Wednesday June 27,2018 Edition by oracle

Zamfara gov mourns security issues, again, again The Oracle Today Comment F RUSTRATION has set in for Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Governor of Zamfara State, who can no longer explain to his people why as governor, he cannot protect them. The people voted a government that promised to stop the killings. Things are worse, as Yari, who is also Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, has admitted times over. ON 13 June, he did more than

Security and welfare of the people, primary purpose of government – Section 14 2b, 1999 Constitution

The

the lamentations – he resigned the meaningless title of chief security officer, which governors ring

VOX POPULI SACRUM

around their other numerous titles. “We have been facing serious security challenges over the years,

WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018

on what to do nor sanction them when they err. As Chief Security Officer, the nomenclature is just a name,” he lamented. ZAMFARA is a little more complex than the security agencies are willing to admit. They are probably profiting from it. Variants of crimes prevail in Zamfara. They are on the increase as pover

racle but in spite of being governor and Chief Security Officer of the State, I cannot direct security officers

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Today

VOL.3 No.25 N200

‘Arrest of Jewish worshippers terrible’

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

n Umuahia high court judge, Justice C.T.C Adiele has described as “terrible” the arrest of unarmed, non-violent Jewish worshippers by the Nigerian Police. The judge made the observation on Tuesday while ruling on an application for bail by the defence for the remaining two Jewish worshippers charged with terrorism were by the police. The accused, Uche Ikechukwu

•Counsel can’t say why suspects were arrested •Knife, gun-wielding persons not arrested, says judge •Afaraukwu home of Nnamdi Kanu remains deserted •Accused’s ‘missing’ case file discovered ‘at one corner’

and Linus Njoku Ede, who were charged separately, had their cases listed in High Court 2 presided over by Justice Adiele. Seven of the nine Jewish worshipers who were arrested on

Kanu is British citizen – lawyer

May 13, 2018 while praying at the Afaraukwu, Umuahia, home of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and charged to court the following day, were on June 11, 2018 released

on bail. Messrs Uche Ikechukwu and Linus Njoku Ede remained at the Afara Prisons where they were remanded after being arraigned on a Holden Charge before a Mag-

istrate Court, which had no jurisdiction over their matter, because their case files were allegedly ‘missing’. Before granting the two accused persons bail on Tuesday, the judge had tried to find out why they were arrested in the first place. The drama started when both the Prosecution and Defence Counsel were unable to tell the court satisfactorily why the two accused Judaism adherents were

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AWYER to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. I. C. Ejiofor, has written a petition to the British Government, asking for its intervention in the case between the Federal Government, and Kanu, who, h3e said has ceased to be a Nigerian citizen since 2015. In a letter dated 18 June 2018, and addressed to Harriet Hanmas, a Member of the British House of Commons, Ejiofor sought clarification of the citizenship status of “the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ‘Nnamdi Kanu’ and his current sate of being”. He asked that the narratives on Kanu, the violations of his human rights,

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•Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State acknowledging cheers from a mammoth crowd during the Thanksgiving Mass and Endorsement Rally for his re-election in 2019 by his kinsmen from Orba Udulekenyi, Udenu LGA.

Oil revenue outlook bleak as glut concerns deepen

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS

‘Arrest of Jewish worshippers terrible’ Continued from Pg 1 arrested. When the case of Uche Ikechukwu was mentioned, his counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, applied for a motion for bail for his clients, to which the prosecution raised no objection. But, while he was moving the motion, the judge asked him if he knew why his clients were arrested. The lawyer informed the court that he was told that the accused, after praying, were going to a shop to buy things when a police Hilux van stopped in front of them and some police officers jumped down from the vehicle and arrested the suspects. Unimpressed, the judge noted that from the way the counsel narrated the story, it appeared he didn’t know why his clients were nabbed. The judge then turned to the Prosecution, represented by Barrister Ernest Ibelegbu who said

the accused threatened violence. The Judge sought to know where they threatened the violence and the lawyer replied that it was at Nnamdi Kanu’s residence. He further enquired if the accused were armed and the prosecution was not readily coming up with any answer and the judge concluded that they did not know why the accused were arrested. Furious at what to be a “a clumsy action” action by the police, the judge wondered why the police would make such arrests if the same Police were not on record to have ever arrested guns and knives-wielding persons moving along the road. “It is terrible,” the Judge declared, adding that since the prosecution did not raise any objection, the accused were presumed innocent till proved otherwise. Justice Adiele, therefore, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N20, 000 each and a surety in like sum. The Judge equally ordered that

the accused should deposit three of their recent photographs with the court while their sureties, apart from depositing three of their recent passport photographs also with the court, should equally show evidence that they reside within the Umuahia Magisterial division and payment of three years income tax. The accused persons were not brought to court but a few Jewish worshipers were present in court and were seen, after the court session, running around to ensure that the bail conditions were met so that their members could be released from the prison. Later in an interview, Barr. Ejimakor told The Oracle Today that he was happy with the liberal bail conditions given to his clients. “Actually, this is the last chapter in a saga of arrest of citizens on flimsy grounds that began on May 14, 2018, by the Abia State Police Command, specifically, the Umuahia Division. “You have seen that the Judge,

from his comments, did not demonstrate much faith in the charges and before him today was nothing to demonstrate that they have anything to proceed with the charges. “If the state has anything, they would have come before the court today with information. But they didn’t; there is no proof of evidence. So, the court really struggled to hold down the charges which is characterised as Holden Charges, as initially preferred before the Magistrate Court,” the defence lawyer said. He said the remaining two accused were able to regain freedom because the misplaced case file of one of them was eventually found. “Initially, one of these cases that were considered today was supposed to be considered on June 11, 2018 but the file was misplaced. The state doesn’t like it when you say the file got missing because they complained to my office that some FM radio stations in Abia

AIICO’s Staff at CIFM Bancassurance Training Programme

•Employee capacity development is entrenched across AIICO. As an organisation looking to solidify their leadership position in the Insurance Industry, AIICO believes that continuous development will empower their people to continually bring and deliver value to the business. Some employees of AIICO at the just recently concluded Advanced Bancassurance Training Programme organized by College of Insurance & Financial Management (CIFM).

Kanu is British citizen Continued from Pg 1

Letter continues on Page 44

and those of IPOB be addressed urgently. Ejiofor narrated the travails of Kanu since his arrest in Lagos on 14 October 2015, on arrival from his base in the United Kingdom. Various courts, he said, had declared his arrest and detention illegal, and gross violation of his human rights. The letter recounted the various encounters Kanu had with security agencies before the invasion of his home on 14 September 2017. Kanu was at home during the incident. Live bullets were fired, Ejiofor said, killing some people. According to Ejiofor, 14 September 2017 was the last time he was in touch with Kanu. He alleged that the military took him away. He said that he could not confirm if Kanu was alive in the hands of his abductors. He said he was writing to the House of Commons because

Kanu, his client, had renounced his Nigerian citizenship since 2015, relying on relevant parts of the Constitution. He concluded that a British citizen was on trial in Nigeria, and that the British Government should intervene, instead of relying on the statements from the Nigerian Government on Kanu’s citizenship. Ejiofor also drew attention to the plight of other members of IPOB, who were killed during Operation Python Dance. Since Kanu’s disappearance from the public, following the September 2015 invasion of his home, Justice Binta Nyako, of the Abuja High Court, has been asking his sureties, among them Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, to produce him in court. Abaribe, on his part, has filed court papers asked that his surety be lifted, and asking the Court, to hold the Chief of Army Staff, whose troops invaded Kanu’s home responsible for

State was saying that there were missing files,” Ejimakor further expalined. “I said, well the press is free to give its own slant to a story but the truth is that the file could not be located in Court 1 where the case was listed. When I approached Court 2, the case wasn’t listed on their Cause list. It was with the assistance of the court staff and my aggression, sense of zeal and whatever that led to the discovery of that file in one corner. So, we are happy, that the file was discovered. The court staff, I thank them, I am grateful and the case was now calendared to be heard today.” Ejimakor said the road to freedom for the Jewish worsjippers began with the granting of seven of the nine accused persons bail on June 11, 2018 by Courts 1 and 3. He said the accused persons met their bail conditions and went home same day. “I am happy my assignment in Abia State is concluded and I will be going back to Abuja, triumphant. I am very glad that my clients would be out and have a taste of freedom again,” the lawyer enthused. On June 11, Ejimakor had told newsmen that his clients were facing religious persecution “simply because they are Judaists that is not among the two dominant religions in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the palace of Eze Israel Kanu where Nnamdi Kanu stays has remained desolate since after the September 14, 2017 military invasion of the IPOB leader’s home. No one lives in the palace, which used to be a bee-hive of activities prior to the military attack. Since the invasion, the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu and his parents have remained unknown and Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emma, simply known as Fineboy has continued to live in hiding. Nine Jewish worshipers were arrested by the Nigeria Police at the home of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, while they were praying on Sunday, May 13, 2018 and charged with terrorism. They were arraigned before Umuahia Magistrate Court Seven by the Police on one- count charge of terrorism on Monday, May 14 and were subsequently remanded in prison till Wednesday, May 30. Presiding Senior Magistrate U.O Egwu issued the order when the accused persons were arraigned before him. According to the Charge sheet, the worshippers had on about 13th May, 2018 converged at Afara Ukwu under the Umuahia Judicial Jurisdiction of the State. “By your act in the course of carrying out your Terrorism Act and with intent to frighten ASP Justus Ogah of Nigeria Police and his team and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 (a) of the Abia State Prohibition of Terrorism, Kidnapping, Hostage Taking, Use of offensive Weapon or explosive and other threatening behavior Law 2990,” the one count charge read. When the charge was read out to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty. Counsel for the first to the fifth accused persons, Godwin Chionye, and Alloy Ejimakor, appearing for the sixth to the ninth accused, immediately made an oral application for the bail of the

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The Oracle Today

Wednesday 27, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION F Security tightens at airports over IS terrorists’ invasion OLLOWING reports by a United Kingdom tabloid claiming that remnants of the dislodged Islamic State terrorists have been exploiting the regular London-Lagos route by airlines to sneak into the country from Syria, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to beef up security and surveillance at the major airports in the country. United Kingdom-based tabloid, Sun, reported Monday, that leaders of Islamic State (IS) are smuggling battle-hardened extremists from Syria into Nigeria, adding that some of the fighters are reportedly sent to the Middle East for training in a “chilling exchange programme”. General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, Tuesday, in Lagos that the move was aimed at forestalling anything untoward from occurring at the airports. Yakubu said special attention was being given to the Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports which services international passengers and were gateways into the country via air. According to her, FAAN Aviation Security (AVSEC) is working with other sister security agencies to maintain surveillance on the perimeter fence, the cargo area, the runway and other restricted areas. “We have sent alert to all our aviation security at the airports to ensure that they improved on security, especially screening of passengers to make sure unauthorised persons don’t gain access into our terminals. “The airside patrol is being done through the military joint force and AVSEC. They do it round the clock. There are vehicles that are parked on the airside and they escort arriving and departing passengers,” she said. Yakubu said FAAN had deployed modern equipment to screen passengers and baggage before entering the terminal. “Our Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the terminals and the airside are all functional. The Anti-Bomb Squad are deployed behind the screening machines at the terminal alongside the AVSEC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). They carry out further checks on any baggage that they suspect,’’ she said. Yakubu also disclosed that the periodic simulation exercises to sensitise travellers and other airport users on how to manage emergency situations at the airports would soon be conducted following the fresh terrorism

threat. Muslim fundamentalists massed in the Boko Haram sect had held Nigeria by the jugular since 2009, maiming and killing thousands of people in the North-east of the country in particular. The involvement of the IS in the local terror sect had always been suspected and following a split in 2016, a faction of the group led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, pledged its allegiance to IS, taking up the name ISIS West Africa. Although the tabloid said the insurgents were trained for possible attacks in Britain, it quoted sources as saying the strong links between Nigeria and the UK will make it easier for IS to send its killers to Britain. Efforts to get reaction from the Defence Headquarters Monday were futile as the phones of defence and army spokesperson, Brig-Gen John Agim and Brig-Gen Texas Chukwu, did not connect. But the report was emphatic that: “It is feared IS will exploit regular flights between Lagos and London to export more evil to the UK.” It quoted one Group Captain Isaac Subi of the Nigerian Air Force, who has been fighting terrorism, as saying that IS has an exchange programme of fighters. “They come and train their fighters here and some of our insurgents too are granted access to their training in Yemen and Syria, acquiring those skills and they come back and teach others,” he said. “They have their exchange programme of fighters. Their poisonous attack has already ended in horror attacks on British streets.” Subi added that the lack of secure borders across Africa also makes it easy to spread the bloodshed. “There are hundreds of fighters. It’s a virus that spreads across our borders. Their action leaves trails of blood and tears and sorrow,” he added. UK Sun said at least 150 British troops are conducting counterterror training with Nigerian forces in an attempt to stem the bloody tide, and stop IS taking hold in the region. Britain’s Defence Adviser in Abuja, Charles Calder, said ISIS could be a threat to the UK mainland if

unchecked. “In time, unchecked, it could present a threat to both UK interests and conceivably the UK mainland,” Calder said. “Sending small, handpicked teams out to military training hubs across the country was the best way to prevent Nigeria from collapsing. “Brits has so far trained 35,000 military personnel in Nigeria and commanders say they are now performing better on the frontline. The UK has teams training Nigeria’s air force, army, naval special forces and the equivalent of the SAS.” Meanwhile, FAAN, Tuesday said

far above N11.5 billion generated in the whole of 2015 and more than half of the N23 billion generated in 2016. “Our target is to generate N4.0 billion a month and with the ongoing reform in tax administration and revenue collection in the state, I am very confident that we shall get there. Already we are around N3.0 billion and the ongoing integration of all 63 revenue generating agencies in the state via an electronic platform will take us there and beyond.” He said that the revenue profile

cided to repair the machine and install it,” Abdul-Azeez, adding: “The installed machine has put an end to the activities of passengers moving from the airliners after check-in to the aviation security section for another check on their baggage. “The essence is to enhance safety and security activities at the airport, and also to save time during checking. The machine is capable of detecting prohibited items in the luggage of passengers traveling through the Airport,” he said. He stressed that the scanner was to complement the executive order recently issued by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki (m) flanked by engineers during the inspection of the Azura Power Plant in Benin city, Edo State, Friday.

Civil service: Lagos abolishes promotions based on career progression

AGOS State Government on Tuesday said it had abolished promoting civil servants based on career progression for performance appraisal to ensure efficient service delivery. The state Head of Service, Mrs Folasade Adesoye, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos to announce activities marking this year’s public service week. The theme of the week is; “Trans-

Kaduna Govt. generates N14.2bn IGR in 5 months of the state has been on consistADUNA State Internal Revenue Service (KDIRS) said it has generated N14.2 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between January and end of May. KDIRS Executive Chairman, Mukhtar Ahmed, who made this known in Kaduna, Friday, said that the state has increased its IGR from an average of N8000 million a month in 2015 to between N2.7 billion and N3.0 billion monthly in 2018. According to him, the N14.2 billion generated in five months is

it had installed a baggage scanner at the llorin International Airport, Kwara, to curb drug trafficking and other related crimes. Airport Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim AbdulAzeez, who disclosed this in llorin, said the machine was situated close to the airline’s ticketing and check-in point inside the departure lounge of the terminal building. According to Abdul-Azeez, the machine was not entirely new as it was previously in use at the airport but developed a fault. He said, it was, however, repaired by the agency. “The agency wants to ensure the safety of people in the area, that is the reason we de-

ent increase since the reform in revenue collection, beginning with the tax law that established KDIRS in 2016 as the sole revenue collector in the state. “The law among other things harmonised and abolished cash collection as well as automated all revenue collection in the state,” Ahmed said. The chairman expressed confidence that the state would achieve the N42 billion set IGR target by December, following the impressive performance in the first five months.

forming Governance to Realise the Sustainable Development Goals.” Adesoye said: “To this extent, all government officers now have clearly defined job schedules against which their performances will be assessed. “This approach is based on the perception that governance must be open, timely, effective and efficient.” She noted that the public service week, which holds from June 19 to June 25, was introduced in 1994, following the resolution of the Conference of African Ministers of Civil Service. According to her, African countries set aside June 23 as the Public Service Day to recognise the value of service to humanity. She said that some of the activities to celebrate the week would include a parade and exhibition by ministries departments and agencies, and visit to charity homes, orphanages, old peoples’ home and rehabilitation centres. “There will also be a variety show tagged `Alausa Has Got Talent Season II’, medical screening and walk for fitness,” she said.

Adesoye said that the talent competition would be among public servants, adding that talents expected to be showcased would include singing, dancing and hair gear tying. She said that games such as Ayo, Draughts, and Ludo would feature, besides singing and other forms of entertainment such as mock news presentation, stand-up comedy, mimicking of personalities and display of skills and dexterity in local drumming. Adesoye said that the state government had set up stands where medical screening for ailments such as hypertension, cervical/breast and prostate cancers, diabetes and hepatitis would be conducted. “The screening will be performed free; specialists will be on ground to provide advice on health-related issues,” she said. She said that the climax of the event would be a dinner to be hosted by the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to honour outstanding public servants in appreciation of their dedication, diligence and contribution to landmark achievements.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday 27, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Over 1,500 Nigerians jailed in Italy

HE Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefanou Pontesilli, has disclosed that no fewer than 1,500 Nigerians are serving jail terms for various offences in Italy. Pontesilli who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja said the number was huge. “In Italy, we have about 1,500 Nigerians in jail for various offences. It is a big number. We sometimes send them back to Nigeria once they finished their terms because they have not behaved well,” he said. He, however, denied reports that Italy sometimes sends Nigerian migrants from Italy to Libya.

“Never, we never sent anyone not even one single person to Libya. Some Nigerians are stuck in Libya because they were never able to cross over to Italy, but all those who went to Italy no one, not even one was ever sent back. “All Nigerians who have reached Italy and are behaving well have no problem. Not one of them not even one has heard of being sent back to Libya,” he said. According to him, thousands of Nigerians unable to cross from Libya to Italy have been stuck in Libya. “Thank God the government is doing a lot to repatriate them through chartered flights. Thanks

for the help from the European Union and the International Organisation for Migrations that are slowly repatriating them back to Nigeria,” he said. The envoy said that the relationship between Italy and Nigeria remained stronger. “That is why Italy has been doing so much on the migration by saving tens and thousands of the Nigerians’ lives when crossing the Mediterranean. Authority has been

doing so much by taking them to Italy, feeding them, getting them jobs, giving them house and trying to give them a new life,” Pontesilli said. He said that Italy had also done a lot in trying to help Nigeria maintain security and stability. “This to Italy is very important, the stability and the security of Nigeria is our foremost consideration. We think that without a stable secure country there cannot be devel-

opment. “So that’s why we stand strongly behind President Muhammadu Buhari trying to establish a strong, safe and stable Nigeria. This to us is the number one priority of the country, we are doing all we can to support this,” he said. The envoy disclosed that the Italian government had been involved in training many Nigerian officials from the military, police and immigration.

Our call is for referendum, not war - IPOB By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

HE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said the call it made to the Federal Government to organise a referendum on Biafra should not be mistaken as a call for war as the move ‘is purely in line with its non-violent approach to the Biafra struggle.’ In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity Emma Powerful, a copy of which was made available to The Oracle Today in Onitsha, Tuesday, the group said: “Our decision to hold the first of the three plebiscite later this year has vindicated IPOB’s resilience in sticking to the principles of non-violent agitation for Biafra, in the face of government brutality and treachery from enemies within” He said those that set out to mislead the populace by equating IPOB call for referendum as a call for war, in order to mask

their betrayal of the people, will no doubt find another reason or excuse to object to this upcoming plebiscite. “Our fight is against a deliberate government policy of mass poverty, irreconcilable and divergent value systems, marginalisation, deprivation, incessant state sponsored murder, terrorism and unimaginable Fulani nepotism. IPOB call for referendum has nothing to do with WAR! “Those beating the drums of war are the agents of the status quo, the Efulefus (Igbo slaves) using the cover of Ohaneze Ndigbo and PANDEF to continue running errands for their Arewa masters to the detriment and well-being of the people of the East. They, along with their feudal northern masters are the beneficiaries of this lopsided fraudulent neo-colonial system we call Nigeria,” the statement read.

MDAs to authenticate tax clearance certificates before payment – Minister

INISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to authenticate Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) presented by companies and individuals for public procurement before making any payment. She said this in a statement by Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, Special Adviser, Media and Communications on Tuesday in Abuja. Adeosun said the instruction was directed at MDAs and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in response to the proliferation of forged TCCs purportedly issued prior to the automation of the certificates from Aug. 22, 2017. She added that the validation of the TCCs would enhance the integrity of the tax system. “Electronic TCCS (e-TCCs) can be verified via logging into https//tcc. firs.gov.ng and clicking on verify e-TCC, enter the TCC number and complete the captcha, and click on submit to view the TCC number entered,” she said. For TCCs issued before August 22, 2017, she advised the MDAs and other stakeholders to forward a list of the companies and photocopies of the TCCs to the office of the Executive Chairman, FIRS, for authentication. According to her, the FIRS has undertaken to verify the TCCs within 72 hours of receipt because the old manual system allowed the production of forged TCCs. “Companies and individuals in doubt as to the authenticity of their

TCCs are advised to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to regularise,” she said. She added that the Ministry of Finance and the FIRS would continually work in partnership with government at all levels and stakeholders towards eradicating tax fraud and evasion. Adeosun recalled that the Federal Government had in January directed vendors of MDAs to display their Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) on their invoices before payment. She said non-presentation of a TIN by the vendors largely contributed to leakages in revenue remittances, particularly Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT).

•Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Fola Adeyemi with some Directors of the ministry at the Heat Experience- a celebration of Lagos arts, fashion and cuisine at Kofo Abayomi Waterfront.

759,780 PVCs still uncollected in Oyo – INEC

YO State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mutiu Agboke, says no fewer than 759,780 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are still in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state. Agboke disclosed this on Tuesday in Ibadan during the handing over ceremony organised for the incoming Administrative Secretary, Mr David Asemo. He said the increase in the number of uncollected PVCs in the state was because the commission had just received another batch of PVCs from the fresh registration exercise conducted in 2017. Agboke said the commission was intensifying efforts at ensuring that people participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and as well collect their PVCs.

If you lose, concede defeat like Jonathan -- Atiku urges APC By VICTOR I.B NZE

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to accept defeat in good faith if it loses the July 14 governorship election. Atiku, who visited Governor Ayo Fayose in Ado Ekiti, Monday said losing an election to a rival party should be seen in the light of the concession to defeat by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Atiku who was accompanied by the members of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, also expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the PDP for the election.

“We are satisfied that the Peoples Democratic Party is prepared for this election. We hope that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will accept the outcome of the election. They should be democratic for the first time. “We have seen how democratic they are, but for the first time in 2015, we have the opposition party taking over from the ruling party, we expect them to do the same,’’ Atiku said. Fayose, in his remarks, said the PDP was ready for the election, vowing that the people of the state would defend their votes. “They (PDP leaders) are here because they know that PDP has won this election. Everyone is on the same page with us.

He said the commission was in the second phase of the 2018 CVR to encourage more people to participate. “The commission has registered 320,593, out of which we have 164,378 males and 156,215 females. We have also, as at today, distributed 32,061 permanent voter cards. The commission has transferred 23,368 Permanent Voter Cards and replaced 17,939 lost or defaced PVCs,’’ he said. Agboke debunked the allegation in some quarters that the commission was registering foreigners ahead of the 2019 general elections. He said there was no way INEC

would allow the name of a foreigner to remain on its list and challenged anyone with genuine proof to present it. In his remarks, Alhaji Surajudeen Ajani, INEC outgoing Administrative Secretary in Oyo State, expressed gratitude for the support given to him by the commission’s staff. Ajani appealed to the staff to extend the cooperation and support given to him to the incoming Administrative Secretary. Asemo, the incoming Administrative Secretary, sought the support of the staff and promised not to disappoint them.

‘150,000 Nigerian children born with sickle cells disease annually’

ONSULTANT Hematologist at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Prof. Aliyu Babadoko, said, Tuesday that 150,000 Nigerian children are born with sickle cells disease annually. Babadoko made the disclosure while presenting a paper during the World Sickle Day celebration at Kaduna State University (KADSSU) main campus in Kaduna. The lecturer, at the programme jointly organised by Safiyya Sickle Cells Foundation, Sickle Cells Cohost Research (SCORE) and KADSSU, titled his paper: “Journey through the Most Common Genetic Blood Disorder”. The consultant described sickle cells disease as the most common genetic disease in the world. He said: “Worldwide 20 to 25 million people have sickle cells disease, while 12 to 15 million are in Sub Saharan Africa and 300,000 are born with the disease worldwide annually. “Of the total number, Nigeria accounts for 150,000 and about 2-3 per

cent of Nigerians have sickle cells disease. Nearly 90 per cent of the world’s sickle cells disease population live in Nigeria, India and Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said. He said that Africa had the highest rate of sickle cells disease in the world and equally had the highest rate of malaria. In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, KADSSU, Prof. Mohammed Tanko, said the knowledge and challenges about sickle cells disease was neglected over the years. Tanko lamented that people, especially in Nigeria, blindly fell in love without knowing their blood genotypes, which to some extent resulted in giving birth to children with sickle cells anaemia. He lauded the efforts of the organisers of the event and urged them to sustain the tempo, describing it as educative, informative and encouraging. The programme drew hundreds of sickle cells patients from within and outside Kaduna as well as many experts in the field.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS

U.S, Nigerian clergy partner to fight corruption By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

he United States government and the Nigerian clergy are to partner to end the scourge of corruption in the country. The partnership which is the first of its kind in the country will see Muslim and Christian religious leaders working together to help rid the country of corruption using the clergy’s unique position as gatekeepers of the national conscience, integrity and networks as religious leaders to combat corruption in all its forms. Speaking in Calabar while officially signing up to the partnership, the Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and General Overseer of the Christian Central Chapel International, Bishop Emmah Isong disclosed that religious leaders have a role to play in the fight against corruption in the country and the partnership has no religious or political undertone. To help achieve this, the partnership will seek to support internal indices to objectively measure corruption in Nigeria through a measure of success which would increase Nigeria’s score on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index by three or more points per year. He decried the scourge as well as the impact of corruption in the country stressing that the vice is so endemic that we may not have another generation in 20 years if the vice is not addressed head-on. “We believe we have a role to play in the fight against corruption in the country because pastors and Imams can now speak against false wealth and means of getting money. The Endeavour is not political but an intrinsic cultural virtue. When once religious leaders join the war against corruption, it’s gone. “Corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of our society even among pastors. Our resources are being squandered and if we allow corruption which is cancer to continue to eat into the Nigerian society, then we may not have another generation in 20 years. We will not have a nation called Nigeria”, he noted. He dispelled the notion that prosperity is synonymous with corruption stressing that the current war against corruption being waged by the federal government does not mean being poor and wretched. He disclosed that favour and talent can make one right but that the riches should not come from questionable sources. He said individuals may not be corrupt but when they utilize a system that is corrupt then they inevitably become corrupt hence the need for religious leaders to help ensure that systems that promote corruption are reformed. The PFN Scribe while formally endorsing the partnership on behalf of Christian leaders thanked the US government for proposing the idea and supporting it. A sixman delegation he said comprising three Christian leaders lead by him and Muslim leaders lead by Imam Shefu will meet with a US delegation appointed by President Trump to finalize the initiative which will hopefully eradicate corruption in the country.

Bakassi natives protest diversion of relief materials, demand entitlements By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

s the controversy surrounding the ceding of oil rich Bakassi peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon subsists, some natives of Bakassi residing in the un-ceded area of the territory have protested the stoppage of monthly stipends due to them by the state government as well as other privations. The stipends which they claimed as one of the entitlements due to them as part of the agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon over the territory has been discontinued for over 6 years by the state government. The natives who turned out in their hundreds, on Monday, besieged the Government Office in Calabar and laid siege there demanding the continuation of the stipends which they described as conditional cash transfer and also demanded that the federal, as well as state government, improve the living condition there particularly at Obutong Town, in Bakassi. According to them, besides the sad fact that their monthly stipends of 5,000 have not been paid since

2012, they face harassment from the gendarmes, lack access to medical facilities and the relief materials meant for them have been hijacked by some faceless people in Akpabuyo. He told Oracle today that Obutong Town which is made up of natives who are largely fishermen have been deprived of basic amenities and relief materials as against people in Ikot Eyo in Akpabuyo who constitute the area annexed to Obutong to form the present Bakassi Local Government Area in the state. Speaking on the justification of the protest, the leader of the group Linus Asuquo Essien alleged that the protest became necessary because there is a lot of diversion of materials meant for the deprived people of the area and the attention of the government needs to be drawn to this. He said the IDP camp for the displaced persons is in Obutong Town in the riverian area and not in Akpabuyo and about 4,800 family heads there had been documented by the UN, Immigration and some other government agencies and there is need to factor them into

government’s programmes and activities. “Since 2012 they have been left with nothing. We have more than 4800 family heads in Obutong town that were all recorded by the UN, the NIS, SEMA and social welfare. “We want to tell the governor our poor conditions and notify him of our people who are in Cameroon prison for no just cause and nothing is being done by government at any level to secure their release. The Cameroon gendarmes beat up our people who could not cope with the harsh conditions in Obutong Town and had to sneak out. “In addition to this, the relief materials given to the IDPs have been diverted by some officials. The IDP camp is in Bakassi and not in Akpabuyo. The area where they send the relief materials to is not the IDP camp. We are not farmers, the farmers are the ones in Akpabuyo where the relief materials are being sent to. “We are saying that we are Bakassi people so I wonder why people will keep a certain number of people in a particular location in Akpabuyo and call them IDP’s and that is why they are also misleading the gov-

• Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accompanied by the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the former governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole meeting with the the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II in his palace.

Don’t board unregistered vehicles -- Ministry warns commuters in A’Ibom Ini Billie, Uyo

kwa Ibom State Ministry of Transport and Petroleum Resources has warned commuters against boarding unregistered vehicles to avoid being robbed or kidnapped by fraudsters. Head of Compliance and Monitoring Unit of the ministry, Mr. Maurice Edet, said yesterday in Uyo that the government’s insistence that people board only registered vehicles was one of the ways it is employing to reduce the rate of criminality in the state. He said the ministry was working with the Nigerian Police Force to ensure that unregistered tricycle and taxi riders are apprehended and dealt with accordingly, and

warned residents to be wary of them. “Compliance and Monitoring is in charge of enforcement and in charge of compliance and monitoring activities as it is related to the ministry of transport and petroleum resources alone. “A directive was given not to pursue vehicles or tricycles. A communication arrangement network has been put in place. Our compliance officers and some police officers do go to different locations to check out cars that are moving in and out so as to ensure that the cars, tricycles are registered. “Looking at the arrangement, every tricycle riders have a number, they are registered to the appropriate union because it would be easy to identify any registered

tricycle. With this, we are able to reduce the rate of criminality in the state like armed robbery and kidnapping. “All we want is for Akwa Ibom people, especially those living in Uyo metropolis to be careful not to enter a tricycle that is not registered or without any identity because we still have people who use unregistered tricycles at night When they know that our compliance officers are done for the day or are yet to resume duty. “People should stop standing by the road sides to take taxi, go to the government approved motor parks to board a taxi because this is one way fraudsters do rob unsuspecting passengers. Do not enter a taxi or tricycle that has no registration number,” he said.

ernor to that area because of their personal interest and leave these people behind”. He decried the health situation at Obutong maintaining that the hospital there is ill-equipped and this poses a major health challenge to the natives. In addition to this, he said the doctors and other medical workers sent to the area have abandoned the people to their fate and only come to the area whenever there is a function so as to show their faces and then go back to the Cities. “We have hospitals which are not functioning. People are dying, and the staff there only come when they have programme or screening to showcase their faces and go back. They are still in the cities and want to operate in Bakassi, how can a doctor meant for the people of Bakassi stay in Calabar while we are there so these are the issues we want to bring to limelight”, he said. Also speaking, Godwin Messiah Daniel lamented the plight they face and said the in addition to addressing the issue of stipends which have ceased for no just cause, the government also has to address the issue of hijacking materials. “Since 2012, till now we have not been paid the conditional payment that was given to us by the government and we have been hungry and are treated as slaves in Nigeria. “We are here because we have faced a lot of deprivation and decided to come down here to see the Governor and let him know about our plight and tell him what happened to us. The people in Akpabuyo have been benefitting while those in Bakassi have been sidelined. “We are at the centre of Bakassi at Obutong but things will not come down to us at Obutong Town but end up in Akpabuyo in a place called New Camp”. He stated that a number of his colleagues have died as a result of the challenges they face in the riverine area as a result of the hijacking of materials. On her part Mrs Blessing Eyo, a mother of seven said the nonpayment of the monthly stipend of 5000 for six years now has impacted negatively on their lives and the people of the area do not feel any impact of governance at all levels. She called for a reinstatement of the payment of monthly stipends to the natives of the area so as to ameliorate the suffering of the people particularly the women and also help send their kids back to school. She said as one of the returnees who opted to be Nigerians, their lives have been very difficult and nothing is working in Obutong Town, in Bakassi. “I am here because I am a returnee from Cameroon since 2009. Our lives have been very difficult because there is no money, no food for our children and the conditional cash transfer which was given to us has not come since 2012 and nothing is working in Obutong Town in Bakassi. “We have not had any benefit and feel completely excluded from governance at all levels. So we want the government to come and settle us and help pay us our money, the money which was stopped since 2012 so that our children can go back to school”.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS

PFN flays FG’s divisive policies By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has condemned in strong terms the policies adopted by the federal government which tends to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines. These policies the body feels is evident in the recent sentencing of five Christians to death by Yola High Court for allegedly killing a herdsman as well as the discreet moves to include the Arabic Language as one of the GSS courses in Nigeria higher institutions of learning. According to them these policies which it described as not only divisive but obnoxious, can potentially trigger religious hostilities and ultimately undermine national development. Speaking in Calabar while condemning these policies, the national Publicity secretary of the PFN, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong said the leadership of the church at all levels absolutely oppose such policies that tend to divide the people along religious lines. He maintained that it is questionable that while no herdsman has been made to face the law for the thousands of killings being perpetrated by them, Christians in the country are being sentenced to death. “It looks as if it is vengeance for a Yola Court to condemn five Christians to death for allegedly killing a herdsman when herdsmen are rampaging everywhere killing and maiming innocent Christians and going free. “Though we are not backing anybody to commit a crime, we rather feel that justice must seem to have been done in the case of the five Yola people. The entire leadership of PFN protest totally against the judgment and call for an appeal to squash it. “It is high time the federal government had intervened and to ensure that those Christians are not killed to forestall further religious conflict within that axis. Instead of killing people for herdsmen, the federal government should rather find a way to curtail their activities and provide adequate security to all Nigerians, which the present administration promised on ascension to power in 2015. “We in PFN under the leadership of Rev Dr Felix Omobude seriously frown at the new development of by National University Commission, NUC, and other relevant government authorities of attempting to include Arabic Language as prerequisite for admission or one of GSS courses in higher institution of learning because we recognise English as a lingua Franca of Nigeria as a federation and not Arabic. “Therefore, the inclusion of the Arabic language through the back door must be resisted by all and sundry in the country. We are through this medium protesting heavily on behalf of the about 80 million Pentecostals Nigerians. We are speaking against this development from all zones of North, West and East. “We are very far from Arab nations, we are rather close to Frenchspeaking countries so why Arab now which does not benefit anybody except those who have religious motives? We have written several letters to federal government and demand that agencies behind such nefarious moves should be called to order so we don’t run into chaotic situation”.

Okowa, lawmaker hails OkonjoIweala’s father on 90th birthday D elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has reiterated the need for continued peaceful coexistence in the state and charged Deltans, in particular, and Nigerians in general, to support constituted traditional institutions. The Governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, stated this during the 90th birthday thanksgiving service of His Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Chukwuka Anishi Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi Uku Kingdom, at St. James Anglican Church, Ogwashi Uku, last Sunday.

Governor Okowa said that it is more preferable to celebrate people in their lifetimes than feast when they are no more, even as he congratulated the monarch and celebrant, as well as the people of Ogwashi-Uku. Drawing from the sermon preached during the thanksgiving service, the Governor said that the need for peace in any society desirous of development cannot be overstated, just as he charged the people to support the monarch and continue to attract the blessings of God through his prayers.

“Today he is the monarch and he has the Staff of Office as the traditional ruler of this town and our prayer is for peace to reign but if there is anything that is not open for us to see today, we urge the Ogwashi-Uku people to give peace a chance” he said. While cutting his birthday cake in the company of his wife, HRH Prof. Kamene Okonjo, his daughter and former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and her siblings as well as extended family, friends and wellwishers, the celebrant, HRM Obi

• Prof. Peter Katchy (second from left), Igwe Kenneth Orizu of Nnewi and Justice Obidigwe state chairman (4th from the left)at the event when the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Anambra State bestowed befitting honours on indigenes of Anambra state

Rivers LG poll: Boycott by APC ensured peaceful conduct – Wike, swears-in chairmen

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has sworn-in the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen elected during the June 16, 2018 Local Government Elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). This is also as the Rivers governor commended RSIEC for conducting credible Local Government Elections across the state, as well as security agencies for ensuring that the elections were peaceful by creating the right atmosphere for peaceful polls, maintaning that the non-participation by All Progressives Congress ensured a peaceful poll. Performing the swearing-in at the Executive Council Chambers on Monday, Governor Wike charged the council chairmen to prioritise payment of salaries, promotion of security and environmental sanitation. “Now that you have emerged through a credible process, you must prioritise payment of salaries. This is key as no excuses will be tolerated. “Council money is for salaries, development of the areas and security. You should endeavour to leave legacies of development across the state. Make a difference through the development of your local government areas.” He advised the newly sworn-in local government council chairmen to work closely with security agencies in their local government areas. “You must create avenues of cooperation with all the security agencies. That will help you create the right environment for development to take

place in your areas”, he said. The governor charged the council chairmen of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema to develop the right platforms to ensure that their communities are safe. He challenged the council chairmen of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Oyigbo Local Government Area and Eleme Local Government Area to take serious steps to ensure they clean specific areas of their councils. Governor Wike urged the council chairmen to work amicably with their councillors to avoid unnecessary conflicts that will cripple their councils. On the conduct of the Local Government Elections, Governor Wike commended the security agencies for providing security for the peaceful and credible conduct of the polls. He also commended the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting free, fair and credible polls. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by leaders of the state, commissioners and party chieftains. Speaking in an interview after monitoring the local government elections in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, Governor Wike said that the non-participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections turned out to be one of the reasons why the process was peaceful. “Sixty-six out of sixty-eight political parties participated, but no violence.

That means that if APC had participated, probably we would have seen violence. “Sixty-six political parties, no violence, no shooting, nobody has died. But if the APC had participated, they would want to coerce security agencies, they would do all manners of negative things like bringing cultists to shoot. You can see that nobody hijacked materials. Everything has been peaceful “. The governor noted that the security agencies played their constitutional roles during the elections. “I have called the heads of security agencies and commended them for a job well done. That is what I have always said. Allow people to vote for those they want”. He noted that the message to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is that they can conduct credible elections if they resist pressures from different quarters. “INEC can be committed to do the right thing. Once they build confidence, every other thing will move on smoothly “, the governor said. Governor Wike said that he was more interested in the peaceful and credible conduct of the elections than anything else. “We have gone round two local government areas. The elections went on peacefully and they were credible. Election materials arrived on time, except for a few places. Like this, nobody will complain. Observers from across the board have commended the process “, Wike said.

Okonjo, said that he was surprised at the overwhelming show of love, stressing that he is not accustomed to celebrating his birthdays, even as he expressed his profound gratitude amid cheers and encomiums. In her remarks, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala described her father as a man of excellent virtue, noting that he personified the ideal father and demonstrated wisdom through his advice and teachings, just as she said that he is a disciplinarian who is committed to proper parental upbringing of his immediate children and those under his care and tutelage. Quoting her father, she said “Material things are not so important, if you lose them, do not fret. As long as you have brains and you are willing to work hard, you will get them back”, even as she added “As long as you have a head on your shoulders, you have everything”. In the same vein, the Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area, Hon. Isaac Anwuzia, described the King as an inspiration to the Ogwashi-Uku people, praying for more life so that the people can further enjoy his reign. Similarly, the former Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, OgwashiUku, Dr. Mrs. Edna Mogekwu, said that the Obi has impacted positively on the lives of countless number of persons, stressing that his life has yielded fruits, describing him as a righteous man who is passionate about the advancement of OgwashiUku kingdom. Speaking on behalf of the grandchildren, the third child of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mr. Okechukwu Iweala, described his grandfather as a great teacher who always taught values that better shape the society, Similarly, Member Representing Aniocha South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Angela Nwaka has felicitated with Obi of Ogwashi Uku kingdom, Agbogidi Obi Professor Chukwuka Anishi Okonjo on his 90th birthday anniversary. Speaking immediately after the birthday thanksgiving service at St James Anglican Church, OgwashiUku in honor of the monarch, Hon Nwaka congratulated the royal father at 90 and thanked God for his life. The lawmaker stated that the reign of Obi Professor Okonjo has brought peace and progress in Ogwashi Uku kingdom and enjoined all his subjects to continue to support him for greater development in the kingdom. Hon Nwaka who is the Chairman, House Committee on Education, acknowledged the immeasurable contributions made by the Ogwashi Uku monarch in the Nation’s Education sector, stressing that he will remain a source of inspiration to many especially those in the academics. While rejoicing with the children and other well-wishers at the event, including former Minister of Finance, Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, the Nwaka on behalf of her constituents wished the monarch well at 90. Nwaka noted that the entrance of Obi Professor Okonjo into the league of nonagenarians was a thing of joy and prayed God to grant him good health. The lawmaker said the entire people of Aniocha South Constituency look forward to celebrating the Ogwashi Uku monarch at 100 years.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS Red Cross honours Ngige, Soludo, Igwe Achebe, others By IBE NWACHUKWU

igerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Anambra State has bestowed befitting honours on indigenes of the state for assisting the organization in the service to humanity and provision of assistance to the most vulnerable. Among those honoured under the category of Pillar of Solferino for Humanity were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; two Nollywood personalities- Pete Edochie and Bob-Manuel Udokwu, as well as Lady Ngozi Ezeonu. Those honoured under the category of Grand Royal Fathers of Humanity were the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; Igwe Kenneth Orizu of Nnewi and Igwe Gibson Nwosu of Awka, while Igwe Christopher Idigo of Aguleri, Igwe Ben Emeka of Umueri Igwe Innocent Obodoakor of Agulu, Igwe Roland Odegbo, Igwe Elias Nneli of Umueje and Igwe Alex Onyido of Ogidi were honoured under the category of Royal Fathers of Humanity. Those also honoured under the Pillar of Solferino for Humanity were Alhaji Abubakar Kende, SecretaryGeneral, NRCS; Barr. Oforbike Nwobodo, international delegate from international federation of red cross; Tim Filip Ross, delegate (ICRC), port Harcourt Zone; Prof Greg Nwakoby, Vice chancellor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU); among others. Speaking at the occasion, Justice Obidigwe, state chairman of NRCS who observed a minute silence for our brothers and sisters who died in fire disasters and other circumstances, highlighted some of their pressing needs as ambulance vehicles, pickup vans, first aid boxes, blankets, plastic buckets, plastic cups and plates, spoons, medicaments and stretchers. Obidigwe who retired as Chief Judge of Anambra state, commended members of Anambra state House of Assembly and its Speaker, Hon. Rita Maduagwu for their peaceful and cordial relationship with the executive arm of the state government, maturity and diligent legislative functions which led to the accelerated deliberations on the 2018 budget and their articulated constituency projects. Also speaking, the vice chairman, Prof. Katchy commended Governor Willie Obiano, the grand patron of NRCS, Anambra state chapter and his wife, Ebele, the mother-general for their wonderful performances which evolved verile, erudite and articulate strategies that changed the fortunes of the people of the state and achieved the much desired four pillars of development which revolve around agriculture, industrialization, trade and commerce, oil and gas which fetched them 21 over 21 election victory result in 2017 governorship election in the state.

I formerly known and addressed as GODSON SANDRA CHIGOZIE now wish to be known and addressed as OSUAGWU SANDRA CHIGOZIE. The Imo State University (IMSU), banks and the general public should please take note.

Bayelsa Govt. demands integrity test on SPDC Pipelines By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

ayelsa State Government has expressed concern over the spate of oil spills on pipelines belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and called on the oil company to conduct an integrity test on its pipelines in the Niger Delta region. Speaking when he visited a spill site at Shell’s Ramos pipeline in Aghoro Community, Ekeremor Local Government Area, the state Deputy Governor, Gboribiogha John Jonah berated SPDC for the delay in carrying out remediation activities and provision of relief materials in order to mitigate the sufferings of the people in the impacted communities, considering the fact that the oil spillage occurred about a month ago.

While calling for the usual Joint Investigation Exercise to be carried out to ascertain the cause of the spillage, the deputy governor equally advised SPDC to ensure that all the relevant parties must be involved in the exercise, stressing that it should be done in accordance with international standards. He also commended the people of Aghoro for their patience and maintaining peace, assuring that the State government will do the needful. While briefing the deputy governor in one of the sites, Engr. Charles Ebulu said that SPDC was doing all that is necessary to contain further spread of the spilled crude and pleaded for understanding from all stakeholders. He also stated that the issues raised by the deputy governor

would be communicated to the appropriate quarters for necessary action. Also speaking, Hon. Fred Agbedi , Member, representing Sagbama /Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who is also an indigene of Aghoro, stated that the Community had suffered from two oil spillages in recent times, with the first one occurring in April this year at Odimodi Area in Delta State which extended to Aghoro and the second on May 17, 2018 at Aghoro axis, all on the SPDC River Ramos pipeline. According to him, the two spillages have devastating effects on Aghoro and other surrounding communities, resulting to massive destruction of the aquatic life which is their major source of livelihood. He, therefore, called on both the

Federal Government and SPDC to take some quick actions to alleviate the plight of the people. In his remarks, the Amananaowei of Aghoro, His Royal Highness, Ibamua Ojukonsin, said sadly that it took SPDC, two weeks to respond after the incident was reported, to take action to contain the spill, adding that the community was yet to receive any form of assistance from SPDC by way of relief materials, including medical supplies. He also decried the situation whereby SPDC was eager to effect repairs on the pipeline in order to resume production and nothing has been done for the impacted communities. On the deputy governor’s entourage were; Hon. Fred Agbedi , Hon. Mike Ogbere, representing Ekeremor Constituency three in the State Assembly; Hon. Martha Jenakumo, Commissioner for Women Affairs and her Mineral Resources counterpart , Hon. Markson Fefegha as well as Binadoumene Dein, amongst others.

INEC decries non-collection of 73,109 PVCs in Edo

• A cross section of Bakassi natives protesting at the Cross River State Governor’s Office in Calabar over stoppage of monthly stipends by the Ben Ayade-led administration.

MASSOB leader dismisses 1month jail term, says ‘I’m Head of Biafra State’ By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

ounder and leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) also known as the Biafra Independent Movement, (BIM) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has reacted to the one month imprisonment handed to him by an Owerri High Court, last Wednesday, claiming that as the Head of State of Biafra nation, he would not appear in court. Justice Kema Kolam Ojiako of the Owerri High Court had sentenced the MASSOB leader in absentia to a one month jail term, saying Uwazuruike ‘is hereby committed to prison custody and shall be so detained for a period of one month from the date of his commitment to prison.’ However, reacting to the sentence, in Onitsha, Uwaruruike said: “I am the Head of State of Biafra nation and Heads of State don’t appear in court. “The judge said I should appear before him, I can’t appear before him because I don’t appear before corrupt judges.

“You can’t ask me to come to your court when you have asked me to give you financial gratification and I petitioned you to the National Judicial Council, NJC, also the case is in the court of Appeal. Speaking through his Personal Assistant, Comrade Emmanuel Omenka, Uwazuruike reiterated that, “the judge has no jurisdiction over matter that is in the court of Appeal”. On the defendant, Barr. Chigozie Iheama, in the case which is a land matter, he (Uwazuruike Plaintiff), revealed further that, “the defendant was working in the Presiding Judge’s office when the Judge, was just a lawyer before he was made a Judge and up till now the defendant, Barr. Chigozie Iheama, is the manager of his (Judge’s) businesses”. He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the judge over alleged corrupt practices. It would be recalled that while presiding over the case in suit number HOW/265/2013 between Chief Raphael Uwazuruike (Plaintiff), and Barr Chigozie Iheama, Commissioner

of Police Imo State, ASP Conatus Akpa (SIB Police Headquarters, Owerri), Inspector Richard Ofoegbu (SIB Police Headquarters, Owerri) and Chief Edwin Ononuju (Defendants/ Applicants), Hon Justice K.A. Ojiako ordered that “The Plaintiff, Chief Raphael Uwazuruike is hereby found guilty of contempt/disobedience to the said order of court made on the 2nd day of April 2014”. According to the court order exclusively obtained by The Oracle Today in Owerri, Justice Ajiako also ordered that “The Plaintiff Chief Raphael Uwazuruike is hereby committed to prison custody and shall be so detained for a period of one month from the date of his commitment to prison”. The court also retrained Chief Raphael Uwazuruike, his servants, agents, privies or any other person claiming through him “from entering into the said land subject matter of this action pending the determination of this action”. The case has been adjourned to July 10, 2018, to await the outcome of the Motion for Stay of Proceeding.

ndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC),Tuesday, disclosed that about 73,109 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in Edo. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart disclosed this when he led members of the commission on a courtesy visit on the Edo Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Benin. He said out of the 78, 398 PVCs ready for collection, only 5,259 had been collected as at June 11, 2018. “We decided to visit the NUJ to solicit for its collaboration, with a view to reaching out to the public on how to educate and enlighten them on the need to collect their PVCs before the 2019 general elections. “It is unfortunate that over 73,109 PVCs are left at the INEC offices and are yet to be collected. I therefore want to encourage eligible voters, who registered in the state and are yet to collect their cards to come forward and get them,’’ he said. The REC urged the electorate to take advantage provided by the commission to participate in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise. He said that the exercise has offered opportunity for those yet to be registered to do so and those that have registered to collect their cards. Responding, the Edo NUJ Chairman Mr Roland Osakwe, expressed the readiness of the council to support INEC to project and propagate its activities ahead of the 2019 general elections. He appealed to the commissioner to ensure that a free, fair and credible election is organized in the state, adding that, Nigerians are full of expectations that INEC would deliver on its promise for a credible election in 2019.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS Okorocha commissions new secretariat for Imo NUJ By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

overnor Rochas Okorocha has built and handed over an ultra-modern secretariat to the Imo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with a charge that individuals and groups should be given equal opportunity to use the edifice without discrimination. Performing the handover ceremony of the 24-room edifice with a near 1,000 capacity hall, Friday, the governor emphasised that he did not build the Secretariat to court NUJ in the state since he was already on his way out, but to institutionalise the journalism practice in Imo. He urged the Council not to use the secretariat to serve any government in power but to make it accessible for individuals and groups that may want to use the building for their functions. “Give equal opportunity to all political parties and aspirants. Don’t use it to serve the government in power. Allow the secretariat to be a place for all and truly serve as market place of ideas,” Okorocha said. “Sometimes, you should routinely organise debates for aspirants to political offices from different political parties, so that they can tell Imo people what they have to offer,” he added. In his remarks, the NUJ National President, Comrade Waheed Odusile, represented by the National Vice President in charge of South East (Zone C), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, applauded the governor for building one of the best magnificent NUJ Secretariats in the country for Imo Council. He thanked the governor for being committed to the welfare and comfort of journalist in the state, adding that by building the secretariat, he was promoting journalism practice in the country. An elated Chairman of Imo State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Inncent Igwe, commended Okorocha for fulfilling his promise of building a beffiting Secretariat for the Council. First activity performed in the secretariat was the presentation of awards to some personalities which drew the curtain on the two-day maiden Imo NUJ Media Summit.

• Okorocha

Umahi accuses Obiano of ‘discrimination,’ for renaming Abakaliki Street in Awka By CHINEDU NWAFOR

overnor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum David Umahi, has tackled his Anambra state counterpart, Chief Willie Obiano, for allegedly renaming a street in Awka, the state capital. The street hitherto known as ‘Abakaliki Street’ was renamed ‘Club Street’ by the Anambra State government, which has further generated uproar in the social media. Similarly, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Hon. Charles Akpu-enika, who hails from Anambra state, also condemned Obiano and his administration for renaming the street,

describing it as ‘most unguided, especially at a time the Igbo race was doing its best to be united and have desired cohesion to gain its deserved attention and dues in the Nigerian nation.’ Governor Umahi in a statement made by his Chief Press Secretary Emmanuel Uzor, alleged that most states in the region especially Anambra ‘always seize every opportunity to look down on Abakaliki man,’ just as he urged them to eschew this discrimination and ‘see every Igbo man as a brother irrespective of where he or she comes from.’ Umahi who noted that Obiano ‘has every constitutional right to rename any structure, be it road or any other infrastructure, however

pointed out that “in doing so, what should come to mind should be the unity and perpetuation of legacies and sustenance of the sacred thing that holds us together as a people.’ “While he condemns in its entirety, the action, Umahi has put everything in place to ensure that Chief Willie Obiano reverses the action of bringing back the Abakaliki street, a name gazetted long time ago in the spirit of oneness in Igbo land. “There should be no part of Igbo land that should be discriminated upon. Ebonyi State has received the highest discrimination even from among her brother states and this is not healthy especially as we fight to unite our people and form a formidable economic and political blocs.

• Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku (l) being welcomed to Ekiti State by Governor Ayo Fayose when the ex-VP visited the state along with other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council , Monday, ahead of July 14 governorship election in the state

2019: PDP group in Delta opposes ‘politics of endorsement’

ome Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Delta have kicked against the politics of endorsement in the selection of candidates of the party ahead of 2019 general elections. The party leaders, drawn from the northern axis of Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, made their stand known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. They said they were in full support of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s “position” that the party’s candidates in future elections must emerge from credible primaries. The statement was signed by 61 persons, including the Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah; Oshimili North Local Government Chairman, Mr Louis Ndukwe and Senior Special Assistant (Politics) to the governor, Chief Martin Okakwu. They disclaimed the purported endorsement of Mrs Pat Ajudua,

who currently represents the local government in the state House of Assembly, for re-election in 2019 by a group of persons in the area. The leaders said that at no time did they meet to endorse any aspirant for House of Assembly election as alleged in a ‘communique’ of May 25, 2018, on the purported endorsement. They challenged authors of the “so-called communiqué to publish its signed copy if only to prove that they are not being fraudulent or trying to deceive the electorate’’. According to them, this is because six of the purported signatories have denied knowledge or involvement in such act. “We are fully in support of the position of our governor, and our distinguished Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, that the party’s tickets to all elective positions shall be decided through primaries. “The PDP in Oshimili North

prides itself of a strong leadership and we have always had robust discussions leading to peaceful electioneering. “We, the undersigned, hereby distance ourselves from this development, knowing it is capable of causing distrust and bad blood within the PDP family in our beloved local government area. “We advise and call on all aspirants, who have indicated interest in the Oshimili North House of Assembly seat, to remain calm and continue to go about their quest without fear of intimidation,’’ they said. The party leaders reaffirmed their “unflinching support’’ for the re-election bids of Okowa and Nwaoboshi. Acknowledging the right of Ajudua to seek re-election, however, they stressed the need for due process to be followed through free and fair primaries.

“The Governor has put a call through to his brother Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on how best to resolve the conflict of interest especially as regards the social media claims that the street was taken away from Abakaliki people because they are not qualified to answer such name of a major street in Awka. “While we don’t want to rush into conclusions as regards the rumour making the rounds describing Abakaliki as a backward state, may we remind whoever that is taking any action against Abakaliki man based on the former toga and personality that Abakaliki had, that since inception of the administration of Governor David Umahi, Abakaliki has become the fastest developing state and the most beautiful state capital in Nigeria with great potential to overtake other states in the nearest future,” Uzor quoted Umahi. “Therefore, renaming a street originally named after Abakaliki because of the stigmatization and the spirit of Wawa does not arise as Abakaliki has grown to become more developed than the city in question”. The Governor, according to Mr Uzor, said that most states in the region especially Anambra always seizes every opportunity to look down on Abakaliki man and urged them to eschew this discrimination and see every Igbo man as a brother irrespective of where he or she comes from. Umahi further noted that he has a vision of an Igbo nation where all persons will have homes and become citizens irrespective of their state or origin. “For us in Ebonyi State, we have Awka, Onitsha, Neni, Nri, Agulu, Nando, Oraeri, Oraifite and many other streets and these streets are very strategic in Abakaliki and yet, no government has ever tried to rename them, rather, these streets which have been in bad shape have all been ashphalted and illuminated with street light and we expect our brothers in other states to maintain our legacy and pride by allowing all the streets named after Abakaliki or Ebonyi State to remain so”. The governor while calling on the people to remain calm said he has contacted his Anambra counterpart, Willie Obiano with the aim of getting him to correct the action. “Finally, Governor David Umahi will meet with Governor Willie Obiano to discuss and get the real reason behind the alleged reversal of Abakaliki street on the ground that the street has grown beyond the Abakaliki status”, the statement added. Akpu-Enika noted that, Anambra indigenes in Ebonyi state were enjoying the best of cordiality, adding, “Many streets in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital are named after Anambra towns and persons. We have Aguleri Street in Abakaliki, Obike Street, Ikenga Street, Udemezue Street, Obiri, Obi, Mbanefo, EjioforNibo, Jemeni, Okuzu etc, all named after Anambra towns and sons”. ,The Commissioner explained that Ebonyi state has been transformed better than some older states, hence it was derogatory for anyone to assume that a street named Abakaliki Street has developed beyond bearing the name.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

POLITICS

Kernel of legislative politics is How I will lift develop my quality representation constituency, – Hon. Umenwa by Udeachara Pg 12 Pg 10

•Atiku Abubakar

•Uche Secondus

•Ayo Fayose

• Rabiu Kwakwanso

•Ibrahim Dankwambo

•Gbenga Daniel

•Nyesom Wike

•Ike Ekweremadu

2019: Atiku on the hustings, walking his talks THEO RAYS writes that as the drums of party primary elections beat louder, aspirants have increased their tempo of activities in their bids to get their parties to give them the nod to fly their flags. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, he says, is a prominent member of that club of politicians who walk their talks.

head of the 2019 general election, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has apparently ignited a political movement with his nationwide consultation visits to major leaders of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The nationwide visits, which have the company of notable figures in PDP, is gathering momentum not only in the PDP circle but also in the Nigeria polity in general. During one of the visits, there were Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President David Mark, former governor of Anambra Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who is the Director General Atiku Campaign Organisation and Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives Hon Emeka Ihedioha, among others. The presence of these PDP bigwigs on Atiku’s entourage coupled with the overwhelming reception he receives from his hosts are strong indications that PDP may go Atiku’s way. For instance, the massive reception given to Atiku in Ekiti State by Governor Ayo Fayose and leaders of the party sent a strong message to other presidential aspirants on the platform of PDP that the Turakin Adamawa is the man for PDP. In addition to impressive nationwide tour, The Oracle Today gathered that there are so many pro-Atiku groups rooting for him ahead of the 2019 polls. People in various parts of the country both those in PDP

and non-PDP members are forming pressure groups aimed at mobilising the electorate for the former Vice President. Some of the groups are Turakin Adamawa Movement for 2019, Friends of Atiku, and Atiku Abubakar Support Group, to mention but a few. All these developments combined together have not only made the former Vice President the man of the moment in national politics heralding the 2019 polls but also heightened the hope among those who want him to become the next President of Nigeria in 2019. For Atiku, the journey to his age-long dream to ascend the Aso Rock seat of power as President of Nigeria this time has begun on a strong and impressive note. The journey this time is quite unlike in 2007, 2011 and 2015 when he had it rough and tough. In 2007 he contested for President as the flag-bearer of Action Congress (AC) and lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. In 2011, he contested the PDP primary election with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and lost. In 2015, he contested the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and came third behind President Buhari and former Governor of Kano State Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso in a contest that also had Imo State Governor State Rochas Okorocha and a businessman Sam Nda Isaiah. Analysts say Atiku is the light in the tunnel

and of course the hope of Nigerians who are tired and disenchanted with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. A former Member of the House of Representatives, Dr C.C Okeke described Atiku as the light in the tunnel of Nigerian politics, stressing that what is happening now is a proof that Nigerians are interested in Atiku and very much eager to see him take over the mantle of the country’s leadership from President Buhari and APC, next year. According to Okeke, a medical doctor and politician who is the current Zonal Chairman of PDP in Anambra Central Senatorial zone, what is happening now in respect of Atiku for President 2019 is just a tip of the iceberg saying that people will see a kind of campaign that had never happened in Nigeria should Atiku emerge the flag-bearer of the PDP, considering the wide range of supporters ready to campaign for him. According to Okeke, Nigerians will shake the earth for Atiku during campaign after the PDP primary election. The staunch fan of Atiku said that the campaign machinery being put in place for the former Vice President by his supporters in all the six geopolitical zones across the country will prove to the whole world that he is the man after the heart of Nigerians for the Aso Rock seat of power. The former Rep who represented Idemili North and South in the House of Representatives said: “People are waiting PDP primary

and to those of us who have started the Atiku for President movement, our campaign now is for PDP to nominate him as the flag bearer of the party. “I strongly believe that either by consensus or process, Atiku will emerge as the candidate of the PDP because he is the most popular and most experienced among other aspirants and from all indications, he will do far better than Buhari and APC “Mere looking at the political atmosphere of the country, one can easily point to Atiku as one who has all it takes to defeat Buhari and APC. Political observers can agree with me that Atiku is the only one who commands a global popularity required to win Presidential election in Nigeria and there is no argument about that. Atiku by my own calculation is the incoming President of Nigeria from all indications. A current affairs analyst, Chief Mike Dede also described Atiku as the light in the tunnel, which Nigerians have been waiting for and which has to be brought out to shine in the open with votes. “Atiku carries the hope actually but getting him through is not a tea party; it is all about voting, so those who are rooting for him should get their voter cards ready because that is the tool with which we can fight and win and get him over there in Aso Rock, that’s my own view about the whole thing,” he said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

INTERVIEW

Kernel of legislative politics is quality representation – Hon. Umenwa •Insists the is no zoning in Aguata federal constituency •Lists functional steel industry as greatest legacy of any federal administration in Nigeria Hon. Ikechukwu Umenwa, a Russian metallurgical engineer, is the Member representing Aguata 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly. Currently serving his second term as a State lawmaker in the hallowed chamber, Umenwa (PH.D) is reputed to have given his people quality representation in the State House of Assembly. During his first term, he was the Chief Whip and House Committee chairman on Commerce and Industry. At the moment, he superintends Works Committee even as he is also a member of other committees in the House. In this interview with OGE ONYEANUSI, shortly after his Aguata Federal Constituents endorsed him to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, the legislator laid bare his eight-year scorecard in as a legislator in the State House of Assembly, explaining why he is aspiring to go to the Federal House, among other issues. Excerpts: People think you are not doing much in the State House of Assembly; can you give me your scorecard? It is very wrong for me to rate myself but people saying that are enemies of progress. Constituents who understand what legislative responsibilities are all about, do commend me for what I have been able to do so far. From the look of things, my people understand me, we live together, I hear them and they hear me, they complain to me and I listen to them. I promise the ones I can do and tell them the ones I can’t do on my own. You just declared interest to represent Aguata Federal constituency in the House of Representatives and the person already there is angling to come back, what do you think you will do better if elected? You know, people had been representing my people in the State House of Assembly before I came in and now, they are seeing the difference because I have a way of doing things in unique ways. I attracted the construction of some roads in my constituency; I renovated so many schools and hospitals. I drilled boreholes and all that. You can see an abridged list of over 200 projects and interventions I attracted for my constituency. There is no need reeling them out as my constituents are happy. Now, getting to the National Assembly, I cannot say exactly what I can get when I get there to determine what I will do for the people at this stage but I will ensure that whatever that belongs to my people gets to them. Quality representation is my watch word. We have done it before and this time, we will do it better, so we are tested and trusted. I am going to the Federal House of Representatives because people there are not doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Some of them are not even visible; they are not always around. The people they are representing don’t even know them. But if you go round my constituency now and ask of Iyke Russia, everybody will tell you about me and the little we have been able to do for them. How often do you hold a town hall meeting with your constituents as a lawmaker? I often consult my people in decision making through town hall meetings. Sometimes, you may have a fine idea of what you want to do but that may not be the priority need of the people and if you go ahead to do that without consulting them, it will be in vain. So, you can’t go

to people and give them what they don’t want, give them what they want and they will be happy with you. So, I meet my constituents regularly. During your first term in the state Assembly, you defeated some diehard politicians against all odds; do you think you still have that might to defeat Goliath in the 2019 election? Truly, I am a fighter. I am a cool person and I hate violence but that does not mean that I am afraid of fighting especially when I am fighting a just cause. If the people give me their mandate and somebody wants to manipulate it, do you think I will fold my hands and allow it happen? I will fight what belongs to me with the last drop of my blood to recover my mandate because if I leave it, the people that gave it to me will not be happy with me. So, I have to do my best to get it back and I hope that if such repeats itself, I will fight to collect back my mandate as usual. My people voted me and some people believed they could hijack the results but we resisted them and today the rest is history. We are very ready for this election on a free and fair contest, and whoever wins should be congratulated, but whoever tries to manipulate the result would see hell no matter the political party of the person in question. We are ready to defend our votes. They know the kind of person I have been that I don’t give up easily in anything I believe in. They are now using a lot of tactics to stop me but nobody can play God. But your people are saying they have to follow the zoning system… That is one of the ploys they are introducing to stop me. In Aguata, there is nothing like zoning and I have not heard about it and you cannot change the goal post in the middle of the match. I am not against zoning but it ought to be in place before the match starts. It is not done anywhere that a law will be made in the middle of a transition. So, any law they are making now will be for the next election. They can do zoning but not in this election. After this election, they can come up with the zoning system. Do you have faith in APGA, your party? APGA is the party that I love so much. It is a party for the common man. It is a party that has direction and people piloting the affairs of the party both at state and national level are doing wonderfully well because there is no high jump for you to

• Hon. Umenwa

get to where you are going. If you have the people and people give you support, you win your elections. So my dear, I have faith in my party APGA. We shall win the election by God’s grace because we are set for it. Is it true that Governor Willie Obiano promised all the state lawmakers automatic ticket in APGA as a compensation for your support for his re-election in November 2017? Governor Obiano is a straightforward

person. There was never a time the governor promised us automatic ticket. APGA is everybody’s party. If you are there, the grassroots will support you to win an election. The governor cannot give automatic ticket to somebody that is not liked by his people. It’s the people that will vote and not the governor. So, anyone that is telling you that is lying. The governor asked us to support him in his election and we supported him and he was saying that anyone

Cont’d from page 10

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

POLITICS

Kernel of legislative politics is quality representation lurgical institutes in Nigeria? It’s a very big challenge. When government is interested in some things, they start producing the materials to do those things. Metallurgical industry is something that an Engineer will be looking at; you have to be working on that. It’s not about theories but pure practical. For students of metallurgical institute to be proficient and effective, teachers have to bring the machine and show them all the workings of the machines. You have to put the iron ore and see it working. Metallurgy is a chemistry of high temperature.

Cont’d from page 11 that campaigns for him is campaigning for himself and that does not translate to issuance of automatic ticket. We ought to fight for our ticket by going closer to the grassroots and get the people’s mandate before going for the general election. My team and I are with the people and we are sure of the mandate and nobody can tamper with it in a free and fair primary and as well during the general election. What are the basic needs of Aguata constituents that you want to use your position to attract for them at the federal level if elected? Right now in Aguata, there are a lot of lapses. As of now, we need water and roads. There are federal roads in Aguata that have not been touched and I don’t know what is holding them from being touched because I am at the federal but as soon as I get there, I will find out why Okigwe-Nnewi-Onitsha road is in such a deplorable state. I will also find out why educational facilities are not being given to my constituents from the federal level. I am aware that the federal government does give subventions but Aguata doesn’t have any due to poor representation. Some towns like Uga in the constituency need to have sub-stations but all these things are not coming and we need to have them. There are so many things and let me not expose my blueprint too early lest someone starts claiming it. What I know is that Aguata would get quality representation as never before in my time as I did and am still doing in the state House.

You were trained in Russia and you are now in Nigeria. How do you distinguish between Nigerian educational system and that of Russia in the area of practical learning? In Russia, we have first to third courses. From the third course in Russia, you already know the company where you will work and the student’s practical will be based on that company’s policies and in a week, we do two days lectures and two days practical. We do practical for some weeks and in the next week, we work in industries. In Russia, they have well equipped library and other learning facilities unlike here in Nigeria where people struggle to study. From year three, you are already working in an industry and before you could work there for three years, you are already an expert. Of all the members of the state House of Assembly, we learnt you are the only one that has sponsored people in skills acquisition programmes? Yes, I have a skills acquisition centre where I train people. I train them in batches and we are in a lot of fields, computer, soap making, fish farming etc. I also give people scholarship. I pump water every day for people living around me with my generator and that takes more money from me than anything. I do things that I could do to make life better for my people.

What is your take on this issue of disarmament? I will put my voice in condemnation of issues or policies that are against the common man, especially an Igbo man. You know Anambra State is rated as one of the most secure States in Nigeria as at today because of the collaborative way the vigilante is working with the police. There are some criminals that police may not know or identify their hideouts easily. If members of the vigilante groups were to submit their arms, there would be serious security challenges in most States. For instance, if the herdsmen attack local farmers, how will the unarmed farmers be defended? I don’t know the reason why police wants to disarm the vigilante and I will not support that, I will fight that. PDP and APC have been throwing accusations and counter accusations at each over the release of looters list, due you think such is healthy for our democracy? Nigeria is a corrupt society and the corrupt people know each other. The noise is not whether it’s true or not but they just want to distract and confuse us. They all know the people that looted the country’s treasury and what they are saying is the truth. Let us know the treasury looters so that we can deal with them once and for all. I wonder how much one will consume in his life time that an individual will divert or loot the money that belongs to the entire country and stash it abroad and those people will be using it to develop their economy. When I was in Russia, the then president urged Russians to bring home their money so that they could together stabilise the Russian economy. In the same vain, let the looters bring back the money so that our economy will start working. You studied in Russia as a metallurgical Engineer; can you tell us what is wrong with Ajaokuta Steel Industry and our metallurgical institutions?

2019 is in sight, what do you want to say about it? I am going to the Federal House of Representatives and I want people to support me and a lot of people are supporting me already to actualize the dream.

• Hon. Umenwa

Metallurgy is the bedrock of every industrialized society. Without it, no country can claim to be industrialized. Metallurgy is the root of any industrialisation because you have to produce the big iron from coal and iron ore and these things are being mined in Nigeria. We are not going to buy them. In Nigeria, you get the gold mine, the iron ore, longer the black burns, you develop big iron and with the big iron, we get the steel and with that, we can produce anything that we want and these products will be very cheap. Secondly, we will not pay for the costly transportation of these metals from abroad to Nigeria. So, we need the metals for Nigeria to develop for without it, Nigeria cannot develop. For example, Innoson is producing cars but his cars are costly because you have to bring the metals from abroad and the transportation is very costly. Only transportation and import duties can skyrocket the end product but if we

source the raw materials locally and use local workers and spend less on transportation, the product will be very cheap. Innoson’s cars can cost 10 times lower than the cost today if we had our iron produced in Nigeria. What happens to Ajaokute steel complex? Many of our leaders don’t understand what they are doing and secondly, the place is a victim of international politics. A lot of international countries don’t want Nigeria to have metallurgical industry because their economy is dependent on the product we buy from them. If we had our own metal, we reduce the price of importation by up to 50 per cent. You will see that Nigerians will stop buying any car abroad. To me, the highest thing this government can do for this nation is to revive Ajaokuta steel industry. Can we say that enough manpower and facilities are the major challenge of metal-

Do you think there is internal democracy in APGA? I believe that the APGA primaries will be free and fair and relatively APGA is the best party in Nigeria now because we know what is obtainable in other political parties. I didn’t know anybody when I joined APGA and I contested for an election and won. I came in as a free person and contested for an election and I won without any godfather. Relatively, APGA is far better than all these parties. Do you have any regret since you joined politics? I will not say that I have any regret but some of the politicians are deceivers. People sometimes lie and tell people what they cannot do. Don’t give people false hopes. I don’t like giving promises that I can’t fulfil in the name of politics. Do you think you have the financial muscles to go for the election considering the caliber of others that want to go to the poll with you? We are not going to war but for an election. One thing I have not done is to ask anybody to give me money for any election. I have always fought and won an election on my own. We are ready and we have committed everything to

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Feature A Cross river communities at number of forested communities in Cross River are presently at loggerheads with the government and Wilmer, an Oil Palm firm over alleged environmental pollution and land grabbing being perpetuated in the area by the accused persons. The communities which lie along areas in proximity with Nigeria’s remaining rainforest reserves made the accusation in Calabar following a tour around the affected communities by Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth (ERA) Nigeria to highlight the impact of oil palm cultivation in some forested communities in the state. Godwin Ojo, Executive Director of ERA who spoke alongside traditional rulers and members of the affected communities said the government has failed to make public the memorandum of understanding signed with the firm thereby creating mistrust between the host communities and the Oil firm. According to him, the activities of the government in concert with the company contravene cooperate social responsibilities law besides depleting their forests and robbing natives of their source of livelihood. The most impacted communities, he said, include forested areas like Ekong Anaku, Akwa Ikot, Effanga, Ibogo, Umai, Betem, Uwet, Atan Odot, among others. “To emphasize the problems of environmental degradation, habitat loss and fragmentation has resulted from the wanton expansion of the Wilmer Company into prime forests that belong to communities. This has further stifled the communities in the areas of food security, settlement expansion, livelihood sustainability options in terms of NTFP’s collection and utilization and loss of heritage and historical facts,” Ojo said. “Furthermore, it undermines the state’s tourism potentials in the communities such as the destroyed locally made hanging bridge (IBISA) in Ekong Anaku as a result of deforestation and illegal expansion of Wilmer Plantation. “In particular, the neglect of host communities contravenes the corporate social responsibility law of Cross River State, Nigeria, which specifies CSR as mandatory and not optional,” he added. Ojo said the major cause of disaffection between the Oil firm and the host communities has been found to hinge on lack of inclusiveness on the impacted communities on land resources governance in relation to the company’s operational environment. Speaking on the impact of industrial wastes and land grabbing on the communities along the National park, Dr Maurice Bisong of the Community Forest Watch disclosed that the impact of human activities in the area is substantial and there is need to look critically into the activities going on around the forest. He disclosed that the Community Forest Watch in collaboration with Environmental Rights Action has been working to help communities address issues as it relates to degradation and land grabbing. He said the state is housing over 75% of Africa’s rich biodiversity and if a constant effort to preserve the remaining part of the forest is not made, we will not be able to address the issues of climate change and global warming which is ravaging the world today. Decrying the impact of oil palm cultivation in the area, one of the residents of the community Paul Asuquo who is

palm firm over pollution,

From Calabar, ANIEKAN ANIEKAN writes about the controversy in Croo River farming communities over alleged land grabbing by an oil palm firm and pollution of the environment by the same company.

•Ben-Ayade

polluted farms

also a small-scale farmer, disclosed that the impact of oil palm cultivation in the area by Wilmer has led to enormous pollution and destruction of plants and animals in the area. He said the release of industrial water from the oil palm plantation without a

channel to evacuate it has created an enormous ravine in the area, which is destroying plants and animals along its path and is increasing substantially every day. “In my farm, I share a direct boundary with Wilmer. When they came

in, they decided to build a big trench around their estate. They did this to take out water from their estate but failed to provide an outlet,” Asuquo said. “If you look at the other side, you see a very big pond of water becoming a river and it is increasing daily. The

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Feature

logger heads with govt, oil land grabbing

•Deacon WIlliam Ojoba

•Onda Bassey Onda

chemical from the fertilizer the company is using has killed plants and other economic trees and this is worrisome because it is increasing.” At Ibogo community in Biase where land grabbing for the purpose of oil palm cultivation is high, Moses Arikpo said there is a conspiracy to deprive the community of its land and called on the government to step in and salvage the situation. Moses who is also a Ward Coordinator disclosed that “the people threatened the farmers and used force to disposess them of their farmland and started arresting the local farmers.

“I wrote a protest letter to the governor and some security agencies in the state so that the government can come down and tell us the way forward because we do not know what to do,” Arikpo said. “In the process, these same people went to the local government and police and bribed them. When we went there the second time, we were detained for about a week to prevent us from asking for our rights.” Also speaking, another displaced farmer, Deacon Williams Ojoba said the problem started around 2012 when they heard rumours that their lands

and forest would be taken over and converted to oil palm plantation and they started protesting against it because the lands and forest are their source of survival. He also accused the chiefs of being complicit in the crisis and disclosed that part of the land which belonged to the late premier of the Eastern Region; Michael Okpara has been dubiously expanded just to deprive members of the community of their land. “The chiefs have not been sincere in the whole affair. They connived with the government and claimed

that the land belonged to the government when that is not the case. I know around 1960, during the South Eastern Government, Okpara had a land here which was about 500 hectares. But today, we discovered that the land is over 1,200 hectares. That extra we do not know where it is coming from. I’m over 50 years now like a number of my peers and do not know how someone will wake up and say something else about our land,” Ojoba said. At Betem, the situation is not different as the community lamented the adverse impact of oil palm plantation on the community, stressing that streams in the community which served as a source of water have been contaminated and the lives of people endangered. Onda Bassey Onda, the student president of Betem disclosed that “there is no drinking water in the community and the only source of water in the community, which is a local stream has been contaminated by the activities of the company engaging in oil palm plantation and this is a potent threat to the lives of the people. “The Uday – Urere Stream, which before now was a source of drinking water has been polluted and the solarpowered borehole provided for the community does not produce clean water to us and this is a sad commentary,” he said. Also speaking, Rita Emmanuel a displaced native of Uwet, one of the displaced communities said the activities of the company have affected mostly women because their lands have been forcibly taken over by the government and the company. “The women in the community are not aware of what is going on and the government should look into the festering crisis particularly that of Uwet. They came in and took over a huge portion of our lands and we have no access to our lands for cultivation. This is quite sad because the communities were not consulted and it is morally wrong to get up one day and use armed men and forcefully dispossess people of their ancestral lands without any form of explanation or consultation with the government,” she said. However, the management of Wilmer has picked holes in the accusation of pollution and land grabbing levelled against the company. Reacting to the allegations, the Sustainability Manager of Wilmer, Asen Ako disclosed that the area managed by the Oil Palm Firm is consistent with the land handed over to it by the State Government during the privatization programme of the state. Said he: “These estates have their maps as well as a survey plan. So, Wilmer did not come and negotiate the plan with chiefs because the land was owned by the government. The state government put these lands in a competitive bid and Wilmer emerged as the highest bidder. These estates had oil palm planted within these periods in the 1950’s and 60’s. So, when we came in, we had to replant because the palms that existed then had passed their economic life. There was the need to do re-planting. The company did not just come in and start planting; we passed through a lot of processes including an EIA.” He said the company does biannual water analysis of all water entering and leaving the estate and is not aware of any pollution of water or streams as a result of the activities of Wilmer, stressing that the company is not aware of any complaint of pollution but will look at the concern raised by the communities.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

POLITICS

High Honours For Mrs Obiano In America Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

he much-coveted Onaedo Woman of the Year Award for Humanitarian Service has been bestowed on Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme). Mrs. Obiano received the award at the recent Anambra State Women Association of Southern California’s (ASWASC) 10th anniversary celebration, which held on Saturday, June 9, at the Grand Event Center, Long Beach, California. Dr. Ijeoma Omekam, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Governor Willie Obiano, received the award on Her Excellency’s behalf. The ceremony was a beautiful mixture of exquisite dinner, soothing music by the popular saxophonist Olu Jazz and pulsating music from hotshot deejay Osondu in an elegant and resplendent atmosphere. Indeed the audience bubbled with excitement all through. The event’s theme, Onaedo Women: Building Bridges to a Brighter Future, resonated with the rapturous audience, a panoply of Anambra State indigenes, Diasporan communities and well-wishers. Adding to the festivity’s ambiance, the association’s President, Attorney Mrs. Amaka Ada Akudinobi, in her welcome speech, assured all that “the association remains our home, nest and fort, from where we will weave our threads of experiences, heritage, culture and values into formidable pathways and uncommon bridges to our esteemed aspirations.” A Certificate of Recognition for philanthropy from the California Legislature Assemblyman, Mike A. Gipson, Chair of the Democratic Caucus at the California House of Assembly was a major highlight of the event. Mrs. Esther Ikeji, an exemplar, in service as executive of the organization since its inception, was honored with Meritorious Service Award due to her devotion, continuity and articulate visions central to ASWA-SC. Ms. Adaobi Gwacham, a franchisee, received the Entrepreneurship and Community Service Award, while Queen Uche Umeagukwu, the current Miss Africa World, obtained a Philanthropist Award and Ms. Omelogo Udeze, a Community Service and

•Mrs Obiano

•Dr. Ijeoma Omekam, SSA on Diaspora, Culture and Tourism, with Her Excellency’s award and citation.

•ASWA-SC, current and past executives cutting the anniversary cake.

L-R Mrs. Chinenye Ojukwu (Secretary, ASWA-SC), Mrs. Evelyn Okafor (Board Chairperson, ASWA-SC), Dr. Ijeoma Omekam (SSA on Diaspora, Culture and Tourism), and Attorney Mrs. Amaka Ada Akudinobi (President, ASWA-SC).jfif

Mentorship Award, thus extending the association’s determination for a fine balance between generations and the future. In the words of Iyom Josephine Akametalu, Co-Chair of the Anniversary Committee,

“their respective successes are significant for what the future holds for the community, especially the roles of women in building the desired bridges.” As anniversaries go, especially as days of remembrance, guests left not just with me-

mentos but scintillating memories that long will be treasured. The association being united in vision and purpose, from all accounts, cemented distinctively sturdy scaffolds for building bridges to brighter future through this epochal accomplishment.

sion staring the APC in the face, as it herds the dissatisfied and aggrieved among the delegates into the convention grounds in Abuja. The APC, formed on February 6, 2013, was a merger of three political parties, christened “Legacy Parties,” comprising of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). On July 31, 2013, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave it a seal of approval to become a single political party, and subsequently withdrew the operating licenses of the legacy parties. However, in November 2013, a breakaway faction of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with five PDP governors (Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto)); former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and many lawmakers, fused into the APC. Obviously in its bid to “grab power” from the PDP, the APC opened its doors to all manner of politicians, even to persons of questionable characters, and others whose antecedents were at variance with the new ethos the party preached it would bring to office. Thus, the APC became a platform for strange bedfellows with differing “idealogical” outlooks. Yet, this anomaly wouldn’t have impact-

ed its cohesiveness were there a concrete agreement on sharing of positions among the groups that congregated in the party, prior to the elections in 2015. The absence of such a sharing formula resulted in three quick scenarios: the contentious election of principal officers of the National Assembly, with its aftermath till date; delay in forming the federal cabinet; and alleged lopsided appointments, especially heads of security bodies and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). In the choice of officers of the assembly, the APC lost, to forces outside its control, the positions of the Senate President, Senate Deputy President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. While the Senate President and House Speaker are APC members of the nPDP extraction; the Senate Deputy President is of the opposition PDP, whose members collaborated with “dissident” APC lawmakers to install the principal officers. Flowing from the crisis is the seeming half-hearted supports of the legislature for the programmes of the APC and its government. Which is why the two chambers, dominated by the APC, have technically become an opposition to the party, and often act as cogs in government’s plans. This accounts, for instance, for delay or outright refusal to confirm executive’s nominees; delayed passage of yearly budgets; refusal to approve essential financial proposals; sitting on bills to advance and strengthen government policies, such as

the war against corruption; censuring of officials of the executive due to their (lawmakers’) suspicious personal battles; and threats to impeach the President of the Federal Republic. Trending, and hot on the plate is the rumpus that followed the ward, local government and state congresses of the APC, in which a major segment of the party, including political heavyweights, alleged being schemed out by powers located at the national headquarters in Abuja. The congress logjam, and the warning by the nPDP members to pull out of the APC should their grievances of “marginalization and persecution” not addressed satisfactorily, appear as the last chance to save the party, as it goes into the national convention, barring any legal snare from unappeased members. Whoever emerged the national chairman, together with his NWC, would have his hands full: Finding immediate and sustainable solutions to the many problems threatening to implode, divide and possibly disintegrate the APC before, during or after the 2019 elections. The “magic wand,” though, is to put all cards on the table, and make bankable promises to right the wrongs that emanated from the APC’s inability to manage its electoral victory of 2015. It’s no time for platitudes; the chestnut must be timeously pulled out of the fire, for the party to survive!

APC convention: Work cut out for new leadership By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

y last week, about 179 members had indicated interest in positions in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds its national convention this Saturday, June 23. Critical to the survival, and success of the party is the National Working Committee (NWC), headed by a national chairman. The incumbent, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has ruled himself out of the contest, leaving three party chieftains, all former governors, vying for the position zoned to the South-South of Nigeria. They are Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Prof. Osereimhen Osunbor (Edo State) and Chief Clement Ebri (Cross River State). While endorsements and realignment of forces are ongoing for these candidates, it’s imperative for the right man to emerge as the national chairman because, from the get go, he would have his work cut out for him: his table crammed with barelytouched, and unresolved problems that have dogged the party since 2015. The obstacles - a measure of APC’s inability to manage its victory at the polls - range from lack of a well-consummated merger of the party; absence of an agreement on sharing of positions; crisis generated by the election of principal officers of the National Assembly; and insufficient buy-in into the programmes of the party and its government. The culmination of these teething, but avoidable troubles is the potential implo-

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

POLITICS

How I will lift develop my constituency, by Udeachara For about 40 years, he has faithfully bestridden the world of politics. It was in 1979 that Jude Okechukwu Udeachara, picked up interest in politics; then fascinated by the Second Republic glamorous, flamboyant politicians in the mould of the legendary Zik of Africa, Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe, among others. “I just followed them, go to rallies, follow them about,” he told BONIFACE OKORO in an interview in Umuahia. Now experienced and well-equipped enough to make people “follow him,” Okechukwu Udeachara recently made public his intention to contest for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. A second attempt! The 54-year-old Microbiologist and philanthropist, who has successfully combined business with politics, first ran for a public office in 2003 to represent Isuikwuato state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly on the platform of the National Democratic Party. He came second in that election, which he described as “an eye opener and a useful exercise.” In 2007, the grassroots politician attempted to run for the chairmanship of Isuikwuato Local Government Area. But that ambition was cut short as his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he joined in 2003, boycotted the poll on the suspicion that the then ruling Progressive Peoples Party (PPA) in the state failed to provide level playing field for the conduct of the council polls. Again, in 2011, he contested in the primary election for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency but lost. “The reason was very clear,” said the Special Adviser to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu on Trade and Commerce, while explaining why he failed in his 2011 bid, “our brothers in Umunneochi said that Isuikwuato did eight years of two terms through Uche Maduako and that they must complete their second tenure.” By stroke of fate, Umunneochi has done 12 years in the Green Chambers, uninterrupted, through Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. And Udeachara feels that it is the turn of Isuikwuato again. And he threw his hat in the ring. Recently, on Sunday, June 3, to be precise, Udeachara invited members of PDP from Achara-Mbaugwu (INEC Ward 7) to formally inform them of his intention to represent Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and sought their support. His supporters from Umunneochi, Isuikwuato and three other INEC wards from Uturu attended the event in solidarity. In his message of brighter and real hope for meaningful and solid, all-encompassing development and empowerment through effective and substantive representation during the June 3 gathering, Udeachara told his people: “I want to run for the House of Representatives on behalf of all of you, come 2019 elections. There is no

how I will embark on this quest without first informing my people in my ward. “I want to represent you because I strongly believe that I will make more positive impacts than the former occupants of that position. I have done this thing before in 2011. I contested in the primary election for the ticket of Isuikwuato/ Umuanneochi Federal Constituency and I came third. “But I purposely decided to contest in 2011 so that I will have that opportunity to see our federal constituency by going round. I was actually preparing for today, that was why I came out.” Intimating the people of the peopleoriented projects he wants to pursue if voted into the House of Representatives, the businessman promised that he would cause a world of life-impacting developments to flow in the federal constituency. “I am promising you today that I will make a lot of difference. The position of the federal House of Representatives is a very powerful position. So, I don’t really feel so happy when I see only what I call pockets of empowerment and development, pockets of government development in our federal constituency,” he said, adding that he would tackle the environmental and other infrastructural challenges facing the constituency with uncompromising commitment. His first assignment, he hinted, would be to champion the creation of a commission that would be charged with containing erosion, an ecological disaster that is ravaging many parts of the country, through a bill. “We have a major challenge in environmental degradation in our federal constituency, apart from the lack of basic infrastructure. As a federal house member, I will ensure that I will get a commission for Erosion in Nigeria, just like you have Niger Delta Development Commission. “We should have a Federal Commission for Erosion Control so that special budgets and allocations can be provided for checking environmental devastation and erosion nation-wide. Otherwise, one day we will be in our homes and our houses will go under the earth. I will move for the creation of that commission,” he assured. Despite huge deposits of granite in the federal constituency, Udeachara said he is greatly pained that asphalted roads in the area are few. “There are no asphalted roads in Uturu and in so many places in Umunneochi and yet, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi local

•Jude Okechukwu Udeachara

governments have major deposits of granites in Nigeria. “So they mine our granite deposits, use them to asphalt roads across Nigeria and we don’t have asphalted roads in our federal constituency. I will make it a point of duty that every year, we must have in our national and state budgets, road projects in our federal constituency because we supply stones that are used in building roads all over Nigeria,” he said. He rued the fact that the university town of Uturu and other parts of the federal constituency are not connected to the national greed and vowed to redress that, revealing that he was already working to realize that through the intervention of the state government. For the purpose of industrializing the constituency and providing quality job opportunities for the teeming youths of the area, Udeachara said he would exploit his business contacts. As a businessman, he has been attracting multinational companies into the country and the constituency too. Therefore, his privileged position as a federal lawmaker will oil the wheel of such contacts and pave the way to promote agriculture in the area and the value chains therein. “I will collaborate with many multinational companies for the development of our federal constituency through industrialization. Apart from attracting projects from the state and federal governments, I will attract employment, development and empowerment from multinational

companies,” he added. One of his youth empowerment programmes would be anchored on sports. “I have been sponsoring youth football in this community for the past eight years. Then you can imagine if I go to the House of Representatives, with so much resources, through youth football, for men and women, I will be able to do personal empowerment to sponsor our youths to play football overseas. “I will sponsor football academies in the Federal Constituency and they will be running during my tenure and even beyond. And through the Football Academies, we will be able to produce football superstars that will play international football,” he said. He noted that there is much to do to improve the fortunes of the constituency and urged his people to rally round and support him as the best choice for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, to enable him realize his tall ambition. Since the June 3 gathering, Udeachara has engaged in aggressive consultation among stakeholders in the various wards of the constituency. And favourable responses have greeted his aspiration. The aspirant is emboldened. Given the groundswell of support that he has received in the course of his wardbased consultations, Udeachara may well be on his way to picking the constituency’s ticket at the party primary expected to hold between August and October this year.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS Extra SPDC flow station in Bayelsa not under attack -- Military

he Joint Military Force on Tuesday described as false, a report that three soldiers and a suspected pirate died in a shootout at an oil flow station in Bayelsa at the weekend. Major Abdullahi Ibrahim, spokesman for the force – “Operation Delta Safe’’ – told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC’s) Tunu Flow Station, where the alleged attack happened, recorded no such incident. “The report that three soldiers and an armed pirate died at SPDC’s Tunu Flow Station is not true. I am in touch with the officer in charge of the flow station; there was no such incident at the flow station. “Members of the public should disregard the report; Tunu station was not attacked; the facility is secure,” Ibrahim said. A media report had claimed that there was a shootout at the Tunu Flow Station operated by SPDC in Letugbene Community of Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa. The report claimed that the shootout occurred during an attempt by suspected armed sea pirates in four boats to invade the Tunu Flow Station where soldiers were stationed.

2019: Nigerian woman joins presidential race By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

ondon-based lawyer and evangelist, Angela Johnson, has joined the race for the control of Aso Rock Villa as the 2019 presidential poll gets into gear. The Amuvi, Arochukwu, Abia State-born evangelist who confessed she had been dreaming of marrying a president, an opportunity she had wished to utilize in actualizing her ambition of controlling the Presidency, however, decided to brace the contest and become the president herself in order to ‘draw Nigeria out

of the woods.’ “I decided to either marry a president or become a president to actualize my dreams for my country,” said the Evangelist who breezed into Arochukwu last Sunday to inform her folk of her intention to vie for the highest office in the land. Her mission for running for the 2019 presidential election, she said, was to ‘rescue Nigerian from the clutches of misrule.’ “God has asked me to go to my country and rescue Nigerians who are suffering in the midst of plenty,” she said, adding that things have not

been going on well in the country despite the abundant human and natural resources God has bestowed on the country. “When I decided to come out for the race, many things came into my mind. First, I decided to leave London and come down to inform all the Ezeogo (Village Heads) in Arochukwu, men and women in my village of my intention,” she said. The aspirant, however, did not disclose the platform under which she hopes to achieve her goal but instead solicited support of all patriotic Nigerians to enable her to save the coun-

By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

Stop shunning FG jobs -- Obiano tells Anambra indigenes By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

NUPENG Patron, Nwosu bags UN honours

rand Patron of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Peter Neto Nwosu has bagged the United Nations Eminent Peace Ambassador award. Nwosu, received the honours at the United Nations Sustainable (UN-SDG) Development Goals workshop on Indigenous Medicine and Herbal Practice which was organized by the International Association of World Peace Advocates at Universal Hotel Enugu. The award recipient is currently a front runner in the 2019 Anambra South senatorial race. He had earlier bagged Peoples Advocate Award for youth empowerment at the Nigerian Dream conference organized by the Law students senate committee on judiciary, Human Right and legal Matters of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The president of World Peace, Amb Per Stafen made the presentation which was coming in recognition of Comrade Nwosu’s philanthropic gestures and disposition towards the less privileged in society. His activities, the world body noted, was in line with the United Nation’s goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all. Amb. Paschal Buchi Ike stated that the workshop was organized to xray the role of indigenous medicine and herbal practice towards the attainment of SDG 3 which focuses on Universal Health Coverage based on equity, quality and affordability of healthcare for all citizens by 2030 to be achieved through the implementation of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services. A guest lecturer Prof. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu, Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka called on the practitioners of traditional medicine to strive to attain the standard in producing herbal medicine which he identified has the key to achieving the SDG.

try from further drifting into anarchy: “I need your support and I would go to Aso Rock come 2019 because God has destined me to be the President of this country.” Angela Johnson left Nigeria for London in 1986 armed with a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM). She quit her doctorate programme which she had hoped to do in London and veered into evangelism. “When I wanted to go for my doctorate degree, I had a calling from God and I began my ministry,” she explained.

• Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita during last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House Abuja

Emmanuel inaugurates $45m International market in A’Ibom

overnor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Monday, inaugurated the $45 million International market (Urua Nka) in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. Emmanuel, at the inauguration of the project in Eket, said that the market was one of its campaign promises made in 2015 to the people of the area. “These are some of my campaign promises when I came on board in 2015, to build an international market and attract foreign investment to the state. Emmanuel, represented by Mr Gabriel Ukpe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Foreign Direct Investment, said the market would be built on Public Private Partnership (PPP), investment. The governor promised to create enabling environment for project to thrive in the state. “Out of the 52 countries in Africa, they came to Nigeria; out of the 36 state in Nigeria, they came to Akwa Ibom; out of the 31 local governments in Akwa Ibom, they settled in Eket,” Emmanuel said. He assured the people that before the expiration of his tenure in 2023, Eket would become the` little London’ in Akwa Ibom. “This is just the first investment that will come to Eket, a lot more projects will be done in Eket Sena-

torial Districts,” he said The Governor reassured that he would commission the first phase of the project in the next six months. He said that project when completed would benefit the community and provide employment opportunities to the people of Eket. Emmanuel thanked Yiwu international Trade City of Nigeria and its partners for having faith in the government and people of the state. In his remarks, Mr Miao Jingbao, Managing Director of Yiwu International Trade City of Nigeria, said the project consists of first phase and second phases. He explained that the first phase of the project would be completed in the next six months. “The project when completed, it will be number one in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria,” Jingbao said. He said that the company would continue to collaborate with the state government to bring more projects to the state. Jingbao said the investment would gulp 45 million U. S. dollars, adding that the first phase of the project would have 3,000 shops. “The building will have ground floor, first floor and second floor.” He said that the project when completed would provide employment opportunities for

10,000 youths and women in the area. He said the community would benefit from the project and would improve the living standard of the people in the area. He explained that the company had already completed two projects in Eket, namely timber and the temporary markets site in the area. Also speaking, Mr Lawrence Jokotola, the facilitator of the project, expressed appreciation to the people of Eket in particular and Akwa Ibom at large for giving them the project. “We believe this project is a great promotion for local employment and economic development and solicited for cooperation of the people of Eket,” he said. He said that the project would be delivered on time with high quality standard. Earlier, Mr David Lawrence, the member representing Eket in the State House of Assembly, thanked the Chairman of Eket LG, Mr Frank Archibong for being supportive of the project. He said that the project would “change the commission narrative and economic power of the Eket people.” He assured that the investors are competent and would deliver the project as anticipated.

overnor Willie Obiano has decried the continued apathy displayed by Anambra indigenes towards Federal Government appointments, expressing the fear that ‘if the trend did not change, the state may lack in some key statutory appointments and positions like Permanent Secretaries, and others.’ In a statement by state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr CDon Adinuba, the governor noted the recurring low turnout of applicants for job opportunities into federal Institutions ‘leading to a situation where slots allocated to indigenes of Anambra State are either lost or taken up by other applicants claiming to be from Anambra State.’ Of particular concern to the governor was the ongoing recruitment at the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigeria Prison Service, where he stated that ‘slots allocated to indigenes of Anambra State are either lost or taken up by other applicants claiming to be from Anambra State.’ “To correct this trend, the governor wishes to encourage all eligible applicants with University Degrees, HND/OND, NCE, SSCE/ GCE and other requisite or special/technical qualifications to check online and urgently apply for appropriate positions in the ongoing recruitment exercise of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Prison Service.” Obiano, in the statement, charged parents, guardians, community, religious organizations and stakeholders ‘to encourage the eligible youth take advantage of opportunity to gain employment and ensure that the state’s slots in the Federal Civil Service were promptly taken up by the relevant persons from the state.’ Further fielding questions by journalists, Adinuba urged the media to assist in explaining the full benefits of taking up the slots meant for the state in every federal parastatals, even as he said the state may fall short in some key statutory appointments and positions like Permanent Secretaries, and others.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

BU$IN£SS

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

EIA price forecast validates oil benchmark for 2018 budget Short-Term Energy Outlook Price Summary

2016

2017

2018

2019

WTI Crude Oila (dollars per barrel)

43.33

50.79 64.53

61.95

43.74

54.15 71.06

67.74

2.15

2.42

2.77

2.74

2.31

2.65

3.11

3.05

2.10

2.51

2.93

2.99

Brent Crude Oil (dollars per barrel) Gasolineb (dollars per gallon) Dieselc (dollars per gallon) Heating Oild (dollars per gallon)

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

•Sen. Udo-Udoma, Minister of Budget & National Planning. over comments from the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosum and the Director-General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha, that government would now have to embark on more borrowings to meet funding requirements for the new budget figures. Mrs Oniha, said government must take loans to fund the budget and capital projects, sparking concerns about worsening Nigeria’s total public debt stock which currently stands at about N29.9 trillion. “We borrow because there is revenue shortfall. The National Assembly passed the budget last week and we know it was higher than what the executive presented. So, as a debt manager, what

CBN EXCHANGE RATES JUNE 19TH, 2018 Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

304.85 US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING 408.1332 357.4671 EURO 308.5526 SWISS FRANC YEN 2.7688 0.5277 CFA 431.8513 WAUA 81.2868 RIYAL YUAN/RENMINBI 47.6654 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 23.1737

305.35 408.8026 358.0534 309.0587 2.7734 0.5377 432.5596 81.4202 47.7441 23.2117

305.85 409.472 358.6397 309.5648 2.7779 0.5477 433.2679 81.5535 47.8227 23.2497

the 2018 price projection on the long term price assumption was based on three price scenarios of $35 (low), $45 (medium) and $55 (high), stressing that most price forecasting agencies thought that the medium price scenario had the highest probability of occurrence which the 2018 budget was hinged upon. “Consequently, a conservative price projection of $45 per barrel was used as benchmark for crude price for 2018 budget,” Mr. Wunti stated. However, by the time the twochamber National Assembly harmonized its figures, the oil revenue basis for the budget rose to $51 per barrel. The increase generated comments some of which challenged the National Assembly’s rationale for the alteration. However, Senator Sani Yerima had explained that the Committee on Appropriations on the 2018 Appropriation Bill spent quality time to assess the bill to ensure progress in the nation’s economic recovery. Acting Chairman Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr Victor Muruako, also justified the increase of the crude oil benchmark by the National Assembly, saying it was closer to prevailing market price reality which hivers around the $80 per barrel threshold. The Oracle Today’s check on the export market showed that the oil complex strengthened steadily on Monday as August Brent crude settled $1.90 higher

HE rising concerns over the wisdom of the National Assembly in raising the revenue basis for the 2018 budget may have been resolved the American Energy Information Administration (EIA) which has projected that prices for the Nigerian crude oil grades would average $71 per barrel in the year. The price projection which is contained in the June 2018 update of the Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) published by the EIA strongly infers that Nigeria’s revenue projection from sale of crude oil would exceed revenue targets as approved by the National Assembly by $20 per barrel. The National Assembly had on May 16 passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N9.12 trillion. The new budget is some N508 billion bigger that the original estimate of N8.61 trillion presented by President Muhammed Buhari in November 2017. Crude oil production rate remains at an average of 2.3 million barrels per day and exchange rate was retained at N305 to one dollar. Key highlight of the increased budget is modification of the basis for fiscal calculations which raised the market benchmark price for Nigerian crude oil grades by $6 from initial $45 per barrel of crude oil to $51per barrel. Thus the 2018 oil price average forecast by EIA would seek to resolve the budding controversy

I am looking for is to see where the funding of that incremental size may come in from,” she said. According to the DMO chief, federal government would take loans to make up for that shortfall in budget. The Oracle Today reports that revenue receipts from export of crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids account for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s total foreign exchange income and about 85 percent of total funding support to government’s annual budgets. Thus the price benchmark for crude oil forms the critical component of basis for government’s fiscal planning and revenue projections. It was therefore clear that the National Assembly had a lot of work to do on the budget when the disconnect between price realities in the international market and corresponding benchmarks used in calculating revenue estimates for the 2018 budget was very clear. The National Assembly had initially raised the oil price basis for the budget from President Buhari’s peg of $45 per barrel to $47 per barrel following recommendation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, at NNPC, Mr. Bala Wunti, told House of Representatives Joint Committee on 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja that

•Tourism

Energy Nigeria’s oil revenue outlook dims on glut concerns P20 e-Platform

30% Broadband target: End in sight to Right of Way Issues – Govt P22

Travel

Nigeria tourism needs modern data sources, improved statistics – Experts

P26

Insurance

Lagos Govt pays N37bn to retirees in 3yrs P28 Equity & Capital Market EMEA Bond Awards: Opportunity to finance National infrastructure P30 Money Market

Nigeria’s importation level to reduce by 2019 P31

Cont’d on Page 21

Stock Market Highlights As At 19TH JUNE, 2018

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP BOND CAP ETF CAP

S/N

38,664.15 3,889.00 390,466,068.00 N6,115,218,675.77 N14,006,108,960,878.94 N10,028,479,869,289.90 N6,962,567,514.13

Coy (By Volume) Volume

UBA ZENITHBANK ACCESS CCNN GUARANTY

Value(N)

123,001,747 N1,304,046,461.05 35,795,220 N919,939,989.30 34,829,861 N365,541,131.50 32,711,970 N850,355,702.90 23,006,938 N927,135,088.45

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close INTBREW N41.3 ETERNA N6.3 IKEJAHOTEL N2.85 NB N110 CILEASING N1.73

Five Tope Losers

UNILEVER FO FLOURMILL NASCON N ZENITHBANK

N55 N36.95 N32.75 23.95 N26.4

Current Change N44 N6.61 N2.99 N110. 1 N1.82

%Change 2.7 6.54% 0.31 4.92% 0.14 4.91% 0.1 0.09% 0.09 5.20%

N53 N35.15 N31.15 N22.8 N25.5

-2 -1.8 -1.6 1.15 -0.9

-3.64% -4.87% -4.89% -4.80% -3.41%

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

BUSINESS

Nigeria’s economy needs to create over 3m jobs yearly – BPSR report T HE policy report of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has said that within the next five years, Nigeria’s economy is expected to create over three million jobs yearly to maintain the current unemployment rate of 14 percent. The report also said that the 2016 global Youth Development Index (YDI) scored Nigeria 0.51 percent ranking 141 out of 183 countries but that in the domain of employment and opportunities, the country ranked 158. Also, the report said between the first and third quarter of 2016, the economy created 422,133 net jobs while 3.7 million people (comprised about 70 percent youths) entered the labour force in the same period. As a way of finding lasting solution to the problems, the report listed seven recommendations as very necessary to address the immediate and longer-term aspects of the youths’ unemployment challenges.

These are: revamping the approach to government’s role in job creation by shifting from direct job creation to a coherent strategic approach, facilitating the development, implementation and continuous renewal of the strategy, re-structure skills acquisition and training system in Nigeria via a comprehensive skills development ecosystem as well as developing a results-based monitoring and evaluation system under the auspices of the economic management team to track and adjust the implementation policy, among others. Inaugurating the inter-ministerial task team, the Acting Director-General of the BPSR, Mr. Ibrahim Arabi, urged members of the team to take the assignment with a sense of high responsibility. He also expressed confidence on the team under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, to properly drive the implementation of the recommendations of the •Vice President Yemi Osinbajo receiving a delegation of the German Industry & Commerce in Nigeria, led by report to a logical conclusion. Mr Ulrich Konstantin Rieger, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tuesday.

ATIONAL Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation for May, decreased to 11.61 per cent (year-on-year) from 13.34 per cent recorded in April. The NBS disclosed this in its CPI and inflation Report for May released on Wednesday in Abuja. According to the bureau, this figure is 0.87 per cent points less than the rate recorded in April. The bureau said the figure showed 16 consecutive reductions in inflation rate since January 2017. The report stated that increases were recorded in all the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index. On a month-on-month basis, the bureau said the Headline Index increased by 1.09 per cent in May, up by 0.26 per cent points from the rate recorded in April. It stated the percentage change in the average composite CPI for 12 months period ended May over the average of CPI for the previous 12 months period. It, however, measured the CPI at 14.79 per cent in the period under review, showing 0.41 per cent point lower from 15.20 per cent recorded in April.

The report further showed that the urban inflation eased by 12.08 per cent (year-on-year) in May from 12.89 per cent recorded in April. In addition, it stated that the rural inflation also eased 11.20 per cent in May from 12.13 per cent in April. On month-on-month basis, it stated the urban index rose by 1.10 per cent in May, up by 0.25 per cent from 0.85 per cent recorded in April. Also, it noted the rural index rose by 1.08 per cent in May, up by 0.26 per cent from the rate recorded in April (0.82) per cent. According to the report, the corresponding twelve-month year-onyear average percentage change for the urban index was 15.10 per cent in May. This, it stated was less than 15.47 per cent in April, while corresponding rural inflation rate in May was 14.53 per cent compared to 14.95 per cent recorded in April. Meanwhile, NBS said the composite food index rose by 13.45 per cent in May compared to 14.80 per cent in April. The bureau stated that the ‘’All items less farm produce’’ or Core inflation, which excluded the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 10.7 per cent in May 2018.

By KAYODE OGUNWALE

a Moody’s Vice President - Senior Credit Officer and co-author of the report. “The rise in hydrocarbon production will support growth in both countries and will help to stabilise their deficits. But revenue generation remains a key weakness for Nigeria, while Angola will find it hard to cut its already sizeable debt load as its kwanza currency continues to depreciate.” Nigeria and Angola are two of Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economies, accounting for close to 40 percent of the nominal GDP of the sovereigns that Moody’s rates in the region. While increased oil production will support a pick-up in growth in both countries in 2018, they face challenges in attracting more investment in a low oil price environment. The report said, Nigeria has struggled to reform its oil sector, improve the regulatory environment and increase transparency. However, the Angolan authorities have created a predictable and transparent

By KAYODE OGUNWALE

Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.61 % in May – NBS 60m Nigerians unbanked – World Bank N By KAYODE OGUNWALE

TOTAL of 1.7 billion adults are unbanked globally out of which more than 60 million Nigerians are without bank accounts. This is according to 2017 World Bank Global Findex Database report on financial inclusion titled, “The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution” . The World Bank report revealed that globally, 1.7 billion adults don’t use formal banks or semiformal microfinance institutions to save or borrow money, even though more than half that number could access digital financial services. The report which is a collation of data from a survey carried out in 144 countries, in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gallup Inc., observed that 82 million (42 percent) Nigerians are living below $1.90 per day, implying that 42 percent of Nigerians probably don’t own an account, or have inactive ones. Nigeria was declared the world

poverty capital last year, with almost half of its population living in extreme poverty. A recent Bio-metric Verification Number exercise in 2015 in Nigeria, which resulted in many bank accounts going inactive, also contributed to Nigeria’s 67 million unbanked population. The World Bank Global Findex noted that 40 percent more men own accounts than women in Ni-

NEITI unveils data dashboard portal to simplify audit reports

IGERIA Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Thursday unveiled a data “DashBoard’’ platform to simplify its audit reports to ensure informed knowledge for public debate on transparency and accountability in the nation’s extractive industries. The NEITI’s dash board platform was developed as part of the implementation of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) policy on open data. The dash board was designed to simplify the data in NEITI’s au-

Dependence on oil will create future challenges for Nigeria, Angola – Moody’s

NTERNATIONAL rating agency, Moody’s, Monday revealed that continued dependence on oil and gas by Nigeria and Angola will lead to challenges in coming years. Although, Moody’s in its report said, Nigeria (B2 stable) and Angola’s (B3 stable) economies, external positions and public finances are expected to stabilise, their continued dependence on oil and gas means the two countries will both face a range of challenges in the coming years. According to the report, “for Angola, the key issue will be managing its liquidity pressures and higher debt burden alongside further currency devaluation. For Nigeria, it will be improving its ability to generate revenue.” “Both Nigeria and Angola have seen their credit profiles come under pressure following the oil price shock in 2014,” said Aurélien Mali,

environment for the oil sector compared to Nigeria and other regional peers. Angola’s main production challenge is its higher costs, meaning higher oil prices are crucial to unlocking future investment. In 2018, Moody’s expects the higher oil price and fiscal consolidation efforts to contain budget deficits at around 2.6 percent of GDP for Nigeria and around 2 percent for Angola. Increasing non-oil tax intake remains one of the biggest challenges both countries face in the coming years. The Nigerian authorities’ efforts to increase non-oil revenue since late 2015 have been largely unsuccessful, Moody’s said. “Angola’s new administration is also increasing attempts to improve non-oil revenues, for instance, with a new property tax and a planned VAT tax from 2019 onwards. Nevertheless, Moody’s expects revenues to remain at similar or only slightly

geria, meaning there has been no clear change in financial inclusion in Nigeria since the last Findex report was released in 2014. Other developing economies like Togo, Peru, Lebanon, Jordan, Algeria, Burkina Faso also have wide gender gaps in financial inclusion. Other developing economies (India, Bolivia) have moved in the opposite direction as gender gaps have been steadily closing since 2014.

higher levels in 2018-19, averaging 7.7 percent of GDP for Nigeria and 19.9 percent for Angola. Moody’s expects the ongoing currency adjustment will increase Angola’s debt burden to almost 73 percent of GDP by the end 2018, much higher than the B2 median of 41 percent of GDP (2018F). The debt trend is then expected to gradually improve, supported by a combination of average nominal GDP growth between 2018 and 2021 of around 19 percent and the relatively small fiscal deficits.” By contrast, the increase in Nigeria’s debt burden was much slower in recent years and Moody’s expects it to stabilize at around 20 percent of GDP by 2018 year end. Angola’s largest credit challenges are its sizeable borrowing requirements and liquidity risks. The country’s general government gross borrowing requirements will be 20 percent of GDP in 2018, a significantly higher level than previously thought, it stated.

dit reports, create access to userfriendly data in the reports, trend and analysis to ensure that information and data in the reports support citizens’ engagements and public debate. The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr Waziri Adio in his opening remarks, said the dashboard highlights the spirit of innovation that the board and management of NEITI was known for. “We believe in this mantra that you either innovate or you die, we also believe that we need to constantly use our vantage position in public service to expand and to create public value.’’ Adio said that the dashboard was to constantly push the boundaries and expand the frontiers of openness and accountability in the extractive industries. According to him, the dashboard is designed to avail Nigerians who are owners of the natural resources simplified information on the workings of the sector. “The extractive sector is the collective property of all Nigerians, as they do not only have the right to know, but to truly own the sector by having details of its operations. “It is only those who know about it that can engage in the conversation, so our goal with this project is to foster inclusion and ownership by constantly demystifying this sector.’’ Adio said for EITI to archive its purpose of reducing poverty, promoting development and reversing resource cost, there was the need for robust public engagement and debate of the happenings in the sector.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

BUSINESS

Fidelity Bank backs coalition on health awareness in Lagos

OALITION of Sickle Cell NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) in partnership with Fidelity Bank, Saturday in Lagos organised a 13-km walk to create awareness about Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD). The walk, which took place in Surulere area of Lagos State, was in commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Day marked annually on June 19. The Chairman of the coalition, Ms Toyin Adesola, said that the essence of the walk was to bring awareness to the challenges of living with sickle cell. “We want to educate people and the society in general about SCD so that stigmatisation is stopped. “There is so much ignorance concerning the disorder. People have a particular mindset that has been carried on for generations; for instance, the condition is perceived as `Ogbanje’. “We also want to show ourselves as one voice, so that the government and advocacy groups can have a better understanding of what it means to live with SCD,’’ she said.

Adeola said that there was no direct policy in place to help people living with SCD in Nigeria. She also noted that due to poor education among doctors and other medical personnel, people living with SCD die unnecessarily. “We are coming out to create the awareness about the condition so that there are direct policies and education in hospitals and schools, because teachers also do not understand the condition. “Also, because of stigma, parents do not speak out. “Our goal is to create awareness and push advocacy to the National and State Houses of Assembly to appeal to them to create policies that will benefit people living with SCD,’’ she said. Also, the Founder of one of the NGOs, Crimson Bow, Miss Timilehin Edwin, said that SCD could be well managed and people living with the condition could live fulfilled and happy life. Edwin said, however, that people living with the condition in Nigeria were limited due to stigma at work places and inadequate care in the

By VICTOR NZE

dustry-wide financial performance. “The Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) margin in our sample of 73 airlines rose to 5.7 per cent, from 4.7 per cent a year ago,’’ it said. IATA further stated that air transport industry’s financial performance also improved in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago. It explained that the improvement was driven by a pick-up in performance in Europe, in spite of the first quarter of the year being a seasonally weak period for European airline profitability. The report added that the stronger showings from airlines based in Latin America and parts of the Middle-East also supported the improvement. “Oil prices fell back towards endMay, but still rose by around U.S. $4/bbl during the month as a whole and remain almost 60 per cent higher in year-on-year terms. “The upward trend in oil prices has been driven by a combination of a gradual reduction in global oil inventories on the back of a tightening in supply, as well as ongoing geo-political concerns. “Nonetheless, while the futures curve has shifted up in recent months, it is still consistent with a modest decline in oil prices over the coming years,’’ IATA said.

Airlines record improvement in cash flow in Q1 – IATA

NTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the first quarter of 2018 recorded an improvement in cash flow in the airline industry globally. IATA stated this in its April-May Airlines Financial Monitor released, Wednesday in Abuja. It said that the sample of 45 airlines by the body indicated that free cash flow improved at an industry-wide level during the quarter compared to the same period in 2017. IATA explained that there was 3.8 per cent increase in revenues, up from 1.1 per cent during the same period the previous year. According to the organisation, this outcome mainly reflected an increase in net cash flow from operations to 18.4 per cent of revenue in its sample. “The industry-wide estimate masked a range in performance at the regional level. “European airline free cash flow declined in annual terms, following a sharp pick-up in capital investment, while airlines in Asia Pacific saw a moderate decline in net cash flow generation in the quarter relative to Q1 2017. “Despite the ongoing pressure on airline equities, the latest financial results from Q1 2018 have continued to point to a pick-up in in-

country’s health institutions. “In Nigeria, there are no laws in place for people with disabilities including people living with SCD. “People living with SCD should go to public health facilities to get adequate care and employers should not stigmatise against people with the condition. “If these are put in place, it will go a long way to improving the lives of

people with the condition and Nigerians generally,’’ she said. Head, Human Resources Recruitment, Fidelity Bank, Mr Chris Nnakwe, urged corporate organisations to collaborate to improve the health sector. “If all organisations can collaborate and have a pool of funds, that way, we will have more funds to do things that the government cannot do alone.

•Corporate Company Secretary of Strides Group, Mr. Paul Alimele-Morgans (left); Chairman, Strides Group Mr. Moritz Abazie; Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Trustees, Mrs Tokunbo Ajayi; Regional Head, SouthSouth, Wema Bank, Mr. Edah Emmnuel; and Head, Debenture, United Capital Trustees, Mr Chris Ohuonu, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of Rivers Vegetable Oil (RIVOC) in Lagos.

N1.2t cash backed for capital expenditure in 2016 – FRC report

ISCAL Responsibility Commission (FRC) has disclosed that out of the N1.58 trillion allocated for capital expenditure in 2016, only N1.219 trillion was cash backed. According to the commission’s 2016 Annual Report and Audited Accounts released, Tuesday, in Abuja, the cash backed amount indicates 97.75 per cent performance. It said that in comparison to the 2015 capital budget, the N1.58 trillion appropriated in 2016 was N1.03 trillion more than N557 billion appropriated in 2015. Of the N557 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2015, N387.3 billion was released and cash backed as against actual utilisation of N362.3 billion, indicating 65 per cent budget performance The 2016 budget which was tagged ‘Budget of Change’ was projected at N6.06 trillion. The 2016 FRC report stated that according to the Budget Imple-

mentation Report (BIR), N436.22 billion, N156.85 billion, N64.42 billion and N27.26 billion were released in the first, second, third and fourth batches respectively. It also said that N487.75 billion was released as Authority to Incur Expenditures (AIEs). The report said that the analysis of the BIR revealed that as at May 5, 2017, N1.191 trillion of the annual appropriated amounts released and cash backed had been utilised by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). It said that of the amount, N173.40 billion was disbursed as at Dec. 31, 2016, while N1.017 billion was disbursed between January and May 2017. “Out of the 40 MDAs reported upon by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), 24 had utilised more than 97.75 per cent of the amount cash backed. “This is more than the overall average utilisation rate. Five out

Building capacity key to Nigeria’s software development – ISPON

By ISAIAH ONWUANUMBA

NSTITUTE of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has said building adequate human capacity remains the only way to guarantee Nigeria’s future in global multi-billion dollars software industry. Speaking to the media in Lagos, weekend, newly-elected ISPON President, Dr. Yele Okeremi said this is the reason why the current National Executive Council’s agenda revolves around human capacity building, adding that “the agenda was necessitated by the need to solve

fundamental issues in the Nigerian software industry.” Okeremi, who doubles as the Founder/CEO of Precise Financial Systems (PFS) identified the inability to develop human capitals as one of the banes of the industry and the country at large. “Why do I say that? You take a look at the rest of the world; those who are most successful, what is their field? They are mostly software/ technology companies. What do we see in Nigeria? The people who have money, so to speak, how productive are they? So, that disconnect is what

“One of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals is `Do not leave anyone behind’. “For us in Fidelity Bank, we are not giving up and we intend to make this an annual event to create awareness about sickle cell,’’ he said. The coalition comprises 13 NGOs including the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria.

Nigeria has lived with for several years,” he said. Speaking further, the President said there are impediments to the industry including human obstacles. “Because they have refused to develop they blockade the avenues to development. So, it becomes a selffulfilling prophecy- you hear things like, ‘oh, don’t mind them. Nigerian software developers can’t deliver’. With that mind-set, they can’t invest in the developers. “Eventually, something happens and they have need to resort to the indigenous developers; but because you have neither believed nor in-

vested in the capacity building of these developers, who do you think they will deliver. It is like in football or any other sports- if the players fail to practice they cannot deliver,’’ he added. “There are two ways to break the cycle- from the demand or/and supply sides. On the demand side, you go telling people, ‘buy Nigerian software’. The question should be, ‘why should they buy’? We do not really have much control over them. But we can talk to ourselves as practitioners and say, ‘guys’ let’s do certain things differently.

of these utilised 100 per cent of their cash backed funds. Sixteen MDAs, however, utilised below the average utilisation rate of their cash backed funds.’’ The report said that implementation of the 2016 budget experienced some constraints which resulted from late passage of the budget and revenue shocks. Other constraints were uncertainty in the international market and fall in oil production as a result of militancy in the Niger Delta region. It added that some MDAs experienced delays in their procurement processes or were unable to access their funds. In all, it said that the capital budget achieved 75.03 per cent performance which when compared to previous years was quite laudable and should be sustained. It, however, said that to improve on the level of capital budget performance, contract budgeting and award should be consistent with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). This, it said, was to avoid inconsistency in budgetary provisions for budgets which leads to abandoned projects in the country. It also said that selective capital expenditure releases in the implementation process should be adequate to ensure meaningful project execution. The FRA 2007 was enacted to promote prudent management of the nation’s resources as well as ensure long term macro-economic stability and transparency in fiscal operations of the national economy.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

ENERGY

Nigeria’s oil revenue outlook dims on glut concerns

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

COMBINATION of factors in the international crude oil market, production losses inflicted by facility failures and possible price fall threaten to form economic headwind that might hit the Nigerian revenue projections in the short to medium term. The Oracle Today reports that bleak revenue outlook stares Nigerian in the face as its crude oil production numbers continue on a steep slope. The situation follows concerns over possible fall in the export prices for the commodity as the collective production ceiling imposed by a coalition of key producing countries of the world begins to shift upwards. The coalition of 14 member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) led by Saudi Arabia and another 10 key producing countries led by Russia had in 2016 created artificial supply barrier to the world crude oil markets by limiting production from member countries. The coalition had deployed the strategy which falls into line with OPEC’s traditional price band mechanism to withdraw some 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day (1.8 mbd) from global market supply volumes in order to tighten supplies and arrest falling prices of crude oil. The two groups had also agreed to extend the production cut till the end of 2018, a signal that also helped suspend prices at lofty levels in the first half of the year. Again, Consequences of Venezuelan mass exit of oil multinational majors plus the acute production drop; output declines in Angola and Nigeria; as well as United States sanctions on Iran

mean that OPEC has been over- prices and prevent a supply gap lenges mean that Nigeria might shooting its output cut targets. resulting from continued produc- not have available capacity to The group collectively produced tion declines in Venezuela and the match production race when the 31.90 mbd in May, some 840,000 potential impact of US sanctions coalition raises or dismantles the b/d below its collective ceiling of on Iran; Iran, Iraq and Venezuela production ceiling; and the exabout 32.74 mbd. are opposed to any attempts to pected price fall at a time of low The intervention of the coalition modify the output deal. output numbers would deliver had created supply sentiments Nigeria falls in the ranks of low huge negative impact on governthat helped rescue oil prices from output members of the 24 nation ment revenue. levels below $30 per barrel in 2016 coalition. The country whose Besides, with growing competo current range of $75 to $80 per economy slipped into recession tition for market share among barrel, sparking complaints from in 2016 as oil prices took a low producers of light sweet crude key industrialized countries of the cycle became one of the biggest oil, Nigerian cargoes are lingering world who sounded the alarm beneficiaries of the supply con- longer in the market place, makthat higher prices could slow eco- trol as improved oil prices also ing it even tougher for the counnomic growth and crash energy rescued her economy from reces- try to attract buyers in the spot demand again. sion early 2017 when the coalition market. The economic implication of announced extension of the outRelentless supply surge from the Nigethe Ameririan predicacan tight oil ment finds industry has situation in also begun Whereas market pundits that spoke on Mon- to deliver the fate of lean volume day point at global economic recovery support- impact on crude oil prothe demand ducers as the ed by the prevailing price upside as the basis for for different group’s supblends of Niply control sustained strong prices, investors and producers gerian light which sup- fear that loosening grip on supplies would ulti- sweet crude ports strong oil grades as prices at the mately water down prices and force resource key buyers in international Europe and dependent countries into debts oil market is Asia now about to give have wider way to price range of watering light crude glut. options that Revenue concerns follow fresh put cut. meet refiners’ specifications. indications that Saudi Arabia and Worrisomely, experts predict Market sources revealed last Russia are working to increase that the imminent alteration in week that about 30 million baroutput by as much as 1.5 million the global crude oil supply and rels of Nigerian July crude oil were barrels per day, a volume that demand dynamics would stimu- still unsold in the futures market, would neutralize the production late headwinds against Nigeria making the country’s crude oil cuts set by the 24 country coali- from many fronts. The country mainly a spot market commodity. tion. is currently suffering production Reports from the market stated Oracle Today reports that the losses associated with pipeline that bidders for the country’s Jucoalition is set to meet this week- outages; its existing market share ly-loading heavy and light sweet end immediately after OPEC’s is under threat by variegated light crudes have been absent from scheduled meeting on Friday in crude options from non-conven- the market with over 75 percent Vienna to decide the future of the tional plays in North America; of the total July output waiting output restrictions. leading producers in the coalition for buyers. Whereas Saudi Arabia and Rus- are pushing to dismantle support The situation has affected the sia have been keen to pump for strong prices. prices of the crude grades. Nigermore barrels to moderate oil The domestic production chal- ia’s best grades in terms of sulfur

‘

and gravity, Akpo and Agbami, have fallen to a seventh-month low as large quantities of oil from the June and July program remained unsold as traditional buyers sought alternatives. Reports from S&P Global Platts data showed that Akpo and Agbami were both last assessed at a 65 cents/b discount to Dated Brent, their lowest since November 13 when they hit the same level. The reports have it that marketing Nigerian barrels has been more difficult due to wide Brent-WTI spreads giving oil coming from west of the Atlantic Ocean a price advantage over Brent-related ones., “[US crudes] are taking a big share market share in the east. We need something to happen. The Brent/WTI won’t help,” a trader was quoted in the report. The Oracle Today reports that the combined market forces and associated supply implications point at the fact that the returning supply overhang in the international crude oil exchanges would dampen revenue outlook for economies that rely on daily fuel export as key sources of government funds. For Nigeria which is currently suffering production outages again following pipeline bursts in the Niger Delta, notices served by two world leading oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, combine with lean production numbers to form a double headwind for the domestic economy which is slowly recovering from recession. Whereas market pundits that spoke on Monday point at global economic recovery supported by the prevailing price upside as the basis for sustained strong prices, investors and producers fear that loosening grip on supplies would ultimately water down prices and force resource dependent countries into debts.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

ENERGY

US to lead global oil production growth with 10.8 mbd By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

NERGY Information Administration (EIA) projects that crude oil production from the United States of America (USA) will average 10.8 million barrels per day (mbd) for full-year 2018, up from 9.4 mbd in 2017, and will average 11.8 mbd in 2019. The Oracle Today reports that if the 2018 and 2019 forecast annual averages materialize, they would be the highest levels of production on record, surpassing the previous record set in 1970. The US production forecasts strongly indicates that the American biggest producer which achieved energy self sufficiency during the regime of former President Barak Obama would pump over one third of the collective daily output of 14 member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) which is currently manipulation market supply with 1.8 mbd withheld output. A report from EIA shows that US would not just lead global crude oil production in coming months it will also continues to grab more supply opportunities in the international market following output restrictions by 24 other producing nations. According to the June Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) by the EIA, most of the growth in global oil production in the coming months is expected to come from the United States. Tight oil production in the Permian region of West Texas and New Mexico is the main driver of rising U.S. production. Among other countries outside of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Canada and Brazil are also expected to experience significant growth in oil production in 2019. EIA expects that OPEC crude oil production will average 32.0 million b/d in 2018, a decrease of about 0.4 million b/d from the 2017 level.

Total OPEC crude oil output is expected to increase slightly in 2019 to an average of 32.1 million b/d. The 2018 and 2019 levels are 0.2 million b/d and 0.3 million b/d lower, respectively, than forecast in the May STEO, reflecting revised expectations of crude oil production in Venezuela and Iran. The lower OPEC forecast is one of the main reasons EIA expects oil prices to be slightly higher in 2019 compared with last month’s forecast. OPEC, Russia, and other nonOPEC countries are to assess current oil market conditions associated with their existing crude oil production reductions. Current reductions are scheduled to continue through the end of 2018. Oil ministers from Saudi Arabia and Russia have announced that they will re-evaluate the production reduction agreement given accelerated output declines from Venezuela and uncertainty surrounding Iran’s production levels. In the June STEO, EIA assumes declining Venezuelan and Iranian crude oil production in 2019 will be offset by increasing production from Persian Gulf producers, primarily Saudi Arabia. Depending on the outcome of the June 22 meeting, however, the magnitude of any supply response is uncertain. Overall, EIA expects global oil production to increase by almost 2.0 million b/d in 2019 compared with forecast oil demand growth of 1.7 million b/d. U.S. dry natural gas production averaged 73.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017. EIA forecasts dry natural gas production will average 81.2 Bcf/d in 2018, establishing a new record. EIA expects natural gas production will rise again in 2019 to 83.8 Bcf/d. . Growing forecast U.S. natural gas production supports increasing forecast liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. LNG exports averaged 1.9 Bcf/d in 2017. EIA forecasts LNG exports to average 3.0 Bcf/d in

2018 and 5.1 Bcf/d in 2019. Dominion Energy’s Cove Point LNG facility is ramping up exports. In April, the facility exported an estimated 13.4 Bcf, implying baseload utilization of 65%, and in May, it exported an estimated 23.5 Bcf, implying baseload

utilization of 94%. EIA expects Henry Hub natural gas spot prices to average $2.99/ million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2018 and $3.08/MMBtu in 2019. NYMEX futures and options contract values for September

•Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, addressing the Council of `Ministers of the Africa `Petroleum `Producers’ Associsation (APPO) in Abuja.

APPO: Baru pledges support for Kachikwu Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has pledged to support Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on his role as President of African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO). Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the corporation, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted a letter signed by NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, Engr. Saidu Mo-

hammed, as saying that Dr. Baru was happy for the Minister. “Dr. Baru described the Minister as a transformational and transactional leader, adding that his tenure would engender the much-desired favourable business environment that would optimize return on investment in the Industry in the African Continent and, in turn, impact positively on the lives of the various nationals whose respective countries rely on the hydrocarbon resources as the main stay of their

EIA price forecast validates oil benchmark for 2018 budget

Continued from P 17

at $75.34 per barrel on the London’s Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). At the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude grades also rose by 79 cents to $65.85 per barrel. Mr. Muruako stated that the new price benchmark used by the National Assembly to arrive at the budget figure was conservative and also on the safe side. Also, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) commended the adjustment in the oil benchmark for the 2018 budget, saying the new figure falls in line with current price realities in the market. According to the Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, the decision of the National Assembly to increase the benchmark is understandable. He pointed out that oil price was below $50 per barrel when the budget was presented to the National Assembly.

On the retention of the production figures used in the original benchmark, Mr. Wunti said government’s 2.3 million barrels per day crude oil projection for the 2018 Budget is achievable and realistic. Mr. Wunti said the production estimates were moderate in consideration of insecurity in the Niger Delta region. “The 2018 crude oil national production projection for Joint Ventures, Modified Carry Arrangement or External Financing, Production Sharing Contracts, Independents, Marginal Fields and Service Contracts is about 2,298,000 barrels per day,” he said. In providing highly needed insight into the price performance of crude oil in the export market in the year, EIA stated that spot prices for the Brent crude oil grade is to average $71 in 2018 and $68 in 2019. The updated 2019 forecast price is $2/b higher than in the May STEO. Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $77/b in May, an increase

2018 delivery that traded during the five-day period ending June 7, 2018, suggest that a range of $2.38/ MMBtu to $3.57/MMBtu encompasses the market expectation for September Henry Hub natural gas prices at the 95% confidence level.

of $5/b from April and the highest monthly average price since November 2014. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices are forecast to average almost $7/b lower than Brent prices in 2018 and $6/b lower in 2019, the report said. EIA expects oil prices to decline in the coming months because global oil inventories are expected to rise slightly during the second half of 2018 and in 2019. Expected inventory growth results from forecast oil supply growth outpacing forecast oil demand growth in 2019. EIA currently forecasts global petroleum and other liquids inventories will increase by 210,000 barrels per day (b/d) next year, a factor that, all else being equal, typically puts downward pressure on oil prices. If the price forecast by EIA holds reality, then the federal budget should be oversupplied with funds from oil income, making the borrowing proposals by the Finance Minister totally untenable as additional $20 per barrel would offset other funding deficits in the

budget. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun had told journalists in Abuja that federal government has need to take additional loans to meet the funding needs of the approved 2018 budget, pointing at the N508 billion built into the budget upon adjustment of the oil price benchmark by the National Assembly. Therefore, if the EIA price forecast holds as it is likely, then government’s revenue targets from oil as approved by the National Assembly will jump by 28 percent from $51 per barrel to $71 per barrel. And going by the original proposal by President Buhari, revenue from oil will rise by 58 percent from $45 per barrel to $71 per barrel. The price scenario from EIA posts significant revenue upside that guarantees funding surplus for the Nigerian federal budget for 2018. It also provides great insight into the structure of the market to determine critical indices that would form fiscal components for the 2019 proposal to avoid lingering delays associated with reworking of figures.

economies. “The GMD wished Dr. Kachikwu a successful tenure in his new position while assuring him of his maximum support.” The Oracle Today reports that Dr. Kachikwu took over the leadership of Council of Ministers of APPO after the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of African Petroleum Producers’ Organization in Abuja.

Cameroon hooks UK investors on Etinde FLNG

overnment of Cameroon has successfully secured investment commitment from a UK company on the realization of offshore gas liquefaction project in the country. The deal followed a visit by the Cameroonian trade delegation to the British Trade Minister, Baroness Fairhead, deals were reached between the Cameroonians and New Age to facilitake the realization of the floating gas liquefaction project. UK’s International Trade Secretary announced a raft of deals secured after overseas leaders visited the UK. One of the is in Cameroon. Following Trade Minister, Baroness Fairhead’s, meeting with Minister Secretary General Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh of Cameroon, UK based oil and gas company New Age, and the Cameroon government have agreed a deal which will see the development of a FLNG project offshore Cameroon that will utilize natural gas from the Etinde field. The project is of huge importance to the African country, who will be able to ramp up its gas export operation, in turn generating a huge revenue stream for the public treasury, while also helping to develop offshore infrastructure in support of future local power generation.

The Oracle Today Tuesday June 27, 2018

e-Platform

30% Broadband target: End in sight to Right of Way Issues – Govt

• Nigerian Government insists it is possible to hit 8% broadband in 6 months and that 54 million citizens must have access to high speed internet by year end. By ISAIAH ONWUANUMBA

PEX industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed that there is a solution in sight to the lingering Right-of-Way issues in the country and insists that 30% oof 180 million Nigerian population must have access to broadband internet in December 2018. The Country has so far hit 22% broadband access and NCC said the 30% is possible as Government is set to overconme the biggest inpediment to laying of fibre optics cable that will link robust internet to individual and households across the country. In 2013, Nigeria through the Presidential Committee on Broadband developed a five-year strategy to drive internet and broadband penetration and scale up the nation’s broadband growth by 30 percent. Our Correspondent gathered according to NCC that the 5-year plan is achievable as Nigerian state governors appeared to buy into the initiative of laying fibre which would cover upto 18000 km in Nigeria in order to reach a third of the population with highspeed internet. Right of Way Issues have been the greatest barrier to taking broadband internet to the last mile, or homes and individuals across the country as states and communities demand excessive payment from investors before they could lay cables to the communities, fees to exorbitant to pay. NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Danabatta, said “it appears there is a solution in sight as Professor, Yemi Osinbajo , Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria had a meeting with Nigeria Governors Forum and he used the opportunity to make a presentation to them in respect of Right of Way and the Governors appeared to buy into the initiative of laying fibre which would cover upto 18000 km in Nigeria and the initiative would be solely driven by the Vice President and with this initiative, solutions shall be proffered to the challenges caused by right of ways and the 30% broadband pen-

etration target set would be met and surpassed.” The NCC boss further said that the ACommission has appointed some operators to lay this fibre including MainOne, IHS Nigeria Limited, Broadbased among others. He also spoke on some benefits that come with high broadband penetration and emphasized the need for quality critical infrastructure. He said high broadband penetration would drive education Sector, health sector, financial sector, transportation sector and agriculture sector, he there said a concerted effort must be directed towards broadband penetration in Nigeria. He said if critical infrastructures are allowed to be situated in all Nigerian states it would create a win –win situation for both states government and operators. The Digital Transformation would change our country socially, economically and it would further lead to youth empowerment, foster e-learning, and open our society more. A number of industry expersts have pointed to the urgent need for broadbased collaboration to ensure the nation meets the 5-year internet strategy that ends 2018. Managing Director of Rack Centre, Mr. Ayotunde Coker said achieving the 30% penetration target by the end of 2018 under the National Broadband plan (NBP 2013-2018) will require the collaboration of the government and the private sector. according to him, “failure to achieve stakeholders’ collaboration and promote the broadband target as a national priority may mean that the target will be unrealizable.” He also added that “Government needs the private sector and must put the broadband agenda at the top of its ‘to-do’ list if it truly desires to drive a national broadband agenda to grow the economy across sectors.” This is expecially significant because to multiplier effects of broadband access to nations economy across the globe. Our Correspondent gathered according to reports that “research has shown that in emerging economies, 10% broadband penetration can drive

• Mohammed Odunowo, Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, NCAA; Engineer Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) NCC; Engineer Austin Nwaulune, Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC; Reuben Muoka, Head, Public Relations, NCC. GDP by about 1.8%. So, achieving every 10% penetration impact on GDP, to grow our GDP to about 6 or 7%, is a national thing. This will get us more access to data, education, more efficient health system, more efficient schools and that will give Nigeria a systemic uplift. So, let us get the core of achieving the 30% impact on the GDP and then drive it forward as a national priority.” With the second quarter of the year winding up and broadband penetration still at 22%, stakeholders are divided on the possibility of achieving the target by the end of the year. The broadband target of 30% by the end of this year can happen when government tacklet and put an end to some inhibitors to internet access. Issues of multiple taxation, right of way issues, provision of an enabling environment for the private sector and need to remove those structural policies that affect InfraCos. There should be tax incentives to deliver broadband connectivity by InfraCos. When these are done, there will be an increased penetration of broad-

band. Submarine broadband cable investments by private concerns like MainOne, Glo 1, West African Cable System,WACS and ntel’s South Atlantic Three (Sat 3), have a volume of terabytes lying fallow on the shores of Lagos while the country struggles fruitlessly to achieve last mile deployment. Broadband service providers have attributed this to the inability of the Federal and state governments to harmonise the Right of Way (RoW) levies that give operators access to deploy services. The National Economic Council Right-of-Way guideline stipulates N145 per metre for laying fibre network in every part of the country. But it is observed that states have arbitrarily fixed their own charges which range between N1,500 and N6000.While states like Rivers and Abia, charge N1,500 and N2,000 respectively, others like Lagos, Delta and Ogun charge up to N5840, N4,600 and N6,500 respectively. NCC NCC stated that there are about 33,000 2G, 29,000 3G and 4000 LTE sites deployed as at April 2018.

As part of the initiative to achieve the National Broadband Plan, target for broadband penetration, NCC said the commission had licensed and auctioned frequency spectrum to some new and existing licensees. Some of the firms, our Correspondent gathered, include Bitflux Communication Limited (Bitflux), MTN Communications Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited among others. He explained that the Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, have deployed about 52,000 kilometres of fiber optic cables as at April 2018. Furthermore, the commission, through the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, is implementing the following access and connectivity programmes for the under-served and un-served areas across the country which include: BTRAIN-Backbone Transmission Infrastructure of over 3,250km of fiber across six geo-political zones-Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) :155 BTS sites. It is hoped that Government intervention will put an end to the lingering issues of Right-of-Way and bring fast, robust internet access to 180 million citizens.

Adhere to Nigerian content development plan to qualifying for IT procurements, NITDA tells Coys •NITDA says Companies must adhere to the criteria stated in Nigerian Content Development Program in ICT to Qualifying for IT Procurements in the Implementation of the 2018 Budget as it enforces Nigerian Content Development Plan.

ATIONAL Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announed that it is vigorously implementing and enforcing the Nigerian Content Development Plan in ICT as a sustainable framework for the strategic development of ICT in Nigeria, according to statement Monday. The release signed by Mr Kasim Sodangi, National Coordinator, Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC), NITDA, added that this is in line with the mandate of NITDA to promote the development of IT in Nigeria and Executive Orders 003 and 005 of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the promotion of local content. It may be recalled that in December 2013, NITDA issued the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT as a coherent

framework for the development of ICT in Nigeria. The Strategic implementation Plan for Nigerian Content Development established the Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC) as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to coordinate the implementation of the program and supervise compliance with the Guidelines. NITDA said the ONC has issued hundreds of notices and has intervened numerous times to ensure the Guidelines are enforced and that indigenously developed IT content is given priority in the procurements of MDAs. The ONC under the supervision of NITDA has ensured that data hosted by MDAs outside Nigeria is repatriated to Nigerian Data Centres in line with the provisions of the Guidelines. NITDA is also utilizing various instruments within its

operations to ensure implementation of its Guidelines. The Agency has forged functional partnerships with National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Computer Professional (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) and other regulatory MDAs to ensure implementation of the local content policy of the Federal Government and its Guidelines on Nigerian Content. The Agency has directed strict compliance with the Guidelines through the IT Project Clearance process. MDAs seeking to implement IT procurement projects are compelled to disclose project alignment with Government’s local content policy and comply with all extant regulations. In March 2018, NITDA issued a

framework for the registration of Indigenous IT Service Providers and Contractors in Nigeria. The process is designed to ensure local companies with proven indigenous capability are given priority in executing IT procurement jobs in Nigeria. NITDA therefore directs all indigenous IT service providers and contractors not yet registered with the Agency to immediately commence their registration process for verification and classification of capacity as IT Companies in Nigeria. In implementing the 2018 budget, NITDA will advise MDAs to avoid implementing IT Procurements with companies not registered with NITDA, as they may not have the capacity or professionalism to deliver IT projects. This is to reduce the high incidence of failure and poor delivery of IT projects in Nigeria. Currently, NITDA is in the process of amending the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT. Various stakeholders have made inputs for the amendment of

the Guidelines. Inputs have been received from the Telecom Sector Industry Working Group at a session facilitated in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). NITDA plans to issue the amended Guidelines before the end of third quarter of 2018 (Q3). The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is an Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Agency was created in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and co-ordinate general IT development and regulation in the country. Specifically, Section 6(a, b & c) of the Act mandates NITDA to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria; and render advisory services in all information technology matters to the public and private sectors.

The Oracle Today Tuesday June 27, 2018

e-Platform

2018 FIFA World: Why the biggest football stadium is moble and online – Facebook •The biggest football stadium in the world will be mobile and social and it offers marketers opportunity to get under the skin of football fans and engage with them directly.

HE kick-off of the first match in Russia on june 14 has signal the start of what will likely be the biggest mobile and social media event the world has ever seen. It’s an unprecedented opportunity for marketers to engage with people about a subject they are truly passionate about. Looking back at what happened in 2014 in Brazil, more than 350 million people on Facebook shared an astonishing 3 billion posts, comments and likes related to the tournament. The final between Germany and Argentina remains the most talked about event on Facebook ever. And this year’s event in Russia will no doubt be even bigger. We know that because since 2014, global Facebook Daily Average users have grown by 60%, with an impressive growth here in Africa as more people start to connect to the Internet via smartphones. Facebook said users love interacting with sports, of which football is by far the most followed. Today, we have more than 500 million people worldwide across Facebook and Instagram who show their love for the beautiful game by following their heroes, football clubs and discussing the game. How do brands and advertisers interact with this huge base of football fanatics? We’ve taken some time to learn more about football fans on Facebook and Instagram, whilst looking at the key trends that marketers should be aware of. Let’s look at three key shifts we have seen in consumer media consumption over the past four years: When it comes to sport, the television in the lounge or the local pub is not the only screen that matters these days. Sports fans are watching their favourite teams and tournaments on multiple devices, especially their smartphones. And because mo-

bile has no off switch, users are engaging with sports 24/7/365, not just during the big matches or events like opening and closing ceremonies. According to Elizma Nolte, Head of Business Marketing for Sub-Saharan Africa, Facebook, :our research across one million people in the US confirms that Facebook usage peaks during the ad breaks when there is a major event on TV as people turn their attention from the big screen to the small screen to discuss what they’ve just seen. Another study we commissioned in the US found 90% of people who watch sports use a mobile device while watching games. Of these people, 59% look at social media while the game is on. That means marketers have a terrific opportunity to get involved in the event and engage with fans — and they can do so in a highly efficient and targeted manner. If you’re not fortunate enough to afford the price tag of advertising around the game on TV, Facebook is a cost effective manner of positioning your brand where the behind the scenes action is taking place. Recent research conducted by Kantar Millward Brown across 21 campaigns that ran across TV and Facebook showed that Facebook was nearly 10 times more cost efficient at driving reach than TV (based on average investment across channels and corresponding reach achieved). At the same time Facebook delivered similar brand uplifts to TV - nearly double that of print, and four times higher than radio, digital video or digital display. Mobile is breaking down the barriers between people and their heroes. Gone are the days of carefully scheduled interviews or waiting for press conferences to hear from the players. On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, fans get to interact directly with their sporting heroes and have a firsthand glimpse into

translation (14%) and communication (10%) websites respectively. Interestingly, games websites sit in fourth place, generating only 9% of the total search requests. We can also see a clear language difference for search requests: for example, video and music websites are typically searched for in English, which can be explained by the fact that the majority of movies, TV series and musical groups have English names. Spanish-speaking kids carry out more requests for translation sites, while communication services are mostly searched for in Russian.

Report reveals what Nigerian kids are searching for online lobal online security corporation, Kaspersky Lab. in a latest report on the online activities of children – based on statistics received from its solutions and modules with child protection features – highlights children’s online activities and the importance of protecting them when online. For example, video content globally, comprised 17% of searches over the last months. Although many videos watched as a result of these searches may be harmless, it is still possible for children to accidentally end up watching videos that contain inappropriate content. The report shows anonymised statistics from Kaspersky Lab’s flagship consumer solutions for Windows PCs and Macs that have the Parental Control module switched on and from Kaspersky Safe Kids, a standalone service for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. For example, the report presents search results on the ten most-popular languages* for the last 6 months. The data shows that the video & audio category – including requests related to any video content, streaming services, video bloggers, series and movies – are the most regularly ‘googled’ by children (17% of the total requests). The second and third places go to

their world - whether it’s on or off the field. Today’s sports fans demand authenticity above all else, thanks to the way that mobile and social media gives them 24/7 access to the teams, players and experiences they love. One of the most powerful tools in the marketer’s arsenal is branded content adjacent to – and if possible promoted by – sporting heroes and influencers. Mobile has evolved into the largest video platform in history. We now expect to see great video content in our Facebook and Instagram feeds. And this is especially true for sport, where fans are uploading and watching a huge amount of videos during major football tournaments, for example videos uploaded to Facebook during Euro 2016 generated nearly 1 billion views.

overnment says it will showcase Nigerian SMEs, innovators and their innovations at ITU Telecom World in Durban. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced today that it will showcase the nation’s Medium-sized Enterprise (SMEs) , innovators and their innovations at the forthcoming International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecom World which holds in Durban, South Africa from September 10-13. A statement signed by Director, Public Affairs

have a bit more time to spend and it’s your chance to get them to lean in and explore your content - a Canvas Ad is great format in these moments. And then you have those lean-back moments, on the couch, when they’ll spend significant time watching content - scheduling a Facebook Live is perfect for these times. This month, the biggest football stadium in the world will be mobile and social. But their benefit to marketers is not just about scale. Not only do they deliver a massive audience, they give you the opportunity to get under the skin of football fans and engage with them directly, ensuring you can deliver truly relevant, personal and attention-grabbing messages to your target audience at the very moment they’re turning to the small screen.

SMASHED: Managing Director, Collingwood Learning, United Kingdom, Mr. Chris Simes; Sustainable Development and Alcohol in Society Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Mrs Titilola Alabi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ndegwa; Assistant Director, Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Mrs Amadi Dorothy; Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mrs Viola Graham-Douglas, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rue 14 Studios, Lagos, Ms. Keke Hammond, at the official launch of the Smashed Project, held in Terra Culture, Lagos.

Nigeria to deport Samsung MD

IGERIAN arm of government, the Senate has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service, must deport managing director of SAMSUNG, Mr Young Ho Jo, back to South Korea, for allegedly coming into the country without proper documentation. Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Lagos West) gave the order during an interactive session in Abu-

ITU Telecom World 2018: Govt to showcase Nigerian SMEs, innovators

Video is how people today communicate with each other. And it’s how they expect brands to communicate with them, too. Video should be at the heart of every consumer strategy, especially when trying to reach sports fans. At Facebook, we have spent a lot of time researching how people consume video and building innovative ad solutions for mobile video - from short-format videos that work well with the sound off, to Facebook Live, Instagram Stories and full-vertical video. We’ve discovered that people have different moods or modes that dictate the kind of content they’ll watch. Most of the time they’re on-the-go, looking for short, snackable content. Short videos or even a moving image is the best way to capture attention at this point. At other times, they

at NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo also added that the Commission is aware that SMEs Entrepreneurs and start-ups are critical drivers for economic growth and the country must harness these important players for national development. “Nigeria had a superlative outing in ITU Telecom World 2017, Busan, South Korea, when five of the country’s SMEs/Innovators made the final ITU Global listing for SMEs/Innovators awards. Three of them made the honours list,” NCC said.

ja weekend. Adeola said the resolution for deportation of the SAMSUNG managing director was adopted by the Senate Thursday, in line with recommendation to that effect by the ad-hoc committee in its interim report. Making the announcement to the hearing of the embattled South Korean and other operators of the Egina oil field project, he said that Jo’s stay in Nigeria illegally was discovered when his papers were scrutinised in the cause of the investigation. He said: “Mr Young Ho Jo, who has been working for the past two months in Nigeria as the managing director of Samsung without fulfilling legal requirements for such because he claimed he could not complete his documentation because the machines of the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board, NCMDB, broke down. “But the NCMBD wrote to us that their machine had never broken down during the period

claimed by the Jo showing that the man has contravened the Local Content law. “Going by recommendations made by this committee to the Senate and resolution adopted, managing director of SAMSUNG is no longer recognised on account of improper documentation as shown by papers he presented. “To the Senate and this committee, SAMSUNG MD is an illegal immigrant who must be deported by the Nigerian Immigration Service to whom a letter to that effect has been forwarded to the Ministry of Interior. “He can however come back to the country through proper documentation thereafter,” he said. The committee chairman revealed further that Jo during his illegal residency in Nigeria as SAMSUNG MD, also violated the Local Content Act by spending $1.6b illion of the $3.5billion contract, SAMSUNG got from $16.35bn Egina Oil Field Project in Goje, South Korea.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

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EDITORIAL

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Zamfara Gov mourns security issues, again, again Cont’d front page 1

nor, have left the people with little option than to make their own security arrangements. did have as much money, they resorted to ZAMFARA people, ordinary Nigerians, are weekly kidnapping them and calling relations or killed in overwhelming attacks. Their killers arbusiness partners to come and pay ransom rive in motorbikes, as many as 200 for a single on them. Some of the kidnapped are sold attack. They are armed. Of course, they kill. as slaves in a thriving business that covers They operate freely, and take whatever they the Sahara Desert, with Mauritania, which want, wherever they want, whenever they has excused itself from most international want. Only village vigilante groups oppose organisations, ensuring that it operates outthem. What can they do against such attacks? side conventions, as the capital of the human THE President’s response has been lethargic, with trafficking ring. statements refusing to isolate the security CATTLE rustling is another issue. Herdsmen comissues. In November 2016, on a visit to Sokoto plain that marauders steal their cattle. There State, garbed in military outfit, a presidenhave been military interventions. In fact, tial statement noted that, “President Buhari cattle rustling has been a more important restates his administration’s determination to concern for government than the ceaseless put an end to the spate of senseless spilling loss of lives. of innocent blood in parts of the country, and OFTEN ignored is the illegal mining of gold calls for restraint to allow the nation’s security in many parts of Zamfara. The attacks are apparatus to stem the undesirable trend. The so wide-spread that only one of its 13 local President prays that Almighty God will receive government areas is not affected. Some local the souls of the departed, and comfort their government areas in Sokoto State are also atfamilies.” tacked. Fights among rival illegal gold mining WHAT has been done? “The President has apgangs are common. They chase their oppoproved that the army division in Sokoto be nents right to the villages in reprisal attacks, upgraded to a full Brigade, which means that away from the mining sites. there will be more soldiers for the formation. THE hopelessness of the people exceeds that The battalion in Gusau (Zamfara State) will be of Governor Yari. Governments’ ineptitude, upgraded to a full Brigade and one of the bataskance and disinterest in attacks that once talions under the Brigade will be composed of claimed more than 70 lives, and that weekly Special Forces. The Battalion in Katsina is being take about 30 lives, according to the goverupgraded to a full Brigade,” according to the statement. EMIR of Zurmi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, where most of the people are killed, said: “These terrorists are known to us. Their major hideout is in a village called Kagara, very close to Bafarawa in Sokoto State, and a few kilometres from Shinkafi in Zamfara State. But despite several appeals to security agencies to storm the area, our appeals have failed. I need to state here that majority of the weapons used by bad people in this country are brought in from this area. I had reason to personally inform Zamfara State Director of SSS sometimes back of a large cache of weapons being brought into the country, but no concrete action was taken until the containers were moved away.” GOVERNOR Yari said: “On this particular incident, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies, but unfortunately they sent inadequate personnel to confront these people. I feel let down facing the people of this State whenever I remember the promise I made to them that when they elect President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings would end. But unfortunately, things are now getting worse.” ON 22 February when the President

addressed political, religious, and traditional leaders in Gusau, he provided no succour. “Your governor knows how I have been in touch with the Inspector-General to redeploy a number of police officers and to reinforce those available. Of course, I spoke to the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff and in their exercise, they have made some success, but to me they need to do much more especially the police. In every town at least there is a police station. “They are not given uniform and the rifle just to impress anybody but they are supposed to be sending intelligence and warning that something is about to happen. I don’t think I will say much about the armed forces but I will like to notice and make sure that there will be improvement before the rainy season,’’ the President said. “Despite efforts of the state government and security operatives, this problem has remained and as Muslims, prayer to Allah is our major weapons against any problem,” the state government said of its decisions to seek solutions in prayers. ZAMFARA people are not new to taking all matters to the Almighty. When meningitis ravaged the State, with more than 200 dead last year, Yari blamed the people and their sins. “God now decided to send Type C virus, which has no vaccination. People have turned away from God and he has promised that ‘if you do anyhow, you see anyhow’ that is just the cause of this outbreak as far as I am concerned. All they need to do is repent and everything will be all right”. IN Zamfara, the security and welfare of the people, is in the hands of the people. It is the same story everywhere, unfortunately.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

OPINION

How to resolve the Igbo dilemma (2) By OBASI IGWE

he logic is that if a large-scale Abandoned Property could be arranged to disorganize, relocate and cleanse some millions, why couldn’t they do so to a higher number and, yet again go scot-free. Almost 20 countries in North Africa and Middle East are a product of sectarian ethnic cleansing, which almost succeeded in southern Africa too. So, our well-meaning professors might rethink the idea that the caliphate abhors restructuring, when they’ve been restructuring Nigeria since 1967, including the “Southeast”, LGA and revenue allocation things designed to destructure the Igbo and East, and weaken their capacity in all respects. Unlike our casual imaginations, oil is only a stage in their preoccupations; primary is coastal access, desert encroachment, and lebensraum for the Fulani; such strategic indices that “Igbo leaders” pay scanty attention to, but at the root of the inspired herdsmen atrocities. Arising from the foregoing, the Igbo dilemma assumes four critical aspects: should we remain in Nigeria or not; what are the implications of any choice; under whose leadership; then the domestic and international dimensions. The civilized world knows that Igbo aspiration is freedom or independent statehood. But to some elites the Hobson’s choice is that since for whatever reasons, superpower military support is absent, Igbo can join with others to seek relative self-determination in

a properly restructured Nigeria. But, we cannot return to develop Igboland only to revert elsewhere to import machinery or export the products of our industry, while Igbo ports at our doorsteps, which exclusively served us for almost 600 years of European contacts, are blockaded against us in continuation of the genocide. This brings in the issue of Igbo unity and leadership. Nigeria invests so much to divide and incapacitate the Igbo, both Mbamiri, Ogboo, Anioma, Waawa, Ijekebee, Owerri, etc. Post-1970 corruption killed Igbo patriotism. The intelligentsia should unite. A start can be made by bringing together the countless Think Tanks and civil society organizations dotting the Igbo landscape. Lastly, the domestic and international dimensions: The Igbo need decipher the innermost intentions of other Nigerians, especially immediate neighbours. We need to cooperate with others, certain that while we suffer under the same system, perspectives differ. If any Easterner is apprehensive that Igbo will revenge over anything and, therefore, preferring slavery under the caliphate than paradise with the Igbo, we need to allay such concerns, albeit legitimate. God brought Eastern brothers together for a worthier purpose than vengeance. Is any Yoruba feeling better fulfilled as a preferred slave in an unequal condominium with the caliphate, provided the Igbo are further below, we need remind him of a deeper Yoruba civilization before 1804, whence we still await any form of civilization nearing Omo Oduduwa’s. They will remind Igbo of

our own failings, clearing the ground for an embrace, not just handshake. With history in mind, we shall know from the Middle Belt what they really intend for the Igbo in a One Nigeria: is it merely that Igbo should not abandon them to final caliphate conquest, or is there anything more ennobling they wish for the Igbo, such as uniting to end the feudal system subverting everybody. The Igbo are rightly afraid, so that not when the acid test comes, there is a reversal to old habits. There has to be reciprocity, at least consensus. Then, this: post-1966 Igbo leaders seemed to have abandoned creative international politics, which was also why Biafra failed. Modern wars are fought in coalitions. Even the US, with all her might, does not fight alone. The early British – missionaries - loved and admired the Igbo more than practically any other nation in Africa. But the bad blood between Jaja and Hewett betrayed the other side of Igbo as too self-confident, stubborn and independent-minded. With their awesome power, imperialists don`t like such people. Azikiwe, in tenacious pursuit of African independence directly sealed that perception of the Igbo as unyielding. Strategy without tactics do not a great objective attain. Imagine John Kerry in Nigeria going directly to the Sultan, the very apotheosis of fascist reaction; a British ambassador travelling all the way to Nembe to “see” their king. Great signals? With all the atrocities of the Buhari fundamentalist regime, only

Donald Trump, never a British official, has said anything concrete in condemnation. The British probably continue to see the caliphate and some others as better-suited to their purposes. The Igbo need to assure the West that we are both unwilling and incapable of standing in their way, so that they discontinue tolerating our elimination. We need to effectively engage Britain and America, persuading them that as they originally saw us, we share in almost all ideals of good society they believe in: bourgeois democracy, fundamental freedoms, gender equality, free enterprise, religious tolerance, secular state, trade, etc., and could be better allies than many others in such pursuits. Caliphates everywhere are a group of frightened families manipulated by foreign powers for sundry purposes, essentially against their own and other peoples. To change that cruel system, we need to engage the principals that use them, more than themselves, while not discounting the possibility of progressive factions of the Fulani emerging that shall genuinely believe in secular democracy and, therefore, a just society or peaceful separation. This is a major task for the Igbo today, whether inside or outside the cauldron we find ourselves. Action, and nothing else, is the name of the game. •Professor Igwe is of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

Snapshot of a moving target (4)

n my opinion, Offodile’s historical interrogation as well as the policy analysis undertaken by Oseloka Obaze in Prime Witness (especially in chapter 38 - Retroview), raises FOUR important questions about the policy focus and direction of the Buhari Administration: •Is “Nation-Building,” as opposed to “Nation-Management,” a policy focus, let alone a policy priority of the Buhari Administration? And as Oseloka Obaze observed along the same lines: “Unquestionably, Buhari had tried to forge change but change without a focus on nation-building, that act of creating a sense of national community among disparate peoples could hardly translate to substantial transformation. Hence his change modalities often met with reservations if not resistance.” • And what, one might ask, is the difference between the two: “Nation-building” and “Nation-Management?” Simply put: “Nation-Building” suggests that the guardians of the nation-state are committed to welding the various ethno-lingual groups that make up the modern nation-state called Nigeria into a single cohesive and patriotic nation by various means and methods—reformatory and/or revolutionary. “NationManagement” on the other hand, suggests simply the management of the status quo, which takes for granted that the status quo is either immutable or not amendable to change; or that its transformation may not necessarily be desirable.] • Is the much ballyhooed “Restructuring” a central policy goal and objective of the Buhari Administration? Does the Buhari Administration see the fundamental value and cogency of “Restructuring” the Federal Republic of Nigeria? • Does the Buhari Administration consider it a policy necessity, never mind a policy priority, to replace or amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, in order to bring about the structural changes that have been identified as necessary for the unity, political stability, modern growth and development of Nigeria? And Fourthly; • What relationship, if any, is there

In this installment, EMEKA ANIAGOLU examines what he considers as the “important questions about the policy focus and direction of the Buhari Administration” in former Secretary to Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze’s book, PRIME WITNESS: CHANGE & POLICY CHANGES IN BUHARI’S NIGERIA (2017). between a leader’s epistemological construct—of positivism versus fatalism or vice versa—and their conception of the possibility, urgency, never mind necessity for something called: development? For if a person has a worldview in which they believe that God has already ordained, and therefore, predetermined the trajectory of a person’s, community’s, society’s or nation’s life or existence, what is the use straining for and stressing over a positivist agenda such as the phenomena called: development? And, I would like to add a caveat to the foregoing queries in this vein: even if we miraculously achieve an efficient, institutionalized “democracy,” it will not guarantee Nigeria’s self-sustainable industrial development. Tanzania and Senegal are two African countries that have maintained democratic systems of government from the inception of their independence from Britain and France respectively, to this very day; yet, they are nowhere near the most industrially developed countries in Africa by any stretch of the imagination. Let me briefly share with you my analytical skepticism over the popularly presumed causal relationship between “democracy” and “development.” To begin with, I think it is empirically demonstrable that there is no such thing as “peace.” There is only “law and order.” But if it makes anyone feel better to call ‘law and order’ “peace,” be my guest! For me, the concept and/or condition of “Peace” is merely a philosophical euphemism and metaphor for “law and order.” The truth of the matter is that behind every successful system of law and order, is the in-

stitutionalized threat of violence and/or the actual use of violence. The “state,” through the instrumentality of government, is prosecutor, protector, “peacekeeper,” law enforcer, jailor, executioner, tax-collector and wager of war. Now, which one of the foregoing roles or activities of the “state” (via government) does not involve the threat of violence or its actual use? For example, what gives the court system its legitimacy – its authority – may issue from statutes, the Constitution or both; but what gives the court system its effective power is its enforcement capability: the police force. Once the “law enforcement” capability of the court system diminishes or disappears, the court system becomes essentially a “toothless bulldog.” And that, in a nutshell, is what military regimes do to national court systems, unless the court system is coopted by such military regimes to operate for their purposes. And even where the conceptual distinction between the mere existence of “law and order” and the integral presence of “justice” is made, one which I am apt to make and accept myself; the question still remains: how, for instance, is “justice” for the weak or the underdog in society to be enforced and/or safeguarded? I, therefore, argue that the problem with Nigeria’s “modern development” is not essentially the absence of a properly functioning “democracy,” though that too has its place; but rather the absence of law and order. Law and order undergirded by the philosophical and moral force of genuine nationalism and patriotism. The Chinese development model, has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt, that

law and order, guided by a rational, patriotic elite, not democracy as such, is the critical factor in the self-sustainable industrial development of a modern nation. India, the world’s largest democracy—modeled after Britain, ironically, following many years of non-democratic rule by Britain in colonial India—though developing industrially as well; is lagging behind China’s quantum industrial development; in spite of the fact that India is a democracy and China is not. Please, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to make clear that I am not advocating dictatorship or authoritarianism of the left or right; as a prerequisite for modern national industrial development; or suggesting that a genuinely policy-focused democratically elected government is incapable of carrying out fundamental national plans for modern industrial development.

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

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Travel & Hospitality

Nigeria tourism needs modern data sources, improved statistics – Experts By VICTOR NZE

ARTICIPANTS at the justconcluded 61st United Nations World Tourism Organisation-Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF) Meeting held in Abuja have called on Nigeria, as well as other African countries, to allocate and mobilize financial and technical resources to strengthen and modernize its data sources including census, survey-based, administrative and innovative sources, collection mechanisms and dissemination systems while investing in human resources capacity building. The tourism experts from across the continent who made the call in a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, also challenged the member nations of the continent to improve the mechanisms for measuring tourism with high-quality official statistical information to cover all dimensions of sustainable tourism, including economic, social, and environmental, in order to develop the potential of tourism in Africa, as well as plan, manage the sector and support effective evidence-based policy decisions in line with the African Union Agenda 2063, which serves as the basis for Africa’s long term socio-economic and integrative transformation. The meeting which gathered more than 20 African ministers of tourism, in addition to over 500 delegates from 44 countries in Africa, ran from June 4 to 6 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, and a final leg at the Eko Atlantic City project in Lagos on a technical visit, was supervised by the UNWTO Secretary General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, with Nigeria’s Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as host. The Meeting had as its theme; “Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development.” The experts, while acknowledging that tourism is a transformative socio-economic sector that can contribute substantially to the diversification of national economies and the improvement of livelihoods in the region, said this followed data which showed that the number of international arrivals to and receipts earned by destinations in the region has shown a sustained growth in the past decades. According to the experts, last year alone, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) to destinations in the region grew an estimated 8 per cent to 63 million, representing 5 per cent of the world total, even as forecast indicated that this strong momentum is expected to continue at a rate of 5 per cent to 7 per cent in 2018. The UNWTO long-term Outlook Tourism towards 2030 had also predicted that the number of international arrivals is expected to reach 134 million in

2030. The tourism stakeholders in recognizing that, beyond being a technical exercise, the development and implementation of a sound system of tourism statistics is a political and strategic endeavour, requiring wide and consistent stakeholder engagement, collaboration, interinstitutional coordination and leadership, also stressed that the development of tourism statistics requires the collaboration and coordination amongst all relevant national institutions (such as the National Administration, the National Statistical Office, the Central Bank and the Immigration Authority) and the UNWTO. They, therefore, pledged to promote international and regional cooperation efforts in the area of tourism statistics, including the development of joint programmes and initiatives, the strengthening of coordination and the transfer of knowledge in order to surmount the different stages of national statistical development in our region. This is also they assured of their readiness to encourage all African countries to reinforce their contribution to the UNWTO database on tourism statistics which constitutes the most comprehensive statistical information available on the tourism sector and globally disseminated through the Compendium and Yearbook of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). “We reaffirm our commitment to producing appropriate and reliable data that adhere to the 10 Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics notably the use of international concepts, classifications and methods in order to promote the consistency and efficiency of our statistical systems at all official levels. “We strongly commit to implementing the two official UN statistical frameworks for measuring tourism adopted in 2008: the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 and the Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008. These statistical frameworks enable countries to produce data that is credible and comparable – across countries, over time and in concert with other standards,” the experts said. Before now, stakeholders at home have continued to clamour for improved database on tourism statistics for the local industry, the absence of which has been cited as a major challenge in efforts at evolving a workable development and administrative framework for the sub-sector. The UNWTO-CAF meeting was, therefore, welcomed as they posit that the event could prove to be the needed shock therapy the government needs in repositioning an industry that has operated for decades without an agreeable framework presented by an industry mas-

terplan. This is as the ministeries, agencies and departments (MDAs) of government continue to bicker over control of the industry with conflicting and questionable regulatory Bills presented before the National Assembly assenting by the various warring bodies, on the one hand, and states of the federation, at the other end looking the exploit the gaping loopholes carved out by the absence of an industry regulator. While making his presentation at the UNWTO-CAF Meeting in Abuja, last Tuesday, StatisticianGeneral of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said though tourism sector accounted for 34 per cent of the country’s GDP and about 20 per cent of its employment creation in 2017, the challenges, according to him, of producing tourism statistics in Nigeria were clear and present. Kale also noted that the theme of the conference was very central to the role of tourism statistics in promoting inclusive economic growth and development. “It is a testament to the work

of the Commission for Africa, and all its members here, that data is rightly recognised as pivotal to the process of building a sustainable tourism sector. “For us in Nigeria and at the NBS, we also understand that the direct economic benefits of tourism which reflects the direct internal spending within the country from both residents and non-residents on tourism related activities. “Tourism also has indirect and induced effects ranging from job creation, to increased revenue through taxes and foreign exchange, to improved local infrastructure, are far reaching.“ Kale, therefore, said that tourism statistics was more imperative as a tool in tracking development goals, measuring progress, and improving the efficacy of policy interventions. According to him, tourism statistics is critical in providing the sector with the best foundation to base its decisions on, adding: “But the challenges of producing tourism statistics in Nigeria were clear and present.” He added that one such challenge was the high level of informality of the tourism characteristics activities with about

60 per cent of them informal in nature. According to NBS chief, the poor attitude towards record keeping, inadequate funding and weak coordination among tourism statistics related agencies and business also compounded the problems. It would also be recalled that, last month, while speaking at the National Tourism Transport Summit and Expo in Abuja, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, Posited that poor policy framework to guide the administration and marketing of Nigeria tourism has continued to shortchange government’s revenue generation drive in the tourism industry of the country. According to him, the situation has informed the abysmal level of marketing of products of Nigeria tourism by the MDAs charged with that responsibility in the country, even as he advised them to spearhead the marketing of the tourism sector in Nigeria, adding that doing so would help in transforming the sector into a major revenue earner.

•Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Founder, Dangote Group, Dr Aliko Dangote, and SecretaryGeneral, Zurab Pololikashvili United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), during the official presentation of the award of UNWTO’s first African Ambassador for Responsible Tourism to the businessman, during the 61st Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting in Abuja, from June 4 to 6.

Air Peace, Arik lead delayed flights’ chart

IR travellers were at the receiving end of flight disruptions as domestic airlines operating in the country recorded 8,825 cases of delay from January to March, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Statistics released by the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA shows that 14,633 flights were operated by eight airlines during the period under review, while 208 flights were cancelled for various reasons. The figures which were made available, Thursday in Lagos, listed the airlines in operation as Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air,

First Nation, Med-View and Overland. According to the record, Air Peace, which operated 5,066 flights, topped the chart of delayed flights with 2, 901 and 59 cancelled flights. It said that Arik Air followed with 2,322 delayed flights and 56 cancellations out of 3,972 flights, while Dana Air operated 1,726 flights with 1,043 cases of flight delay and one cancellation. The document said that Azman Air recorded 792 and 23 delayed and cancelled flights, respectively, out of 1,140 flights it operated during the period. According to the record, Medview Airline operated 894

flights with 632 delayed flights and 15 cancellations, Overland, 614 flights with 484 delayed and 12 cancelled while FirstNation Airways had 359 flights with 101 delayed and three cancelled. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N6 billion for the procurement of navigational aids such as Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Aeronautic Information System (AIS) for some major airports. Stakeholders are hopeful that the installation of the equipment will go a long way to reduce cases of flight delays and cancellations due to adverse weather and low visibility.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

AVIATION

VAT: FG to lose N50m over domestic airline operators’ protest Stories by VICTOR NZE

OLLOWING the decision by domestic airline owners in the country to withhold further payment of the controversial value added tax (VAT) on services to the Federal Government now stands the risk of losing N46.8m in revenue over the decision. The airline operators, under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), had penultimate week, issued a notice of stoppage of further VAT payments, a move they said takes effect from June 14, this year. However, with eight of the remaining domestic airlines declaring N93.6 billion worth of tickets for the outgone year, the Federal Government stands to lose nearly N50 million in revenue this year when AON decision kicks in. It would be recalled that while presenting the position of AON during a press briefing in Lagos, last Thursday, May 31, Chairman of AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison noted that the Nigerian Domestic Airline Travel is the only mode of transportation that is subjected to the Value Added Tax (VAT). Capt. Meggison said this imposition creates a suppression of domestic airline travel demand; resulting in airlines not being able to optimally utilize their aircraft assets thereby creating a market distortion. Megisson further decried that even some airlines were being exempted from the tax making it worse and unfair. “Nigerian Domestic Airline Travel is the only mode of transportation that is subjected to the Value Added Tax (VAT). This imposition creates a suppression of domestic airline travel demand; therefore resulting in airlines not being able to optimally utilize their aircraft assets and more importantly creating a market distortion.” “The AON’s position is that the VAT on airline ticket sales for domestic carriers must be removed completely forthwith as road transportation, rail, marine and international air travel carriers are not subjected to VAT. “Moreover, a situation whereby some airlines are paying VAT while some other privileged airlines are not paying VAT and the VAT which we pay is being used to subsidize our competitors against those that are making payment is unfair.” At an earlier forum, the AON president had similarly appealed to the NCAA to focus its energy on being an enabler and to foster growth in the Nigerian aviation industry, in line with its mandate. He added that while airlines in other West African countries operate 24 hours, Nigerian carriers are subjected to daylight operations only till 6:30p.m in most airports across the country. “Yet the West African charges are almost a fraction of Nigeria’s

domestic billing. Sadly also, Nigerian airlines are the only mode of transport paying the Value Added Tax (VAT). Marine, road and rail transport don’t pay, and even the foreign airlines operating into Nigeria are exempted from paying VAT in Nigeria and their home base. “It is interesting to note that Ghana, only on March 30, announced the cancellation of VAT on domestic and intentional air travel,’’ Meggisson added. Disclosing the returns by airline operators in the country, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman during the Quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos, Thursday, said that domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria sold tickets worth N505.2 billion in 2017. Usman, represented by Capt. Adamu Abdullahi, the Director, Consumer Complaints Directorate, NCAA, said the ticket sales increased by 14.2 per cent (N82.7 billion) compared to the N422.4 billion sold in 2016. According to him, the eight domestic airlines sold N93.6 billion worth of tickets, while the 32 airlines on the international routes sold tickets worth N411.6 billion during the period under review. He said the amount realized from the sale of tickets would have been higher if not for the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for six weeks to enable the government rehabilitate its runway. “A stable forex regime, effective implementation of the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business as well as the resumption of flight activities to the Maiduguri Airport, earlier closed due to insecurity, contributed to the increase.’’ Usman further disclosed that an average of 25,528 passengers presently pass through the 21 airports in the country daily in 305 flights. Last July, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced a new payment window to assist domestic carriers meet their Value Added Tax (VAT) remittance obligations. The agency’s Chairman, Babatunde Fowler, said during a meeting with a delegation of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Abuja, that the window is where airlines can structure payment of their VAT after two months of billing. Fowler said: “We agree that the airline industry is challenged. Government is not out to make profit, but to make life more comfortable for the people. Exemptions on tax issues are beyond FIRS as we do not make the law. So, all we can do is to make it easier to give domestic airlines a soft landing by meeting them

•Mbanuzuo, Dana Air Chief Operating officer, (l) receiving the IGOM certificate from Dr Samson Fatokun, Area Manager, (South West) International Air Transport Association(IATA), recently in Lagos.

halfway in order to obey the tax laws.” He added that he understood the challenges and multiple charges airlines are faced with, urging the AON to engage the Presidency through the Department on The Ease of Doing Business, the Senate and the Minister of Finance to dialogue on how the laws could be amended to make airlines competitive. Doing this, he said, was one of the ways of achieving lasting solution. Notably at the same forum, the AON Chairman, Capt. Nogie Meggison, said the airlines’ body was excited over the partnership, but would want the tax agency look

into complaints lodged by its members. “Airlines have no issue with paying or collecting the statutory VAT for FIRS, but there was need to take a look at the issue of fairness against our competitors, clarity on the automation as well as a 30-day period to allow for invoicing, reconciliation and billing before payment,“ he said. “Accra has become the hub for doing business in West Africa today due to the fact that Accra has adopted a deliberate economic policy to make the city a hub for West Africa and as a way of achieving this, it adopted zero VAT for air transportation.

“This has also lowered taxes on aviation fuel by 25 per cent, which has attracted more airlines to fly into Ghana for technical stops and connections to cities around the world. This has had a multiplier effect on the economy and the country at large. Nigeria, therefore, needs to take a bold economic step to jumpstart aviation,” Meggison added. As it is now, while the airline operators have vowed not to continue the payment, the Federal Government through its regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is yet to address the issues raised by the operators.

EDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that about 3.4 million passengers travelled through Nigerian airports during the first quarter of 2018 as against the 2.6 million passengers recorded in 2017 first quarter. FAAN’s First Quarter Report released, Wednesday, in Abuja showed a 28.25 per cent growth from the same quarter in 2017, just as it indicated that 2.4 million passengers travelled within the country (domestic passengers), while a total of 950,292 passenger traveled out of and into Nigeria (international passengers) during the period. It also said that 1.6 million passengers were recorded at arrivals while 1.7 million passengers were recorded at the departures during the period under review. The monthly breakdown showed that 1.1 million passen-

gers comprising 800,609 domestic and 355,176 international passengers were recorded in the month of January. In February, 1.05 million passengers comprising of 790,196 domestic and 267, 222 international passengers were recorded while a total of 1.2 million passengers comprising of 892,087 domestic and 327,894 international passengers were recorded in March. On airport by airport basis, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) recorded the highest number of passengers during the period with 1.5 million passengers comprising of 890,716 domestic and 678,839 international passengers. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) recorded 1.02 million passengers comprising 822,109 domestic and 199,875 international passengers during the quarter.

The report further revealed that there were 55,031 aircraft movements during the period compared to the 44,997 aircraft movements recorded during the first quarter of 2017, showing a growth by 22.31 per cent. The report showed that a total of 44,250 aircraft movements were recorded on domestic route while a total of 10,781 aircraft movements were recorded on international route. In January, there were 17,112 aircraft movements, 18,224 in February and 19,694 in March. The report further disclosed that a total of 43.9 million tons of cargo was recorded on international flights comprising 28.4 million tons on arrivals and 15.5 million tons on departures during the period. It also showed a 6.05 per cent growth from the 43.9 million tons recorded in the first quarter of 2017.

Lagos, Abuja airports top passenger traffic in Q1 2018 F

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

Lagos Govt pays N37b to retirees in 3yrs Stories by VICTOR NZE

AGOS State Pensions Commission (LASPEC) has disclosed that the accrued pension rights already paid to retired public servants in the state since the inception of this administration is now in excess of N37billion. State’s Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke, Tuesday, made this known at the 14th Retirement Benefit Documentation Seminar for employees proceeding on retirement from the State Civil Service between July and December, 2018. Oke who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office, Mr. Adeola Hundeyin reiterated that the State Government has been consistent in setting aside funds for the payment of accrued rights as prescribed by the Pension Reform Law such that about 9,045 persons have their accrued pension rights paid up to date. He assured the public servants that government, through Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), will continue to ensure that retirees would not only get their statutory rights but also continue to receive through other government agencies and programmes, additional support

and assistance that will add value to their lives in retirement. He congratulated the 1,200 intending retirees and enjoined them to take full advantage of the seminar. The Director-General of LASPEC, Mrs. Folashade Ona-

nuga in her welcome address at the event, said that the periodic seminar usually embarked upon by the Commission was in preparation for life out of office for the retiring public servants. She added that retirement being another phase of life for eli-

gible government officials makes it instructive for them to plan and prepare adequately for the challenge, especially when the monthly salary would cease and retirees are left with the proceeds from their Retirement Savings Accounts. “This is the phase you must

PenCom explains upwards review of gratuity from RSAs

•A cross section of Members of the Board & Management of AIICO Insurance Plc., during the recently-held 48thAnnual General Meeting (AGM) of the firm which took place at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

NHIS enrolls 65,000 people in Katsina, unveils programme for students, retirees

ATIONAL Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Katsina State office, has begun a two-day zonal sensitisation workshop for 100 stakeholders on Community Based Social Health Insurance programme (CBHIP). State’s NHIS Coordinator, Mr Ashiru Karaye, who made this known in Daura, last Tuesday, while declaring the workshop open, said that no fewer than 65, 000 people have been enrolled in the scheme in the state. He said the participants, who are traditional rulers, religious and community leaders were expected to sensitise their people on the lofty objectives of the scheme. Karaye called for their more commitment among stakeholders to ensure wider coverage of remote rural communities. “This workshop is organised in collaboration with the Maternal and Child Health (MNCH2) programme in the state. We will simplify the mode of communication for easy comprehension and understanding at the workshop. “The scheme has so far enrolled 10 registered associations in the state, who are presently reaping the benefits of the scheme. The procedure of accessing the scheme requires formation of a community maternal health association with a minimum of 1,000 registered members, who will monthly donate a minimum of N15. “Other prerequisites include: opening of a bank account with a commercial bank in the name of the association, formation of the association’s board of trustee

differentiate your needs from your wants; the phase that you will lose contacts from many who used to be your friends; the phase that, what is most important to you should be good diet and good health care; the phase you need to be closer than before to your Creator in preparation for the final sleep,” Onanuga stated. She advised the prospective retirees on the administrative steps to be taken to fast track the processing of their entitlements, stressing that the participants should start the entire process immediately, instead of waiting till their last day in office. “You must follow up with your Agencies to ensure that they forward your documents to the Commission not later than three months before you retire; it is your responsibility to confirm that your pension records are intact and you should also understand the workings of the Programmed Withdrawal Benefit and the Life Annuity in order to make informed decisions” the Director-General counselled.

(BOT), identification of the facility to be used by the community. “The association should also be formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),’’ he explained. The coordinator added that the scheme provides cash subsidy to pregnant women and children under-five years, stressing that only those who were enrolled will benefit. He said that the scheme has disbursed N14 million into individuals account as cash subsidy in the registered communities of Danja, Dabai, Kahutu, Chediya, Tsangamawa/Dauraku, Mahuta, Funtua,Kurfi and Mashi Local Government Areas. In a related development, the

NHIS has said students and retirees would enjoy healthcare services through the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Scheme (TISHIS) and Vital Contribution Health Insurance Programme (VCHIP). Anambra Coordinator of NHIS, Mrs Nneka Mezuo, said Tuesday, in Awka that with both programmes in place, contributors’ and their loved ones could always benefit. The TISHIS is designed to accommodate an employee’s loved ones above 18, as being accommodated in the formal health scheme. “While VCHIP is a programme that caters for the employee when retirement sets in, for continuous access to affordable healthcare,” she said.

Mezuo said that sensitisation of their programmes was ongoing for all Nigerians to understand their benefits. “We go to workplaces that have over 20 and above staff to conduct sensitisation workshops on how they can benefit from our programmes. “Just recently, the Anambra Government has started educating staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies on what they stand to gain from the programme. “We at NHIS are at the forefront of educating them; happily, the scheme has got to all Nigerians with the community-based programme for artisans, traders, farmers all included as well,” she said.

al lives and there needs to be a balancing of both areas of the woman life to be a true success in life. Besides, she said the that from the holistic approach, the conference will enhance engagement of the female employee in the company’s activities and operations. The Non-Executive Director of the company, Helen Emore, stressed that there was the need to encourage women to be active in the company as there is room for more women in management, even at the board level. However, for women to take up this management and leadership positions, there is the need for self-development and also for

everyone to take up mentoring the junior colleagues and with that being done regularly both individually and collectively, “we are in our own little way strengthening each other and the women clan collectively.” Three external facilitators shared their wealth of knowledge and experience at the conference- the Managing Director, Peak Thrust Insurance Brokers, Bimbo Onakomaiya, who spoke on Excelling in a Competitive Market. She stressed that women should be accountable to themselves and if they have something vital to offer, no one will under value or underestimate what they are bringing to the table.

Staco Insuranceboosts women’s welfare in operations

TACO Insurance Plc has concluded plans planned to strengthen professionalism among female employees of the company and the industry as a whole, in efforts to enthrone gender balance in operations. Speaking at a conference themed: “Towards Professional Advancement”, Director of Human Resources and Administration, Tobore Ojumah, explained that the objective of the conference was to consolidate the female employees and increase the interaction between the women folks in the company. She noted that the event was aimed at helping the women folks to better manage their profession-

HE National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said the 50 per cent lump sum payable to retirees as gratuity from their Retired Saving Accounts (RSAs) was reduced to enable retirees to earn more from their contributions. This is just as the company said the move became necessary following complaints by retirees that their monthly pension was too small to meet their obligations. Spokesperson for PenCom, Peter Aghahowa, made the clarification at the just-concluded pre-retirement workshop for 2019 retirees at the University of Lagos, Yaba, where more than 1,500 public servants from the ministries, department and agencies, including employees from the academic and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) were in attendance. “Initially, retirees were entitled to 50 per cent of their RSA as lump sum (gratuity) after retirement, but because of complaints by retirees, PenCom reviewed the template to enable the retiree get 50 per cent of his last salary on retirement as his monthly pension. “The monthly 50 per cent pension is calculated and deducted from the RSA and the balance is what is paid as gratuity to a retiree as gratuity,” he said. Aghahowa said the percentage of the balance paid as gratuity could vary depending on the amount left after the retiree’s monthly pension had been taken care of. According to him, the 50 per cent lump sum was reviewed by the commission in May this year through a revised template to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to ensure that the retiree get 50 per cent of his last salary on retirement for some years. On deductions from a retiree’s contribution, Aghahowa said PenCom could not “willfully deduct” from a retiree’s RSA balance, except on exceptional cases.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

Allianz Group to acquire 8% of Africa Re Stories by VICTOR NZE

LLIANZ Group has agreed to acquire eight percent in African reinsurer Africa Re. The total cash consideration payable at closing would amount to USD$ 81 million (or Euro 69 million). Africa Re has been operating for 42 years on the continent and has a network across both regions and linguistic communities. The two firms said they will cooperate in reinsurance, business development, sharing of best practices, risk management tools, as well as training and technical support, especially in emerging areas and underserved markets “Having identified Africa as one of the future growth markets, we continue to invest step-by-step in the continent. This investment in Africa Re is a major milestone for

Allianz’s long-term growth strategy in Africa,” Niran Peiris, member of the board of management of Allianz SE, responsible for Global Insurance Lines & Anglo Markets, Reinsurance, Middle East, Africa, said of the transaction. In 2017, Allianz Group acquired 98 percent of Nigerian insurer Ensure Insurance, bringing Allianz presence to a total of 17 countries across the region. Citing agriculture and cyber insurance in particular, Corneille Karekezi, Africa Re’s Group managing director and chief executive officer, said Allianz will give Africa Re new products to offer clients. Allianz Group is also the sole insurance investor in BIMA, the digital micro-insurer that uses mobile technology to serve lowincome customers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

NEMA approves life insurance policy for own workers

GROUP Life Insurance policy has been approved for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) workers by its board. The agency which also initiated a process for a new condition of service for its staff members and an establishment committee set up to come up with relevant recommendations, however, faulted the industrial action by workers because it was not in conformity with any known labour law or norms. Making the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti, the agency said: “The management of NEMA is surprised to discover that the offices of the agency were shut down last Monday by the action of the staff union without any prior notice. “Reasons for the union action were later discovered to have arisen from issues that were already being addressed. For instance, the Group Life Insurance for the staff has already been approved. This is beside the personal accident insurance that is also being worked out to cover the staff in the course of their duties. It should be noted that current management initiated the process for a new condition of service for the staff which the Chairman of NEMA Governing Council has given consent and even set up an Establishment Committee which is expected to come up with relevant recommendations. “The committee has sat three times and received necessary briefings and would soon forward its report for consideration and approval by the council. While the management in efforts to resolve issues of outstanding claims inherited from the past administration constituted a committee that has been verifying staff claims and payment process have commenced for those cleared. However, the issue of Emergency Responses Team allowances being canvassed by the union has no basis of approval from the salaries and wages Commission. The management does not desire to engage in any illegality.

“This has been severally communicated to the staff. “The management wishes to draw attention of the staff and stakeholders to note that the strike action embarked by the union is illegal and does not conform to any known labour law or norms. “The management views the current action by union as deliberate attempt to sabotage the government. Therefore, the union is hereby advised to discontinue the strike action as the management is open for dialogue on any issues of concern to the staff. “The management will continue to be resolute in its commitment to staff welfare and ensuring due process in the discharge of NEMA mandates,” the statement read.

•President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Funmi Babington-Ashaye (l) with past president of the CIIN, and Elder A K Oniwinde, during the unveiling of the Institute’s electroniclibrary at the CIIN Secretariat in Lagos.

Law Union & Rock unveils retail products

AW Union & Rock Insurance (LUR) Plc has introduced two new products to meet the need of its customers. The new products according to the company are travel insurance card and Teen Personal Accidents Law Union & Rock Insurance (LUR) Plc has introduced two new products to meet the need of its customers. The new products according to the company are travel insurance card and Teen Personal Accidents TPA). Executive Director, Technical/Op-

erations Mr. Olasupo Sogelola, said the introduction of the two products is part of the company’s strategic plans to meet the need of its retail customers. According to him, the Teen Personal Accident otherwise called TPA was the company’s innovation, but has now been repackaged in four variants with premium ranging from as low as five hundred naira. The new variants provide customers with the benefits options depending on the customers’ choice.

tions (DFI) to help prepare teach and support organise these investments and then bring them to the market so essentially, to make them investable.” Furthermore, he added that with the ERGP in place, engaging the private sector to support funding in infrastructure is paramount. “The economic growth and recovery plan envisages increasing the government’s revenue from six percent to 15 percent in five years. So that seems to me that they are in a hurry. So in terms of timeline, these are things that need to happen now. “So if you look at tax breaks, government can begin to do it now. But increasing the revenue of government, essentially, government needs to improve tax administration. ”On the fiscal side, the interest rate incentives we are asking for is not difficult but it is for government to focus on the right things and I think if you concentrate and put your mind in it, it can be done within a period of one year. “We are looking at coming together to invest alongside with the government on a PPP basis on big projects. Some of these projects are beyond the capacity of indi-

vidual pension funds. I am optimistic that some infrastructure deals would be done. We are caution of the facts but we do not want to rush into it without doing our investment analysis,” he said.

Sigma Pensions harps on increased private-public sector collaboration

ANAGING Director, Sigma Pensions, Dave Uduanu has stressed the need for more collaboration between the private and public sector to enhance economic development as well as meet the target in the Economic Growth Recovery Plan document (EGRP). Uduanu who also urged government to create more sustainable investment opportunities for private sector to explore, stated this this recently at the Rand Merchant Bank’s 5th anniversary in Lagos recently. “The key is for the private sector to engage more with the government while investment banks and intermediaries should prepare projects that investors such as insurance and pension funds can invest in,” he said. On whether pension’s funds would invest in infrastructure development, he said: “The pension funds are looking at forming a consortium to look at such investments because those are large scale investments and such investments are usually beyond one pension fund. “So we can work with some of the development finance institu-

ZenithInsurance records N12.5b gross premium, pays N6.7bn claims Z enith Insurance has recorded gross premium written of N12.5billion, an increase of 12 percent from the N11.116 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2016. Similarly, the company’s financial statements, which were approved by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on the 20th of April 2018, showed healthy net assets of N23 billion one of the highest in the Nigerian Insurance Industry. The company, one of the youngest in the industry, has a solvency ratio of 634 per cent in 2017, meaning that it is able to cover its minimum regulatory solvency requirement six times over. The company also recorded a gross premium income of N12.806 billion in 2017, up from N11.187 billion in 2016, while net premium income stood at N8.090 billion compared with N7.446 billion in 2016.

The policy provides a cover for children of age between two and twenty-five years. The benefits include medical expenses and permanent disability resulting from accidents sustained by the insured child within and outside their school premises. In a related development, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has also approved LUR’s Travel Insurance Card, a retail policy for regular travellers within Nigeria. With as low as seven hundred naira only, a traveller would be covered against accident arising in the course of his/her traveling by road, rail, water or air. The product comes in four variantsdrivers travel card, passengers travel card, students travel card and executives travel card. The policy benefits, which include medical expenses, emergency care, accidental death and permanent disability is expected to provide succour to the accident victims/family and also reduce the level of uninsured economic losses from accident in the country. In the last three years the company has released various retail products into the market which include Home Guard, the product that provide cover for the house contents, I-Care, I-Salute & GPA 4 Schools which provide different personal accident covers and Doctor-on-Cover, a professional Indemnity policy for Medical Practitioners. These products are being distributed through state –of –the – art – technology which simplifies the accessibility and distribution of the policies through the company’s website, scratch card, POS and agents nationwide. Sogelola disclosed that the company will soon commence the distribution of Worldwide Travel Insurance Policy following the regulator’s approval to underwrite the policy. The Executive Director, Technical/Operations expressed the company’s readiness to continue to provide a cutting-edge services to its loyal customers.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

EQUITY & Capital Market EMEA Bond Awards: Opportunity to finance National infrastructure Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

HURSDAY June 7, 2018 was another epoch making day for Nigeria. Indeed, a red letter especially for the capital market segment of the financial system. It was a day Nigeria won three categories of awards for its securities issuance activities in the domestic and international capital markets. And there was celebration galore; the aura and the aroma are still in the air. The awards were: ‘Best Sovereign Bond in Africa’ valued at US$3billion with double tranche duration of 10 and 30 years, these Eurobonds were issued in November 2017. The second award titled: ‘Most Innovative Bond’, was US$300million Diaspora Bond issued in June 2017; and Best Naira Bond – worth $100billion and is a seven-year Inaugural Sukuk issued in September 2017. These trinity awards were bestowed on Nigeria by a well-respected institution in the international financial market: Europe, the Middle East and Africa, simply known as by its acronym EMEA. The multiple awards from EMEA have not only placed Nigeria strategically at vantage position to attract foreign capital inflows but also confirm the robustness of Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) in packaging and offering products that appeal strongly to local and international investors.

Consequently, this will go a long way to shore up the image of the country and more significant for Nigeria is that the awards by EMEA Finance are made after evaluating several transactions, each of which is unique, using clearly defined criteria. Moreover, the three transactions by which Nigeria won awards from a competitive process, is another huge plus for Nigeria. Specifically, Nigeria issued its first Diaspora Bond for USD300 million in June 2017. The Bond was selected for the Award both for the uniqueness in the manner in which it was structured. The Bond is also the first security issued by Nigeria that is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. So, with the USD3 billion dualtranche USD1.5 billion for 10 years and USD1.5 billion, pioneered by Nigeria, it turned out to have recorded several firsts, making it a landmark transaction. This was the very first time that Nigeria raised such substantial amount at once in the International Capital Market (ICM). Also, it was the first time a SubSaharan African country other than South Africa to issue a 30year Bond in the ICM. For Nigeria, the significance of the tenor lies in the fact that it could now access stable long-term funds necessary to finance infrastructure. For all for patriotic Nigerians, this is the most important aspect

• Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister.

as the 30-year tenor has provided another opportunity for the country to upgrade, rebuild or revive some of its massive decayed or moribund infrastructural facilities across the country. For instance, if the country can utilize the fiancé window provided by the bond prudently to fix the power sector and provide electricity indiscriminately for the people, the issue of joblessness

• Patience Oniha, DMO DG.

would have been fixed partially. Many adventurous and enterprising Nigerians will create jobs for themselves, at least on a small scale that will not only keep them busy but also put food on their tables and elevates their standard of living. There is so much on ground to do in this direction, as portable water for the people is lacking, thus giving rise to rampant cases

of water-borne diseases, good road network that promote economic activities, efficient rail as well as marine transportation among others are yet to be on the optimum level. Meanwhile, as a pioneer, Nigeria is proud to have courageously opened the 30-year window via the bond issuance, as some other African countries such as Kenya subsequently issued 30-year tenor Bonds.

Verdict: Conoil to pay N13.2b to Vitol S A, proposes N2 dividend T HE Supreme Court in a legal battle that had dragged on for about ten years in its final verdict ordered Conoil Plc to pay Vitol S. A. the sum of N13. 2billion. However, despite the heavy judgment sum and another pending litigation, the Oil marketing company has proposed a dividend of N2 dividend per share for shareholders for the 2017 financial year. The proposed dividend by the Board is subject to approval by member of the company at the forth coming Annual General Meeting (AGM).If the N2dividend per share is approved by the shareholders, this will amount to a total of N1, 387, 904,000. The court judgement is capable of fracturing the financial backbone of the downstream petrol retailer for the current financial year as the company’s retained earnings as at December 31, 2017, stood at N13, 721, 190,000. Deducting its share of the judgment which amounted to N11.2 billion, leaves the company with just N2, 521, 190,000 in its reserve or kitty. Also, in the event of the second pending judgment which involved the sum of N4.3 billion, if it should awarded against the firm, this would leave the company with negative retained earnings. A strong indication that shareholders should not expect dividend at the end of the current financial year, going by a recent judgment awarded against the firm. This is because companies with negative retained earnings are barred from

paying dividends. Although, the terms of the agreement between Conoil Plc and Synopsis are business secrets and therefore may be shrouded in secrecy, it is surprising that Conoil would bear the bulk of the judgement sum. The Oracle Today checks revealed that Conoil’s Chairman, Mike Adenuga, also has significant interests in Synopsis Enterprises Limited. One would have expected that the firm would have made some provi-

sion for the judgement as the case dragged through several courts over the years. These facts and figures are disclosed in the company’s annual report and account for the financial year ended December 31, 2017. Conoil Plc previously known as National Oil and Chemical Marketing Plc) was incorporated in 1960 as a private limited liability company. The company was converted to a public company on August 21,

1991. In the year 2000, the Federal Government, through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) bought 40 percent of the issued ordinary shares of the company held by Shell Company of Nigeria (UK) Limited. Following the privatisation of the company, Conpetrol Limited acquired 60 percent of the issued shares of the company. Following a rights issue by the company in 2002, Conpetrol Limited now holds

74.4 percent of the issued capital, while members of the Nigerian public hold the remaining 25.6 percent stake in the company. Conpetrol Limited is ultimately controlled by Mike Adenuga. The principal activities of the company are the marketing of refined petroleum products, manufacturing, and marketing of lubricants, household and liquefied petroleum gas for domestic and industrial use.

By VICTOR I.B NZE

through financial empowerment. He added that the bank grew its active borrowers to 39,749 in 2017 from 39,036 in 2016. Joda said that the bank also improved on total loan disbursement since its inception in 2007 to N81.28 billion in 2017. According to him, Accion Microfinance Bank is also working hard to surpass the 2017 achievements in 2018. Joda said that in line with the bank’s national expansion strategy, new outlets had been opened. “The bank has extended to new states with the opening of Ariaria branch in Abia State and Asaba branch in Delta State in 2018,’’ the managing director said. The bank was licensed to operate nationwide in 2016 and has extended its operation to over seven states. The bank has also increased its

branches from 40 to 62. Bankers’ Committee urges importers to demand Renminbi for trade Bankers’ Committee on Thursday encouraged importers trading with industries in China to take advantage of the incentives from the bilateral currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China. The Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC, Dr Demola Sogunle, gave the advice while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Bankers’ Committee meeting in Lagos. Sogunle said that Nigerian importers trading with Chinese industries should demand for Renminbi instead of dollars. He said the idea was to start receiving invoices from importers in order to benefit from incentives that would soon be introduced. He, however, said the incentives had yet to be determined but add-

ed that one of it would be in percentage spread once commenced. Sogunle said: “One of the incentives will be a percentage spread which has yet to be determined. “It will be given to any importer that is bringing Remininbi invoice for settlement instead of bringing a dollar invoice. So, when you look at the overall cost in terms of Naira, it is going to be cheaper for the importer coming to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to get foreign currency which in this case will be Renminbi.” According to him, the importers demanding for the chinese currency will bring lesser amount of Naira for exchange and higher for dollar. “If he goes ahead to bring from the same supplier based in China, maybe in Beijing in dollar, it is going to cost the importer slightly more in terms of the Naira he is going to use to get the foreign currency,” he added.

Accion Microfinance Bank disburses N19.13bn loan to SMEs

ANAGING Director, Accion Microfinance Bank, Mr Taiwo Joda, Tuesday, said the bank granted N19.13 billion loan to 713 Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in 2017. Joda who made this known in an interview in Lagos, explained that the bank was motivated by the 2016 Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFINA) Survey, which revealed that 40.1 million adults were still financially excluded. “According to the survey, the 40.1 million adults financially excluded represent 41.6 per cent of the adult population in the country,’’ Joda said. The managing director said that the figure motivated the bank to demonstrate resilience and ensured that SMEs were attracted

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

MONEY Market

Nigeria’s importation level to reduce by 2019 •Trade surplus may increase by 20.0%

Stories by KAYODE OGUNWALE

HERE are strong indications that total importation into Nigeria may reduce significantly by the year 2019 which by effect is expected to improve the trade surplus by at least 20 percent. Data released recently by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its foreign trade in goods statistics report for first quarter 2018 shows that, Nigeria import value grew by 19 percent quarter on quarter to N2.52 trillion. The suggestion decline in level of importation is based on the projected completion of 650,000 million barrels per day capacity of Dangote Refinery by the year 2019. According to researchers at Afrinvest, refined crude oil accounts for 28.5 percent of total imports and by their estimates, using the import data as at first quarter 2018, daily demand for Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) stood at 53 million litres and with the estimated 52 million litres of production by Dangote refinery, assuming full capacity utilization. This they believed that importation to cease by 2019, thus improving the country’s trade surplus by at least 20 percent. Consequently, in second quarter of 2018, Afrinvest analysts expect oil exports to buoy trade as oil prices remain favourable while oil production volumes remain stable. Also, they expect imports to be sustained at similar levels on the back of improved FX liquidity in the foreign exchange market given the forecast price stability.

Nevertheless, they continue to reiterate their age-long call for structural reforms in key sectors of the economy to diversify away from oil and improve non-oil export significantly. As it stands currently, Nigeria’s trade balance will constantly trend within the deficit territory in the absence of crude oil or with a marked fall in price or output. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released first quarter 2018 foreign trade data on Wednesday June 6, 2018 and in line with recent positive trend, the economy recorded a balance of trade surplus in the quarter. Quarter on quarter, trade balance rose 21.0 percent to N2.2 trillion from N1.8 trillion in fourth quarter 2017 and surged 221.0 percent year on year from N700 billion in first quarter 2017. The positive balance in the quarter was largely supported by an uptick in exports which rose 20.0 percent quarter on quarter and 56.0 percent year on year despite the 19.2 percent quarter on quarter and 8.0 percent expansion in imports in the same period. Following the balance of trade recovery in fourth p quarter 2016, which translated into positive trade balance after recording deficits in the prior three quarters on account of fall in global oil prices and domestic output disruptions, Nigeria’s trade balance has sustained an upward trajectory. In first quarter 2018 especially, trade balance was boosted by sustained positive oil price environment supported by the stability in oil production volumes on the back of relative peace in oil-rich Niger-Delta which in turn propped

•Senator Foster Ogola, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Markets; Ms. Mary Uduk, Ag. Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission; Ms. Laure Beaufils, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria; Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, MD/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange; Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule, Deputy Governor, Lagos State; Mr. Greg Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management, Access Bank PLC; Ms. Justine Leigh-Bell, Director, Market Development, Climate Bonds Initiative; and Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf, Chairman, House Committee on Capital Markets at the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development Programme Launch, with the theme: The Rise of Green Bonds “Global Trends and the Opportunity for Nigeria” in Lagos, recently.

oil export growth in the quarter. As with historical trend, crude oil export accounted for a significant 76.3 percent against 83.2 percent in fourth quarter 2017 and 65.1 percent compared with 64.9 percent in fourth quarter 2017 of total exports and trade while noncrude oil exports accounted for 23.7 percent (vs. 16.8 percent in fourth quarter 2017) and 15.4 percent against 10.9 percent in fourth quarter 2017 of total exports and trade respectively in the same period. Similarly, non-crude oil export increased significantly by 69.7 percent quarter on quarter and 75.8 percent year on year, largely

Analysts predict slowdown in June inflation

INANCIAL analysts at FBNQuest Limited and United Capital Plc, have forecast that inflation rate in Nigeria would continue its slowdown for the 17th consecutive month, rising between 10.8 and 11.1 percent in the month of June. This would represent a drop from 11.61 percent as published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently, down from 12.48 percent in April. Researchers at FBNQuest had last month projected that Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index (inflation) could rise by 11.3 percent in May. Also, the company expects that with the June inflation report expected ahead of July edition of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, it could be a good time to finally cut the benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) for the first time since around July 2016. The call for rate cut now, FBNQuest argued, is “on the basis of the disinflation trends, for which the committee would normally take some credit, and still hope for a cut of 50 basis points by year-end. “That said, the committee’s last communique barely acknowl-

edged the steep decline in headline inflation, and concentrated on the negative impact of the late passage of the 2018 budget (still awaited) and its expansionary stance.” In their own, analysts at United Capital Plc noted that while year on year moderation in the headline rate was sustained in the month of May, renewed pressure on month on month inflation rate which printed at 1.1 percent suggests that high base effect which had largely supported successive moderation in headline inflation rate is fizzling out. Looking ahead, they expect the momentum of decline in headline inflation to further slow amid renewed pressure on month on month inflation rate which is anticipated remain above 1.0 percent in the month of June. “Clearly, pressure on food prices is a concern as feedback effect from the herds-men crisis in Benue State, Taraba State and environ take its toll on the economy. For instance, month on month food inflation in Taraba was the highest in the May at 2.8 percent month on month

according to the NBS.” They project a further moderation in headline inflation to 11.1 percent in June 2018. With rising risk to a further slowdown in prices in the horizon, including jitters in the political climate, United Capital analysts said, rate normalization in the US and global trade uncertainties, may pressure FX, headline inflation is expected to bottom-out in July before climbing north from August 2018. The MPC rose from its second meeting this year, voting eightto-one to retain the MPR at 14 percent; just as the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 22.5 percent; Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent; and Asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR. The majority hinged their decision on the fact that economic growth recorded so far remains largely fragile and in need of further reforms and stimulus, noted, for example, the late passage of the budget by the National Assembly, six months after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as expected huge spending ahead of the 2019 general elections, amidst fears that such could spike inflation.

linked to improved oil prices and volumes, given that oil condensate and other oil products contributed 84.4 percent and 20.7 percent to the total non-crude oil export and total export respectively. This growth was majorly driven by an uptick in manufacturing export, up 7.8 percent points quarter on quarter and 7.1 percent year on year to 9.3 percent in first quarter 2018 comprising of liquefied natural gas, other petroleum gases, Naphthalene and other petroleum oils. Additionally, agricultural exports contributed a paltry 6.8 percent to non-crude oil exports and 1.6 percent to total exports in first quarter 2018 further reflecting a crude oil driven trade balance. Furthermore, the data revealed that Netherlands (20.5 percent), India (18.2 percent) Spain (8.4

percent), USA (8.2 percent), and France (6.4 percent) are Nigeria’s largest export trading partners while China (21.1 percent), Netherlands (12.1 percent), Belgium (10.6 percent), USA (6.5 percent) and India (6.3 percent) are the country’s major import trading partners. Overall, Netherlands, India, United States, China and Spain are the country’s largest trading partners accounting for 17.6 percent, 14.0 percent, 7.6 percent, 7.4 percent and 5.4 percent of total trades. As at first quarter 2018, China remained Nigeria’s largest import destination though ranks below top ten largest export partners. This further highlights a tilt in favour of China regarding the recently signed currency swap deal worth N720.0 billion between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the People’s Bank of China.

Mobile payment transactions hit 15m in Q1 2018

fforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in checking the impact of the cashless policy on the economy has started yielding positive result as bank customers transaction through mobile payment option improved significantly. Data from an e-payment channels report in a series from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), produced in collaboration with the CBN, indicates that mobile payments recorded 15 million transactions valued at N329 billion in first quarter. The value of transactions grew by just 21 percent year on year and accounted for only 3.3 percent of total electronic transactions. The data on e-payment channels revealed that 457 million transactions valued at N32 trillion were recorded on the channels in first quarter 2018. ATM transactions dominated with a volume of 212 million. Electronic transactions are directly linked to internet subscriptions, which stood at 101 million as at end first quarter according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (the

regulator). This translates into a penetration rate of 55 percent. However, Point-of-sale (PoS) transactions assist with checking the impact of the cashless policy on the economy. The NBS data show that 54 million PoS transactions were recorded in first quarter 2018, representing increases of 13 percent quarter on quarter and 101 percent year on year. The recorded growth is commendable, but such transactions accounted for only 12 percent of total electronic payments during the quarter under review. Meanwhile, there was increased patronage of m-cash (a mobile payments solution designed specifically for merchants). Transactions rose sharply by 225 percent quarter on quarter and over 1,000 percent on a year on year basis. Though, m-cash payment system accounts for less than 1 percent of electronic payments. Perhaps there is need for authorities to explore incentives that would encourage increased m-cash usage by traders, especially in the rural economy.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Mel B’s lesbian lover claims singer ‘hid bruises and covered up husband’s abusive behaviour’

EL B’s lesbian lover has claimed the Spice Girl made up “excuses” to disguise husband Stephen Belafonte’s alleged abusive behaviour. The 41-year-old is currently locked in a bitter divorce battle with her spouse of 10 years, and has accused the film producer of domestic violence in court papers. Now Mel’s former lover, Christa Parker, has claimed in an interview with The Mirror the singer went to great lengths to disguise the visible signs of their allegedly abusive relationship. She said: “Melanie should’ve divorced Stephen a few years ago, maybe she should never have married him knowing his track record.” Telling the publication how she had repeatedly confronted Mel over bruises on her arms, she claimed: “Mel would say she fell, or make up an excuse that covered for him.” Bruises were visible on the star’s

arms during the X Factor final in 2014 – with reports claiming at the time they had been caused by Stephen, which Mel vehemently denied then. Mel dated Christa, who now lives in Ohio, before she met Stephen after their children attended the same school. Stephen, 41, has strenuously denied all the claims his estranged wife has made against him since they announced their split in March. The couple married in Las Vegas in June 2007 following a five month romance. They had one daughter together, Madison Brown Belafonte, born September 1 2011, while Mel has three children from previous relationships. The former Spice Girl has been granted a temporary restraining order against her husband, and he appeared at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday as the divorce saga continues.

Name: PACIFIK Nigerian Singer/Songwriter Twitter: @Pacifik_Peace Email: pacifikofficial@gmail.com • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Meditation and yoga worsen people’s egos by making them more self absorbed, study finds

editation and yoga worsen people’s egos, new research suggests. People have a higher opinion of themselves after practicing the ancient form of exercise and mindfulness, a UK study found. This contradicts the belief that yoga and meditation make people less selfish and more concerned for the wellbeing of others. Previous studies suggest yoga and meditation can boost people’s mental health by easing stress, anxiety and depression.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION? Meditation can be traced back to as early as 5000 BC. It is associated with some philosophies and religions but is practiced as a secular, stress-relieving activity more and more. A recent study revealed that meditation can reduce one’s risk of heart disease by decreasing risk factors that

can lead to the illness. Specifically, it found that the practices can lower one’s blood pressure and their anxiety and depression levels. It can also help people quit smoking, which can lead to a fatal heart attack. Experts are warning that healthy lifestyle changes such as being more physically active are still the surest way to ward off the disease, but adding that meditation can also decrease one’s chances. How the research was carried out Researchers from the University of Southampton first analysed 93 yoga students over 15 weeks. After practicing the ancient form of exercise, the participants completed a survey that asked them how much they related to statements such as ‘I will be well-known for the good deeds I will have done’. They also ranked how much statements like ‘at the moment, I have high self-esteem’ applied to them. In the second part of the experi-

ment, the researchers analysed 162 people who were recruited from Facebook sites dedicated to meditation over four weeks. These participants were asked to evaluate themselves against statements such as ‘in comparison to the average participant of this study, I am free from bias’. The findings were published in the journal Psychological Science. Meditation makes people ‘self absorbed’ The researchers argue western forms of Buddhism may make people self centred by encouraging them to focus on their personal anxieties or how to self improve rather than selfishness. Buddhist writer Lewis Richmond previously told The Huffington Post: ‘The act of sitting in silence, eyes closed or facing a wall, attention focused on the inner landscape of breath, body, and mental activity, could at least be characterised as self-absorbed.’

Therefore those who practice meditation with a self centred approach will likely become more self absorbed. The power of yoga This comes after research released last August suggested yoga benefits the central nervous system, strengthens immunity and gives people a sense of focus. Practicing the ancient spiritual exercise reduces anxiety and depression, and boosts mindfulness, a study found. It also increases protein and hormone levels that are associated with

improved resilience to stress, the research adds. From a physical-health perspective, yoga and meditation both reduce inflammation, which is linked to improved function of the central nervous and immune systems, the study found. Lead author Dr Rael Cahn, from the University of Southern California, said: ‘To our knowledge, our study is the first to examine a broad range of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in a healthy population before and after a yoga-meditation intervention.’

ROMANTIC JOKE 30 SECONDS

A guy and his wife are sitting and watching a boxing match on television. The husband sighs and complains, “This is disappointing. It only lasted for 30 seconds!” “Good,” replied his wife. “Now you know how I always feel.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

True Confession

He made me believe in love again

I stand still beside the ocean, and I can’t forget the deep love you have for me.

y name is Christiana. I’m 32 years old and reside in Lagos. My husband and I actually met in a gym. I had just completed the one year compulsory national youth service programme and started working due to my big aunt’s connections. Before then, I had never thought of going to work out in a gym because I thought that a gym was not meant for girls but only for boys. I felt that I had no strength to carry weight or do push up and sit up exercises. But my aunt had complained that I was getting too fat because I now had more money to spend on food. She encouraged me to register at a gym in order to reduce weight, which I did. It was on my first day at the gym that I spotted the sexy, muscular man whom I would later marry. I initiated it because we made lot of eye contact and smiled at each other and it was really fun. He sent me a friend request on Facebook. And later on he called me and we talked until midnight. He was like, oh we should do something like have a serious relationship leading to marriage and I agreed and we began to send text messages to each other everyday and see at the gym and other places. I would go to the gym twice or three times a week just to see Patrick. He took me out on many occasions and we even went to the movies and it was fun and the experience made me begin to believe in love. Romantic love is the most important of all kinds of love. It is the most interesting, the one that fills us up and launches us into the heights of our art or lack thereof. Even when we think we are talking about something else, perhaps another type of love, we are still talking about romantic love. We always seek (romantic) love. When we enter the right age, we carry our inner mission to seek it in our classrooms, neighborhoods, offices, churches, and everywhere else. We need it. We’re always sniffing and digging for it like dogs and rabbits because it’s simply natural to do so. However, the fact is that having the will is not enough to get love. You must be an agreeable person to get another person to love you. Love is generally a celebration of life and happiness. I believe strongly that if you really want love in your life, you must do your part to get love. “Working for it” is not actually the same as “doing something about it.” Some people are luckier than others. They lift a finger and love comes pouring down from the sky like heavy rain on them. Other people can grow a farm full of red roses and love wouldn’t come to them. For this reason, I am eternally grateful to God for bringing love into my life just when I needed it most. I can’t count all what I did for love because I know that I did many things, including stupid things, just to get men (or a man) to love me. Every woman (and man too) does that, even though some try to deny it. During our period of courtship, I sent my man a lot of romantic text messages. I love romantic text messages and I just can’t do without them, especially when I’m in love. Here are some of the text messages I sent to Patrick my love. “Before I met you, I didn’t know what it was like to look at someone and smile for no reason at all” “Sometimes words cannot explain the feeling, but still I can find the love in your eyes.” “I am not the best, but I promise I will love you with all my heart.” “My love for you is a journey, Starting at forever and ending at never.” “If you’re mine you’re mine, I don’t like sharing.” Love always defies our expectations in that it is never how we imagine it to be. Love at

its most basic level is sexual. There must be a semblance of physical attraction to support the love. Sexual attraction is a stepping stone for one to reach the more advanced levels of the emotion. Therefore, I’m not ashamed that even as I loved Patrick, I felt a high level of sexual attraction towards him. People who have always had love or are more experienced in it can handle it more gently. They’re like regular drinkers of alcohol who know which bottles to touch and not to touch. They know how many glasses before they become immobile. But me, I was kind of crazy about my man because I hadn’t really had love in my life. All I needed when I met Patrick was love and peace of mind in my life. Patrick too was so crazy about me that he wanted to see me everyday, both on week days and on weekends. One Friday, we had a little argument and he was like, I don’t care about you anymore. Later, he changed his mind and said, “I want

to see you, and I’m coming to get you.” Then on Saturday, he came to my place again and took me out for swimming. We had lots of fun and he was really close to me, and we kissed. Then he took me to his place and we made love. After that night, I didn’t know what would happen since he didn’t text me the day after. We just talked for about 10 minutes that night. And I wasn’t sure if he still wanted me. But the following day he came to my place and apologized, claiming that his boss had given him too much stress the previous day. That was why he had not been able to come and see me. Patrick was always honest to me right from the start of our relationship. He proposed to me one evening while we were having sex in the shower. After I said yes, he took me out for dinner and then we got ice cream and sat in his car talking. It was so romantic. Before I met Patrick, a couple of men had broken my heart. Some friends had tried to

make me think that all men are the same and that they are callous heartbreakers. But after meeting Patrick, I had to confront my fears and overcome my doubts because he really seemed to love me with his body and soul. I knew that there was no way he could be faking such a feeling. I can now see that indeed, all men are not the same. It gladdens my heart now to see that our love has grown into something that is the envy of all. Patrick made me believe in love again and I thank God everyday for making it possible for me to meet such a nice man who respects women. We have so much fun together and still look forward to many happy years together. We have a wonderful family of two boys and our lovely baby daughter. True love and happiness with the one you love is really the recipe for a happy marriage. • Your say: Have your say about this love confession. Call 08131161840 or 07031028714.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

Since she started working, she no longer satisfies me in bed

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Juli needs a comfortable man to take care of her and marry her. 08144069613. Oluchi, 34, tall, dark, busty, single mother, in Festac Town, Lagos, needs a responsible, working Igbo man from 3845 years for marriage. 08164007657. Deborah, 35, Igbo, orphan, needs a widower from 35-45 years. He must be educated, humble, tall, educated, comfortable, for marriage. 07065658063. Nkiru, 31, from Enugu, needs a responsible young man for a serious relationship. 08063677573.

Dear Love Doctor,

hen I first started dating my wife about eight years ago we had no problem. We used to have sex daily and I loved her with passion. We got married and she was great. She cleaned, cooked, and the sex was even better. I have a great paying job and she always wanted to get a B.Sc. Well I paid for her to further her education to university level. Once again everything was great at this time. But after she graduated and got a job with a bank things changed. She was working a full time job. That was fine by me but I simply asked that she continue to contribute around the house and she should not tell me that it would affect our sex life because she was tired. However, to my surprise we stopped having sex regularly and sometimes I have to cook what I’m going to eat myself because she’s hardly there when I need her. I have never turned her down for sex but she does it to me all the time nowadays. She tells me her job is so hard but that is unacceptable to me. Since my wife got a job and started work, our sex life has gone down. Sometimes I feel like sending her away and getting another woman? What do I do? From Chief.

Love Doctor’s Advice:

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Dear Chief,

ll your wife needs to do is to try to strike a balance between her work and family. Starting work does not mean a spouse should abandon his/her responsibilities to a partner. However, you too need to show more understanding in this matter and be patient with her. It’s quite difficult, really, for a woman (and a man too) working hard at the office all day and coming back home exhausted in the evening/night and yet still having to fulfill her sexual and other responsibilities at home

towards both her husband and children. Since you say that you previously enjoyed a great sex life, it’s clear that her job is what is causing her sexual tiredness. Tell her to find a way to manage her time and stress better. Time and stress management are very important here. You need to help her to find time to relax. Also try to control your demand for sex and restrict most of the sex you have as a couple to maybe weekends when your wife is free or off work.

You can also help her out by suggesting ways in which she can reduce her work load and therefore reduce her stress. You need to face the reality that her new work schedule may not allow you to be together as often as you were previously. Therefore discuss with her on how both of you can reorganize your leisure time in such a way as to improve intimacy. Spending your little spare time together wisely and romantically may help. Good luck!

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now! Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714, 08131161840.. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

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Men seeking relationship/ marriage Emeka, 24, well behaved and obedient, with SSCE, based in Lagos, needs someone to help him get a job in Lagos. 08142372211. Ajibola, 38, in Lagos, needs a serious lady above 30 years for a genuine relationship that can lead to marriage. 08075821083. Emmy, tall, handsome, works in Lagos, wants a mature, sexy, nurse or working lady from 23-35 years in Lagos for a relationship leading to marriage. 08077821830. Uche needs a tall, busty, working lady in Lagos between 20-40 years. 08131161840. Chigozie, 37, from Ebonyi, fair, 5.6ft, works in Lagos, needs a God-fearing, working class lady for a relationship leading to marriage. 08164630953. John, 52, a widower with two kids, from Edo, in Lagos, needs a fair, plump, Christian woman. 08025313929. Ogbonna, 40, from Ebonyi, in Abuja, business man, needs a working class lady between 30-40 years for marriage. 09069054706.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

It happened to me:

My online girlfriend turned out to be a man

n February of 2008 I met a girl online. She was living in America, I was living in Australia. I was about to turn 18, she told me she was 19 turning 20. We became fast friends and talked every day, nearly all day on Skype using microphones and I would get on my webcam but she said she would get one. Within the first few days she had me, she sent me a bunch of pictures of herself, she was beautiful and so was her voice. After a couple of months it was clear that we wanted to meet up and have an intimate relationship. I asked her why she couldn’t get a webcam. After six months or so she just said she really wanted for me to wait and see her in person for the first time . She always told me that I’d look so much better if I cut my long hair. For her 20th birthday I went out and cut my shoulder-length hair to a very short length, got home and showed her on the webcam, she was speechless and very happy. By now we were very, very close and were open about how much we loved each other, even though we had never met. She told me I couldn’t come and visit her and she couldn’t come and see me because she needed to finish college first and would miss me too much if I came and left or she came to see me then had to go back. After some more months she admitted to me that her father beat her and that when she came to see me she’d never go back to America and that she’d be leaving her family for good. She would get very upset when I mentioned anything about us meeting up. As the year went by she would always tell me about her gay friend, Chris, who was her best friend. She was also extremely needy and obviously had issues but I was there for her 24/7. She would get very upset if I wanted to go out and see friends, I didn’t go out much at all and was stuck inside the house, I even missed out on my friend’s going-away party. She would get mad at me over tiny little things like if I needed to eat and she didn’t, she’d get mad and say I didn’t like spending time with her anymore. Some of you may find it sick or weird, but we were so inseparable that we would go to sleep together, with our mics on and our laptops in bed with us. One night, we were both woken up by her mother yelling at her, only she was calling the name ‘Chris’. I thought to myself “OH MY GOD, she isn’t who she says she is and she’s really her gay friend Chris”. When she got back from being yelled at she explained to me that her mother recently found out that Chris was gay and would tease her by calling her Chris all the time. I thought this was odd but I bought into it. Another night I got on facebook and searched her school, I found one of her friends she had told me about and as I was going through the people at her school, I saw a profile with a picture of ‘my girlfriend’ – who shall remain nameless. The profile had a different

“One night, we were both woken up by her mother yelling at her, only she was calling the name ‘Chris’. I thought to myself “OH MY GOD, she isn’t who she says she is and she’s really her gay friend Chris”. When she got back from being yelled at she explained to me that her mother recently found out that Chris was gay and would tease her by calling her Chris all the time. I thought this was odd but I bought into it. ” name to hers. She’d told me she had no facebook or myspace. I questioned her about it and she was shocked, she told me it must be Chris messing around and not to worry about it. I believed her even though my gut feeling told me not to. It was my birthday, we’d been together well over a year, day after day of staying in my room and talking to her. She was upset about something, so I was trying to get it out of her. Eventually she just told me, “I’m not a girl, you can call me Chris.” My heart stopped. She told me that she was born neither girl or boy, so her parents had to decide what gender she would be, they chose male. All her life she has felt like a girl stuck in a boy’s body. She tricked me by sending me pictures of a girl from her (or should I say ‘his’) dance class. The girl in the pictures was the one whose profile I’d found on facebook. I’d only seen the real Chris once in a picture long ago.

I was devastated and after an hour or two of crying and fighting with her, I closed my laptop and had some time to myself. She had told me she might as well be dead if she can’t have me. I couldn’t live with myself if she hurt herself because of me so I sent her a text. She got back on Skype and so did I, she told me she was about to kill herself in the shower before I texted her. A few months have passed and I still talk to her nearly every day. After a few weeks I went back to how I was with her because I didn’t want her to hurt herself or to think that no one would want her if they knew the truth. She wants a sex change and wants to come and be with me. I’ve been treating her pretty much like I did when she was my ‘girlfriend’ just to help her confidence. She is way too needy and I still feel betrayed. I tried to tell her the other day that I can’t do it and its best I just be her friend, after a small break she sent me a suicide text. She didn’t say

she was going to kill herself but she said she didn’t want to be around anymore and I caused her too much pain and she couldn’t live with it. I know her well enough to know what she meant by ‘not wanting to be here’. So I was nice to her and treated her like she was my girlfriend again. I am at a stage now where I don’t know what to do. I can’t let her hurt herself and she won’t have me as just a friend. I feel bad when I treat her nicely and give her hope, she thinks we’ll be together one day but I just can’t do it, I feel too betrayed and honestly I don’t want to be with someone who has had a sex change. I feel like a total jerk and I don’t know what to do. Yeah I was a fool to get in such a serious relationship like that in the first place but it happened slowly and before I knew it I was doing everything for her. What should I do?

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Serious issues concerning DIVORCE

ust like I always say, in marriage there are two ultimate ends – Till death do us part and till quarrels, nagging, and problems do us separate. Most often, the second part is usually the case in most marriages in this country do to un-readiness of most couples before venturing into marriage. They usually do not understand themselves properly before going into it. Some may be due to parental arrangements – my best friend’s daughter or son, my club or society member’s daughter or son, etc., and the consequent result is misunderstanding and divorce. Some also may be an extension of the school’s relationships which was built on inflations and fool’s paradise without thorough understanding of each other’s likes and dislikes behaviors and attitudes and the resultant effect is separation and divorce very early in the marriage. The fact still remains that marriage is built on love, understanding and tolerance. And this is the reason why the law is carefully programmed to take good care of these ingredient of marriage before granting divorce to it. For instance, the court will normally grant some years separation periods to see if reconciliations could be possible before finally granting the divorce. The court loves unity, not putting asunder to what God has put together, and even goes on further in protecting the known hardships and discomforts the children of such marriage (even any) would pass in the hands of step mothers or fathers, by first of all employing all reconciliatory and peace restoring means before a divorce is granted. As I have explained earlier, there are certain crucial issues that may necessitate couples seeking for a divorce and which the court considersgood issues to granting the divorce some of them are; • a. Willful and persistent refusal to consummate marriage • b. Adultery and intolerability • c. Conduct which the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to bear • d. Desertion • e. Separation and respondent’s consent • f. Three years’ separation • g. Failure to comply with a decree of restitution of conjugal rights • h. Presumption of death • i. Petitions for dissolution of marriage In the past, before the development of common law, the husband claims the right to exercise power and dominion over his wife. However, statutory marriage confers on the husband and wife rights and obligation especially for persons who are legally married. The previous rights claimed by the husband covered, inter allia control of the wife’s movements and complete servitude of the wife. But this was disproof in law since the decision of the Court of Appeal in R.V. Jackson (1891) 1QB671 and the married wife acquired considerable freedom of action. For this reason, today a married woman is VIRTUALLY the mistress of her own household. This does not mean that a married woman should be disobedient to her husband or feel that she has complete liberty to do anything she likes contrary to the wishes and policies of her husband and the family. I do not want the married woman to misunderstand my impartation as a right to cause things that will lead to separation and divorce in marriage. When two elephants fight it is the grass (the children) that suffers, so be wise. By the decision of that Court of Appeal in 1891, a married woman is no longer into servitude and may follow any profession of her own choosing, acquire and dispose property, and enjoy freedom of movement without hindrance from the husband (especially those freedom of movement that is not legally and morally wrong). CONSORTIUM: The numbers of duties owe each other by married couples is collectively referred to as consortium. In as much as there is no precise definition of this right of consortium by it can simply be described as the right of living together as husband and wife with all the incidents that accompany such a marriage relationship. In this con-

text, it means that the duties which spouses owe each other in the domestic life is not permanent or stable one but it depends on the circumstances in each marriage and those involved. This implies that this action is a matter of common knowledge and not the subject of legal definition. It is generally a known fact and generally accepted that the husband is the bread winner of the family while the wife is in charge of the running of the househols. However, the notion may be reversed by other circumstances and what next? Let us now examine some attributes of consortium which the courts have at least dealt with. These are; 1. CHANGE OF NAME: The Holy Book makes us understand that in marriage the wife will leave her parents’ home to the man and become one with him. This means that she may drop her surname to bear that of her husband. In law therefore, on marriage, a she may drop her surname to her husband’s surname or she may retain the surname, even after marriage has been brought to an end either by divorce or death of her husband. The law has held it that a husband has no right to stop his divorced wife by injunction from using his name unless she is doing so for the purpose of defrauding him or others.

2. DUTY TO COHABIT: Generally after marriage, it is expected that the husband and wife should live together in a roof and sleep always on the same bed. But in law, this duty is not absolute for spouses to cohabit. It should be noted that cohabitation does not necessarily imply that spouses must live together physically under the same roof. Come to think of it, what of where the natures of their employments or jobs necessitates their living separately, can one now take it as not cohabiting and a reason for divorce? No. There isstill cohabiting in a wider sense. However, withdrawal from cohabitation may constitute the matrimonial offence of DESERTION. Desertion arises from physical withdrawal from matrimonial home. 3. SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: The parties to a marriage owe each other the duty to consummate it. Failure may result into nullity of the marriage especially where there is persistent refusal without any good/genuine reasons by either of the parties. However, while there is a duty to have sexual relationship, husband or wife is not bound to submit to excessive sexual demands of the other party which may be detrimental to that party’s health.

QUESTION:

Can a husband be guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge of his wife?

Dear Lawyer,

Please, as marriage imports the consent of the spouses to sexual relations, can a husband be guilty of being a principal in first degree rape on his wife? Lanre, Lagos

ANSWER Dear Lanre, Thanks for this nice question. I hope you do not intend to be forcing your wife to sexual relationship against her wish; I presume that you are not that type. A husband cannot be guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge or rape of his wife. However to your question, a husband cannot be guilty as principal in the first degree of rape on his wife, but he could be an accomplice or an accessory to the offence of rape committed on his wife by a third party. Also, if the husband exercises or applies the use of force or violence in exercising his right to intercourse, he may be guilty of wounding or causing actual bodily harm.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

Kiss Me dedicated to all sweet ladies – Sleek Silk

Influenced by late Bob Marley and Tupac Shakur among a host of others, the act known as Sleek (Gerald Ojukwu), a signee of wave-making Sleek Silk entertainment is carving a niche for himself in the Nigerian entertainment space. In this chat with TS Weekend, he talks career, his influences and his new single, Kiss Me, produced by 2shy. How did you come into music? I have been into music for ever. It all began in my childhood. I have been organising shows in the eastern part of Nigeria with Silk Entertainment from way back. We used to have shows in clubs, open places and we also handled big events. That was how I came into music and along the line I started producing my own tracks and I came up with the name Mr Silk as my stage name because I was playing an important role at Silk Entertainment; I was like their front man.

Who are your influences? Growing up I was influenced by late 2pac Shakur, Bob Marley and Lucky Dube. I loved their songs because of their use of message which mostly fought for the poor masses.

• Sleek Silk

recorded since I started entertainment. My repertoire includes songs like Sweet Tomatoes, Kiss Me, Chika Odinaka (In God’s hand), Alcohol, Jayee remix, Memories and so many others but right now, I am working on a video for my latest track which is Kiss Me. Which artistes do you want collabos with? All of them are good for collaboration depending on the kind of songs I do. I think I will go with Phyno, Olamide and flavour. I think Phyno is a phenomenal act. He stands out and is very unique. What is Kiss Me all about? Kiss Me is a song I specially composed and it is dedicated to all the sweet ladies out there making their guys proud. Ever since we released the single, the response has ben overwhelming I must confess.

What has been your happiest moment What has been your great- so far? My happiest moment ever was the est challenge? day I joined one of the biggest enterMy greatest challenge tainment platforms in the south east. has been marketers. That was in 2015. I was surprised to Most of them will feed be playing a major role which I am still fat from your sweet doing till date as their front man, orbut in order for you ganising shows and appearing on some to ‘blow’ you need magazines. them and it is so sad. The only way out is How do you get inspiration? to work hard and My inspiration comes from what is spend wisely. Perhappening in society. Sometimes it severance is key could be what happening in my life, so don’t quit but places I have been to including good work tirelessly unand bad experiences. til you are there. Be unique in So, when are you dropping your debut your sound album? and style. Right now we will be releasing more of singles. An album will come later but How many for now, we are working on building songs a firm fan base. Once we achieve that have you and we are already getting there, it recorded would be time for an album so my fans to date and should stay tied and watch out. have you shot any What are your dreams? videos? My dream is that one day, I will be celI have ebrated for my efforts and hard work. about 20 songs I have

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Entertainment All set for Classy Mask Party

Linda Ikeji raises the bar

logger and media mogul, Linda Ikeji is charting a new course and redefining her game. Ever since she launched her TV platform, LInda Ikeji TV (LiTV), the journey has been to the top as a record 10 000 people have subscribed to the new online platform. Said an industry source: “This is a big feat for the new online platform. In a

world where many online TV subscription platforms are dying or growth stunted, Linda Ikeji has proven that she is not just the queen of blogging but would soon be queen of online TV in Nigeria and Africa.” LITV, an online streaming service is accessible via web, Android play store and iOS.

“LiTV is hoping to be the leader in African online content. Among others, subscribers now have access to recent and blockbuster movies, series, dramas, documentaries, comedy shows, and one-of-a-kind reality shows. The platform will serve as a one stop shop for all entertainment content in Nigeria and Africa,” the source added.

ou may not know the name Umenowobi Abuchi henry aka De Don yet but watch out! This guy is about to shake Anambra State to its roots in an exciting way when he hosts the maiden edition of his Classy Mask Party. In a chat with TS Weekend, the indigene of Ezinifite, Aguata LGA, Anamnbra State who just relocated to NIgeria said: “ We’re introducing two new parties, one is the Classic Mask Party which is coming up on Friday, June 29, and the second one is our Celebrity Night, which involves hosting popular celebrities once a month in the club. In the past we have hosted the likes of Terry G, D Prince, Vector, Nkoli Nwa Nsuka, Zubee Michael and ward winning film producer, Lawrence Lurrenzo Onuzulike and host of others. However, our focus now is the Classic Mask Party. And I want to assure guests, security is water tight.” On what inspired him to go into hospitality business he said: “The major reason I went into hospitality business is because since I was a kid, I have always told myself that I will like to do something that will benefit people.”

Nollywood and season of deaths

ollowing a string of deaths that have visited Nollywood, there is palpable fear in the air as practitioners can’t keep asking how is next? And to protect themselves, insiders say they ave resorted to prayer. Said a source who squealed to TS Weekend on grounds of anonimity: “Everyone is afraid by the unbroken string of deaths. It began with Aisha Abimbola. next it was reggae legend, Ras Kimono and before we could say Jackie Robbinson it was Moses of Felix and Moses and now, another actor is dead! I can assure you there is fear in Nollywood right now and everybody is praying very hard. Those who got to church are holding heir bibles, those who go to mosques are holding their quorans and the animist are not left out. How can four practitioners die just like that? There is more to this-o. How can four promising careers be terminated in such a short time,” th source queried.

Over a decade after, Dickson Iroegbu set to storm Nollywood

Nollywood: Nigeria partner Norway

igeria and Norway have reaffirmed their commitment to partner and develop their film industries which bear some similarities in terms of the role they play as tools for change and social re-engineering. This renewed commitment, and several others were given when the His Excellency, Jens Petter Kjemprud, the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria visited the Headquarters of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Jos, Wednesday June 13, 2018. Speaking at a meeting, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), commended the Ambassador for the visit and assured that the NFC as the lead regulatory government film agency was desirous in creating the enabling environment for the Nigerian film industry to par with others film cultures. Dr. Maduekwe was emphatic that Nigeria has become the next frontier in

terms of global creative economy. NFC, he further said, is developing a robust plan, which includes domestic and foreign linkages that will serve as catalysts for Nigerian film practitioners to ply their profession. Maduekwe, emphasized that training and capacity building to deal with skills gap in the film sector was being addressed through the National Film Institute (NFI), and called for further partnership and exchange programmes between the National Film Institute (NFI) and the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI). Earlier, His Excellency, Jens Petter Kyenprud, said he was at the NFC to seek ways of partnership and collaborations for film agencies in Norway. According to him, Nigeria has a large and robust film industry with an employment of about 100 million practitioners. This to him, and in addition to the rich culture and literature of Nigeria,

makes theNollywood a brand for Nigeria. He averred that the Nigerian film industry has a duty to correct the negative portraiture of Nigeria, through the development of appropriate storylines in films. “Nigerian films must strive to breakdown these negative perception”, he said. Decisions reached during the visit include, the participation of Norway at ZUMA film festival 2018, taking place in Abuja, December 1st -7th; the participation of Nigeria at the Annual International Business Forum held in Oslo between November & December; a Joint Nigerian Film Festival to be held in Norway, yearly, and partnership between the film training institutes of both countries. The development and subsequent signing of a co-production treaty between Nigeria and Norway was also discussed.

ave you been wondering where award winning movie director, Dickson Iroegbu is? You need not worry anymore as the act is poised to hit Nollywood with a brand new movie entitled, The Good Husband. TS Weekend caught up with him recently at popular celebrity hangout, O’Jez, Surulere, Lagos and the once dreadlocked moviemaker opened up on his latest exploits. “I have been away for a while but now I am returning with a bang! My fans should watch out for my latest move entitled, The Good Husband slated for release soon,” In excited Iroegbu revealed.” The Good Husband is the story of couples whose marriage succeed and become housemates always looking forward to returning to each others warm embrace. However, those whose marriages are not working become inmates and their homes become little prisons while they await death for divorce to put an end to the misery.” Iruoegbu, a veteran in Nollywood directed Women’s Cot which won him AMAA award in 2006.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

Crime

Customs to smugglers: We are fully on ground Stories by XAVIER NDAH

he Nigerian Customs , Federal Operations unit ‘FOU’ Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos has assured smugglers to desist from smuggling or they should always be ready to count their loses as its men were fully reinvigorated to tackle them. Comptroller of the Unit, Mohammed Uba in a chat with The Oracle Newspapers said it will continue to make sure smugglers within his areas of jurisdiction count their losses until they repent from sabotaging the nation’s economy. According to Uba the FOU Zone ‘A’ Lagos, has impounded various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,345,572,313 between May 16 to June 2018. He said the Unit through its interventions have recovered a total sum of N59,506,773,25 from underpayments, making a cumulative of N1,405,079,086 within the weeks under review. Comptroller Uba while conducting pressmen round the Customs warehouse in Ikeja disclosed that items ceased so far include 15 exotic vehicles, 9,049 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 1,464 cartons of frozen poultry products, 870 Jerry cans of vegetable oil, 273 bales of used clothing, 592 pieces of used tyres among others. He said four containers with no: PCIU850134/9, PCIU8278544,

CP Lagos reorganises anti-cultism squad over misconduct •Redeploys officer-in-charge

n a move to reposition and reinvigorate the command’s Anti-Cultism Squad, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, has redeployed the Officer-in-Charge of the Squad , Superintendent of Police ,SP, Godwin Agbegbe while Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Akaninyene Etuk has been posted to take over from him. Police image maker Lagos state CSP Chike Oti who confirmed the story to The Oracle Today on telephone said “Similarly, all members of the squad were relieved of their duty posts and have been directed to report to the Police Lagos State Police Headquarters for debriefing. “The reorganisation of the squad was necessitated by unprofessional conducts of its personnel and corruption in the unit. It is also to revitalise the outfit, believed to be very crucial in the fight against cultists and cultism in the state by infusing it with fresh blood for better service delivery. “The CP Lagos warns that the same treatment awaits any other unit in the command that is working at cross purposes with the fundamental objectives of the Nigeria Police Force. He added that Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments must increase supervision of their men in order to ensure non violation of the police Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)” he stated. Meanwhile, Oti said members of the public with useful information about the activities of cultists in any part of the state are encouraged to reach CSP Etuk on GSM number 08034448617 .

…impounds contraband worth over N1b

• Some of the trucks with some ceased bags of rice

FCIU983753 and TGHU6924330 were also impounded for false declaration within the period under review. While giving a breakdown, the FOU Comptroller said two of the containers were carrying 8,633 pieces of empty cylinders as against plumbing materials declared in their SGD, while the two others contained 120 bales of new jeans as

against punching machine declared in the SGD. Further, Uba stated that the 15 exotic vehicles include 3 Toyota C-HR (2018 models), one Toyota Camry LE (2018 model), one Toyota Prado (2018), one Toyota Hilux (2017), one Ford F150 (2017), one Pajero Jeep (2017) ,one Mercedes Benz (2017) among others. Explaining further, the Comptrol-

ler hinted that the 9,049 bags of the foreign parboiled rice were concealed in 15 trailers, describing the seizure as spectacular. The Comptroller also disclosed that 12 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and will be prosecuted accordingly. He attributed the successes recorded by the Unit to the logistics support of the Comptroller-General

Two in police net in attempt kidnap T of customs officer he Lagos State Police Command has foiled an attempt to kidnap a female Deputy Comptroller of Customs, younger brother and her son. Two persons in connection of the crime have already been arrested for the crime The Oracle Today gathered that trouble started when an alleged notorious kidnapper simply identifies as Yomi widely known to be a land grabber at the Ajah area of the state had been calling the younger brother to the Customs officer to meet him on a business deal. The younger brother to the officer who suspected a foul play reported the matter to the police at Area D police Command, Mushin. Police Spokesman, Mr. Chike Oti said:” Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, the Area D Commander quickly assembled a decoy team which played along with a caller who had been calling Barrister Yisa Theophilus, the younger brother of the female officer. “The police team ran a quick check on the caller based on available information and came to the conclusion that he was up to something sinister. The team found out that aside from being a notorious criminal in the area, the caller, later discovered to be one Yomi, who was into land selling business. So the detectives called him on his mobile phone to meet with them for a land deal and he agreed. ” On the day they agreed to meet, the detectives went along with the younger brother of the female officer Yisa Theophilus whom he had been calling frequently. They met the suspect at a project site in Farapark in Ajah, and he was promptly arrested. “During a brief interrogation at the scene of the arrest, the suspect

•Yomi Oludare, Olugbenga Kehinde Ojo, former Driver to the Deputy Comptroller’s uncle.

confessed that he has never met the lawyer nor any member of his family. He, however, said that the idea to kidnap Bar Yisa, his sister and her son came from one Ojo, a former Driver to the Deputy Comptroller’s uncle. He added that the idea was to kidnap the lawyer and force him to lure out his sister, who is a Deputy Comptroller of Customs. “To make his story believable, he put a call to the said Ojo. He told him to meet him, as he had successfully kidnapped the lawyer. He was happy and so he rushed to the venue, straight into the waiting arms of police detectives investigating the case. “The suspects took the police to a shanty, surrounded by water, situate in Eleko, along Lekki/Epe Expressway, which they prepared as a

hostage ground for their would-be victims. It was the agreement of the suspects that in order to avoid the mistakes of the alleged notorious kidnapper, Evans, the moment any of their potential victims sights Ojo, a former employee of the Deputy Comptroller’s uncle, that person must be killed because they all know him. “The CPLagos has advised Lagosians to be wary of people who call them out for lucrative business deals as it might turn out to be a ploy to kidnap or harm them. He however assured that the Command will remain proactive in the fight against crimes and criminality in the state” Oti said. Police foil kidnap of Comptroller of customs and family

of Customs, Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), the entire management team of the Customs and the media for its partnership in sensitizing and educating the general public on the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy. Speaking further he said, “ In order to ensure full implementation of the government policy banning the importation of rice through land borders and following headquarters directive in same, we re-strategised our operational modalities and beam out search light at the creek, water side and at various locations in south west zone and hence the reason for the massive rice seizure within the period under review. “ We will continue to make sure smugglers within our areas of jurisdiction count their losses until they repent from sabotaging our economy. As you already know, smuggling is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely but if all hands are on deck it will be reduced to its barest minimum “. Uba commended the officers of the Unit for putting their lives on the line for the seizures recorded, especially the 15 trailers load of rice. Pointing out that the exercise recorded a big battle between his men and the smugglers at the creek and bush parts, Uba asserted that it was their resilience and doggedness that won the battle for them, adding that it is highly commendable.

Two arrested for defiling girl 4 wo men have been arrested by Tcarnal the police for allegedly having a knowledge of a four –year-

old girl (name withheld). Police source said the incident happened at different instances and in different places both at Bale Street and Abosode close in Abesan, Ipaja area of Lagos. The men 31-year old Anisere Sulaiman and Kehinde Adedeji, were arrested by the police Gender section following a report made by the mother of the victim that her daughter was taken advantage of. It was gathered that the defendants lured the victim into a room and engaged her in sex romp. They were said to have removed her pant and forced their manhood into her private but the police did not state if they actually penetrated and injured her as claimed by the mother of the girl. The Oracle Today gathered that trouble started when the mother of the 4-year old girl discovered that she was having difficulties in walking normal and when questioned she mentioned the suspects as being responsible. The woman we gathered had reported the matter to the Gender section of the Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos where the suspects were arrested and taken to the police command. Police said the suspects initially denied but when the victim explained what transpired between them they were unable to defend themselves further and they started begging to be pardoned that they were just rolling their penis on her private but they did not penetrate her. It was gathered that they were found culpable by the police who charged them before Ogba Magistrates court for defilement of the 4-year old.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS Extra Don’t toy with Amnesty Programme – N’Delta stakeholders warn Buhari

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

ome stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to toy with the funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the interest of peace and security in the region. The stakeholders made up of traditional rulers and youths gave the warning in a communiqué they issued at the end of a meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in the week. The communiqué which was signed by Chief Mike Loyibo and Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the Niger Delta leaders contended that the peace being witnessed in the region was as a result of the amnesty program The leaders further urged the President to address some of the issues raised concerning the development of the region during their last meeting with him. “We also want to use this medium to remind President Muhammad Buhari to address our issues raised concerning the Niger Delta during our last meeting with him as only the Maritime University has been addressed. “President Buhari should also know that funding of the amnesty program is the key towards ensuring the prevailing peace being witnessed in the region, hence this should be upheld. “We also want the boys in the creeks to be patient with President Buhari by continuing to give peace a chance for the overall development of the region.” The leaders also craved support for the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Prof. Charles Dokubo, appealing to the people of the region to rally round him for the success of the program. According to them, Dokubo is the right person for the job, describing him as “a round peg in a round hole.” They warned against any form of ‘Pull-him-down-syndrome’ against Prof. Dokubo, saying that since he assumed office, the steps he had so far taken to advance the course of the program had been satisfactory to leaders and people of the region. “From the measures he (Dokubo) has embarked on so far, we believe he has the desire to advance the goals and objectives of the program as well as taking it to the next level. So, we are solidly behind him and we hereby pass a vote of confidence on him,” the leaders said.

Oyegun bent on destroying APC-- Chieftain

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State and former governorship candidate of the party in 2015, Senator Julius Ucha, has accused the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, of making frantic efforts to destroy the party ‘because he is no longer wanted as chairman.’ “John Oyegu is a malignant turmoil in APC. I say this because he has lost sense of honour and has allowed pride, prejudice, self-knowledge and selfishness to overwhelm him including greed.

“If the only thing he can achieve for the party now is to destroy the institution because he feels he is no longer wanted, because of his sins he now thinks the best thing to do is to destroy the institution through which he has been blessed by God,” Ucha said. Ucha who is a two term Senator that represented Ebonyi central senatorial zone from 2003 to 2011 disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abakaliki. Senator Ucha also predicted that the outcome of the 23rd June national convention of the party may be a nullity if the party allows Oyegun to use delegates who were not

validly elected in their various states in conducting it. He said there was need to address issues arising from the just concluded congresses in various states so that the party would not be building something on nothing. “If the party allows him (Oyegun) to introduce delegates that were not dully elected according to electoral Act and guidelines of the party; delegates that were made by over ambitious politicians who stayed in their houses to write names and such delegates are allowed to be used in the upcoming national convention of the party, other political parties are watching; because that

• Femi Adesina and Garba lead the Presidential Media team to pay Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari

Group distributes healthcare items to orphanages, schools in A’Ibom INI BILLIE, Uyo

United Kingdom-based nongovernmental organization, Oral Africa Care, has collaborated with the El Charis Initiative For Africa, in Akwa Ibom State for the distribution of healthcare items like tooth brushes, tooth pastes and mouth wash products to over 1,000 less privileged children in the state. The distribution was carried out in Nakpo Grammar School in Ibesikpo Asutan, Shalom Community Orphanage home in Esit Eket, Community Primary School in Ukana, Essien Udim and Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Ebom, Etinan local government areas, after a demonstration of the most effective way of brushing the teeth was taught to the children. Speaking during the Dental Health Outreach, Executive Director of Oral Africa Care, Mrs Vivian Teprah said the campaign in the state was the first carried out by the organisation in Nigeria and the fourth in Africa. She stated that the campaign is designed to help children in Africa and that the target of the organisation is to visit 54 countries in Africa

on the sensitization against the use of hard tooth brushes, as well as educate families, especially children on how to care for their teeth. Noting that the focus was on the less privileged children because of the perculiarity of their situation, Teprah who noted that a healthy mouth leads to a healthy life, blamed a children’s poor teeth hygiene on lack of regular teeth checkup and too much sugar intake. She said it was important for parents to take their children to a dentist every six months to avoid teeth problems. “The programme is about children’s health in Africa. I want to make a change. My aim is to stop children from using the hard surface tooth brushes. I want to stop children from brushing their teeth so hard. “I feel happy knowing that I am doing my job by showing children the technics on how to brush their teeth properly. Going to the dentist regularly after six months will help children maintain a healthy teeth. “Children should be taught the importance of brushing their teeth correctly twice a day, stop eating so much sugar and stop brushing their

teeth so hard”. Also speaking, the founder of El Charis Initiative For Africa, Mr. Ekemini Ukim stressed the need for parents to take special interest in the personal hygiene of their children, adding that one such way is to teach children how to take care of their oral health. He said, “Parents also need to be taught how to keep a healthy teeth but our main aim are the children because parent do not really have time for their children due to their busy schedule. So the only way is to teach these kids and let them understand the reason why they should reduce the intake of sugar and how to take care of their oral health. That is why we are here”. In her remarks, the Director of Shalom Community Orphanage home, Mrs Janet Evans expressed gratitude for the help rendered by the charity organisations. Declaring her readiness to ensure that the children maintain good personal hygiene, she said, “I am happy today to know that there are people who care about these children. We would make sure that we take proper care of them even if it means guiding them on how to brush properly”.

will affect the validity of the convention. “A situation where delegates that were not validly elected were allowed to have elected the state executives and such executives are allowed to participate in the national convention of APC or allowed to elect contestant in primary elections and if such candidate eventually wins, other political parties are watching. The implication is that through preelection matters in courts the candidate so elected by those executives who were not validly elected, certainly, the electoral victory will suffer a huge setback. This is very very important”. Using Ebonyi state chapter of the party as an instance, Ucha said available records including that of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed there were no ward Congresses in 5 out of the 13 local government areas of the state; yet, some politicians because of inordinate political ambitions, forged results with which they relied on to produce delegates for both local government and state Congresses. “Therefore, if there was no ward Congresses in the 51 out of the 56 wards in Ebonyi north zone and there was no ward congress in 11 wards of Ohaozara local government, where is the basis of the state congress that was conducted under heavy security at Nkwegu Ugbala grand arena? Again, What is the basis for conducting local government congress in Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ohaozara, Izzi and Abakaliki LGAs where ward Congresses never held? According to him, the records used in conducting the state congress that was held at Nkwegu Ugbala grand Arena showed that Congresses were conducted in 171 wards; which is illegality upon illegality. He accused the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the immediate past Governor of the state, Martin Elechi and a Senator who represented Ebonyi North, Chris Nwankwo, of concocting an arrangement in which the chairmanship position was zoned out of Ebonyi Central zone as against the party’s guidelines and constitution. “It is only in law that you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. And electoral victory is rooted in law. In Science, when plane is flying, you may not be putting it on anything and it will be flying. But in electoral victory which is rooted in law----the Electoral Act and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, you cannot put it on nothing and expect that it will stand; because our courts are there to interpret the processes upon which you arrive at what you have”. Ucha therefore, urged the national convention committee to address fallouts from the states’ Congresses especially states where aggrieved party members have gone to court, to avoid exposing the party destruction. “The present national chairman is a man who does not obey the rule of law. He flouts court decisions with impunity. So, if there are states where the members of the party have gone to court, it is important for the national convention committee to address the issues in such states rather than allowing it, thereby, in one way or the other allowing the national chairman to impose delegates which are being contested in court to be part of the process”, he said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS P/Harcourt disco explains blackout in 4 states

he Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has blamed the persisting blackout in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers on ruptured of gas-bearing pipelines to power stations in the states. Manager of Corporate Communications of the company, Mr John Onyi, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Port Harcourt. He, however, assured that the company was taking steps to quickly restore electricity to customers in the states. Onyi also added that “the current poor power supply being experienced since June 15 is partly caused by technical issues on wells belonging to Shell Oil Company. “The power supply challenge, according to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), occurred on June 15 and has resulted to massive loadshedding in the South-South region and Nigeria as a whole. “PHED has been assured that the situation is not completely out of control as top management and technical crew of TCN have already started finding solution to getting it fixed.” Onyi said that the company would ensure that electricity received from the national grid, based on the current power situation, would be evenly distributed and aligned to systematic load-shedding. He appealed to customers to bear with the company for the inconveniences the outage may cause during the period repair of the pipeline would last.

Waterways now unsafe for smugglers, oil thieves -- Nigerian Navy By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

igerian Navy have assured members of the public that the nation’s waterways is unsafe for smugglers and other criminal elements as its officers are always one step ahead of perpetrators of such vices. The Navy made the pledge in Calabar while parading eight suspected oil thieves with over 100, 000 liters of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel. This recent seizure is coming on the heels of the recent arrest of another set of five suspects with about 3000 bags of assorted rice worth

over 50 million naira. Speaking while parading the suspects in Calabar, the commander of NNS Victory Commodore Julius Nwagu, said the suspects were apprehended along the Calabar Channel when the command got intelligence reports about the activities of the suspects, believed to be coming from Rivers State. He said items recovered from them will be handed over to officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution assuring members of the public that the Navy will always be a step ahead of those perpetrating criminalities in the country’s maritime domain.

“We all know the consequences of people taking the laws into their hands to sabotage the efforts of the government and the efforts the Nigeria navy is putting to ensuring that the perpetrators of these illegal activities are brought to book. “I am here to hand over the suspected cargo and the Cotonou boats to the NSCDC to take over them in accordance with the extant regulations”. He warned members of the public to desist from illegal and criminal activities as the command is ready to seize all such items from them and have them face the law saying there is no more hiding place for Criminal

Council chairman in Auchi threatens street traders with 2-wk jail term

Police nab suspected gun runner in Bayelsa

he Police Command in Bayelsa said on Tuesday that it had arrested a suspected gun runner who sold an AK 47 riffle for N500,000 and a Berrata pistol for N250,000. Spokesperson of the command, DSP Asinim Butswat, said in Yenagoa that the suspect was arrested in a sting operation on June 16 at a hotel in Ekenfa 3, Yenagoa. Butswat said that the operation was in furtherance of the directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to police commands to mop up arms and ammunition from unauthorised persons. He said that the police recovered one AK47 rifle and two Barreta pistols from the suspects who sourced the arms from the Republic of Cameroon. He said that police detectives lured the suspected notorious gun runner, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, under the guise of purchasing arms from him. The spokesperson told NAN that the suspected gun runner was arrested with a 34-year-old man from Oboro Town in Delta, who usually introduced him to buyers. “The suspect confessed that he usually travelled to the Republic of Cameroon to buy arms and ammunition in a community called Okwa, a border town with Bakassi Peninsula. “He also admitted that he sells an AK 47 riffle for N550,000 and Berratta pistol for N250,000 in Nigeria,” Butswat said. The police spokesperson said that efforts were underway to recover some of the guns the suspect earlier sold and arrest the buyers.

elements. “We are ever ready any time to go after criminals. If they do not want to hear and continue to perpetrate in this trade, we are here to collect it from them and arrest them. The Nigerian Navy is a step ahead. Our maritime domain awareness is up and running. There is no hiding place for perpetrators. “Once you commit your resources to illegal and contraband products, and you want to pass them through our maritime domain, be rest assured we are going to catch you. Any attempt they make, the Nigerian Navy is a step ahead”. Speaking while receiving the seized items, the Commandant of the NSCDC, Cross River State Command, Stephen Lar applauded the Navy for synergizing with them in the fight against crime in the waterways. He assured that further investigations will be carried out by the NSCDC and the law will catch up with the suspects accordingly saying that when they are convicted, the items will be forfeited to the government of the federation.

• The Minister in Charge Ogbor Hill Parish of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Rev. Akim Erim Mbeh, presenting the award of “Nehemiah of our Time” to the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu during their Father’s Day celebration .

Ugwuanyi commences reconstruction of Miliken Hill road to ‘appease’ late Onoh By CHUKS EZE

ith the commencement of reconstruction works on the long failed popular Miliken Hill road by the State Government, Enugu residents now believe that state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, may have moved to honour former chief executive of the state, late Cief Christian Onoh, who died nearly a decade ago. The Miliken Hill section is part of a road stretch spanning EkechinNgwo-Miliken Hill-New Market road, which had since been closed to traffic, via a statement from the state’s Commissioners for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, on June 5, 2018. Nnaji had informed the general public that the immediate “reconstruction/rehabilitation work” would result in “total closure of the road section to traffic from June 8, till further notice,” and advised road users to use the EnuguOnitsha Expressway for the time

being. Meanwhile, although many people have praised Ugwuanyi for the move, others also see the government gesture as appeasement to the late sage, C.C Onoh, who was said to have pleaded with several past governments, when he was alive, to recover the road, but to no avail. While commending the governor for his intervention on the road, a renowned politician and businessman, Boniface Agu, said the government’s gesture would forever remain fresh in the minds of the people. Agu who also that alleged that the people of Ngwo had suffered government neglect for over 35 years, stressed that all their pleas to successive administrations in the past, to repair the long-failed road, had fallen on deaf ears. “The 4.8km long Milliken Hill Road was constructed because of coal discovery on the hill, and it was named after the head engineer – Miliken – who designed,

Agu said, adding: “We are grateful to Governor Ugwuanyi for hearing the cries of Ngwo people and for wiping our tears. God will bless him and reward the governor for all the lives that would be saved by this project. My people will never forget this special government gesture,” he said. According to the politician, the road, which he said, had long become a death-trap having claimed several lives, was last rehabilitated in 1983, by the Jim Nwobodo administration, in the old Anambra State, adding, “but thank God for giving our state a governor who has brought new lease of life to the masses. The curvy road, which was said to have been constructed during the colonial period following the discovery of coal in the area, was carried out by numerous laborers using crude implements such as hoe, pick and axe, among others.

hairman of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, Mr Yakubu Musa, says street traders in Auchi and its environs will henceforth be arrested, prosecuted and jailed for two weeks. The council chairman, who gave the warning on Tuesday at an interactive session with some journalists in Auchi, vowed to enforce the extant regulations outlawing street trading in Auchi and its surroundings. He said that the council would step up the enforcement of anti-street trading laws, adding that anyone who flouted the regulations would be imprisoned for two weeks or made to pay N5,000 fine. Musa said that a joint task force, which comprised personnel of the army, the police and other security agencies, had been set up to enforce the laws banning street trading. He also said that a mobile court would be in place to try offenders. “We have set up a task force charged with the duty of preventing the circumvention of the law which prohibits display of goods for sale, or trading by the roadside with unauthorised structures, except in markets and designated places. “We shall apprehend defaulters and they shall be subjected to two weeks imprisonment or a fine of N5,000,” he said. Musa called on roadside traders to take their wares to places designated for buying and selling such as markets and shopping malls because trading in unauthorised places would attract serious sanctions. “Activities of street traders have resulted in indiscriminate occupation of public space, which serves as impediment to free flow of vehicular and human movement. “There is need for members of the public to comply with the extant laws on street trading. When citizens comply with the laws, it will be easier for security agencies to enforce the regulations. “Where the law says there should not be street trading, people should refrain from selling in such unauthorised areas,’’ he added.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS

3,000 APC members defect to PDP in Ebonyi By CHINEDU NWAFOR

o fewer than 3,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ndufu-Amagu, Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state have defected to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the state. The decampees were led into the PDP by Dr. Chuka Nweke a former chieftain of the APC in the area. Nweke speaking during the defection said he was moved to join the PDP because of intractable crisis in his former party. He said the mass defection of Labour Party members into APC after 2015 election worsened the crisis in the Party and that he cannot continue to be in a party which he said would not make any headway in next year’s general election. Also speaking, the Ndufu-Amagu ward Secretary of the APC, Friday Oreke said their defection to the PDP has further weakened the APC in the area. He assured that the decampees would work assiduously to deliver the PDP in next year’s general election Receiving the decampees, Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Environment, Philip Eworo, commended them for taking the bold step to the PDP, assuring them of equal treatment in the party. He described the PDP as party to be in next year’s general election.

No break for me on projects delivery -- Wike

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he will not slow down on projects delivery because the people of the state deserve the very best. Speaking after inspecting projects in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that he is motivated to maintain the tempo of projects delivery to make up for the eight years that the state lost during the tenure of the immediate past administration. Accompanied by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) and Cross River PDP Chieftain, Dr Sandy Onor, Governor Wike said that he will make the maximum use of the opportunity to serve Rivers State to leave his positive footprints on the sands of time. He said: “Not everyone has the privilege to serve. What we are doing is to serve Rivers State to the best of our ability. “These basic amenities are meant to attract attract investors. The attraction of investors will create employment opportunities and enhance the economy of the state. We cannot take a break in terms of the delivery of projects because there is so much work to be done.” He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, noting that an old structure was left in the middle of the school to remind people of the dilapidated nature of the institution before the reconstruction. He said that the school will be commissioned by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria on Saturday.

Re-training essential for effective service delivery - NAFDAC By CHUKS EZE, Enugu

he National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says that training and re-training of staff is very essential for efficient and effective service delivery to Nigerians. South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Mrs Olajumoke Ojetokun, stated this while opening a training for NAFDAC’s Regulatory Officers in Enugu on Tuesday. ``It is important to train staff so as

to acquire new knowledge which will guarantee quality service. If you do not train your officers, no new knowledge will be acquired. It will be zero in and zero out, therefore, there is need for training and retraining,” she said. She added that with training and re-training, the society would be sure of consuming quality products, as it was the responsibility of NAFDAC to ensure the consumption of quality products. Ojotokun said the training would

also take place in all the five states within the South East so that every regulatory staff would benefit from it. Assistant Director with NAFDAC, Mr Ejike Nnamani, said he gave the lecture as the resource person because he attended the training on the World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (WHOGMP). Nnamani said that the purpose of the training was to make the Agency’s Regulatory Staff to acquire

new knowledge and carry out their duties effectively. One of the participants, Miss Tina Eziokwu, said she was very pleased to be part of the training, adding that it would exposed her to new ways of carrying out enforcement and regulations. It would be recalled that some of the resource persons for the training had WHOGMP in Lagos and they would be sharing their knowledge to other staff to make everyone come up in his or her responsibility.

Okowa extols Delta Speaker, Oborevwori on birthday

BY JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

• (From left): Mike Itemuagbor, the organizer of Okpekpe Road Races, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ambode, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, Project Consultant Bukola Olopade, Head of Prosperity Fund and Deputy Head of Mission, British Deputy High Commission Lagos, Mr. Andrew Davidson, General Manager Marathon Yussuf Alli and Head of Communications and Media Olukayode Thomas.

Retain senatorial seat in Afikpo bloc -- Group urges Umahi, PDP By CHINEDU NWAFOR

group, Ebonyi Equity Development Initiative (EEDI) has urged the state governor, Chief David Umahi and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain the Ebonyi South senatorial position in Old Afikpo of the zone. Ebonyi South is made of Old Ohaozara and Old Afikpo blocs. The group made the appeal following the declaration by a popular business mogul, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Odii (Anyichuks), to vie for the senatorial position. Odii’s declaration is already unsettling the polity mainly because the entrepreneur wields much influence in Umahi’s administration and any aspiration nursed by him would be perceived as having the support of the Governor. The governor, Odii and the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/ Ivo Federal constituency hail from the same Old Ohaozara bloc which is made up of Onicha, Ohaozara and Ivo local government areas (LGAs). Old Afikpo comprises Afikpo North and Afikpo South councils. In a statement issued in Abakaliki and signed by the Coordinator, Chief Francis Ibe, the group noted that though the governor has directed that the position be retained in Old Afikpo, the recent consultations by the Odii should not be swept under the carpet knowing the enormous influence he wields in Umahi’s administration.

The position currently occupied by Senator Sunny Ogbuorji was declared vacant in 2019 by the state governor, saying that the five LGAs would meet to select someone to fill the vacant seat in 2019. Already, Senator Ogbuorji who is now in APC is said to be eyeing the governorship seat of the state. The group alleged that against the ban on open political campaigns of PDP members in the state by the governor, some local government chairmen and state appointees had been leading the senatorial aspirant to consultations on the party executives of the five council areas in the zone. They stressed that if nothing was done to retain the senatorial position in the bloc, the people of Afikpo might scuttle the re-election of the governor. “We have noted with dismay the recent political development in Ebonyi South as it concerns the senatorial position. The governor at many fora, had declared that the senatorial position should remain in the old Afikpo bloc, warning that anyone from the Old Ohaozara bloc especially those close to him that vies for the senatorial seat of the zone in 2019 would be seen as “an enemy of his second term” being that he came on the basis of equity and “equity requires that the senatorial seat should remain in the old Afikpo bloc of the zone”. The group finally wondered “what had changed that the governor’s friend

and associate is now the ‘enemy’ in the house. “But it was quite unbelievable that not only that INEC has not lifted the ban on all forms of political campaigns, the businessman, who’s a very close friend and associate of the governor has been going round consulting and meeting with PDP statutory delegates; especially wards and local government party executives and it’s believed that the aspirant must have not declare on his own. “This move is dangerous at a time when the PDP may face the strictest confrontations of the opposition from All Progressives Congress (APC). If this current political arrangement is allowed to take place, it may force the two local government areas in Old Afikpo bloc to work against the second term bid of the governor. “The governor should act fast because owing to the closeness of the aspirant, everybody would believe that the first family in the state is behind the aspiration and worsened by the fact that Odii was being led to the consultations and declarations by serving local government chairmen and serving officials of the governor”. The group however described Odii’s ambition as the height of insensitivity, stressing that the old Ohaozara bloc cannot occupy the two National Assembly seats and the governorship position at the same time.

elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on the occasion of his birthday anniversary, Monday. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Aniagwu, in a statement on Monday, said Okowa joined the State Assembly, the people of Okpe State Constituency, friends and family of the charismatic leader in celebrating the years of remarkable achievements and awards that have culminated into this year’s anniversary. The Governor extolled Oborevwori’s humility, simplicity and discipline in providing exceptional leadership for the State legislature in the last one year by diligently bridging the gaps and creating a harmonious atmosphere for debates and exchange of ideas for state and national development. “Governor Okowa affirms that the Speaker’s personal attributes of selflessness, maturity and friendliness have substantially eased the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arm, resulting in the prompt passage of bills that directly impact the livelihood of Deltans. “Recalling the Oborevwori’s massive empowerment of his Constituents recently, Gov. Okowa commended the Speaker for exhibiting exemplary leadership and commitment to the ideals of democracy and rule of law. “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I celebrate with one of Delta’s finest lawmaker, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on the occasion of his birthday anniversary today June, 19th 2018. “Mr. Speaker, you have brought stability, experience and worthy ideals to bear in the discharge of the functions of your office and we are entirely grateful to you. I therefore charge you to continue in your quest to provide leadership in the House as we seek further ways of partnership in our avowed determination to bring prosperity for all Deltans. “Governor Okowa prayed that the Almighty God will grant the Speaker longer life, good health and wisdom to serve the state and humanity,” the statement read.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS Cont’d from Pg 2 accused, arguing that the accused persons have fundamental rights to be granted bail by the Court as they committed no criminal act as being alleged. Both defence counsel further argued that the accused were all responsible and would not jump bail and would “appear to take their trial anywhere.” Chionye, who said he also hails from Afara Ukwu, explained that the accused persons were only at Kanu’s house to pray and not to commit any act of terrorism, contrary to claims by the Police. “Your Worship, I am incidentally from the Afara Ukwu where the accused came to pray at the house of His Royal Highness, Eze Israel Kanu, which is very close to my house. The worshippers were not disturbing anybody but only praying. “Why will you call them terrorists? If they were destroying any-

‘Arrest of Jewish worshippers terrible’ thing, the villagers would have complained. It is a mark of wickedness for the police to arrest and put them in detention just because they are Jewish worshippers. They were wearing their white garments and praying, and you can be sure that no person wears white garment to commit terrorism.” He, therefore, pleaded with the Magistrate to grant them bail “since the offense is not capital in nature,” hence “the accused have their constitutional right to be granted bail.” Aligning himself with the submissions of his colleague, Ejimakor added that some of the accused persons were at the worship location with their children, arguing that “it is highly doubtful anywhere in the world that criminals

will go to commit terrorism in the company of their children.” The lawyer said when he got wind of the arrest, he raced down to the Police Station where the children of the accused also arrested by the Police were released to him on trust. At this point, the prosecution counsel interrupted and strongly opposed the bail application, saying they would jump bail. He, however, said the children of the accused were not arrested at the church but at a different location. But Ejimofor insisted that the children were all arrested at the same location but were only released to him later at the Police Station. “The children were released to me by the Police and I accommodated them in a hotel till this morn-

ing. Some of them are even sick and need medical attention. They have been at the place of worship since Friday and not violent. Even one of the accused is about 75 years and unlikely to jump bail. “When the children were released to me yesterday they were very hungry and I gave them mango to eat. Police should be called to order because the accused have nothing to associate them as IPOB members. They were only there as Jewish adherents to pray. They were there in their numbers including their children and some women to pray and not for terrorism,” the defence counsel further argued. Ejimakor drew the attention of the Magistrate to the fact that some of the children released to him by the police were also in the court.

Kanu: Lawyer’s letter to Commons •Letter continued from Page 2

Parties battle disinformation Continued from Backpage the party has ‘listed its guidelines,’ not to talk of the cost of nomination forms,” Akobundu further stated. “At the appropriate time, the proposals will be presented to NEC of the party, which will approve as it deems fit. Only then can one say that it has the guidelines for the 2018 presidential primary election.” Expressing confidence in the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee, Akobundu stressed: The National Working Committee of the PDP, under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus is committed to adhering strictly to the PDP Constitution and the constitution in Chapter 8 (50) (1) grants NEC the power to formulate the guidelines for aspirants in any of its party primaries, the presidential primary inclusive.” The rogue guidelines had claimed the presidential primary would cost aspirants N12m to purchase Expression of Intent form. Similarly, the much-awaited APC convention slated this Saturday, June 23 is coming amidst schisms in the party with tendencies rooting

the two former governors of Edo State, current Chairman Chief John Oyegun, and his challenger Adams Oshiomhole, practically tearing the party apart. Besides, in practically all States, the APC is wracked by leadership crisis, whether it is in Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi or Abia. In Ebonyi State, for instance, a chieftain of the party) and former governorship candidate of the party in 2015 in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha has accused the national chairman of the party of “making frantic efforts to destroy the party because he is no longer wanted as its chairman.” “John Oyegun is a malignant turmour in APC. I say this because he has lost sense of honour and has allowed pride, prejudice, self knowledge and selfishness to overwhelm him including greed,” Ucha said. “It is as if the only thing he can achieve for the party now is to destroy the institution because he feels he is no longer wanted; because of his myriad of sins, he now thinks the best thing to do is to destroy the institution through which he has been blessed by God.” Ucha accused Oyegun of accrediting delegates that “were

not dully elected according to electoral Act and guidelines of the party; delegates that were made by over-ambitious politicians who stayed in their houses to write names,” stressing that if such delegates are allowed to be used in the upcoming national convention of the party, other political parties, that will affect the validity of the convention.” Oshiohmole’s candidacy is also under threat, with petitions pending against him in the EFCC for alleged corrupt enrichment. An anti-corruption crusader, Bishop Osadolor Ochei last week asked a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of mandamus compel-

ling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence criminal proceedings against former Edo State governor and National Chairmanship aspirant, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on alleged corruption. He filed an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018 praying the court to order EFCC to put Oshiomole on trial. The applicant, in the fresh motion, wants the court to declare that the anti-graft agency has the statutory duty to investigate and prosecute the former governor, upon his allegations against him in line with Act, establishing the commission.

They were asked to file out for identification, and the children aged between four and 10, numbering about eight, looked frail and worn out. He urged the Magistrate to grant them bail, arguing that even if the magistrate court lacks jurisdiction over the matter, it has the right to grant them bail. But in a swift counter argument, the Prosecution Counsel, asserted that the court has no right to entertain the matter but should detain them and allow the state Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP) to charge the matter to High Court. Apparently annoyed by the argument of the prosecution, the presiding Magistrate, U. O Ugwu asked him why he brought the matter to magistrate court when he knew it lacked jurisdiction over it. Chionye, had earlier picked a hole in the charge sheet, observing that the matter was not properly charged as it had no Police stamp. “I wonder why the prosecution wants the accused detained when the matter was not even properly charged,” he said. In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate ordered that the nine accused persons be reminded in Federal Prison Umuahia. “It is condemnable that police will charge a matter to a court that has no jurisdiction over it with the intension to remand the accused in custody unnecessarily,” the Senior Magistrate said. He , therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded at Afara prisons , while the case file should be transferred to the State Director of Public Prosecution for further advice on the matter as the Court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter. The matter was adjourned till May 30. Earlier before the accused persons were brought to Court in a Nigeria Prison’s truck, Jewish Religion adherents had thronged the Court premises in solidarity with their members, singing and dancing amidst heavy presence of the Nigeria Police personnel. They were flying Israeli flags and appealing to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Donald Trump of America for their intervention. Chionye insisted that the accused were not terrorists and lamented that the security agents instead of going for real terrorists, have decided to resort to harassing innocent worshipers. “Herdsmen with AK47 are roaming about in our backyard and no security agent is touching them. Is this one Nigeria? This is unacceptable,” he said. Also, Ejimajor described the trail of the accused as “religious prosecution,” adding that “it happened because they are mostly Igbo and Jews because the federal government is Muslim/Fulani dominated. “No sensitive government will allow its security agencies to go arresting worshippers in their place of worship; it is an aberration,” he noted. “Nnamdi Kanu’s home is a pilgrimage of sorts and people go there to worship. They were not with any weapons and you can’t commit terrorism without weapons. One can’t be guilty by association,” he added. In its reaction, the Abia State Police Command said it arrested only nine persons who allegedly belonged to ‘militant wing of IPOB’.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

SPORTS

My anger over Croatia defeat – Chukwu . Says “Iceland game will determine Nigeria’s fate”

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

ORMER national team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu has expressed disappointment over the defeat of the Super Eagles in their opening World Cup match against Croatia. According to the immediate past general manager of Enugu Rangers, his anger over the defeat to Croatia by the Super Eagles is not the defeat in itself because there is no team that does not lose a match but the lack of bite by the Gernot Rohr coached side is what has kept him wondering whether this particular team are aware of what they into. He explained that the Eagles were flat footed as they did not show that determination to succeed which the Nigerian teams are known for. He said having conceded a goal in the first half, what the Eagles ought to have done was to take the fight against the East European team and by so doing they would have shown that are determined to salvage the situation but that did not happen. “You see, my anger over the Super Eagles’ defeat by our Croatia, our first group opponent is not that we defeated. No! That is not my anger because there are no team that do not suffer defeat. We are yet to see

that team,” Chukwu began. “But my anger in our defeat is that we lacked bite. The Eagles were flat footed during the game. They never showed that they are determined or that they know what they are there for. “One would have expected them to show that determination which Nigerian teams are known for. By the time they conceded the first game which came via a set piece, what they ought to have done is to show that they know what they are in Russia for by taking the fight to our opponent rather it was our opponents who even terrorised the more. “Look, there is a saying that “he who is down does not fear fall because he is already down”. So for me I am disappointed not basically because of the defeat but the fact that our team did not show bite and determination is my source of concern,” Chukwu explained. Speaking further, the former Enugu Rangers and coach said Eagles next game on Friday against second Group D opponents, Iceland will determine Nigeria’s fate at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup tagged “Russia 2018 World Cup”. “It is true that we have lost our first three points that does not foreclose Eagles’ chances because we still two

games to wrap up our group games. “As for me, I believe that our next match against Iceland will determine our fate in Russia. It is the outcome of that match that will determine whether we will stay or come back after our last group game against Argentina.

and a penalty but that’s not an excuse, we just have to go back try to win. Watch the replay and try to correct our mistakes and take to the next game. We still have two more games to fight for and try to win. The players are therefore asking Nigerians not to write them off as they are willing and ready to continue to fight even as they believe that they could still turn things around. Please we can still turn things around, please don’t under-

tween Iceland and Argentina, Portugal and Spain, Brazil and Switzerland and Germany and Mexico. Check out these results and you will agree with the saying that football is not mathematics and there are no more minnows in football,” Chukwu explained.

peared out of sorts on Saturday playing behind lone striker Odion in the 2-0 defeat to Croatia in their Russia 2018 World Cup opening clash. Mourinho, who signed a young Mikel for Chelsea in 2006 and converted him from an attacking midfielder to a defensive midfield, has agreed with those calling for the Tianjin TEDA star to be deployed in a deeper role.

Mourinho bared his mind on Eagles’ defeat while on a Russian TV station RT, where he is working as a World Cup pundit, Mourinho said, referring to Mikel: “Nigeria lost a good No.6 to get a bad No.10.” The Super Eagles, who have failed to advance the two previous times they lost their opening games, face Iceland on Friday needing a win to keep hope alive.

Mourinho slams Rohr for playing Mikel out of position

ORE reactions are still trailing Super Eagles defeat to Croatia many days after the encounter and the latest to react on Eagles’ lost is no other person that Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, who slammed Gernot Rohr for playing Eagles’ captain John Obi Mikel out of position in the game. According to Mourinho, it was wrong of Gernot Rohr to have played Mikel as No10 because that is not the best position for him. In order to explain what he meant, Mourinho said: “Mikel A good No.6, A Bad No.10 for Eagles.” Mikel has often played an advanced role for the Super Eagles while he played a much deeper role for Chelsea successfully for close to 11 years. The Nigeria captain, now 31, ap-

Ogu rues Nigeria’s defeat to set pieces

uper Eagles midfielder, John Ogu has rued Nigeria’s opening World Cup game to Croatia stressing how painful it is to have been beaten to set pieces in the game. He lamented that Nigeria kept losing games to set pieces the…. He said the Super Eagles will of course keep fighting and can still turn things around with two games left in the group to play. “We conceded from set piece

“So, it is hard to say whether Eagles will forge ahead or not at the moment because football they say is not mathematics because already there are results of matches that people will ordinarily believe are possible before the matches were played. “Take for instance, the game be-

rates us. Of course the players can still turn things around right there at the World Cup in Russia. There is no gain saying that set pieces is a puzzle for Nigeria and needs to be unravel and solved so that this team can of course change things and get things right. “We don’t wants concede to set piece again and it will be very dangerous when it comes to set piece they will be scared and afraid of Nigeria.

We should concentrate on our next game – Amokachi

ORMER national team assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, has advised that the Super Eagles to remain focused ahead of their next game against Iceland. According to Amokachi, Argentina should not be the focal point at the moment even as he remained optimistic that Nigeria can make things happen against Iceland to get themselves back in contention for a qualification from the group as far as the 2018 FIFA World Cup is concerned. “Everybody is talking about Argentina, before you get to Argentina; you would have been knocked out or you have already qualified for the next stage. “So, I think the coach is 100 per cent right. We should focus on our next game which is Iceland. We should be able to tackle them and pick the three points if we do the right things. “When Nigeria get out

of that group stage first then, if we have that mentality, we will go a very long way,” Amokachi explained. “It is not good to focus on your last game when you still have a game before that last game. It does not make sense in my view and this type of attitude has cost us a lot in the past. No only us other teams as well,” Amokachi explained.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

SPORTS

We’ll beat Iceland, Argentina to qualify – Rohr Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

UPER Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has assured Nigerians that his charges will qualify for the next stage of the World Cup despite their shock 2-0 defeat in the hands of Croatia. Rohr said they would do all within their power to still qualify despite the setback of Croatia defeat even as he explained that with four points the team could still qualify. He maintained that his side still has the chance of making it to the next round. Eagles are currently rooted at the bottom of Group D in the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup but the Franco-German tactician who blamed the defeat of his side by Croatia on defensive naivety from set pieces by Croatia said that Nigeria can roar back to reckoning by beating Iceland and seeing off Argentina in their last group game to go through. ‘’Everything is possible in football. “It’s important to make at least four points if you want to qualify,” Rohr added. “We are only a point behind for the moment, nothing is lost and

all is in our hands. “Let’s be positive, we have the youngest team at the World Cup, let them learn and try to do better. “We saw Iceland have a good game against Argentina, a very strong team, but we can also do better than what we did today (Saturday). “We have to win against Iceland but all is possible still. If we win the next game all is possible for qualification,” Rohr said. “But we must recognize that Croatia had a better team on the night and my young players made some mistakes especially in the corners. We watch so much but the first goal was coming from the corner and the second one also on the corner which resulted in a penalty which I find a little bit awkward. “And there were so many fouls in the other box which could also give a penalty for us but we have to accept this defeat and now we have to win against Iceland. “All is still possible because we have only one point to win it come to the other two teams. If we win the next game all is possible for our qualification

Iceland plots Nigeria’s fall after taming Messi’s Argentina

CELAND’S dream World Cup debut may have seen them get a point against two-time champions Argentina, but Aron Gunnarsson and his teammates are already putting that result behind them as they move on to the challenge of Nigeria. The resilient islanders showed their iron will once again, coming back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with an Argentina side led by Lionel Messi and teeming with household names. “Now we need to focus on Nigeria. We can’t dwell on that game now. If we don’t focus on Nigeria and don’t get a result there, then that point is no use for anyone,” the combative midfielder said at a training session on Sunday. The Icelandic team left Moscow immediately after the game and returned to their base on the Black Sea coast in the holiday town of Gelendzhik, where they are training at the modest local soccer stadium. Gunnarsson said he did not get to sleep until around 4am after his country’s superb World Cup debut. “I was still hyper after the game, the adrenalin was still going high, but that’s just part of it. I think when you play a game like this and it’s high tempo, it’s hard to shut everything down.” The 29-year-old said Iceland respected their more illustrious opponents but were not in awe of the likes of Messi. “If you stand by and idolise him, he’s going to go past you and he’s going to score, he’s going to take advantage of that. It’s just important to respect the guy and play your normal football,” he said. Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson led a light training session allowing Iceland’s unused substitutes the opportunity to stretch their legs, while the likes of Gunnarsson and goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson,

who saved a second-half penalty from Messi, jogged around the pitch. Hallgrimsson echoed Gunnarsson’s desire to move on from their brilliant World Cup debut as quickly as possible. “Our plan is to finish the Argentina game today [Saturday] with

a meeting and then don’t look back, start to focus on Nigeria,” Hallgrimsson said. Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0 in Saturday’s other Group D game and they top the group on three points, with Argentina and Iceland on a point apiece. “This is a must-win game for Nigeria, and that makes it a little

bit psychologically different, they have to win,” Hallgrimsson said of Friday’s match. “This group is going to be decided in the last minutes, in the last game. It’s going to be down to some margins, a set piece, extra time goal. This is how this group is going to be played,” he said.

stop the chant. Shouts of “Puto” were heard during Mexico’s 1-0 victory over Joachim Loew’s world champions on Sunday in Moscow. The term is a homophobic insult in Mexican Spanish and is aimed at opposition players. “Further updates will be communicated in due course,” said FIFA. “As proceedings are ongoing please understand we cannot comment further at this stage.” The Mexican football federation

(FMF), which has repeatedly appealed to fans to stop the chant, was sanctioned 12 times for homophobic chanting during the World Cup qualifying campaign, receiving warnings for the first two offences and fines for 10 more. “Prevent Russia from taking away your Fan ID or arresting you,” the Mexican federation said on Twitter. “Think about the fact that you are a representative of the best fans in the world.”

FIFA opens disciplinary case against Mexico over fans’ homophobic chant

he world football governing body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Monday opened a disciplinary case against Mexico after their fans used a homophobic chant in their World Cup win over Germany. An anti-discrimination observer contributed to a report from match delegates, which was sent to FIFA, who could now levy a fine. Mexico’s own football federation has urged Mexican fans in Russia to

‘Too many mistakes cost us Croatia match’

UPER Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has attributed Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Croatia in the opening match at Kaliningrad to too many mistakes. The Eastern Europeans broke the deadlock in the first half as a Mario Mandzukic’s header was unfortunately steered home by Oghenekaro Etebor In a post-match interview, Rohr admitted his players were aware they made a lot of mistakes that cost them in the match. “We know we made some mistakes, too many important mistakes, and it is clear that we need to get better in order to move on,” News Agency of Nigeria reports. The German tactician also said that the entire team were disappointed with the result adding that the team need to show professionalism when taking set pieces. “Our organization was good, that is clear just as the tactics were not wrong, but we need to be more professional in the way we take the set pieces. We need to be better before our next game,” he added. Rohr also said he was satisfied with the performance of Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi despite not delivering the goods for Nigeria “Mikel since I took over have always been playing the way we deployed him to play, and this has yielded results for us. “But, he couldn’t have done better than he did today, because of the quality of those he was playing against. “He had Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona and Luka Modric of Real Madrid playing against him, and they are of good quality and playing for clubs bigger than that of Mikel who plays in China. “So he really did well,” he said. Rohr also stressed Alex Iwobi substitution was a tactical one and not because he had a poor performance. “Iwobi deserved his starting place, based on his performances in the last few days. He only had big work to do with the full back, and this took too much out of him. “However, he did well and I don’t think he shouldn’t have started the game,” he said. The German technical adviser assured they will go back to the drawing board and his boys will have a better performance on June, 22, against Iceland. “We will improve because it is important for us. We have to get better in order to move forward,” he said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday June 27, 2018

NEWS CHANGE OF NAME AND PUBLIC NOTICE I formerly known as MISS CHIOMA HAPPINESS EZERIOHA, now which to be known as MRS. CHIOMA HAPPINESS UBAH. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Educational Institutions, General Public take note.

I formerly known as NNAH NKIRU CONSTENCIA now wish to be known as NNAH CONSTENCIA NKIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as CHINAZA PEACE NKWEGU now wish to be known as NJOKU OGECHUKWU FRANCISCA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as IHEAGU JOKCHIN IZUCHUKWU now wish to be known as IHEAGU JUSTINE IZUCHUKWU. All Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

I formerly known as OBI JEFF EBERE now wish to be known as OBI JEFF EBERECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OBIORAH NNANYELUGO PETER now wish to be known as OBIORA NDIDI PETER. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OKAFOR MICHAEL CHIZOBA now wish to be known as NWANKWO MICHAEL CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as GODSONUCHENNA IKECHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as OSUAGWU UCHENNA IKECHUKWU. The University of Port Harcourt, banks and the general public should please take note.

Certificate saga: Trouble for NUJ VP as court strikes out preliminary objection

he Industrial Court sitting in Enugu Tuesday dismissed a preliminary objection brought to it by embattled NUJ Vice President, South East, Chris Isiguzo, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the certificate suit filed against him. Chairman of Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel, Petrus Obi, had approached the court seeking for interpretation of the NUJ constitution to determine whether Isiguzo is qualified to be a member of the union. Also joined in the suit is the factional chairman of NUJ in Enugu State, Rex Arum, eligibility has as well, allegedly, become question-

able in the chapel. The duo through their Counsel R. C Madu, had in a motion challenged the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the matter. The motion had also urged the Court to strike out the matter on the ground that the National body of the NUJ was not joined in the matter. But in his ruling, on Tuesday, Hon. Justice Essien dismissed the motion for lack of merit and adjourned the case for hearing. The Claimant’s counsel Barr. Emeka Okologbu Njoku had earlier filed a motion for interlocutory injunction seeking the order of the court to restrain the respond-

ents from parading themselves as NUJ members pending the determination of the substantive suit. The duo had failed to file any certificate in their response to the suit but only filed clearance documents which they had reportedly, obtained from the National Secretariat of NUJ, which enabled them to run for election in the union. Article 3 of the NUJ constitution stipulates that a member must possess a minimum of Diploma in Mass Communication or Journalism from a recognized institution, which is what Mr Obi is seeking to unravel whether or not the accused possess genuine certificates to that effect.

AMAECHI BONA-MARY CARE FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration Under part c of the companies and allied matters act of 1990. TRUSTEES ARE. 1. MRS CYNTHIA NGOZI CHUKA ONWUOKWU. 2. DR EVELYN N. OKPALA. 3. ENGR. OBINNA K. OKPALA. 4. PRINCE CHRIS TOOCHUKWU AMALU. 5. PASTOR HENRY NKEM NZEADACHIE. 6. MR GODWIN SAMUEL ASUQUO. AIMS $ OBJECTIVES 1. To attain a world free of injustice, diseases, infant and maternal mortality, illiteracy for vulnerable children, youth, women and the aged in line with relevant laws and treaties. 2. Promote primary and secondary education for indigent children, youth and women. 3. Provision of legal support to the marginalized children, youth and women. 4. Provision of health services for the aged, children and women. 5. Increased access to quality and prompt care for accident victims. 6. Partner with Research institution, faith based organisations MDAS etc. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate Affairs Commission within 28days of this publication. Signed: Dr. Okpala Evelyn N. (Esq) (Chairman.)

PROF. MIKE CHUKS INOMA TRUST FUND This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part “C” of companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROF MIKE CHUKS INOMA 2. BARRETO IVY NDIDIAMAKA 3.INOMA JOHN ANIEMEKA AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1.To protect, help and care for its targeted beneficiaries. 2. To promote love and mutual understanding amongst its members 3. To assist members to develop a sound personality Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: Secretary.

• (From left): Founder/Pro Chancellor, Baze University, Senator Sani Datti Ahmed (left); Author of the Book, Mr. Dele Ogun and Wife of the Author, Mrs. Esther Ogun, during the Book Presentation and Launch of ”A Fatherless People” in Abuja.

Group to empower 10,000 youths with SEM foreign aid grant By IBE NWACHUKWU

o fewer than 10,000 youths drawn from various parts of the country are to be trained in various fields of human endeavours, equipped and empowered by the Youths Core Values Foundation (YCVF), with a grant provided by some international donors from developed countries, for the upliftment of the less privileged ones in the poverty stricken African subregional society. The grant which is expected to be distributed to various beneficiaries, in a couple of weeks, by the Social Exchange Market (SEM), a voluntary foreign agency, through cooperative societies and NGOs, is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the less privileged ones in the society. National Director of YCVF, one of the NGOs championing the grant in collaboration with Kairos Missionary Sisters of Love and Mercy, Augustine Ifeanyi Ugwu who disclosed this at St. John Cross Catholic Church Hall, Nnewi, Anambra state, at a one-day Seminar and Inauguration of Anambra state chapter of YCVF, noted that the non-refundable grant would be distributed to registered members of NGOs for poverty alleviation.

Flanked by Anambra state Coordinator of YCVF, Mr. Sunday Imoh; his visiting Enugu state counterpart, Eze Nicholas Ikechukwu and other visiting state Coordinators, Ugwu further disclosed that some government agencies and politicians had tried to corner the funds, as usual, but with the efforts of YCVF, the missionaries and other NGOs, the foreign donors resolved to distribute the grants to the target audience which is the less privileged ones in the society. Ugwu further disclosed that the grant they are expecting to access at any time from now is a fund from philanthropic wealthy nations, corporate organizations and wealthy individuals who are concerned with the plight of the unfortunate people in Africa sub-region, adding that the fund has been dormant and has not reached the people they are meant for (the grass-root). He therefore urged individuals and groups to register with YCVF which is one of over 100 NGOs in existence in Nigeria, adding that the arrangement was designed in such a way that 12,000 members would qualify to obtain an approval to establish and operate a Micro Finance bank where the grant would be deposited for them to access. He also noted that apart from

giving individuals a grant ranging between N2 million and N8 million each, depending on individual proposal for establishment of micro businesses, part of the grant would be channeled towards training non artisans on certain skills as agriculture, health and craft, adding that the operational organogram of YCVF ranged from national directors to state coordinators down to local government coordinators, community coordinators and village coordinators. Earlier in a welcome address Anambra state Coordinator of YCVF, Mr. Sunday Imoh had described the inaugural seminar taking place in Anambra as a journey which first started as a gleam of a dream which fanned into flame of passion and then ignited the fire of strategic actions and partnerships which today has culminated into reality being witnessed by all the participants. Imoh who expressed satisfaction that YCVF has at last been shortlisted among the few NGOs and cooperative societies to be used for the disbursement of the grant from SEM , adding that for sponsoring the registration of all the members free of charge, YCVF has not only showed transparency but also acted according to divine directive.

WEDNESDAY June 27, 2018

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Milestones of Made in Aba products

ba, the commercial rendezvous South East of Nigeria, as I attempt to introduce the topic under reference is evidently responding to multifaceted rehabilitation therapies, which we are conscientiously administering. What informed the patriotic drive to rejig and inject life into the infrastructural and business life of Aba is located on the practical necessity of ensuring that the city conforms with modern trends and latest innovations in the dynamic world of business with particular reference to small and medium scale endeavºours. The two-pronged approach of proudly brandishing and hyping Made in Aba products and engaging blue chip construction firms to restore the city’s pride of place is evidently paying off. Having grown up in Aba, I am naturally compelled to constantly engage in a retrospective juxtaposition of what obtained several years ago and the unacceptable state of what currently obtains, hence, the avowal to re-direct and restore the lost glory of Enyimba City. Engaging Aba constructively is the vital tonic, which Micro Small Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, desperately require to make far-reaching and positive impacts in their business. Tremendous in-roads have also been made in getting our small-scale manufacturers to purge themselves of inferiority toga, which has over the years hampered in no small measure their ability to globally showcase their ingenuity. I am excited to flaunt the achievements of made in Aba products given that it is boldly represented in our gubernatorial blue print. Having inculcated in our people the inevitability of developing “I can do it spirit”, made in Aba products hitherto produced and flown to Dubai, re-labelled and imported as foreign products is gradually being confined to the trash can of history, as most of them are now proudly inscribed “made in Aba”. This follows from our result yielding vigor-

ous promotion project propagated in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond. As the Chief of Marketer of Made in Aba products, which over the years I have un-repentantly patronised and proudly modeled, the expected and exhilarating signal from our National government has also birthed the “Made in Nigeria”, sing song. Great things they say start from small beginnings. Federal Government became the first to be counted as Abia played host to the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo during his flag-off of National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic. Made in Aba products have also largely become the most cherished and patronised following from the Vice President’s charge directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies to patronise locally manufactured products. It energised our earlier business overtures made to government establishments like National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, Nigerian Armed Forces, Para-military organisations, the 36 States of Nigeria and others. The encouraging outcome is that before long, very scarce foreign resources which would have been expended in procuring 50,000 pairs of military combat boots abroad, were ploughed back into the economy as Aba SMEs proudly and qualitatively came to the rescue. Consequently, the Nigerian Navy, Civil Defence and allied agencies have cued in.

Where there is a will, there will always be a way. The pathway to relevance may be fraught with daunting and challenging tasks but only the never say die spirit prevalent in us as a people will symbolically prove to the world that we cannot be ignored. Little wonder therefore that TBWA concept: a Virile advertising and marketing firm in liaison with Ford Foundation which took the bill, decided to sensitise the global audience leveraging the Cable News Network popularly known as CNN to showcase the trail blazing milestones of SMEs going on in Aba. Accomplishment they say banishes insult and we do not intend to backtrack on the gains so far made. This truism motivated us to recently sponsor the training of 100 youths, who will be travelling to China in batches with a view to enhancing and manifesting their skills in the use of automated shoemaking technology. Perfection of arrangements has been faithfully made, to procure and install comprehensive range of automated shoe manufacturing equipment (modern day mass production enabler) in Aba. On completion of their phased capacity building programme, our youths will be deployed to handle state of the art shoe producing factory being inaugurated in Aba. This will reasonably free them from the multiplicity of setbacks and irritations inherent in having to produce manually.

We acknowledge the inevitability of energy as the driving force of any given economy, and have proactively factored its unavoidable place in the end success of what our mandate is programmed to achieve. This is located in the recent and audacious giant step of having to encourage Ruyi Holdings Group Shandong China currently interfacing with Geometric Power Company in association with Enyimba Economic City Limited for the attainment of uninterruptible power supply in Aba. It is expected that with this arrangement, $530 million will be injected into Aba Integrated Power Project. On completion, the energy consumption status of Aba and its environs would have been revolutionised given the over 500 mega watts of electricity that will be up for generation and maximal utilisation. The Aba Independent Power Project being driven by the tenacity and doggedness of Geometric Power Company have seen to the construction of several sub-stations in Aba and recently a 140-kilometre power line and gas supply infrastructure. These critical sub-stations will be released for deployment of power as soon as work is completed on the Independent Power Station. My implicit confidence in the strategic importance of MSMEs to navigate any given economy, especially in our clime, motivated us to bifurcate and inaugurate MSMEs as a full-fledged ministry. It will undoubtedly provide the vista for us to fast track the long overdue growth of MSMEs. As was recently expressed during my keynote address in Kigali, Rwanda, our outstretched hand of fellowship will constantly reach out to States and Nations for a symbiotic bilateral relationship aimed at manifesting and economically harnessing our latent potentials. Let’s proudly say welcome to Made in Aba. •Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is Governor of Abia State

Parties battle disinformation, schisms From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

head of the August-October primary elections in the parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is battling to keep its house in order in the wake of what party sources have described as “acts of disinformation” coming from within and outside the party. Recently, what was purported to be guidelines for the presidential and other primaries of the party were released from the press and given wide publicity both in print and online. But, in a swift reaction, the National Organising secretary of the nation’s former ruling party, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) , denied that the party had released any such guidelines, insisting that the PDP was still in the process of “drawing up the guidelines for its presidential primary election.” “It is, therefore, misleading to claim that Continues from Page 44

•Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike cutting the tape to commission the Mgbuoshimini Model Primary School and Mgbuoshimini Primary Healthcare Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers.

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