group, who delivered his Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state with the highest votes in the South East to president Buhari called on all members of APC to imbibe the Party’s discipline to sustain the Adams Oshiomhole’s legacies in the party.

He further congratulated the President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the polls, and expressed confidence that the President would consolidate on his war against corruption.

Ebonyi community protests arrest, detention of youths by police

By CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

V

illagers numbering over 100 from Amangwu in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, Monday, staged a peaceful protest to demand the release of youths of the village who were allegedly arrested and detained at the state police command without justifiable reason.

The protesters who were manily old women accused the state Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), High Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, who hails from a nearby village, Amangbala, of being behind the unwarranted arrest of youths of the village.

Amangwu and Amangbala villages belong to one community in Afikpo North council.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Let there be Justice in our community; UBEB Chairman, can’t you make peace in your community?” among others.

The protesting villagers alleged that they no longer sleep with eyes closed sequel to the intimidation, harassment, indiscriminate and unlawful arrest of youths of the village.

They said not less than 17 youths from the village are currently in police custody over trump-up allegations; adding that they are asking the police authorities to free their children without delay.

One of the villagers who spoke on behalf of the protesters, Chika Dike, said they are being persecuted by Ikpor and his loyalists from the village for trying to rebuild their village toilet.

In a related development, another group from the area, mainly youths, have also staged a counter protest to deny the allegations levelled against High Chief Ikpor by the protesters.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Every community has a leader; Opia Ehugbo (referring to High Chief Ikpor) is our leader; Elections are over, those who committed any crime must face the law; Opia Ehugbo must remain to represent us in UBEB”; among other inscriptions.

The group led by the Youth President of Amangbala village, Austin Ekuma, said they decided to embark on the protest to urge elements of APC in Amangwu village to desist from stoking crisis in the area.

“These APC people are causing

• (From left): Vice Chairman, Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Ernest Okonkwo, Head, Enterprise Sales, Glo, Mr. Eric Uwaoma, President, Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Nathaniel Anigbogu, Head, Marketing Enterprise, Glo, Mr. Guru Prasad, Head, Solution Architecture, Glo, Mr. Babatunde Bodunrin and Secretary, Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association, Mr. Yusuf Adekola Muideen at the inauguration of new executives of the Association and launch of Alaba Glo SME SIM at Alaba International market, Lagos, recently

Labour unions, steel factories bicker over anti-labour practices From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

L

abour unions and steel factories operating at the Esuk Utan Industrial site in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State are presently at loggerheads over alleged anti-labour practices.

The unions which comprise the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSAN) and United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC), have accused companies operating in the area of relegating safety of workers.

According to the leadership of the unions, the companies including Cakasa, Pebez are engaging in actions that are against the interest of the workers as contained in the Trade Union Act and also engaging with unrecognized unions to the detriment of workers.

The Chairman of ISSAN, Cross River branch, Mr. Cosmos Akpiji said the companies have been engaging in a lot of anti-labour activities including engaging illegal unions and engaging workers outside the immediate community.

According to him, “We have been deprived of our right as labour union in this state by Cakasa, Pebez and other companies dealing in oil and gas in Esuk Utan Industrial Site.

“One, by refusing to attend to all our invitations and letters we have sent to them, they are rather engaging illegal unions. Secondly, they refused to give us audience to negotiate for the welfare of our members.

And thirdly, they deprived the Cross Rivarians in engaging in activities of work.

“They preferred to engage outsiders outside the state when we have capable people that can handle jobs here and that is against our constitution as a union.

“In safety, there is what we call (PPE), it is Personal Protective Equipment, They even mandate the workers after paying them peanuts to buy those things by themselves and it is not the duty of an employee, as a contractor, as you are negotiating for a project, you negotiate for all those things but instead, mandate the workers to come with all those equipment which we frown at”.

He said the union wants the companies operating in the industrial site to sit down with the unions and properly articulate the needs and problems that affect steelworkers in the area.

Speaking also, the State Secretary of United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC), Kalu Imong, threatened that labour was going to take drastic measures if the companies refuse to negotiate with their affiliate.

He said: “A worker is not expected to buy hand gloves, safety booths and the shade glasses meant for welders to work in such companies, so in as much as Cakasa, Pebez and the rest are not on sites to know what goes on behind their back, they dish out these contracts to other persons to execute, they never came to terms with the reality of global standards in whatever they are doing.

“The idea of unionism is partners in progress. We in the labour congress will not hesitate to picket that place when the time comes because we are not criminals, we have our rights. By

extant labour laws, we know what we are to do but we just want to call on authorities, we call on good meaningful Nigerians to call these companies to order before we act.” He warned.

Responding, Ejeh Chukwudi, one of the contractors for Pebez told our correspondent that the company is not against engaging with the unions but only feels reluctant to work with them because of what he described as internal crises.

He said: “They called me for a meeting which I honoured, they now went on to write plenty of what I should do for them, on the 10th January, they invited me for another meeting, I intended honoring it but they started fighting among themselves, what prompted the fight was that one of them brought a letter informing me of a change in government, meanwhile when I tried to find out from the former executive, I was told the former EXCO still remained in charge.

“But before now, we had one union called Nigeria Welders and Filters Union (NIWELFU), at a time, ISSAN came and said NIWELFU was illegal, that we should stop working with them and there was no way we could work with the two unions that have the same interest on one project, you people should go and harmonize yourself, we will work with you”, he said.

Cakasa on its part agreed responded through the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Jude Ogbuokiri, who said a meeting has been called with the leadership of ISSAN but following a breakdown in the meeting, he said the union is not serious.

problem in our community and elections are over. They are destroying people’s houses and other valuable property. So, we are urging them to desist from that. That’s why we are protesting”, he said.

He said it was mischievous for the protesters to have mentioned High Chief Ikpor’s name when he had no hands in the arrest and detention of anybody from the village.

The youths President said those in police custody were arrested as a result of their alleged criminal activities and wilful damage of people’s property in the village.

Speaking to Journalists over the allegations, Ikpor denied he has hands in the arrest and detentions of anybody from Amangwu village, saying “those arrested were as a result of their involvement in the voilence and wilful destruction of people’s property in the area”.

He said for the protesters to accuse him of persecuting them for trying to rebuild their toilet was laughable and should be discountenanced.

Efforts to speak with the state Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Loveth Odah, failed, as calls put across to her mobile phone were neither received nor returned.

Again, Anambra secondary students shine at engineering competition

By IBE NWACHUKWU

S

even months after five students of Regina Pacis Model Secondary School, Onitsha Anambra state who represented Nigeria and Africa at the World Technovation Challenge in the Silicon Valley in San Francisco, United States won gold medal in the contest, other four students of St. John’s Science and Technical College, Alor Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have clinched third position at the International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology (IFEST) held in Tunisia.

The students--Meshac Ugwuisi, Anthony Chika-Umeora, Daniel Nwachukwu and Dominic Machi-- were decorated with their Bronze medals shortly after their victory, where Canada and Bosnia students came first and second positions respectively.

During the contest, the students were examined on two innovations, including single and fully-packed solar technology (SFPST) and Toridal Transformer (Inverter) which has noiselessness as its uniqueness.

During their visit to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke, the victorious students who were received at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, by the Chancellor of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Prudentius Aroh, on behalf of Archbishop Okeke, commended them for their victory and urged them to work even harder to do much better in future.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS General Elections: Over 200 women protest violation of electoral laws in Anambra

By OGE ONYEANUSI, Nnewi

O

ver two hundred women trooped out onto the streets of Obosi, in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, clad in black attires to protest the killing of two people and violation of electoral laws that disenfranchised some of the eligible voters during the March 9 state Assembly and Governorship election 2019 in some polling units in the area.

The women expressed their grievances over what happened during the 9th of March House of Assembly elections in some parts of Idemili North especially in Obosi inland and urban areas called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the original winner of the election.

Speaking to newsmen in Obosi urban, leader of group, Mrs Azumdialo ifeoma who narrated how the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Ifeanyi Chiekwu hired

thugs, stuffed already thumb printed ballot papers into ballot boxes and beat up some party agents at polling centers, pleaded with both federal and state government and INEC to ensure justice.

According to them, the APGA candidate who did not visit both Obosi Inland and Urban, Nkpor and some other communities during campaigns was seen at the collation centre sharing money to the security agents with his thugs who chased away other party agents and beat up party agents.

The women who took to the streets protesting the recent attacks accused APGA of being behind the wave of violence recently witnessed in the State House of Assembly in the state.

She said that if this continued to happen during elections in the country it will be a threat to the people and country and called on INEC not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians.

• Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Nyesom-Wike (third left) joined by other dignitaries at the cutting of the Special Mother’s Day cake during a Special Church Service to mark Mother’s Day at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom on Sunday

Wike in early lead in Rivers polls IFAD—VCDP extends operational scope

T

he resumed collation of election results in the Rivers Governorship and House of Assembly election has seen incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike take in early lead in four local government areas of Port Harcourt City, Bonny, Ikwerre, and Andoni.

This was made known during the ongoing collation of the gubernatorial elections in the state on Tuesday.

In Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 40,866 to defeat the Arica Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara who scored 11,866 votes.

In Ikwerre Local Government

Area Wike polled 14,938 votes to defeat Awara who scored 5,660 votes Wike has claimed Bonny local government area in the Rivers state governorship election polling 10, 551 votes to defeat the Africa Action Congress AAC candidate, Biokpomabo Awara who polled 3046 votes.

Wike defeated the Rotimi Amaechi-backed Awara with 92,056 votes in Andoni Local Government Area. Awara scored 5,335 votes.

However, Awara defeated Wike in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state where he polled 32,026 votes to defeat Wike who recorded 8,612 votes.

Fire wreaks havoc in Calabar South From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

T

here was grief for property owners around Eyo Edem Street in Calabar South as an early morning fire destroyed houses and properties located within the vicinity.

Oracle Today learnt that the inferno began in the wee hours of Tuesday morning at about 2:25 am and the cause of the inferno is yet to be established.

Although no life was lost as a result of the prompt action by the affected occupants of the houses, the fire destroyed several houses, shops and other commercial valuables.

An eyewitness named Bassey Mbo told our correspondent that six houses and four shops were affected in the course of the inferno.

He said though there was no public power supply as, at the time the shops were closing for the day, the fire probably started when the public power supply was restored at night and one of the shops probably had an electrical appliance on which ignited the fire.

“Although there was no light (electricity) yesterday night when the shops were closing, but I want to strongly believe that one of the tailoring shops or the barbing saloon had left an electrical appliance(s) on and went home, which ignited the fire when the power was later restored early hours of this morning.”

Another resident of the area, Moses Enobong, said, the state fire

service was contacted and they responded quickly but could not salvage the situation due to epileptic equipment.

He said: “We contacted the State Fire Service, and they responded quickly but nothing much was done due to epileptic equipment they were using”.

He called on the government to be alive to their responsibilities and provide the state fire services with the requisite and functional equipment so as to be able to salvage the situation whenever it occurs in the interest of the people of the state.

At the time of filing this report, no casualties or injuries were recorded, only properties were destroyed as none of the occupants were able to pick even a pin from the burnt building.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of State Fire Service, Mr Cletus Makpere said the officials responded to fire outbreak on time.

“The firemen were called about 2.30 am on Tuesday to put off fire outbreak at Eyo Edem. The cause of the fire is still under investigations; our men have gone there for post-fire inspection to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak, that is the situation” “We have not done the cost of the property burnt and we are expected our men to come back with the report. From the report, we shall know what was burnt and what was at risk” he stated.

to 3 councils in Ebonyi

I

nternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has extended its operational scope to three Local Government Areas of Ivo, Ohaukwu and Ezza North in Ebonyi.

The programme operates in five LGAs of the state which include Afikpo South, Ikwo, Ohaozara, Izzi and Ishielu.

IFAD-VCDP Agricultural Production Officer (APO) in Ebonyi, Mr Darlington Onele, disclosed this on Tuesday at Iboko, headquarters of Izzi LGA during one day training for lead-farmers and extension agents in preparations for the planting season.

Onele, disclosed that the IFADVCDP headquarters in Rome, Italy approved the extension of the operational scope to the LGAs. “The IFAD-VCDP headquarters approved additional financing for VCDP Nigeria after adjudging it the best IFAD programme since its inception.

“Aside the approval of the addi-

tional financing to the three councils in Ebonyi, it also approved extension to three states of Kogi, Nasarawa and Enugu,” he said.

The APO said that to ensure the success of the programme in the additional council areas, it had commenced preliminary activities in the councils.

“We have commenced the mapping of farmers’ organisations in the areas as well as profiling of farmers.

“We are meeting with farmers in the new LGAs and have created a data base for farmers involved in cassava and rice value chains in the new LGA’s.

“The new LGAs will have lots of benefits as we have trained lots of manpower in the existing council areas that will be drafted to the new ones to accelerate activities.

“We have also trained many leadfarmers in the existing areas and they can institute inter-LGA visits for the benefit of farmers in the new councils,” he said.

He noted that the one-day training was an annual event to make leadfarmers and extension agents prepare adequately for the new farming season.

“These lead-farmers and extension agents would step the knowledge acquired from this training and train farmers in various farmer organisations in their localities,” he said.

Mr Ugwu Onah, the Resource Person at the training, said it would train benefitting farmers on steps to take in recording bountiful harvests from their rice and cassava planting endeavours.

“They will be trained on the type of soil that will suit the crops, choosing of seeds and stems varieties, land preparation, application of fertilizers and pesticides,” he said.

Mrs Cynthia Eze, a lead-farmer from Izzi LGA said that she would adequately educate farmers in various farm organisations in her locality to ensure a successful planting season.

IOM, media heads hold dialogue on migration in Enugu

I

nternational Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria on Tuesday in Enugu began its four-day media dialogue with Nigeria Editors and media heads on Migration Management in Nigeria.

In her welcome remarks, Mrs Florence Kim, the IOM Regional Media and Communication Officer, said migration is natural and cannot be stopped.

She noted that IOM was prompted to organise the workshop to seek ways to manage it, uphold its dignity and for the well-being of the migrants.

The regional media officer said that the organisation’s key activities involved giving direct assistance to migrants, capacity building, protecting entries and raising awareness.

She added that it was to integrate the migrants, counter trafficking as well as for child protection.

In his presentation, Mr Ikechukwu Attah, the IOM communication assistant recalled that the organisation started its operation in Nigeria in 2001.

“IOM began operation in 2001 with the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme in Lagos,’’ he said.

He also said that IOM was one of the organisations with the global initiative that helped stranded migrants who wished to return home safely in cooperation agreement with the government of Nigeria.

Attah confirmed that in 2017 that there were 119,369 migrants’ arrivals by sea through the Central Mediterranean route of which the majority were Nigerian with 18,250 persons. ”According to the Italian Ministry of Interior, this number dropped considerably in 2018 to 1,250 Nigerian arrivals to Europe through the same route,” he said.

In spite of the decrease in arrivals, the Central Mediterranean route continues to be the deadliest worldwide with 1,314 deaths recorded in 2018 and 165 deaths recorded so far this year,” he said.

Attah said that the forum was for every participant to make contribution so that the menace of irregular migration could be stopped and for its positive management.

In his contribution, Pastor Dan Omoweh from IBT Radio, Benin City, said that the cause of people travelling abroad was to seek better living.

Chief Executive Officer of Relik Media Limited, Mr Ikem Okohu, said that we needed to change our perception of what doing well abroad meant.

The questions here are: what are those migrants doing and how did their wealth come about?

In his contribution, Mr Kenneth Eseni, the African Independent Television (AIT) South-East Regional Manager, urged the organisation to do proper sensitisation to the dangers of irregular migration. ”Even though some travelled abroad through the illegal way and became successful there are still lots of negative things involved,’’ he observed.

Director Public Enlightenment of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Prisons (NAPTIP), Mr Arinze Orakwue, said that it was the government’s responsibility to intervene in cases of trapped migrants.

“The responsibility of government is to retrieve the migrants and bring them back to the country.

“Nigeria has been up and doing in tracing and bringing back trapped migrants but to rehabilitate them takes a lot,’’ he added.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS

Trade fair: Hawkers, artisans make brisk money in Enugu

H

awkers and artisans are making brisk money four days to the 30th Enugu International Trade Fair which begins on April 5.

A carpenter, Mr Desmond Udagu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday that he charged N250, 000 for materials and construction of a 25 square meters stand.

Udagu said that he had been work-

ing in the trade fair since last weekend and had made a lot of profit from exhibitors.

“What we are doing here is `seeing is believing’; once you do a neat job, exhibitors will patronise you because everybody wants the best.

“I have so many jobs waiting for me while some of my colleagues are still hanging around.

“What I do is that I paid for 10

square meters allocation and constructed good looking stand for sample and people are rushing to me to construct their own the way I did mine.

“The whole idea is to attract customers, at the end of the day may be by Thursday I will still sell it with some profit; I have been doing it for the past seven years and have never regretted it.

In the same vein, the head of land allocation in the chambers, Mr Leonard Ugwu said that one square meter allocation cost N4,500.

Ugwu said that exhibitors often paid from 20 to 100 square meters depending on the kind of business the exhibitor wanted to do.

He said that there was slight increase from this year’s land allocation from last year adding that a square

48 inmates regain freedom in Delta

Amnesty Programme has achieved double first for N/Delta – Ganagana

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

A

From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

T

he Presidential Amnesty Programme has made tremendous impact in developing the oil rich Niger Delta region and also put smiles on the Oil bearing communities.

Media Officer to the Coordinator of the programme, Mr Murphy Ganagana who disclosed this to newsmen in Warri, Monday, said the arrow-head of the programme, since assumption of office about a year ago, has been able to execute a lot of projects that have fast track development of the Niger-Delta area.

“On his path to charting a new course for the Amnesty programme, prof. Dokubo has surrounded several obstacles by sheer determination and, the tonic required to motive him is support and encouragement from critical stakeholders and other quarters which he doesn’t lack” stressed his media aid.

Ganagana revealed how the chairman senate committee on Niger Delta Senator Peter Nwaboshi during the commissioning of the Oil and Gas Basic Skills Vocational Training Centre, Agadagba-obon, Ese odo Local Government area of Ondo State.

According to Senator Nwaboshi, Prof. Dokubo deserves commendation for his prudent management of funds allocation to the Amnesty Programme.

Determined to facilitate Job placement for beneficiaries of the programme, the co-coordinator created a job placement and international development partners engagement unit last May, adding that the unit has profiled twenty-eight (28) delegates for under water welding jobs in oil serving companies.

Besides, Senator Nwaboshi declared: “Since the programme was established with four chief executives as special advisers and co-coordinators, I can confidently say that the present co-coordinator (Dokubo) has been very proactive and eager to realize the mandate of the programme.

Ganagana further remarked the Praises poured on Prof. Dokubo by the Director of Research, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, Plateau State, Prof.

Habu Galadima lauded the spirit and effort of the co-ordinator by providing the needed strategic leadership towards actualizing the objectives of the programme.

It would be recalled that on assumption of office March last Year, the cocoordinator engaged critical stakeholders in the region in consultative meeting searched towards deepening peace in the volatile region.

meter this year was sold for N4,500 while last year was N4,000.

Subsequently, Mrs Nneka Eze, a food vendor said that she had been in the fair since Saturday and people had been patronising her.

Eze said that people who are trooping in to look for jobs in the fair including the youth had been patronising her adding that she would not regret participating in this year’s trade fair.

• National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus (l) with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel and wife, Martha with many other personalities at the Victory Thanksgiving Service of Akwa Ibom State in Uyo, Friday

C/River Assembly passes 101 bills, 340 motions, says speaker

C

ross River House of Assembly has passed 101 bills and over 340 motions, since its inauguration in 2015, Mr John Gaul-Lebohe, the Speaker, said on Tuesday.

The speaker, who disclosed this in Calabar, said 38 out of the 139 bills proposed were at various stages on the floor of the House.

“From June 2015 when we assumed office till date, the Cross River House of Assembly has proposed a total of about 139 bills and taken 340 motions. 101 of these bills have been signed into law by the state government, while 38 are still being considered.

“The Cross River House of Assembly was rated the best by the Legislative Institute of Nigeria for the 2015/2016 legislative year. If you check the Institute of Legislative Studies of Nigeria, I think we are the only House of Assembly with the highest number of bills passed so far,’’ he said.

Gaul-Lebo added that Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River had given assent to over 90 per cent of the bills, which were people-oriented and

meant to provide safe social services for the citizenry.

He listed some of the bills to include: Cross River Infrastructure Development Fund bill; Greater Calabar City Development bill; Water Front Infrastructure Agency bill; Kidnapping Prohibition bill, Corporate Social Responsibility bill, and Social Housing Scheme bill, among others.

The speaker added that the 2019 state budget of N1.043 trillion tagged ‘Budget of Qabalistic Densification’ had also been passed and forwarded to the governor for his assent.

He said that the house under his leadership created the Legislative Direction Framework for 2015-2019 and highlighted the first item, that at least 100 bills be proposed to set a record in the state and Nigeria.

“Within my legislative direction, I thought that we also needed to support the state government to have Legislative Purpose Vehicles that can help to develop the state industrial sector and today we can see the number of industries in the state.

“We have a robust working rela-

tionship with the judiciary and executive arms in the state such that for the first time, the judiciary sponsored a bill through the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. “That relationship has worked out well. We try to ensure that there is a clear understanding and workings among all the arms.

“A lot of people in this clime believe that once the executive and the legislature are working together, then the legislators are called rubber stamp,” he said.

He said that the constitution states clearly roles of each of the arms, saying “should there be anyone that do not want the executive and legislature to work in harmony, then, they should change the constitution.

“The constitution is designed around the relationship management framework between the executive, legislature and the judiciary.

“If as speaker, I cannot create a good relationship with the executive, then I will destroy the state and plunge it into pandemonium,’’ he said.

Again, Enugu Assembly steps down bill to eliminate violence

E

nugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday stepped down consideration of joint committee report on a bill for a law to eliminate violence against private and public life and other related matters.

The Leader of the House, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, moved a motion at the plenary for the report to be stepped down for lack of proper numbering, while Ezenta Ezeani (PDP-Igbo Etiti East) seconded the motion.

Ezeugwu said that the report should be stepped down to enable the joint committee on Youth, Sports and Security Matters, Gender Affairs and Social Development and Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges to do the needful on the report.

He said that the essence of the bill was for a law to help eliminate

violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic and harmful traditional practices.

He said that the bill when passed would put a stop to discrimination against persons, provide maximum protection, effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.

The leader’s observation came shortly after Mr Nelson Uduji (PDPAwgu South), the chairman of the joint committee, presented the report for a clause to clause consideration at a committee of the whole.

This is the second time the bill, which was sponsored by Mr Chuka Eneh, representing Udi South Constituency, was being stepped down by the house.

Entitled: “The bill for a law to elimi-

nate violence against private and public life house bill No. 15, 2017,” it was first stepped down in October 2017 on the ground that a similar bill was passed by the fifth assembly.

The Violence Against Persons Prohibited (VAPP) bill being sponsored by an Enugu based NGO, Women Aid Collective, is seeking domestication of the Act already passed by the National Assembly in Enugu State.

The speaker of the house, Chief Edward Ubosi, urged the joint committee to take back the report, do the necessary corrections and report back to the house in three days.

Ubosi said that he noticed that the report was done during the primary elections, when the attention of the committee members was divided.

The house was later adjourned to reconvene on Thursday, April 4.

suspected cancer infected inmate was among 48 prisoners released by the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Umukoro from Kwale and Ogwashi-Uku prisons in the ongoing prisons visit.

The elated inmate whose half face has been affected with the cancerous growth, Emmanuel Chukwudi 22, said he had been in Kwale prison since 2016 on the alleged offense of breaking/entering and stealing, which he claimed innocent.

The Chief Judge moved with pity questioned the Police for the rationale behind the continued detention of a suspect who cannot stand trial due to ill health, stating that such ones constitute unnecessary financial burden to the state.

Justice Umukoro stated that the released 48 inmates were among the 561 remand warrants reviewed from the two prisons, pointing out that their release was predicated on ill health, unjustified long detention in prison custody and want of diligent prosecution among others.

He said: “The purpose of the prison visit is to reiterate government desire to ensure that persons awaiting trials do not spend their whole lives here. We must ensure that those here are remanded by court of competent jurisdiction having allegedly committed an offence known to Law. “We shall also look at your health status, because it is the living we shall try. We shall also look at the ages of inmates because we do not want to support or be part of the process where juveniles are brought here. If we found such person here we shall release such person or make an appropriate order for such an individual to be remanded in the remand home, Sapele,” he added.

Justice Umukoro made it clear that the exercise was not meant to throw the prison doors open for persons awaiting trial, especially those who were involved in violent crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery and rape.

He lamented the increasing number of youths between 25 to 30 years old, saying large percent of the active work force was being wasted.

He attributed the dangerous trend to greed, lure of the lucre, laziness and get-rich-quickly syndrome, stating that orphanage status should not be an excuse for indulging in criminality.

The Chief Judge, who disclosed that the current prison tour was the beginning of the 2018 prison visit which was not done due to his bereavement, explained that, that of 2019 may commence in October or November.

The Chief Judge continues the prison tour with the round off in Warri prison slated for 15th and 16th April, 2019.

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS

PDP to tribunal: Nullify APGA’s victory in Anambra East/ West Fed. Constituency

P

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) has prayed the Elections Petition Tribunal to nullify the election of Chief Chinedu Obidigwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the winner of the Feb. 23 election for Anambra East and Anambra West Federal Constituency.

Candidate of the PDP, Mr Ernest Nwoye, made the prayer in his petition to the tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra.

The petition marked EPT/AN/ HR/03/2019 was filed by Nwoye, C. C Ofoegbunam, Maduka Onwuemena, Chikezie Onyinye-Iheazor and Ifeanyi Ifediba.

APGA and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are respondents in the petition.

Obidigwe who ran on the platform of APGA was declared winner with 28,657 votes ahead of Nwoye who scored 9,574 in the election which was contested by 17 other candidates.

Nwoye contended that Obidigwe lied about his age with four different birth dates including Oct. 12, 1981, Oct. 26, 1979, Sep. 29, 1979 and Sept.

26, 1979, his education and his occupation.

The petitioner said Obidigwe was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election and that the execise was invalid by reason of corrupt practices, irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

Nwoye said Obidigwe was a public servant who were prohibited from contesting election by virtue of section 66(f) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) (as amended) and therefore was not qualified to run.

“Age is a constitutional requirement for qualification for election into office of House of Representatives under section 65 of the CFRN 1999, 1st Respondent submitted the false information in trying to fulfil the provisions of the section the Constitution with respect to his age.

“Petitioner shall contend that during trial that 1st Respondent submitted false information to the 3rd Respondent in aid of his qualification contrary to the law and should be disqualified.

“As a public servant, 1st Respondent was not qualified to contest the election as he did,” he said.

The petitioner said the election was marred with irregularities including widespread violence, vote buying, snuffing of ballot boxes, inducement of voters to vote for the 1st and 2nd Respondents.

According to Nwoye, the wards affected were Nsugbe 1, Nsugbe II, Enugwu-Otu, Otuocha 1, Otuocha I1, Umuoba Anam, Aguleri 1, Igbariam, Umueri II, Nando III, Aguleri 1, Eziagulu–Otu, Umueze Anam II, Umuoba Abegbu and Olumbanasa Inoma.

“The election witnessed assault of various degrees, burning of electoral materials all sponsored by the 1st Respondent who did not comply with the Electoral Act 2010.

“In addition to the above, the collation of the result by the collation officers was marred with irregularities and were not done in accordance with the law,” he said.

Nwoye prayed the Tribunal to make a declaration that the Obidigwe was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election and order nullifying the election in question.

He said the tribunal should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued the first respondent and order INEC to conduct another election for the constituency with an order that Obidigwe and APGA be disqualified from participating.

Ihedioha did not win Imo poll – Okorocha

G

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State says he is confident that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will issue a Certificate of Return to him as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District.

Okorocha expressed this optimism while speaking with State House Correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

INEC had withheld Okorocha’s Certificate of Return for the Imo West Senatorial District as the

state’s returning officer alleged he was made to declare the governor winner of the Feb. 23 election under duress.

Okorocha has since approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling INEC to issue him a certificate of return.

“As it stands today, I am just waiting patiently for the release of my certificate of return for an election that I duly won. And I am hoping that INEC will release my certificate as I have not contravened any section of the constitution, neither have I done anything wrong to warrant the with-

holding of my certificate.

“I pray and hope that INEC will do what is just and right. INEC conducted elections, results were declared by the returning officer and I won; only to hear one week later that somebody wrote a petition that he made that declaration under duress; the question is where?

“Was it in his private house or at the collation centre? If it was at the collation centre, members of the SSS were there, policemen were there, as well as international observers and INEC officials.

“So, who actually put him under

• United States Chargé d’ affaires David Young (right), with Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu, during his visit to the Government House in Benin on Tuesday

A’ Ibom Govt. empowers 15,000 youths, women in 3 years

A

kwa Ibom Government says it has empowered no fewer than 15,000 youths and women through micro finance and soft loans in the past three years in the state.

Governor Udom Emmanuel made the disclosure during a talent hunt programme in Fashion, Arts and Craft on Monday in Uyo. The programme was organised

by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with the state government.

“In micro finance, since the emergence of this administration, we have given out micro finance to individuals and cooperative societies to at least 15,000 people received facilities in the state,” he said.

Emmanuel, represented by Mr Ime Uwah, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Micro Finance and Enterprise Development said the state government had embarked on training and entrepreneurial programme for the young people.

“We are supporting a lot of young ones in training and entrepreneurial programme and at the end, we give starter parks to the trainees,” the governor said.

Also speaking, Dr Dikko Radda,

the Director-General, SMEDAN, said the programme was designed towards discovering hidden talents and showcasing innovative talents in Fashion, Arts and Crafts.

Radda said that the talent hunts was also geared towards employment generation through wealth creation and self-reliance thereby reducing poverty among youths.

“It is a complete hand-holding programme from identification, selection, to start-up with enterprise support opportunity and facilitating necessary linkages and visibility,” Radda said.

Radda who was represented by Mr Friday Okpara, Director, Policy, Partnership and Coordination noted that the programme had been scheduled to hold in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Gombe and Kaduna states.

He said that over 300 innovative ideas in fashion, arts and craft would be identified and supported with financial assistance and technical support through entrepreneurship training.

“The selected participants will then pitch their ideas to the panel of judges for evaluation and subsequent selection of the best 10.

“The best 10 ideas will be empowered through further capacity development, linkages and visibility

via e-marketing,” he said.

Radda maintained that the first, second and third positions among the best 10 in each location would further be empowered financially and technically.

He said that SMEDAN was collaborating with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the state government in the implementation of the programme.

“It is our hope that the entrepreneurs selected will demonstrate elementary commercial viability of their innovative products so as to merit further market access, handholding Business Development Services (BDS) that would be deployed thereafter,” he said.

In his remarks, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General of NCAC commended the SMEDAN for the initiative, saying the programme would help the youths to be economically viable.

Runsewe urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity judiciously, saying the participants should pay attention to the programme in order to explore the markets to enhance their competitiveness.

SMEDAN talent hunts in fashion, arts and crafts has the theme, ” Breaking Convention, Sparking Innovation.”

duress? The man has not been able to say that; he has never made a statement about that. So I think INEC will want to do the right thing very soon.’’

According to Okorocha, he was in the Presidential Villa to request the president to visit the state to inaugurate his many projects.

The governor said that he had completed the new cargo airport terminal, warehouses and cargo shelves that needed to be commissioned.

He said he also completed a new police headquarters and a new prison headquarters in the state.

Okorocha said that the aforementioned projects were Federal Government projects undertaken by Imo State Government.

He also listed other projects to include the Justice Oputa Court and the new Imo State High Court complex.

“So, we have well over a thousand projects verifiable to be commissioned; we are requesting Mr President to kindly commission the Federal ones and see how many of the state ones he can commission too.

“The 27 model hospitals are much bigger than the state will need, but those hospitals were built for possible concessions; as people come, they take over the hospitals and equip them. But we have some of them running already; the one in Ikeduru is fully running and is being taken over by an American company; we have some taken by some Churches and private organisations.

“That is our style of making Imo State a tourist destination for Nigeria by building those 27 general hospitals, a diagnostic centre, a free child and mother hospital and the Imo Medical Centre.

“So, put together, we have 30 hospitals with close to 10,000 beds built by this administration; those hospitals are futuristic so to say.

“They have been roofed; they have all been tiled and fenced; what remains is that we are looking for management because if you pack in now, you might not have the need for it; we are talking about the future, not now,’’ he said.

On the Imo State governorship election, Okorocha said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate Emeka Ihedioha, did not win the election as he flouted Section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that the returning officer was not fit to be a professor; and should be charged for not respecting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Okorocha, however, attributed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s poor performance in the state to the imposition of a candidate by the party’s leadership.

On National Assembly leadership, the governor said that the SouthEast should be carried along properly for the sake of balance in the politics of the country.

According to him, Buhari is a detribalised father who treats every Nigerian equally, irrespective of ethic nationality or religion.

Okorocha therefore, said it would be unfair for anybody to paint Buhari as a sectional leader.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS Extra Edo Government earmarks 4,000 hectares of land for rice production

E

do Government says it has earmarked about four hundred hectares of land for rice production during the 2019 farming season as part of its ‘Agri-Preneur’ programme.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Mr Joe Okojie, disclosed this when he led technical partners of the programme on a courtesy visit to Edo Government House in Benin on Tuesday.

Okojie said that the state government started a pilot scheme of the programme last year with six hundred hectares in Iguoriakhi, Illushi, Warrake and Agenebode in the three Senatorial districts of Edo. He said that the success of the pilot scheme led to the expansion this year with 850,00 farmers to benefit on an average of five hectares per farmer.

Okojie said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be providing funds, while the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) would provide technical support to the farmers to minimise all risks.

Head of Agric Field Services in NIRSAL, Mr Ibrahim Abdulahi, said that the project would use best agricultural practices at making profits of one million naira per five hectares.

Mr Philip Shaibu, the Edo Acting Governor, said that the design of the “agri-preneur” programme was to grow food locally, create wealth and ultimately grow the economy.

Shaibu said that the economy of the state must be private sector driven, adding that government would partner agencies that would assist in growing the economy of the state.

Ayade commits to maintaining Calabar’s clean environment

C

ross River Government says it is committed to maintaining the `clean and green’ nature of Calabar, the state capital to remain the most serene metropolitan city in Nigeria.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mike Eraye said this on Monday in Calabar, the state capital.

Eraye said that Gov. Ben Ayade was doing everything possible to ensure that the city retained its most beautiful state capital in the country.

“The governor is passionate about ensuring that Calabar remains the preferred tourists’ destination, not only in Nigeria but in Africa. For us as the implementing ministry, we are doing our best. Our activities are highly visible; we leave for the people to judge.

“We will continue to do our best within the remaining period of this administration. We are determined to maintaining the clean and green nature of Calabar in line with the governor’s vision, ‘’ he said.

The commissioner described the reelection of Ayade as well deserved, adding that the governor had performed well to merit a second term.

“This is not surprising and we look forward to a better second tenure to continue with his laudable programmes including the superhighway, deep seaport and a lot of others, ‘’ Eraye said.

2yr-old school pupil, headmistress win in Fidelity Bank’s GAIM promo N From THEO RAYS, Onitsha

o fewer than thirty winners have been rewarded in the on-going Fidelity Bank Plc “Get-Alert-In-Millions” programme in Awka.

The lucky winners include Mrs Philomena Akuoma Enemuo, a primary school teacher and headmistress of the College Demonstration Primary School, Awka who won five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000).

She commended the bank for rewarding their loyalty. She said she

would invest part of the money, while saving the remaining.

Another winner, two-year old nursery school pupil - Master Chichetaram Victory Okeke who was represented by his mother, the N150,000 would be re-invested in his savings account with the bank to aid the payment of his school fees.

The unique programme which was being promoted by the bank as a way to reward its customers for their commitment, tenacity and loyalty, according to the bank’s Regional Head in the zone, Mr Henry Asiegbu was formulated to make

every participant a winner.

Mr Asiegbu told the mammoth crowd who thronged the Eke market, Awka street show where the lucky winners picked their cheques that N700million was set aside by the bank for the programme nationwide.

He disclosed that winners were computer generated from old and new account holders who maintain no less than twenty thousand Naira or even less in their balances over a period of time.

According to him, for one to participate in the promotion, he/she

must maintain Fidelity Personal Savings Scheme (FPSS) which is open to all; or the Sweeta Account for students and children below eighteen years. This was meant to be a school fees support for the account holders/winners.

Asiegbu revealed that the bank has mapped out seven million Naira for the scheme and would be held quarterly nationwide. That about one hundred (100) winners would be rewarded in Anambra state alone in this maiden outing spread across its branches in Awka, Onitsha, Ogidi, Nnewi, Ihiala, Ekwulobia and Umunze.

Police arrest wanted murder suspect, six others in Anambra

P

• Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr. Jimoh Yusuf, flanked by Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Hakeem Dickson, and the President of Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors of Nigeria (REFSPAN), Lady Kehinde Kamson, and other participants during a oneday sensitisation and advocacy programme on food safety at the 3BEES Event Center, Ketu, Lagos, Friday

Commission of Inquiry on surveillance oil contractors in Bayelsa begins sitting

B

ayelsa Commission of Inquiry on activities of surveillance contractors of oil services companies from 2015 to date, on Monday began sitting with a call to affected persons and communities to submit their memorandum.

The inaugural sitting of the Commission held at the Multi-Door Court House in Yenagoa the state capital.

The Chairman of the Commission is retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, while the Secretary is Mr Ebikake Godwin while other members are Mr Who-knows Tiger, Rev. Francis Oki and Anthony Obriki.

She said the that commission was inaugurated by State Government to inquire into the reports of incidents

affecting persons, property and unwholesome activities of surveillance contractors engaged by oil services and oil companies in the state.

According to Akpomiemie, the seven points of reference of the commission include to determine the identities and number of surveillance contractors, composition of staff, location and their contracting oil services and oil companies in Bayelsa.

“To determine the nature and effect of the activities and operations of surveillance contractors engaged by oil servicing and oil companies and their impact on the overall security situation in the various communities in the state.

“To determine the identities of persons and property, if any, affected as a consequence of the activities or operations of surveillance contractors engaged by oil services and oil companies in Bayelsa. To ascertain the involvement of any other person or entity, if any, in the activities or operations of surveillance contractors engaged by oil services and oil companies in Bayelsa.

“To recommend measures to ensure that the operations of surveillance contractors engaged by oil services and oil companies in the state are not in violation of any extant law and the rights of the citizens and residents of Bayelsa,” she said.

state.

Earlier, counsel to the petitioners/ applicants, Mr Ochiagha Uzor who held the brief of Mr Sunday Ameh (SAN), told the tribunal that it had been difficult to serve the various respondents with the processes.

Uzor said that the respondents could not be cited at their known addresses, hence, the application to serve them through substituted means.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those to be served through substituted means are the

Sen. Chukwuka Utazi, Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani, Mr Pat Asadu, Chief Toby Okechukwu and Mr Okey Marthins.

Others are Mr Denis Amadi, Mr Offor Chukwuegbo, and Mr John Nnaji.

The petitioners/applicants are Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Mr Eugene Odo, Mr Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, Chief Lawrence Eze, Mr Marthins Ilo and Mr Jonathan Aniekezie.

Others are Mr Joseph Mmamel, Mr Nelson Arum and Mr Okwudili Nwafor all of the APC.

Tribunal orders substituted services on Ekweremadu, 8 others

N

ational Assembly (NASS) Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Monday granted exparte applications for substituted services on Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and eight other members of the PDP declared winners of the Feb. 16 NASS elections.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu after hearing the application ordered the petitioners/applicants to serve the respondents through the chairman or any principal officer of the PDP in the

olice in Anambra have arrested one Ikechukwu Udensi, who was allegedly connected to the killing of a 38-year-old Ndubuisi Nwokolo in his Odoakpu, Onitsha residence in June 2018.

Udensi, popularly called “Ikanda”, was said to be the ringleader of the gang which used offensive weapons, including machetes and cutlass to hack Nwokolo to death in broad day light.

Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Mustapha Dandaura, who paraded the suspects alongside others on Monday, said he had been on wanted list after the incident with N1 million bounty for anyone with useful information on the suspect.

“Following the incident, the command launched an aggressive manhunt for the fleeing perpetrators and declared the 27-year-old ringleader from Azia, Ihiala wanted.

“On March 31, operatives attached to the Command’s Operation Udoka and Special Anti-Robbery raided a criminal hideout at Odoakpu in Onitsha and arrested Udensi earlier declared wanted in connection with the alleged murder,” he said.

Udensi in his submission claimed that he was a toll collector for the state government, adding that he was ashamed of his present predicament.

Dandaura also paraded five suspects allegedly belonging to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and among those who attacked Ajali Police Station in Orumba North Council on Feb. 25.

He said those arrested were Abuchi Nwogu (21), Okwudili Nwanne (42), Maduabuchi Obia (22), Chukwuedozie Orah (30) and Chukwuemeka Ekechi (30) all of Ndikelionwu town in the council area.

The commissioner said that three AK47 rifles where carted away during the attack but one was recovered from them upon interrogation.

Also paraded was 25 year old Chimaobi Amauwa who was arrested in Onitsha for armed robbery.

Dandaura said preliminary investigation showed Amauwa was a member of one-chance robbery syndicate that terrorised people around Onitsha and environs with commercial bus.

“Recovered from the suspect are one locally made pistol and operational vehicle Mitsubishi L300 with Reg. No. DRK 85 XA,” he said.

He said all the cases are under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court.

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS Extra NUJ, Amuzukwu forum urge Ikpeazu to t ransform Abia From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

T

he Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council and the Amuzukwu Ibeku Political Forum have urged the State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to use his second term to bring about uncommon transformation of the state.

The two groups, in their separate congratulatory messages to the governor following his victory in the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state, noted the re-election of the governor would provide him more opportunity to consolidate and deliver more democracy dividends to Abians.

In their congratulatory letter dated on March 15, 2019 and endorsed by Comrade John Emejor and Comrade Victor Ndukwe, the State Chairman and Secretary respectively, the NUJ said the landslide victory recorded by the governor signified that Abians want him to do more for the state.

“Our dear Governor, your re-election is to us, the will of God and a confirmation of the wishes of the people and Founding Fathers of Abia, God’s Own State.

“We believe your second term will offer you ample opportunity to complete your good economic policies aimed at making Abia a viable economy and as well consolidate your programmes in other sectors, particularly agriculture, education and health.

It is our hope that this victory will spur you to execute greater works that would bring about uncommon transformation of Abia State,” part of the NUj letter read.

The union expressed delight that Ikpeazu has promised to run an inclusive government and urged all Abians to join hands with the governor “in the task of developing and growing the state.”

The union assured the governor of its cooperation, support and prayers, assuring of the union’s readiness in projecting Ikpeazu’s works globally.

Similarly, the Amuzukwu Ibeku Political Forum said that the group was happy that Abiams re-elected Ikpeazu overwhelmingly, pointing out that this would enable to continue with the good work he was doing in the state.

The groups letter which was signed

by Deacon Iyke Nwoke and 13 others, enjoined Ikpeazu to remain focused in building the Abia economy which multiplier effect would improve the welfare of the people.

“Your overwhelming victory at the polls is an expression of unequivocal endorsement and unwavering acceptance by Abians of your dynamic leadership as manifested by the achievements of your administration in almost four years and their desire to enthrone equity in the state.

“Your re-election, our dear governor, will offer you ample opportunity to execute your laudable projects such as the Enyimba Economic City project aimed at making Abia the most viable local economy in Nigeria and delivery of quality dividends of democracy to Abians,” the group stated in their letter made available to The Oracle Today in Umuahia.

Amuzukw Political Forum also congratulated all Ibeku sons who were victorious in the National and State Assembly elections, including Senator Theodore Orji, the Majority Leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and Hon. Chukwudi Apugo who were all re-elected.

The group enjoined Abians to support the Ikpeazu administration to move Abia forward.

God averted crises in Abia with Ikpeazu’s re-election -- Group I From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

gbo Ekene Global Development Union has said that God used the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to avert crisis in Abia State.

President of the union, Ambassador Moses Onyegbule, noted that in the build up to governorship poll in Abia, there was a grand plot to truncate the zoning arrangement as enshrined in the Abia Charter of Equity as many were plotting the fall of the governor.

Onyegbule said this plan to deny the Ukwa/Ngwa a second term generated tension and many feared that there would crisis in the state if

Ikpeazu did not return.

“Many people struggled to disrupt the zoning arrangement in Abia State and people thought if that was achieved, there will be crisis in Abia.

But in the end, the God of justice intervened and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was re-elected to complete the eight-year tenure for Abia South,” he remarked.

Onyegbule reminded those who lost in the election of their campaign promises to put Abia first before self and, therefore, urged such losers to volunteer to assist Ikpeazu in the task of administering the state, instead of challenging his victory at the tribunal.

“I advise the losers to go back and plan better for the next election.

They should plan properly and be in good terms with Governor Ikpeazu and the Abia electorate to enable them to win during 2023 general election.

“They should also not go to court this time but should rather support Ikpeazu to bring about total transformation of Abia,” he added.

Thanking Abians for voting Ikpeazu, Onyegbule said “as a progressive organization, Igbo Ekene has never ceased to support leaders whose performance are not in doubt and we thank Abians for sticking to the devil they know instead of embrac-

ing the angel they do not know.”

He expressed happiness that the 2019 general elections have come and gone and Nigeria has remained peaceful, contrary to many negative predictions that the country will burn during the polls.

“Many people expressed fears that the outcome of the elections would tore Nigeria apart but God intervened and the electoral processes went smoothly even to the astonishment of most clergies and spiritualists who had envisioned a country in disarray,” he said.

Give all geo-political zones sense of belonging - NUJ From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

W

• Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (3rd right); Chairman, of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Senior Apostle Syvanus Okorote (2nd right); Rev. Gideon Oyibo (right); Bishop God-Do-Well Avwomakpa (3rd left); Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (2nd left) and Secretary to State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas, during a courtesy call on the Governor, to felicitate with him over the 2019 Governorship General Election

FRSC impounds 52 trucks for violating traffic rules in Anambra

F

ederal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra on Tuesday impounded 52 articulated vehicles for contravening traffic rules in the commercial city of Onitsha.

The Sector Commander, Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, told newsmen in Onitsha that the operators of the vehicles violated extanct traffic rules and an earlier appeal by the command to play by the rule.

The operation, tagged; “Total War on Truck and Articulated Vehicles,” was jointly carried out by the FRSC, Police, Army and the state’s Transport Management Agency.

He said that some of the articu-

lated vehicles were impounded for speed, mechanical deficiency, extra and bad head lamps, wrong number plates, worn-out tyres, rickety vehicles, lack of speed limit device, among others.

Kumapayi said the operation was a follow up to a town hall meeting with various articulated and truck drivers’ associations a week ago.

He said, “In recent times, the rate of road traffic crashes involving articulated vehicles has been on the increase in the state and a concern to FRSC and the state government.

“Scarcely does one week pass without a truck or tanker being in-

volved in a road crash.

“Last week in Onitsha, we met with the stakeholders and one of the things we decided was to clampdown on articulated vehicles because we cannot fold our arms and allow innocent citizens to continue to die on our roads,” Kumapayi said.

He said that defaulters would be issued tickets, while others will face prosecution at the mobile court, depending on the level of offence committed.

He said that the operation would be extended to critical areas within the state, especially the Nnewi and Onitsha-Awka roads.

The new CP, who headed the Jigawa police command until his recent posting to Imo, was enlisted into the force as a cadet Inspector of Police in 1985.

He has held various offices including Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ondo State Command; and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Police Force Education Office.

Other positions held by Ladodo include; Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Sokoto State Command, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Administration) FCT Command.

Ladodo, who is Imo state’s 34th commissioner of police, also holds a diploma in Law and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication.

New Imo commissioner of police assumes duty

N

ew Commissioner of Police for Imo State, CP Rabiu Ladodo, has assumed duty.

The command disclosed this through a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Orlando Ikeokwu, in Owerri on Tuesday.

Ladodo took over from CP Dasuki Galandanchi, who has been posted to head the Police Co-operative Society, Lagos.

ith the ongoing permutations on forming a new government come May 29, 2019, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, has stressed the need to apply Federal Character in all appointments into the Federal Executive Council and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Abia NUJ said the application would give a sense of belonging to all geopolitical zones in the country, particularly the South East.

The position of the union is contained in an eight-point communiqué issued at the end of its March 2019 Congress held at the NUJ Press Centre, Umuahia and signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade John Emejor and the Secretary, Comrade Victor Ndukwe.

Given the reported widespread malpractice that marred the 2019 general elections, the Congress called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to enact laws that would digitize Nigeria’s electoral process in order to rid the system of vote buying, multiple voting and thuggery, ballot box snatching, among others.

On security, the Congress urged the Federal Government to urgently intensify efforts towards reducing crimes and secure the lives and properties of her citizenry by checking killings by herdsmen.

“The Congress calls on the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to improve on her services and sustain regular carting away of refuse heaps in the state capital, Umuahia, and its environs in order to keep the capital city clean and stave off any epidemic outbreak, including Lassa Fever, in the state,’ the communiqué stated, adding that time has come for “Health Workers to begin House-to-House sensitization on the need for residents to keep their environment clean to ward off outbreak of the dreaded Lassa Fever currently ravaging some parts of the country.”

The Congress said the Council has congratulated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his re-election and urged him to consolidate on the gains made in his first term so as to sustain or even surpass the tempo of developing the state.

The Congress commended the National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, for bringing finesse to the administration of the Union since he assumed office.

Congress also expressed its gratitude Isiguzo and the National Leadership of the Union for the recent appointment of one their members, Comrade Ezeogo Boniface Okoro, as an Ex-Officio member of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Union.

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS Court reaffirms Omo-Agege’s candidacy for APC

F

ederal High Court sitting in Warri has upheld the candidacy of Sen. Ovie OmoAgege and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates that emerged through the primaries supervised by INEC in Delta.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Ewite, in his judgement delivered on Tuesday, struck out the suit filed by the applicant, Mr O’tega Emerhor challenging the validity of the primary that brought Omo-Agege.

Ewite struck out the suit on the ground of incompetence and lacking in merit.

He noted that Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive, the winner of the Ughelli/ Udu Federal Constituency were necessary parties that ought to have been joined in the suit.

The judge further observed that Emerhor failed to deny the counter-affidavit filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, that it did not monitor the primary for which he purportedly emerged.

“Failure to deny the counteraffidavit is an admission which required no further proof that INEC only monitored the primaries in which Sen. Omo-Agege emerged.

“INEC is to supervise or monitor primary elections and not to conduct,” he said.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgement, counsel to the APC, Mr Lucky Ajokperiniovo described the court verdict as a `landmark’ for the party and all the can-

didates that emerged legitimately through the primaries.

“It is a landmark judgment; the court has again reaffirmed the position of the Supreme Court to say that persons who are not joined as parties to a suit are not bind by the judgement given by that court.

“The court struck out the suit filed by Emerhor for incompetence and lack of merit. The court said Omo-Agege’s primary elections remain the valid and legitimate primary election conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC. “The consent judgement is a judgement of court that is valid and binding on all persons until it is set aside. This judgement has given the party huge relief in determining who the senatorial candidate in the 2019 general election in Delta Central,” he said.

Also, counsel representing INEC, Mr Robert Emukpoeruo said that the national electoral umpire was neutral and impartial.

“It is the statutory duty of INEC to monitor primary elections and report those who won and their scores. The report by INEC shows that Omo-Agege won the primaries conducted by the NWC,” he said.

Counsel to Emerhor, Mr G. C Igbokwe in his remark said: “We are happy with the judgment.”

Omo-Agege, who is the incumbent senator representing the Delta Central at the upper legislative chamber, was re-elected in the recent National Assembly elections.

CHANGE OF NAME This is to certify that,EZENWUGO GLORIA CHIKA and UWEZINWA GLORIA CHIKA are one and same person but now wishes to be known and addressed as UWEZINWA GLORIA CHIKA. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

I formerly known as AKWUO NWABENNE now wish to be known as AKWUO NWABUNWANNE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. Please Banks and General Public take note.

I formerly known as OGUGUA CHIGOZIE DONALD now wish to be known as ODILI CHIGOZIE DONALD. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

I formerly known as IBRAHIM KAWTHAR. O. now wish to be known as IBRAHIM KAOSARAT OPEYEMI. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

I formerly known as ONYEKWERE NGOZI CHINWEOLU now wish to be known as EZE NGOZI CHINWEOLU PRECIOUS. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as EGEONU CHIAMAKA PATIENCE now wish to be known as MRS. OKAFOR CHIAMAKA PATIENCE former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as IBEH CHINYERE now wish to be known as MRS. IZUOGU CHINYERE. former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as EZINWANNE FELICIA OKOCHA now wish to be known as EZINWANNE HAPPINESS OKOCHA former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OBIALOR EVELYN ODINAKACHUKWU now wish to be known as MRS. IWU EVELYN ODINAKACHUKWU former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

• Addressing the stakeholders meeting on the resumption of electoral activities for the completion of outstanding 2019 General Elections in Rivers State on Saturday, INEC National Commissioner supervising Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers State, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu said that the Collation will be carried out transparently

Elections tribunal receives 42 petitions in Anambra

E

lections Petition Tribunal sitting in Anambra says it has received 42 petitions challenging the outcome of various elections in the state, all filed on or before March 30.

The Secretary of the Tribunal, Mrs Falilat Orire, who released the list of petitions on Tuesday, disclosed that the figure comprised eight Senatorial petitions, nine House of Representatives and 25 for the State House of Assembly.

According to Orire, Rep. Obinna Chidoka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the declaration of Mr Ifeanyi Ibezi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as winner of Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency.

Orire said that Chidoka, who was challenging the election in the peti-

tion marked EPT/AN/HR/26/2019, included APGA, Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and the Returning Officers for both local governments as respondents.

She said that Obinna Ngonadi and his party, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in a petition No. EPT/AN/ SHA/25 was challenging Mr Smart Okafor of APGA, who was returned winner for Nnewi North State Constituency election on March 9.

“Also in the list, Paul Anyaegbunam of PDP is contesting the victory of Uche Okafor, who was declared winner of Anyamelum State Constituency election. Anyaegbunam joined the defendant’s party APGA and INEC as other respondents.

“The election of Mr John Nwokoye of APGA as members representing Awka North State Constituency

is being contested by Mr Charles Okoye of PDP with APGA and INEC as respondents.

“The incumbent speaker of Anambra House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Rita Maduagwu is challenging her loss to Mr Johnbosco Akaegbobi of PDP for Nnewi South 11 constituency in petition no. EPT/AN/SHA/31/2019,’’ she said.

The tribunal secretary also disclosed that Azubuike Okoye of APGA filed a petition EPT/AN/ SHA/17/2019 to challenge Ebele Ejiofor of PDP who was declared winner for Anaocha 1 State constituency.

There was no governorship election in Anambra during the 2019 general elections as the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano was elected in 2018 for a second tenure.

carry everybody along”.

Archbishop Ede, who conveyed to the governor, the warm felicitations from the five dioceses of the Archdiocese, expressed delight that God answered the prayer of the church on Gov. Ugwuanyi, saying: “We are happy that God has heard our prayers; God has made it happen; it has finally ended in praise”.

According to him, “the church believes in good governance and that was why we stood by you on the journey”, but “if you are doing things wrongly we will not stand by you”.

The Enugu Catholic Bishop, who was accompanied by members of the Curia - the highest decision-making body in the diocese - described Ugwuanyi as “the governor of the people”, and expressed confidence that “you are going to do more, having been empowered and strengthened by both our prayers and our support”.

His words: “Your Excellency, we have said this on many occasions, we are not pretending about it and we are happy God heard our prayers.

We are not apologizing to anybody for praying for that. He has really shown us that our prayers would be heard. Our prayers will continue, we will be praying for you”.

According to the Methodist Archbishop, “your (Ugwuanyi) governance in this state is very fruitful and we want to ensure that it continues”. He also prayed that the governor’s second term will be better than the first, adding that “God has brought you back to consolidate on what you have achieved in your first tenure”.

Archbishop Ede, therefore, informed the governor of the church’s planned service on the first Sunday of May at the Cathedral in Enugu to thank God for his victory at the polls and consequently invited him and members of his team to the event.

Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi who narrated how his administration, at its inception, started with prayers and entrusted the affairs of Enugu State to the hands of God, recalled how the church prayed fervently for the success of the government.

The governor, therefore, attributed the successes recorded so far by his administration to the prayers from men of God. While appreciating the clerics for the visits, the governor reiterated his administration’s disposition to advice and expressed optimism that his second term will be better, in the overall interest of the people of the state.

Gov. Ugwuanyi’s reelection prayer answered, say Methodist, Catholic Churches

T

he Methodist Archdiocese of Enugu and Enugu Catholic Diocese have described the reelection of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as well-deserved and a prayer answered.

Speaking when a delegation from the two churches paid separate congratulatory visits to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, the Methodist Archdiocese and Catholic Diocese led by Archbishop Christopher Ede and Bishop Callistus Onaga, respectively, stated that the governor’s resounding victory at the polls was a manifestation of the will of God and true reflection of the wishes of the people of the state.

Archbishop Ede disclosed that the Methodist Church stood by the governor before and during the election “not because we are partisan, but because we need peace and good governance to continue in Enugu State”.

Bishop Onaga in his presentation thanked God for answering the prayers of the Catholic Church and people of Enugu State to “allow you to come back and conclude the beautiful works you are doing in this state; the beautiful human relations you have established, and of course the developmental projects going on here and there and still striving to

POLITICS

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Ihedioha should revoke Rivers of whatever Okorocha has endless done – Nkwoji controversies Pg 16

Pg 17

Is Bayelsa sliding into a jungle?

From Yenagoa, CLEM ONYEMAECHI writes on the rising incidence of violence in Bayelsa State.

O

f all the 36 states in the country, Bayelsa State seems to have one of the most fascinating sobriquets, ‘The Glory of All Lands’. However, many happenings in the state do not often portray the state as worthy of such appellation.

The level of crime and criminality in the state - cultism, armed robbery, piracy, drug abuse, just name them have continued to soar higher, leaving the residents of the state to always have their hearts in their mouth.

On almost daily basis, life is being terminated in parts of the state by gangsters and hoodlums with careless abandon such that analysts are beginning to wonder whether the famed Glory of All Lands is sliding into a jungle because life has become too cheap in the state.

By every standard, Bayelsa has the smallest state capital in Nigeria, Yenagoa such that providing efficient and effective security by security agencies shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Interestingly, apart from the police force, there are compliments of other security agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), 16 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigeria Army, the Central Naval Command, the Air force Mobility Command and the Joint Force, Operation Delta Safe, (OPDS). To this should also be added the state’s Special Anti Crime Squad, christened Operation Doo Akpor, all saddled with the responsibility of providing 24 hours security both within the creeks and in the metropolis.

It is however worrisome that the combined efforts of these security agencies has not brought the needed relief to Bayelsa residents as the men of the underworld have continued to make life difficult for them.

These days, it is almost suicidal for one to hold android phones on the streets of Yenagoa as miscreants littered on the streets would snatch it from the owner at gun point.

This was how one Samuel Collins who hailed from Port Harcourt in neighbouring Rivers State and a graduate of Engineering from the University of Benin was killed along Melford Okilo Road, off INEC/ Kpansia area of Yenagoa metropolis some time ago.

It was gathered that Collins was accosted by the hoodlums at INEC Road junction on his way to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s office on Isaac Boro Expressway, where he was undergoing training and requested him to surrender his phone and cash, but he reportedly resisted them and in the process, he was shot on the head.

He bled to death before help could come his way.

Nigerians were jolted last week when two young Nigerians doing their compulsory one year national service with the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) were brutally murdered by suspected cultists in the state.

The hoodlums who invaded the residence of the corps members along School Road in the Swali area of Yenagoa at about 10.30 pm while they were marking exam scripts shot the three of them, but one survived.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr.Olusola David who visited the State Secretariat of the National Youth Service Corps to sympathize with the service and met with the State Director, Mrs. Lotto

•Seriake Dickson

Bolade expressed shock over the incident and assured the NYSC that the police command would re-jig its security apparatus to ensure the safety of serving corps members in the state.

The commissioner told the NYSC management that he had briefed the State Governor on the incident, saying that there is nobody that will hear of the incident and not be shocked. “The Corps members in the state may be scared, but please assure them that there will be improved security under my watch”, the police Commissioner pleaded.

The grief stricken State Director of NYSC, had told the police commissioner that the issue of attacks on serving Corps members in the state had become worrisome. “These hoodlums have been attacking corps members serially. The Director General has had cause to write to the State Governor and the matter reduced. There is no day we don’t record cases of attack against corps members”, she lamented.

She also confirmed that the third corps member involved in the attack survived as the bullet went into him and came out clean from the other side.

About two years ago, a female corps member deployed to the state also suffered attacks from hoodlums who in the process, severed one of her hands.

Just recently too, two policemen on guard at a popular hotel in Yenagoa owned by a serving senator in the state were killed by gunmen who carted away their rifles. It was learnt that the gunmen who drove into the hotel along DSP Alamieyeseigha Road with a Camry car pretended to be customers and drove to the hotel gate and opened fire on the policemen.

Few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, gunmen had attacked a checkpoint at the Julius Berger

Junction, killed one policeman and made away with two rifles.

The beat goes on like that and many lives going down the drain. Often times, poor orientation and development of youths in the state have been blamed for the high level of criminality in the state.

There is also high unemployment rate in the state owing partly to lack of companies to actively engage the youths.

Again the apparent disinclination of the youth to engage in skilled job to fend for themselves makes the matter worse. It is difficult to find a Bayelsa youth engaged for instance in tailoring, auto mechanic, furniture making, etc. Many of them stretch their hands waiting for tailor made fortunes.

Many as well depend on handouts from politicians to survive. Little wonder elections in the state are often very volatile because of the desperation by both the candidates on one hand, and the jobless youths on the other hand to deliver their benefactors to guarantee regular flow of the hand outs.

Interestingly, some schools of thought believe that many youths in the state have not been properly guided to locate their desired future, hence the tendency to stray into criminality. A governorship aspirant in the state, Hon. Keniebi Okoko shares this belief.

The governorship hopeful maintained that many youths in the state have not been exposed to the right kind of education which according to him is a potent force to having a meaningful and productive life.

As a result of this, Okoko said there is overwhelming mental poverty among the people, particularly the youths. “Well, I believe that Bayelsa as a whole needs to focus on education. Mental poverty is worse than financial poverty. If a mind is not developed and equipped, a man

cannot give what he does not have. Our people are not completely exposed to good education systems. Our people are not well traveled like other tribes. The Ijaw man is determined to succeed, if you give the Ijaw man the right playing ground, he will perform, I can assure you.

So I believe that what we should do as a people is to focus on education.

“Classroom education is one aspect, and outside classroom education is another aspect. Not everybody can experience education in the classroom or to the university level. There is a proverbial saying that all fingers are not equal. But you can balance the gap of the fingers.

Creating skill acquisitions with the right personnel to man them gives you the opportunity to train the less privileged on the skills that can develop them.

“The young people don’t have hope so they are looking for any means. Give them back hope. Sell leadership through qualities, be transparent, and open to them. Take them through processes of trainings. Mentorship, who is your mentor or who are you mentoring? Who are you looking up to? Why do you wake up in the morning? What is the core reason for your existence? Have someone you look up to. ….Who are these young men looking up to? What are we selling to them as leaders and parents? Okoko asked rhetorically.

Observers also say that the rate of crime in the state will remain high until the police in particular are given a conducive operating environment. Till date the police headquarters in the state has remained the old SDP secretariat constructed during the Ibrahim Babangida led military junta with some facelift.

More than 20 years after the creation of Bayelsa State, no administration has thought it necessary to build a befitting police command headquarters in Yenagoa even with the consciousness of the peculiar security challenges prevalent in the state.

A large expanse of land has since been mapped out along the Elebele area of the state capital for the construction of an ultra modern state police command headquarters, but that was where the effort stopped.

About two years ago, the state police command launched the Eminent Persons Forum with the aim to partner with the Forum, other public spirited individuals and government to erect a befitting state police headquarters. Nothing appears to have happened since then.

What this also means is that the police lack adequate detention facility as once openly confessed by a one- time commissioner of police in the state. A police source once revealed that what obtains at the SARS Cell is akin to business transaction. The source said that owing to inadequate detention facility, coupled with the large pool of suspects being brought to the area, many suspects used to ‘trade’ their way out, to make way for the fresh suspects to come in. And when they are so released, they go back to the society to pose a menace to other law abiding citizens.

•The Henry Seriake Dickson led government mounted the saddle in the state when crime and criminality was at its peak in 2012. On February 14, 2020, he will bow out of office. Will he allow this ugly situation to outlive his administration?

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Interview

Ihedioha should revoke whatever Okorocha has done – Nkwoji

Why I decided to quit partisan politics I decided to quit partisan politics immediately after the conclusion of the election. My earlier plan was to quit sometime in June based on the anticipation that APGA will win the election. I had already made up my mind that once we win that election I will not go for any appointment.

But in the light of recent development and the loss of the party at the polls I have to leave three months before the time. I felt that there is no need waiting, because the party has lost the guber election and there is nothing again.

Politics means different things to different people. Some are in it to line their pockets while others see it as opportunity to serve. Many see it as a calling, a vocation, and stick with it no matter the outcome at any point in time. It is shocking to many that George Nkwoji who has played it big as the Imo State Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as well as playing other roles will throw in the towel at a time they thought he will join hands to rebuild the party after its election loss. In this interview, he explains the reason behind the decision, the disappointment of APGA to Imo people, and the repackaging of the Moment newspaper as well as calling for the total revocation of Okorocha’s actions. He spoke with COLLINS UGHALAA in Owerri. Excerpts.

My experience as APGA Publicity Secretary I would say that my experience is like a mixed grill, in the sense that while we were building up for the 2019 elections, everything was going well and the party became the toast of the moment for the Imo people. But midway, because of the mishandling or interference by the national leadership at Abuja, they made us to lose deposits. Imolites looked at us as if we deceived them. The Imo public held APGA to a very high esteem and they said that we were the last hope for Imo, but that singular act of imposition was what affected our fortunes. If the national leadership had allowed us to conduct a free and fair primaries and Araraume won, I can tell you that the party would not have had this tale of woes. What I mean is that even if the party had fielded Archbishop Obinna as our guber candidate, for the mere fact that they rigged and imposed a candidate there was no way that the party would have won. What the public expected us to do was to subject ourselves to a free and fair primary. That was the hurdle between the Imo APGA and government house.

Moment as the mouth piece of APGA or of any particular political party.

How APGA respond to the failed primary and the challenges it created The party was not ready to embark on any genuine effort to reconcile the aggrieved members. If they had done so by inviting the aggrieved members and aspirants and reconciled genuinely the stakeholders, the party would at least have saved itself of the trouble rather than dismiss people with a wave of the hand after the people had suffered for years labouring themselves. I think that was injustice and not fair.

Challenges as a newspaper Publisher The major challenge is when you are not getting patronage you are sure to run at a loss. Patronage is lacking in advertorials, commercial news. As a result it has not been profitable to do business here.

My support for the Igbo project I will continue to participate to project the Igbo cause especially using my paper to project whatever is the Igbo agenda in good light. I will continue to do that party or no party. I had wanted Ndi Igbo to see APGA as their own but for that disappointment.

The incoming government in Imo Let me tell you as an Imolite I know what we went through. I believe that majority of Imolites like what has happened.

The important thing is that Rochas with all the evils associated with him have been driven away. The prospect of Rochas continuing to subject us to his whims and caprices are no longer there. It is a good development.

Rebranding Nigeria Moment newspapers It is not actually shutting down. We

Rating the performance of local tabloids In terms of rating, I know that the local tabloids have not been doing well in terms of news and editorial contents. The fact that you are producing adverts for so, so and so person, that is not newspapering. A newspaper must always come out standing for something. You must make your position known on certain issues. But when a newspaper has no position on any issue simply because it is thriving on adverts from any angle, that does not make it a newspaper. When something happens in the society a paper should come and make its stand on the issue known but some will choose to keep silent in order not to lose advertorials. This is the reason Nigerian Moment wants to practise and adopt the brand of journalism in the South West. They use mass communication as a tool to sell their people, defend their people. But here you cannot see any newspaper that is defending ndi Imo or ndi Igbo. To that extent we have actually not done what we are supposed to do.

•George Nkwoji

want to reposition the newspaper. We want to repackage it. We want to rebrand it. We want to reorganize it. We want to do something different so that the paper can stand on its own so it can be selfsustaining. We are not closing shop. This paper have made a lot of in roads and impacted the people. It is not going to be long. It could be a matter of few weeks and by the time we come back with a new management, new policies, a new newspaper everybody will be happy about will be born.

What to expect Let me tell you, in the past the majority of the stakeholders in the Imo polity were looking at me as a politician of the APGA family, and you know what happens in Imo. People would hardly patronize you when they see that you are on the other side of the divide. Now that I am out of partisan politics I want my paper to be seen as apolitical, a paper that serves every person’s interest. I want it to be seen that way so that no one will be seeing the

My advice for the new governor There are no two ways about it, that we have passed through hell while suffering in Rochas hands. The incoming government under Ihedioha should do a U-turn and reverse what Rochas has done. All those illicit acquisition of people’s property should be reversed. In using the words of Dr. Sam Amadi he should ‘’revoke’’ Rochas. And if he should not revoke Rochas he should not expect Imolites to support him. What we need is total revocation of Rochas and everything he stood for. This includes the ALGON members that were sacked, the in-coming governments must sort them out, pensioners owed and workers paid half salary, people whose lands were acquired by government should be revoked and the lands revert to their original owners, reinstate all structures of governance like the local governments, the judiciary etc, so that someone can walk into a ministry and transact business without having to see the governor. Let the incoming government operate what is called democracy.

They should not treat people on the basis of their political affiliations. They should treat people as citizens of Nigeria and sons of Imo State.

17

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

POLITICS

Rivers of endless controversies T

he decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resume collation of results for the Rivers State governorship election held on Saturday, March 9, and abruptly postponed in the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, has continued to generate divergent opinions across the state. The decision has delineated the political parties in the state into two distinctive camps. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) the ruling party is on the one side, supported by 56 governorship candidates who contested the March 9, gubernatorial election. They are pleased with INEC’s decision to resume collation of results, and the winner of the gubernatorial declared and returned as elected.

On the other side is the Africa Action Congress (AAC) whose governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Avwara, is being supported by the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose candidate, Tonye Cole, was disqualified by the courts for emerging through an indirect primary with the votes of delegates who emerged through defective ward, local government and state congresses of May 19, 20 and 21, 2018, respectively. The APC, AAC, ADP, ACCORD, ADPA, LP, and the SDP are clamouring for the outright cancellation of the March 9, governorship election. They are uncomfortable how INEC which claimed on Sunday, March 10, that the Army and political thugs dressed in military camouflage, stormed polling units, hijacked and carted away ballot boxes and electoral materials, Including result sheets, announced on Friday, March 15, that it had collated results from 17 out of the 23 local government areas in the state.

The candidate of the AAC, Avwara, had claimed a few days after INEC suspended the collation exercise that he was leading in 15 local governments where election had been concluded and the results counted and declared by the ad-hoc and presiding officers in the presence of the party agents. However, there was no way to verify Avwara’s assertion because the exercise had been suspended and the electoral materials taken away by INEC staffers on ground at the polling units. And since no INEC did not officially announce any result from any the 23 local government areas, the electoral process, tentatively, crawled into a limbo of some sort.

A National Commissioner with INEC and Chairman of its Committee on Voters Education and Publicity, Peter Okoye, who announced the suspension of the electoral process by the commission, was a member of the five-member “fact finding investigative committee” set up by INEC to look into what transpired in Rivers State during the governorship election. The committee was given 48 hours by the leadership of the commission to submit its findings. It was from the summary of the findings that INEC stated that it had received results from 17 local government areas before it suspended the electoral process.

While the ruling PDP is impressed with the outcome of the fact-finding committee, the opposition APC is vexed that the claim by INEC is an after-thought, contrived by INEC to return Governor Nyesom Wike for a second term of four years. Just as 56 2019 governorship candidates are rooting for Wike, some other governorship candidates under the aegis of Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen are want INEC to cancel the March 9, governorship election and conduct a fresh election. Their collective fear is that the electoral materials may have been tampered with, haven been moved to Abuja and back to Port Harcourt, without the knowledge of other candidates who contested the controversial gubernatorial election.

The timeline given by INEC on the resumption of the electoral process with the convocation of a stakeholders meeting on Saturday, March 30, to be followed by the collation of results from April 2 to April 5,

•Suspense, tension as collation of Rivers governorship election results resumes •PDP: We support INEC’s decision •APC, AAC, ADP, Accord, LP, APDA, and SDP want outright cancellation •Police is willing, ready to provide security for the process

From Port Harcourt, NATH OMAME Jnr. writes on the tension-soaked Rivers election results collation exercise, saying the exercise was trailed by accusations and counter accusations by virtually all the parties involved.

•Wike with the conduct of supplementary elections on April 15, where necessary, provoked series of peaceful protest march by supporters of both contending groups: The PDP and those aligned to the APC/AAC group. So far, the AAC, LP, SDP and the ADPA have approached the court to stop INEC from proceeding with the electoral process which they allege is structured to elicit the emergency of Governor Wike for a second term.

The criticism of how and why INEC continued to collate results after it had suspended the governorship election has been loud and resounding. Governor Wike later responded: “It is not in doubt that Rivers people have shown our party love. What is happening is sad. It is a drama. We have 13 House of Representatives seats and PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats: one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty per cent of the seats declared, PDP took all.”

“You begin to wonder why any rightthinking person would say that PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP to any party with known logo, or if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make prople vote for the candidate. For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely.”

While the parties and the governorship candidates canvassed their divergent positions, filing cases in court to invalidate the governorship election, the candidate of the Avwara continued to harp on his performance at the suspended polls: “Some of the units announced at the polling units in the local government areas where collations were not concluded clearly before suspension of the processes show that I won over 15 local government areas. This is because in the local government areas that were affected,

voting had concluded, results declared at the polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension of the process.

The commission does not have the power under our Electoral Act to suspend elections that have already been concluded.”

Expectations for the stakeholders meeting were high. And tempers flared and careened out of their tangents. The governorship of the ADPA, Ezekiel Warigbani Zubulun, asked the National Supervisory Commissioner for Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers State, Mrs. Joy Mbu-Agbamuche, why she was holding the stakeholders meeting, knowing full well that there were a number of cases in court challenging the powers of INEC to suspend an ongoing election. But the fumed and considered the question as “rude” and “impolite”. And she declared that Warigbani would no longer be allowed to ask any question at the meeting. Warigbani, who is also the chairman of the Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen, then, stormed out of the venue with members and supporters of other political parties currently against INEC’s resolve to resume the collation of results.

The opposing group aggregated their views at an impromptu news conference.

(1)Who has been in custody of the collated results? (2) Why are the collated results not in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria since INEC had been accused of partisanship? (3) How many LGA’s were collated before the suspension of the collation process? (4) How did the commission arrive at 17 LGA’s? (5) During the fact finding mission

by INEC, how many parties were invited? (5) How did they get their facts since Mrs MbuAgbamuche confessed in the interactive session in Port Harcourt that they carried out their fact findings without inviting all the parties involved for their submission?

(6) Who are the electoral officers changed in the process and why were they changed? (7) What is the proof of the authenticity of the collated results since INEC and the fact finding committee were already biased? Since INEC is aware that the Rivers election/suspension of collation of results, and the legality of the fact finding committee is before the court of law for determination, why are they going ahead with this process? The response from INEC was terse: “The electoral materials are in the strong room of INEC in Abuja and have not been tampered with. INEC is not out to favour any governorship candidate. INEC will conduct a fair and credible electoral process.”

There are fears being expressed by the PDP and parties that have endorsed Wike that the political parties opposed to INEC’s resumption of the collation of results may foment trouble, ostensibly, to prevent the commission from completing the process so as to pave way for a fresh election. Just like days before the March 9, election, suspense intermingled with tension is high. But the Commissioner of Police, Usman Bello, has assured Rivers people that it is willing and ready to provide adequate security to ensure that the electoral process goes on without any hitches. “We are willing and ready to protect everyone involve in the electoral process in conjunction with other security agencies.”

As it is, no matter who emerges as the governor-elect at the close of the collation exercise, some political parties and the governorship candidates are already in court.

The matters currently before the court are pre-election matters. Therefore, more law suits are bound to fly after the winner has been declared. In that wise, the political imbroglio will worm its way into a post election arena of electoral tribunal.

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

POLITICS

Ihedioha’s unity list excites Ndi Imo In the eyes of many Imolites, governor-elect, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha may not have been sworn-in yet. But he may well have hit the ground running, if the high-powered unity transition committee he has set up to help him reposition Imo State, post-Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is anything to go by, writes COLLINS UGHALAA from Owerri

“W

e will run an all-inclusive government and not a government of exclusion. Ours will be a government that will promote the unity of the state, rather than accentuate the fissures that have characterized our relationship with each other in recent times” – Emeka Ihedioha on March 14, 2019 during his maiden press briefing.

On Monday, April 1, 2019, I had reason to read up once more the statements of the Imo State Governor-Elect, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during his maiden media chat as Imo State Governor-Elect with journalists at his residence at the highbrow Civic Center in Owerri on Thursday, March 14, 2019, three days after he was declared winner of the governorship election that was held on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Reading Ihedioha’s statements against the backdrop of his newly constituted Transition Technical Committee (TTC) sends warm assurances that truly, Ihedioha’s words are his bond. He had promised explicitly during the chat, much like he did during the governorship campaigns, that he will run an inclusive government and that no part of the state would be marginalized under his watch.

Apart from signposting that Ihedioha will keep to his words, Ihedioha’s Transition Technical Committee is clearly a unity list. He had said during the press briefing under reference: “I will be governor to all Ndi-lmo both those who voted for us and those who did not. No part is greater or more important than the other. We are equal stakeholders in the Imo project and must therefore ensure that our people are united in the pursuant of the common good.” To have appointed people from the opposition political parties, even some of those who contested against him in the governorship election, into the Transition Technical Committee shows that Ihedioha takes the unity of the state very important, that truly he wants all hands on the deck for the unity and progress of the state. Apart from appointing people from the opposition political parties, Ihedioha’s unity list cuts across the trade union, academics, finance gurus, town planners, entrepreneurs, town union leaders, et cetera.

In a clime where politicians tend to favour the spirit of winner takes it all, Ihedioha’s disposition to have a unity, all-inclusive government deserves commendation. He had noted that instead of accentuating “the fissures that have characterized our relationship with each other in recent times”, promoting the unity of the state is more paramount.

It is, therefore, needless to constitute oneself into a clog in the wheel of the collective progress of Imo State. Consequently, there is no need now for anyone to attempt to pull the levers to put the new government down.

Moreover, Ihedioha’s Transition Technical Committee is a list of hope that good things can happen to Imo State again.

Imo people have not stopped saying that the last time they had hope that their government would create a wonderful future for them was during the Ikedi Ohakim era, after which all hopes were dashed for eight years now. With a clear commitment to ensure capacity building and socio-political and economic growth of the people, the Ohakim era had set the tone for the growth of the people in few years thence. The state could boast of great talents in all facets, such as the academia, health, science and technology, judiciary, civil service, etc. This is why it is

•Emeka Ihidioha imperative to applaud Ihedioha, because by his list he has reassured the people of the state that there is hope for all.

Ihedioha had also underscored this important aspect of the bright hopes available to the people of the state under his watch as the governor of the state when he said: “We look forward to the future with hope. It is my duty and responsibility to ensure that we remain brothers and sisters with a common destiny. I am certain that with all hands-on deck, we shall achieve the Imo of our dreams.” The Governor-Elect has posted to all that he can walk his talk.

Nothing can distract the fact that Ihedioha’s list is one of accomplished technocrats who will no doubt have the duty of fashioning out the nature of the new government and set the state government on the pedestal to perform.

This list, viewed from various angles is better than what we had under Governor Okorocha. In fact, we never had a Transition Technical Committee under Okorocha, neither did he set up any committee after he was sworn in. What he did was to contrive the illegal Office of the Governor-Elect from where he issued unlawful orders. He would also go on to make illegal pronouncements sacking legally constituted bodies in his ill-fated June 2011 statewide broadcast.

Though the Ihedioha’s unity list predates his inauguration on May 29, what we had like it was the Ikedi Ohakim committee led by the revered late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, which went on to fashion the agenda for the government.

No wonder, therefore, that those in the Okorocha led government misconstrue the Ihedioha committee to mean the inauguration committee itself. By assembling a team of accomplished technocrats, Ihedioha has shown that achieving real development in the state cannot be

predicated on cosmetics or populist overtures. There must be creative platforms upon which the state must race down to its glorious future. This was what Ihedioha meant when he said: “We shall run an open, transparent and accountable government with due process as its hallmark.

I believe strongly that those in positions of authority must render account of their stewardship to the people. The era of brazenness in Imo State is gone”. Ihedioha’s Transition Technical Committee is the new normal, the new deal for the emancipation of the state.

The Transition Technical Committee is chaired by a renowned technocrat, Mr. Ernest Ebi, who started his banking career in 1978 at the Community Federal Savings and Loan Association, Washington D.C., U.S.A. where he held the position of Assistant Vice President/ Controller. He has garnered more than 40 years experience in the banking sector.

He returned to Nigeria in November 1981 and joined International Merchant Bank (IMB) Plc, where he served in various capacities, including heading the Treasury Department, and later became the Chief Credit Officer of the bank from June 1989 to January 1992. From January 1992 to June 1993, he was the Head of the Audit and Risk Management Department. He rose from his from various leadership positions including Chairman, UNIC Insurance PLC; Executive Director, Corporate Banking of African Continental Bank PLC and Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Diamond Bank Limited (prior to its re-registration as a public limited liability company). From June 1999 to October 2009, Mr. Ebi was the Deputy Governor at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In November 2016, he was appointed Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC. Recognizing his sound professional background and track record of superla-

tive service, the Federal Government of Nigeria had in 2007 awarded him the National Honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria also awarded him a Fellow of the Institute (FCIB) in 2007.

Nobody who means well for the state will expect that the duo of Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Governor-Elect, who is nothing short of blessed with more than quantum dose of experiences, especially in lawmaking, due process and the rule of law; his Deputy, Rt. Hon Gerald Irona, who himself has a dose of both legislative and executive experience as a councilor, member of the state assembly, executive local government chairman and member of the House of Reps – and being a chip of the refined Nzeribe bloc - to do anything short of creating the creative platforms for the realization of the high dreams of the state.

However, the Ihedioha Transition Technical Committee, though a committee of experts did not overlook the youths, because there are youths who are experts in their callings. For example, Mr. Linus Okorie, born on April 30, 1974, is 45 years old this month. He is a member of the Committee and he is a youth. He is a Leadership Consultant, Author and the President and Founder of Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI), a nonprofit leadership development organization, based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He is well reputed as a conference speaker and a regular guest in many print media, radio, and television platforms across Nigeria. He is the radio and TV host of “The Leadership Clinic.

•Collins Ughalaa could be reached via email: ughalaacollins@gmail.com, or by telephone: 07066222944.

19

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

BU$IN£SS

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

FDIs at stake as courts swing NLNG, NIMASA case

•Tourism

Energy

Atlas Oranto leads N126bn gas investment in E/Guinea

P24 Insurance

•Acting CJN, Justice Mohammed

•MD NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

F

CBN Exchange Rates APRIL 2nd, 2019 Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

US DOLLAR 305.95 POUNDS STERLING 401.3758 EURO 343.949 SWISS FRANC 307.5493 YEN 2.7583 CFA 0.5049 WAUA 424.0432 YUAN/RENMINBI 45.583 RIYAL 81.578 S/AFRICA RAND 21.5572

306.45 402.0318 344.5111 308.0519 2.7628 0.5149 424.7362 45.6579 81.7113 21.5924

In view of its contract commitments to its commercial partners, financial losses, dents on its corporate reputation, political pressure from government and the risks of losing market positions, NLNG declared under duress that it would start paying of the imposed levies in installment under protest.

In 2013, NLNG filed a case at the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, against the Attorney General of the Federation and Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited, contractor of NIMASA, seeking a judicial determination on, among other things, the legality or otherwise of certain levies sought to be imposed on NLNG by NIMASA, an agency of the Federal Government and the consequent blockade of NLNG vessels by NIMASA and Global West as a result of the dispute.

In October 2017, Justice M.B. Idris of Federal High Court in Lagos ruled against NIMASA in the dispute over levies, saying NLNG was not liable to make any payments to NIMASA, directed the maritime agency to refund any payment already made in respect of levies for the use of the Bonny Channel.

The judgment inferred that NIMASA was liable to refund NLNG some $350 million or N126 billion in payments made under protest as the case lingered.

But the Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, questioned the court ruling, and subsequently challenged the ruling

at the Court of Appeal in October 2017.

The maritime regulator prayed the appellate court to stay the execution of the judgment of the trial court and restrain NLNG from withholding further payments pending the determination of the appeal.

Thus, the decision of the Court of Appeal weekend has set fresh legal race between the two parties, postponing a judicial decision that investors in the petroleum industry await to provide clearer outlook on the integrity of government’s fiscal incentives.

Both parties have reacted to the judgment with NIMASA celebrating another opportunity to exculpate from financial obligation of about $316 million (N126 billion) liability and recover temporarily from the precipice impending debt associated with the initial judgment of the trial court as case would now be heard afresh by another Judge of the Federal High Court.

This explains the overreactions from NIMASA which appear to suggest that the agency misread the position of the appellate court on the grounds of interpretation.

Mr. Peterside has also changed his tone, praising the judiciary as reliable and pledging to work with NLNG as a credible partner.

“NIMASA and NLNG are neither foes nor competitors. We are corporate cousins working together for the common good of our great

P27

Travel

FAAN extends freebies to air travellers at NAIA P26

Equity & Capital Market

Solemn silence, prayer dominate Afriland AGM as 2 investors die P28

Cont’d on Page 20

Stock Market Highlights As At 2nd april, 2019

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME 306.95 VALUE 402.6877 EQUITY CAP 345.0732 BOND CAP 308.5545 ETF CAP

2.7673 0.5249 425.4292 45.7329 81.8446 21.6276

•DG NIMASA, Mr. Dakuku Peters

EDERAL government’s policy moves to attract more foreign direct investments into the country’s creeping gas valorisation programme suffered a major setback weekend when expectations of resolution on the legal feud between the Nigeria’s biggest gas investor, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, and maritime regulator, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), came to no avail.

Hon. Justice Garuba Lawal of the Court of Appeal in Lagos had weekend directed all parties in the case to return to the High Court for rehearing, thus prolonging the dispute which has continued to shake investors’ confidence in the Nigerian business environment.

The appellate court sent the parties back to the trial court on submissions by NIMASA that its counterclaim in the matter was not taken into consideration by the Federal High Court in arriving at its decision.

The protracted dispute between both parties arose as a result of perceived conflict in the enabling Acts of both organizations, namely the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act 1990 on one hand; and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act 2007, Merchant Shipping Act and Coastal and Inland Shipping Act on the other

hand.

The NLNG is one of the prime beneficiaries of the pioneer status policy by the federal government.

Section 2 of the NLNG Act provides the company tax waivers and other incentives for its investment in the project to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for exports. But NIMASA contends that its establishment laws exempt only military vessels from its various revenue payments.

A cross section of legal experts whose opinions were sought by The Oracle Today declared that they do not have all the facts of the matter but stress that when two laws contend, the first in time takes precedence and consequently overrides the later.

Whereas NIMASA insists that its levies were applicable to NLNG, the latter argues that fiscal incentives embedded in the NLNG Act exempted from such levies and charges.

Consequently, NIMASA had filed a suit against NLNG in 2010 claiming entitlement to these levies, but after preliminary proceedings were taken and concluded, and the matter was ready for hearing, the maritime regulator filed an application to withdraw the suit.

While other parties went home relieved, NIMASA resorted to selfhelp by sending its security contractors, Global West, to block the Bonny Channel for 2 days, preventing passage of NLNG’s chartered vessels.

IFC, Africa Re to develop new insurance market for Nigeria’s farmers

S/N

30,226.77 4,018.00 376,947,303.00 N4,536,372,569.16 N11,353,403,577,297.35 N10,648,863,036,133.30 N5,662,452,217.78

Coy (By Volume)

FCMB STERLNBANK UBA FIDELITYBK ZENITHBANK

53,884,249 41,401,542 41,327,818 37,651,954 31,987,504

Value(N) N99,957,516.37 N99,218,482.29 N316,911,625.40 N66,331,674.66 N694,170,792.90

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close DANGCEM N191 DANGSUGAR N14.2 STANBIC N46.05 IKEJAHOTEL N2.06 NEM N2.22

Current Change N193 N15 N46.25 N2.26 N2.33

%Change 2 1.05% 0.8 5.63% 0.2 0.43% 0.2 9.71% 0.11 4.95%

N1400 N58.35 N56.9 N35.7 N24.95

-3.45% -9.95% -9.68% -8.46% -9.93%

5 Top Losers NESTLE BETAGLAS NB UNILEVER FO

N1450 N64.8 N63 N39 N27.7

-50 -6.45 -6.1 -3.3 -2.75

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

EDITORIAL Gabriel Okara (1921—2019) G

Airways. abriel Imomotimi Okara was betof Port Harcourt in 2017. Apart from At the end of the war in 1945, he worked ter known as a poet, though he the 1953 award of “The Call of the River for the colonial government’s printing was a novelist too. “The Call of Nun”, there was the 1979 Commonand publishing company. And that was the River Nun” was the most quoted wealth Poetry Prize for “The Fisherthe period he started writing – transof his poems. man’s Invocation” and the 2005 NLNG lating his native Ijaw poems into EngOn March 25, he answered the call, Prize for “The Dreamer, His Vision”. He lish and writing for the radio. not of River Nun in his home village received the Honorary Membership (Bomoundi) in today’s Bayelsa State He studied Journalism at Northwestern Award of the Pan African Writers’ AsUniversity, United States, in 1949. On but the call of Nature or God. He was sociation in 2009. his return, he worked as information one of the titans of African literature In an interview with African Writing Onofficer for the Eastern Nigerian Govwhose texts were studied in schools line, about 11 years ago, Okara advised ernment Service, a position he held before and after Nigeria’s independyoung writers to be patient and keep until the outbreak of the Nigerian civil ence. writing. On whether the works of writwar in 1967. Okara was one of Biafra’s The secondary school that produced ers would lead to change, he said: “No ambassadors in 1969. At the end of the Okara and other great writers east society is static. As the old writers pass civil war, he was named director of of the Niger was Government Colaway the young ones will take over Rivers State Publishing House. He was lege, Umuahia. Later, he attended the fight for change; it is a continuous there between 1972 and 1980.

Yaba Higher College. Wikipedia refight. And change will come eventuOkara had become a popular artiste cords that, during World War II, he ally.” even before Nigeria’s independence wanted to enlist in the British Royal Dying just a month to his 98th birthday, in 1960. “The Call of the River Nun” Air Force but did not complete pilot Gabriel Imomotimi Okara lived life to won an award at the Nigerian Festival training and had to, instead, work for the full. Only a few people enjoy the of Arts in 1953. But other poems such the forerunner of the present British privilege of living to old age. We wish as “Piano and Drums” and him well in the great beyond.

“You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed” were to follow.

It was no surprise, therefore, Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nithat he was one of the great geria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; African writers that attended to be a newspaper of records that effectivethe milestone African Writers ly caters to the information needs of all segConference in 1962 at Makere- ments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Esre University College in Kamwe want to be a responsible corpopala, Uganda. Among other at- sentially, rate citizen, a commercially viable, properly tendees were Chinua Achebe, organised media business, which meets its John Pepper Clark, Christoobligations to society, government and the workforce. pher Okigbo, Wole Soyinka, Ngugu Wa Thiong’o, Rebecca Mission Njau, and Ezekiel Mphalele.

WE INTEND to contribute to the developLike other writers of his era, ment of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of the dark sides of our Okara did not fail to explore national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, themes around the clash of nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually cultures between European engender and sustain national debates that colonisers and colonised Afriwould ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, cans. The Voice, a novel puband fairplay, transparency, good govlished in 1964, was his answer. equity ernance, resulting, in themselves, the egaliMany of his works got lost or tarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will were destroyed during the give voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthcivil war. and fair to all sides; so that through The The literary giant will for long ful Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian peobe remembered around the ple can see a bright light at the end of what globe. His latest recognition has been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do was the Gabriel Okara Literary all this in absolute trust in God who blesses good intentions.

Festival held at the University

21

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

OPINION Nigeria: Predictions of failure (1)

By OSCAR ONWUDIWE

S

ome undisputed facts are (1) Nigeria is a country of over 250 ethnic nationalities.

(2) Nigeria was created by Britain for British interest. (3) From 1914 till date, Nigeria has enjoyed peace for only 31 years out of 105years, the peaceful years being from 1914 to 1945. (4) Before our colonial masters left in 1960, we agreed to stay together with enough slack built into our Constitution to allow each region to grow and develop their own Economy and their people, at their own pace. (5) Without actually understanding each other, we were told and we believed, that Natural Law favours the unity of many diverse people, and if well managed for positive production, it would lead to greatness. (6) It is also a fact backed by historical evidence that in our excitement to take over from the colonial masters, we did not think through the caveat to that natural law i.e. THERE MUST BE SOCIAL JUSTICE. In other words, leaders of a diverse people must be mentally developed enough to know that it is in the interest of all, to regard fellow men as corner stones rather than stepping stones. The lack of this mental development has been the challenge of Nigerian leaders.

The prediction of 1922 Just eight years after the much talkedabout Amalgamation of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford, (the then Governor of Colonial Nigeria in 1922) actually said: “I DOUBT THE ABILITY OF THE NIGERIAN TO RULE HIS COUNTRY”.

The educated Nigerians at that time saw this as an insult from a racist but oddly enough, from that 1922 till date, Nigeria is still in search of an enduring constitution. Conference after conference witnessed more rancour and walkouts than civilized adjustment of com-

promises until the miracle of 2014. (I shall return to this later) Now, let us listen to the comments of various notable men about Nigeria. On the 22rd of March 1969, Dr. Francois Duvalier (the then President of the Republic of Haiti) had this to say about us: “Federal Nigeria has never since her independence shown the distinctive mark of a united nation. It has been impossible for her to silence tribal rivalries so as to achieve that mixture of ethnic/ cultural bIend required to forge national unity.”

Has anything changed? No! Rather, it is now worse.

Three years after Dr. Duvalier’s analysis and 50 years after Sir Clifford passed his verdict, our own Right. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe had this to say in 1972: “Since the political wind of change transformed the colonial territories into independent sovereign states, it would appear as if the African lacks the capacity for good governance. While I would have been in the front line of opponents to such a preposterous suggestion before 1stOctober 1960, I today have grave doubts in my mind and I have reasonable grounds to believe that quite a number of dedicated and well meaning compatriots are disillusioned with the poor-performance of African Politicians.” This quote remains true about Nigerian, while Ghana, Rwanda and a few other African countries have broken the jinx.

Professor Chinua Achebe’s verdict (which was in agreement with Sir Clifford’s verdict) that leadership is the Nigerian problem, was corroborated in 1997 by the then British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook who said: “Nigeria should be the second richest country in Africa. What holds it back is very poor standards of government.” It is clear that those who are watching Nigeria know that our usual fierce struggle for power is really driven more by

tribal insecurity, than a burning desire to lift Nigeria; hence the ‘it is our turn to rule’ (read chop) mantra.

Two years after Robin Cook’s verdict, our own General Abdulsalam Abubakar gave Nigeria his own gift via decree 24 of 1999 and told us that it is now our constitution and written by “We the people”. This decree with 68 items on the exclusive legislative list ensured that the people of Nigeria are stripped of their assets, resources and even the power to protect themselves and their businesses, while such powers are given to the omnipotent and almighty Federal Government thereby reducing the States to groveling beggars at the feetof the Emperor at Abuja. We call this, home grown democracy. This constitution in Sec 14 sub 2a says “Sovereignty belongs to the people”, but with section 6 sub section 6c plus sect 308, leaders of government were given absolute powers. We all know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now, let’s hear what some notable Nigerians have to say about this decree 24 A.K.A 1999 constitution.

Ladipo Adamolekun wrote in the Vanguard of October 2008 on “The inevitability of devolution”. His message was “Devolution can unleash the forces for consolidating democracy and achieving accelerated socio -economic progress in Nigeria. The alternative to devolution will likely be the death of the Federation.”

Chief Anthony Enahoro, the same man who moved the motion for our independence in 1956, kept screaming with this Pronaco Group that Abdulsalam’s documents should be suspended. He even went to court on the matter. On April 28th 2009, one of Nigeria’s best legal brains Chief Bankole Oki, granted an interview to the Guardian on the burdens of 1999 constitution, declaring: “This Presi-

dential Constitution is the foundation for corruption”.

As usual, almighty Abuja and their court jesters never bother about anything that does not constitute a credible threat to the polity. So in 2013, When the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania prepared a 65-page document titled “Nigerian Unity in the Balance”, someone brought that to the notice of President Jonathan. He quickly consulted and decided on a national conference. That decision met with serious opposition, but it eventually happened. And for the first time in the history of Nigeria, no walkouts, no ego or tribal gang-ups and various ethnic nationalities adjusted their compromises and unanimously agreed on 600 items for change. Then the “Chanji” Government came in, dismissed the exercise and said the constitution that has been adjudged the foundation for corruption is very ok; that the problem was that the past administration did not have saints, integrity or the will to fight corruption and that they could.

So, if the major roads in my State are not motorable, I must come to Abuja to beg for it to be fixed. If there are resources in my state that can be tapped for wealth and job creation, I must come to Abuja to beg for permission to touch them. If my child needs admission into the university, his/her chance can be affected by State of origin. 52% of the national budget must continue to be spent

by Abuja in accordance with the will of the Emperor and his trusted aides. That, to them, is social justice. To disagree is to be declared a hater, a corrupt opposition member and unpatriotic.

•Onwudiwe, a Lagos-based legal practitioner is President of Aka-Ikenga

NASS leadership: APC treads familiar path

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

T

he media have been awash with a potential “second” bumpy ride by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to get its “anointed candidates” elected into the principal offices in the Senate of the National Assembly, where it has a comfortable majority in both Chambers.

Considering the 2015 fiasco, can’t the party avoid a case of “once beaten, twice shy”? Perhaps, if it changes its strategies! But the omen isn’t looking good, as it seemingly got off on the wrong foot, and left its flanks open by putting the cart before the horse!

For instance, why would the APC announce its choice of a candidate for Senate President before deciding on how to delineate offices for Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones; and meet other aspirants to sound them out on why it “settled” for a particular senator?

There’re already voices of dissent from among its elected members into the Ninth Assembly, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cheering the dissenters on, in the hope of gaining, as it did in 2015, from the division in the party.

Indeed, the PDP appears to be dictating how the lawmakers will vote their leadership.

Its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, has referenced Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as “forbidding” external influence in the election of the officers.

Section 50 provides that: “There shall be:(a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.”

If Ologbondiyan’s subtle blackmail isn’t enough, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo) has warned that: “No party should tell us what to do; they should, please, allow us to make our careful choice of who becomes the

Senate President. If the party (APC) decides, you will be surprised that what happened in 2015 will also happen.”

By the weekend, the PDP had reportedly decided to field a candidate for the Senate President, praying that with a “block vote” by its over 40 members, and additional ballots from “disgruntled” APC senators, it would be able to overcome the party’s majority at the election.

Think about this set up: The PDP will field one candidate, while the APC will have five “candidates” in Ahmad Lawan, Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu and Orji Uzor Kalu scrambling for the votes of about 60 senators of the party.

It would be a walk in the park for the minority party to the Senate presidency - an unparalleled parliamentary “record” in our clime, and an elevation from the Deputy Senate President’s seat the PDP clinched in 2015.

Well, this can only happen if the APC’s unable to put its house in order. But to prevent such a scenario, it has adopted a “winnertakes-all” approach. And the party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has affirmed that the platform has the numbers (majority), and its members must occupy all principal positions, and the chairmanship of the strategic committees.

Yet again, the APC should heed PDP’s advice, as delivered by its Chairman, Uche Secondus, thus: “It is wrong to assume that about more than one-third of the legislature will not be asked to support (decide) the emergence of its leadership.” Isn’t that a clear-enough signal?

It’s heart-warming, though, for APC members, that President Muhammadu Buhari is getting involved in the selection process, whereas in 2015, he “stood aloof,” asserting that he could work with any leadership of the National Assembly.

And the result is what he lately termed “some actions and decisions of the 8th Assembly regrettable,” ostensibly stemming

from the frosty relationship between the Executive and Legislature, which has had adverse effects on the smooth running of the government since 2015.

Certainly, it’s to prevent such a scenario that the President has sanctioned the APC endorsement of Ahmad Lawan (North-East) for Senate President - the same position the party propositioned him in 2015.

However, other aspirants for the Senate President: Messrs Ali Ndume (North-East), Danjuma Goje (North-East) and Abdullahi Adamu (North Central), who were in attendance at the Aso Villa meeting, where the issue of the Senate presidency was “ratified,” allegedly didn’t buy the idea of “imposition” of Lawan.

In the aftermath, Senator Ndume addressed a press conference to denounce as “unconstitutional” the Oshiomhole-announced “endorsement,” and vowed to remain in the race. Senators Goje and Adamu were also reportedly evaluating their chances.

Then, out of the blue came reports of Senator-elect, Dr. Kalu (South-East), threatening to contest for the Senate President if the APC failed to allocate the office of Senate Deputy President to his zone, “in the interest of equity and justice.”

This is certainly a throwback to the 2015, when “ambitious” lawmakers (in)advertently subverted the APC directives on the choice of the principal officers, thereby paving the way for the PDP to sneak in to produce the Senate co-leadership.

The APC had described that election a “parliamentary coup,” as Saraki (APC, Kwara) was elected Senate President, but Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu) was chosen as Senate Deputy President.

The party also had to “sweat” to get its members fixed in other positions: Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Majority Whip and Deputy Majority Whip, and lost strategic committees to PDP members, thanks to the opposition’s “working agree-

ment” with the Saraki camp.

And here we are four years later, in 2019, and the APC is about to swallow another bitter pill due to a series of mistakes and missteps in the scramble for the leadership of the National Assembly.

The remedy? Serious engagement, and pacification of the “disgruntled” lawmakers in its fold, and checkmating the antics of the opposition PDP for a repeat performance in the Ninth Assembly! Only tact and appeasement, not braggadocio, can achieve the targeted goals for the APC. •Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

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

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

HEALTH Prostate cancer: A curiosity with men

T

he prostate is a gizzard muscle or walnut-sized gland located behind the base of a man’s penis, in front of the rectum and below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, tube-like channel that carries urine and semen via the penis. The prostate function is to make seminal fluid, liquid in semen that protects, supports and helps transport sperm.

The prostate cancer begins when healthy cells in the prostate change and grow out of control or erratically forming a tumour is seen as malignant, meaning, it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumour can grow but not spread. Prostate cancer is most times the worst of all cancers in the world. This is because, many prostate tumours do not spread to other parts of the body but grow slowly and may not cause symptoms for years yet is there killing the man asymptomatically. Even when prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it often can be managed, allowing men with advanced prostate cancer to live with good health and quality of life for years. But the cancer can suddenly get out of control, rejecting treatment, causing pain, fatique and sometimes sudden death.

The prostate can produce “Prostate-Specific-Antigen” (PSA) a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. The PSA is detected using blood test.

Higher than normal levels of PSA can be found in men with prostate cancer as well as other men of non-cancerous prostate conditions. Those conditions include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate and prostatic, which is inflammation or infection of the prostate. However, ejaculation and riding a bicycle can temporarily increase PSA values, so these activities and other hard labours should be avoided before people have PSA testing. More than 95% of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas . A rare type of prostate cancer known as neuroendocrine cancer or small cell cancer tend to be more aggressive, spread outside the prostate area earlier and and usuallydoes not make too much PSA, accounts for 5% of the prostate cancers.

Different cancer types have different treatment option and standards of care. When making treatment plan decisions, patients are also encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment. Doctors (Oncology Specialists) would want to learn if the treatment option is safe, effective and possibly better than the standard treatments set before. Clinical trial can test a new drug, a new combination of standard treatments or new doses of standard drugs or and other treatments. In cancer care, different types of doctors often work together to create an overall treatment plan that may combine different types of treat-

ments. This is called a multidisciplinary team. The cancer care teams include varieties of other health care professionals like physicians, pharmacists, oncology nurses, dietitians, counselors and social workers.

Descriptions of the most common treatment option for prostate cancer are listed below, followed by an outline of general approaches to treatment according to stage. Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors include the types and stage of cancer, possible side effects and the patients preferences and overall health. Patients’ are always allowed opportunity to ask questions to know what is good for or better for them. Some of such things to consider when making and taking decisions are the possible urinary, bowel, sexual and hormone-related side effects of treatments. Too, men should ask their doctors how the various treatment options affect recurrences, survival and quality of life. In over all, the success of any treatment often depends on the skill and expertise of the physician or surgeon, so it is important to find or look for who has experience treating prostate cancer.

There is what we call active surveillance and watchful waiting. Active surveillance is prostate cancer treatment that could cause side effects such as erectile dysfunction which is the inability to get and maintain an erection and incontinence-the inability to control urine flow.

This may seriously affect a man’s quality of life. During active surveillance, the cancer is closely monitored for a sign that is worsening. Active surveillance is usually preferred for men with a long life expectancy who may benefit from curative local therapy if the cancer shows signs of getting worse. Sometimes, active surveillance can be an option for men with a Gleason score of 7. Most professionals recommend the following testing schedule for active surveillance: A PSA test every 3 to 6 months.

A DRE test at least once every year. Prostate biopsy within 6 to 12 months 2 to 5 years as the case may be. A patient should

HEALTH With Dr. JOHN

NWABUEZE •Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

receive treatment if the results of the done during active surveillance show signs of the cancer becoming more aggressive or spreading causing pain or blocks the urinary tract.

Watchful waiting is a treatment option for older men and people with serious life threatening illnesses who are expected to live less than five years. With watchful waiting, routine PSA tests, DRE and biopsies are not often performed. If a patient develops symptoms form the prostate cancer, such as pain or blockage of the urinary tract, then treatment is recommended immediately and ADI may inclusive option. Doctors are advised to be cautious that they

do not make errors in judging the disease. Doctors must collect as much information as possible about the patient’s illness and life expectancy to determine whether active surveillance or watchful waiting is appropriate for each patient. New information is becoming available all the time and so, it is important for doctors’ patient relation to utilize the opportunity for the best decision taking about treatment.

Local treatments get rid of cancer from a specific limited area of the body. Such treatments include surgery and radiation therapy. For men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, local treatments may get rid of the cancer completely. However, if

22

the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland, other types of treatment called systemic treatments are needed to destroy cancer cells located in other parts of the body. Surgery is the removal of the tumour and some surrounding health tissue during an operation. It is used to eliminate a tumour before it spread outside the prostate. A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery as a treatment method. For prostate cancer, a urologist or urologist oncologist of surgery depends on the stage of the cancer and overall health of the man.

Some surgical treatment options are: Radical (open) Prostatectomy and Robotic or laparoscopic prostatectomy . A radical (open) prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate and the seminal vesicles. Lymph nodes in the pelvic area can also be removed. This operation has the risk of interfering with sexual function. Nerve-sparing surgery, where possible, increases the chance that a man can maintain his sexual function after surgery by avoiding surgical damage to the nerves that allow erection and orgasm to occur. Urinary incontinence is also a possible side effect of radical prostatectomy. To help resume normal sexual function, men can receive drugs, penile implants or injections. Robotic or laparoscopic prostatectomy is the type of surgery possibly much less invasive than a radical prostatectomy and may shorten recovery time. A camera and instruments are inserted through small keyhole incisions in the patients’ abdomen. The surgeon then directs the robotic instruments to remove the prostate gland and some surrounding healthy tissue. In general, robotic prostatectomy causes less bleeding and less pain but the sexual and urinary side effects can be similar to those of a radical (open) prostatectomy.

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiation oncologist is a specialist who uses radiation therapy for cancer treatment. A radiation therapy regimen usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.

The types of radiation therapy used to treat prostate cancer include: External-bean radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), Proton therapy, brachytherapy, focal therapy, systemic therapy (treatment) and Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) shall be detailed in the subsequent column. Men above 40 years of age should be curious about their prostate health and keep to good and healthy lifestyle to be able to fulfill purpose for life.

Government and well-meaning individuals should take up this programme as a charity for the common good for the common man.

•Dr. John Nwabueze Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

23

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

BUSINESS

LG Electronics introduce 80% insurance cover for products – Fouani Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

T

HE Managing Director of LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Mohammed Fouani has disclosed that the company has introduced 80 percent insurance cover for its products so as to enable consumers enjoy the products with peace of mind.

Fouani who spoke in an exclusive interview with The Oracle Today shortly after a media parley organized by LG electronics West Africa at FNL Brandshop Lekki in Lagos said, ”The partnership between LG Electronics and Zenith Insurance is a unique step aimed at providing insurance cover for our teeming customers who may accidentally damage a product during transit or due to factory defect or malfunction”.

However, Fouani stated that the customer’s responsibility is to pay 20 percent of the insurance cover representing three percent when he buys a product, while LG bears the responsibility for 80 percent of the insurance cover.

He said, for instance a television screen is worth over N80,000,but when a customer paid for his insurance cover, if it’s broken, LG would go the extra mile to repair, replace or restore the damaged or malfunction item.

He emphasized that from henceforth, consumers who patronize LG products stand to benefit immensely from the collaboration because both companies are the fastest growing in Nigeria.

“Some of our products come with two years warranty or even ten years, depending on the product, and at the moment, we have captured 50 percent market share of the Nigerian market. Now, with the introduction of insurance cover against damage or defect,

customers have the opportunity to enjoy our products with peace of mind,Fouani said”.

On whether Zenith Insurance has the ability to pay when the need arises because payment is what matters most to customers.The Managing Director of Zenith Insurance. Mr. Kehinde Borishade re-assured the public that Zenith Insurance is ready to pay claims in line with partnership policy with LG Electronics.

He said, “ I congratulate all consumers of LG products in Nigeria as the collaboration between Zenith Insurance and Fouani, Nigeria’s sole distributor of LG products is targeted at guaranteeing peace of mind of the consumers as the products are now being ensured.

Borisade stressed that with Zenith Insurance backing LG products, customers cannot go wrong in their choice of the products. He stated that as a global brand, the insurance cover is not only essential but the best option and is a step in the right direction.

Keynote speaker at the occasion and Head of Corporate Marketing, Mr. Hari Elluru said, “ As a customer–centric brand, we pay attention to the needs and aspirations of our customers. We are enriching lives through our products and want to ensure that our customers don’t have to worry about anything while enjoying our products. When we promise, we deliver. And this is a demonstration of our commitment to enhance our consumer lifestyle”.

Elluru said that the partnership bears eloquent testimony to LG Electronics commitment to not just fulfilling its pledges to customers, but also going the extra mile to delight all their customers.

He added that with the partnership with Zenith Insurance, LG customers have 80percent cover on

•Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe in a handshake with Diamond Bank’s last chief executive in Nigeria’s banking history, recently. damaged products. According to him, LG is committed to providing premium service to customers as the company deepen its penetration of Nigerian market and urged prospective consumers to take advantage of the opportunity to get LG products of their choice.

On why the three of them believed that the collaboration is going to succeed, they all answered that the project has been tested and testrun for two months before it was formally launched. And as professionals in their own fields, they have no doubts of the success of the deal.

Ecobank launches Digital payment device in Lagos Island markets

E

COBANK Nigeria recently unveiled its digital payment solution to traders and business men at Oluwole markets in Lagos Island.

The payment solution simply known as EcobankPay zone evokes excitement as Traders and Market Leaders that spoke at the event were filled with commendation for Ecobank for introducing EcobankPay zone to their markets, adding that it would bring ease of transactions in Lagos Island generally.

Head of the Market Women (Iya Oja), Oluwole Plaza Market, Chief Mrs. Josephine Onwudiwe,who spoke on behalf of the market leaders, said the EcobankPay zone couldn’t have come to the market at a better time, stressing that the digital payment solution would go a long way to boost business activities in all the markets on the Lagos Island.

Chief Onwudiwe who traced a long relationship between Ecobank and the traders thanked Ecobank management for selecting Oluwole market for the launch, stating that she would personally ensure that all the traders in the market adopt and maximize the opportunity provided with the EcobankPay zone.

She said, “On behalf of the traders in this market, I wish to thank Ecobank for bringing this payment technology to this market. I will personally ensure all of us in this market utilize this opportunity.”

In her testimonial on Ecobank

Xpress point , Mrs. Adunni Danmole attested to the benefits of the services, urging traders in the market and people living in the community to embrace the EcobankPay zone and other products of the bank.

According to her, since she enlisted as a Xpress point merchant of the bank, her business has received major boost, urging Ecobank to spread EcobankPay to all the major markets in the country Also speaking at the launch, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Carol Oyedeji reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to ensure Nigerians get quality banking transactions and good business dealings at market locations. She emphasized that the digital payment zone will further boost easy and convenient transactions in the market place.

“The EcobankPay initiative would deepen financial inclusion in the community and specifically aid business transactions between merchants and clients. EcobankPay’s unique offering is that anyone from any bank in Nigeria can pay with MasterPass, mVISA and mCASH with any phone by scanning QR code or using USSD”. She noted.

Mrs Oyedeji called on the traders and other people living around the market to embrace the innovative pay zone. She explained that customers and non-customers of the bank who patronize the market will now have quick access to the bank’s digital payment offerings, as it would remove the stress and

boredom associated with delays in paying for goods in the market.

“The Lagos Island markets are dear to our heart. Today we bring good news to traders in this popular market and others that live in this vicinity. EcobankPay will make transaction simple and easy. It will create payment convenience for good and services and growing various businesses across the country.

You do not need to be a customer of Ecobank. If the person that wishes to buy goods is coming from a bank that has mVisa and wishes to pay, the same QR Code would accept mVisa payment and vice versa.

That creates convenience for the merchants. The QR Code is much cheaper than having a point of sale (PoS).” she noted.

EcobankPay is free to set up as the shop owner only needs his/her QR code and phone for notifications to start receiving quick and easy payments. EcobankPay, a special merchant QR Code product of the Pan African Bank, enables customers make seamless payment for goods and services across the three major payment platforms without the use of plastic cards.

For the merchants, the beauty of the EcobankPay is in the cost of setting up, as the shop owner simply prints the QR Code on a paper and can stick it anywhere and do not run any risks.It would be recalled that the Bank had launched similar pay zones in Alaba International market and Amu market, Mushin

Rapid Growth: Capital Market experts appeal to FG to Pursue reforms

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the Nigerian Capital Market have called on the Federal Government to make urgent reforms that will drive economic growth in Nigeria.

This was part of the major decisions taken at the maiden Bi-Annual Business Lunch of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria in Lagos.

It was an opportunity for key operators in the capital market and by extension the financial market, to explore areas that could ignite fasterpaced socio-economic growth and development.

President of the AIHN Mr Chuka Eseka described the forum as a platform to brainstorm and chart fresh pathways for market-driven government policies that will have positive impact on the market.

Eseka said the AIHN has set a four point agenda for the Federal Government to urgently address to get the Nigerian economy moving.The Four point agenda and areas the AIHN wants the Federal Government to give priority attention include; Policy reforms that promote market economics, Power sector reforms, Liberalization of Oil and Gas sector and Private sector led infrastructure development.

In her remarks at the event the Acting Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC), Ms Mary Uduk lauded the Association for the hosting of the Bi-Annual business lunch.

Speaking on the theme of the lunch “Capital Market Agenda for the Next Four Years”, Uduk said the Nigerian economy requires diversification and massive growth where the capital market is expected to play a critical role.

She believed the Nigerian capital market has a great role to play in the areas of growing its product offerings and increasing market participation.

According to her SEC Nigeria will work with market stakeholders to develop more capital market products around Green Bonds and Derivatives to deepen the market.

Uduk said the AIHN as a trade group could play an increasing role as a self-

regulatory organization, SRO, in the area of compliance management framework.

The event featured a panel session that discussed “The Role of the Capital Market in Driving Nigeria’s Economy” with the following discussants Ms Pat Oniha DG Debt Management Office, Mr Bola Onadele MD/CEO of FMDQ OTC, Mr Chuka Eseka President of AIHN, Ms Yewande Sadiku Executive Secretary National Investment Promotion Council, NIPC, Mr Yusuf Adamu(Representing the DG of Bureau of Public Enterprises) and Dr Andrew Nevin, Chief Economist PWC Nigeria.

Ms Pat Oniha the Director-General of the Debt Management Office during her discussion stressed the need for the economic managers and policy makers to focus on ways of generating revenue, diversifying the economy and developing and expanding the nation’s infrastructure.

Looking at the Nigerian economy Dr Andrew Nevin emphasized the need for Nigeria to scale its growth to the level of 6-8%, in order to reduce poverty. He said unlocking the capital market, exploring the real estate market and decentralizing the federation will be critical for the nation’s development.

Mr Yusuf Adamu of the Bureau of Public Enterprises said in the area of liberalization of the oil and gas sector, the Petroleum Industry Bill deliberations at the National Assembly and pronouncement by the government, will be vital to contentious issues like the “Privatization of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation”.

In the challenging energy sector reforms in the country, Mr Adamu who represented the Director-General said the government should allow investors to operate a market-driven structure for the sector.

Mr Bola Onadele MD/CEO of FMDQ OTC speaking at the panel session said Nigeria needs an overriding philosophy for developing the debt capital market. Executive Secretary of the NIPC Ms Yewande Sadiku believed key areas that the government should address include public sector reforms, ease of doing business and infrastructure.

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

ENERGY

Atlas Oranto leads N126 bn gas investment in E/Guinea Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

A

FRICA focused oil and gas independent group, Atlas Oranto Petroleum, is working with partners to invest $350 million or N126 billion in offshore gas monetization projects in Equatorial Guinea.

The project plans follow approval of the Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Project and with the solid support of the company’s partners, including Noble Energy, Glencore and Gunvor. It involves pooling supply from stranded gas fields in Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea.

According to Atlas Oranto, the partners have already entered definitive agreements with the government of Equatorial Guinea for the monetization of gas from the country’s Alen Unit, and plans are now running to invest in the country’s backfill project.

The project would spin off from operations in the O and I blocks in which Noble Energy, Marathon Oil, Glencore and Guvnor, Atlas Oranto Petroleum are partners; and investments would now focus on pooling supply from stranded gas fields in Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea and replace

declining output from the Alba field.

The development of the Alen offshore gas hub would be the first step towards Equatorial Guinea’s vision to become a gas mega-hub for the sub-region by developing several offshore gas hubs to monetize neighboring gas reserves and develop downstream gas industries spurring industrial development and economic growth.

Executive Chairman of Atlas Oranto, Prince Arthur Eze, declared that the company’s investment profile in Equatorial Guinea solidifies its status as African gas playe, adding that the company would continue to invest in gas monetization across the continent.

“Our investment into Equatorial Guinea will confirm Atlas Oranto as a strong African gas player. We firmly believe that gas monetization is not only key for Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, but for the whole of Africa. Atlas Oranto will continue to invest in gas monetization projects across the continent, including gas-to-power and the curbing of gas flaring,” he said.

Atlas Oranto expressed gratitude to its partners in Equatorial Guinea for working with the government to make the back-

fill project a reality. It also urged all parties to move towards the project’s implementation.

The company which claims to represent Africa’s largest privately-held exploration and production group also stressed the need to boost local and regional content and boosting job

country. Judgments like this only serve to strengthen our institutions and ensure greater bonding,” he said.

The NLNG which has stretched hands for refund of the N126 billion levies paid under protest stated that it commits to patience till final determination of the case.

For all stakeholders, full analysis of the decision of the appellate court has become most expedient.

All legal practitioners who spoke to The Oracle Today chorused on the fact that the revert to the trial court confers advantage to both parties as, according to them, the case has become organic and could proceed to the Supreme Court.

Lead Partner at Lagem Firma and Partners, Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, states that throwing the case back to High Court means that the Appeal Court seeks sound logical premises to establish its own decisions on the matter. He pointed out that what returns to the appellate judge might alter or consolidate existing decisions of the trial court.

He said the Appeal Court would necessarily appraise the processes leading to the decision of the trial court, adding that the demand for rehearing might not have anything to do with the facts of the matter but much to do with the processes that might have weakened the basis to uphold existing decisions.

He said either of two things would happen: address the issues flagged by the Appeal Court or try the case de novo. In both cases, he said, parties in the dispute have equal opportunities to consolidate and solidify their arguments.

The throwback to trial court, according to the eminent lawyer, does not in any way confer discriminatory advantage but provides second chance for both parties to drill down their arguments.

Another legal expert and Founding Partner of Law Point Attorneys, Barr. Damian Ihegazie, who has been following the matter, told The Oracle Today that the case was inevitably on irreversible journey to the Supreme Court, making it necessary that all logical grounds for conclusion are flawless.

According to him, if all submissions are not sufficiently addressed, further judgments would still be susceptible to further appeals. He made it clear that the emerging intransigence of both parties has made it obligatory on the courts to seek clear and flawless processes to establish a solid precedent for similar arbitrations in the future.

He pointed out that the Appeal Court was, by seeking comprehensive process audit, protecting the credibility of its own decisions should the case proceed to the Supreme Court. He stressed that all parties stand at advantage as, according to him, “no good case can fall before a court process.”

Besides legal opinions and process technicalities, the case is actually one of ‘two rights and one wrong’ in a circumstance that amplifies conflict of laws and absence of administrative arbitration in the country.

Both parties stand on self interpretation of establishment laws which confer each with rights and privileges respectively. Efficient application of laws requires that judicial interpretation and order be secured before taking any defi-

and numerous Atlas/Orantooperated blocks.”

Operating as sister companies in the West Africa region since 1991, Atlas and Oranto now operate throughout Africa, with regional offices and representatives in all our core investment locations.

•NNPC GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru (middle), with MOMAN Chairman, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, at the MOMAN Chief Executive Officers Strategy Retreat Dinner yesterday in Abuja. With them are: NNPC Chief Operation Officer (COO), Downstream, Engr. Henry Ikem Obih and PPMC Managing Director, Mr. Umar Ajiya.

FDIs at stake as courts swing NLNG, NIMASA case Continued from P 17

creation.

In pointing at its asset coverage in the continent, the company boasted: “Our extensive footprint across the African continent includes 22 oil and gas licenses in 11 jurisdictions, including producing assets in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea

nite action that infringes upon and inflicts losses on the activities of a contending party.

The initial move by NIMASA to approach the court was ideal, and conversely the agency’s recourse to withdraw from the court and deploy force was wrong and ill advised, especially when it is already in view of the parallel laws sustaining the confidence of NLNG to contend with payment demand.

It is therefore on the grounds of the fact that sufficient awareness of the two contending establishment laws had been created that it becomes difficult to interpret the role of NIMASA as lawful.

Besides, the two parties in the feud are technically owned by the federal government. Whereas NIMASA is the government’s maritime regulator in the Ministry of Transport, the federal government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holds overriding 49 percent equity stake in NLNG. Thus, 49 percent off all levies demanded by NIMASA under the disputed claims would inevitably draw from government’s financial interests in the company.

Again, the Nigerian petroleum industry in which NLNG plays is regulated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), a technical agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. One would expect that exchanges from a different ministry on issues of legal, fiscal and administrative incentives conferred on commercial investments in the petroleum industry under a law would first be resolved at interagency platforms with the DPR. The docility of the petroleum industry regulator in the face of fes-

tering harassment of commercial player under its regulation by an agency from another ministry fails to provide investor confidence. Of course, the DPR is the custodian of all petroleum industry laws and records, and is eminently in full understanding of all facts at contention.

It also leads promotion of commercial investments in the gas sector and has regularly flaunted government’s fiscal incentives at international investment shows.

The descent into judicial rigmarole at a time when speedy arbitration is requires to stave off fiscal disputes affecting prime commercial operations that support national revenue inflow is gross investment disincentive in business environment.

It is in foreground of the above that industry analysts opine that early resolution of the case at the appellate court would have been critical and aptly strategic as shareholders of the Africa’s biggest tax payer and second biggest foreign exchange earner for Nigeria approach final investment decision (FID) on the seventh liquefaction train of the NLNG. According to the Managing Director of the gas export company, investments in the Train-7 of the NLNG would boost the company’s gas liquefaction and export capacity by 35 percent or 8.0 million tons per annum (mtpa) from current 22 mtpa to 30 mtpa.

Consequently, he said, the company’s potential for financial and non financial economic contributions to the country would proportionately grow. Pointing at opportunities of increased financial contribution to the country, Mr. Attah recounted that NLNG Limited has in the past 19 years of operations generated more than $100 billion in revenue, paid over $16 billion dividends to the federal government through NNPC, bought $13 billion worth of feed gas

from producers in the country and paid $6.5 billion in taxes.

In pointing at NLNG’s non financial contributions towards growing Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) and promoting locally manufactured goods to earn the country foreign exchange revenues, Mr. Attah declared that Nigeria LNG has for 20 years run operations strategies that develop and harness local businesses, talents and potentials, since it commenced operations ago.

Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in charge if Gas and Power at NNPC, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, severally lauded NLNG on its investments in commercialization of natural gas to the greater benefit of Nigerians.

He said the company’s investments in the country has sparked off ancillary investments in robust gathering systems that connect trunk lines from offshore to the hinterland, looking beyond export opportunities to domestic market, and open up a flexible system that allows us to swing gas either way, depending on need.

Former Minister of Power, Prof.

Barth Nnaji had declared that a conference where prime industry players called for sanctity of commercial agreements in the country explained that Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances are globally respected basis for private investors to stake funds in a business environment.

He said Nigeria is currently in competition for global investment capital in LNG, pointing at new liquefactions projects in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Angola and many other African countries. He made it clear that the country must respect commercial agreements to trap down floating global investment capital needed to boost industrialization and create jobs.

25

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

ENERGY

South Africa’s deepwater play comes with strong challenges Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

I

NDUSTRY’S jubilation over discovery of billion barrel reserves in deepwater oil block offshore South Africa is being dampened by strong operating challenges that demand cutting edge technology, huge budget and risk undertaking.

French multinational oil major, Total, which opened up the terrain with a wild cat discovery in the Brulpadda field 175 kilometers off the coast of South Africa has declared that the venture stretched it capacity to withstand one of fastest ocean currents in the world.

The Oracle Today reports that Total spend over $350 million or N126 billion in two drilling attempts under harshest weather conditions in search for the deep seated reserves.

According to reports detailing

the experiences shared by the company on the field, Total is still faced with the challenges of coping with developing and operating the asset under unmitigated onslaughts from strong ocean currents.

Reports of the discovery had reverberated across the globe as major and independent multinational oil firms continue to burst reserves in new exploration enclaves that have now recreated the continents petroleum activity map in the past five years.

The Oracle Today reports that improved seismic and drilling technologies have aided the opening up of new oil provinces in deepwater Niger Delta, Gulf of Guinea, and South Africa. There are also renewed activities across the coasts of the continent.

One of latest petroleum plays discovered in the wild cat race became deepwater South Africa af-

NNPC not downstream competitor

N

IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has clarified its role in the domestic fuel market, saying it is not competing with private marketers but intervening with supplies.

Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, declared at a dinner hosted by the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) that the corporation’s role requires synergy with private marketers to be effective at supply intervention in the market.

The Oracle Today reports that NNPC has remained the sole source of fuel import in the country whose refineries have been moribund for decades while trillions of Naira of import bills and domestic fuel subsidy continue to spark accountability controversy in the system.

Dominance of NNPC in the market as exclusive importer and sole beneficiary of government’s subsidy windfall in the market has been condemned and decried by several market groups who lament thin business margins and unpaid subsidy debts.

Following dwindling fortunes, some major oil marketers in the country, including Mobil and Forte, have divested their downstream marketing interests to focus on more rewarding segments of the industry; while many others have diversified their product lines to remain afloat.

Other marketing firms have also come under penal regulatory measures for engaging in sharp market

practices.

Depot operators who hold stock for NNPC have also come under scrutiny for marking up bulk procurement prices which further thins down margins for retailers in the controlled price environment.

Dr. Baru had separately warned depot owners and terminal operators not to sell petrol above the official ex-depot price of N133.28k per litre.

He also cautioned petroleum products marketers not to sell the product above N145 per litre.

NNPC claims to have over 1.0 billion litres of petrol in stock, adding that imports of 48 vessels of 50 million litres each have been committed for the month of April alone.

NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that Dr. Baru appreciated MOMAN for being a dependable ally in the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

Dr. Baru stated that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), when finally passed, would further strengthen and boost the business operations of MOMAN across the country.

He urged MOMAN members to always keep their contractual obligations to the NNPC, adding that financial remittances from members of the association go into the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to service the needs of the various tiers of government.

ter Total discovered the country’s first oil in deep water, a development seen as major exploration impetus for other explorers.

But while Total was successful with the dive, it also emerged with tales of difficulty in beating deepwater elements that still pose engineering challenges to development and production operations in the terrain.

According to reports on the find, the Brulpadda find, with reserves estimated at about 1 billion barrels of oil, is located in deep waters around 175 kilometers (109 miles) from South Africa’s coastline. It could be enough to supply South Africa’s refineries for almost four years and be a major boost for the country’s struggling economy.

However, the prospect is surrounded by the Agulhas current, a fast-moving flow of warm water where the Atlantic and Indian oceans converge, which travels the country’s east coast and can cause waves the height of a multistory building.

In narrating its ordeal at the seas, Total says it’s found solutions strong sea currents after its initial attempts to pursue exploration leads in the block were shattered.

The company stated that an initial drilling attempt in 2014 which cost princely $190 million across a few months had to be abandoned

because of mechanical failures caused by the rough environment.

General Manager in charge of Exploration and Production at Total, South Africa, Mr. Adewale Fayemi, stated that sea waves and currents as well as high winds that feature in the area are very unpredictable.

According to him, while the North Sea is harsh but predictable, waves and currents in South Africa are most of the time in opposite directions, generating very bad seas.

He also pointed out that the wind offshore South Africa could be very high and could change direction.

The challenges, according to him, led to situations that called for rig repairs and subsequent activity suspension on the field.

However, the company returned to site in December with the Deepsea Stavanger rig, different engineering techniques and facilities to finish the well quicker and cheaper than the first attempt. Cost of the second attempt was put at $160 million.

“Total deployed a suitable rig for the operation and a sophisticated weather forecasting system, coupled with the presence of an on-site specialist, in order to more accurately assess prevailing weather and ocean conditions,” Fayemi said.

Total returned with tug boats to provide additional support to

thrusters to stabilize the rig in the water as drilling takes place.

The company also used onshore high-frequency radar to keep ahead of the Agulhas current, Fayemi said.

It also used a simplified riser system specifically to avoid problems which ended the team’s effort four years earlier.

“It’s an incredible achievement in terms of engineering and in terms of taking a risk,” an official of South African government stated at a conference.

Total plans to acquire 3-D seismic for the license this year, to help determine its next prospects there, which it plans to follow up with as many as four exploration wells.

Total’s feat in the terrain, The Oracle Today gathered, is being understudied by other multinational explorers that hold operating interests in South African deepwater fields.

Vice President of Sasol in charge of International Exploration and Production, Mr. Gilbert Yevi, stated that the South African state owned firm and its partner, Eni SpA, are analyzing seismic of the area “to help confirm the prospect and firm-up potential drilling.”

The two companies have submitted an environmental impact assessment for potential future drilling and are awaiting approval.

•Dr. Maikanti Baru (right), welcoming High Chief Benjamin Style Tamaranebi and his entourage to his Office Tuesday in Abuja.

Seplat wins ASSP award, advocates investment in safety

S

EPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company incorporated and operating in Nigeria, has urged the public and private sectors to invest more in research and development aimed at promoting safety.

The oil company noted that such investments should cut across the different sectors of the economy as is the case for the oil/gas and aviation sectors, among others.

The Operations Director of the company, Mr. Effiong Okon, said this at the Nigeria Professional Development Conference and Exhibition in Lagos recently, organised by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Nigerian Chapter.

The event was themed: Sustainable Safety for National Development.

According to Okon, safety is at the forefront of Seplat’s activities, which has enabled it to conduct all its activities across the country with minimal footprint.

“We approach safety using the people, environment, asset and reputation model incorporated in our ‘safety first’ policy. We only execute projects that promote continuous reduction of environmental impact in our operations,” he said.

He added: We track offshoots from our operations and strive to reduce adverse effects from our facilities. Our internal use of gas flared reduced by over 95 per cent between 2011 and 2017.

“Seplat has incorporated key programmes across all its facilities to achieve flares out by 2020 in line with keeping the environment safe.

We comply with all regulatory requirements and benchmark our performance with international standards.”

Okon said the company has seen continuous decline in safety incidents over the years and would continue to deploy safety training and coaching to hone safety consciousness and skills of its local contractors.

Progressively managing challenges around establishment of support infrastructure for safety management, he noted, remained a priority to the company, adding that: “Since the taking over of our current assets, third-party interference on Seplat’s infrastructure had been significantly minimised.”

He said there is the need to develop safety leadership that can change the safety culture of the

various sectors of the economy, advocating that safety be included as part of management meetings.

He added: “We must entrench the use of safety indicators that can help shape safety culture and put in place a strong reward and recognition system for safety initiatives and achievements with game-changing results.

“Professional associations should also drive and monitor developments and implementation of safety standards, as stakeholders, and also build an independent statutory compliance system driven by love for safety.”

The Seplat’s operations director listed the drivers of accidents to include: absence of safety culture; lack of contingency planning in the event of a catastrophe; design flaws, compounded by human errors, poor

training and a lax attitude towards safety often lead to major safety incidents; use of substandard materials to cut costs which compromises both quality and safety, among others.

At the conference, which had major players and regulators in the oil/ gas, manufacturing, logistics and aviation sectors, among others, Seplat was presented with the ASSP Safety Award for Excellence.

Earlier, the President, ASSP Nigerian Chapter, Mr. Daniel Osadiaye, said the body is actively committed to ensuring that all work together for a safer work environment. “We do this by raising safety awareness and equipping professionals with relevant information and opportunities to grow their competencies relevant to achieving safety goals.

26

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION

IFC, Africa Re to develop new insurance market for Nigeria’s farmers Stories by VICTOR NZE

A

FRICA Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) has signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to help underwrite companies in the country develop innovative agricultural insurance products for farmers, against hazards in their occupation.

IFC, a member World Bank Group, announced that it has signed an agreement with Africa RE, a pan-African reinsurance company headquartered in Nigeria, to help thousands of small holder Nigerian farmers more easily access insurance to protect their crops and livelihoods.

The scheme was launched by the Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, in Lagos, at the headquarters of Africa Re. Under the agreement, Africa RE and IFC’s Global Index Insurance Facility will help Nigerian insurance companies licensed by Nigeria’s insurance regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), develop agricultural insurance products, and deepen their index insurance business lines. These index insurance products will

help protect farmers against environmental risks such as drought, floods, erratic rainfall, and other natural hazards.

Index-based agricultural insurance, which pays out based on transparent parameters like rainfall and does not require costly field visits to verify losses, is an innovative and efficient way for farmers to protect themselves against losses.

“We are excited to be partnering with IFC in assisting Nigerian insurers develop appropriate insurance products for small holder farmers.

This initiative will certainly help move Nigeria towards its goal of food security and it is in line with Africa RE’s mission to support African economic development,” said Africa RE’s Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer, Ken Aghoghovbia.

“IFC’s support for affordable and accessible agricultural insurance will help Nigeria’s farmers mitigate the effects of climate-related shocks, protecting them against catastrophic losses and unlocking access to finance. Developing a sustainable agricultural insurance industry also requires a strong commitment from regulators, such as NAICOM, who embrace innova-

British Standards Institute re-certifies AIICO for ISO 22301

A

IICO Insurance Plc, has been recertified for the 2nd consecutive time for ISO 22301 by the renowned British Standards Institute, the global topmost ISO certification institution.

AIICO was the first Insurance Company in Africa to bag the certification in 2013. The purpose of the certification is to ensure that all risks to the business and the realization of its objectives are adequately catered for. ISO 22301 specifies the requirements for a management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of, and ensure an organization recovers from disruptive incidents.

AIICO underwent its second recertification audit process in 2019, scaling through without noncon-

formities. This shows that AIICO has continued to embed the Business Continuity Management System within its processes, ensuring that the resilience of its services is maintained and improved on. The success of this recertification is indicative of Management’s commitment to ensure continuity in delivery value to its customers, shareholders and all other stakeholders.

AIICO Insurance Plc., a leading composite insurer in Nigeria, commenced operations in 1963. AIICO provides life insurance, health insurance, general insurance, wealth management and pension management services as a means to create and protect wealth for individuals, families and corporate customers.

tion to help farmers manage their risks,” commented Eme Essien, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria.

Farmers with crop insurance are also more likely to access other financial products, including credit, and to invest in higher quality production inputs. However, the tradi-

ment Securities issued to finance various activities of Government.

“Thus, in the area of infrastructure alone, the pension funds invested about N95.31 billion in the N200 billion Sukuk issued by the Federal Government. Similarly, out of the N10.67 billion Green Bond issued by the Federal Government, pension funds invested N7.19 billion. Consequently, we believe that the enlistment of the informal sector into the pension savings net would boost the quantum of available long term investible funds that would galvanize national development efforts,” she said.

She said that the launch unveils a unique financial product, which democratizes the savings culture in Nigeria in a systematic and efficient manner, adding that the product also perfectly aligns with the current social empowerment programmes of the Federal Government as it seeks to ensure, in the long term, the sustainability of the benefits of the empowerment programmes for the participants, who may seize this op-

cialized insurance products and develop digital platforms so farmers can easily view and compare index insurance offerings from various providers. IFC and Africa RE aim to provide thousands of farmers with access to insurance by the end of 2020.

•(From left): Deputy Director, Inspectorate, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Kenneth Egwu; Director Inspectorate, Barineka Thompson; Deputy Commissioner-Technical, Olorundare Sunday Thomas and Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Rasaaq Salami during NAICOM interactive session with media on International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Prestige unveils agric insurance product

P

RESTIGE Assurance Plc has hosted stakeholders in the insurance industry at an occasion to also unveil its new insurance product..

Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Dr Balla Swamy, highlighted the giant strides taken by the company in meeting her client’s aspirations, just as he expressed his appreciation to all the brokers and customers for reposing confidence on Prestige which

Nigerian pension asset hits N8.74trn A CTING Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mrs. Aisha DahirUmar, has said that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has been very impactful in Nigeria since the commencement of its implementation in 2004.

Dahir-Umar said this, Thursday, during the launch of the micro pension scheme for self-employed Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The PenCom boss further stressed that the formation of long term domestic capital, represented by the over N8.74 trillion worth of pension assets as at January 2019, belonging to 8.46 million formal sector participants, is slowly but surely changing Nigeria’s financial landscape.

She said by extension, the scheme is also transforming the course and pace of socio-economic development, as N6.51 trillion, representing 73 per cent of the total pension assets is invested in Federal Govern-

tional insurance market has largely failed to meet smallholder Nigerian farmers’ demand for affordable insurance with its high premiums and transaction costs.

IFC’s and Africa RE’s specific support to insurance companies will include helping them design spe-

portunity to save for their old age.

She said the scheme targets the significant majority of Nigeria’s working population who, incidentally, operate in the informal sector, stressing that participants are expected from various informal sector workers including market women, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), members of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Associations, Keke Napep and Okada Riders Associations, Butchers Associations, workers in the Movie and Performing Art industry, mechanics and other workers in the automotive industry and single professionals like lawyers, accountants and many others.

“Micro Pension Plan is designed to fit the peculiarities of these informal sector groups. The National Pension Commission had extensively engaged all relevant stakeholders and obtained their inputs before the product was developed to suit their requirements.

“The product is flexible with respect to contribution amount and the channel of remittance of contributions to

remains one of the reputable brands in providing timely service delivery and customized insurance products.

Most especially, he thanked the Parent, The New India Assurance Company Ltd and the Reinsurers for their support in settling over N1.5 billion claims settlement in 2018.

Swamy used the forum to introduce the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Doyin Sathe respective pension accounts. Access to accumulated contributions is also flexible,seamless and facilitated by technology through varied payment system platforms.”

The PenCom boss said: “prospective Micro Pension contributor is required to open a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) by completing a physical or electronic registration form with a Pension Funds Administrator (PFA) of his/her choice. ”The contributors may make contributions daily, weekly, monthly or as may be convenient to them and that every contribution shall be split into two, comprising 40 per cent for contingent withdrawal and 60 per cent for retirement benefits.

She maintained that the contributor may, based on his/her needs, periodically withdraw the total or part of the balance of the contingent portion of his/her RSA, including all accrued investment income thereto and that the contributor may also choose to convert the contingent portion of the contributions to the retirement benefits portion. The remaining balance in the RSA shall be available to the contributor upon retirement or attaining the age of 50 years, she added.

lami, a renowned Economist and a professor at the Lagos Business School with over 25 year experience of solid financial management, economic expertise and business development. Dr Salami presented a lecture on the 2019 Economic Outlook.

He thanked the insurance broker present at the occasion for their unflinching support and patronage in the past, adding that the company desires to be the preferred insurance company in Nigeria and urged them to support the company by all possible means to have a more robust and mutually rewarding and beneficial relationship.

The evening was rounded-off with the official launch of a new product known as the Prestige Agricultural Insurance Products which has been earlier approved by our apex regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). The thrust of the product is to address the yearning of the general public and farmers in particular for a tested insurer who would protect them against losses at affordable prices.

Speaking on the company’s preparedness to underwrite agricultural insurance, the Prestige CEO, Dr. Balla Swamy stated that NAICOM’s approval is a testimonial to the Company’s capacity, competence and sincerity in supporting the growth of agriculture in Nigeria. He stated that the Company acting as burden bearer, intend to take the worries off the players in the agricultural sector and give them opportunity to make wealth.

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Travel & Hospitality

27

FAAN extends freebies to air travellers at NAIA Stories by VICTOR NZE

F

EDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers of free trolley and wheel chair services at the new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

General Manager, FAAN Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, explained that this would cater for increased activities as more airlines relocate flight operations to the new terminal.

Yakubu also disclosed that a total of 1,000 trolleys were being expected to add to the existing number on ground.

“Apart from free trolley, we are also bringing in wheel chairs in the next few days, in addition to the ones being provided by the ground handler. We are expecting 1,000

trolleys and the Rotary Club of Falomo, also donated 18 wheel chairs for us and we will deploy some to Abuja terminal,” she said.

The new terminal, which was inaugurated in December 2018, is equipped with free Wi-Fi with the capacity to process 15 million passengers annually.

It is one of the four terminal projects being funded under the 500 million dollars loan agreement between Nigerian government and Export-Import Bank of China.

The other three airports are: Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, which was inaugurated in October 2018, while those of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano are at various stages of completion.

Sheraton in Abuja, Lagos ready exciting offers for Easter celebrations

S

HERATON Hotels in Lagos and Abuja will spark off with an array of eclectic and classic treats as the hospitality establishments ready exciting offerings geared toward making the destinations ‘the ideal place for families and friends to dine together.’

“Our aim is to create truly exciting experiences for everyone this Easter Holiday.

“For those Visiting Sheraton Lagos Hotel, we have put together a compelling package on our rooms starting from N63, 600. Those who book these rates are entitled to 20% off brunch on Easter Monday. Kids under 12 will eat breakfast free (max 1 with a paying parent).

“On Easter Sunday, we are offering a special brunch for just N16,500 per person, inclusive of non-alcoholic beverages and kids 12yrs and below will be entitled to eat for half the price (With paying adult).

“Our Guests will enjoy an enriching experience during brunch with a live band which will create the perfect ambiance for a relaxing day.

We have also put together a special Voucher for 20% off at our Italian Restaurant to be given to every family and couple that brunches with us on that day. A set menu will also be available at the Italian Restaurant for lovers of fine dining at N16, 000 only per person.

“We look forward to having families and friends engage with kids over an “egg-citing Easter egg hunt with exciting prices to be won.

“While on Easter Monday, we will prepare a delightful barbecue where guests can arrive, sit back and listen to feel-good music while they enjoy everything on the menu for the day for just N11,000 per person.

“From the 8th of April, sales of Easter cakes and Easter eggs will commence at discounted rates for all to savor with the family,” reeled out the Area General Manager for Marriott Hotels in Nigeria, Barry Curran.

Continuing, Curran said the Sheraton Abuja Hotel team has created inspiring packages with a range of activities and offerings to keep the whole family connected this Easter.

“Our Food & Beverage teams at our Hotel’s Papillon Restaurant will be happy to welcome you to a de-

licious Easter Buffet spread with family centered offerings for just N10, 000 Per Person on Easter Sunday. Kids are not left out as 0-6yr olds will eat for free while 7-12 year olds will eat for only half the price (per paying Adult).

“The Hotel has additionally planned an exciting and engaging egg hunt with an Easter Bunny where two kids (per paying adult) get free Gift Bags alongside Cotton Candy treats.

“If you are looking for a short break over the Easter holiday our unbeatable Easter Room Package starts at just NGN49, 999 Per Night, valid from 18th – 23rd of April 2019.

The Rooms package is all inclusive of complimentary Breakfast, access to our Sheraton Fitness Facilities, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Fruit Basket and a Box of Chocolate Cupcakes for you to indulge in.

“We are very eager to celebrate this Easter season with all our friends and families and we assure all our customers that our carefully thought out activities and offerings will provide an elevated experience which will linger in memories for a long time.”

•Senator Ibikunle Amosun with the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, during the 33rd Lisabi Day festival and the unveiling of the Lisabi Agbongbo Akala statue, at the Adatan roundabout, Abeokuta, on Saturday.

NIHOTOUR holds training program for tourism writers

A

N agency in the Federal Ministry of Culture, Information, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has concluded plan to organize a four-day training programme for the tourism media practitioners in the country, under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET).

A statement by the Acting Director General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Kabir M. Momoh, said the training section is scheduled to hold between April 8 and 11 in Abuja, further disclosing that the title for this year’s programme is; ‘Tourism Journalism Communication Training 2019, under the theme of: Building a Sustainable Destination through Tourism Reportage.

According to Momoh, training is one of the core mandates of the institute, as it has over the years

developed teaching modules and training packages for the different operators of tourism businesses in Nigeria, even as he stressed the need to train travel journalists on a regular basis so as to expose them to developments in the sector and skills that would enhance their reportage of the sector.

According to him, ANJET members are part of the tourism family and are crucial to the developments and achievements that the sector has recorded over the years.

Explaining that the decision by NIHOTOUR and other partners to commitment human capital and resources to organise the training section is to consolidate on these gains and ensure the sustainability of the sector as without a well informed and equipped crop of tourism media that the sector stands to suffer a lot.

Air Peace deploys B737 aircraft for Asaba operations

A

IR Peace has deployed a Boeing 737 aircraft to service its Asaba operations to meet passenger demand on the route.

The airline’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah, who made the disclosure on Wednesday in Lagos, said the B737 aircraft would support the airline’s 50-seater Embraer 145 jets, which had been servicing the carrier’s Lagos-Asaba-Lagos and Abuja-AsabaAbuja routes.

He said the deployment of a B737 aircraft on the route would afford air travellers the advantage of a bigger space.

“We re-launched our Lagos-Asaba operations and added Abuja to the route on Oct. 8, 2018. We promised then that we will deliver nothing but the best of flight services.

“Barely five months since we returned to the Asaba route, we have demonstrated beyond doubt that we are in the airline business to make a difference. In five months,

our flights have brought relief to leisure and business travellers on the Lagos-Asaba-Lagos and AbujaAsaba-Abuja routes.

“We have been inundated with requests to increase the capacity of our aircraft on the Asaba route,” Iwarah said in a statement.

According to him, as a customercentric airline, Air Peace has yielded to the demands of the flying public by deploying the B737 aircraft on the route in addition to the 50-seater Embraer jets currently in use.

He said customers could now take more luggage with them and enjoy the comfort of a bigger space, stressing that the airline was committed to their safety and comfort.

Meanwhile, has pledged to provide employment for some victims of human trafficking who have been successfully rehabilitated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The airline said the partnership was part of its contribution toward

supporting the Federal Government’s efforts in curbing human trafficking in Nigeria.

Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, spoke on Thursday in Lagos during the presentation of Ambassadorial Medals to Air Peace Limited and 12 pilots and crew members of the airline by NAPTIP. It would be recalled the Air Peace crew had on June 4, 2018 foiled an attempt by two Nigerian women to traffic a three-month old baby boy from Nigeria to Banjul, Gambia.

Onyema, while thanking NAPTIP for the recognition, maintained that Air Peace currently had over 3,000 employees with about 80 per cent of the workforce being women.

According to him, available statistics shows that majority of the victims of human trafficking are women and children, due to lack of empowerment opportunities.

Onyema said the airline would continue to contribute to national development by creating employment

To this end, Momoh commended the Director Generals of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe and his counterpart at the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folorunsho Folarin – Coker, as well as other partners for collaborating with NIHOTOUR to deliver on the training programme for this year.

The formal opening ceremony of the programme is bill to hold on April 8, with a keynote address to be delivered on the theme, with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as special guest of honour.

Other special guests include the chairmen and members of culture and tourism committees in the Senate and House of Representatives as well as members of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN). for Nigerians and also enhancing connectivity to improve businesses, adding that it was unfortunate that some young Nigerians were being trafficked to other countries where they are subjected to prostitution and other dehumanising conditions.

“It is not enough to rescue these victims and bring them back to Nigeria, but they should also be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society. So, we are doing this to transform their lives and make them to know that they can earn money doing legitimate jobs, whether they are educated or not.”

Earlier, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, the Director General of NAPTIP, commended the Air Peace crew for foiling the trafficking of the baby.

She said the suspects apprehended over the incident in Banjul had no biological connection to the child and failed to provide valid adoption documents.

Okah-Donli said the baby was brought back to Nigeria on March 19 and was under the care of NAPTIP, stressing that the agency was working with the Gambian authorities to extradite the suspects.

28

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market Solemn silence, prayer dominate Afriland AGM as 2 investors die Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

T

HE sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Afriland Properties Plc which supposed to review the performance of the company for the financial year and chart a way forward, rather turned out to be a melancholy occasion as the death of two shareholders were announced by the Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom.

A solemn silence for a minute was observed in honour of the death couple. A shareholder was requested to pray for the repose of the souls of the death and also pray that God should comfort the family as they are grieving and empower them to bear the irreparable loss.

Shortly after the prayer session, one of the shareholders, Mr. Nona Awoh made a passionate appeal to the Chairman and moved that as a mark of honour for those who died, no questions should be asked verbally. He said, “All questions should be put in writing and addressed to the company Secretary and appealed to the company Secretary to ensure all questions are treated.

It was seconded by another shareholder and the chairman consented to the request.

Nnorom appealed to members of the company to offer assistance to members of the family of the bereaved in cash and in kind and directed those ready to show compassion to collect the address of the family of the deceased and account number from the company secretary.

Nnorom told shareholders at the meeting that Mrs. Shopeju E. Adetutu and her husband both passed on recently in a car crash. Although,

he didn’t elaborate, but urged fellow shareholders to attend the wake-keeping scheduled to hold Tuesday night last week for the woman .She has since been buried on Thursday March 28, 2019 in Lagos. However, the husband of the woman was committed to mother earth on Friday March 29, 2019 at Fidity in Oyo State.

Meanwhile, Afriland Properties declared five kobo dividend per share for the financial year ended December 31, 2018. A review of the audited results showed that revenue of the firm grew marginally, from N1.28 billion in 2017 to N1.30 billion representing two percent.

However, Profit before tax declined by 13 percent to close the year at N915 million in 2018 from N1.06 billion in 2017, while profit after tax depreciated by 33 percent.

Similarly, operating profit fell by 17 percent to settle at N824million in contrast to N997million achieved in 2017. Shareholders fund increased to N6.7billion during the year under review as against N7.2billion in 2017, an increase of six percent. Total assets stood at N24.9billion as at December 31, 2018, representing 26 percent growth over N19.8billion recorded in 2017.

The Chairman declared that the outlook for the Nigerian Real Estate market in 2019 will be shaped largely by overall performance in the economy as demand, supply and prices of properties are contingent on the well-being of occupiers, developers and investors. He re-assured the shareholders that the company is closely following the development at all levels and is prepared to key into opportunities that will be created in the sector.

L-R: Chairman, Afriland Properties Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom; Managing Director/CEO, Mrs Uzo Oshogwe; and another memeber of executive management at the sixth Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos on Tuesday.

SEC kick-starts implementation of over 70 percent Master Plan Initiatives

T

HE Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission,(SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk has disclosed that out of over 90 initiatives outlined in the Capital Market Master Plan,13 have been successfully completed, while 66 initiatives have commenced since She explained that some of the concluded initiatives include dematerialization of shares, recapitalisation of capital market operators, setting up of a National Investment

SEC extends deadline of Dividend Warrants to Dec 2019

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for the issuance of dividend warrants in paper form to December 31,2019, so as to enable relevant stakeholders deliberate on and address all outstanding issues.

In a circular pasted on its website, the commission stated its decision is in furtherance of its overriding mandate to ensure that all categories of shareholders and investors are adequately protected.

However, the SEC stated that the e-dividend initiative remains critical to the complete elimination of the phenomenon of unclaimed dividend and Management of the Commission encourages all shareholders who are yet to do so, to get mandated on the e-DMMS platform before 31st December 2019.

The Commission said that the SEC recently conducted a strategic assessment of the implementation of the e-dividend initiative across the country and reviewed feedback/

observations received from stakeholders and the general public.

“The assessment revealed that while remarkable progress has been recorded in concerted efforts through robust enlightenment campaigns to mobilize more shareholders to get mandated on the e-DMMS platform, there remain a few pertinent issue that need to be resolved as a precursor to the total discontinuance of the issuance of dividend warrants by Registrars” the Circular added

vious year. The company’s profit before tax stood at N4.8 billion in 2018 against N3 billion in 2017. Profit after tax stood at N3.3 billion in 2018 against N2.3 billion in 2017.Wema Bank Plc was established on May 2, 1945, as a private limited liability company (under the old name of Agbonmagbe Bank Limited).

The bank is Nigeria’s longest surviving indigenous Bank. It was granted a commercial banking license and commenced banking activities during the same year. Wema Bank converted to a public limited liability company in 1987. In 1990, the bank was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Wema Bank investors to earn 3kobo per share

T

HE Board of Wema Bank Plc has recommended three kobo dividend per share for the financial year ended Monday, December 31, 2018. The dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

If the dividend is approved. It will be subject to appropriate withholding tax of 10 percent. In a statement, the bank said Payments will be made to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on Friday, April 26, 2019.The dividends will on Monday, May 13, be electronically paid to the shareholders who have completed the e-dividend registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their Bank accounts.

Wema Bank Plc, in its financial results for the period under review, recorded Gross Earnings of N71 billion against N65 billion in the pre-

Protection Fund and the establishment of the West African Securities Regulators Association among others.

The Acting DG, also hinted that 55 initiatives are at various stages of implementation and it is expected that many of them will be concluded before the end of the year. And commended stakeholders in the capital market for their cooperation and support.

According to her, other achievements include e-dividend mandate, Direct Cash Settlement, Roadmap on commodities ecosystem, new listing, financial literacy, law reviews, non interest capital market products among several of the initiative that you have collectively worked on.

The Acting DG said the implementation of the 10 Year Capital Market Master Plan commenced in earnest under the guidance of the Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Council Chaired

by Mr. Olutola Mobolurin and have made great strides in its implementation efforts.

Uduk said the SEC and market Stakeholders have taken up the initiatives outlined in the Master Plan document in a systematic manner while also painstakingly engaging with the government, its agencies and other critical stakeholders whose support and collaboration is required to achieve the objectives outlined in the Master Plan.

According to her “All of these would not have been possible

without your support, cooperation and collaboration. We are indeed grateful to the different committees through which a lot of the work on these initiatives have been carried out. It would have been impossible without your commitment of time, energy and resources; your drive and focus.

“I want to recognise that the work that has been done by CAMMIC and indeed the key players in the capital market directly and contribute to the development of not only the Nigerian capital market but the financial system at large.

She said the Commission appreciates the tremendous support and collaboration it has received from market operators and various stakeholders in the capital market adding that the partnership has advanced the collective aspiration to accelerate the growth of the market and contribute to the development of the nation’s economy.

The Securities and Exchange Commission launched a 10 year Capital Market Masterplan in November 2014. The Commission at that time believed that having just emerged from a bubble that negatively impacted the performance and confidence in the Nigerian capital market, it was expedient to come up with a market wide strategic blueprint that would among other things restore investor confidence, deepen the market, accelerate the growth of the capital market and help catalyse the emergence of Nigeria as a top 20 global economy.

hands at the helm of affairs, we continually strove to ensure that we developed our business as much as possible and also tried to diversify.

“The period in review will confirm the trying times under which we operated”.

Part of the notice read: “Med-view commenced scheduled flight operations to the United Kingdom in late 2015, the venture has had its good and bad side of the business.

“Good side in terms of revenue generation and bad side in terms of

passenger reprotection and Aviation Politics (Aviopolitics).

“The airline operated that route with a leased aircraft from a European based Aviation Leasing company, that enable Med-View to venture into European Airspace in the first place Med-View and the Leasing Company had over the years enjoyed a long-time partnership that had yielded close to $80,000,000 (Eighty Million dollars).

“But, during the course of the London operations, the Aircraft that was leased to Med-View had an AOG (Aircraft On Ground) in December 2017.

Med-View Airline records N10.33bn loss, laments multiple taxation

F

OR the year ended December, 2018, Med-View Airline recorded loss after tax of N10.33Billion.

In a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ahead of its 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), the company described the year 2018 as “one of the most challenging in the Airline’s recent history”.

In the notice obtained by City BusinessNews (www.citybusinessnews. com) and dated March 29, 2019, chairman of the company, SHEIK ABDUL-MOSHEN AL-THUNAYAN

explained that the effect of the economic downturn in Nigeria continued to impact adversely on “our operations as there was reduction in credit opportunities which in turn affected our income”.

He added: “This harsh environment of multiple taxation from the authorities, along with the continued lack of infrastructure especially MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) facility in Nigeria added to our cost of doing business.

“Nevertheless, with the capable

29

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Man urges Tinder to add weight setting to stop ‘fat fishing’

I

Name: Sonia Tel: 08027648715 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Judge to rule on whether a man can keep having sex with his wife

A

judge in a specialist court has been asked to decide whether a man can keep having sex with his wife of more than 20 years to ensure she is not raped.

The woman has learning difficulties, and carers say there is evidence that her mental health has reached a stage where she no longer has the capacity to consent.

Lawyers representing social services bosses have suggested that a judge should consider making an order barring the man from continuing to have sex with his wife in order to ensure that rape does not take place.

At a preliminary hearing today at the Court of Protection in London, where issues involving people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions are considered, a judge said the man might be put in a situation where he could face prison if he breached an order, or an undertaking, to not make love to his wife.

Mr Justice Hayden was told that the man had offered to give an undertaking not to have sex with his wife.

Carers acting on behalf of the woman want a judge in the Court of Protection where issues involving people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions, to consider the case.

But the judge said he wanted to

examine evidence in detail - and hear arguments from lawyers representing the woman, the man, and the council involved - before making any decisions.

He also suggested that such an order would be difficult to police.

‘I cannot think of any more obviously fundamental human right than the right of a man to have sex with his wife - and the right of the State to monitor that,’ he said.

‘I think he is entitled to have it properly argued.’

Despite the judge’s remarks, the ability for a man to have sex with his wife without her consent was explicitly banned in 1991 and is punished by the courts as any other rape.

A full hearing is expected to take place in the near future.

Mr Justice Hayden said the couple involved could not be identified in media reports of the case.

t is widely believed that the announcement is just an April Fool’s prank. Others suggested both men and women should include their weight and height.

A man has asked for a dating app to introduce a ‘weight verification setting’ for women after accusing several of his dates of ‘fat-fishing’.

The initial debate was sparked after Tinder announced they’re introducing a height verification service for men - something which is believed to be an April Fool’s prank.

Taking to social media forum Reddit, the frequent dater, believed to be from the UK, commented: ‘I can just about guarantee they won’t do a f****** thing about weight for women,’ he commented. ‘I have friends who have been fat-fished. That’s essentially the same thing.’

He then went on to clarify what he means by the coined term and said it’s like cat-fishing, when a person pretends to look like someone different online, but with a person’s weight instead - but not everyone agreed with his view.

Initiating the heated debate, the frustrated dater explained: ‘I can just about guarantee they won’t do a f****** thing about weight for women,’ he commented. ‘I have friends who have been fat-fished. That’s essentially the same thing’ Wading in on the heated debate, many called for gender equality and urged men and women to be honest about their height and weight as then there wouldn’t be an issue.

‘Why not just put everyone’s height and weight,’ wrote one, while another penned: ‘Height and weight. Both genders. Boom.’

A third commented, ‘gender equality 100,’ while another agreed: ‘I believe in true gender equality.’

And it seems that viewpoint was shared by many as a further explained: ‘No discrimination for anyone. No complaining from anyone.

And if they lie they’re clearly not anyone you would want to be around.’

Many social media users called for gender equality on the matter. ‘Why not just put everyone’s height and weight,’ wrote one, while another commented: ‘Height and weight.

Both genders. Boom’ But the man’s rant didn’t end there

as continuing with his arguably controversial opinion, he said: ‘Why the hell should guys show their height if women won’t show their weight. It’s so dumb to me. A girl doesn’t like a guy because of his height? ‘You go girl!’, ‘Girl power!’, blah blah blah.

‘A guy doesn’t like a girl because she’s fat? ‘A**hole!’, ‘So misogynistic!’, blah blah blah. It annoys me that women aren’t held to the same societal standards regarding attraction that men are.’

He then clarified: ‘I have no issue with a woman if she is fat. I am just not attracted to it. Also, it is totally okay with me if a woman isn’t attracted to me because I’m 5’9’.’

But others took to the heated thread in support of the original post and believed he had a valid point.

‘I just don’t get it. I’ve learned to immediately swipe left on closeup selfies but what are these women expecting?’ wrote one, while another said: ‘Just lie until you meet up and just hope he doesn’t care? That will never work out.’

Others took to social media in support of the initial post, with one commenting : ‘Just lie until you meet up and just hope he doesn’t care? That will never work out’ Meanwhile, a third explained: ‘As a fat girl, this is 100% true. I don’t know why girls would lie about their weight on a dating app. When I used to use Tinder I believe one of the lines in the about me section was, ‘I’m fatter in person’ and it honestly wasn’t a dealbreaker to a lot of men.’

‘I honestly don’t get why they’d lie. If they’re embarrassed about it wouldn’t it be more embarrassing and awkward in person? It’s cringey to even think about.’

But others weren’t convinced Tinder had even introduced the height verification service - which was what had sparked the debate in the first place.

‘I feel like it’s just an April fool’s. And I guess it will only work as a joke if it’s publicized first and then revealed as a prank come April 1st,’ commented one, while another said: ‘The height thing is pretty obviously an early April Fool’s joke.’

A third user was adamant it was also a prank: ‘It’s 100% an April Fool’s joke’.

ROMANTIC JOKE NURSING SCHOOL

A woman enrolled in nursing school is attending an anatomy class. The subject of the day is involuntary muscles. The instructor, hoping to perk up the students a bit, asks the woman if she knows what her asshole does during an orgasm. “Sure!” she says, “He’s at home taking care of the kids...”

30

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

True Confession

My dad had an affair with my wife

I

couldn’t take my eyes off Bimpe when I first saw her. Her ravishing figure was the first thing that attracted my attention. She was tall and shapely, with the right curves in all the right places. Her face was beautiful and shone like the Northern Lights. It was brightly lit with a most charming smile that seemed to charm even the very earth on which she walked. Her boobs were firm, full and high, and the points of her nipples were quite conspicuous through the black blouse she wore over a blue jeans skirt.

She left me breathless with the way she swung her hips, and the spectacle of her long slender legs moving in rhythm blew my mind. I had never seen a girl with so much sex appeal before in my life, and so I had completely fallen for her even before I had become acquainted with her.

I couldn’t help but stare at her like one transfixed, as she walked up to the bus stop to wait for a taxi to take her to the place she was going.

Even though we were neighbours residing in the same housing estate in Lagos, I had never been able to summon the courage to toast her in the past. But that day, it was as though a new spirit of boldness seized me. Maybe it was because I was going crazy due to the maximum sex appeal she was oozing.

So I damned the consequences, ignored the odds and took the future of my love-life in my hands as I walked up to her at the bus stop.

Luckily for me, Bimpe had not yet been able to flag down a taxi when I got to the place she was standing. I had always been a shy guy, and although I had been bold enough to step to her, I still managed to introduce myself with some shyness.

“Hi, Bimpe, remember me? I’m your neighbour here in Dolphin Estate,” I said. To my surprise, Bimpe smiled back at me and seemed delighted to see me.

“I’ve always thought you never talk, since you’re the most quiet guy in the neighbourhood,” she said, with a little mischief in her voice.

I knew she was only teasing me in a positive and cheerful manner, so I calmed down and relaxed, and gladly let go of my nervousness. That was how we became friends and then I saw her off to the shopping complex she was heading to.

But Bimpe showed that she was really different from the crowd of girls that I had known before her. At the shopping complex, we visited a boutique and she offered to buy several shirts and trousers for me at the men’s section of the boutique.

No woman had ever bought a gift of clothes for me before. And from that moment, I made up my mind to make Bimpe my one and only steady girlfriend.

Her positive attitude and character were just too good to be overlooked by any man in his right senses.

When I returned home that day, I tested my new clothes and found to my delight that they were a perfect fit. All my friends admired my new shirts but I was too ashamed to tell them that a lady had bought them for me, because I thought they would laugh at me and portray me as unmanly.

However, that is not to say that I did not appreciate what Bimpe had done for me. In fact, I treasured it in my heart as an unforgettable act of love.

I didn’t have to tell Bimpe formally

that I wanted her to be my one and only girlfriend. It was not necessary to put my intention into words, because my feelings for her were clearly expressed in the way I looked into her eyes and held her hands.

They say that a picture speaks a thousand words. So every fool would have known that I cared about Bimpe from the way he saw me acting whenever I was with her. Indeed, I considered it a rare privilege to be blessed with the company of such a pretty girl. In Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, where we lived, I was sure that there was no one as adorable and lovable as Bimpe. She was simply my Cinderella, my one and only princess.

I had dreams of spending the rest of my life with a kind-hearted lady who would show a man true love. I wasn’t in any doubt about Bimpe’s feelings for me because I noticed the glow in her eyes whenever she saw me, and I could almost hear the sound of her heart beating wildly whenever I held her in my arms and kissed her soft sweet lips.

My darling Bimpe was like a wild rose flower waiting to be picked by a handsome prince who would offer her true love from the bottom of his bold and beautiful heart.

Bimpe was a wild flower even in bed.

Her love drove me wild. Her romance tasted like wild honey. I must confess that her sex appeal had a tremendous effect on me, and as a result, I couldn’t help making love to her almost all the time and in any location. I was addicted to Bimpe and whenever I felt a sexual urge for her, I entered inside her with hard, deep thrusts that seemed too strong for her to control.

On one of such occasions we were at a party on the island. A friend of mine was getting married and had invited us to his

bachelor’s eve party. I think we had both gotten tipsy from the amount of alcohol we had consumed that night when I felt a pressing urge to make love to Bimpe.

Maybe it was the miniskirt she had on, and the sight of her exposed smooth thighs that aroused me.

So I playfully slipped my hand under her miniskirt and caressed the inner sides of her thighs. Bimpe also felt turned on, and as she clung to me, I began to touch her. By this time she was moaning loudly and panting, like one losing her breath.

But we didn’t want to make love in the presence of so many people at the party.

So we went outside to the car park, and in the darkness of the night, we reached our climax.

I had found true love at last, and so I wasted no time in taking Bimpe to the altar. My parents loved Bimpe and were very excited about her becoming a part of the family. Members of my family gave us so many gifts on our wedding day. We were said to be made for each other and it seemed that our union was designed by heaven and perfected by the love we shared.

However, though everyone appeared quite excited about my wife and overcome by her charms, my father appeared to be more excited about my wife more than any other member of my family.

One thing I disliked about my dad was his womanizing nature.

Though my mum was his lawfully wedded wife, he had so many girlfriends and mistresses outside.

My father was a politician. In fact, he was a public figure because he had held some political offices in the past and was still holding a big position in his political party.

Sometimes, he requested that my wife, Bimpe, accompany him to political party

meetings and other functions. According to him, it would be nice to show off his beautiful daughter-in-law to his friends and political associates.

I didn’t object since I felt I could trust my father with my wife. But I started suspecting my wife was up to something because whenever we had a quarrel, she would run away to my father’s house and spend the night there, in the name of reporting me to my father.

It was baffling that even when we had the slightest quarrel she would run off to report me to my father and would not come back until the following morning or a few days later. If she ran off to report me to my father on a Friday, she would not come back until the following Monday.

Last month, Bimpe announced that she is pregnant and we started expecting our second child. But the bubble burst when my mother caught her and my father red-handed making love in our family house five days ago.

My mum had gone to the market but had to return to the house unexpectedly to pick something she had forgotten.

That was how she caught my father naked on top of my wife who is supposed to be carrying a one-month old pregnancy.

Now, I know for sure that my wife’s pregnancy belongs to my father.

I have now instituted a divorce suit at the High Court. As for that shameless old fool that calls himself my father, I will make sure he loses his big position in his political party.

Do you have a comment on this story?

Call 07031028714 or 08077821830.

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

EDUCATION

Multiple taxations, bad roads, greatest challenges facing private schools – Ugochukwu Mrs. Chinelo Christine Chukwualuka Ugochukwu, the proprietress of Alexahill Schools Okota-Isolo, has declared that the greatest challenges private school owners in Lagos particularly in Okota, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area are facing are multiple taxation and bad road network. She, therefore, called on the authorities to look into their plights with a view to ensuring that the two things hampering their operations are given human face. Mrs. Ugochukwu stated these and other things in exclusive interview with the Oracle Today in her office recently, as the school joined other stakeholders to commemorate the global “Book Day” with event tagged Book Fair/Open Day. MADUABUCHI KALU reports.

At what point did you come up with the idea of establishing Alexahill schools?

Well, we established this school in the year 2012, in August to be precise with summer lessons. We started with summer lessons and at that summer lessons, we registered a good number of pupils and after the summer lessons, the greater percentage of the pupils that attended our lessons refused to go back to their former schools. So, we commenced immediately after the summer lessons. The truth of the matter is that we started this school before our planned time of starting a school.

We actually had wanted to use the summer lesson as a test run for the school we wanted to establish when we are ready; but due to the demand and the refusal of the pupils to return to their former schools, we did not only start with the preparatory classes, but we started with even the last class in the primary (basic six). And at that point, we had only one pupil in primary six to prepare for the common entrance and other exams, and we had to bring in a teacher to prepare him for the examinations and enroll him in the school of his taste or choice.

It is not like we had no intention to establish a school before the summer like I stated earlier but our lesson experience forced us to start this school earlier than we had planned. We had it in mind but we were just taking our time. We had wanted to start when everything seems right but then, the summer lesson experience and the refusal of our registered summer pupils to go back to their former schools pushed us to commence before our envisaged time just like parents encouraged us to establish the school as according to them, there is nothing like the right time in executing a project like the establishment of a school.

Yes, we had the intention but then we were not too prepared. We had wanted to put everything in place and then wait for the right time. At a point, then the first head school, who came in from the United Kingdom (UK) gave us a suggestion saying ‘let do a test run’. Let try a summer lesson because by then, we really have our full staff; who were undergoing through series of trainings.

So we started with the summer lesson, first week, we had so many children, the second week, the children who came for the first week told their friends, same with parents, that was how we were flooded with many kids during the summer lesson. As a matter of fact, the last week of the summer lesson, we were still enrolling pupils. So, she said it seems that we were prepared and that was what happened and then we hastily put other things in place. That was how we started this school and we are forging ahead.

How many pupils could you say have been able to secure admission to Federal Government Colleges from Alexahill Schools?

On the number of our pupils that have enrolled in Federal, State or private secondary schools in the country, what I would say is that for every final class of Alexahill Schools, they always write the

•Mrs Christine ugochukwu

Federal Government Common Entrance examination and we have never had a child who failed the exam. Even to the interviews and every other thing associated with it. Even the Catholic Schools’ common entrance examinations and the state common entrance schools, they have always excelled. So, they make the decision to choose which of the schools they want to enroll because at times, parents want their pupils to attend either private or public schools. So, we have never had a record of any of our pupil not being able to pass these examinations, that’s I am sure of. We always insist that our pupils sit for these common entrance examinations to prove that we know what we are doing at Alexahills Schools because we know the type of quality education we are offering our pupils. At the moment, we have two of our children there in the Federal Government Colleges and other reputable private schools.

What will say about the fees you charge here at Alexahill Schools?

You may not believe it but it is true, our fees are amazingly affordable. What motivates us in the establishment of Alexahill School is not necessarily the monetary gain, though you need money to run the school. However, we are conscious in making the school fees affordable so that parents will not run away by withdrawing

their pupils and wards, hence the decision to make the fees affordable.

As a matter of fact, if we should charge appropriate fees for the services that we render here, I doubt how many pupils we will have because many of the parents will not be able to cope hence they will withdraw their children to some other schools.

Therefore the management of Alexahill Schools is always careful when deciding the school fees. More importantly, we are all aware of the economic situation in the country hence, the unnecessary increment of school fees will mean increasing the burden of parents, hence the need to make the school fees affordable.

As a private school proprietress, which area would you like the government to assist you?

We the private school owner have our association known as “The Private Schools Owners Association” and we also belong to several other associations. We have been crying over the years is the issue of multiple taxations. The Lagos State government taxes us heavily. It is really a big burden on us. The government is so focus on us that it seems that they don’t want to see us. It seems as left for them, we should not even exist but we are helping the government in grooming the leaders of tomorrow. They should realize that we cannot compete with the government

owned public schools that get their funding from public tilt. Our only source of funding is the school fees that we charge and we are also conscious in taking a decision on what parents should pay because if the fees are high, parents will withdraw their children and we will be out of business. Heavy taxation is one of the greatest challenge we have and I want to use this opportunity to plead with authorizes to help us by considering reducing the amount of money they levy on us. And again, they should streamline the taxes because they are so many after all we are all partners in progress. People complain that private school fees are much but they actually do not know the tax burden that we carry and since we do not have other sources of funding that is why private school fees seem to be high but it is not high compare to the type of quality education that we provide here. That is one of the reasons that some private school fees seem not to be affordable.

One thing many people do not know is that every private proprietor or proprietress has one thing or the other he or she does by the side to enable him or her keep funding the schools. Multiple taxations on us is something that making many proprietress or proprietor to once in a while adjust the school fees. It has not been easy running the school with heavy taxation by the government.

Having said that I would also want to point out that another big challenge we are facing is bad network of roads here in Okota. Of course you saw the road was on your way to this school. Therefore, I would once again want appeal to the government to come to our aid by constructing some of the adjoining road to the Ago Palace Road for us to have a lease of life.

We spend fortunes in sand filling these schools before putting up our schools yet we do not have good network of roads in this area and it is a very big problem to us and other road users. That is why I am appealing to the Lagos State government to help in fixing the some of these roads to alleviate our sufferings.

Do you have any intention of going for higher education in the near future?

Of course, we have intention for higher education but not at the moment. We would like to establish the secondary arm of this school and others in the future but not now. I said not because we want to stabilize this primary section first before going for the secondary section and who knows even tertiary. It is true that we have been under intense pressure by parents who are urging us on saying why not establish the secondary section having worked very hard to make the primary school a household name around here.

They want the same quality that the primary has to be extended to the secondary arm when established but we have continued to resist the temptation of going into it at the moment. Of course we certainly establish the secondary section but like I said earlier this is not the time for it.

Today, you have two events, Book Fair and Open Day. Could you tell us what they

Continued on Page 32

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

EDUCATION

•Alexahill Schools’ Book Fair

Multiple taxations, bad roads, greatest challenges facing private schools – Ugochukwu Continued from Page 31 are all about?

Yes, today is our Open Day and Book Fair. Today is the 7th of March 2019. Today is designated the world over as ‘Book Day’ by the United Nations as a way of ensuring that the culture of reading books doesn’t die. Our Book Fair is our own way of trying to cultivate the reading culture in our pupils. So, in line with the United Nations objective of inculcating reading culture to the world, we at Alexahill Schools are joining the world body to spread the good news of reading to our pupils and parent.

That is why as you can see we have both children and adult books on the shelves and table for them to select or buy. However, it is a mere coincident that we are also observing our Open Day today due to the postponement of the general elections. We ought to have had our Open Day but the Shift in the elections affected our calendar, hence we are combining the two important events today.

I don’t think that we (Nigerians) can in good conscience claim to have a reading culture. It is not only about the pupils or children even adults like you and I. It’s all encompassing. All you see these days is that instead of children and adults picking books to read, they will pick up phones to fondle with. During our school days, we were reading novels from pacesetters, James Hadley Chase and the rest, but such a culture is no more there. Now it is all about phone and phone. It is bad.

That is why we are encouraging not only our pupils to know that they gain a lot by reading books because by so doing they learn a lot. It is very hard these days to see an adult Nigerian who will in all honesty claim that has picked a book and finished on record time. And with the teenagers, it has become something else, with this

GSM, internet, Whatsapp, Twiter, facebook, Instagram among others social media platform, actually I don’t know how many us that can actually grab a book and start reading and say, yes I have finished this book. It is no more invoke, we need to bring back that act of reading books. I remembered growing up as a young girl, The Open Day is normally a day set aside by the schools for the pupils and their parents to interact. It is parents interface with their children. It is a day the children perform some activities before their parents for them to know what they have been doing in school. So, the two events are very important in the academic calendar of the school but just like I stated earlier, the postponement of the elections is the reason we are having the two events together.

Open Day is a day set aside for parents are received to come in and check on their children’s academic performances. It is really an important day for the School. It is a sort of an Open Door Policy. They come in to have one-on-one discussions with their children teachers, the head teacher and myself as the director of studies. They come in to check on their children performance and then they ask questions on what is bordering them or what they really do not understand and they will be put through. It is important and also entertains them with some of our activities, presentations by their own children too.

Our target with Open Day The Open Day brings us closer to our parents is the School cannot function in isolation. You need both hands to clap in order to produce a big sound. When the parents come in, they look at their children academic performances and they ask us questions and on our part, we also need to talk to them about their children activities. It is the best opportunity for us

too to interact with them.

Secondly, the parents are not in the school environment, we use the opportunity of the Open Day to show them the environment under which their children are learning. It is also an opportunity to show the parents that the school has not deviated from what they saw when they picked interest in registering their children in the school. So, the Open Day keeps us in check as well, that is it.

Again the fact that our “Book Fair and the Open Day” taking place at the same time is an avenue for our parents to know what their children are doing in school in terms of reading and at the same time take it home. Like I said earlier the reading culture we want to imbibe in our pupils should not be restricted to them the parents should take a cue from them and start reading and by so doing the children will be encouraged because parents supposed to be the first role models to their parents. So what the children see their parents doing they would like to emulate them the same goes with the presentations that parents are entertained with by the children.

Could you tell us the criteria for the recruitment of the teaching staff at Alexahill Schools?

Well, the caliber of our teaching staff, I made bold to say that every teacher in this school is not just a university graduate but an education graduate and for any teaching staff who did not study education in the university, he must possess he or she must have obtained his or her Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Even those in Pre-school are all graduates of education, you won’t believe it but that is the fact. We have staff members who are Master Degree holders teaching in the nursery arm of Alexahill Schools. We don’t compromise standard in Alexahill

Schools. It is even better to merge classes if you don’t have resources. For instance, if you have two classes, you can merge them together and employ a competent teacher and hire the services of an assistant teacher who understudies the teacher and when he has mastered the act from the teacher, he or she can then handle his own class. But here we don’t practice it because our classes cannot accommodate more than 28 or 30 pupils. This is intentional. It is made like that so that the classes will not be over crowded. Take for instance, Mrs. Okonkwo is in pre-school 1, she has her PGDE outside of her degree, these are pupils between the ages one and two.

It has been observed that many people who studied education run away from the classrooms due to poor remuneration and none payment of salaries, could you let us have an insight remuneration of the teaching staff of Alexahill Schools?

Well, we do our best for the teachers within our capacity and I believe that they are comfortable. Apart from their salaries, the teachers are appreciated both by the school and parents. Any of the teachers who distinguish himself or herself in the discharge of his or her responsibilities are always appreciated. In addition to that, the lesson that the school conducts for the pupils, teachers get paid for the extra lesson the school conduct for the pupils. So, you can interact with the teachers and sample their opinion on that. Some of the teachers started with us and some of them have spent four and five years with us. I believe that had it been that they don’t feel okay, they would have left.

But in all this, contentment is important because no matter how much is paid anyone, if that person does not have the spirit of contentment, he or she will still not feel comfortable, Mrs. Ugochukwu said.

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS

Nduagwuike assures exhibitors, investors of great experience Cont’d from page 5 questions about the State, about the South East, about investment opportunities and all that. So, we have people who are properly trained now to handle all of that.

We are also going to establish, for the first time, a complaints bureau where we can interact with exhibitors, visitors who have problems and all that, and want them resolved. Nobody will say he does not know where to take his complaints to because there will be a huge signage indicating the location of the bureau at the fair. We have trouble-shooters who are in training now, who would be able to handle such complaints.

Again, in the course of preparing for this fair, we have also brought in the issue of people who are coming for the first time. Our first time exhibitors will be given some preferential treatment; we want to make them come back, so we have some little incentives, which they will enjoy as first timers. We have the medical bay, we have the security bay...these things are little things we have put together in to ensure that the fair is a success.

You know, when fairs come during election year, they are a little dull.

People are not convinced about the security network and all that.

This year, it was bad actually but it is not going to affect us, principally because people who could no exhibit in Kaduna, which had to shift its own trade fair several times for obvious reasons, are likely to exhibit at Enugu.

Secondly, it is beyond argument that Enugu is one of the most peaceful States in the country. We have stability also because the governor is running an all-inclusive government. For the past seven years of doing this, we have not had one single security challenge. And we

do not expect anything different this year.

Apart from that, in our fairs, we have a full compliment of the police, the military, the DSS, Civil Defence. So we have done that all. Besides, we have a private security company that is in charge of our internal security. They man the gate; they have their gadgets; they make sure that people coming in are authentic people who are supposed to be at the fair either by way of payment or association as workers. We have gate passes; we have car passes. So, we are really prepared to host our visitors in a secure environment during the period of the fair.

How long have you been a council member?

I have been here for about 10 years. I have been VP Trade Fair for six years now. This actually is my seventh fair.

What are your expectations this year? Against the backdrop of our economic challenges, what are you expecting?

First, is that when the elections were fixed very close to the fair, we were a little apprehensive.

•Vice President Trade Fair, ECCIMA, Barr. Jasper Nduagwuike

30th Enugu International Trade Fair kicks off Friday, April 5 Cont’d from page 1 of the Fair, The Oracle Today is expected to provide its teeming readers and visitors to the Fair with all necessary information about the Fair—from participants, officials and leaders of ECCIMA, international visitors and exhibitors, places of interest in Enugu, hotel accommodation to the significance of the Fair at a time of economic downturn such as the country is witnessing now.

According to a brief on the chamber, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture came into being in 1963 with the late legendary Dr, Nlogha Okeke of the Eastern Medical Centre, Enugu, fame as its founding President.

This year marks the 30th year the Chamber has been successfully organising Trade Fairs in Enugu.

Titled ECCIMA IN PERSPECTIVE, the brief on the Chamber further explains that the major objective of the Chamber is to promote and protect commerce and industry and represent the business community, especially within the areas of its domain, on issues affecting commerce and industry, mines and agriculture.

It is prided as being in the forefront of the Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria and its voice receives due attention on issues affecting commerce and industry.

Indeed, its motto ‘Economic Growth Through Investment in Industry and Agriculture’ is reflected in its continued positive response to the challenges posed to economic growth, development and stability. It is worthwhile to note the effort of the Chamber towards the economic integration of the Eastern States, its immediate satellite domain. In this direction, it has strongly motivated the formation of the Eastern Chambers of Commerce Forum. The Fo-

Economy in ‘dire need’ of skilled manpower’ Cont’d from page 5 beat. The President will declare the Fair open. Therefore, we expect many top officials of government to grace the Fair,” he enthused.

Although trade fairs, according to Sir Udeze, a Pharmacist who goes by the traditional title of Ogene Ogidi in Anambra State, are venues where wares are displayed, he assured that ECCIMA has put in a lot of effort to accommodate and showcase a lot of indigenous effort and achievements.

“We have gone further to make it look more like indigenous events. We have a very robust agricultural section that we are putting in place. We have science and technology. Indeed, we have sectorised the fairground into Science, Agric, Automobile, Cosmetics, among others,” the industrialist, who was a member of the Chamber Council for 16 years before his election as President said.

“We are interfacing with institutions like University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and others to bring in their technological innovations. It is no more coming to see finished goods only. The whole thing is becoming more scientific now.”

He added: “Ebonyi State, which is an agricultural State, for instance, is coming with a lot of innovations and discoveries in mining, in quarry and other things. So, the whole thing has gone beyond finished goods. It is now about discovering opportunities based on the comparative advantages enjoyed by different communities and creating innovations therefrom. Ebonyi is a good example of a State leveraging on its comparative advantage in agriculture to deliver innovative products.

“At our Fair, participants take special days to showcase their products and or services and talk about themselves. There are so many things happening say in the agricultural sector that we don’t get to know unless we are told. There will be new pesticides, which are quite different from the types used here a lot of which have been phased out internationally.

“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, for instance, has a lot of equipment that it sells to individuals and groups at subsidized rates and that is the kind of information they give out on their day at the Fair. National Communications Commission (NCC) will take a day and talk about how they regulate the telecommunications industry.

On such days, people have the opportunity to ask questions.

“Trade exhibition is the only way you can say who you are and showcase what you have. However, government seems not to be taking these things seriously again, but I am of the opinion that their approach is wrong. We must continue to showcase and create avenues for small, medium and large-scale enterprises to exhibit what they have or can do and by so doing expose their products and or services to customers and eventual buyers.”

Sir Udeze also spoke about the ongoing reconciliation between the Enugu Chambers and the South East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

“To tell you the truth, that was a wonderful vision – to house the South East Chamber – that was conceived in this Chamber. We are supposed to house the South East Chamber of Commerce. For one, this (Enugu) is the first and oldest Chamber in the South East.

And two, because we are the only Chamber with our own structure, in a well-appointed compound.

We wanted to house the South East Chamber here. But some people brought selfishness into what was otherwise a good and

equitable arrangement.

“As the oldest Chamber, Enugu Chamber was supposed to produce a permanent deputy president while the presidency rotates.

But, because some people don’t want power to move out of their hands, they thwarted that plan.

Subsequently, the other chambers went and formed South East Chamber without Enugu.

“You know, there are certain things you cannot do without hurting people. I have come on board now and I am a president who does not care whose ox is gored. I don’t look at people’s faces; I do what I think is right. So, unknown to most of my people, as I speak with you now, the next meeting of the South East will be held here and it’s on April 15, the last day of our 30th Enugu International Trade Fair.

“The reconciliation is on-going; we must come together because we are brothers. We must have to make sacrifices for the greater good of the chamber movement in the South East. You see, it mustn’t be any particular person; it mustn’t be me. If in the course of the discussion Enugu Chamber is given any concession, so be it.

If they are not giving any concessions, no wahala.”

rum today has positioned itself to collectively tackle issues that are detrimental to the promotion and development of commerce and industry in the Eastern States and, indeed, Nigeria.

Apart from the organisation of the annual Enugu International Trade Fairs, the Chamber is primarily concerned and involved in rendering services to its members and the business community through various strategies.

ECCIMMA encourages and promotes the cause of chamber movement in nurturing the city Chambers of Commerce, especially East of the Niger.

It engages, through correspondence and contacts, communication with other chambers of commerce throughout the globe. It believes and plays leading role for the sanitation of business practices and transactions world-wide.

The Chamber, with astute and dynamic leadership, a Governing Council as well as devoted full-time staff, has been able to live up to its challenges in meeting its social responsibilities, especially on matters that border on commerce and industry.

Additionally, ECCIMA has continued to improve on its infrastructure and services to members. The Chamber publishes periodicals in order to communicate effectively with its members and other publics.

The Chamber has also continued to make effort towards improving the services it renders to members and society. Currently, the Chamber is working closely with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Washington DC to enhance and improve on the capacity of its members as well as other affiliates/associations The Chamber is also currently developing its multidimensional facility building project, which will go a long way to chart a new course and bolster its capacity to play outstanding and prominent role in the Organised Private Sector and in business and economic development in particular.

Although ECCIMA has commendably broken the jinx by hosting Fairs at its Permanent Site, it is yet to start enjoying the much-needed prime infrastructure that ought to be in place for this very important economic event.

At the moment, the facilities that have been completed by the federal government are the police post, toilet building, restaurant building and the plant house, among others. It is hoped that the Chamber would be reimbursed the expenses it incurred on some facilities it completed, which are fundamental to the hosting of the Fair, with understanding reached with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. In the light of the foregoing, the President and Council Pharm Sir Emeka Udeze and his Council Members have appealed to the to the Federal Government once more through this medium to intervene by setting out adequate fund and awarding the contract to a competent contractor to complete the development of the Permanent Site, Enugu International Trade Fair.

Alternatively, the Federal Government should hand over the development of the complex to the Chamber to chart the course and drive the development in order not to jeopardise the hosting of the Fair.

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

FOCUS I There is hope for cancer patients –James Allison, Nobel Laureate t was Christmas Eve 1994, and James P. Allison was testing his theory that T cells, a type of white blood cell that fights viral and bacterial infections, could help the immune system fight cancer. That week, he was covering for a postdoc aide on a European trip, who had injected cancerous mice with an antibody to activate T cells to go after tumours.

The results were stunning: All of those given the antibody became cancer-free, while the mice not provided with the antibody saw their tumours grow until they eventually died.

Allison ran back the experiment. But this time, the cancer didn’t respond. Allison grew frustrated. “I was being told, ‘You’re just foolish, this is never gonna work,’ ” he said in an interview with The Washington Post.

“That was one that really pissed me off.”

But when he returned four days later to check on his furry subjects, the tumours in the mice injected with the antibody had totally disappeared. “I went, ‘Wow,’ ” said Allison, 70. “That was a real turning point.

I said, ‘Okay, we’re onto something here.’ I never expected that to happen. I did have a notion that if we could figure that out, then we might have a shot at cancer.”

American James Allison and Japanese Tasuku Honjo won the 2018 Nobel Prize for medicine for discoveries regarding the use of the immune system to fight cancer.

Almost a quarter-century later, after countless medical trials, doubt from his peers and uncertainty of whether a product based on his discovery would ever be available to the public, Allison was a co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine or his work on how to use the body’s immune system to combat cancer. To date, Ipilimumab, known as “Ipi,” and other immuno-oncology drugs have treated nearly 1 million patients worldwide.

Sipping a light beer in a hotel restaurant overlooking downtown Austin, Allison reminisced about his road from small-town Texan who lost multiple family members to cancer to barrier-breaking doctor whose story is now featured in “Breakthrough,” a documentary that premiered earlier this month at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

“If somebody tells me I can’t do something,” the Nobel Prize winner said, “you know, I don’t deal with that very well.”

The Texas-infused documentary reflects the highs and lows of Allison’s ground-breaking work, from the long days researching the holy grail of immunology to the sometimes longer nights fueled by Shiner Bock at the local honky tonk. There are also the casual hangouts where he’d play harmonica next to Willie Nelson, including his most recent guest spot this month. “I’m really nervous,” Allison, who most recently played with Nelson at the 2016 Austin City Limits music festival, told The Post ahead of the gig.

[Cancer-fighting power couple tackles mysteries of the immune system] When Allison was 11, in Alice, Tex., about 45 miles west of Corpus Christi, his mother, Constance, was always in bed with burns on her neck. She was fighting lymphoma, and the burns were from her radiation therapy.

He’d hold her hand without understanding what had made his mom so sick.

“Then, one day, I came in and they said, ‘Sit down with your mom.’ And she died right then,” said Allison, now chairman of immunology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “I didn’t really know what it was from. People in those days didn’t even talk about cancer. I only found out a couple years later, over my dad talking to my oldest brother.”

In the void created by his mother’s passing, Allison, who graduated from high school at 16 and defended evolution against skeptical teachers and lawmakers, turned to science. In 1977, Allison and a colleague wrote in a letter to the journal Nature that their research into T cells suggested that the immune system could not be attacked by cancer cells. From there, he bounced wherever he could go to advance his research on T cells, from Austin and Berkeley, Calif., to New York and Houston.

As The Post’s Laurie McGinley reported, cancer has been a recurring sadness for Allison. A brother and two of his uncles succumbed to cancer, and Allison, himself, has

A Texas scientist was called ‘foolish’ for arguing the immune system could fight cancer. Then he won the Nobel Prize.

•James Allison even faced early-stage cancer three times.

“Everything really dramatic that’s happened in this country has been by somebody who had an irrepressible pioneering, and often irreverent approach to life,” said Bill Haney, the film’s director. “And you see this in Jim, throughout the entire arc of his life, you see this extraordinary spirit of America.”

After publishing a paper in 1996 based on his T cell findings two years prior, Allison’s goals were clear: Create the antibody and make it into a drug that could work safely in humans, and find a way to eventually get it to not just clinical trials but also to market.

But it was an uphill climb to make “Ipi” a reality, one that included a full-five year study and significant financial risk from pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Fifteen years after publishing his paper on T cell activation, the stubborn Texan saw the Food and Drug Administration approve “Ipi” on March 25, 2011. Among the million or so patients worldwide who have now been treated with “Ipi” or another form of immuno-oncology drug are tens of thousands with melanoma, according to the Cancer Research Institute. Twenty percent of those patients are kept alive at least a decade after treatment, a significant jump given that melanoma kills almost half its patients within a year. But immunotherapy doesn’t work for all cancers, specifically glioblastoma, a brain cancer, or pancreatic cancer, Allison said.

Since “Ipi” was accepted in 2011, Allison has received countless emails or handwritten notes, many from people he’s never met, thanking him for keeping their loved ones alive.

“Two years ago today, my 63-year-young Richard was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma to the brain and everywhere else,” Allison read from one note in the film.

•Tasuku Honjo “Thank to your fortitude . . . Richard is alive and well, treatment-free for over a year. The words ‘thank you’ do not begin to cover the gratitude in your persistence to make sure immunotherapy be brought worldwide.”

On the fourth floor of Hotel Van Zandt, Allison — who sports long gray locks, a wispy beard and dark-framed glasses over his round red nose — argued that the full benefits of immunotherapy are still filtering into the medical field.

“The real thing that I think we need to do is get out of our silos,” Allison told The Post. “Because there were three pillars of cancer therapy — radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy — and now there’s a fourth.

The fundamental difference between those and immunology is that immunology is a unifying, possibly synergistic addition to the other things.” He added, “What it takes to kill some tumor cells and let the immune system do its thing is for radiotherapists and the chemotherapy people and the smallmolecule people to say, ‘We don’t need to kill every last cancer cell. We can drop the amount, the duration and the therapy.’ ” It’s a sentiment echoed by Padmanee Sharma, a research partner and immunologist at MD Anderson, who is also Allison’s wife. She said the patients deserve credit for taking a chance on the drug in the clinical trials.

“We say, ‘I’m not interested in an endpoint of just two or three weeks of living longer. I’m interested in an endpoint that gives me durable survival,’ ” Sharma told The Post. “We now have to design those trials to look at it that way. So ‘hope’ is a big word that I think we need to throw out there for all of our patients.”

Allison laughed thinking about the morning of the October 2018 Nobel announce-

ment. He was in New York, awaiting what he thought was surely another disappointment from the Nobel committee, which had not selected him in previous years when he was up for the prize. He was in Manhattan in support of Sharma, who was in town to receive an award. “I was just her arm candy,” he said. Haney had just concluded shooting the documentary the day before and asked his subject about his prospects of winning the award.

“He was like, ‘I’m so ... sick of this. Tomorrow, I gotta deal with it again,’ ” Haney recalled Allison saying. “And then at 5 in the morning, champagne was popping in the damn hotel room.”

That morning, Allison was handed a phone and told someone wanted to congratulate him. It was former vice president Joe Biden, whose son, Beau, died of glioblastoma in 2015.

“I’m so happy for you,” Biden told Allison. “You deserve the recognition and I pray to God you’re going to save an awful amount of lives.”

Upon returning to MD Anderson in Houston days later, Allison was given a reception fit for a world champion — a marching band accompanying him into the building, dozens of signs saying, “You’ve made us proud,” and hundreds of people lining the hallways for a chance to shake his hand or take a photo with him.

On the night of the film’s premiere earlier this month, Allison, who hadn’t yet seen the documentary, was choked up. But he cleared his throat before that reiterating the fight against cancer is not over.

“It’s not a finished story, by the way.

We’ve got a lot more work to do,” he said to a cheering crowd. He added, “It’s a journey in progress.”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

SPORTS

Agali cautions against invitation of new players, pressure on Eagles Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ORMER Super Eagles’ striker and the chief scout of the Eagles, Victor Okechukwu Agali, has warned against invitation of new set of players to the national team saying doing so will disrupt the peace and unity of the team.

According to him there is unity and harmony in the team as presently constituted and moreover the time is short for the introduction of new players as the team prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations that Egypt will be playing host to in June/July. ‘”You could see the unity and harmony amongst the players at the moment,” Agali began.

“They are like families, we need that first in a team and then you can’t doubt the quality of the players because they are coming from good clubs in Europe. It is important to have that unity as a team and you see the happiness in them and it is showing here in the result they are churning in and they are enjoying it. ‘’The understanding needs to be there and it is happening. I don’t think we should be looking for other players to invite but to encourage the ones that will have that have been scoring in their clubs and be patient with them and they will also score goals,” added Agali.

Continuing, he called for cautious optimism on the team’s chances of

winning their fourth AFCON title in Egypt.

“We should be careful about what we say before going to the Nations Cup. We have to keep everything on a low key. We have quality players and the team are playing well. We see how we complete our passes in the game but it is important we don’t bring the pressure from outside into the team.

“The players need to relax. They know what they want, they always want more for themselves and the last thing a coach will want to do is to put pressure on his team. It is too early to say you are going to win the Nation Cup. “It is better to take it match after match, look forward to the first match of the Nations Cup and try to get maximum point and see where you go from there.

“I believe in keeping everything on a low key and continue to work very hard, they are not kids. I want the maximum for them, I am a Nigerian; I always want to be a champion but always without pressure.

“You need to be in a relaxed mood when playing football. It is just a game and the more relaxed a player is, the more he gives in terms of performance.

“Nobody wants to play under a tensed atmosphere, so don’t put them on pressure that they must win. I strongly believe in them but we must take it one match at a time,” Agali admonished.

Federer defeats John Isner to win Miami Open

A

GELESS Roger Federer Sunday defeated defending champion, John Isner to capture his 4th Miami Open title with an emphatic 6-1 6-4 victory.

The 37-year-old world No 5 broke in the opening game and took the first set in 24 minutes.

In his 50th Masters final, the Swiss fourth seed produced some typically sublime groundstrokes and wrapped up the match in an hour and three minutes.

It is his 28th Masters title and the 101st overall for a player who has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

“What a week it’s been for me,” said the Swiss, who struck 17 winners overall, including six off his elegant backhand.

“I’m just so happy right now. It’s unbelievable. I played here in 1999 for the first time and here I am in 2019. It means a lot to me.”

Following his victory at the Dubai Championships, Federer becomes the first two-time champion on the ATP Tour this season, ending a streak of 19 different winners in 2019.

Isner came into the first meeting between the pair in Miami having not dropped a set throughout the tournament, winning nine of the 10 sets in the process by tie-break.

Federer had won all four of their previous matches on hard courts and asserted his dominance from the outset, losing only one point on serve in the opening set.

Kanu backs Nwakali, Chukwueze, Osimhen for Eagles

N

WANKWO Kanu, former Super Eagles captain, has lauded the amazing display of the Dream Team VII after they overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit to wallop Libya 4-0 in Asaba on Monday, saying they should be given opportunities in the senior national team.

Having led Nigeria to her first Olympic football gold medal in 1996, the former African Footballer of the Year has now thrown his weight behind the trio of Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen to step up and also rub shoulders with the Super Eagles.

Papilo, who spoke to AOIFootball. com exclusively, stated categorically that Coach Gernot Rohr must give the trio an opportunity to showcase their talents with the senior side whilst heaping special praises on Nwakali whom he believes would be a positive addition to the Super Eagles ahead of this year’s AFCON. “I was very impressed with the overall performance of the team on Monday. The boys reenacted the spirit of the Dream Team and fought till the end, showing class over their opponents. Now it’s time for them to build on it and ensure they qualify for the tournament proper.

•Victor Agali

Beach Soccer Qualifiers: Sand Eagles coach submits list to NFF

\

OACH of the national beach soccer team, the ‘Super Sand Eagles’ Audu Ejo, on Monday disclosed that the list of selected players for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers at Cape Verde, had been forwarded to the Ministry of Sports for approval.

The coach, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said there was need to commence training in

earnest for the players to blend so as to have to a good Olympic outing in Tokyo, Japan.

“We have sent our list for approval and immediately we get the approval, we will make the list public; the list comprises of those I strongly believe will deliver.

“Once our list is approved, we will appeal that we have nothing short of five months camping; early camping is necessary for good

results.

“This is the first time we will be going to the Olympics and we do not want to leave any stone unturned; we believe with all necessary things in place, we will have a great outing,” Audu Ejo said.

Oracle Today Sports gathered that the African qualifiers event of the tournament has been slated to take place in Cape Verde later this month.

• Nigeria’s Beach Soccer team, Super Sand Eagles

We’ll soon dethrone MFM from NPFL top spot – Rangers Coach

E •Roger Federer Roger Federer

NUGU Rangers coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, has expressed the desire to displace Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) FC on top of the league log. This followed the Flying Antelope away draw at the weekend saying that MFM Fc are temporarily occupying the top spot on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Group A standings.

It is recalled that Ogunbote guided the Coal City side to destroyed visiting Remo Stars 5-2 in a 7 goal thriller penultimate Sunday, a win

that took them to third on the log.

It was the first time in Group A that a team would score five goals in a game this season and that in its own is a message of intent to the group’s high-flyers.

Same message was reiterated and well-articulated by team’s Ogunbote who in his often confident disposition asserted that his team are coming to claim their rightful place.

“The fortunate thing is that we are looking for the first three. After

that, we have the Super Six where we will have the true champions,” Ogunbote told the league’s official website.

“Be it as it may, I want to tell you that I still see MFM as the temporary occupants of that position so by the time we must have taken some of our outstanding games.

“Then we will occupy our rightful position.”

MFM have never won the NPFL title, while Rangers have clinched the trophy seven times.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

SPORTS

Bolt makes U-turn, to feature in biennial ‘Soccer Aid’ charity match

By MADUABUCHI KALU With agency report

L

EGENDARY Jamaican sprint king, Usain Bolt, has made Uturn on his earlier decision that his sports life was over as the 100 and 200mtrs record holder is to participate in a charity biennial ‘Soccer Aid’ charity match at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge Stadium on June 16.

In exclusive interview with Daily Mercury, Bolt confirmed that there is an agreement with Mackay and Whitsunday Magpies Crusaders to play NPL Queensland football had been reached. This means that he is not only going to play on the ‘Solid Aid’ Charity match at Chelsea FC’s Stamford bridge but will go ahead to lace his football boot for NPL Queensland.

“I’m going to be taking my talents to Glenella,” Bolt said.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to say something like that.”

It is recalled that in January, Bolt was widely reported as saying “the sports life is over” for him after he and the Central Coast Mariners failed to agree to terms on an ALeague contract.

But after months spent stewing

Adekuoroye emerges Africa’s Best Female wrestler • As Team Nigeria wins overall women title

N

IGERIA’S Odunayo Adekuoroye has been named the best female wrestler at the 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, following her impressive showing on her way to successfully defending the gold medal she won a year ago in Port Harcourt.

The 2017 world silver-medalist and back-to-back Commonwealth champion made light work of her Cameroonian opponent, Esoombe Tiako, winning their 57kg final in just 29 sec via pinfall to record her 5th African title.

On her way to final, Adekuoroye overpowered Jeannette Sambou (Senegal) 4-0 via pinfall before taking out Chaimaa Aouissi (Algeria) 12-0 via technical superiority to move into the semi finals. In the last four, she also recorded another superiority win, outclassing home favourite Dorssaf Gharssi 10-0.

Meanwhile, Team Nigeria once again reigned supreme in Women Wrestling at the 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, claiming 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in 10 categories.

Blessing Oborududu (68kg) recorded her 9th consecutive African title after overcoming Anta Sabou of Senegal 10-0 (via superiority).

Such was the dominance of the Bayelsa State-born athlete that she did not concede a single point in three bouts on her way to another gold medal.

Wrestling sensation and 2017 World silver medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) needed just 29sec to dismantle her Cameroonian opponent Essombe Tiako in the final via pinfall, and claim her 5th African title, while Sunmisola Balogun (65kg) and Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg) also won gold medals after respective triumphs in the finals against Yvette Zie (Burundi) and Mona Ahmed (Egypt).

Team Nigeria’s silver medals came

It is the 3rd year in a row that Nigeria is winning Women’s Wrestling at from Hannah Reuben (72kg) and Am- the African Championships. inat Adeniyi (62kg), with Rosemary Nweke (53kg) and Ifeoma Nwoye (59kg) accounting for the 2 bronze medals.

Unfortunately, youngster Esther Kolawole (55kg) could not compete as a result of a knee injury she sustained in training a day before the final, thereby missing out of a chance to win a medal.

In the Greco Roman event, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Nworie (72kg) lost his African title, as he settled for a bronze medal after beating Lamjed Maafi (Tunisia) 10-9 in the 3rd place match.

Overall, Team Nigeria won Women’s Wrestling at the Championships with 195 points ahead of 2nd placed Tunisia with 177 points, while Egypt • Odunayo Adekuoroye finished 3rd with 160points.

Competition for Eagles’ shirts excites Rohr

T

HERE is no gain saying that Gernot Rohr, the national team technical Adviser is a happy man at the moment reason being the fight for Eagles shirts. According to the Franco-German Football tactician, he is happy with his striking options available to him as his team are gradually taking shape towards the African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

The former Bayern defender who superintended Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Egypt in an international friendly game at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba to rap up a five-day football fiesta at the stadium in which Nigeria came top in all the three matches including the Under-23 National team, who pummeled Libya 4-0 in the return leg of their first round qualifiers to hit final qualification tournament to the next Olympic football tournament in Japan.

It is recalled that Eagles defeat-

ed their much fancied opponents (Pharaohs) in the friendly tie as debutant lanky striker, Paul Onuachu scored with a thunderous shot within seconds of the encounter to give Nigeria her first win over Egypt after over a decade.

“We have other profiles for the striker position. We now have this tall guy from Denmark. He did very well but he has to improve still,” Rohr said.

“We had five changes in the team, the goalkeepers came in and we finished with two local players that made their debuts.

The 65-year-old trainer is happy with how his players performed during the FIFA international break.

“It will be good for them, for their confidence and for the careers of the players,” he added.

“I am happy about it also because our 23 players did very well for the past 10 days in Asaba,” Rohr declared.

on the breakdown of that deal, where Bolt admitted his desire for a big pay day was the major hurdle, the 32-year-old said he had recently had a change of heart.

“I said after the Mariners stuff that we probably didn’t go about things like we should have,” Bolt said.

“I kept telling everyone - kept telling myself - that I wanted to play football because I loved the game.

But somewhere along the way I got caught up in my own hype and maybe I forgot about the ‘love’ part a little.”

Bolt, who retired from athletics in 2017 and still holds the 100m and 200m world records, said his change of heart came after agreeing to take part in the biennial ‘Soccer Aid’ charity match at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge Stadium on June 16.

“When I was asked to play in Soccer Aid, and my agent (Ricky Simms) and I were talking it over, I realised why it was I fell in love with football in the first place,” Bolt said.

“I didn’t want football to just be about money for me anymore.”

Sitting in on the conversation, Magpies Crusaders assistant coach Ben Lyon admitted he was skeptical at first when the possibility of having Bolt line up in black and white was first floated to him.

“I also asked them if we could have a private jet to get to and from games down south, because clearly everyone was just having a laugh,” Lyon said.

“But then I got a call from Usain’s agent about an hour later asking if I’d given any thought to where he might play in our system, and I’ll be honest, I choked on my water.”

Lyon admitted he still had no true answer to that question. But the assistant will have time to solve his final third jigsaw. Bolt’s debut will be delayed until the next home game - against 2018 NPL Queensland champions Lions FC on April 13.

“Considering the enormity of this signing, we wanted Mackay fans to have the first opportunity to see Usain run out in black and white,” Magpies Sporting Club marketing manager Amber Ries said.

Bolt proved his penchant for goal scoring in his debut Mariners appearance, when he secured a brace against Macarthur South West United in a preseason match last October.

His most likely position with MCU would be at striker - which begs the question, where to for incumbent number nine, Michael Lyall?

“While we’re all being honest here, Michael isn’t exactly getting any younger - and he certainly isn’t winning any 100m races,” Lyon said.

“Now we have a bloke who has made a living of doing exactly that, so we need to take advantage.

“Michael is our captain. He always preaches a team-first mentality. We’ll see just how serious he is about that once we get Usain on the pitch.”

Zidane wants Pogba at Real Madrid after Man U. contract

R

ETURNEE Real Madrid gaffer, Zinedine Zidane has expressed the desire to have Manchester United world class midfielder, Paul Pogba at the Spanish capital based side at the expiration of his contract at contract at United.

According to report, Zidane who led Madrid to win three straight Champions Leagues has reiterated his likeness for Pogba saying he likes the France World Cup winning midfielder “a lot”, because Pogba knows how to do everything on the pitch.”

It is recalled Pogba had issues with the former Manager, Jose Mourinho before he was sacked and replaced by former United player, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Pogba has scored nine goals since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge.

Pogba, 26, has been linked with the Spanish giants and described Real as “a dream club for every player” while on international duty with France.

“I know him personally,” said former France captain Zidane before Real’s La Liga match against Huesca on Sunday.

“He brings so much and there are few players who bring as much as he does.”

Pogba rejoined United from Juventus for a then world record £89m in 2016, but his future at Old Trafford appeared in doubt earlier this season with widespread reports of acrimony between him and former manager Jose Mourin-

ho.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the sacked Mourinho in December and Pogba’s form has since improved, with the 2018 World Cup winner scoring nine times under the Norwegian.

“He’s a midfielder who knows how to defend and how to attack,” added Zidane, who returned to Real Madrid on 11 March less than 10 months after leaving the Bernabeu.

“But he is not my player, he is at Manchester.

“He has always said that, after Manchester, Madrid has always interested him. So when his experience at Manchester ends, why not come here to Madrid?”

United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m - a record at the time - in 2009, with the Premier League club saying the Portugal forward had “expressed his desire to leave”.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

NEWS

2nd NFF/AITEO Awards: 1994 Super Eagles’ squad grateful – Oliseh Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

T

HE squad of Super Eagles who made history by representing the country for the very first time at the global biggest football fiesta, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, which held in the United States of America in 1994 have expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for recognition they accorded in Monday’s AITEO/NFF Award where they bagged the ‘Legend Award”.

The squad appreciation was conveyed by a member of the team that thrilled the global football community with one of the best football artistries to have come not only from Nigeria but from the continent, Sunday Oliseh.

According to Oliseh the team expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the legend’s award given to the Super Eagles US FIFA 1994 squad.

He explained that words could not explain how happy he was for the recognition and urged other sports federations to emulate the NFF by honouring the nation’s sports heroes.

“Indeed it is a great one for me and my teammates, those of us alive; we are very proud and it is also a moment to reflect on those who have passed on.

“We say a big thank you to

the leadership of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick, we really appreciate the gesture because it would go a long way to encourage others coming behind.

“Looking back at what the squad and what we achieved in 1994 at the Nations Cup, at the World Cup, also at the 1995 Afro/ Asian Cup. “Indeed, we cannot but ask for all those things that can crown our joy. “We want a situation where a street in Nigeria be named after the Super Eagles 1994 squad just to acknowledge our achievements and spur others to continue to do well,” Oliseh said.

Oliseh added that more could be done for sports men who had worn the national team colours, especially those who brought glory to the country. He insisted he was not asking for money but immortalization such as the stadium named after the late Stephen Keshi in Delta.

Similarly, Omoyeni Yekini, the daughter to the late Rashidi Yekini whose father scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal, expressed • The NFF Legend Award recipients, 1994 Super Eagles squad. gratitude over the award.

“It is a thing of joy for me and I derful moment for us,” she said. and Alex Iwobi, while Onome Ebi The glamorous NFF awards, of the Super Falcons won the really want to say thank you for the support because indeed it which held at the prestigious Eko best female player of the year feels good to be recognised even Hotels and Suites on Victoria Is- award. land on Monday night, saw Super In other awards of the night, after a long time.

“The NFF have not turned its Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa, win- Super Falcons won team of the back on our family, we thank God ning the best male player of the season, Kano Pillars football fans for them and other teammates year. Musa defeated his Super were given fans of the season, of my dad. “Indeed, it is a won- Eagles team mates, Odion Ighalo while Akwa United won the fair play team of the season.

The Head Coach of Enugu Rangers, Gbenga Ogunbote, and Sucertain to be at the Africa Cup of per Falcons Head Coach, Thomas ahead of Ighalo.

Dennerby, won male and female In training, Success didn’t show Nations alongside Victor Osimhen coaches of the year award. as Nigeria’s other strikers to comenough hunger and even when The best young male and fehe got to play in the friendly game pliment Ighalo. against Uganda, he failed to put in a shift for the team, something which left Rohr disappointed.

“I think he has thrown his chance LAYERS of Enugu Rangers on Adun Osamudiamen, Rangers’ away. He didn’t do enough when Tuesday hailed Nigeria Foot- midfielder expressed joy that his ball Federation (NFF) and Ait- coach was at last recognised for he was called up after the World Cup. For now, Rohr isn’t consid- eo company for recognising Coach his achievements in 2018. ering him in his squad for the AF- Olugbenga Ogunbote’s tremen- He noted that Ogunbote came into CON”, a member of the backroom dous achievements and his emer- Rangers and lifted the NFF/Aiteo gence as the Nigerian Coach of the Cup in a dramatic style and also staff explained. reached Confederation of African His problem went from bad to Year (Male). worse, when he lost his spot at Some of the players who spoke Football (CAF) Confederation Cup the reporters in Enugu, said group stage.

Watford, leaving the coach with no with that the coach deserved the award “This award came at the right time reasonable excuse to include him for his achievements with the club because it will make the coach to in his squad for the last two games last year. work harder and also put the playplayed by the Super Eagles.

Ogunbote downed the Super Ea- ers on alert toward our continental Unlike Success, Paul Onuachu gles Coach, Gernot Rorh and Lobi ticket chase. it is recalled grabbed his chance Stars’ Coach, Solomon Ogbeide to “Behind every success, there is with both hands and he is almost win the diadem. somebody behind it and we be-

No space for Success in AFCON squad – Rohr

I

T is like the international career of Watford and Nigerian striker, Isaac Success has come to an end following the Super Eagles technical adviser declaration that he is not a part of his squad to the June/July Africa Cup of Nations which Egypt will be playing host to.

There is no gain saying Isaac Success has not been able to convince not only the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, but also Nigerian football fans that he deserves to be a part of the national team set up.

It is recalled that Success was given the opportunity by Rohr to push for the spot of Odion Ighalo in the Super Eagles squad after the World Cup, but the forward didn’t show enough commitment to force the coach into picking him

Coach of Year Award: Rangers’ players hail Ogunbote

P

Chelsea reject Fernebahce’s €60m for Victor Moses

C

HELSEA Football Club of England have rejected Fenerbahce’s €60m initial bid former Super Eagles player, Victor Moses for a permanent deal saying the sum was too paltry for a player of Moses caliber, according report.

Ajansspor said The Yellow Canaries had offered five million Euros for the right winger, a figure deemed insufficient by the Premier League side, who had told its Turkish counterparts to increase the fee.

The report added that Fenerbahce’s Sporting Director, Damien Comolli is expected to go to England to meet face to face with the Chelsea executives and thrash out a deal.

male players’ award went to Super Eagles player, Samuel Chikwueze and Super Falcons player, Anam Imoh, respectively.

Merit awards went to Senegalese Fatma Samoura, the current FIFA Secretary General who was at the forum. She was honoured for her exceptional leadership qualities in repositioning FIFA. Outgoing Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, won the lifetime award while the presidential award was given to late sports pillar and business tycoon, Moshood Abiola.

Damien Comolli, who previously worked at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, played a key role in convincing Moses to join Fenerbahce in the January transfer window.

The former Nigerian international had been on the books of Chelsea since the summer of 2012, but it appeared his future lies elsewhere as he is not in the plans of manager Maurizio Sarri.

In addition, the former Crystal Palace man enjoyed three successive loan spells with Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham. Moses comes off contract with The Blues at the end of the 2020-2021 campaign.

It is recalled that Maurizio Sarri did not hide his feeling about Mo-

ses’ position at Chelsea telling the Nigerian that he was not in his plan as according to him, Moses was not good enough to fit into his plan for the Blues.

It is also noted that Moses did not help himself when he announced his retirement from the national team after the Super Eagles crashed out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and since then, things went sour for him at Stamford.

According to him he called quit his international career because he wanted to stay more with his young family and to concentrate on his club career which turned out to be a big mistake on part.

Moses endured a very hard time

at the Stamford Bridge before his loan move to Fenerbahce but having proved his worth the Turkish giants wants to make his stay there permanent, hence the quest to ask for a permanent deal. The Oracle Today Sports wish him the best of luck as decision on his career will be taken by both clubs.

lieve in ourselves, what we can do with hard work,” he said.

The Club Goalkeeper, Femi Thomas, said that the award was a good one and that when they heard about it at home, that they were all happy.

“The coach of the Year Award means that our technical crew is getting it right and I know he will dedicate the award to his colleagues in the crew.

“Besides, I do not know that Nigerians are watching and for recognising his efforts and success all this while, Nigerians have done well.

“I give glory to God and believe that we will keep working hard as a team to support him to achieve more,” he said.

Thomas noted that it was hard work and team work that had been seeing the club through difficulties.

“Breaking a record is not easy and is not by you playing or coaching the national team. Ogunbote broke the record of Rangers not winning Federation Cup for years.

“He followed it up with a good outing at the continental championship. He always worked as if he never worked before and prayed as never before and that is Ogunbote for you,” Thomas said.

Earlier, the Club Media Officer, Norbert Okolie, said that the coach truly deserves the award.

“Going by his achievements in the league and the continent for the past one year and breaking a jinx in Rangers within the year,” Okolie said.

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Crime

Late Johnson: Killer cops now in custody – CP •Police to reorganize Anti-cultism unit Stories by VICTOR NZE

L

AGOS Police Command says it has arrested the suspected killers of one Kolade Johnson, allegedly shot by a police team from the Anti-Cultism Unit, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, last Sunday, March 31, at about 5.05pm.

The CP said this during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, Tuesday.

The Lagos police chief was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration, DCP Ayuba Elkanah, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations, DCP Mohammed Ali, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Yetunde Longe and other Senior Police Officers from the Command.

The Commissioner of Police was received by the Head of the deceased’s family Alh Remi Lukman in their residence at No. 1 Beco Street, Onipetesi, Mangoro Bus stop.

It would be recalled that a statement signed by the DSP Bala Elkana, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, said the Command received a distress call on that fateful day and time ‘that LagosAbeokuta Express Way has been blocked by some angry youths who were protesting the shooting of one Kolade Johnson ‘m’ of No.1 Beco street, Onipetesi, Mangoro Bus Stop by a team of policemen from Anti-Cultism Unit.

‘A team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squads and Metro patrol were promptly drafted to the scene.

‘The account of eye witnesses helped in identifying the team which fled the scene immediately after the incident. Members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting have since been arrested and are currently in Police custody undergoing interrogation. They will be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, and may be prosecuted in conventional Court if implicated by ongoing investigation.’

During the visit Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu appealed for calm, as he also as-

sured that ‘justice will prevail in this case.’

Muazu also condoled with the family, friends and well-wishers of late Kolade Johnson, as he promised to ‘initiate far reaching reforms to help in repositioning the AntiCultism Squad for effective service delivery, particularly in areas of respect for Human Rights and proficiency in the use of firearms.’

He condemned the action of the members of the Anti-Cultism team suspected to have carried out the shooting and reiterated his commitment in ensuring that justice is done in the matter, stating that the men suspected to have carried out the shooting have been apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary procedures.

He revealed their names as Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sgt Godwin Orji attached to AntiCultism Squad Responding, the Head of Kolade Johnson’s family expressed his gratitude to the CP for honoring the family with his presence and his resolve in ensuring that justice prevails in the case, just as he commended the CP for the bold steps taken in exposing those behind the shootings.

“I thought it is going to be a one man’s fight but seeing the Police high Command joining our family in this fight has shown that Justice will not only be done to Kolade but to the entire Nigerian youths. I am glad that we have a new police force which believes in Justice.”

He described his late son as a peace loving person and called on well-wishers to remain calm and allow the law to take its cause.

Lagos task force arrests two for impersonation, extortion Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), Monday, arrested two suspects for impersonating officers of the agency and extorting money from a motorist at Ojota, Lagos.

Disclosing details of the incident, Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi said the two suspects were apprehended by the ‘Monitoring and Enforcement Team of the Agency after they had negotiated and collected N15,000 bribe.

Egbeyemi stated that preliminary interrogations revealed that the

suspects presented themselves as officers of the Agency and arrested a motorist for traffic obstruction by Ojota bus-stop.

He said, “They arrested the owner of the vehicle for obstruction at Ojota, drove him down to Bolade bus-stop opposite Task Force office where they negotiated and collected the sum of N15,000 from him”.

According to Egbeyemi, the Agency also discovered that the suspects had perpetrated the act before saying, “We have severally received complaints from motorists, particu-

larly commercial bus drivers, about activities of these unscrupulous fraudsters who specialise in impersonating officers of the Agency and defrauding people across the State”.

The Chairman reiterated that all Police Officers attached to Lagos State Task Force enforcing traffic and environmental sanitation laws always wear a jacket with a bold inscription of the Agency’s name for proper identification while on duty.

He clarified that only the Agency and Lagos State Traffic Manage-

ment Authority (LASTMA) are empowered by law to enforce traffic laws on ‘BRT’ corridors across the State.

While urging motorists to desist from giving bribe to traffic enforcement officers, the Chairman disclosed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Zubairu Muazu has directed that the arrested suspects, Ademola Oyegunwa (40yrs) and Olaogun Adamson (48yrs), who have both confessed to the crime, be arraigned immediately.

•A Police team led by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, during a condolence visit to the family of late Kolade Johnson, allegedly killed by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Force, Tuesday.

Police arraign cattle dealer over N2.5m fraud

S

PECIAL Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force, Ikoyi, Lagos, Monday, arraigned a 24 year-old cattle dealer, Hussaini Mohammed, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding one of his customers to the tune of N2.5 million.

The defendant according to the Police committed the offence sometimes in March 2017, in Agege area of

•Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sgt Godwin Orji attached to Anti-Cultism Squad presently in police custody for allegedly killing one Kolade Johnson along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, Mangoro Busstop, Lagos, Sunday evening.

Lagos State.

He was alleged to have defrauded the victim, one Usman Mohammad, under false pretence of assisting him to buy some cows.

He was arraigned today, on charges bordering on obtaining under false pretence and stealing.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obiazi, are contrary to and punishable under sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. And Section 390(8)(c) of the Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant pending the conclusion of trial.

However, the defendant’s counsel, Yakubu Eleto, while urging the court for a short date to enable him file the defendant’s bail application, told the court that he was only served with the charge at the court’s premises today.

He also told the court the the Police had earlier charge the defendant before a magistrate court and the charge had been dismissed. Adding that the matter that led to the charge against his client was a business transaction and not a criminal case.

He however, pleaded with the court for a short date to enable him

file his bail application.

Following the submission of the defendant’s counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Saidu, while ordering that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, adjourned the matter till April 10, for hearing his bail application.

Police arrest 22 in Oyo over alleged armed robbery, cultism

O

YO State Police Command says it has arrested 22 suspects linked with armed robbery, cultism and attempted murder in the last one month.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, stated this on Monday while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan. Olukolu said items recovered from the suspects included six cars, eight motorcycles, 18 tricycles, three live cartridges and three locally made guns among others.

He assured the people of the state of safety and urged them to be vigilant and provide useful information that would enable the police serve them better.

Among the suspects was a notorious cultist belonging to the Aiye confraternity. The commissioner said the Aiye confraternity had attacked, maimed and unleashed mayhem on innocent members of the public and rival cult members within Ibadan metropolis.

39 The Oracle Today Wednesday April 10, 2019

Take a bow, Ogochukwu, and sin no more S In ex is food and food is sex depending on the perspective from which one looks at it. A good combination is good health.

This is my final verdict. Ask our forefathers. Those who love it understand this point. Those who like it agree with this point but those who detest it either for religious reasons, frustrations of life or myopic view of life and other sundry issues will never see anything good about sex.

And it becomes a different ball game if the sex is truly lovemaking.

I am not talking about the adventures, heart pounding and the thrills but the essence. I see sex in the perspective of those stealing the forbidden food while lovemaking is for those who have done the necessary traditions that gave them right over a girl. But whichever group you belong, it’s your cup of tea.

Healthy, quality sexual life is like a medicine that activates relationships and there are people with high libido. Like it or leave it, they must satisfy their urge.

Sex-related issues have enjoyed so much framing by the public that it becomes a taboo to enjoy one’s life, the way one wanted it hence so much pretence. Christianity is another opium that has made people pretend in public but they are worse than dogs inside.

Prominent personalities have been disgraced simply for sex and yet many more would be disgraced especially in this digital era where almost everything is possible.

Pastors have been ruined; presidents of countries embarrassed; lawmakers, traders and students shamed. We all remember the Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. In Nigeria we remember the sex scandal of the political class, various sex for mark scandals in our universities and churches.

There would be no sex or lovemaking without communication.

Nowadays, communication has gone digital with the advent of social media.

There are different types of social media communication outlets starting from social networks like Facebook, Twitter etc and blogging and publishing networks like Wordpress, dating sites like Badoo where men and women hook up most times for illicit sex to mention but a few.

If sex happens without communication and mutual consent, then it is likely to be rape, which is liable to 14 years in prison. Facebook, an American online social media and social networking service company based in Menlo Park, California founded by Mark Zuckerberg and his fellow Harvard College students is the trend for sexting.

Nigerians as a people have abused the social network though still a source of blessing to millions of Nigerians too. Can we even now imagine our lives without the social media? It is a necessary evil to be manipulated according to user’s discretion. It’s not all roses.

Despite being a journalist, I lost so many valuable friends because of my failure to be online as expected to chat with friends and well-wishers on Facebook. Even when I am a blogger, I rarely visit Facebook to better relationship with fans and foes alike. It is painful but the reality. I was not addicted. Imagine that days after

CORNUCOPIA

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Telephone number: 08060750240

E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk

•Back image of the three suspects that stripped Lady naked in Amawbia my birthday, which was on 28th March 2019, I am yet to go online to thank those who wished me well. It’s not fair but what can I do? I apologize to my friends and associates on Facebook for this shortcoming.

We have seen cyberstalking and cyberbullying because predators of sex, job applicants, greedy merchants, among others, are on the prowl seeking who to devour on the net for netizens to the extent that some even kill their Facebook friends. And victims who survive rape in the hands of these bullies have gone the extra miles of killing themselves by committing suicide.

Students waste their precious time on social media talking irrelevant things or slay queens looking for men to dupe and men looking for greedy slay queens to have sex with or use for ritual among other things that add no value to their lives. People are now more addicted to the social media than cigarettes and alcohol especially on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Can this generation ever detox from the social media?

Technology of the social media has assisted in health talks, business promotion, contact and mobilization, saved time like video conferencing rather than travel to Lagos for a business and what have you. But the spread of fake news is affecting all spheres of the social media. It is another puncher derailing its benefits and when you discover that over 3 Billion people across the world spend an average of an hour a day on net as revealed

by BBC, you marvel.

I was in pains. I couldn’t get myself controlled as I was livid that a man could invite a lady, a beautiful lady for that matter and allow her to be disgraced for whatever reasons.

It is written in the bible: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”…John 8 verse 7. Do you remember this verse and the story about Jesus Christ and the woman taken in for adultery? Be reminded that Jesus did not argue with anybody when He was told that the woman was caught in adultery. He said all right, before asking those who were without sin to throw the first stone. They all disappeared because they were all sinners though in secret. Jesus looked up and asked the woman, ‘where are your accusers?’ They were gone. And Jesus told the adulterous woman that her sins have been forgiven and she should go and sin no more.

This is why Ms Ogochukwu Okafor, the young mother of a six-year-old boy filmed nude in Amawbia Anambra State in a video that went viral on the Internet should stand and take a bow. She did not contemplate taking her life for that expose like many would want to, but rather resorted to law, despite that her nude video was viral.

The incident was not only ‘unfortunate, repugnant but targeted at ruining the image of Ogochukwu, who claimed to be a widow having lost her husband after the birth of her first son. She even has a National

Diploma Certificate (ND), though unemployed. Remember, she was on invitation, all the way from Ogidi to see her Facebook friend and this is what she got. Girls, ladies beware!

I support Okafor’s decision to go to court for redress, as the humiliation was beyond imagination. Hear her: “I am a single mother. I lost my husband and I am just struggling to take care of my boy who is just six years old.

I feel terrible, I feel disorganised; if it is just my face, I would have endured it; but my nakedness all over the place! They have ruined my career both in Nigeria and outside the country.”

My intern, Cynthia Chidinma Igbokwe wanted to go and pick up the case on behalf of the molested and was wondering what kind of a man was Ifeanyi Azotani that his guest would be so embarrassed and disgraced yet he calls himself a man. She was curious and asked rhetorically, ‘’Oh! My God, will Ogochukwu Okafor finish the ‘penis’ to warrant this humiliation?

I agree less as no amount of off shoot could finish the ‘penis’ for Mrs. Azotani.’’

The morality of wrong or right isn’t what this piece is all about but to encourage Miss Ogochukwu Okafor to push off the stigma no matter how painful it may be and ride on with her life as only good things henceforth shall await her and her only son. Even if she is a prostitute, she deserves some honour and respect as a human being. She should henceforth be wary of those she meets on

Facebook.

Coincidentally, the female molester answers Ogochukwu, same name as the victim. SP Haruna Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer confirmed that Ogochukwu Nwankwo and Mrs Tochukwu Azotani locked the helpless Miss Okafor in the toilet and returned four hours later with a cane and opened the bathroom door, beating her up , stripped her and videoed her nude before blackmailing her to pay the sum of N60, 000 or have her humiliation video pushed to the internet.

Why would Mrs. Nwankwo cry more than the bereaved? Is it out of pity or out of jealousy that she is sharing Ifeanyi with another woman aside his wife?

Why stripping her naked after the flogging when she came in peace but meant business?

Why would Tochukwu ask Okafor for money even if it is one kobo? Now that they have posted the clip online, what next? Nothing else because she has gotten her punishment outright, right or wrong! Okafor’s sins have ended but that of Tochukwu, Ifeanyi and Nwankwo just begun. They would reap what they have sowed.

Already the police have paraded them as common criminals with hundred others.

Ogochukwu Nwankwo, who flogged the victim, said she wasn’t aware that her action would assume a “regrettable dimension.”

She said it was a transferred aggression from her estranged husband who left her and took away her son. “…My sister called me for help that her husband had been sleeping around with this lady and that got me angry. When I got there, the lady ran into the toilet and locked the door and I asked her to come out and flogged her, but I was not the person that sent out the video”. Does this not speak volumes of her character?

Why would Mr Ifeanyi Azotani invite his Facebook friend and a female for that matter to his matrimonial home only to humiliate her before her wife Tochukwu? Isn’t Ifeanyi a fool?

The Anambra Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, who paraded Azotani, his wife, Tochukwu and her friend Ogochukwu for the act, was embittered. Why would Ifeanyi expose his family this way thinking he is dealing with the girl probably for getting good chunk of cash off him in the past without maximum satisfaction or so it looked?

Whether Ifeanyi and wife get one year or nine years in prison for assaulting Okafor Ogochukwu, at Ezimezi village in Amawbia state is immaterial because the whole world now know that Ifeanyi is into women and the wife isn’t woman enough for him, right?

Miss Okafor is a single woman or a widow if you prefer that term and is free for whatever she cares, church or no church teachings and it was established that Ifeanyi invited her to his house not that she barged in.

•Odogwu Emeka Odogwu is a known Journalist, Editor and famous Blogger, as well as Social Media Entrepreneur, publisher and Conversationalist @ www. odogwublog.com among others.

Phone Number: 08060750240 E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@ yahoo.co.ukOdogwu

WEDNESDAY April 10, 2019

The

www.oraclenews.ng

40

racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

The road to industrialisation

I

n the recent past, I’ve joined the chorus lamenting the state of the nation’s economy and calling for reforms. Now, the task of rescuing the economy has become an emergency! All indicators point to a failed economy (and subsequently a failed nation) within the next two years.

But let me sound optimistic for once. An imminent devaluation of the naira will be tonic needed to put Nigeria on the road to industrialisation. Our taste for foreign goods will decline, and everyone will be forced to find their level. In the fight for survival, many will clutch the last straw available: production of food and materials needed by Nigerians.

Those waiting for implementation of the national minimum wage are whetting their appetite in vain. Apart from the impossibility of state governments paying N30, 000 as minimum monthly salary for their employees, federal workers’ purchasing power will fall far below the current level.

Already, we’re overburdened by social upheavals that usually come with economic difficulty; what would happen if things deteriorated much further?

Perhaps the politicians are still preoccupied with elections and tantrums. Well-meaning people should sound the alarm bell near them. That is, if they still consider themselves leaders who should take responsibility for the total economic collapse of their country.

In the long term, only productive activities will matter. And there will be no industrialization without critical infrastructure – stable electricity, clean water, good roads, rail lines, airports and seaports. To make any headway in this respect, private capital (foreign or local) must be needed as soon as possible.

We can’t continue to be great consumers but poor producers. We shouldn’t spend all our resources on phones, cars, refrigerators,

GUEST COLUMNIST Aniebo

Nwamu

radio sets, TV sets, computers, clothing items, cooking pots, sweets and even toothpicks made in other nations. The economy of this country or any other import-dependent country can never improve so long as it produces nothing for export. Crude oil will not develop this country because it is people from the West that extract the oil with equipment made in the West; we export crude and then import refined petroleum products because our refineries do not work. Ajaokuta Steel Mill has remained moribund for 43+ years; electricity supply has remained epileptic or lacking. So what hope do we have for industrialisation?

Frequent travellers to Dubai know that virtually every family is involved in making one thing or the other? Bread, biscuit, bag, key holder, or shoes. Clothing, buttons, cables, cosmetics or paint. But Nigeria? The country remains a dumping ground for even smaller nations. In shopping mall Shoprite – a South African firm that now has branches in every nook and cranny of Nigeria – all manner of goods is available: green leaves, vegetables, palm oil, bread – and don’t mention cheap electronic gadgets and clothing. There was a stir in Lagos two or three years ago after it was discovered that garri from India was on sale in a shopping

mall. After the initial hysteria, nothing was heard again. Likely, garri from India or Ghana or China is still sold in Nigeria.

Where have Nigeria Customs, Immigration, EFCC, NDLEA and scores of other regulators gone? Contrary to false statistics constantly issued by some ministers, foreign rice still fills Nigerian markets. And it’s cheaper than Nigerian rice. If truly duties were imposed on these imports, wouldn’t they cost more than their local counterparts? Our borders – almost 1, 500 of them – are still the most porous in the world. Smugglers remain unchecked especially in the northern borders.

Fixation on cheap oil money with the monumental corruption it has created is what has ruined Nigeria. Production will provide relief for all. Oil price will remain low for a long time. And the quantity of Nigeria exports will continue to decline.

Soon, I predict, the Central Bank’s continued intervention in the foreign exchange market (in a bid to defend the naira’s exchange rate) will cease. Unless reason speaks through managers of the economy, one won’t be able to get $1 with N1, 000 by 2021.

What we have now is a government that discourages exports and does nothing about imports. How then can jobs be created

or foreign investors attracted? Would foreigners invest in an economy where local investors are lacking?

With jobs disappearing, with the education system dead or dying, with youths getting frustrated in the search for jobs and the good life, there is nothing to expect but doomsday.

If we like, let’s keep paying a legislator N20m or N30m per month for shouting “aye” or “nay” once a month. We may continue to offer lip service to the war on corruption. But by so doing, we won’t be able to stop brain drain (every doctor now seeks a job in Saudi Arabia or Canada); we will drive away capital, and even moneyed people at home (obvious looters) will continue to preserve their loot outside the banking system.

But if we wish to save the nation, a state of emergency on the economy is imperative.

The place to start heading off the expected Armageddon is for our policymakers to begin to recognise talent. Ideas still rule the world, and Nigerians have them in abundance.

Legislators and other public officeholders should stop earning jumbo pay – only a token sitting allowance should be paid members of the legislature at the federal, state and council levels. Anyone wishing to serve shouldn’t expect riches anymore.

Possession of foreign currency in cash should be a criminal offence. Only in a domiciliary account should a Nigerian be permitted to keep the dollar or pound and, through it, also pay for foreign goods and services. There should be close monitoring of revenues from oil and other sources.

No excess crude account. The weekly sale of foreign currencies has to end: banks or importers should be free to source their foreign exchange anywhere but the Central Bank. That way, the naira would find its level.

Even if N5, 000 exchanged with $1, things won’t get worse than they are now. It would be interesting to watch those that would buy private jets, imported fuel or toothpicks.

Let all our borders be thrown open to foreigners. They should come, invest in Nigeria and compete with Nigerians. Allow them to generate and distribute power sourced from coal, solar, water or nuclear plants. Lease our vast farmlands (including Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad) to serious farmers from Zimbabwe, South Africa, India, China and Israel.

The threat of insecurity would cease when jobs are created for the youth. We must deemphasise paper certification and emphasise skills in order to stop producing job-seeking graduates. Our education system should be tied to job creation – institutions should run only courses relevant to available industries.

To truly fight corruption, the government should make it compulsory for every officeholder to declare their assets and liabilities publicly. Every source of wealth must be laid bare, and all unexplained assets should be forfeited to the state. Any act of corruption should attract the death penalty.

It always seems impossible until it’s done, said Nelson Mandela. Everyone should get involved in job creation and poverty reduction. I see trouble ahead.

+234-8054100220 (SMS/WhatsApp only) •Nwamu, book editor and writer, is the CEO of Eyeway.ng. +234-8054100220 (SMS/ WhatsApp only)

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.