Wednesday March 21,2018 Edition

The VOX POPULI SACRUM

racle www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.3 No. 11 N200

Stone us after two years – Momoh THE ORACLE TODAY COMMENT E XPECTATIONS that fuelled the wheels, on which President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power on 29 May 2015, were oiled on the words of eminent Nigerians, who were thought to have drawn from their well of wisdom, in their forecast of the coming change. Nobody seemed to have ranked above Prince Tony Momoh, a lawyer,

media chieftain, close ally of the President. He spoke extensively of the fortunes that Buhari would bestow on Nigeria.

IN an interview that enjoyed front-page prominence in a major national newspaper, Prince Momoh stated that in two years, Nigerians would see a new coun-

try – he intended no puns. He set a target of two years for the changes to be made. How serious was he? He was not one given to frivolities. Every line of the interview dripped with the high standards of performance that the All Progressives Alliance, APC, had set for itself, especially the

President, whose performance, the likes of Prince Momoh explained would have no room for excuses.

TO underline his faith in the eagerly awaited new country and the determination of APC to achieve it, he enthused, “If after two years we have not performed, you can stone us.”

MONEY was not expected

to be a challenge, even if the treasury was empty. “Where will the money come from? The money will come because the money we have which is diverted will be channeled properly.

We are going to do it through discipline. Every wrong doing is as a result of indiscipline. The fact

Contd on page 24

$11m scam rocks Anambra Gaming Coy

How Maina appointed self, Union tells Reps

From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

From UCHECHUKWU UGBOAJA, Abuja

S

cam of above eleven million dollars ($11m) is reportedly allegedly rocking the Anambra Gaming Company. This was revealed in a petition sent to the Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Anali Chude, by the Managing Director of Davitsglobal Group Limited, Mr. Vitalis Ezeonwumere.

The petition had alleged that a phony company was used to perpetrate the scam.

According to the petition, which read in part, “Our company through Anambra Internal Revenue Service bidded for contract to collect gaming taxes on behalf of Anambra State in September 2016 and January 2017.

“We wish to state that the award of contract on gaming taxes eluded Contd on page 41

I

•

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris conferring with President Buhari

Has Buhari lost control?

From VICTOR NZE, Lagos; • IGP’s disobedience proof Buhari not in charge NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt; BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia; CHUKS • President doesn’t know what is happening EZE, Enugu, • It’s a serious security breach; IGP should be fired CHUKS COLLINS, Awka and NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha. that Buhari may have lost grip on stay in Benue until the bloodletting power, leaving some foot soldiers by herdsmen was resolved.

HE recent admission, in Benue, whose agenda might be anything but In fact, President Buhari was even

by President Muhammadu Bu- similar to the President’s to take over. more surprised at the revelation hari that his order to the Inspec- Speaking during a condolence visit that not only did Idris not relocate to tor General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Id- to Benue on Sunday, March 12, Bu- Benue, he never even spent up to 24 ris to relocate to Benue to tackle the hari expressed surprise that IGP Idris hours in the state. menace of herdsmen was obeyed in practically disobeyed the President’s “I am getting to know this thing in the breach, has sparked concerns directive to relocate relocate to and this meeting; I am quite surprised,”

T

Okorocha’s brushes with Catholic Church

By COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

G

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha has come a long way with the Catholic Church in Imo State.

In 2011 he was their darling for the governorship election as he ran under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Governor Okorocha rode to power on the wings of propaganda

Page: 20

against Governor Ikedi Ohakim, namely, that Ikedi Ohakim beat up a Reverend Father, which was not true. This propaganda was, however, bought by the Church and all efforts to convince the public otherwise failed then. But 8 years after the propaganda, it seems as if a scale has fallen from the eyes of Imo people as they have realised that Ikedi Ohakim did not even see the

said Reverend Father.

The Catholic Church seemed to have bought the falsehood and many of the priests and members were reported to have worked against Ohakim’s second term bid, with many of the priests serving as electoral officers. But, a few months into Governor Okorocha’s first term in office the bubble burst.

Contd on page 2

Buhari said.

This blatant disregard of presidential order, which has had its consequences in further blood-letting in Benue, has given rise to speculations that some highly placed members of Buhari’s team, especially in the security, are practically on the loose, giving counter orders to the president’s or unilaterally deciding on what orders of the President’s are worth obeying and what are not.

Only recently, Idris who was supposed to be residing in Benue to take charge of the dire security situation in the State but refused to go there, said, in what was obviously his personal view and decision, that the police could not provide security for the implementation of the Benue anti-open grazing act because the interest of the herdsmen was not taken into consideration before the law was enacted.

Most Nigerians who reacted to this development in press statements and in chats with The Oracle Today, blamed the President for the situa-

F revelations from the ongoing investigation into pension-funds related scams are anything to go by, it may well be that Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina who headed the Pension Reform Task Force was never formally appointed by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Maina’s alleged imposture was revealed by the President of the Pensioners Union of Nigeria who claimed that the Maina-led Presidential Task Force on Pension was a dummy, which was used to deceive the pension community and the Nigerian public in general.

According to documents made available to our correspondent, the Pension Reform Task Force was actually conceived by former Head of Service Mr. Steve Orasanya but Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina in a surreptitious manner added ‘Presidential’ to it after then President Goodluck Jonathan had given audience to the committee in 2010.

The document, which was submitted by the Pensions Union to the adhoc committee set up by the House of Representatives to look into the activities of the pension board, showed that the Maina-led board was to be later known as ‘Presidential Task Force on Pension’ which has been described to be a monumental hoax.

The document shows that Maina failed to show any evidence of his board receiving any Presidential inauguration or terms of reference from former President Goodluck.

“There was nothing ab initio known as Presidential Task Force on Pension; the acronym Presidential was cleverly added to the name of the task force by Mr. Maina after the then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan granted audience to the committee sometimes in 2010 and assured it of his full support,” a source told The Oracle Today in Abuja.

“If anyone is in doubt let him ask Maina to show us his letter of appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan or his terms of reference

Contd on page 2

Nigeria driving $43b oil projects

Contd on page 2

2

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Has Buhari lost control?

Continued from Pg 1 tion, with many question questioning his grip on governance.

Questioning the President’s level of awareness about happenings around him, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose said: “What manner of President will give order to the IGP on January 9, only to be telling Nigerians on March 12 (2 months after) that he never knew that the IGP disobeyed his order? Does this president really know anything about happenings around him, not to talk about Nigeria?”

Reacting to the development in a telephone chat with The Oracle Today, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said: “The implication is that there is no one in charge of Nigeria today, except God (positively), and the cabal (negatively).The country is on auto pilot, with no clear compass, driver, navigator or leader. Everything is messed up in a surprisingly most clueless and directionless mode. Such a thing happened and the IGP still remains in office? It’s either the president is being economical with the truth, as a self-defensive mechanism, or the IGP is being propped up by forces more powerful than the president. Whichever is the case, Nigeria and democracy are the clear losers.”

According to Comrade Nwokocha Anozie Innocent, the Executive Director, Initiative for Ideal Development and Emancipatory Leadership in Nigerian (Ideal-Nigeria), by admitting that he does not know the whereabouts of the IGP, the question that comes to mind is whether the President “is even fully in charge” of the Nigerian project.

“What he is telling us that he is not aware that the IGP is not in Benue.

How do you justify that,” Anozie queried. “He listens to radio, watches TV and reads newspapers, which the taxpayer provides and pays for his office on a daily basis and he also listens to reactions with regard to that on a daily basis. So, if he is telling us that he is not aware, he is making us even become more afraid of the Nigerian project. It is as simple as that. Where are we actually since the President who is supposed to know is now ignorant? It is an anathema.”

He, however, advised the President to fire IGP Idris, stressing that what the IGP did amounted to a serious security breach.

“The first thing that I will have to do is to issue a query which will be backed by action once I discover that the reply to the query is not really tangible, which I know, of course, will not be tangible. I will sack him instantly, because it is within my beck and call. I have the right to do that as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because it is a breach of national security. That’s what I would have done as President.”

In his reaction, the Abia State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public (NIPR), Princely Kingsley Ngunu, said issues of national security should not be trivialized as in the light Mr. President handled the issue of IGP disobeying his directive, stressing that it would serve national interest for Buhari to reprimand the IGP. Ngunu said: “I think it is an act of negligence on the part of Mr. President to inform us that his instruction was not obeyed. That doesn’t make for very good leadership.

Continued on Pg 44

• Rex Tillerson, as US Secretary of State, on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari, he was fired on Tuesday

Okorocha’s brushes with...

Continued from Pg 1

First, the governor was accused of issuing a dud cheque to the church.

Speaking on the dud cheque, fiery Rev Father Ejike Mbaka lamented during a church service at the Adoration ground in Enugu that Imo State is going through a tough time in the hands of Governor Okorocha, revealing that the Archbishop was weeping over the dud cheque issued the Church by the Governor.

He said: “A lot of funny things are happening in Imo State now. Workers are sacked with impunity. Governor Okorocha gave the Archbishop a N50 million cheque that bounced and this is supposed to be a Catholic Church”.

The governor has also been accused of cutting all ties with the Archbishop of Owerri, AJV Obinna.

The frosty relationship between the Catholic Church and Governor Okorocha came to light with the reported attack on the Assumpta Cathederal during the governorship debate of 2015 organized by the Catholic Church in Owerri.

Reports said that youths loyal to the governor attacked the Odenigbo Center located inside the Cathedral, scattering the podium while the Archbishop was said to have been whisked away to safety by some Reverend Fathers.

Though a Catholic, Okorocha has been reported to have always derided the Archbishop, declaring himself the spiritual father of Imo State. He is also said to have stopped worshipping at the Assumpta Cathederal, Owerri, preferring to worship at the Government House Chapel he built after demolishing the state library, where he presides and oftentimes gives the sermon.

In December last year, Governor Okorocha in a deft move changed the popular Assumpta Avenue to Muhammadu Buhari Road, drawing the ire of the Catholic Cbhurch. The Assumpta Avenue, which has stayed for decade has the ZIP Code 460211, starting from the old state library, in front of the State Government House, to the Maria Assumpta Ca-

thedral.

The renaming of the Maria Assumpta Avenue did not go down well with Imo people, especially the Catholics. But with combined pressure from the Church and Imo people on the new name, the state government blamed it on the workman’s error, saying that those who made the signs made the mistake.

The government also claimed that Assumpta Avenue did not stretch up to the Government House but rather stopped at the Orlu Road Junction, also called Warehouse Junction, adding that they did not intend to change the name of the road.

The Commissioner for Information, Prof Nnamdi Obiareri, who spoke on the development said: “Assumpta Avenue is symbolic for both religious and historic reasons in Imo State and these facts are not lost on the government and people of Imo State. All inconveniences occasioned by the initial oversight or error of wrongly installing a street sign, suggesting a renaming of the street, are highly regretted”.

The Commissioner’s reaction came as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, denied the renaming of the road, boasting that the governor could do anything he wished.

“For the umpteenth time, we have subtly told our audience that the opposition to Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration in Imo only exists on the social media. This is the fact. The social media has become their tool and they have been doing it unwisely, ungodly and unintelligently.

“The latest of their balderdash was the claim that the government has changed Maria Assumpta Avenue to Muhammadu Buhari Road, for which they, as usual, claimed that Owerri was boiling.

“And our only concern is that some people who should know better and detach falsehood from the truth at times fail to do this.

And that is the reason we are now responding. Otherwise, we cannot be spending our God-given time responding to frivolities.

“The truth is that Muhammadu Buhari Road begins from Government House Roundabout and ends at the popular Orlu Road Roundabout. Maria Assumpta Avenue begins at Control Post Roundabout and stops at the Warehouse Roundabout. The indications are all there boldly written for all to see”.

As if not enough, Governor Okorocha’s brushes with the mother-church was to come to what some people have described as the climax, with the recent attack on the Archibishop of Owerri, Most Reverend AJV Obinna, at a burial mass in Mwgoma Obube Community in Owerri North LGA on March 3, 2018.

According to reports, the Archbishop was attacked by members of the Ugwumba Movement, a political movement for the governorship ambition of Uche Nwosu led by Jeff Nwoha, Governor Okorocha’s Chief of Staff and son in-law, over his comments considered by the group as anti-Okorocha’s administration.

The Archbishop who is seen by many as the voice of the people had told the Governor in the presence of his wife and son in-law whom he had anointed to succeed him, that “what we need is a democratically elected governor and not a handpicked successor”, adding that Governor Okorocha cannot succeed himself and that pushing his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, to replace him means an indirect way of succeeding himself.

“You cannot impose anyone on the people. The people’s votes will decide. We have become miserable.

Imo is now an empty basket. Rebuilding Imo State and restoring its dignity is a challenge. Get your voter’s cards. Let us vote for mature, responsible citizens who will serve the people and not dominate them.

“Imo needs a seasoned technocrat who will right the wrongs and correct the several anomalies and hardship inflicted on the people by the present administration and not the governor’s stooge who lacks the experience and maturity needed for such exalted office,” the Archbishop said.

How Maina appointed self, Union tells Reps Continued from Pg 1 given to him and what was the duration and lifespan of the so-called Presidential Task Force. He simply sold a dummy to Nigeria and we all bought it.”

The president of the Pensions Union accused Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina of arrogating to himself powers that he never had by dabbling into all kinds of pension matters which was against the purpose for its coming into existence.

He said the committee was solely conceived to reform the pension department of the federal civil service as envisaged by Mr. Steve Orasanya who was the Head of Service.

Reacting to this recent development, a member of the committee Hon. Eta Mbora from Cross-River state demanded to know how such as person who has caused so much chaos in the pension industry was allowed to hold the entire pension system to ransom.

“Why is he still in hiding? If his life is under threat, why not ask the IGP to provide him with extra security to allow him appear before the legislature to expose all those he claims are the pension fraud syndicate inside the presidency or the legislature as alleged by him,” Mbora said.

“I can tell you that if Maina was from a minority tribe, he would have been dismissed and prosecuted by now, given the level of allegations against him and his pension task force,” Mbora added.

The Oracle Today

3

Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION 2019: Buhari blocks amended Electoral Act, writes NASS

By VICTOR NZE

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has written to both chambers of the National Assembly on his decision to withhold assent to the controversial Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, seeks to re-order the sequence of polls during general elections.

According to Buhari in the letter read on the floor of the red chambers the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary on Tuesday, the amendments to the principal Act would be in conflict with the laws establishing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have already endorsed a re-ordering of the 2019 general elections, which would see the National Assembly election hold first, followed by gubernatorial and state assembly, and then the presidential election.

The new law will effectively end what many political analysts have called ‘the bandwagon effects and winner-takes-all approach’ which takes place whenever the presidential election holds first.

However, while Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu) has backed the reordering of schedule of elections approved by the House of Representatives and Senate, and even as far assuring that legislative work on the Electoral Act and the Constitution amendment would be concluded in a matter of weeks, others like human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), described the attempt as ‘illegal.’

Falana, who in a statement, said the National Assembly’s attempt to reorder the 2019 election sequence breaches several provi-

sions of the 1999 Constitution, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ignore the National Assembly as its proposed law is dead on arrival.

“As far as the constitution is concerned, the power of INEC to organise, undertake and supervise the elections, which has been interpreted to include the power to fix the dates for the general elections or determine the sequence of the elections, has not been altered in any material.

“It is the height of legislative absurdity to say that the power donated to INEC by the constitution shall be exercised in accordance with the provision of an interior legislation. In Attorney-General, Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 1 WRN 1 at 45, Kutigi CJN (as he then was) held that ‘where the provision in the Act is within the legislative powers of the National Assembly but the constitution is found to have already made the same or similar provision, then the new provision will be regarded as invalid for duplication and/or inconsistency and therefore inoperative.’

“The same fate will befall any provision of the Act which seeks to enlarge, curtail or alter any existing provision of the constitution. The provision or provisions will be treated as unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

“From the foregoing, it is submitted that the interference in the exercise of the powers of INEC to appoint dates for holding the general elections in Nigeria is illegal as the provision of the Electoral Bill, 2018 is inconsistent with Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 of the constitution. To the extent of such inconsistency, the provision of the Electoral Bill is illegal, null and void as stipulated by Section 1(3) of the

Treatment for Lassa fever remains free – FG

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ederal Government has stated that treatment for Lassa fever remains free and urged members of the public to disregard news to the contrary.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this in a statement on Sunday.

The NCDC boss disclosed this in a reaction to newspaper reports that the high cost of treating Lassa fever was responsible for the high mortality rate recorded so far in the country.

He said the Federal Government had ensured that Ribavirin, the major drug used for the treatment of Lassa fever, had been provided free-of-charge to patients, “for every single case of Lassa fever reported in Nigeria.”

The statement read in part, “While we acknowledge the high cost of treating Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, especially the cost of the drug Ribavirin, we want to state unequivocally that the Federal Government of Nigeria has ensured that Ribavirin has been provided

free-of-charge to patients, for every single case of Lassa fever reported in Nigeria in 2018.

“Despite the significant costs, there has not been a single day of stock-out of Ribavirin in any of the treatment centres in Nigeria. In addition to this, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has ensured that every state in Nigeria has an emergency stock of Ribavirin available to manage cases.”

He said in addition to Ribavirin, the treatment centres had been provided with other essential commodities required for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lassa fever cases. Ihekweazu added that the NCDC had rapid response teams supporting the state governments of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi for six weeks in all aspects of the response. The statement added, “The state governments of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi, with the highest burden of Lassa fever, have also contributed significantly to the management of cases, ensuring that every single patient received the best treatment possible.

constitution,” said Falana.

On his part, former Legal Adviser of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Dayo Ogunjebe, last Monday, opined that it is within the power of the National Assembly to re-order the 2019 general election. ”I don’t understand the issue now. Suddenly there are com-

plains over the re-ordering of dates for the election. Some people have argued that the governors and president don’t really campaign, that they wait for the lawmakers to secure their votes, which the governor or president in turn, aggregate. But with the re-ordering, the governor will campaign, same applies to the

president.

“Unless, we have some other thing in mind, as far as I am concern, it is the best option , so that our elected officials get to power on the strength of their campaigns and promises at all levels.

Every Nigerian should support this,” he said.

• (From left to right): Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Kaduna Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Governor of Niger State, Sani Bello, and a participant, during an interactive session organized by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) with State Governors and other stakeholders on health, Wednesday.

Lagos Govt moves to check herdsmen’s activities

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agos State government has said that the ban placed on unauthorised modes of movement of animals, especially live cattle across the State, still subsists stressing that persons found culpable of this act will be prosecuted.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who stated this over the weekend while reviewing reports of animal transportation and stray animals, noted that herding cattle along major roads and highways within the metropolis is unacceptable as the State government is committed to putting a stop to the illegal movement of animals.

He explained that unauthorised movement of animals can lead to

the spread of contagious diseases such as anthrax, rabies, tuberculosis and other ailments aside from causing road accidents.

Suarau said it is the government’s responsibility to monitor the whole process of animal transportation and handling right from the Animal Markets to the Abattoirs, stressing that the Lagos State government has provided the ideal method of transportation of live animals across the metropolis with the introduction of the Metro Live Animal Transport Scheme.

The Commissioner maintained that Agric-Marshals have been deployed to all Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the State to check the menace

of stray animals and cattle rearing along major roads and highways within the metropolis.

He urged members of the public to give the government their maximum support in implementing policies on movement and transportation of animals, adding that government has a standard for what a mega city mode of animal transit should look like.

“Government has a model which is aimed at ensuring a healthy and hygienic transportation of meat within the metropolis. I, therefore, urge residents to give maximum support to the government in the implementation of these policies”, he said.

,,,,

Council boss decries excessive checkpoints in Badagry o fewer than 30 multiple check- determined to transform the en- and to generate revenue for the lopoints on the Mile Two/Bada- tire Badagry corridors to a regional cal government.

N “Tourism is our biggest asset in gry Expressway have continued to economic hub in Africa. For tourism affect the growth of tourism in the Badagry area of Lagos State.

Chairman, Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Onilude, who said disclosed, Tuesday, on the sideline of the Badagry Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum held at Hunwaji Apartment, Badagry.

He said that the checkpoints were being manned by officers and men of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Customs Service, the NDLEA, Port health, FRSC, and Man ‘O’ War Nigeria.

“Tourism is a gold mine to any country and Badagry is blessed with so many monuments. So, we are

industry to thrive, we must ensure that our environments are clean and friendly to visitors just as security is also extremely important in this aspect.

“The numerous checkpoints on the expressway have a relative impediment on travel time and discourage tourists from coming to Badagry. We must enhance our security without discouraging legitimate travel to Badagry so the numerous checkpoints on the road must be reduced,” he said.

Onilude said the stakeholders’ forum was organised to find ways to improve tourism in the ancient city

Badagry and we are committed to making the sector vibrant so we are marketing our tourism potential at the global stage. The state government is transforming Badagry to a preferred tourism destination and our administration is working hard to complement its efforts,” he said.

He urged the public to cooperate with the local government so as to make the ancient city a better place.

The chairman of the Badagry Tourism Committee, Mr Babatunde Ajose, had earlier given the assurance that the committee was determined to improve tourism in the ancient city.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Kebbi moves to resuscitate Matan Fada River ahead Argungu fishing festival

By VICTOR NZE

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EBBI State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has undertaken an on-the-spot assessment of the famous Matan Fada River, venue of the forthcoming International Argungu Fishing Festival, to assess the problem of drying up of the river.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari, Monday, said now taken immediate emergency measures to overcome the drying-up of the river ahead of the fishing event in the state, which has not held in nearly a decade.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu carried out the assessment visit in company of the Speaker State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sama’ila Abdulmumini Kamba, Deputy Speaker, Muhammadu Buhari Aliero, other Members of the Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Sulaiman Gado Marafa, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Abubakar Atiku Bunu Jega, other government functionaries and the Emir of Argun-

gu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera.

The Governor expressed displeasure over change of climate which affected rivers and lakes to dry-up including the Matan Fada river and the nearby Mala Venue of Kabanci display during the Argungu Fishing Festival.

The Governor directed the Ministry of Works to mobilize all construction companies to the site with immediate effect to restore flow of water and save fish species from further extinction.

Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu affirmed that his adminis-

tration would do everything necessary to bring back the Matan Fada River to life to continue to serve the purpose of providing communities in Argungu Emirate with source of Water for irrigation farming and fishing activities.

Briefing the Governor, the Emir of Argungu Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera said inhabitants of the Emirate were highly worried about this new phenomenon of dryness of the Matan Fada River, experienced for the first time in its history for hundreds of years.

The Emir told the Governor that fishes including Mammoth usually caught during the Argungu Fishing Festival were either gone or dying and requested the government to employ appropriate strategy to remedy the situation.

Alhaji Mera who later played host to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in his palace commended the Governor for embarking on assessment visit to ascertain the extent of the problem which has put many farmers and fishermen into difficulty with a view to finding solution to its.

1.4m PVCs still uncollected in Lagos — INEC

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Tuesday said that about 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were still uncollected in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Sam Olumekun, who disclosed this in Lagos, Tuesday, decried the apathy to the electoral processes, urged eligible residents to be involved in determining those that would represent them in government.

“The people’s power is their votes; they should use their votes to determine what they want. It is important for people to get involved. In Lagos, we have about 1.4 million PVCs uncollected, we encourage people to come and collect their PVCs. “Wherever we are doing the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration now, these cards are there for their owners to pick them up.

We are imploring all stakeholders in this business to educate and sensitise the people because it is important to get our democracy working.

“INEC has been deepening the process of democracy and it is the responsibility of the citizens to support INEC. Sensitisation, mobilisation and education is not the business of INEC alone, it is the business of every interest group for people to come out and perform their civic responsibility,” he said.

According to him, INEC has been improving on the processes of election in the country, adding that the 2019 general elections will be a success.

•Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (m) flanked by members of the Spouses of the Ogun State Government Functionaries Association (SOSGFA) during the association’s get-together to commemorate its 6th Anniversary held at MITROS Hall, Abeokuta, Thursday.

Bauchi Govt., Sky Bank sign MoU on hospital e-revenue collection

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auchi State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sky Bank on e- revenue collection in hospitals to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state.

Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Dr Saidu Gital, who said this, Monday, in Bauchi, added that the revenue, services, and sales in our hospitals will now be undertaken by the designated Sky Bank.

“This is to improve revenue, blocked leakages and other practices in our revenue drives,’’ the permanent secretary said.

He said the bank had been operating same e- revenue in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, (ATBUTH), Bauchi, Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, and other hospitals in some states.

“We feel it is good to replicate same in our state hospitals, piloting with specialists Hospitals Bauchi and six other General Hospitals of Azare, Misau Ningi, Alkaleri Toro, and Bayera. But we are starting with the Specialist Hospital Bauchi and Bayara General Hospital,’’ Gital said.

He said that the management

observed over the years that the traditional practice of revenue collection in the state had not made any headway.

“We understand that same method of e-revenue system was engaged by ATBUTH Bauchi, which improved their revenue base tre-

mendously. Before the engagement of e- revenue services, ATBUTH was generating seven million Naira monthly, but now generates about thirty million Naira monthly.’’

The permanent secretary, however, said the e-revenue system would give the state hospitals sense of belonging when implemented.

Senate to FG: Declare state-of-emergency in health sector

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enate has urged the Federal Government to declare a state-of-emergency in the country’s public health sector over decay of infrastructure.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to provide special funding for the overhaul of at least one public medical facility in each geopolitical zone in the country.

The resolutions were sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion

by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi (KadunaAPC).

Moving the motion, Tuesday, Hunkuyi expressed worry over increasing decay of infrastructure in the country’s healthcare institutions.

He said that the “sorry state of affairs’’ in government hospitals and other healthcare facilities had rendered their services ineffective, resulting in dire consequences for the citizenry.

According to him, the decayed infrastructure occasioned by epileptic power and inadequate water supply further increased the risk of hospitaltransmitted infections.

Hunkuyi added that critical diagnostic equipment essential for providing efficient diagnosis was either non-functional or not available.

He pointed out that the situation had led to failure by the system to attract the required calibre of health professionals and skilled manpower to the public health institutions.

“The situation in our public health institutions has resulted in increased medical tourism by Nigerians, with doctors and other healthcare professionals leaving for greener pastures to private medical facilities or even abroad.

“This is with attendant outflow of foreign currency to the tune of several millions of dollars spent on medical care annually in Europe, America, Asia and some African countries to the detriment of our health institutions.

“Recently, UNICEF in its latest statistics on child mortality ranked Nigeria second highest in the world with losses of about 2, 300 under-five years olds and 145 women of childbearing age daily,’’ Hunkuyi said.

Contributing, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi restated that the state of facilities in the country’s public health sector called for worry.

According to him, over the years we talk about medical tourism and Nigeria has continued to witness capital flight. “You will agree with me that Nigerians are doing well outside and the question that rises is why are they not coming back? If we provide solutions to reasons why they are not coming back, then we can attract them.

Zamfara State University gets NUC approval

N

ational Universities Commission (NUC) has approved Zamfara State University as the 47th state university and 162 among universities in the country.

Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof.

Abubakarheed, while giving a letter of approval to the government of Zamfara state in Abuja, Monday, called for more dedication toward promoting education development in the state and country.

Abubakar also urged the government of Zamfara to take full advantage of the establishment of the university and contribute its quota to advance the course of education.

He commended the governor for setting aside N3billion for specific use in staff development, establishment fund and laboratory equipment.

According to him, this commitment is a good model that should be emulated by whoever wants to establish a university.

“I write on behalf of NUC that with effect from Monday, March 12, the Zamfara State University is approved as the 47th state university and also 162 universities in Nigeria.

“Zamfara is the last state to establish a university. But the establishment is apt when you will have to key into the reform programme the NUC is having now and will be of benefit to you. The NUC is looking at how we can be more effective in our regulation of all universities in Nigeria.”

Rasheed said investment in higher education, educational growth and knowledge was becoming more important than the natural resources.

He, however, urged the state to increase its activities that would enable the university achieve its goals as it commenced operations later in the year.

He said JAMB, TETFund and NYSC had been notified of the establishment of the university.

The Zamfara state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari said the event was historic as it would mark the beginning of effort to make Zamfara great, especially in the education.

Yari said the establishment of the university would afford the opportunity to provide education for the teaming youths of the state and as well provide increased development in education.

He said the courses to be offered would cut across social and natural sciences to quickly address the manpower need of the country.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Previous administrations sold off Abia’s assets – Ikpeazu

By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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BIA State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, says the concessioning of stateowned industries by previous governments was the major obstacle militating against efforts by his administration to revamp the moribund industries.

Ikpeazu, made this known while briefing the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South East Zone and heads of media Houses in the Zone at the Governor’s Lodge in Aba. “Many have been wondering why government could not bring back to life some industries like Enyimba Hotels, Aba, Golden Guinea Breweries and Modern Ceramics, both located in Umuahia, to provide jobs for the teeming youths, this is because concessioning by previous administrations has made government a “helpless by-stander,” Ikpeazu said.

According to Ikpeazu, one of the administrations in the state, which he did not identify, sold off Enyimba Hotels, Aba for N16 million to Aba Chamber of Commerce, at period when members of the Chamber owned major hotels in Aba; and wondered how

NIM not mobilizing support for Buhari’s second term – Utomi

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ne of the chieftains of the Nigerian Intervention Movement (NIM) also known as the 3rd Force, Professor Pat Utomi, has said that the target of the movement is to mobilise 20 million Nigerian voters for the 2019 general elections as a means of changing the political landscape in the country.

Utomi who, therefore, invited all Nigerian compatriots and stakeholders to attend the national summit of key national movements and eminent leaders of thought in the country to the launch of the much talked about Grand Political Coalition, said the event is to shape the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

Utomi who said this much in a press statement, Monday, also refuted allegations that the group was a platform to mobilize support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambitions.

The theme of the summit scheduled to hold at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Wednesday, March 21, is “Building a new equitable and prosperous democratic Nigeria in 2019 and beyond”.

On his part, head of Administration and Operations of the movement, Hadjia Khairat Animashaun Ajiboye, said NIM is strategising towards mobilising not less than 20 million Nigerian voters for the 2019 polls.

“We are not joking. The status quo must change in Nigeria’s political landscape. It cannot be business as usual for the ruling class.

The wishes of the people must prevail, not the self-centered interests of the tiny minority in power.

That is what NIM stands for, and the first step to achieve this is the forthcoming Grand Political Coalition in Abuja,” said Ajiboye.

of Industry to facilitate the revamping project.

Explaining the situation at Modern Ceramics concessioned to the Catholic Church, the governor said that the Church, using experts from Italy, worked hard to revamp Modern Ceramics but it took a loan which undermined its efforts.

“They Church borrowed about N250 million which interest now is more than N1.5 billion now. A certain banker, I will not mention his name, that was working in Diamond Bank, roped the Catholic Church into a deal that they can no longer extricate themselves from,” he said.

He said government was taking steps to see if it could pay the interest by installments and exit the church from the shylock facility while it would continue to use the contacts of the church to get experts from Italy.

He said his administration has embarked on the Enyimba Economic City, sitting on a 9, 000 hectares of land, describing it as the “most audacious and ambitious project” to industrialise Abia.

According to Ikpeazu, Abia would tap into the N10 billion provided for infrastructure in the 2018 federal government budget to • (From left to right): Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National drive the project, stressing further Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and State PDP Chairman, Barr. Kingsley Esiso, during the Commissioning of that the project would “change Reconstruction of Ughelli-Afiesere-Ofuoma Road at Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State recently. the socio-economic landscape of not only the South East but NiPhoto: Jonathan Awanyai. geria.”

the hotel could have survived.

“So many years ago, a certain government that was in Abia, decided to sell off Enyimba Hotels.

Mbakwe built Enyimba Hotel, the same time he built Concorde (Hotel, Owerri) which has rendered excellent services to the people of the South East. But if you go

to Enyimba Hotels, lunatics have lived there for many years,” he said, adding that efforts made to recover the hotel have proved abortive.

In the case of Golden Guinea Breweries concessioned to one Okey Ezenwa, Ikpeazu said efforts were in top gear to revive

the brewery as German engineers were working to rebuild the facility.

Hopes were high that Golden Guinea could start production last December but the dream was shattered by high exchange rate.

He said Okey was currently seeking for a loan from the Bank

date yet for budg2019: Ndigbo should field presidential No et passage – Senate candidate – Ohaneze chieftain

By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

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HEAD of the 2019 General Election, a chieftain of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Barr Emejulu Okpallaukwu Okpallaezeukwu has said that the South East geo-political zone should field a presidential candidate to show that it is serious in addressing the recurring issue of marginalization of the region and also to prove that Igbo can wrest political power from other regions in the country.

Speaking to The Oracle Today, Okpallaezeukwu, a former Assistant National Publicity Secretary, said that fielding a presidential candidate would put Ndigbo in stronger position to contend issues with other regions in order not for them to take the southeast for granted, just as he further noted that the consistent failure of Ndigbo to run for presidency during elections in 2007, 2011 and 2015 is bearing its negative effect on the region.

“Ndigbo have to launch a serious presidential campaign in 2019 and field a candidate for the nation’s top seat in Aso Rock and then make their plans and vision for Nigeria known to the people of the country, because that is the only the way the north and the southwest would see us as a force to reckon with. Without fielding a presidential candidate, we won’t make any meaningful impact on 2019 polls,” he said.

Continuing, Okpallaezeukwu said:

“Ndigbo cannot continue to keep off every presidential race on the grounds that we are a minority. We have to pull the trigger. Fortunately, we have the best brain in this country and by the time we launch a well-coordinated presidential campaign, they won’t joke with us.

“We have more than enough people who are capable enough to lead Nigeria, what we need is to sit on a round table and make a choice and present same to Nigerians and by the time we move into action, both the north and the southwest will be jittery, mark my word.”

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

quickly drew his knife and cut off Okemini’s two hands and slashed him on the head.

He was rushed to Ndubia Hospital in the area where he died.

Another victim simply identified as Mr. Iyele was attacked when he went to know what was happening between the herdsman and the deceased. He was attacked on the head and he also died at the Ndubia Hospital where he was rushed to.

When some men in the village who were in their farms heard the incident, they quickly rushed home and two of the herdsmen were apprehended. Soldiers later came and took the two herdsmen away. One of the herdsmen however died on the road.

Narrating the incident, wife of one of the victims and mother of eight, Augustina Okemini said: “We were cooking in the morning when my husband decided to go and tie his native cow to a tree at the back of our house. He had successfully tied the native cow and started coming back to house when he heard our neighbours crying and decided to go there and know what was happening there.

Herdsmen/farmers clash: Four killed; as indigenes flee

E

bonyi State Police Command has confirmed that three persons were killed in a clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Enyanwu Igwe village, Igbeagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State, Monday.

However, our Correspondent gathered that another villager also died, Monday night, while being hospitalized at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki bringing the number to four.

State Police Public Relations Officers, ASP Loveth Odah, who confirmed the casualty figures to The Oracle Today newspaper said normalcy has returned as policemen had been drafted to the community.

The rampaging herdsmen vandalized some vehicles belonging to the villagers. They also cut down economic trees of the people.

It was gathered that one of the deceased, Okemini Nwachi, had gone to his farm but on getting there saw a herdsman with his cow destroying his crops. When he tried to question the herdsman for doing so, he

The Senate on Tuesday said there was no date yet for the passage of the 2018 Budget.

Senate’s spokesperson, Sen. Sa’abi Abdullahi, said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

He said: “The budget process is on and I can’t tell you this is the specific date it is going to end.

“We are working very hard on it and we want to assure Nigerians that at the end of the day, we will have a budget that will serve the purpose of Nigerians.”

On the upper chamber’s resolution to lift embargo on confirmation of presidential nominees, the lawmaker said “there was an existing impasse between the Executive and the Legislature with respect to confirmation hearing of appointees of the Executive.

“We had a resolution that since the executive is claiming we don’t have the powers to make those confirmations we are not going to consider the nominees they are forwarding to us. This happened since last year”.

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NEWS

Anambra leading destination in drug peddling – NDLEA

By OGE ONYEANUSI

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rated Anambra State as the leading destination in the country for drug peddling, counterfeiting and drug abuse.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NDLEA in Anambra State Command, Mr. Charles Efosa Odigie stated this in Awka, the state capital in a chat with newsmen.

“Anambra State is the leading state when it comes to drug abuse, and we have been doing our best to reduce the scourge to the barest minimum. Only recently, we discovered and destroyed lands where Methamphetamine was produced. Again, we made a big seizure of Methamphetamine, which is regarded as the most potent drug in the world.

This dangerous drug is produced in some parts of Anambra.

“Drug barons in Anambra trade Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, cannabis, as

well as some other drugs which are being abused today like Tramadol, and so on. Other drugs which are legally acceptable but are abused here in Anambra are cough syrups with codeine, which when taken, will cause serious drowsiness.

“We are teaming up with Umunachi community in the state to fight the scourge. They have been calling us for raid at the

hideouts of the peddlers. Recently, we made very big seizure in the community, though we could not get the syndicate. If other communities could do this, we shall be very grateful because these people doing it are members of our communities. They are not spirits; so we can fight them to standstill.

“As a body, we are doing our best; the state government un-

der Governor Willie Obiano, is also doing its best to assist us in this fight.”

The NDLEA image maker in the state said that the Anambra State government had assisted the state command of the NDLEA with vehicles, money and motorcycles to enable them carryout their assignments successfully.

He also commended the Anambra State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Sule Momodu for his strides

You don’t deserve re-election – Group tells Ebonyi lawmaker

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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Enugu ADP to subsidize fertilizers in 2018 farming season

T

he Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP) has said it will subsidize fertilizers to cushion the effects of high prices of agricultural inputs to farmers.

The ENADEP Programme Manager, Mr Onyema Nwodo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.

According to him, ADP will ensure that all farmers in the state get fertilizers in time in the 2018 farming season.

He explained that the programme also provided yam seedlings, improved cassava stems and maize to farmers to enhance bumper harvest.

Nwodo said the aim was to make seeds available to farmers to boost food production in line with the four-point agenda of the state government.

“We are collaborating with all the farmers’ associations and all the stakeholders in the agricultural sector to distribute herbicides to farmers in the state. This has gone a long way in improving the efficiency of this year’s harvest.

The issue of removing weeds in our farms is no longer productive in modern agricultural practices.

“To conform to the acceptable global practices in agricultural production, ENADEP is committed to ensuring that herbicides are at the doorstep of every farmer in the state. My office has equally made a very serious effort in line with the present international accepted practice to distribute pesticides to all the farmers in the state.

“You can believe me that the quality and quantity of any agricultural produce is directly proportional to the necessary control measures put in place in protecting our farm seeds,” Nwodo said.

He said the programme had responded to the yearnings of all the farmers in the state by providing herbicides to guarantee a bumper harvest.

and sleepless nights in making sure that drug abuse is drastically managed in Anambra.

He advised youths to stay off drugs, warning that drug abuse is dangerous and could destroy their future.

• A cross section of traditional rulers in attendance at an event the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel presented Certificates of Recognition to some of them at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Monday.

S’East Governors to construct 430km link road in zone

By VICTOR NZE

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HE South-East Governors’ Forum has announced plans to construct a 430-kilometre ring road which would connect all the states of the zone, to promote the economic development of the region and ease transportation.

This was contained in a communiqué released after a meeting of the forum in Enugu on Sunday.

According to the communiqué read by Chairman of the Forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, the South-East governors at its meeting discussed extensively the possible strategies to achieve the economic development of the South-East.

According to the communiqué, the governors resolved “to undertake the construction of ring road covering a total of 430 kilometres, that would connect all the states of the South-East, to promote economic development and ease of transportation system in the region.

“The governors took presentations for gas pipelines in the SouthEast and advised consultants to follow up on details of presentations, especially as it affects the right of way.

They “commended the presentation of Abia State Independent Power Project by Professor Barth Nnaji and asked him to liaise with the secretariat for further implementation with the presidency.

They “received presentations on several issues, especially from National Addressing System and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms

(BPSR) on assessment of MDA’s for effective performance.

“A private business enterprise presented to the Forum a lottery business proposal in the SouthEast zone. After much deliberations, the forum advised him to reach out to the various states of the South-East in going about the proposal.”

The forum also directed the five South-East states chairmen of Traditional Rulers Council to be invited for the amicable resolution of their crisis in its next meeting.

The forum equally expressed

deep appreciation to the governors and the people of the South-East for the able way they worked together to give the former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, a befitting burial and enjoined them to continue in such spirit to move the South-East forward.

Other governors who attended the meeting include, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, who represented Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

group, Edda West Youth Forum for Good Governance, has kicked against the re-election bid of the member, representing Afikpo South West state constituency, Hon. Nkemka Onuma, insisting that the lawmaker does not deserve reelection.

Leader of the group, Mr. Paul Kalu-Mba, who was flanked by over 50 youth drawn from communities that make up the constituency while briefing Journalists in Abakaliki at the weekend said Onuma has grossly underperformed and cannot afford to allow him, waste another four years.

Kalu-Mba alleged that Onuma is not a grassroot politician but an opportunist who was imported from abroad where he had spent a greater part of his life and given Peoples Democratic Party ticket on a splatter of gold.

“Nkemka Onuma is yet to realize he is no longer abroad. Perhaps, that is why he is still finding it hard to fully identify with our people. We want a Representative who should be grassroot oriented. Someone that knows us and our needs very well.

Our plights under Onuma today is because he was imported from abroad and imposed on us but we cannot allow that to continue,” he said.

He claimed that Onuma is the worst performed lawmaker from the constituency since the history of the state and urged him to drop his ambition of recontesting the seat to avoid incurring the anger of the youth.

He faulted Governor David Umahi for declaring that he would work for the reelection of all the 24 lawmakers of the state Assembly,noting that such declaration if it was anything to go by would be tantamount to encouraging mediocrity in leadership.

Kalu-Mba however, said Edda west youth were fully in support of Governor Umahi’s reelection bid but warned that any attempt to impose Onuma on them the second time would be vehemently resisted.

Lawmaker sponsors free medical outreach in Nnewi South, Ekwusigo

By OGE ONYEANUSI

O

ver six thousand indigent persons in Nnewi South and Ekwusigo local governments in Anambra State have benefited from free medical outreach attracted by the member representing Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Emeka Azubogu.

Tagged “Free Medical Mission for all the Sick”, the outreach ran simultaneously at the Joint Hospital Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA and Ukpor Central School Field in Nnewi South local government area between Sunday, February 25 and Friday, March 2, 2018.

Speaking to newsmen, Friday at the Joint Hospital, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA one of the venues of the free medical mission, Hon. Chris

Azubogu said that the health condition and poverty level of people of his constituency and the need for the people to access quality health care informed his decision to sponsor the health care programme.

He said, “Having looked at the poverty level and health conditions of my people, and the kind of medical care they receive, we decided through the zonal intervention which is the intervention programme from the national assembly, to make provision for free health care programme for our people, because we want to improve on their health status”.

Hon. (Dr.) Joseph Haruna Kigbo, a member of the House of Representatives for Lafia Obi Federal Constituency in the 7th Assembly, who was the leader of the medical team, said that 36 patients received free surgeries in the general/gynecologi-

cal problems; 31 who have cataract cases received free eye surgeries while over 5,000 were treated in different other health problems, including fibroid and tumor, diabetes and other chronic health issues.

He commended Hon. Azubogu for the health intervention and urged all levels of government and elected representatives to emulate him.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, Rev. Sister Theresa Martin Abaraonye, Matron of the Joint Hospital, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA of the state, commended Hon. Azubogu for the Health intervention; and added that the legislator also assisted the hospital in the interlocking of the hospital premises, provision of borehole in the hospital as well as provision of free drugs.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Oyo, Plateau, Lagos set to roll out NHIS

By VICTOR NZE

T

HREE states in the country are set to formally embrace the national Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with Oyo state already deploying a software for the purpose.

Software and consulting services provider, NexusMax Software 365, Tuesday, deployed a solution called NEXUSINSURE to power the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

A statement by the firm said the agency’s portfolio had increased since the deployment of the comprehensive biometric health insurance platform.

The system, based on the commercial off-the-shelf NEXUSINSURE software, was implemented by a joint government and privatesector team, comprising the Health Insurance Agency, and NexusMax. It reiterated that the adoption of the software is to ensure that at least five per cent of the population of Oyo State enrolled before the end of the first year of the health insurance scheme.

According to the firm, the adoption of the software has given the Agency independence, as all stakeholders’ key into the relevant parts of the platform.

The Acting Executive Secretary, OYSHIA, Olusola Akande, explained that the Agency chose NEXUSINSURE because they offered a one-stop platform to manage its activities.

He noted that the Agency went live with the software in July 2017, providing a system that allowed all stakeholders like Health Maintenance Organisations, hospitals, and enrolees, to conduct many activities online, including payments, renewal of premiums, and biometric registration of enrolees.

“One of our major goals was to ensure, from day one of production, that this system would continue to support our operations and provide an improved customer experience without issue. Our team

state to lack of data.

“The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) part of the health insurance is very important.

“We need to start with it, because we want to warehouse our data; we want to start keeping our data right from when we start, so that we can make improvements as we go along.

“It will not be successful if that platform is not ready, because we do not want to be using paper work.

“Once it starts, data collection will be easy and periodically we assess, so that we can check progress, look at the problem areas, check disease pattern.

“These are some of the things we are missing in our environment that is why the scheme is taking so long to start,’ said Idris.

The commissioner said that the scheme was compulsory for every resident in the state and therefore urged the residents to subscribe.

According to him, public servants in the state will pay 25 per cent of their contributions, while the government pays 75 per cent.

“Before now, we have always run free health services for health workers and members of the public. But we realise that nothing is free; we do not have the amount of money required to run free health services.

“We require about N8 billion every year to be able to sustain it. We do not have that kind of money.

“That is why at a stage everybody must contribute,’’ he said.

Idris said that the government could not fund the health sector alone due to limited resources.

According to him, the government, under the health insurance scheme, will partner with the private sector to provide healthcare services to the people.

“There are basic Primary Health Care (PHC) issues we have to contend with such as nutrition, sanitation and immunisation. Apart • Special Assistant to the Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga; from that, we need to staff those Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Omodele Joyce Osunkiyesi (left) and Permanent Secretary, Lagos healthcare facilities. It all depends State Primary Health Care Board, Dr, Iyabo Are, with other stakeholders during a press briefing on the 2018 Measles on resources available to governVaccination Campaign in Lagos State at the conference room of the Ministry of Health, Alausa, Ikeja, Tuesday. ment; public private partnership is essential.

accomplished this goal. The system streamlines our processes and allows us to serve our customers with greater accuracy and efficiency.”

Meanwhile, the Plateau Government has expressed its readiness to join the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) towards improving healthcare services to the people.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Deyin, who confirmed, Tuesday, in Jos that the state government would adopt the scheme to make health delivery accessible to residents, however, lamented that the state workers and other citizens in the informal sector were incurring “out of pocket expenditure” whenever they want to access healthcare services.

According to him, a bill towards the introduction of health insurance scheme would soon be sent to the state House of Assembly to en-

Delta Govt. to partner entertainment industry for societal growth

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

elta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of his administration’s readiness to partner with the entertainment industry in impacting the society positively.

Speaking during the premier of the movie ‘The Graduates,’ which premiered at the Cartege Cinema in Asaba, the state capital, Senator Okowa explained that the entertainment industry has improved a great deal in addressing vital issues affecting the youths and the effects it has on the society.

“The entertaining industry is becoming more creative, the quality and packaging of movies produced now is nice, government will continue to support the industry and ensure that they contribute their quota in building a healthy and godly society through education and corrective measures,” said Okowa.

He commended the producer on the quality of the work stressing that the movie exposed the vices youth engage in, because of lack of parental upbringing, also educated the people on the need to know their genotype and HIV status before marriage explaining that indiscriminate sex and multiple partners were wrong and would not help to build a healthy society.

The Governor called on parents not to neglect their duties to their children but be examples for their children to emulate such that crimes among the youths would be reduced to the barest minimum saying “ we will have children that are well brought up and godly for a healthy society” The movie which lasted over an hour talked about avoiding multiple sex partners and the need to know one’s genotype in order not to have children with sickle cell disorder.

able residents to access healthcare services by paying a small percentage of the service charge.

The commissioner said the ministry would also be repositioning the Primary Health Care Development Board to ensure that healthcare was brought under one management.

“This will bring about efficiency in the primary health sector and will also boost public confidence in the sector,’’ Deyin said.

He further disclosed that the ministry would send a bill to the state legislature to give the state specialist hospital a legal backing and consolidate its service delivery.

Besides, he said the designated trauma General Hospital in Riyom, which is 80 per cent completed, was strategically placed and has a specialised unit for handling accident and emergency cases.

“This hospital is strategically placed, it is on-route to Abuja and other states; most accident victims are taken to Jos metropolis for medical attention and this delay would result to the death of victims.

“However, once this hospital commences operation, it would reduce the number of deaths to the barest,” Deyin said.

The Riyom trauma centre has an X-ray unit, a theatre, a mortuary and staff quarters.

Similarly, the Lagos State Government says it will soon launch its health insurance scheme.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who said in Lagos, Monday, that government was firming up arrangements to ensure the success of the scheme, attributed the delay on the commencement of the scheme in the

Secondus, Okowa, Uduaghan hail Ibori

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

N

ational Chairman, People’s Democratic Party [PDP], Prince Uche Secondus, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate past chief executive of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and other national and State party leaders have eulogised the qualities of former Governor James Ibori, describing him as a unifying figure and a blessing to the Niger Delta region.

The leaders who spoke at Ovwor-Olomu in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State during a grand reception in his honour described him as a unifying factor in the development of the Niger Delta region and Delta State in particular.

Secondus, who praised Ibori at the occasion said the PDP remains the only political party that can rescue Nigerians from the malad-

ministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Ibori must be celebrated because he is a man of the people not just in Delta state but across the nation, today, he is a factor in this country. On behalf of the masses of our country, we salute you, we salute your courage because you are a man who believes in the struggle of the party”, he said.

“You [Delta State] have a son that has built a political structure that is envied across the nation.

Delta State remains the only state in the nation that has stability in political succession. It remains the only state where all the Governors that have ruled the state are still members of the PDP.” he added.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said Chief Ibori laid the foundation of development in the state and established a political structure which served as a bridge builder

and development agent across the country, just as he thanked the people of the state for their support and called for greater unity among Deltans and assured them of more democratic dividends.

On his part, Uduaghan, called for an end to rumour mongering and sycophancy in the State.

Responding, Chief Ibori advised the political class especially those seeking political office not to heat up the polity emphasising that power belongs to God and only he can give power.

He said that he has forgiven all who played one role or the other in his incarceration.

Chief Host of the reception, Chief John Oguma said chief Ibori had impacted positively on the state and as a national leader stabilised the political terrain, adding that Governor Okowa had been endorsed for a second tenure in office.

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Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Okowa to police: Tackle menace of cultism in Delta

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

ELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged security agencies to urgently, tackle the menace of secret cults in the society.

Governor Okowa made the call recently in Asaba when the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammadu Mustafa paid him a familiarization visit.

He frowned at the level of cultism in the country and charged security operatives to as a matter of urgency, curb the trend, noting that parents, teachers, also, share in the blame for not properly guiding the youths.

“Alarming rise in cultism can be attributed to poor home training, peer group influence, negligence of parents inculcating morals to the children, there is need to educate children from their formative stages to have respect for human lives, parents must spend more time with the children and teachers must pay attention to pupils in the schools; this will help reduce the challenges policemen face in the society,” he said, emphasizing: “Security agencies should take it as a serious challenge to check the rise of cultism.”

The Governor who congratulated the Commissioner for

Ibom super highway to boost economic activities – Govt

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n a bid to transform and boost economic activities and ahead of the Ibom deep seaport project, construction work has commenced on the Ibom Super Highway project linking the coastal communities of EketIbeno to Mbo and Oron.

The 55.1kilometers highway with 3 spurs and multiple lanes when completed, will open up the environment for investors, and stimulate activities in the various support industries at the oil rich coastal zone, according to the state government.

Addressing the youths of Eket and Ibeno at the project site, the State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen appealed for support and cooperation from the host communities to enable the contractors carry out their work effectively.

The massive project, according to the Works commissioner, will be carried out through the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), just as he hinted that the State government was committed to payment of compensation to owners of facilities which the road project has affected.

Inyang-Eyen further explained that the Ibom Super Highway which is the first of its kind in the entire geopolitical zone was meant to enable the people of Akwa Ibom and investors alike to have access to the seashore where the Ibom Deep Seaport is cited.

his posting to Delta State, asserted, “security is not about the police and the military, it is about partnership between the civil society and security operatives for the desired peace to be achieved.”

“There is the need for us to know ourselves and realise that even with our positions in government, we have a lot of roles to play in achieving peace in the society, the Police in the state is working hard, they need to work harder because, if we have a more peaceful state, it will be better for all of us,” he said and called for effective synergy between security agencies in the areas of sharing of information for effective results to be achieved.

While assuring the Police and other security agencies of his administration’s commitment to supporting them to succeed, the Governor disclosed that a Board for Security Trust Fund will soon be constituted in the state to raise funds to complement what government is doing to assist security agencies.

On his part, Commissioner

• Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade welcoming former Governor of Jigawa State, Dr Sule Lamido to the Government House, Calabar as part of the latter’s consultation visit to the state.

Show Nigerians your impact projects, Secondus challengN

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

ational Chairman, People’s Democratic Party [PDP] , Prince Uche Secondus, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to show Nigerians evidence of its developmental impact on the country within the last three years.

Speaking when he commissioned the 8.4-kilometre reconstructed Ughelli-Afiesere-Ofuoma, road project in Ughelli North local government , Prince Secondus said that the APC had not only failed to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians but had succeeded in inflicting untold hardship on the people because they took over power at the centre through deceit.

He urged APC Governors to emulate their PDP counterparts who are busy developing their states through grassroots oriented projects, emphasizing that Deltans should intensify their support for

Governor Okowa for more development projects.

The National Chairman emphasized that Okowa has proven to be among the best governors in the country through the execution of developmental projects with direct positive impact on the lives of the people and commended him for affecting positively the lives of Deltans through the construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state.

In his remarks, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said that the State government was linking up the entire state with the construction of roads which will have a multiplier effect on the economy and engender ethnic integration among groups in the state.

He stressed that government had impacted on the lives of Deltans through well mapped out policies and programmes particularly in the health and education sectors, assuring the people that government

would remain committed to meeting the needs of the people.

The Chairman of Ughelli North local government area, Mr Godwin Adode in his welcome address thanked Okowa for bringing succor to the people through the construction of the road.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has resumed the series of town hall meeting with a no-holds barred interface with the people of Ethiope east at Isiokolo and ukwuani at Obiaruku.

The town hall session which climaxed the earlier commissioning and inspection of projects in the two local governments saw the Governor pledging to commence new projects in the two LGAs. Addressing the large crowd at Obiaruku, Governor Okowa said the revamped technical colleges now boost of increase number of enrolment of students.

“The technical schools are centres for our youths to acquire skills that will make them self-em-

C’River APC affirms Usani’s suspension From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ross River State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani remains suspended from the party.

This was disclosed by some stakeholders of the party who spoke on the crisis bedeviling the party particularly the recently concluded state congress to fill the position of state chairman.

Speaking to our correspondent on the crisis, Hon. Ernest Irek a chieftain of the party and former member of the federal House of Representatives said that the Minister remains suspended because he has not appealed his suspension at any level or organ of the party.

He also said the recently conducted congress is a nullity because there was a subsisting injunction against the conduct of the said congress. He also decried the attitude of the National Organizing secretary of the party accusing him of complicity in the crisis bedeviling the party.

According to him, “There was no directive whatsoever by the national leadership of the party to organize a state congress in Cross River, our party constitution is clear that there should be fourteen days before such a congress can be conducted in the state.

“In this case, the said directive was not adhered to and as loyal party men, we tried to address this too no avail. There was a valid court injunction which was ignored by those who organized the congress.

“The Chairman, Deputy national chairman and six vice chairmen exist in hierarchy before the Osita Izunazo who is the National Organizing Secretary. He (Osita) jumps into the fray when he should not and keeps talking to the press in place of the National Publicity secretary, which is very wrong”, he said.

He accused him of working in cohort with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to fuel crisis in the party and called on the President to urgently wade into the crisis facing the party in the state.

Also speaking, Comrade Iso Bassey Edim an APC stalwart and Chairman of the coalition of APC support groups in the state said the minister’s suspension is still valid and emphasized that John Ochalla remains the acting chairman of the party.

ployed,” Okowa said.

“Technical education is important to our children, in technical schools, they are not only taught to acquire skills, but, also, conventional subjects they learn in secondary schools. It is our hope that the students will acquire the needed skills for them to establish on their own and we will, convert more secondary schools to technical schools,” said Okowa.

On the issue attacks by herdsmen, Governor Okowa condoled with the victims, disclosing that the Federal Government had set up a committee to proffer solutions to the challenges, even as he reassured Deltans that degradation of farmlands as a result of oil exploration activities have made it such that there is no land for Cattle Colony in the state.

The Governor urged the people to embrace the health insurance scheme stating that more than 60 hospitals and 100 health centres have been accredited for the programme.

Chairman of Ethiope East and Ukwuani local government councils, Chief Faith Majemite and Chief Chukwudi Dafe respectively, traditional rulers and other stakeholders stated that Governor Okowa has done well for the people through his administration’s people-oriented programmes.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

POLITICS

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

Pg 15

2019: Panic as APC’s stars in Bayelsa under Timipre Sylva dim The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State is, to say the least, in tatters, writes CLEM ONYEMAECHI, in Yenagoa .

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ince the party lost the quest to form the government in the state during the 2015 governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has continued to simmer from one crisis to another, all largely self-inflicted.

In the build up to the 2015 governorship election in the state, many analysts believed that APC would take over the Creek Haven seat of government in Yenagoa given the level of sentiments building up against the incumbent, Governor Dickson, particularly when many chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who could be described as the nucleus of the party in the state defected to the APC, including the then State Chairman of the party, the Late Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd).

The misfortunes of the party in the state, according to observers, began when, contrary to all expectations, the party fielded its leader in the state and former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva as its governorship flagbearer.

Before then, everybody was looking up to the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Timi Alaibe as the most suitable to wrest power from Dickson. Alaibe was also among the PDP heavy weights who had defected to the APC. However, in the governorship primary organized by the APC, described by many observers as farcical, the party allegedly manipulated the process and edged out Alaibe who was obviously more popular and acceptable to the delegates.

It was surprising to hear some of the APC members whipping up sentiments and describing Alaibe as an opportunist, who was seeking to reap where he did not sow. Some of them had argued that Sylva had suffered to bring APC to Bayelsa and nurtured it, and when it was time for him to reap the reward of his labour, Alaibe came from nowhere to dislodge him.

And so, the choice of Sylva supervened after a repeat primary as the first one conducted at the Sampson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa by the then Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole ended in a fiasco.

Alaibe and his supporters had boycotted the repeat primary taken to the state party secretariat along the Yenagoa- Mbiama Express Way, leaving Sylva and a few other light- weight aspirants to slug it out. Of course, as the occasion was, as alleged, a specific purpose designed to produce Sylva, some aspirants withdrew from the race while others merely ‘fulfilled all righteousness’ and presented themselves.

The Chief Returning Officer, and currently the Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali announced Sylva as the winner at the end of the day and he took the ticket and led the party to a humiliating defeat at the poll, winning only one local government out of eight.

After that, he (Sylva) struggled further through the Election Tribunal up to the Supreme Court to upturn the outcome of the election to no avail.

It is important to point out that the fortunes of the party that was looking very bright began to dwindle as soon as Sylva picked the party ticket. His emergence had

•

Gov Dickson drawn a sharp knife into the chambers of the party and triggered the exodus of members who returned to the PDP even before the election.

In the midst of the disenchantment thrown up by the emergence of Sylva at the primary, the state chairman of the party, Chief Tiwei Oruminighe became covetous and instead of flowing with the choice of a deputy governorship candidate made by the party, demanded that he should be the running mate to Sylva.

His position added to the trouble already dogging the party as he mobilized thugs who went to the party secretariat to cause commotion. At the end of the day, the party went into the election like a cracked egg with many fissures as many chieftains of the party allegedly worked against Sylva’s candidacy at the poll.

It was thought that having lost at the Supreme Court that Sylva who is the leader of the party in the state would come back home to rebuild the party and endear it to Bayelsans.

But like the proverbial Abiku that is fated to die, the APC has continued to swim from one crisis to another, the last being an attack on the APC State Secretariat allegedly led by the ousted State Chairman, Tiwei

•

Timipre Sylva

Oruminighe in an attempt to resist his expulsion from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

The inability of Sylva to provide leadership and reposition the party has, on the other hand, provided the leverage for the PDP-led government in the state to run the state as a one party state with little or no opposition.

Thus, without a captain to man its ship, the Bayelsa APC has remained rudderless, giving rise to the wave of defections that hit the party in the state recently where no fewer than 6,000 members abandoned the party for the PDP, including former Chairman of NDDC Board, Prof. Tarila Tebepah.

Addressing the defectors at an interactive session in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson welcomed them back, assuring the returnees of their full integration into the party.

The governor said he had forgiven all of the returnees whom he described as friends and brothers. He stressed the need for politicians to focus on development after elections, in the overall interest of the people.

He urged them to join hands with the restoration government and the PDP family in the state towards consolidating the achievements already recorded.

Thus, without a captain to man its ship, the Bayelsa APC has remained rudderless, giving rise to the wave of defections that hit the party in the state recently where no fewer than 6,000 members abandoned the party for the PDP, including former Chairman of NDDC Board, Prof. Tarila Tebepah.

•

Timi Alaibe

Other notable people among the defectors at the meeting were Chief Ben Eyeororokumo, Hon. Stephen Erebor, former Commissioner, Bayelsa West Senatorial district, Chief Augustine Lugbenwei, onetime Chairman, Brass Local Government Council, Mr. Nathaniel Ngo-Sylva, Hon. Franklin Otele, Hon. Charles Emmanuel, among others.

Also, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State asked those, who are still in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop wasting their time in the party, saying nothing good will come to them under the leadership of Chief Timipre Sylva. The party said that Sylva, like his mentor in Abuja, is busy promoting nepotism by appointing only his kinsmen and close relatives while those who sweated with him in the last elections, are completely abandoned or left to settle for crumbs.

The PDP, in a statement by its Chairman, Cleopas Moses, called on the few remnants of the APC to leave the drowning party, describing it as a congregation of hardened criminals, unrepentant cultists and promoters of oppressive tendencies.

Cleopas Moses thanked Governor Dickson for creating the right environment for the defectors and assured them that, they have been fully integrated even as he maintained that its doors are still open with more opportunities than in the APC. He said Sylva’s penchant for using and dumping people has become legendary and challenged anyone who has directly benefited in any form of political patronage from him in the last two years other than his relatives, to publicly state so.

The PDP chairman advised those still in the APC to stop falling for his sweet talks, which will amount to nothing in the end, saying anything that is not founded on truth but on falsehood and deceit will work against them come 2019.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

•

Bold n blunt

CVR: Igbo not lagging behind – Enugu REC, Emeka Ononammadu Says exercise ‘ll continue till last quarter of 2018

There have been reported allegations that some of your field staffers involved in the on-going CVR in Enugu State engage in various malpractices. What is your take on that and what is your assessment of the programme in the state so far?

Thank you for this opportunity. Your inability to see me as was indicated in your last report, (The Oracle Today edition dated March 7, 2018, titled, ‘PVC: More hurdles for voters in South East’), was not because I deliberately made myself unavailable. It was rather because of the enormous work in the field, which we have to attend to on a daily bases.

CVR is going on very smoothly in Enugu State, and we are encouraged by the large turnout of people across the 17 local government areas. I can tell you, without mincing words, that despite the fact that Enugu has only 17 local government areas, we have done better here than in most other states in the South East and other neighbouring states, as regards CVR. One of the reasons is because most cities in Enugu State are cosmopolitan in nature; from Nsukka to Obollo down to Awgu, Oji River among others. They are all densely populated areas and we are happy that many young people, as well as older ones are coming out to register. That is an indication that people are becoming enthusiastic about the exercise, and that public trust in INEC is increasing. Before now, you would have to beg people to come out and get registered. So, that, to us, is a credit and we appreciate citizens for that while still calling on those that have not yet registered to come out and perform their civic responsibility. Let me also add that I have been doing a lot of enlightenment radio programmes in the state and we have been receiving commendations from the public. However, sometimes, I get worried when I receive contrary views. I am ready to hear contrary views, anyway, and deal with such issues at once, but sometimes, after investigation, we find some allegations to be unfounded. We do not give anything to chance because we have resolved that the pre-2019 election process is as good as the general election itself. We will ensure that citizens will begin to trust and believe in INEC, because we will deliver to their satisfaction. But citizens also owe us a duty to be patient with INEC because, this is the first time that we are doing CVR in the country and you would not expect it to go without some teething challenges. But we are always ready to deal with such challenges frontally whenever we spot them.

We have continued to get better after every quarter, and right now, the greatest support that we need is the media.

The various media need to continue to constantly enlighten citizens, encourage them to come out and get registered and be orderly during the exercise. I would say that so far, Enugu is not doing badly, by all indices, in the on-going CVR exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Emeka Ononammadu has allayed fears over rumoured possible sudden stoppage of the on-going national Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise by INEC. He assured, in this chat with CHUKS EZE, in Enugu, that there is no need for such apprehension because INEC would formally announce the official closing date for the exercise when the time comes. Ononammadu also spoke on other issues concerning CVR, including some alleged malpractices by INEC officers in Enugu State. Excerpts…

• Enugu State REC, Emeka Ononammadu

Meanwhile, I seize this medium to thank the media for giving the exercise optimum and consistent publicity, so far.

Churches, community leaders, NGOs, politicians as well as some individuals have been very active in sensitizing the public about the need for them to go and get registered, and we are happy about that. Let me also point out that

during the last Christmas break, we did not observe any holiday at INEC, here in Enugu; we worked all through and happily, we were able to record what I may call, bumper harvest. We captured many returnee citizens during the period and we are also happy about that.

Have you resolved other allegations

One thing is that our people do not realise that these machines are used in very dusty communities, over time.

And sometimes, the INEC personnel are required to change the devices or service them, as the case may be. And when they go out, citizens become agitated.

such as use of faulty machines, redundancy, early closure of registration, as well as inadequate logistics for the exercise?

One thing is that our people do not realise that these machines are used in very dusty communities, over time.

And sometimes, the INEC personnel are required to change the devices or service them, as the case may be. And when they go out, citizens become agitated. Also, if the generator develops mechanical fault, as it occurs sometimes, and they usually require sometime to be fixed, would you take it that INEC intentionally decided not to work? And as regards other allegations, none of my staff should complain of inadequate materials and other logistics because I sign huge funds for each local government area and I always release same promptly to them. The money covers purchase of petrol, papers and other materials, in ad• Continued on page: 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

Bold n blunt • Continued from page 10

dition to the ones that we supply them from our central store here. I will take you to our store to prove to you that we do not lack materials in Enugu at all. And all the monies and materials released to our officers are duly signed by them upon collection. So, why would anybody complain of lack of materials?

Apart from registration of eligible voters, are there other things that INEC does during the on-going CVR exercise?

Thank you. The CVR is a complete package rolled out by INEC towards a credible 2019 election. The process involves four major activities. They include registration of those that have just attained 18 years or those that are 18 and above but never registered before. The second aspect is replacement of defaced PVCs. The third thing that we do is replacement of lost PVC, and fourth is transfer of PVCs for those that have relocated from one state, community, or ward to another.

Once you have relocated to a place that it would be difficult for you to go and cast vote on Election Day, just go and apply for transfer of PVC. There are fears that the CVR may stop any moment from now; when is the exercise officially closing?

There is no need for any apprehension because the exercise will not close abruptly. They had rumoured that it would end on December 31st, 2017 and that did not happen? The CVR will continue till the last quarter of 2018. We only stop after every quarter to harvest the data in our system, forward them to Abuja for processing and then continue again, after a day or two. So, the general public is hereby notified that only I, as regards Enugu State, or the National Chairman in Abuja, for the whole country can proclaim when the process would end.

So, people should always depend on INEC, and not hearsay, for information or clarifications on issues that concern election process. And our help lines are always open to the public. But the advice is that the earlier citizens get registered the better.

What is your take on the recent figures that were released by INEC, which indicated that South East was lagging far behind other zones by several millions, as regards the number of registered voters, which several Igbo organisations and leaders have written off as inaccurate figures?

I do not think that Igbo are lagging behind in the current process because they are scattered in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. If you take the census of the Igbo registering across the country, I do not think that anybody would say they are lagging behind. And people should also remember that the South East has the least number of states in the country. But if you consider what happened in Lagos during pre-2015 general election, you would understand that the population of Igbo in Lagos and other areas outside Igboland is really dense.

Some of your field officers have been accused of allegedly compelling politicians and community leaders to provide them with generators, transport fares and other incentives before they would commence CVR exercise in their areas?

No, no, that is impossible. I have not got such report and I would like to know those that indulged in such acts! They have no reason to demand for anything because we supply them with every-

• Enugu State REC, Emeka Ononammadu

I do not think that Igbo are lagging behind in the current process because they are scattered in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. If you take the census of the Igbo registering across the country, I do not think that anybody would say they are lagging behind. And people should also remember that the South East has the least number of states in the country. But if you consider what happened in Lagos during pre-2015 general election, you would understand that the population of Igbo in Lagos and other areas outside Igboland is really dense. thing they need for the CVR exercise, as provided by the commission. And the commission also makes approvals and supply of materials without delay. We do not lack anything here, as far as the CVR outing is concerned. I will certainly investigate that allegation, personally, and take appropriate action. The report that I had got was that some non-INEC staff had tried to hijack the process at some centres by turning the exercise into a business. They would go to registration points very early and fill the attendance list with many fictitious names so that even if you get there by 7: am you would meet about the 51st number or thereabout. So, by the time INEC staff arrived to commence work for the day, the hijackers would start extorting money from people in order to help them jump line. And my people would think that those men were assisting them to organist applicants. We later tackled that issue by placing order that lists should only be raised at registration centres after the arrival of INEC officials. Moreover, we no longer need to bother about generating sets because, with our new high speed, multi-tasking machines, which we have just taken delivery of, they are not needed again. We have started distributing them to different local government areas. The machines use special long battery life which can serve for a whole day without being recharged. So, the allegation about INEC staff requesting for money or generator from politicians or community leaders has been put to rest.

That special battery is used to power the new machines (Direct Data Capture Machine – DDC). It is also used to power to print; and we have cold laminate that does not require machine to operate.

As regards transfers, after filling out the forms, they bring the forms to our headquarters here and we assess our central server in Abuja to do the transfers. When they print the PVCs and send to us, we take them back to the locations where they have been transferred to for collection. We are determined to ensure that every eligible citizen who presents himself or herself to any registration point is adequately captured.

Have you put any process in place to prevent possible occurrence of other malpractices in future?

Yes, I have released some help lines to the public, through which they can call me to register complaints or make inquiries, but strictly about CVR in Enugu state.

I know all INEC personnel here by name and I know all the registration points. So, once I get any complaint or allegation of malpractice, I will move to the centre immediately to personally ascertain the true situation as well as tackle the problem, if any. CVR, to me, is a community development exercise and anybody that tries to sabotage it, whether he is INEC staff or not, would be dealt with decisively. An instance took place in Ette, Igbo-Eze North LGA, where some citizens attempted to disrupt our registration. But, immediately I was notified, I quickly mobilised the Police and rushed to the place and we restored order there at once. We are doing everything possible to ensure that this exercise goes on according to the pattern that has been prescribed by law.

What are some of the prescriptions?

The registration point must be a public building, a church, a market or a town

hall, and not a privately-owned building. And in Enugu State, we usually pay unscheduled visits to various centres to ensure that the exercise is taking place only at certified centres.

How are you prepared to cope with the heat of 2019 general election, which is fast drawing closer; do you foresee any flashpoint, in Enugu State, where you may need to gear up to contain?

I do not think there would be any flashpoint in the state. I am sure that people are becoming more enlightened by the day. And even if there would be any, the assurance is that we are ready to contain such development. Our singular mandate, as a commission, is to protect the people’s mandate, and we are ready to do that. Our major target is to get a credible voters’ register and a credible voters’ register leads to a credible election. And given that citizens have been amazingly supportive in the current process, it is an indication that the forthcoming election would come out better than all past elections in the country.

So, how would you rate Enugu in terms of electoral behaviour, considering your assertion that you do not foresee any flashpoint in the state during the 2019 general election?

Enugu does not have rascally politicians, so to say. Both the mainstream party and opposition parties are populated by several educated and refined individuals. I do not foresee any educated person bringing himself or herself so low, given the history of elections in the state, to foment trouble. So, I do not really foresee that the upcoming general election would be different in the state.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

POLITICS

Ugwuanyi: Ubosi is ‘man of tomorrow’

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t was an empowerment event, organised at the instance of the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Edward Ubosi, under the platform of Ozege Empowerment Foundation, one of the Speaker’s several foundations. The occasion held at Sunday Park, Abakpa Housing Estate, in Enugu State.

The carnival-like event featured inauguration of Enugu East Youth Association (EEYA), in Enugu East LGA; donation of security van to his constituency, Enugu East Urban Constituency’s neighbourhood watch and disbursement of N2.4 million cash to empower constituent youths via a raffle draw.

The occasion, which was graced by the governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, also attracted many other dignitaries such as top political appointees, federal and state legislators, traditional rulers and members of the clergy, including the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Hon. Alex Ugwu and the traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu among others.

Speaking before presenting the security van – a Toyota Siena brand – to Governor Ugwuanyi, for inauguration, Ubosi appreciated the governor for attending the event.

He noted that although the main function of the day was inauguration of the Youth Association, he had chosen to seize the opportunity to support the neighbourhood watch group and empower some of his constituency youths, to advance Ugwuanyi’s security and empowerment measures in the state. He promptly released the sum of N2.4 million and at the end of the raffle draw, about 120 youths smiled home with N20, 000 each.

The Enugu Speaker told the gathering that he has been at peace with Governor Ugwuanyi since he emerged Speaker, pointing out that, as Speaker, he has, along with his colleagues, also ensured that the same atmosphere of peace, understanding and cooperation exists between the executive and legislature in the state.

According to Ubosi, the reason is because Ugwuanyi “is a gentleman who never meddles in the legislative affairs of the House. He further explained that the principal duty of the EEYA, which has also been formed in all the wards in the local government, is to carry out intensive voter education and sensitisation in all families, markets and social gatherings throughout the local government. He also gave the group pass mark for doing a ‘great job’ as regards the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across Enugu East Local Government Area.

“I welcome you, on behalf of my constituency, leaders of thought and stakeholders in Enugu East,” the Speaker said, addressing Governor Ugwuanyi. “Your administration has done Enugu East Local Government well, and our people are pleased with you. Your projects and appointments are felt everywhere here. We appreciate you because you are a performing governor. And to cap it all, my people, I am enjoying very cordial relationship with our governor,” he said.

The Speaker also informed the governor that he has floated several support groups – Gburugburu Support Groups – ahead of his 2019 re-election, stressing that he did all that due to his unalloyed love for Ugwuanyi, which he said he shares with the entire Enugu East constituency.

Addressing the mammoth crowd before inaugurating the security vehicle, Ugwuanyi announced a donation of three more security vans, in addition to the one presented by Speaker Ubosi.

While noting that it had pleased God that

• Enugu governor eulogizes House Speaker at the latter’s constituency empowerment programme From Enugu, CHUKS EZE writes on what he calls ‘laudable’ community development and youth empowerment projects of the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the State, which have endeared the towering legislator not only to his constituents in Enugu East LGA but also to the people of Enugu State as a whole.

• Speaker Ubosi and his dauters welcome the gov at the event

• Gov Ugwuanyi inaugurates the security vans Rt. Hon. Ubosi would be Enugu Speaker at the time, the governor said that divine mandate would explain why Ubosi is doing marvellously well in office. According to the governor, the Speaker is not only doing well in the Enugu State House of Assembly, his constituency and the state as a whole but also at the national front.

“He is also occupying prominent position as the National Vice Chairman of Conference of Speakers of Nigeria. That is why we are here to support him,” Ugwuanyi

said.

“Mr Speaker is supporting the neighbourhood watch group because he appreciates the importance of security. He is inaugurating the Enugu East Youth Association – an association of good people--and empowering the youth because he cares for their present and future. And So, I stand here today to appeal to you never to joke with him. Respect him, support him and always pray for him because he is a man after my heart. More so, he is a man of tomorrow,

mark my words,” the governor declared.

He then proceeded to inaugurate the security van and urged that the facilities should be used for the purpose for which they were donated.

As the governor spoke, his address was intermittently interrupted by youths and women groups chanting solidarity songs, a warm display of solidarity from guests and his enthusiastic supporters, who had gathered to witness the event.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

POLITICS

On Saturday, March 17, Governor Willie Obiano will be sworn in for a second term. What are your expectations from the governor this time around?

To whom much is given much is expected. Obiano won election in all the local government areas in the State and winning election in all the 21 local government areas in the State is a call for much more work for the second term governor because he has the bill to deliver projects in all the local governments. Every local government area would like to have projects delivered in its communities and Obiano would not say that this or that local government did not vote for him.

Every local government is expectant of one project or the other either on road, education, health, agriculture or water.

On the other hand, they also expect political appointments including job opportunities for the youth in the civil service and other avenues.

What about the traders who gave him massive support? They will also expect projects executed in their markets and appointments given to them in Awka as well. During his first term, he gave traders appointments as SAs and SSAs; this time, like Oliver Twist, they want some more. The Civil servant who also supported him need some more and to them let there be constant alert and promotion as well as good facilities to aid their effectiveness at work. Furthermore, he has to start where he stooped from the first term in terms of agricultural development, road projects and, most importantly, it is expected of him to complete the airport project in Umueri, among other projects he will like to undertake.

However, in my opinion, Obiano is equal to the task considering the fact that he surmounted all the challenges he inherited in the first term and did well enough to win election for a second term. Coming in for first term, he inherited bad security situation, non-existent project in agriculture, a heavy salary pack, need to fix roads in the capital cities and other places like Onitsha and Nnewi and other teething challenges but he was able to surmount all of them. So, I believe that going for a second term with much more experience, Obiano will do well or even better Following Obiano’s re-election, his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is enjoying the bandwagon effect in Anambra ahead of 2019 general election with too many politicians indicating interest to contest election on the platform of the party in next year’s general elections and observers are saying that it is APGA or no party in the State as far as 2019 is concerned. What is PDP’s hope of winning elective positions in the State next year?

The bandwagon effect is normal in politics. People believe that APGA is the winning party in Anambra State and therefore, it is the best platform to contest and win election but the situation is not as people think. The weather can change during election. I remember at a time PDP controlled up to 28 States in Nigeria but the weather changed in 2015 and PDP was voted out of power at the national level, so don’t rule out PDP in Anambra State for National and State Assembly elections. The chances of APGA lie on the performance of Obiano before the elections and the quality of candidates fielded by both parties at the polls.

If APGA fields an unpopular candidate for Senate or House of Representatives or State Assembly position, the chances are there that a candidate of PDP could win the election. I agree there is bandwagon effect for APGA but a lot of factors are

Benefits of restructuring too many, by Anigbata • Urges Buhari to accept it, enshrine his name in history As the clamour for restructuring of Nigeria continues unabated, a former governorship candidate of National Democratic Party (NDP) in Anambra State and now a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CHIEF VICTOR IKECHUKWU ANIGBATA in this interview with THEO RAYS predicts that the issue of administrative restructuring of Nigeria into autonomous regions which eminent people and relevant groups like Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere and others are clamouring for, is a welcome development as, according to him, restructuring will bring the best out of the regions. He also speaks on Governor Willie Obiano’s second term, the future of PDP in Anambra State and the chances of PDP to sack APC in 2019 polls facing the country. In 2019, people may consider that PDP would be quicker in action, reaction and response to the issues bordering on the welfare of the country.

Number four is the issue of restructuring. Nigerians see restructuring as immediate solution and alternative to the myriad of challenges facing the country and I am sure that if elected back to power, PDP will convene that restructuring exercise or implement the content of the national conference because it is similar to restructuring. So, if APC fails to yield to the call for restructuring, PDP will certainly use it to scoop votes in 2019.

• Chief Victor Anigbata there to be considered and which cannot be overemphasized.

Do you see the possibility of the PDP sacking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Aso Rock in 2019?

In politics, anything is possible. If APC can sack PDP in 2015, chances are there for PDP to revenge and sack APC next year. The revenge is possible depending on the plans and visions of the parties as well as the candidates fielded by both parties. If Nigerians see that PDP has better interesting plans and vision for the country and that PDP has a candidate considered to be better than that of APC, why not, PDP can sack APC. In your opinion and from what you observe, what would form the basis for Nigeria to return PDP to power in 2019?

PDP is more liberal than APC but that liberal approach was misunderstood

by Nigerians as corruption. That is why Buhari defeated Jonathan. Jonathan’s government was liberal and was listening to Nigerians but people viewed him as one aiding and promoting corruption. For

instance, when Nigerians demanded for national conference, Jonathan yielded and convened a national conference but opposition leaders in APC rejected the conference and apparently succeeded to convince Nigerians that it was a waste of resources. Now people want Buhari who is not corrupt to be liberal like Jonathan and PDP. And if they see that Buhari is not liberal and also not fighting corruption to their satisfaction they will vote for PDP. Secondly, Buhari is fighting corruption and working on the long run with hope for a better future. Unfortunately, people are hungry and not patient enough to see what the future would unfold, so people are thinking back to Jonathan’s era and that may work in favor of PDP. Jonathan receives hero’s welcome in public gathering and there is no doubt people will like to see from Jonathan’s party get back in power. Thirdly, Buhari is very slow in action. Maybe old age is telling on him. Most times, things are delayed or even neglected. Nigerians want to see quick action, quick reaction and quick response to the challenges

What is your take on restructuring? Is it going to pay off as being expected in your view?

Absolutely; it is going to pay off. The benefits of restructuring are many. First, it will change the atmosphere of administration and governance in Nigeria and bring about the desired stability.

I am quite sure it will go a long way to addressing the challenges of insecurity and provide the country the chances of reducing corruption to the barest minimum. Secondly, it will bring the best out of the regions because the region will be on their toes to harness the resources in their domains in the overall interest of their people and at that point, we shall see the regions going into competition with each other. Thirdly, it will make out job opportunities for the youth. There will jobs in the areas of security, agriculture, civil service and others as regions tidy up for the challenges of stability and advancement to the future.

What I am saying is that, restructuring is the best thing that would happen to this country because it will not only address the immediate challenges facing the people but also bring the best out of the people because every region will swing into action to harness its resources; every region will make effort to develop on a fast lane and ensure that other regions don’t overtake it in terms of development and progress.

President Muhammadu Buhari should do Nigerians a huge favour and also make a great name for himself by accepting the call for restructuring and carry it out immediately without further delay.

Whether the issue will make impact on 2019 election or not, the issue is about immediate need of Nigerians. Nigerians will forever remember President Buhari for being the President that moved the country to the next level through an allembracing restructuring exercise.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS Extra

Address high level of gender disparity – NGO urges FG

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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OVERNMENTS at all levels in the country have been urged to initiate policies and programmes that will address the high level of gender disparity at all levels of in the country, in order to guarantee long-term sustainable development, economic growth, resilient societies and social advancement for all.

This charge was made by the YouLead Project Coordinator for Cross River State, Jerry Nwigwe who spoke with Oracle Today on the sidelines of the International Women’s Day Celebration in the state.

Nwigwe stressed that governments at all levels should initiate

policies and programmes that will address the gender gap index existing between women and their male counterparts in political and economic sphere in the country so as to strike a balance.

Project Coordinator whose project is working under the auspices of CUSO Internationational (a Canadian NGO) said that “progress towards gender equality in Nigeria has been slow with gender disparity being stark.

“In 2013, Nigeria ranked 106 out of a total of 136 countries on gender gap index which measures gender equality in economic participation, educational attainment, health and the economic environment.

“Nigeria has an overall score of 0.647 of particular concern is the

level of political empowerment at 0.119 stressing that the highest possible score stood at 1 (equality) with the lowest possible score at zero (inequality)”.

He called on government at all levels to come up with strategies that will help mainstream gender equality in opportunities distribution embark upon by government.

He maintained that it was on the basis of trying to strike a balance that the Youlead Project came up with a Gender Equality Strategy that will guide the design and implementation of its projects to ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed in its projects.

He told Oracle today that the YouLead project has a target to

train 12, 000 youths for a period of five years as well as a target to strengthen 5, 000 businesses, a project he said is being supported

by Global Affairs, Canada.

So far, the project he said has trained up to 9, 200 youths and they have 2,800 to go and the youths and businesses are spread across the 18 local government areas of the state.

FG will fund C’River Superhighway, others, if elected President – Lamido

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ormer Governor of Jigawa State, Dr Sule Lamido has assured the government and people of Cross River State that the Federal Government will assist with the funding of the 275km superhighway and Bakassi Deep Seaport if elected as president of Nigeria next year.

Lamido stated this during a courtesy call on Governor Ben Ayade in Government House, Calabar as part of his consultation visit to the state.

He said only a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president can appreciate the laudable ideas of the governor on industrialization and infrastructural development.

He said such an ambitious projects cannot be supported by the All Progressives Congress(APC)-led Federal Government.

Lamido, a one-time Minister for Foreign Affairs urged the people to support his ambition.

“Your Excellency, I hope you will see me as worthy of your trust to enable you achieve the realization of your big vision of your 275 kilometer superhighway from Calabar to Northern Nigeria and Bakassi Deep seaport to open up the Northern Economy.

“It’s only a PDP government that can allow you to realize this your laudable vision and I can assure you that under me as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the grace of God and your support, Federal Government will accelerate funding of the projects,” he assured.

While describing the governor as a very pragmatic leader, who

is uniquely unique, he further assured that he will be sharing sharing ideas with the governor on how to move Nigeria forward should he win the presidency.

“I’m here because of these concerns and together we will share our common future and restore our common glory by clearing APC from government by 2019,” he concluded.

Responding, Governor Ben Ayde who described Cross River State as a state that has been deliberately dehumanized by the Nigerian state with her territory ceded and oil wells taken without any concern for the citizenry.

He said Cross River State is being governed by intellect due to its low revenue status among the states in Nigeria.

He said the state will not hesitate to support any government that has the interest of her people at heart.

“We in Cross River State have been dehumanized and have lost our self-esteem and value occasioned by the abuse of the state, seizing our lands, seizing our oil wells, decoupling us completely from having access to NDDC projects.

“Cross River State is in a state of want. We are only driven by intellect; our revenue is the lowest in the country after Osun State. We receive an allocation that is less than the gross salary of the state.

“The state is only driven by the young men and women you have seen in this room, so as you come before us seeking our support for you to be president of Nigeria and

• Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose (l) cutting the tape to commission the reconstructed High Street and Rehabilitated Prof Okujiagu Street and Danjuma Drive, Off Odili Road, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt while the state governor, Nyesome Wike and his deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah, (r) all look on.

APC stronger in Rivers – Abe West road is also on-going.

“The president is committed to enator representing Rivers the Ogoni clean-up and he is workSouth East senatorial district ing. This is the take-off point. The at the National Assembly, trust fund account is being opened Magus Ngei Abe has said, that the and you have to finish all this procAll Progressives Congress (APC) ess before you can accelerate. is stronger than ever before and Their own president had all the docdoing well in Rivers State, even as uments but put them in his locker.

“The PDP government had all the he expressed confidence that the opportunity to do it but they didn’t party with takeover in 2019.

He made the disclosure while ap- do it. They talked about it for years pearing on a live Television show and nothing happened” Abe further stated that APC in and commended the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Rivers State is not dead but has Government for the development done better than the PDP in terms of infrastructure and human capacof infrastructure for the people.

Abe said, “The APC government ity“Idevelopment. believe that APC is the only parhas done more for Rivers State ty in this country at this time that than the PDP government. The can solve the problems of Nigeria, Bodo-Bonny road is on-going. unite the country and move it forWork has started and the East ward”.

On the state of the international airport at Omagwa, Abe reiterated that because of the commitment of President Buhari for Rivers people, said. the government accepted to pay Remarking, Governor Wike said for a variation made after the conthat the companies and residents tract has been awarded by the PDP around the area would testify to government. the transformation of the key roads ”Because of its commitment to in the economic zone, assuring that the Rivers people, this government the people of Rivers State that he have not only paid up the variation will remain focused on the devel- but is committed to finishing the inopment of the state because of his ternational airport this year”. passion for the state.

Responding to Governor Wike’s He said while other leaders have position over the President’s visit links to other states, everything to the state, Senator Abe emphaabout him revolves around Rivers sized the need for the governor to State. be grateful for the president’s visit, The governor said that those stating that whenever a date has who had the opportunity to serve been fixed, everybody shall be duethe state but failed to make impact, ly informed and will make preparashould stop peddling falsehood tion to receive him.

By NATH OMAME, P/Harcourt

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Fayose commissions roads in Rivers

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kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has commissioned the reconstructed High Street and Rehabilitated Prof Okujiagu Street and Danjuma Drive, Off Odili Road, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.

This is as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike declared that he will continue to give Rivers people the best, because they deserve sustained development.

Commissioning the roads constructed by the Wike administration, Governor Fayose commended the Rivers State Governor for his excellent performance and the

delivery of projects.

He commended Governor Wike for being a credible voice for the people in these perilous times.

“Commissioning has become an attitude for Governor Wike. Every day, there is a new project. I commend him for transforming the state,” he said.

The Ekiti State Governor who likened the Rivers State Governor to the Biblical Daniel who remained upright, noted that Governor Wike has contributed meaningfully to the development of the country.

“Only PDP states are working in the country. We will not allow our voices to be brought down,” he

“Rivers State has been in the news for the wrong reasons of recent and I think the Governor should have been the happiest person to hear that the President is coming to the state to see those people who have lost their loved ones and empathize with them”.

“It would be an opportunity for the Governor to find a way to work with the President to ensure that we have a better security but because of the undertone of the violence in Rivers State, I think that is why he finds the visit uncomfortable at this time”.

For the reconciliation committee headed by Asiwaju Timibu we work in Rivers State because the problem in Rivers State is not complicated. There are people who had their positions taken in a manner they consider outside the constitution of the party, there are people who feel threatened, there are people who feel excluded. It is just to create a platform where grievances can be discussed, reassurance given and the party will move forward.

The senator whose recent thanksgiving attracted over seventy percent of members of the National Assembly including the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and four serving state governors in attendance said, he has no apology for inviting Governor Ezenwo Wike to the event.

“I have no apology inviting the Governor. We need to understand what has happened over time in Rivers State. You have a state where people have been killed, beheaded and the polity had become totally overheated.”

The Oracle Today

15

Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS Extra

Herdsmen’s crisis: C’River community decries unlawful detention of monarch

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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HE people of Ito South in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State have decried the continuous detention of its monarch, HRH Etinyin Edet Okon Eyet Ebita over the crisis involving herdsmen in the area.

HRH Etinyin Ebita was arrested by officers of the Cross River Command of the Nigerian Police Force at the Force Headquarters in Calabar after honouring a police invitation on the 19th of February, 2018.

In a release made available to our correspondent in Calabar, and signed on behalf of the Ito Combined Traditional Rulers Council by Chief Inyang Inyang, they described the detention of the monarch as unlawful arrest and detention.

He condemned the arrest, detention, arraignment and subsequent remand in Afokang prison of the monarch.

“The Fulani herdsmen who the police arrested their monarch in order to please is at a moment hatching another plan to unleash the second attack again on Miabong Ito, in Ito North clan also in Odukpani Local Government Area of the State.

“Our clan head was detained after a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of police, state criminal investigations Department (SCID) Calabar on February 16, 2018 for alleged murder or disappearance of a Fulani herdsman,” he said.

He wondered why their clan head was held hostage by the police because of a missing Fulani herdsman who was declared missing after an encounter with the villagers. He said the herdsmen allegedly attacked the village on December 5, 2017, and destroyed their farmlands and crops.

He said the community is shocked that a traditional ruler who was not at the scene of the incident which occurred in Ito North clan which is about eight kilometres away from where the detained clan head resides or participated in the feud is being whisked and incarcerated by authority of the police.

“While recalling some areas of the state where Fulani herdsmen have unleashed mayhem, killing, destroying the property of indigenes and residents of such communities since 2007, we wonder why no Fulani herdsman has been arrested and detained or charged to court or even questioned under

such unprovoked attacks”, he said.

In his response, Counsel to the monarch, Ntufam Mba Ukweni SAN, said the incident took place at Ito North Clan of Odukpani local government sometime in November 2017 during an invasion of that clan by some Fulani herdsmen, “It should be noted that Ito North clan is a distinct clan from Ito

South clan where our client resides”, the SAN stated.

“The incident did not take place in his clan and he was not involved in whatever took place there. He knew nothing about the alleged murder or whatever might have taken place at Ito North clan…but he facilitated the amicable resolution of the cattle herdsmen issues in the area,” he said.

He said the people are saddened by the development and stressed that the herdsmen in connivance with the Police has desecrated the tradition of the people.

Efforts by our correspondent to get in touch with the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Irene Ugbo to speak on the issue did not scale through as her telephone line did go through.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr.Kofoworola Awobamishe who represented the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Director of Accounts, Ministry of Education, Mrs Olabisi Boco the with Hon. Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Uzamot Akinbile-Yusuf at the Financial Inclusion State Steering Committee (FISSCO) capacity building programme held at Suru Express Hotel, Joel Ogunaike Street, GRA, Ikeja recently.

C’River to begin local production of vaccines, hybrid rice seedlings Akwa Ibom Govt honours 230 traditional rulers From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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he Cross River State Government is set to commence local production of some vaccines through its Local drug manufacturing company, Calaphram, with a view to reducing the menace of deadly diseases including meningitis and Lassa fever and also reducing the overdependence on foreign drugs.

Speaking in Calabar while conducting newsmen round the project site along Good luck Jonathan Bypass Road, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Peter Egba said the drugs produced by the company will pass through scientific processes and the ultimate aim is to eliminate the importation of drugs into the country.

According to him, “the drugs will be produced locally. This is a gigantic project. We have the laboratories where the drugs will pass through all scientific processes; we have a department in which packaging will be done. The idea behind this project is to basically reduce, if not eliminate, importation of drugs into Nigeria.”

Also speaking on Calaphram, the Managing Director of the company, Farhan Ahmade Khan, a Pakistani said, “For now, the raw materials which will feed the industry will be imported because Nigeria does not have most of the chemicals to use in producing most of the drugs. We will import the chemical but we will do all the medical works and packaging here.

“Our main focus is on mother

and child health. We will launch the pharmaceutical company with 40 products initially. We will produce syrups, tablets, syringes and injections. One thing that is not produced in Nigeria is vaccine, which we in Calaphram will produce early next year”.

He said the project will complement the AyadeCare programme with quality medicine, cut the cost of drugs and also boost the economy of the state.

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n driving effective grassroots governance, the Akwa Ibom State Government has issued certificates of recognition to 230 traditional rulers with a task on them to increase efforts at ensuring security in their respective domains.

Speaking during the event, which held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the

Obaseki lauds peaceful LG polls, swears-in new chairmen

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he Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obseki, has expressed his appreciation to Edo voters, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of last Saturday’s local council polls in the state.

In his message of appreciation on the sideline of the swearing-in of the elected officials, Obaseki noted that “the elections will go down in the annals of history as the most peaceful and most organised elections, devoid of chaos and disorderliness, unlike what we have been used to in this part of the world.”

“As a government, we are extremely proud of Edo voters for changing the narrative of how Nigerians participate in elections.

For the first time in our recent political history, voting was done in the most civilised manner.

He lauded security agencies, traditional rulers, party leaders,

members of the civil society and other stakeholders for their roles in setting the stage for the peaceful conduct of the local council polls across the state.

“Voters took their time, went to their various polling centers, cast their votes and went home without any troubles. The Edo LG Polls have set a new template for future elections in the country and will go down in the annals of Nigeria’s recent electoral history as the most peaceful and orderly elections in the country.

“The success of the polls would not have been possible without the effort of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). I salute EDSIEC for living up to their word. I had charged EDSIEC before the local council polls that we wanted a hitch-free exercise devoid of crisis and they promised to do their best and I am happy to report a successful exercise and we are pleased with the outcome of the polls.”

traditional institution has a major role to play in the maintenance of peace and security in the state.

The Governor, who decried the rate of moral decadence in the society, asserted that threat to security in communities is traced to cultism and charged the royal fathers to assist the state government in the provision of adequate security measures in their respective domains. While explaining that traditional rulers are closer to the people at the grassroots, Emmanuel said, “It is your duty as village heads, clan heads and Paramount rulers to rise up and make sure that we have adequate protection to lives and property within your communities”.

He stressed that security should form the major agenda in the traditional rulers council meetings to stem the tide of cultism and vandalization of public infrastructure, assuring of government readiness to support security measures taken at their individual domains. The Governor remarked that with the increase in the population of communities, it has become extremely difficult for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to monitor every nook and cranny, imploring them to offer useful information on perpetrators of crime in their areas.

He mentioned that the state government is vested with the authority to issue certificates of recognition where there are no legal injunctions, adding that the certificates can also be withdrawn at the final determination and judgment of the court. The State Chief Executive solicited for

grassroots support through the royal fathers, tasking them to mobilize the people in their separate communities to ensure continuation of the present administration beyond 2019 for the consolidation of ongoing development programmes in the state.

Mr. Emmanuel appealed to the traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to partake in the ongoing voters registration which is ending by March 20, stressing that the exercise would provide population figures that can also aid development planning and congratulated them on their official recognition by the state government.

Earlier, the Supervisory Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Nsikan Nkan, said that the issuance of the certificates was an exposition of the state government’s friendly disposition to the traditional institution, applauding the newly recognized traditional rulers on their emergence from their respective communities. Mr. Nkan said that the recognition of the royal fathers was in tandem and consistent with the provision of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Law 2000, Section 15, Cap 134, informing them that by the official acknowledgment of their status, they have automatically become officers of the state government.

Highpoint of the event was the formal presentation of the certificates by the Supervisory Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Nkan, assisted by Paramount Rulers of respective Local Government Areas.

The Oracle Today

16

Wednesday March 21 2018

NEWS Extra

Umahi’s re-election will return power to Abakaliki bloc – Group

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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ATIONAL Coordinator of Ebonyi Unity Forum, Hon. Francis Agwu has said the re-election of incumbent Governor David Umahi will ensure the return of political power to the Abakaliki bloc come 2023.

Abakaliki bloc comprises Ebonyi Central and North sena-

torial zones with 8 local government areas out of the 13 councils that make up the state.

In a chat with newsmen in Abakaliki, Agwu said that only the re-election of the incumbent Governor will encourage equity and power rotation among the senatorial zones of the state.

He warned all aspirants to obey the rule of law by ensuring peaceful electioneering as the group would not condone any acts capable of causing mayhem in the state.

Agwu, who described the plethora of people publicly endorsing the Governor for another term as a sign that he has performed well so far in his first

tenure, commended all local government areas, clans and communities for coming out to endorse the Governor saying that he holds similar view that the Governor has surpassed expectations of Ebonyi people and had nothing other than lend his Voice to the call for his re-election.

“It is only in the reelection of Governor David Umahi that there’s hope that power will shift to Abakaliki bloc. Nobody should deceive us with one-term agenda. It has not

worked. Only the re-election of the incumbent governor will encourage equity and ensures power rotation among North, central and South zones is not thwarted.

“Equity demands that Ebonyi South should be allowed to do a second term as the North and Central Senatorial zones did. Moreso, if we should elect another person from Ebonyi South, such a person will certainly seek re-election at the completion of his first term thereby, truncating power rotation precedence”.

Ekweremadu’s appointment well-deserved – S/East PDP

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

T •President Muhammadu Buhari with Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (m) flanked by members of the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, who paid a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tuesday.

Assassins after my life – Anambra monarch

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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he traditional ruler of Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra state, His Royal Highness, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo has alleged an assassination attempt on his life by yet to be identified persons, saying that it was by the grace of God that he bared managed to escape by the whiskers.

In his statement to the police, Igwe Nwankwo alleged that the assassins sneaked into his palace while he was asleep on March 2, this year and allegedly spread some substances believed to be killer drug inside his bed room.

According to the monarch, “on the fateful day, I was asleep in one of the apartments in my one storey building in my palace and the suspected assassins sneaked into my compound with a ladder, climbed

upstairs from outside and cut the mosquito net hanging on the window with a razor blade before spreading the substances where I was sleeping and climbed down”.

“Minutes later, he continued, they went into the room through another window and ransacked the entire building while the drug was catching up on me. They collected three of my GSM handsets, two laptops and some bottles of wine/hot drinks but as soon as they noticed that I had regained consciousness, they fled and abandoned their ladder and the pieces of clothe they came in with”.

He stated that were some people he was suspecting to have perpetrated the act, adding that he had already informed the police accordingly.

He however expressed concern that the police were yet to com-

mence investigations into his complaint, adding, “this has been the problem with Nigeria Police. This is the second assassination attempt on my life and yet the police have not been able to investigate and get to the root of the matter”.

He disclosed that the razor blade they used to cut the mosquito net is still there, while the ladder was recovered by the side of the fence because they could not run away with it when I regained consciousness”.

“Everything is still as they left it and that is why it is necessary that the police should hasten up and take the records before it becomes late”, he stated.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Nkiruka Nwode (ASP) said she has not yet received any official report in connection with the assassination bid, as at the time of filing this report.

Chairman, Prince Victor Egbune and some other stakeholders in Aniocha North was received on arrival by the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Mr Steve Udogun.

He was ushered straight to his office where a brief prayer session held and prayers made for God’s grace for the new Commissioner to make impact as he serves in the State Executive Council.

Chinye while addressing the people after the prayer session pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him by the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and

thanked the leaders in Aniocha North for their support to him.

The Commissioner asserted that he was determined to make a mark in the Directorate stressing that the cultural and tourism sector was key in promoting the non-oil sector in the state in line with the SMART Agenda of government.

At a meeting with the Functioning Permanent Secretary Mr Steve Udogun,Directors and Heads of Parastatals under the Directorate, Mr Chinye urged staff to be diligent in carrying out their duties.

New Delta Tourism commissioner takes charge

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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he new Commissioner in charge of the Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Mr Emmanuel Chinye has assumed duties with a charge on the staff and management to be dedicated to their duties in order to reposition the sectors for maximum productivity.

Chinye who arrived the Directorate in high spirit was accompanied by the Chairman, Civil Service Commission and pioneer Commissioner in the Directorate, Dame Nkem Okwuofu, the Aniocha North PDP

HE Peoples Democratic Party PDP, South East zone, has congratulated the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on his recent appointment as a full Visiting Professor by the Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana, United States, describing the appointment as well-deserved.

Deacon Austin Umahi, National Vice chairman of PDP in the zone, in a statement he made available to journalists, described the appointment as reward for excellence, hard work and diligence, virtues he said abound in Senator Prof Ekweremadu.

He described Senator Ike Ekweremadu as a consummate scholar, a perfect politician and a gentleman whose passion for the enthronement of rule of law is total and expressed confidence that the lawmaker would excel in this new task.

Umahi described Ekweremadu as the holding force and engine of PDP revival in the zone and by extension the entire country and described his appointment as a clear manifestation of resilience and dedication to service which Ekweremadu has exhibited since his foray into partisan politics.

“On behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP South East zone, I wish to congratulate one of our queentesetial leaders in the zone and the nation at large , His Excellency, Senator Prof Ike Ekweremadu on his appointment as a full visiting professor by the prestigious Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana, United States of America. Ike Ekweremadu has been a holding force in the nation’s legislature.

“His wealth of experience and human approach to national issues has been the binding force that has held the country together and earned Nigeria a great space among the commite of nations.

No doubts, his foray into active partisan politics never retardedd his love for his profession as a lawyer, a teacher and a great academic guru. His appointment as a full professor has once again shown that Ndigbo and indeed PDP parade the best brains in all ramifications.”

Umahi further disclosed that Ekweremadu through his numerous educative and informative national and international journals has brought to the fore so many challenges facing the contemporary society especially in Africa and has proffered solution on how to tackle them.

2019: Ezenwankwo joins Reps race

By IBE NWACHUKWU

P

resident-General of South-East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo has declared his intention to contest the House of Representatives election for Orumba North/South federal constituency in Anambra state.

The seat is presently occupied

by Chief Ben Nwankwo from Akpu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, who won under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 but defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) just before the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State, while Ezenwankwo is from Nanka community also in Orumba North council area of the state.

Ezenwankwo who declared his intention during a meeting with stakeholders from the two council areas held in Nanka for Orumba

North and Umunze for Orumba South respectively, said he would contest under the platform of APGA, as the leader of APGA in Orumba North area council.

Ezenwankwo who is also the President of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATAS), stated that he was joining the race following extensive consultations with the people of the area and to raise the stake in qualitative representation in the Green Chambers.

He contended that he was in touch with the people at the grassroots and appreciated their challenges, noting that his aspiration was to influence legislation that would address those challenges.

“I have consulted with you, my people and other relevant stakeholders and based on our meeting, I declare my intention to run the race for Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency in the next election,” he said.

The Oracle Today

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17

Wednesday March 21, 2018

BU$IN£SS Energy

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Finance

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Stock

Insurance

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•

Aviation

e-Platform

Strong oil prices holds over N1.08t for ECA

...Our output noose is loose – Kachikwu

•

Tourism

Energy

Nigeria driving $43b oil projects

P20

Travel

Nigeria ready for UNWTO/ CAF meeting P26 • Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum.

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

R

CBN EXCHANGE RATES MARCH 13, 2018 Currency Buying(NGN) Central (NGN) Selling(NGN) US DOLLAR 304.75 305.25 305.75 POUNDS STERLING 422.6578 423.3512 424.0447 EURO 374.7206 375.3354 375.9502 SWISS FRANC 320.6207 321.1468 321.6728 YEN 2.8577 2.8624 2.8671 CFA 0.5521 0.5621 0.5721 WAUA 440.9207 441.6441 442.3675 YUAN/RENMINBI 48.1429 48.2223 48.3017 RIYAL 81.258 81.3913 81.5246 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 25.7112 25.7534 25.7956 DANISH KRONA 50.2938 50.3763 50.4588 SDR 441.5523 442.2767 443.0012

• Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance. as rising prices empower oil companies to invest more in enhanced oil recovery projects, new developments, export infrastructure availability and greater output volumes.

Many factors however stand in the way of the country’s full production capacity optimization at a time of strong oil prices. Anxiety is high about the social and security stability in the volatile Niger Delta which hosts petroleum industry activities. Nigeria is a committed member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) which is currently collaborating with non-member countries to stave off global oil glut by subjecting members to output limits.

Industry leader, Mr. Austin Avuru, had expounded at a conference in Abuja that government and industry players must build genuine relationship with the people of Niger Delta by delivering on promises, requests, needs and development aspiration of the region.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, de-

clared at the event that stakeholders’ recommendations on policies, programmes and action plans for stability in the Niger Delta would be vigorously and strictly implemented as part of the strategy to deliver on key economic goals of the government.

Though Nigeria is a key member of OPEC, it is currently exempt from the groups obligatory production cuts even though the group has advised the country to collaborate with sister member Libya to limit output by both countries to 2.80 mbd. It widely speculated that Nigeria is to limit to 1.8 mbd while Libya is to limit to 1.0 mbd.

There is however no specific figure for each country, a window that allows Nigeria to produce at an output range instead of fixed number.

Despite the speculated 1.8 mbd production ceiling expected on Nigeria by OPEC last November, the country has maintained higher production figures since December.

ISING oil prices plus growing crude oil and condensate production hold promises of revenue spill into the Nigeria’s Economic Stabilization Account (ESA) also called Excess Crude Account (ECA) as the petroleum industry positions to overshoot its role in the 2018 budget Consistent tracking of dynamics in the global petroleum exchanges and domestic industry operations shows that both price outlook and production trends indicate bigger output volumes and higher prices than modestly estimated in the 2018 federal budget.

Activities at the crude export markets have great implications for the Nigerian economy as revenue receipts from export of crude oil and natural gas account for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, over 75 percent of total government’s revenue and nearly 97 percent of the country’s regular exports.

The Oracle Today recalls that about 28.5 percent or N2.442 trillion of the N8.6 trillion budget is to come from daily export of 2.3 million barrels of crude oil and condensate. Details of the calculation of funding distribution along tiers and channels of government are complicated but strong indications have emerged that the estimated price for a barrel of crude oil have since risen from the notional $45 per barrel to concrete $65. This translates to some 44.44 percent increase in the estimated crude oil income in the year.

Thus, if prices stabilize at $65 per barrel of Nigerian light sweet crude grades prized for its high yield of transportation fuels, then federal government would gain some 44.44 percent of the N2.442 trillion proposed in the 2018 budget. And if budget discipline is strictly implemented, then the ESA will host princely 1.08 trillion in the year.

But both oil prices and Nigerian production volumes are expected to see significant upside in the year

Insurance

NAICOM halts composite license, confirms takeover of Unic Insurance P28

Cont’d on Page 20

Stock Market Highlights As At 13th MARCH, 2018

Summary ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP S/N

43,073.42 5,245.00 407,906,780.00 N6,117,179,250.87 N15,408,791,854,740.61

Coy (By Volume) Volume

Symbols Volume ZENITHBANK FBNH MANSARD UBA SKYEBANK

Value 70,207,625 53,021,761 50,355,000 27,377,243 19,074,886

Value(N) N2,187,346,398.60 N605,308,384.85 N137,475,977.06 N336,151,151.30 N16,926,505.55

5 Top Gainers Symbols NESTLE MOBIL DANGCEM TOTAL GUINNESS

Last Close N1380 N175 N265 N246.1 N99

Five Tope Losers

Current Change N1400 20 N183.7 8.7 N268.4 3.4 N249 2.9 N99.8 0.8

Symbols Last Close Current UNILEVER N60.8 N57.8 GLAXOSMITH N22 N20.9 DANGSUGAR N23.35 N22.3 NASCON N23 N22

Change -3 -1.1 -1.05 -1

%Change 1.45% 4.97% 1.28% 1.18% 0.81% %Change -4.93% -5.00% -4.50% -4.35%

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

BUSINESS

Evolve innovative solutions to remain relevant – Fidelity GMD urges banks

By VICTOR NZE

M

ANAGINg Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, decried the inability of banks in reducing the gap between the banks and about 57 per cent of Nigerians who are not captured in the financial inclusion drive of the economy.

Critical sensitive assignment has been given to Nigerian money deposit banks by the In his presentation at the just concluded 2018 Social Media Week (SMW) Lagos, the Fidelity Bank boss maintained that operating banks in the country must evolve innovative solutions geared towards attracting other players out-

side the sector to embrace financial institutions services and products.

Explaining during a breakout session on ‘The Digital Takeover: How millennial are changing the financial landscape’, Okonkwo said: “Youths form the bulk of the country’s population, and so, if you need to provide financial services for this class of people, you must understand their buyer needs, customer preference and what is important to them. If you want to connect to them, you must understand what they actually need.”

Fidelity Bank boss further noted that Fidelity Bank is much more inclined to youths and their goodwill and argued that remains the driver

of ongoing digital banking revolution in the bank now.

He added that as part of seriousness in grossing digital banking, the bank has hired about 36 people just to focus on the digital banking area, saying “It is just one of the ways we are responding to the transformation going on in the banking industry which is driven by the needs of the millennial”.

He added that there was a need for the bank to understand the young people, employ people who can understand their preferences and provide financial services to them efficiently, saying a lot of youths live on the social media, adding that to connect with them

the lender needs to interact with them.

“We are hosting this session today because Fidelity Bank is a youth- inclined bank. This explains why our digital banking is experiencing tremendous growth. We will not rest because we realise we need to constantly innovate. As a financial institution, we have to stay right on top of changes and work closely with the millennial.”

Remarking, Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Gbolahan Joshua, said the company was moving towards investing more in data analytics, arguing that skill sets were changing, and the bank was trying to adapt.

Zenith Bank declares N785.19bn gross earnings

Z

enith International Bank has announced gross earnings of N745.19 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2017.

The figure represented a growth of 46.69 per cent over N507.99 billion posted in 2016.

This is contained in the bank’s audited result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, Monday.

The company also announced a final dividend of N2.45 per share, amounting to N21.08 billion for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017.

The dividend, to be ratified by the bank’s shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM)would add up to N2.70 for the year against N1.70 paid in 2016.

Profit before tax stood at N203.41 billion in contrast to the N156.75 billion posted in 2016, an increase of 29.8 per cent.

Its income tax expenses dropped to N25.53 billion from N27.09 billion on a net profit of N177.93 billion against N129.65 billion in 2016, representing an increase of N48.281 billion or 37.23 per cent.

The bank’s impairment loss on financial assets rose three-fold to N98.23 billon from N32.35 billion in 2016.

Fee and commission income rose to N90.143 billion from N68.44 billion in 2016.

• Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (r) speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Udom Emmanuel at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House, Uyo, Monday.

FCMB deepens Millionaire Promo Season 5

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) is set to reward and enhance the experience of its customers through its reward scheme tagged ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 5.’’

According to the bank, the successes of the previous editions of the promo which had rewarded over 25,000 customers with various gifts, including cars and cash ranging from N1m to N5m

will continue to spur the bank to greater heights in service delivery.

In a statement, FCMB said that the Millionaire Promo Season 5, which runs from March to October 2018, was being targeted at all segments of the society, especially existing and potential savings account customers of the bank.

This, however, excluded salary

Ericsson MEA to launch innovation hubs

By SAMSON AKINTARO

G

LOBAL vendor, Ericsson, has announced it is nearfuture plans to create new innovation hubs serving Middle East and Africa markets following the same global concept of Ericsson Garage.

Ericsson Garage is an open innovation platform, inspired by lean startup methodology. Ericsson Garage teams work with short development cycles in close dialog with customers, users and partners, learning and pivoting fast with each new itineration of a minimum viable product to ensure the final version fulfills actual

customer needs and pain points. ”Ericsson Garage in Kista, Sweden is where it all started, however ground-breaking ideas need a space to flourish in every corner of the planet to benefit humanity as a whole, that’s why Ericsson started opening several affiliates across the globe in different locations including Budapest, Aachen, Paris, Silicon Valley, Gothenburg, Croatia, Montreal, Ottawa, Lund, Linkoping, Poland and Beijing. In order to continue the global expansion plans, new Ericsson Garage sites will be created in the Middle East and Africa” the company said.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Erics-

son Middle East and Africa, said: ”As a corporate incubator, Ericsson Garage provides a platform for the innovation community as it builds innovation partnerships with customers and academia, supports startups and accelerates the development of new business ideas. Today, I am proud to see such a great model coming to the Middle East and Africa for the first time. This open model will ensure maximum cross-pollination of new thinking and provide an inspirational opportunity for local talents to innovate and bring about real, fast-paced and creative innovations that will serve the needs of our customers.”

and domiciliary account holders, it said.

“The promo has been designed to provide extra empowerment value to customers of the bank, reward them for their loyalty over the years, while also encouraging financial inclusion, the establishment of small scale businesses as well as the development of a savings culture,” read the statement.

On his part, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said: “The FCMB promo is very credible. The draws in the coming season will still take place in all the zones of the bank across Nigeria.

“Winners will be emerging from every region, spread across cities, towns and neigbourhoods all over the country. The strength of the FCMB franchise is very remarkable across Nigeria. This accounts for the millions of customers who are doing their savings and banking transactions with us, daily using all our channels. We will continue to reward our customers for their patronage. They are the reason why we are in business and we are poised to continue to serve them with excellent customer experience.’’

‘StarUpFriday’ to position A’Ibom on ICT map -- Udom

By VICTOR NZE

A

kwa Ibom governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has said that the information, communication and technology programme, ‘StartUp Friday’ hosted in Uyo, the state capital will serve to position the state on the ICT map in Africa.

Udom Emmanuel said this while speaking at “StartUp Friday “, an ICT innovation and entrepreneurship event organised by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Abuja, a subsidiary of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof. Nse Essien commended the organisers for bringing the event to Uyo and called for synergy between NITDA and the State government in advancing technological innovations and entrepreneurship.

He said Akwa Ibom has a vibrant ICT community and advised startups, investors, mentors and other ICT stakeholders in the State to take advantage of the event.

The Director General of NITDA, Dr. Isa Pantami said “StartUp Friday “in Uyo was the fourth in the series after Kaduna, Lagos and Gombe since he assumed duties.

Pantami who stated that the event was brought to Uyo because of the presence of an active ICT community announced a donation of a digital job creation centre for the State to be sited at Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket and pledged to offer more assistance to the State in the development of ICT. He said “StartUp Friday “was aimed at identifying young ICT innovators and entrepreneurs for support.

In a pitching competition that was participated by ten ICT startups, budgetier led by Damilola Omoyiwola emerged first position carting away a star prize money of three hundred thousand naira while unicorn.ng placed second and touchable pictures placed third and were awarded with two hundred thousand naira and one hundred thousand naira respectively.

The Vice President of Internet Society, Nigerian Chapter, Prince Iniobong Eka and the President of National Association of Computer Science Students, University of Uyo Chapter, Ms. Salvation Peter presented goodwill messages at the event.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday March 21 , 2018

BUSINESS

Consumer confidence surges in Nigeria, Ghana – Report

By VICTOR NZE

T

HE latest West Africa Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) figures released by Nielsen for the 4th Quarter, 2017 show a marked increase and continued positive performance for both Nigeria and Ghana.

According to the report, while climbed eight points to 120, Nigeria’s score rose five points to 122, delivering continued optimism in these two West African countries.

“The economic outlook in both Ghana and Nigeria is turning positive, spurred by a recovery in nonoil sectors, healthier agricultural production, favourable monetary policies, and a slight easing in inflationary pressures.

“This positive attitude is also seen in the consumer confidence level, which has risen quarter on quarter. Overall the economy is expected to inch forward in a positive direction, with growing optimism translating into consumption,” commented Nielsen West Africa & Maghreb MD Abhik Gupta.

Consumer confidence in Nigeria is as positive as neighbouring Ghana with a three-percent increase in perceived job prospects for the next 12 months. The biggest improvement, however, is in consumers’ personal finances with a nine percent increase in the number of Nigerians feeling positive that their finances will improve over the next 12 months.

This is supported with a parallel nine percent increase in Nigerians saying that they have spare cash in their pockets once they meet their essential living expenses.

Job prospects continue to improve, with sentiments moving up three percent to 65%, followed by an increase of four percent of Nigerians feeling that now is the time to purchase the things they need and want.

Food inflation and ever-present price pressures, will continue to keep consumers on their toes when it comes to changing their basket mix and looking for further efficiencies in their consumer habits.

Gupta comments; “Nigeria has faced various challenges over the last two years including recessionary trends from mid-2016, and a rapidly rising inflation, however we are seeing steady recovery in job prospects and personal finances, bringing some relief to inflation and we expect further recoveries in both sentiment and consumption.”

Meanwhile, the eight-point increase in Ghana’s latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) figures, is due in part to a higher proportion of Ghanaians perceiving the state of their job prospects in the next 12 months to be ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’, which now stands at 69%, the highest level since quarter 1, 2014 and a nine percent increase from last quarter. The sentiments around personal finances have also seen

Climate change impeding agricultural yield – NEPAD ational Coordinator of New s N Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) in Nigeria, Mrs

Gloria Akobundu, has said that climate change remains an impediment to agricultural processes leading to reduction in crop yields.

Akobundu made the observation at a one-day workshop on; “NEPAD Climate Smart Agriculture for Women Farmers in Imo State,” organised by Programmes Development and Implementation Department of NEPAD in Owerri.

She said the impacts of climate change were being felt in almost all the rural communities in the six geo-political zones of the country.

She said the effects were manifesting through changes in land water regimes, changes in frequency and intensity of droughts, flooding, water shortages, worsening soil conditions, desertification, diseases and pest outbreaks on crops and livestock.

Akobundu said that the SouthSouth geo-political zone was mainly affected by sea level and deforestation-induced changes, South-East by erosion, flooding and land degradation, North-Central by changes due to de-vegetation and overgrazing, while the North-East was by drought, desertification and heat stress.

“These impacts result in the reduction in crop yield (fall in agricultural productivity) especially in the northern parts of the country, changes in food security, employment, incomes and economic growth.

“It also leads to displacement of people from coastal and densely populated, low lying areas, expo-

ure of millions of people to new health risks, especially from vector based diseases like malaria and schistomiasis, water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malnutrition, ” she said.

The NEPAD boss said that women formed a critical mass in Nigeria and contributed 80 per cent of the country’s GDP, while available statistics showed that majority of rural farmers were women.

“Therefore, this workshop is of essence as it will enable women farmers to have an in depth knowledge on climate change including its causes and impacts on agricultural activities.

“It will also enable them to improve their agricultural produce and become self-reliant in line with the mandate of NEPAD aimed at eliminating poverty and empowering women,” she said.

Deputy Rector (Academics), Imo Polytechnic in Umuagwo, Mr Paulinus Aju, who delivered a lecture on “Climate Change and Agriculture in Nigeria: Causes, Effects, Adaptation and Prospects”, said that the workshop was apt as climate change affected every aspect of human endeavour.

He stressed the importance of rain, humidity and wind, saying their presence and absence affected agricultural processes and yields, adding that the workshop was for farmers to have knowledge of climate change and what to do to eliminate its negative effects on their agricultural products. Aju said information from Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, NIMET and NEMA would also be of immense benefit to farmers.

a one percent rise to 79% for those who feel the state of their personal finances would be ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ in the next 12 months, contributing to the overall consumer confidence index in Ghana.

Recovery in the oil and gas sector,

healthier agricultural production, and favourable monetary policies, have all contributed towards reinstating positive sentiment among Ghanaians. Improving sentiment around employment prospects

and personal finances is translating into larger and more favourable outcomes in consumption, with 48 per cent consumers saying it is an excellent time to buy the things they want and need; a five percent rise from the previous quarter.

• (From left to right): Business Development Manager, Shell Nigeria Gas, James Makinde; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Ed Ubong; and Director General, MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi Kadir, during a courtesy visit by Shell Nigeria Gas to MAN office at Ikeja last week, to discuss Nigeria’s industrialisation through domestic gas utilisation.

Nigerian–German Energy Partnership to build $13m solar power plant

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

T

HE Nigerian – German Energy Partnership is set to commence work on a proposed $13 million dollar solar power plant to serve staff, students and the adjourning communities of the University of Calabar, in Cross River State.

The solar plant which is courtesy of the group will, upon completion generate 10 mega-watts which will serve the University of Calabar, the adjourning University Teaching Hospital as well as the surrounding communities who will be the offtakers.

The project which has been in the pipeline for quite some time marks a major breakthrough in the attempt by the university to address the problem of power which is one of its major challenges which has largely impeded its attempt to provide conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.

Speaking while formally flaggingoff the construction of the solar plant at the staff quarters of the university, the German Consul General, Herr. Ingo Herbert said the project is a major breakthrough for the Nigerian German partnership and will secure the energy needed by the university for 24 hours a day as well as seven days a week.

He described power as a critical resource in a university community and said that nothing works in a university without power. He said that with the good solar radiation in Calabar the project will be a success.

Speaking further on the partnership, the Consul-General said “it’s necessary for the university to develop its own power source because the national grid caters for 45% Nigerians and provides power for barely four hours in a day.

“This solar plant will raise the quality of education in the university and add value to research and the human aspect of life in the university and its environs”, he said.

The Consul General said that when the university was established some decades ago, there was no design for power and emphasized that nothing of importance can be done in any contemporary institution around the world without power.

Also speaking, the coordinator of the Nigerian – German Energy Partnership, Jeremy Gaines said the project is a joint venture between the University of Calabar and the German government. On funding, he said the German government will finance the project and the university will pay for the project from some of the money it spends on diesel. Giving more details about the project, Mr. Gaines said “the money the university spends on diesel will become an investment in the power plant upon completion.

“The system that we will build here will run at normal power for 25 years and it will continue after that at less than full power.

“It is designed in a way that the university will pay for it in installments and when they pay it off by seven years, they use it for free subsequently”.

He said the university is not the first in the country to key into the partnership but it is here that the partnership has gone furthest in its quest to provide stable power for Nigerian universities.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Zana Akpagu told Oracle Today that he is highly elated with the Nigerian – German Partnership for coming to the aid of the university.

He said power has been a major challenge for the university and

the university has expended a disproportionate part of its income to provide power.

According to the Professor Akpagu, “the University spends an average of N50 million every month and pay for NEPA. We buy three trucks of diesel every month which costs about ten million each and our electricity bill ranges from N 18 million to N 25 million every month.

“So on the average every month, we spend about N50 million and our Internally Generated Revenue is less than N 1.2 billion. More than half of our IGR is spent on power so for us this is real salvation and it is going to be a very big relief”.

The Vice Chancellor also said that to guarantee the success of the project, the University has incorporated a company called Unical Energy Company Limited which is an SPV and it will work alongside Dantata Power.

He said that the project is on course and with the involvement of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the success of the project is guaranteed.

One of the off takers of the generated power and Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Professor Thomas Agan said the hospital cannot wait to take power from the plant because power is a major challenge facing the hospital.

He commended the Vice Chancellor for making the dream of steady power a reality and said steady power supply will substantially help the hospital to deliver on its core mandates.

Oracle Today understands that the Nigerian – German Partnership was conceived as far back as 2008 during the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to enable Germany provide efficient and affordable power to federal institutions in the country.

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday March 21 , 2018

ENERGY

Nigeria driving $43b oil projects

...Needs $100b investments to revive industry

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

G

OVERNMENT says it is driving delivery of a mix of oil and gas development projects worth $43 billion as part of its efforts to inject the required level of funding to restore vibrancy in the sector.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated in an interview that his ministry is also working on a target for over $100 billion worth of investments in order to optimise developed capacity for incountry oil industry job delivery.

The minister who was responding to concerns about the low level of activity and consequent labour crisis in the service segments of the industry said Nigerian oil and gas industry content is being pursued in a sustainable way, adding that over $40 billion has been secured to keep up activity in the sector while efforts are on to boost investment in the industry to $100 billion.

According to him, the projects that have commitment for huge investments cut across the segments of the industry, including upstream exploration and production, midstream refining and petrochemicals and downstream pipeline development.

He said the investments are targeted to facilitate in spur activities in the local petroleum industry and boost percentage of local content absorption.

In the upstream, the minister counted the $16 billion Egina deepwater field development project driven Total. Nigeria expects additional 200,000 barrels per day of liquid hydrocarbon output from the field which comes online in the year.

The Floating Production, Storage and Offtake (FPSO) vessel for Egina hosts many locally manufactured

• Usan FPSO modules while the topside integration is currently being completed in Lagos.

Dr. Kachikwu also pointed at processes leading Shell to final investment decision (FID) on Bonga deepwater field development. The $10 billion project, he said, also comes with significant production capacity growth for the country. The nameplate production for the additional Bonga development is expected to come with the project FID. The third, he counted, is the $12 billion Zabazaba deepwater field development to be operated by Eni’s Agip. Zabazaba, when commissioned, comes with nameplate production capacity for 250,000 barrels

of light sweet crude oil per day.

Industry observers are worried at unexplained delay in approval processes that would lead Eni to FID on the project.

The Oracle Today reports that the project has scaled all regulatory approvals including the Nigerian Content job package audit as well as technical and quality audits by Department of Petroleum Resources which regulates the industry. It only remains approval from the ministry for investors to sign FID on the project.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eni, Mr. Claudio Descalzi , and Dr. Kachikwu had earlier in Rome reached

agreement on the company’s continuing investment in Nigeria despite lingering investigations over the company’s acquisition of the Zabazaba field with Shell.

Dr. Kachikwu had reached plans with Eni to intensify upstream oil and gas production operations with an increased focus on development and exploration in their offshore and ultra-deepwater operated areas.

However, whereas Zabazaba flaunts huge investment funds for Nigeria, the asset transfer deals involving Shell and Eni remain subject of investigation and court appearances.

Last weekend, the corruption trial

Strong oil prices holds over N1.08t for ECA

Continuesd fom P17

Crude oil output by Nigeria rose beyond the cap almost immediately to reach 1.9 mbd in December; 1.93 mbd in January and 1.95 mbd in February.

Dr. Kachikw said in Abuja that government is conscious of the OPEC production concerns about the country. He made it clear that government would continue to weigh national economic priorities against OPEC commitments with a target to explore every space in the loose noose.

He said Nigeria is not strictly restricted by OPEC, adding that government was managing its commitment to the oil exporters’ group alongside internal pressure to produce more barrels for foreign exchange earnings.

According to him, government is working to on a mix of crude oil and condensate production to meet the right output volumes that would reach the 2.3 mbd threshold which underpins the N8.6 trillion 2018 budget.

In the production mix, he explained, Nigeria would pump crude

oil at OPEC advised output limit of 1.8 mbd, and then complement with some 400 kbd of condensate production. He added that the production cap on Nigeria also has loose ends that could be explored to stretch the limited and add more barrels of crude.

Nigeria’s crude oil production in February flowed at an average of 1.95 million barrels per day (1.95 mbd), indicating an increase of 20,000 barrels per day (20 kbd) from January production rate.

According to production statistics of OPEC members compiled by Platts, Nigeria’s crude oil flow has maintained a steady rise. According to the OPEC production table made available to The Oracle Today, Nigeria’s output rate in February consolidates gains recorded by the country in January when production rose by 30 kbd from 1.90 mbd in December to 1.93 mbd.

February production figure is 150 kbd higher than the 1.8 mbd production advice issued to Nigeria by OPEC. But OPEC quota does not include natural gas liquids and con-

densates that producers normally blend with crude to get premium grades.

Dr. Kachikwu had explained that OPEC’s production cap on Nigeria and Libya would not affect government’s revenue projections for 2018 budget, saying Nigeria would complement crude production shortfalls with condensate production.

ExxonMobil and Total jointly produce over 200 kbd of condensate from conventional offshore and deepwater fields. Smaller volumes of condensate come from operations of Shell, Eni and Chevron in Nigeria.

Besides, Dr. Kachikwu said Nigeria still has a window to ramp up crude oil production since, according to him, OPEC’s production ceiling on the country is currently not compelling.

“What we have is not compelled ceiling but advised ceiling of about 1.8 mbd. It is advised in the sense that we still have the latitude. We are still under exemption. The expectation on us is that we are not going to exceed 1.8 mbd. I have

said that the ceiling covers crude.

It does not cover condensate,” he explained.

He pointed out that Nigeria currently produces about 400 kbd of condensate in addition to its crude oil volumes that combine to push total oil support to the budget to about 2.25 mbd.

He however explained concerns that Nigeria would soon be struggling with managing output volumes when some major deepwater projects driven by ExxonMobil, Shell, Eni and Total come onstream by next year.

The Oracle Today reports that Total is close to commissioning its 200 kbd Egina deepwater field later in the year while Eni’s Agip is about to kick off development of 250 kbd Zabazaba deepwater field.

Dr. Kachikwu said the new major projects along with Shell Bonga development would throw up challenges in managing production cuts in line with OPEC commitments.

When the projects come onstream, he pointed out, Nigeria’s crude oil production could hit over

for executives from the two companies was postponed in Italy until May 14. The trial involves the purchase of OPL-245 which hosts Zabazaba field in 2011 by the two companies.

Investigations are wound around $1.3 billion acquisition fee brokered by the government, and prosecutors in Italy contend that the two firms paid nearly $1.1 billion into an escrow account for the government, from which $800 million was later transferred to a company connected to a former dictator to be distributed as payoffs.

In the midstream, Dr. Kachikwu declared that government was receiving refinery investors with commitment for about $3.0 billion.

He also counted the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline for which, he said, another $3.0 billion contract has been signed.

“If you put all these together, you will get about $40 billion. But my point is that $40 billion is not even enough. We need to be talking about $100 billion in investments to revive the sector to where it will give maximum contribution to gas flare out projects which costs us a lot of money, replacement of existing pipelines.

“Then if you come to local fabrication, Egina has been able to achieve about 30-40 percent of local content through fabricating the critical modules of that FPSO. We intend that any future FPSO will, in fact achieve, much more incremental local content.

“This is the first time we are to produce FPSO modules. All the things in that FPSO were produced here and sent to South Korea to integration.

All the future FPSOs should do better. In fact, we have set a target for Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to pursue a 10 year strategic plan to produce a whole FPSO in Nigeria. So, it is all part of the whole process.”

3.0 mbd, a capacity that would earn Nigeria the right to bargain for greater OPEC quota.

On the demand side, OPEC insists that oil would still remain the preferred transportation fuel in the foreseeable future despite global hype about switch to green energy. The group stated in its bulletin that rising global demand for energy as the urbanization and population continue to grow would demand a mix of fossil and green energy without one completely displacing the other.

It stated that demand for oil and gas would remain strong enough to support prices above the current $65/bbl in the short to medium term. It added that production surge from shale industry does not pose a serious threat since, according to the group, shale oil is only possible at high prices.

Thus, with oil prices predicted to be stable above current levels, government evolving plans for social and security stability in the Niger Delta to enable sustained production capacity growth, every pointer goes north on the certainty that oil revenue would overshoot budget projections for 2018.

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday March 21, 2018

ENERGY

Petrobras selling stakes in Egina, Akpo, Usan

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espite denials from the company’s officials in Nigeria, reports pour in that Brazilian national oil firm, Petrolio Brasiliero (Petrobras), would sell off its assets in the continent and take leave of Africa.

The company holds significant stake in a set of deepwater assets operated Total, including the hyped Egina deepwater field which is being developed to pump 200, 000 barrels per day of light sweet crude oil.

Petrobras Africa’s net entitlement reserves amount to approximately 204 million bar-

rels with current production of 48,000 bpd and expectation to reach around 75,000 bpd next year.

The company participates in two deepwater oil exploration blocks offshore Nigeria, OMLs 127 and 130. The blocks contain the Akpo and Agbami producing fields operated by Total and Chevron respectively. They also contain the Egina development which is set to come onstream later this year.

Secondary sources have it that Petrobras has started the binding phase in the process to sell off its

business in Africa. But a company official denied at an event in Lagos that the company was divesting, signalling that negotiations with interested parties might be

progressing to a deal.

According to a securities filing, the Brazilian firm is selling 100% of its subsidiary, Petrobras Oil & Gas B.V. (POGBV), or Petrobras Africa.

In this phase, Petrobras will instruct interested investors on how to proceed with due diligence and to present the binding proposals.

NNPC to deliver 3.4 bcf/d by 2020 N igerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has identified Seven Critical Gas Development Projects (7CGDP) scheduled to deliver about 3.4 Bcf/d of natural gas on an accelerated basis to bridge a projected medium-term supply gap by 2020.

Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, whose presentation was delivered at the SPE annual Oloibiri Lecture disclosed that the 7CGDP formed the prime focus of the corporation to meet rising domestic gas demand.

Dr. Baru who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in charge of the Upstream Directorate of NNPC, Bello Rabiu, said the 7CGDP would be executed aggressively on a sustained level.

The 7CGDP includes development of the 4.3 Tcf Assa North/ Ohaji South field, development of the 6.4 Tcf Unitized Gas fields (Samabri-Biseni, Akri-Oguta, Ubie-

Oshi and Afuo-Ogbainbri).

The next, he said, is the development of 7.0 Tcf in NPDC’s OMLs 26, 30 & 42.

Other works include the development of 2.2 Tcf by SPDC JV Gas Supply to Brass Fertilizer Company, the cluster development of 5 Tcf of gas from OML 13 to support the expansion of Seven Energy’s Uquo Gas Plant, and the cluster development of the 10 Tcf Okpokunou/Tuomo West (OML 35 & 62).

It is anticipated that domestic gas demand will rise to about 7 Bscf/d, which is envisaged to outpace the gas supply development trajectory which necessitated the urgency for NNPC to identify short, medium and long term gas resources to bridge the huge supply gap.

When fully implemented, it is expected that the projects will allow for Nigeria to meet its target of delivering gas to support 15,000 MW power generation and position Nigeria as a regional hub for gasbased industries.

• From right: COO, Upstream at NNPC, Mr. Rabiu Bello; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Chairman, KAZTEC Engineering Limited, Sir Emeka Offor; and another official of the company just before capacity evaluation visit to KAZTEC’s fabrication yard, Snake Island, Lagos.

Break meter ownership monopoly – Association urges FG

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lectricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), Monday, in Lagos appealed to the Federal Government to break the monopoly of distribution companies in the sale of meters to electricity consumers.

Executive Secretary of EMMAN, Mr Muyideen Ibrahim, who spoke in Lagos, Monday, said it would go a long way in addressing the challenges with estimated billings.

NDIC to probe banks as fraud cases hit 26,132 F OLLOWING the rising cases of frauds in the country’s banking sector, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has now moved to investigate the affected banks.

In a statement, NDIC reported a 56. 3 per cent jump in reported cases of fraud from 16,751 in 2016 to 26,132 in 2017, resulting in the loss of N2.37 billion.

The corporation lamented failure by the banks to file returns reporting their officials involved in the fraudulent practices throughout last year to the regulatory authorities. The number of staff involved in the malpractice also grew from 231 in 2016 to 320 in 2017.

Consequently, the NDIC is set to investigate some banks for the inadequate rendition of returns, particularly on instances of forgeries and other cases of fraud involving members of staff who had their appointments terminated on grounds of fraudulent activities.

Sections 35 and 36 of the NDIC Act No. 16 of 2006 (as amended) requires all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to submit monthly information/returns on forgeries and

other forms of fraud to the corporation.

Head of Communications and Public Affairs Unit of NDIC, Mr. Mohammed Kudu Ibrahim, said the planned investigation followed the discovery from the corporation’s most recent report on its off-site supervision of the DMBs that the number of fraud cases attributed to internal abuse by staff of banks increased from 231 in 2016 to 320 in 2017, or 38.53 per cent above the figure reported for the previous year.

He said the report relied on a total of 286 responses received from 26 banks during the period under review.

Ibrahim shed more light on the outcome of the off-site supervision: “The 286 responses received from banks in 2017 cited 26,182 cases of fraud and forgeries which is 56.30% higher compared to 16,751 cases reported in 2016.

Similarly, the amount involved in the fraudulent activities documented increased by N3.33 billion from the N8.68 billion reported in 2016 to N12.01 billion in 2017 or 38%.

However, the Expected/Actual loss slightly decreased by N24.42

million or 1.03% from N2.39 billion in 2016 to N2.37 billion in 2017.”

On fraudulent activities in the online-banking and ATM/card-related fraud-types, Ibrahim said it constituted 24,266 or 92.68 per cent of all the reported cases, resulting in N1.51 billion or 63.66 per cent loss in the industry in 2017.

The report also documented other miscellaneous crimes such as fraudulent transfers/withdrawals, cash suppression, unauthorised credits, fraudulent conversion of cheques, diversion of customer deposits, diversion of bank charges, presentation of forged or stolen cheques, among others.

The 22 licensed commercial banks and four merchant banks rendered 286 returns on dismissed/terminated staff as a result of fraud and forgeries during the year under review. Out of the 26,182 fraud cases reported by the 26 licensed banks, 320 cases were attributable to internal collaboration by bank staff.

However, the losses arising from the reported cases decreased from N760 million in 2016 to N682 million or about 11.43 per cent in 2017.

According to Ibrahim, breaking the monopoly will enable electricity consumers procure and own meters directly.

He said that it would also address complaints over estimated billing and outrageous billing from the distribution companies.

Ibrahim said that the association had always advocated that government should liberalise the metering arm of the power sector so that everybody could have access to meters.

“If every consumer has prepaid meter, it will allow them to manage the electricity consumption, and the Discos will collect revenue maximally without billing outrageously.

“But now the consumers are shortchanged because they are being given estimated bills. It presupposes that the Discos are smiling to the bank while the consumers are suffering. Unfortunately, some of the Discos are complaining that they don’t have the fund to invest massively in metering, whereas the meters are available in the various warehouses of the manufacturers.

“If the telecom sector could be liberalised, why not metering? The only thing is that it will enhance the whole power sector and also add value as well,’’ he said.

The association scribe stressed the need to convene a metering summit where all stakeholders would come together to discuss challenges facing the Discos and meter manufacturers.

He said that manufacturers had invested massively in meters but unfortunately, they did not have enough patronage for them to do more.

“It would only be driven by technology. The key thing is the metering code and specification that all the meter manufacturers will comply to.

Liberalising metering in the country will enable all the consumers to have easy access to meters and the issue of estimated billings will just be a thing of the past.

“The local meter manufacturers should be encouraged, and as such the government should provide an enabling environment and facilities such as power for them, because they all rely on generating sets to run their businesses.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should attract manufacturers with intervention funds at single interest rate, this will enable them to import basic raw materials from overseas’’.

According to him, CBN should also allow manufacturers to have unfettered access to Forex as well.

This, he noted would enable manufacturers to produce at full capacity, employ more Nigerians and also contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had in 2017 released Draft Meter Asset Providers Regulation for distribution licensee for the electricity distribution company. The regulation allows distribution companies to own such meters and repay the customers through energy credits over a period not exceeding five years.

The commission is also planning to introduce meter asset providers into the power sector and will be expected to supply and install meters within 21 working days of payment.

This will however be at the premises of electricity customers who choose the option of paying for the meters.

A meter asset provider is an entity that is granted a permit to give metering services, which may include meter financing, procurement, meter tests, supply, installation, maintenance and replacement.

However, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the umbrella body of the electricity distribution companies had raised concerns over the draft regulation.

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday March 21 , 2018

e-Platform

Ntel sparks new revolution with National Roaming deals

Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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N what will be the first fruit of Nigerian Communications Commission’s effort at achieving telecom service ubiquity across the country through network sharing, Ntel, leading 4G LTE service provider, has struck a national roaming deal with 9Mobile while also in talks with MTN. Ntel, whose 4G network currently covers Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt is set to expand its services across the country leveraging on the other two mobile operators’ infrastructure.

Already, Ntel has gotten approval for the two deals from the NCC, while a successful trial had been conducted on 9Mobile’s network. Disclosing this at a monthly breakfast meeting of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Ntel, Mr Ernest Akinlola, said the company which rolled out 4G LTE service in 2016 across major city is now set to go nationwide with the roaming deals.

Essentially, Ntel, which is purely 4G network, will be banking on the 3G and 2G networks of the two operators to provide same services for its subscribers. This, according to Akinlola, became imperative because 4G devices are still limited in Nigeria. The Ntel CEO admitted that the company “went ahead of the curve” in 2016 when it launched only 4G network at a time when most Nigerians are still using 3G and 2G phones. However, to change the situation for its good, Akinlola said Ntel has entered into partnership with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Nokia, Samsung and Mo-

torola for good 5G LTE devices that would push connectivity.

“This agreement is a significant step in the right direction for us as a company and the telecommunications eco system. “A full national roaming agreement with 9Mobile would provide our growing customer base with a seamless service over 4G/LTE superfast data and voice clarity as well as ubiquitous 3G and 2G coverage nationwide.

“Both operators are pioneers in innovation and we are pleased to be charting a new path for the industry” he said.

Akinlola said that the collaboration would ensure complementary skills and robust customer service for all the parties. “National roaming will help us to accelerate custom acquisition. “Partnership with 9mobile which has 2G/3G will help customers to enjoy the best data with good speed. “It will help the network operators to become efficient and have less cost with the roll-out in 4G. “The planned rollout with 9mobile is on commercial decision stage; MTN has agreed with the collaboration, and will be going for a trial period with ntel,” he said.

National roaming refers to the ability of a cellular subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including data services, when travelling outside the coverage area of the home network, by means of using a visited network. It is a type of service or facility which enables the subscriber of one operator to utilise the facilities of another operator with whom the subscriber has no direct pre-existing service or contractual relationship to place an outgoing call or receive an incom-

From left: Director, External Affairs, Osondu Nwokoro; Chief Financial Officer, Abhulime Ehiagwina; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ernest Akinlola, all of Ntel; NITRA Chairman, Emma Okonji; and Head, Marketing & Strategy at ntel, Olajide Mafolabomi, at NITRA’s Breakfast meeting held in Lagos.

ing call. National roaming, which is a form of infrastructure sharing, reduces duplication of networks in less populated and remote areas.

Touted as Nigeria’s most revolutionary telecommunications company which provides 4G LTE Advanced network that delivers superfast call-connect times, crystal clear Voice over LTE and extraordinarily high Internet access speed, ntel at inception aimed to redefine the Nigerian telecommunications landscape and enrich

the lives of Nigerians by delivering the most advanced communications technology across the largest possible network coverage in the most effective, valuable and satisfying manner.

Although Ntel is currently live in three of Nigeria’s largest commercial cities: Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, the company plans to expand to more cities and meet its projected coverage of 85 percent of mobile broadband spending within 3 years and about 95

percent within 5 years. According to the company’s Acting Director, Marketing and Strategy, Marketing and Strategy, Olajide Mafolabomi, NTel network currently covers 72 percent areas of Lagos, 92 percent of Abuja and 60 percent of Port Harcourt. He said aside the roaming deals which allow Ntel to go nationwide on 2G/3G networks; it would be expanding its 4G coverage by rolling out service in 20 states of the federation within the next 24 months.

FG to establish digital job centre in Akwa Ibom T HE Federal Government has concluded plans to establish a Digital Job Centre in Akwa Ibom as part of measures to create jobs opportunities for the unemployed youths in the state. Dr Isa Pantami the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), made the disclosure at the 9th edition of Startup event for Akwa Ibom youths in Uyo. Pantami said that NITDA would transform the centre to motivate and encourage the youths to come up with ICT solutions to the national challenges. According to him, the agency would support youths with ideas through ICT to proffer solutions to problems confronting the nation.

“To encourage and boost the ICT ecosystem in Akwa-Ibom, NITDA is setting up a Digital Job Centre at the Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket, Eket LGA, Akwa-Ibom State. “I thank Gov. Udom Emmanuel and the

good people of Akwa-Ibom for their support towards the success of this event,” Pantami said.

He said the Startup programme was created to encourage every Nigerian to look inward in tackling Nigeria’s economic problems. Pantami explained that the centre would focus more in building technology entrepreneurs, adding that ICT is inevitable and our future depends on it as ICT dominates the economy after oil.

“We are aware of the harsh conditions in securing white collar jobs in the country, so it has become apparent for the government to focus more in building technology entrepreneurs.

“A developed indigenous ICT ecosystem would help the country to diversify its economy from oil. “Data is the new oil. With the two local content related Presidential Orders, we need to focus on locally produced innovations

for our local market. “NITDA intends to encourage and support ICT entrepreneurship and promote it as an attractive career option for the youth,” he said.

In his remarks, the Commission-

er for Science and Technology, Prof. Nse Essien, said that the state government had embraced ICT in finding solutions to some issues facing the state. Essien, said Startup was a meeting place where all ICT professionals gathered to brainstorm on problems solving. He urged the youths to embrace the programme and take serious attention to achieve the re-

quired result.

“We have very good talents in the state to key into the programme. As a state, we are doing everything possible to ensure that ICT is embrace in every spheres of governance,” he said.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

e-Platform

Our vision yielding positive results — Danbatta Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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HE Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the strategic vision plan he unveiled two years ago in form of 8-Point Agenda has so far made a significant impact on the growth of telecommunications sector in Nigeria.

Danbatta who spoke at a panel session of the just concluded 2018 World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, however, called on the global policymakers in the telecommunication industry to ensure not only renewed thinking in the development of policy frameworks but also to promote innovation and investment in the sector. “In Nigeria, we are trying to digitally transform and the process is on-going as I am talking to you. Hence we’ve been paying attention to 5 interdependent elements of the digital transformation processes: enabling policies and institutions, human capital, applied ICT industry, communications infrastructure ICT applications and institutional change,” he stated.

Speaking further, Danbatta observed that broadband penetration in the country merely stood

at about 8 per cent when he took over the mantle of the leadership of the industry, but it is now 22 per cent, according to the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.

“We also decided to look at how we can improve Quality of Service consistent with key performances indicators that characterize the quality of service. The information we are getting from the consumers as well what we source from network operators is that Quality of Service has improved. The experience by consumers through their accounts also indicate significant improvement,” he noted.

He also told the gathering about successful auctioning of the spectrum, 2.6 GHZ band, which he said has already been assigned, which contributes to broadband penetration in the country. To empower the consumers of the industry in the country, the EVC noted that, the year 2017 was dedicated as the year of the consumer. “When we started the campaign, we were inundated with a deluge of complaints, especially on unsolicited text messages sent to consumers, and in many cases, they were surcharged. We have put behind this menace in Nigeria through the

campaign.

“As I am talking to you we have a Do- Not- Disturb- facility, which is very easy to use by consumers.

More than 9million users have activated this facility. Again, close to that number have gained access to

our 622 toll-free line which is provided to consumers to lodge their complaints on the quality of service provided by the telecommunication firms,” he explained. He, however, observed that: “There is a need for renewed thinking in devel-

From left: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Executive Secretary, Olive Blooms Orphanage, Mrs. Ngozi Ken Udo and General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Ms. Omasan Ogisi during the presentation of food and household items by MTN Foundation to the Olive Blooms Orphanage, Ajah recently.

HMD Global unveils 5 new Nokia phones H

MD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has unveiled four new additions to its award-winning portfolio of Android smartphones – Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, new Nokia 6 and Nokia 1. Delivering all the craftsmanship expected from a Nokia phone, each new smartphone offers durability and reliability as standard, with the range setting new benchmarks in materials and design.

Furthering its promise to pure, smart, secure and up-to-date Android experience, HMD Global also announced it is to become the first global partner to have a full suite of devices selected into the Android One programme by Google. The unwavering commitment to deliver a pure, secure and up-to-date Android experience has ensured Nokia smartphones become the natural fit for the global programme.

In addition to these stunning new Android smartphones, the iconic Nokia 8110 is reloaded, delivering 4G connectivity, apps including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Search, Facebook and Twitter, and the return of the slider phone. The Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus and the new Nokia 6 – join the Android One family, offering a high quality software experience designed by Google.

Each phone will stay fresh over time with the latest AI powered innovations to the highest grade of security from Google. With a pure Android installation, Nokia smartphones come with no unnecessary UI changes or hidden processes that would eat up battery life or

slow them down so you can enjoy your new phone for longer. Each of the new phones comes with a limited number of pre-installed apps so that you’ll get more storage space, as well as the latest innovations that help you stay ahead of the game every day.

By shipping with Android Oreo out of the box, users will be able to enjoy the latest features, including Picture-in-Picture for multitasking, Android Instant Apps to discover and run apps with minimal friction, 60 fantastic new emojis and battery-maximising features like limit-

ing background app use.

According to Florian Seiche, CEO HMD Global, “This time last year, we started our journey with huge expectations from fans and a massive responsibility to deliver on the legacy of one of the most innovative brands in our space. Since then we have reintroduced well-loved icons, forged partnerships with friends - old and new, and delivered our pure, secure and up-todate Android experience across our smartphone portfolio. Last year we shipped over 70 million

Nokia phones.” Noting further that HMD Global remains committed to delivering great phones that will offer value to the customers, Mr. Seiche said “As we’ve expanded our portfolio we’ve always maintained one vision: to deliver great Nokia phones that live up to the values our fans expect. It has been an exhilarating time and as we look ahead, we plan to build on our success by expanding our portfolio and giving consumers a wide range of Nokia phones they can love, trust and rely on.”

LG to meet consumer needs with enhanced technologies

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he new head of LG Electronics’ mobile business, Hwang Jeong-hwan has pledged the company’s commitment to meeting consumers’ real needs by improving trust in the LG brand and focusing on core technologies.

Speaking at the just concluded Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Hwang said high-end interim products based on successful premium devices such as V30S ThinQ will play an important role toward that goal.

“The majority smartphone customers today desire a great user experience that thoughtfully reflects how they work and play,” said Hwang. “LG customers expect our phones to excel in four core technologies which we call the ‘ABCD’ of killer features – audio, battery, camera and display.

We will prioritize these features not only in our new flagship products but also in our interim products starting with the LG V30S

oping policy and regulatory framework in the industry. The Regulator should promote innovation, investment and better quality of service, as well as put in place mechanisms that will limit unfair pricing and exploitation of consumers”.

ThinQ which we are showing here in Barcelona.”

Leveraging its proven and wellreceived smartphone platforms with incremental software and aesthetic upgrades will deliver a longer and more satisfying ownership experience for existing customers. “Thoughtful features and unique color options that make LG devices stand out from the competition will attract consideration from new customers while enhanced product build quality and after-sales service like the continuous AI suite updates will give consumers even more reason to consider LG when shopping for a new smartphone.

“Great audio, one of the most frequently overlooked features in high-end smartphones, is one of the key reasons consumers choose LG phones. LG’s advanced Hi-Fi Quad DAC technology will continue to be enhanced and developed in future devices and

developing better battery technologies in partnership with industry leader LG Chem will be a top priority. LG smartphone cameras will not only lead the industry in innovation with better lenses and improved low light performance, they will get smarter with the addition of artificial intelligence to take much of the guesswork out of capturing that perfect shot. And already a world-leader in consumer electronics displays, both LCD and OLED technologies will see significant investments in R&D” he said.

“The smartphone market has evolved significantly over the past decade and the challenge now is to define our path forward for the next decade. “There are very few companies with the depth of experience and diversity of product knowledge as LG. We have every intention of growing our mobile footprint and thriving in this environment with our AI capabilities leading the way, Hwang added.”

Dell launches enterprise-level data protection for SME

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ell EMC is expanding its modern protection storage portfolio with Dell EMC Data Domain DD3300, a new platform specifically designed to deliver enterprise-level data protection to small, mid-size organizations and remote/branch office environments of larger enterprises.

According to the company, organizations today face many challenges and conflicting priorities including data growth, supporting an evergrowing number of applications, an increasingly stringent regulatory and compliance environment, and continuously shrinking budgets. “For organizations of all sizes, small to large, it is paramount for business success, more than ever before, that their data is protected and that they can easily leverage cloud for flexibility agility and economics.

“DD3300 offers Dell EMC’s comprehensive data protection capabilities, including inline encryption and DD Boost for faster backups and lower network usage. DD3300 also provides coverage for a wide application ecosystem, from enterprise to homegrown applications. A 2U appliance that enables you to start small and expand capacity as your needs increase, and with an average data reduction rate in the range of 10-55x, the DD3300 will provide an impressive ROI along with dramatic cost savings, bringing greater scalability and significant reduction in WAN bandwidth use for backups and recovery. “To enable smaller IT environments to simply extend to the cloud for long-term retention, DD3300 supports Data Domain Cloud Tier. With DD3300, organizations can nativelytier deduplicated data to the cloud for long-term retention without the need for a separate cloud gateway or a virtual appliance. This new compact Data Domain delivers cost-effective long-term retention on a wide cloud ecosystem.”

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

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EDITORIAL

Stone us after two years – Momoh Cont’d front page 1

thought that the administration would improve Nigeria? His interview was granted days to the Buhari does not protect anybody who breaks the beginning of the Buhari administration. The law. Once discipline is restored, the backbone campaigns had ended. APC had spent more of incompetence, the backbone of fraud, the almost two months waiting to resume with backbone of corruption will be broken. In its change mantra. “Gen Buhari will look at all less time than you expect, order will return the ministries, agencies and parastatals, and and Nigeria will work again,” Prince Momoh ensure that the document setting them up is explained. followed to the letter. The key thing here is the HE riveted the attention of the interviewer to Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. the manifesto of the APC, in case there were The Constitution is not supreme; the people are further doubts about the abilities of the party supreme. Sovereignty belongs to the people to perform. “If you look at the manifesto of of Nigeria,” added, post marking the attitude the APC, the issues are settled there and they of the government to the law. Has there been will be addressed. In fact, some people say inclination to comply with the law in these dealhow can you say you will feed school chilings? dren? If we made the promise, we will feed THE simple matter of declaring assets was one of school children. And once it starts, I won’t the early storms for the President. From the fail because Gen Muhammadu Buhari canSpartan Buhari who had so little to declare, not sleep if he cannot fulfill the promises he that he would willingly comply with the law made. If we block all the leakages, we will emerged a President who refused to declare have more money not only to feed the school his assets. “Gen Buhari will look at what the children but also their parents. Nigerians will Code of Conduct says. The Code of Conduct sing more songs about Buhari in four years’ says declare your assets. Many people refused time because he will satiate their yearnings to declare their assets. He will look at the Code and aspirations. Let me tell you, there is of Conduct; he will look at the Oath of Office.” money in this system, but the money is going PRINCE Momoh was right for once, the President somewhere. What is needed is blocking the looked at those constitutional provisions, and leakages. Then, there will be money to chanlooked away. In fact, Prince Momoh was pronel to all other areas-education, roads, power, phetic.

Not only has the President refused to job creation and so on.” declare his assets publicly, as he promised to do DO the performances of APC and the Presiwithin 100 days in office, he has been defending dent resemble any of the things that Prince the secrecy.

Momoh has said? Was he the only one that DURING the campaigns, President Buhari who during election claimed that he hand only N1m in his bank account, in the sketchy declaration that his media aide announced, had N30m in his bank account before taking office on 29 May 2015.

OTHER President Buhari assets filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau included five houses in Kaduna, Daura, Kano and Abuja; two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt. Buhari also had farms, an orchard, ranch, livestock including 270 cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees, according to the aide’s statement. The President had an unstated “number of cars”.

BUHARI’S asset declaration did not meet the requirement of the law as it lacked specific details as addresses and value of listed houses. Assets of spouses and unmarried children under 18 were not declared, as the law demands. There are other issues.

FUEL importation has not ceased as Prince Momoh proffered. “When Gen Buhari comes in, importation of fuel will be a thing of the past because there will be a preoccupation with the local refineries. Gen Buhari will not look at Nigeria importing fuel and be satisfied and say that is

what we need. When he was a Head of State, Nigeria was exporting finished products from our refineries.” We are importing fuel, we are paying more for fuel, fuel scarcities persist, and the prospects of the refineries working remain promises.

WHILE meeting the challenging promises he made may not be the worries of most Nigerians, his relentless efforts at setting other Nigerians against the South East has become a hallmark of the administration. He has made two national broadcasts where he needlessly insulted the South East, including their leaders. He appears to be more concerned with stating his importance then in fulfilling promises he made to Nigerians.

ALMOST three years down the line, the stones have started flying. In Owerri, irate youth stoned a parade that was celebrating the erection of a statue and conferring of state honours on blighted Jacob Zuma, then President of South Africa.

Back home, corruption charges were awaiting him, outside his celebrated life of amorality. The anger of the youth centred on the wastefulness of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

SIMILAR wastes, excuses, in place of fulfiling promises that won APC the elections, divisive policies, and abnegations of the Constitution, have been the most momentous contributions of the APC and the President to national issues. People are wondering whether the government that three years ago said, “change is possible” is the same one that with excuses says, “Change is impossible”.

THE deafening silence of Prince Momoh, and other earlier promoters of the administration, makes the point that “change has changed”. Nigerians are too peaceful to fulfil Prince Momoh’s prophesy of stoning the government, but their disappointment is so comprehensive that often, there are no words adequate to describe it – maybe difference.

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

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

OPINION Ohanaeze, IPOB should pitch their messages, not fight (1)

By THEO RAYS

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he birth of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), founded by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, an Indiantrained lawyer, in 1999 largely created two camps in Igbo politics. In one camp are those who want the Igbo to remain as part of Nigeria and in the other are those who want the Igbo to exit Nigeria and establish the Republic of Biafra or Sovereign State of Biafra, according to Uwazuruike.

When he started, Uwazuruike was wise to adopt Mahatma Ghandi’s philosophy of non-violence as a directive principle in his group’s quest for the actualization of Biafra. War-scarred Igbo didn’t want another bout of violence in their domain. Either because of this or in spite of it, MASSOB became very popular in Igboland as well as in Nigeria as a whole and even in the Diaspora.

Needless to say, it received massive support and recognition from Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora. Such support and acceptance gave the group a lot of political value thereby making politicians, including sitting governors and President, woo it for electoral purposes.

In fact, MASSOB at a point became not only a welcome household name in Igboland but also came to be regarded by many as practically the last hope of

Ndigbo. Consequent upon this interesting development, the traditional ruler of Nri Kingdom, the stool which is regarded as the custodian of Igbo culture and tradition and occupied by His Majesty, Eze Obidiegwu Onyeso conferred Uwazuruike with a chieftaincy title as Ijele Ndigbo. Ijele is regarded as the greatest masquerade in Igbo land. The point is that Uwazuruike’s MASSOB not only resurrected the agitation for Biafra but also made it popular among the Igbo.

However, the emergence of another pro-Biafra group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) founded by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was said to have parted ways with Uwazuruike in MASSOB, added a fresh impetus to the Biafra struggle. Today, while Uwazuruike is one side fighting for Biafra “in his own way”, IPOB is on the other doing its own too. As they say, the more, the merrier!

Propelled also by the philosophy of non-violence, IPOB upped the ante in the struggle for the restoration of Biafra, telling everybody who would listen, that Nigeria is a non-workable contraption, which has become too unaccommodating for Ndigbo to be part of it. In the opinion of IPOB, Nigeria is more of a zoo than a human kingdom; therefore, Ndigbo must not have anything to do with such a place: they should no longer have any business in the “zoo called Nigeria” as its citizens.

Like a voice crying in the wilderness, IPOB is saying that Ndigbo are being oppressed in Nigeria and the only way out is to pull them out of the country. In its view, Ndigbo are in bondage in Nigeria because Nigeria has failed to appreciate the Igbo man as an integral part of the country, who should be allowed to live in freedom and contribute his quota towards the development of the country. According to the pro-Biafra group, this (rejection of Ndigbo by the Nigerian establishment) has become more pronounced under President Muhammadu Buhari whom IPOB has accused of “unconscionable marginalizing of Ndigbo.”

The anger triggered by this “unconscionable marginalizing of Ndigbo” may explain why IPOB has adopted a rather uncompromising stance on the quest for the rebirth of defunct Biafran Republic. Thus, for the IPOB, it is “Biafra or nothing”, indeed, “Biafra or death”.

If the group is not interested in violence, as it said it is not, how does it hope to realize its objective of rebirthing Biafra? IPOB is asking the Nigerian government to organize a referendum on Biafra with immediate effect. And it is asking Ndigbo to throw their weight behind the call for referendum on Biafra instead of restructuring of Nigeria, which Ohanaeze Ndigbo, along with other regional leaders, is clamouring for.

Ohanaeze alongside other regional

bodies in the Southwest, South South and Middle Belt or North Central geopolitical zone is asking the Federal Government to restructure Nigeria with immediate effect, but IPOB is not comfortable with Ohanaeze in that direction. So, in a disquieting way, restructuring has pitched Ohanaeze against IPOB, which is insists on a UN-supervised referendum on Biafra.

To demonstrate that Ndigbo cannot be part of the so-called restructuring, IPOB in a recent statement credited to the Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful threatened to disrupt any meeting organized by Ohanaeze in any part of Biafra land to discuss restructuring of Nigeria.

Maintaining IPOB’s stand on referendum, Powerful said: “What we want and are being killed for is referendum not restructuring, freedom not continued bondage in Nigeria.”

The position of Ohanaeze on restructuring and IPOB on referendum is well understood and there is no need to fight over the situation. To begin with, neither restructuring nor referendum is likely to take place under the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari, who has disavowed restructuring.

THEO RAYS is Anambra State Correspondent of The Oracle Today

Senators’ ‘enemy of my friend’ posturing

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki and Dr. Ekweremadu, due to their exalted positions n exercise of the National Assembly’s as Senate President and Senate Deputy “supreme lawmaking power” under President (Third and Fourth in the political section 4(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as hierarchy of Nigeria), respectively, should amended), the Senate consistently “interbe the ones to pick quarrels with their vened” on behalf of its members “being governors, but they seem to have mutual hounded” by their states’ governors, “to respects for each other, at least publicly avoid anarchy in the polity.” politically.

In late February, the Senate condemned A post on “Respect begets respect” Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s government on www.itstimetomeditate.org holds for pulling down a property belonging to that, “It’s so easy to give respect to those Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North). who are worthy of it in your eyes, but The house served as the secretariat of how about giving respect to those who Hunkuyi’s faction of the Kaduna chapter of don’t quite measure up!” Surely, food for the All Progressives Congress. thought for the political combatants!

Then on Wednesday, the Senate labelled By the way, has the Senate, as a body, or as a “threat to Nigeria’s democracy” the as individuals, initiated moves to reconcile attacks on the empowerment programme the warring factions - the affected senators of Senator Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), and their state governors - for the interest allegedly on the prompting of Governor of Nigeria’s democracy they are predicting Yahaya Bello. doom for?

However, while the Senate (and someOr has it ever “pulled the ears” of Senatimes the House) is quick to criticise the tors Sani and Melaye for the odium they supposed misbehaviours of governors, it brought to the Red Chamber any time they does not similarly censure the senators sparred with their governors? The Senate involved, forgetting that “it takes two to would rather treat the public to vituperatango.” tions heaped on the governors for daring For instance, Senator Shehu Sani (Kadu- to challenge “Distinguished Senators of na Central) and Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

West) had never given Governors el-Rufai I would suggest that the adults in the and Bello, singly, breathing spaces to work room (Senate) should advise the hotto deliver the dividend of democracy to headed senators to mellow down and their people. They opposed every of their allow democracy to flourish in their states, policies, programmes and actions. instead of constantly giving them cover on In plenary, they hid under “parliamenthe Senate floor. tary immunity.” Sani, waxing mammalian This is not, by any stretch of the imagiparables, and Melaye detonating verbal nation, a support for the “undemocratic” explosives, lampooned the governors, to actions of especially Governor el-Rufai, titillate their fellow senators. and Governor Bello, if he’s culpable in the But why must it always be Senator Sani/ disruption of Senator Ogembe’s empowerGovernor el-Rufai and Senator Melaye/ ment programme.

Governor Bello, and not Senator Bukola The overlordship of most state goverSaraki/Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and nors is analogous to the unsubstantiated Senator Ike Ekweremadu/Governor Ifeanyi claim of the King of France, Louis XIV, that, Ugwuanyi?

“I am the state” (“L’État c’est moi”). But

I

unlike the French monarch, who reigned for 72 years (1643 to 1715), Nigerian state governors, with a tenure of only eight years, would quickly approximate the states as their fiefdoms, and brook no opposition or “you get crushed.”

How else do you classify Governor el-Rufai’s endorsement of pulling down a house belonging to Senator Hunkuyi because the lawmaker heads a faction of the state APC, which queried and suspended the governor for six months “for anti-party activities”?

How do you justify Governor Bello’s “encouragement” of political thugs to mess up Senator Ogembe’s enhancement programme, beat up the organisers and community people it was designed to benefit, and make the senator to flee Kogi for his life, while the police reportedly stood by without intervening?

There’s the case of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central), who was intimidated, via the police, to stay away from visiting the state, due to his political differences with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his former deputy and protégée when he was governor of Kano.

While contributing to the debate on the attacks on Senator Ogembe’s enabling programme, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central), aptly captured the pedigrees of the nation’s rulers thus: “The tragedy we are facing in Nigeria is the tragedy of small minds occupying big offices.”

On his part, Senator Ekweremadu questioned a situation where “Senators cannot freely go back to their homes,” and yet we “call it democracy,” stressing, “this is wrong and let us have a lasting solution for democracy to stay.”

Summing up the debate even while an ad-hoc committee was empanelled to look into the matter, Senate President Saraki warned that the untoward actions in Kogi and elsewhere could not define Nigeria’s 20

years into democracy.

“This cannot be the democracy that we should be talking about; it’s totally unacceptable,” Saraki said, adding, “we must be seen to be making (showing) examples to other parts of the world; we must take actions that will prevent this kind of incidents from happening.”

And those “actions” may emanate from the report of the ad-hoc committee which, we hope, would not only give all parties a hearing, but also strive for reconciliation of the dramatis personae.

Mr. Ehichioya Ezomon, journalist and media consultant, writes from Lagos.

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

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

Travel & Hospitality

Nigeria ready for UNWTO/CAF meeting Stories by VICTOR NZE

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IGERIA has formally invited African Tourism ministers to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting scheduled to hold this year in Abuja from June 4 to 6.

A statement by Mr Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the invitation was extended by his boss to the African Ministers present at a meeting they held on the sidelines of the International Travel Trade Fair (ITB) in Berlin, Germany, last Thursday. ‘’I have tried to contact, individually, every Minister. I have sent an email to every Minister reminding them of the meeting and assuring them that we will leave no stone unturned to host a very successful meeting ‘’The truth is that no matter the level of preparation that is made, if you are not there, it is not a suc-

cess. So I really wish to appeal to all of us to please attend the CAF meeting in June,’’ the Minister said, shortly after handing over the invitation letters to his African colleagues.

He said the participants at the meeting are guaranteed to experience the best of Nigeria, especially in the area of the Creative Industry, where Nigeria’s competitive advantage is widely acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Mohammed has urged the UNWTO to involve African Heads of State in its plan to rebrand the continent and make it more attractive to global tourists.

Contributing to the debate on the UNWTO’s rebranding process for Africa in Berlin, he said Ministers other than those of tourism should also be involved. ‘’The UNWTO could make Presidents and Heads of State from across Africa honorary Champions of Tourism as a way to get them involved. There could also be a forum where the UNWTO

• Visit to the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika by the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP members during which the minister agreed to support the Tourism Transport Summit and Expo.

will invite other ministers, including those of Finance, Budget and Planning, Health, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure and

Agriculture, to come and hear first-hand how tourism impacts their various portfolio. ‘’Tourism is the barometer

through which the world will feel the temperature of any country.

There is no area of governance that is left untouched by tourism,’’ the Minister said

Dubai hotels target 35.5m room occupancy by 2019

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ubai’s diverse and vibrant hospitality sector is forecast to experience strong, sustained growth over the coming years, with occupied room nights set to reach 35.5 million annually in 2019, representing a robust 10.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next 24 months.

According to a comprehensive study of the market by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), the emirate’s room supply is set to reach 132,000 by the end of 2019, growing at a 2-year (20172019) CAGR of 11.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, occupancy levels are forecast to remain at an extremely healthy 76-78 per cent despite growth in capacity, maintaining the attractiveness of the sector to hotel investors and developers.

The strong competitiveness of the sector is set to continue to be fuelled by increases in Dubai’s growing international overnight visitation and targeted increases in length of stays, supported further by recent and upcoming tourism attractions and experiences. With concerted efforts to raise awareness in both established and emerging source markets, the duration of travel from new and existing segments are expected to see further growth in the medium term, positively impacting demand for room nights, which is in turn expected to outpace visitor growth over the coming 24-48 months.

“Dubai’s hotel industry remains at the forefront of cross-sector efforts to drive tourism growth, as we collectively work towards realising our Tourism Vision and enable our 2020 goals. Dubai’s position as the fourth most visited city in the world, and the consistent

growth in overnight visitation, has been achieved in large part thanks to the efforts of our committed stakeholders in the domestic hotel and hospitality sector. With international and local investors, and operators continuing to actively pursue opportunities in Dubai, we expect to see not only sustained growth in inventory in line with our projected demand for occupied nights, but also further diversification across various asset classifications, to ensure that as a city we are the most globally competitive in providing our visitors the optimal range of options that cater to their preferences across the spectrum of hospitality offerings,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Tourism.

At the end of 2017, Dubai’s hotel

inventory stood at 107,431 rooms, with growth of 4 per cent over the course of the year, and occupancy at a healthy and stable 78 per cent despite capacity increase, thanks to the 6.2 per cent growth in overnight visitors to 15.79 million. The robust performance is particularly significant as it came amid challenging economic and political conditions across key source markets, including the volatility impact of fluctuating oil prices, Brexit and a strong US Dollar impacting Dubai’s global price competitiveness due to the fixed currency peg with the UAE Dirham.

Between 2013 and 2017, hotel inventory grew at a CAGR of 5.9 per cent and a notable trend seen over that period was the development of more affordable mid-

scale offerings, encouraged by Dubai Tourism incentives. Building on the momentum since 2013, room inventory in the 3 and 4 Star categories is projected to continue to grow at 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively through to the end of 2019. This diversification of the hotel sector is part of the strategic focus on widening Dubai’s tourist base, enabling the city to attract larger volumes from new market segments across diversified source markets as evidenced by some clear preferences witnessed for more value friendly options suitable for longer stays and larger party sizes from key demand pockets.

Moving forward, further growth and demand for hotels and hotel apartments will be fuelled by the

To this, Nigeria’s minister of tourism and transport are expected for the first to form a synergy in exploring the benefits that are derived from this mutual link so as to create the environment for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

According to the organizers, the event offers a unique opportunity for policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, key players in both the tourism and transport sectors of the economy, investors and the general public to engage in an all-participatory discourse aimed at charting the desired synergy, collaboration and connective inter-play between the two sectors for maximum economic benefits of the country.

“It will also deliberate on the complex relationship between transport provision and tourism, and will adopt global perspective in forging a mutual relationship between the

two sectors; It will make regulatory and enforcement agencies, national, state and local government to reappraise and have a better understanding of the importance of tourism and transportation to local, state and national economies, and their impact on employment regeneration,” they said.

The event’s sub themes are: Tourism and Transportation Interdependencies for mutual growth and sustainable development; Potentialities of developing regional interconnectivity in transportation; Intermodal connectivity, traveler safety and security; Licensing regulations and oversight – meeting the international standards for sustainable development of the Transportation and Tourism industries; Marketing Destination Nigeria- what role for the transportation and tourism sectors; Public private partnership and investment in the tourism and trans-

ongoing development of the overall tourism proposition in Dubai.

Following the 2016 introduction of Dubai’s theme parks – IMG Worlds of Adventures and the integrated Dubai Parks and Resorts – the properties have further enhanced the city’s attractiveness for families, while more recent additions such as Dubai Frame and Dubai Safari have already proven to be popular with both residents and visitors. The 2017 opening of La Perle, the region’s first permanent theatrical show, added a fresh dimension to the cultural and entertainment scene in Dubai, while the Etihad Museum rounded off the historic side providing visitors with an immersive look at the story behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates.

National tourism transport summit set for May A

rrangements are in top gear for the staging of the first ever national tourism transport summit and exhibition, which has been scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja for May 21 – 22, with the theme: Tourism and transportation, the key sectors for sustainable growth and development.

The summit, which is powered by the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), is coming on the heels of the 15th National Council on Transportation meeting which held in Sokoto in August 2017, where the need to have collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other government and nongovernment agencies together with the private stakeholders across the transportation modes, tourism and hospitality value chain for sustainable economic growth and development.

portation sectors- prospects and challenges; Development of critical infrastructure and the ease of doing business in Nigeria- the case of tourism and transportation industries; as well as Building capacity for global best practices in the tourism and transportation sectors.

The summit is expected to explore the relationship among all major stakeholders—governments at federal, state and local levels, international organisations, the private sector, and communities, which is vital for achieving the objectives of sustainable tourism and transport development.

Also participants will be drawn from major key players and stakeholders in the transportation and tourism sectors such as air transportation, airlines, tour and travel operators, administrators of the aviation industry, maritime industry sea transport, boats and sea cruising operators, road transportation.etc.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

AVIATION

FG approves Benin Airport upgrade Stories by VICTOR NZE

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EDERAL Government has approved the upgrade of the Benin Airport to international standard with a cargo terminal, according to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

The minister who disclosed this during his courtesy visit to the Edo State governor at the Government House in Benin City, Monday, said the approval was due to the fact the Benin Airport is one of the oldest airports in Nigeria and that the zone needs a

standard international airport to serve its growing economic interests.

He added that the airport will be fitted with necessary facilities within 12-months, as part of the plans to upgrade it to an international standard.

He said that “Plans have been concluded to upgrade landing system with adequate radio equipment that will enable the Airport handleboth day and night operations, even in adverse weather conditions.

“There are plans to also extend the runway at the Benin Airport to enable it handle high volume

of traffic with capacity to accommodate cargo planes.”

Sirika further said, “Aviation connects businesses, trade, cultures, nations and people. With a standard airport in place, it becomes easy to achieve economic growth and development. We will work with Edo State Government to ensure that within the next 12 months, Benin Airport will become an International Standard Airport with all the necessary aviation equipment in place.”

Governor Obaseki expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the effort to make

the Benin Airport an International Airport, noting, “This is the most astonishing news I have heard as a governor this year.”

He said the federal government has shown commitment to support efforts to industrialise the state.

According to him, “Our hope is that all the economic activities that will be generated from this critical investment will drive commence across the state and the country”.

He said his administration has taken giant stride to establish Benin Industrial Park, Gelegele Sea Port and other laudable invest-

ments.

“The effort this administration has made since assuming office is gradually paying off with the assurance coming from the Minister that in a couple of months, work will commence in Benin Airport to upgrade it to international standard,” Obaseki said.

He added, “This administration is working hard to transform Edo State to an economic hub. What is missing is rail transport linking the state with other parts of the country. The upgrade of the Benin Airport to international standard will complement our strategic geographical location.”

Sirika applauds NCAA over retention of FAA Cat 1

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inister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has applauded the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for retaining the United States Federal Aviation Administration FAA Category One status with its in-house capacity.

Speaking during the presentation of the category One Certification to him by the Director General of the NCAA, Capt Usman Mukthar at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, last Monday, Sirika said the retention of the FAA Category one status using inhouse personnel showed that the capacity of Nigeria Aviation has improved tremendously like their counterparts in the international scene.

Receiving the certification, the Minister thanked Capt Usman for making Nigeria proud, stressing that the Category one status is very significant to the industry.

“I thank the DG and his team for doing us proud in retaining the category one certification which has been presented to me. The travelling public might not be aware but we in aviation

(From left to right): Director, nahco aviance, Ms. Hadiza Aliko – Mohammed; former Director, nahco aviance, Dr. Faruk Umar; Co-founder, The Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), Mr. Soji Apampa; Chairman, nahco aviance, Arc. Usman Arabi Bello; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Director, nahco aviance, Barr. Tijjani Ahmed Uwais; former Director, nahco aviance, Mr. Ike Nwachukwu; and former MD/CEO, nahco aviance, Mr. Kayode Oluwaseun-Ojo, during the recent CGRS certification ceremony, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island , Lagos.

are aware of the feat”.

“Before the commencement of the audit, some groups have approached me to engage them as experts to guide us in getting the Category One at a cost after boasting of how they have been engaged in the past to help the

country get the certification and how they have also helped some other countries to get their Category One, but the NCAA achieved that feat using in-house capacity” Usman who presented the certification as a birthday gift to

African Airlines record 5% passenger traffic increase

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on Thursday that African airlines recorded a 4.9 per cent increase in passenger traffic in January, compared to the same period in 2017.

The Director-General of IATA, Alexandre de Juniac, who made the announcement on the website of the association, said the rise was against a mixed backdrop for the region’s largest economies.

“In Nigeria, business confidence has risen sharply while in South Africa political uncertainty continues to inflict an economic toll.

“The region’s capacity rose 4.2 per cent and load factor edged up 0.5 percentage point to 70.3 per cent,” Mr. Juniac said.

According to him, global passenger traffic results for January 2018 show that traffic rose 4.6 per cent, compared to January 2017, which is the slowest year-over-year in-

crease in nearly four years.

The director-general noted that the results were affected by temporary factors, including the later timing of the Lunar New Year in 2018 as well as less favourable comparisons with the strong upward trend in traffic, seen in late 2016 to early 2017.

“IATA estimates the impact of the later Lunar New Year-related travel period holiday, represented around two-fifth of the slowdown in yearover-year growth for the month.

“January capacity rose 5.3 per cent, and load factor slipped half a percentage point to 79.6 per cent.

“Despite the slower start, economic momentum is supporting rising passenger demand in 2018.

“That said, concerns over a possible trade war involving the U.S. could have a serious dampening effect on global market confidence, spilling over into demand for air travel,” he said.

The IATA chief noted that aviation was the business of freedom, “which

liberates us from the constraints of geography, distance and time, enabling us to lead better lives, and makes the world a better place.

“For the business of freedom to grow the benefits it generates, we need borders that are open to trade and travel and infrastructure to support the demand for connectivity.”

the Minister said “in 2010, we attained category one status, in 2014, we sustained it. In 2018, we have been able to retain it”.

Usman stated that in-house personnel were used to achieve the feat unlike before when external assistance were sought.

He also read the official email conveyed to him by the FAA Administrator, Mr. Dan Elwell, indicating that the country had scaled the audit.

Nigeria scaled through a recent re-certification audit conducted on its aviation facilities by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

A team of auditors from the FAA had visited Nigeria for the audit of

the safety status of the country’s civil aviation industry in November 2017.

The audit which was for the Category One (Cat 1) certification enables direct flight connections from the United States and other countries.

It was gathered that the FAA Administrator, Mr. Dan Elwell, had conveyed the message of the country scaling the audit exercise to the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman.

It was also learnt that a fresh certification from the FAA on the new status would be issued the country before the end of March 2018.

The –re-certification status will enable Nigerian registered carriers to continue to fly directly to the United States of America.

There are eight critical elements required to be fulfilled before a country can scale the FAA audit.

The eight critical elements are: legislation, regulations, organisations, technical staff, technical guidance tools, licensing, continuous surveillance and resolution of safety concerns. While in Nigeria, the FAA had carried out intensive internal aviation safety assessment of the sector and there were fears that Nigeria may not retain the status it earned in September 2010.

Nigeria it was gathered retained the status after NCAA, and other major agencies in the sector closed all the identified “open items” when the FAA team visited Nigeria in August, 2017 to lodge complaints of some lapses in its regulatory oversight function

‘3.6m passengers traveled through Nigerian airports Q4, 2017’

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he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that Nigerian airports facilitated the movement of 3.6 million air passengers in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The NBS which stated this in its “Air Transportation Data and Full Year 2017’’ report posted on its website, said the figure grew by 4.89 per cent year-on-year and declined by 0.56 per cent quarter-on-quarters.

It stated that the fourth quarter saw steady growth in the number of both domestic and international passengers who travelled to or from Ni-

gerian airports by 6.46 per cent and 1.01 per cent respectively.

The report stated that for the first time of the year, more arrivals were recorded than departures for both domestic and international travelers in the quarter under review.

It stated that arrivals and departures in all Nigerian airports in the reviewing quarter were 1.86 million and 1.30 million passengers respectively. The report said that Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Kano airports served more than 92 per cent of total passengers in the

fourth quarter.

The report noted that a total of 57,484 aircraft arrived at or departed from Nigerian airports in the quarter, among which 47,223 were domestic aircraft and 10,261 were international aircraft.

The report stated the last quarter of 2017 recorded 33,425,743 Kilogrammes of cargo movement at the international airports.

It, however, said that the figure declined by 41.75 per cent year-on-year and by 25.53 per cent quarter-onquarter.

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION NAICOM halts composite licence, confirms takeover of Unic Insurance Stories by VICTOR NZE

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HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has suspended the issuance of composite license to any interested insurance investor, saying it is inappropriate to operate a composite company.

This is as the commission confirmed the takeover of embattled firm, the Unic Insurance Plc. Speaking at the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Members’ Evening, in Lagos, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, said the issue of composite licensing came up at the last recapitalisation exercise in the insurance industry, but there was no clear cut way.

He therefore explained that a company would be allowed to float either a Life, or General insurance company, adding that any operator willing to do both will have them as different entities, instead of a composite license that allowed an operator to do both businesses, using one license.

Noting that although there is embargo on new licensing currently, he said even if the Commission wanted to grant a new license, there will only be two licensing categories – Life license and General license.

While responding to the plan

by NEM Insurance PLC, to add life business to its operations by applying for life license, Kari said: “There will be no composite license henceforth. And if we want to give a new license, it will just be NEM Life, and NEM General, two separate com-

panies.”

He however advised the company to buy into some of the existing life companies, as some underwriters are currently struggling financially, pointing out that there is an urgent need for recapitalisation in the industry to make companies stronger, and increase insurance penetration in Nigeria.

Kari disclosed that most companies in the industry needed some level of capital injection, while urging them to either merge with

others, or be acquired rather than waiting on the regulator to force it on them.

He noted that in the last three years, only six or seven companies paid dividends, hence, there is no attraction for shareholders to insurance stocks.

Also, with the current rule of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that allows free fall of share price to zero, he said most insurance stocks could be victims, adding that this underscores the need for

the industry to shore up capital.

Earlier, the President, NCRIB, Shola Tinubu, had expressed concern over the recent reported kidnapping of 110 pupils of Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, coming almost 1,407 days after the Chibok Girls were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram members.

The brokers, he said, join both the Federal Government and multitude of Nigerians in condemning the barbaric attacks, and urged the

•Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika (l) displaying the US FAA Category 1 retention certificate after its presentation by the Director General Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman.

C’River to commence implementation of health insurance scheme T

he Cross River Government has said it will soon commence full implementation of the State Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) to make healthcare delivery accessible to the people.

State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, made this known on Monday after receiving the draft copy of the implementation plan for the scheme.

Archibong, represented by the

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Aye Henshaw, thanked the NGO and their partners, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), for producing the document.

“I thank you so much for this

of health challenges, noting that with the assessment of these health policies by some individuals and organisations, those without money would access free healthcare services.

Okolonkwo expressed the fear of many health challenges in future due to increase in population, pollution, lack of improved sanitation, unexpected occurrence like, accidents, among others.

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to invest in health insurance for the sake of the poor in the society.

“If anybody accesse the health insurance policy, you may not fall sick to use it, but someone else can benefit from it at any hospitals connected to our

scheme.

“Sometimes, when you or a family member is sick, you may not have cash to go to the hospital, but your health insurance policy will take care of everything.

“Unfortunately, many Nigerians are ignorant of health insurance policies. Only few, about five to six per cent enjoy such policies. There is the need for more awareness. More Nigerians should invest in the scheme,” he said.

The president said that Beep Health Insurance was connected with reputable Health Management Organisations (HMOs) in different parts of Nigeria, stressing that their policies cover individual and family plans.

Beep Healthcare Insurance Scheme launched

P

resident, Beep Healthcare, Mr Gilead Okolonkwo, has launched his company’s health insurance product branded; Beep Healthcare Insurance Scheme, with a call to Nigerians to embrace the culture of health insurance.

Okolonkwo who noted that health insurance remains one of the major ways to address the challenges faced by the health sector in Nigeria, made the remark during the launch of Beep Healthcare Insurance Scheme in Lagos, weekend.

He said healthcare situations in the country had showed that many may die due to lack of money to access medical care.

He said that health insurance would cover many categories

document which, I am sure was painstakingly done. I have hope that this document will guide the state government in making healthcare delivery very accessible to the people.

“Health Finance and Governance has always shown us the way to follow. We are going to look at the document critically and I assure you that we will implement it for the benefit of the people,’’ she said.

Also, Mr Godwin Iyala, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Insurance, said: “We are at the point of flagging off the scheme by the governor and implementation will commence immediately.

“We have selected three Primary Healthcare centres in each local government area and equipped them as a take-off points, while we continue working on others across the state,’’ he said.

The representative of Health, Finance and Governance, Mr Somtochukwu Mbelu, thanked the state government for appointing the organisation as its guide.

Mbelu urged operators of the project to make full and proper use of the document to achieve maximum result.

government to intensify efforts towards the recovery of these girls.

He said it is totally condemnable that at a time the nation has started to accelerate its economic recovery goals to boost foreign investors’ confidence, such unsavoury news broke out. “Our Council wishes to stand with parents of the affected children and pray for the immediate rescue of all of them,” he said.

Meanwhile, NAICOM has confirmed it had taken over the management of Unic Insurance Plc to reposition the company for better performance.

NAICOM’s spokesman, Mr Rasaaq Salami, said in Lagos that the takeover became imperative to rescue the company from distress.

Salami said the commission had subsequently appointed an interim board to manage the affairs of Unic Insurance Plc for the next six months.

He said the members of the interim board included Mr Samuel Ordu as chairman, Mr Theophilus Eke as Managing Director, Mrs Ifeyinwa Momah and Mr Nicholas Shaiyen.

“The commission gave Ordu and his team six months to do a forensic audit on the financial position.

“Forensic audit would be carried out on the corporate governance failures observed in the course of reviewing the financial statement of the company,” Salami said.

Ikpeazu calls for reform of pension system

A

bia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has called for total reforms in pension administration to reduce the plight of pensioners in the country.

Ikpeazu told media practitioners in the South-East during a media tour on Sunday in Aba that pensioners were victims of vicious cycle.

The governor noted that pensioners in the state were on the increase rather than decreasing.

According to him, nobody dies in the pension scheme in the state.

This is rather unfortunate and untrue of the pension system.

As a way forward, the governor said that his administration had abrogated the sub-treasury payment system, adding that every pensioner now received monthly alert from the bank.

On his relationship with the state workforce, he said that he enjoyed an excellent relationship with workers.

“My workers know I love them.

I am satisfied by their proud swell and support to my administration,” the governor said, adding that Abia was now the first state in Africa to be placed on the e-card health system.

Ikpeazu explained that the state government took advantage of the telephone system to connect to a doctor at any time.

The governor said that it was on a prepaid e-card by dialing the pin on the card.

The Oracle Today

29

Wednesday March 21 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

Demand claims from insurers – Leadway charges U

nderwriting firm, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, has urged Nigerians, particularly third party holders, to always demand claims from insurers whenever an insured risk occurs.

Executive Director, Leadway Assurance, Adetola Adegbayi, who said this while addressing a group of journalists in Lagos , noted that most Nigerians who purchased insurance policies are ignorant of when and how to make claims.

He added that instead of going to their insurers to make claims, they decide to bear the financial burden themselves.

Realising that some people don’t demand for claims, she said, some over-ambitious operators cashed in on these loopholes, to rate-cut policies to unreasonable prices, with the assumption that the insured will not demand for compensation.

She said due to the low rate they

demand, in most cases they outbid their competitors for businesses because their rates are lower, and consumers always want to go for policies with lower rates.

In the event of claims, she said, these overzealous underwriters default, since the premium charged is not the actual value of the policies sold.

To this end, Adegbayi argued that rate-cutting can be fought by Nigerians, if they begin to request for claims on their insurance policies, noting that when this happens, underwriters would sit up and charge the normal rates that can sustain them when claims arise.

Explaining that an insurance company would be heavily sanctioned if it defaulted in claims obligations, she charged Nigerians to report defaulting underwriters to the law enforcement agents, promising that necessary steps would be taken to pay claims to the aggrieved insured.

She said: “Policy pricing is be-

coming lower, and the lower your policy, the riskier your business becomes. But for the mass market products, as the volume increases, the price reduces.”

Explaining the benefits of one of Leadway micro insurance products she said the Hospital Cash Insurance Plan is activated in the event of hospitalisation of the insured person due to illness for a consecu-

tive period of more than two days, while a daily benefit is payable up to a maximum of 20 days during the policy period.

In the event of hospitalisation arising out of accidental injury for a consecutive period of more than two days, a daily benefits is payable up to a maximum of 15 days during the policy period.

In this instance, she said, those

under the Basic plan, and are hospitalised due to illness, will be getting N4,000 claims per day throughout the duration of their stay in the hospital provided it’s not more than 20 days.

Those under the Classic plan would be entitled to N7,500 per day, while those under the Plus plan would be entitled to N10,500 per day.

Rivers Assembly commits to health insurance law

R

IVERS House of Assembly has pledged its commitment to speedily enact laws that would enhance healthcare delivery in the state.

Speaker of the House, Mr Ikuinyi Ibani, made the pledge at the opening session of a two-day high level training on enacting Rivers Health Insurance Scheme legislation which began on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The training is in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ibani said that as part of the steps to support the United Nations’ target of attaining Universal Health Coverage by 2030, the House would support robust policies and effective collaborations with relevant stakeholders in the health sector. The Speaker said that he looked forward to improved capacity of the lawmakers in providing the requisite legal framework for a people-oriented health insurance scheme at the end of the training.

“This training is necessary as it would give legislators comprehensive knowledge about laws that could be of general application that will create positive impact in health care delivery.

“According to World Health Organisation (WHO) every year about 100 million people world-wide are pushed into poverty and about 150 others suffer financial catastrophe due to out-of-pocket expenditure on health services. “Our direct collaboration with USAID at ensuring that the health insurance scheme is legally guided is an indication that that all members of our constituencies (individuals and communities) should have access to quality health without suffering financial hardship,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Emma Aguma, the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, commended USAID for promoting healthcare in the state, especially the HIV/AIDS project.

Represented by Mrs Florence Fibresima, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Aguma said

the Wike administration had made giant strides in healthcare and infrastructure development in the 23 local government areas of the state.

“Because we now have such infrastructure revolution going on, there is need for necessary regulatory framework to enable Rivers people to take advantage of the improvements that are being made available in the health sector,’’ she said.

• (From left to right): Director, nahco aviance, Ms. Hadiza Aliko – Mohammed; former Director, nahco aviance, Dr. Faruk Umar; Co-founder, The Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), Mr. Soji Apampa; Chairman, nahco aviance, Arc. Usman Arabi Bello; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Director, nahco aviance, Barr. Tijjani Ahmed Uwais; former Director, nahco aviance, Mr. Ike Nwachukwu; and former MD/CEO, nahco aviance, Mr. Kayode Oluwaseun-Ojo, during the recent CGRS certification ceremony, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island , Lagos.

Land Use Charge: Lagos Govt clarifies figures T

he Lagos State Government has clarified the figures circulating in the media on the rate for the newly reviewed Land Use Charge Law of 2018, saying many of the numbers were based on several years of arrears on the levy not paid by affected property owners.

Speaking at a news briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Wednesday, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan said there were so many misconceptions and misinformation about the new law, adding that the law was a progressive enactment duly made by the House of Assembly and handed over to the Executive for implementation in the overall interest of the people.

He specifically dismissed the humongous figures being bandied about on the social media, saying many of the calculations were based on arrears of many years of non-payment.

“The fact is that this law took a long process to be made. It started as a bill and went through the first reading, second reading, public hearing to which all stakeholders were brought together to debate it and some of the relieves we have seen were part of the debate expressed by the stakeholders about the need to

protect the vulnerable segment of the society. Having made the law, the Lagos State House of Assembly has handed it over to the executive to implement.

“The second important part is that a lot of relieves have been built into the law but many people are confusing arrears with the actual figure. If you see those figures, ask whether it is for one year or arrears of several years of non-payment. The humongous figures that are being bandied around particularly in the social media relate to the arrears of many years of non-payment which are computed together,” Bamigbetan said.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade said the government has extended the period for tax payers to enjoy the 15 per cent discount in the reviewed Land Use Charge Law to April 14, 2018 in order to enable the implementation and enforcement of the new law, as well as allow many property owners to benefit from the discount.

Ashade, who took time to clarify reactions in some section of the public on the new law, said under the old law, which had not been reviewed for over 15 years since 2001, the Land Use Charge rate was totally inaccurate and retrogressive and was depriving the State of keeping track of all

economic activities that relate to land in Lagos State.

“There was an urgent need for the repeal, as the old law had not been reviewed for over 15 years, since 2001. Under the old law, the LUC rate was totally inaccurate and retrogressive which deprived the State of keeping track of all economic activities that relate to land in Lagos State.

“The new law is a consolidation of Ground Rent, Tenement Rate, and Neighbourhood Improvement Levy. This charge is payable annually in respect of all real estate properties in the State, which means owners and occupiers holding a lease to a Property for ten (10) years or more are now liable to pay the annual LUC invoice charged “Thus, the Tenement Rates Law, the Land Based Rates Law, the Neighbourhood Improvement Charge and all other similar Property Rates or Charges, Laws or amendments to any such property Laws shall cease to apply to any property in Lagos State as from 2018. Nonetheless, all pending invoices, orders, rules, regulations, etc. under the 2001 repealed Law shall continue to be in effect until such obligations are discharged,” said Ashade.

Explaining the calculation of amount payable, the Commissioner said that property owners

can determine the amount by multiplying the Market Value of their property by the Applicable Relief Rate of 40 per cent and Annual Charge rate.

“Upon receiving a notice or not, the new law has made it possible for owners to calculate their charge, and enable prompt payment, which allows them to benefit from a 15% discount for early payment, applicable to payments made within 15 days of receipt of Demand Notice,” he said.

Responding to fears of tenants that the new Law might force landlords to increase rent, Ashade said aside the fact that the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 was still in force, the incidence of payment for Land Use Charge under the new law is on the Landlord and not the tenant.

He said the minimum rate was only increased from N1,200 it was in 2001 to N5,000, while there is provision for self-assessment and Assessment Appeal Tribunal under the new law.

30

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

CRIME

Police smash woman-ledfraud syndicate

Stories by XAVIER NDAH

A

woman led fraud syndicate has been smashed by the police in Abeokuta, Ogun State, by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).

Police sources said the group alleged to have specialized in fleecing commuters through one-chance operation was busted on February 3, 2018, after series of reports to the police on the nefarious activities of the group.

The he gang, led by a 45-year- old woman, Basirat Ashiru, was still being interrogated at the state headquarters of the police in Eleweran, Abeokuta, as at yesterday.

Confirming the arrest Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu said, “On February 3, 2018, men of FSARS received an information about a syndicate whose modus operandi was to drive about in a commercial taxi cab, pretending to be taxi driver and passengers, looking for one more passenger to pick “Any unsuspecting member of the public who happened to board such a cab would be hypnotized before being taken to any nearby ATM

T •

The gang

machine point, where such a person would be made to withdraw money for them”, the police boss said.

Iliyasu added that the hideout of the syndicate, located within Kobiti, also in Abeokuta, was stormed by the FSARS operatives, where they were nabbed.

Investigation revealed that the ring leader, Mrs. Basirat Ashiru, a mother of five always provided the gang with an “operational” vehicle,

a Nissan Micra car, which she always hired from one man simply identified as Alfa.

At the end of the day, we gathered, the sum of N10,000 would be paid to the Alfa.

Investigation revealed that Basirat has a four-bedroom flat at Bode Olude, also in Abeokuta, built with the proceeds from their nefarious activities and she has been in the business since in 2011.

Second-in-command to Basirat, Tajudeen Erinosho, 47, who was always behind the wheels, also confirm that he had been in the business since 1999.

Other members of the syndicate were Asimolowo Olaniyi, 40; Leo Ifeanyi, 38 and Jolaosho Sakiru, 36.

The Police commissioner revealed that the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

Ladipo market: New Chairman to tackle insecurity

T

he new Chairman of the Ladipo Ultra Modern International Auto Spare Parts Market Mushin, Lagos state Mr Jude Nwankwo has said that peace and security of the market remains topmost in his agenda in moving the market forward.

Mwankwo made this known after he was declared the winner of the Chairmanship of the market association election held last week in Lagos.

According to him, the security of the market has remained a hectic task by various management groups of the market but often times there was always a breakdown of law and order which often lead to government intervention “ but I can assure you we know the areas of conflict and we shall always ensure that we suppress it before it manifest” he assured. “ I will carry everyone along, I know what they want and I must make sure I will give it to them be-

cause that is why they voted for me and they know I am capable” he stated “First of all I will reconcile with all the unit heads and all those who contested and couldn’t make it. First of all they should know that we are brothers and we are here for a common goal of doing business. We all should be orderly and know that when the place is orderly and peaceful then business thrives well and we cannot do well in an atmosphere of chaos. Please let us live in peace and move forward” he pleaded.

Nwankwo further pledge a good working relationship with all necessary government agencies and the Lagos state government.

Commenting on the election Chairman electoral committee Mr Offormah Arinze expressed joy over the outcome of the exercise .

According to him, the committee has recorded a huge success right from the first day it was inaugurated

as the stakeholders have given them full support unlike other years and the volatile nature of the market which is prone to crisis. He noted that everything was successful and praised the police for the massive support which made the exercise orderly and very successful.

However, Nwankwo Jude emerged the President ,Ezebulanwa Anayo as the vice president, Africanus Ogudoro, Secretary General, Ekene Eze as the image maker ,Aya Chidozie for Financial secretary.

Meanwhile, before the election the police had dispatched hundreds of its men and vehicles to all nooks and crannies of the market to maintain peace.

The market was closed for the business of the day as they were seen talking politics and at the end of the day there was a wild jubilation when the results of the election were released.

Before the election, there were

IGP reassures policemen on welfare

T

he Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris has reinstated his commitment to the welfare of the officers and men by repositioning the Police Cooperatives Society to meet their needs.

Idris, who is the President of the society made the commitment in Lagos during the 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Police Cooperative Multi-Purpose Society Limited held at the POWA Hall Ikeja GRA. He said the society would be reengineered to perform its core mandates of promoting the social-economic well- being of police personnel by providing platform for seamless accessibility to revolving loans, sales of goods at affordable prices.

Idris, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Valentine Ntomchukwu, said the men should also access cars and motor cycles loans, including affordable houses among others He urged them to embrace voluntary contribution through thrift and savings, stressing that the Society was a positive catalyst in driving home his passion in alleviating the welfare of Police personnel through

Father, son arrested for selling hard drugs to school pupils

• Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Valentine Ntomchukwu,the Chairman, Board of Directors of the society, Mr Abdullahi Fagge, an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG) and other top police officers at the event in Lagos.

numerous welfare-oriented programmes.

The I-G commended President Muhammadu Buhari for always supporting and enhancing the welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Chairman, Board of Directors of the society, Mr Abdullahi Fagge, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) affirmed that his team had engaged in reformation and turna-

round of the Police Cooperatives.

Mr Sholla David, Commissioner of Police and Executive Secretary in charge of the Society, assured that the management of the society will continue to strive to improve and provide superior services.

David said the management had created the right environment so that the members contributions and the Cooperatives valued business will enhance their stream of income.

• President Nwankwo

serious concerns that the Ladipo Market election which was turned to a do or die affair would be turned to a battle field following the huge amount of money the candidates were made to pay before contesting.

It was gathered that fear in the election stemmed from the fact that the candidates were made to pay huge sums of money and they therefore want to win at all cost in order to recoup the money they had spent thereafter and moreover the election was tilt towards two strong factions led by the two presidential candidates – the chairman of Aguiyi Ironsi International, Chief Cyril Onyemaechi and chairman of Odo Aladura, Comrade Jude Nwankwo popularly know as Ture.

Sources said candidates for the position of the president were asked to pay N500,000 each, the ViceN300,000 each, General Secretary – N200,000 and other amounts for the rest contesting for other positions.

Our sources explained that the election was a do or die affair at the market and candidates were doing everything possible to outdo their opponents.

This we gathered had made the contestants to divide themselves into factions and of course clashes were inevitable but the exercise turns out to be very peaceful free and fair.

he operatives of the Rapid Response squad, RRS, of the Police Lagos State Command have arrested father and son for selling Tramadol and other hard drugs to primary and secondary school pupils in Itire, area of Lagos state.

The father, Ibrahim Sheu 40, and Franku Ibrahim 23, were arrested after officials of the Office of Education and Quality Assurance, Lagos State, alerted the Rapid Response Squad officers about the incident.

The suspects, who are petty traders at a kiosk in Adedeji Bus stop, Itire, Lagos were caught selling the drugs to school pupils. Some of the pupils were later interrogated and released to their parents.

The officials of the Ministry of Education, Lagos State, on routine monitoring of schools around the area had gotten report of strange attitude of some of the school pupils in the area.

The curiosity led to the discovery of the traders selling tramadol and other hard drug to some of the school pupils in the area.

Further investigations by Rapid Response Squad officials led to the confirmation of the report and arrest of both the father and his son.

Recovered from the suspects were 72 pieces of Tramadol capsules, 28 tablets of Tramadol and some other capsules.

The father, Ibrahim Sheu, who initially denied selling hard drugs to pupils, stated that it was his son that sold to the pupils whenever he was not around later confessed they both sold to pupils but added that they sold to adults too.

Commenting on the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal advised parents and guardians to always debrief their wards whenever they come back from school to know their activities in schools and the kind of friends they associate with.

Edgal added that the case would be thoroughly investigated and the prosecution monitored.

Meanwhile the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department for a discreet investigation of the matter.

• Farouk left and Sheu

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

CRIME

Police Nab woman for burning Woman swindles pastor N23.3m T maid with hot iron Stories by XAVIER NDAH

T

he Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 36- year-old woman Nkeiruka Ngwu, for maltreating her housemaid.

The suspect a mother of four was arrested following the illtreatment of her ten year old housemaid Chioma Samuel whom she brought to Lagos from Umuoju, Ngwu in Abia State sometime in January 2018 after the death of the poor girl’s father.

The woman a resident of 47 Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja was said to have taken the girl to Lagos with a promise to cater for her education and well being before she was allowed to go with her and rather than keeping the promise of good life she made to the poor girl before she was handed over to her, sources said she has made life a living hell for the child.

The Police said she was mentally and physically abused with many injury marks to show for it.

Police image maker Lagos command, Superintendent of Police (SP) Chike Oti told The Oracle Newspapers ” Her latest tale of woes was recorded on Wednesday 7th of March, 2018 when the suspect allegedly used a well heated clothes iron to cause grievous injury on the victim’s hands and legs. She also poured hot water on her which scalded her skin”.

However, on Thursday 8 March, 2018, Nkeiru’s cup of iniquity got filled when she brought her children to a private school located somewhere in Ikeja, unfortunately for her, the prying eyes of other mothers who came to the same school to drop off their kids, noticed the gaping wounds on the upper and lower limbs of the vic-

•

The woman

tim who accompanied the suspect to the school.

Police source said the girl was questioned and the enraged mothers after interrogating the girl waited for her Madam who had gone to drop her kids in their different classrooms.

When she finished and was about to drive off, she was confronted by these women who nearly mobbed her.

It was gathered that they were calmed down by some teachers but the woman was left with a warning to immediately take the child to the hospital or they would petition the Commissioner of Police.

Police sources said despite their warning the suspect stubbornly took her children accompanied by the child victim whose wounds were left in same condition it was in the previ-

• Injuries inflicted on the girl

ous day.

On seeing that their warnings were taken for granted, the women made good their promise to call the attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State to the matter.

It was gathered that the CP immediately ordered the arrest of the woman and directed the Gender Section of the Command to take the child-victim to police hospital for proper treatment with an instruction to ensure that the girl is well fed until the Social Welfare Department of the Lagos State Government took over the responsibility.

Investigation into the case is in progress meanwhile it was gathered that some human right and child defender organisation have taken the matter to court for prosecution.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on March 6, 2018, arraigned one Olawunmi Dilureni before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of Twenty-three Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N23, 320, 000. 00).

The defendant alongside Lola Aremu Anjorin, Tunde Jamiu, Oluremi Osobu and Home Concepts Limited( all at large) allegedly conspired to defraud a popular Lagos pastor, Dr. Tony Rapu, Nellie St. Matthew-Daniel and Eyitope St. Matthew-Daniel of the money.

One of the count reads:” That you, Olawumi Dilureni, on or about the 16th day of April, 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, obtained the sum of N10, 000, 000. 00 (Ten Million Naira only) from one Dr. Anthony Rapu under the pretence that the money is for investment in diesel supply business with a monthly interest rate of 6.5%, which pretext you knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2016”.

Another count reads: “ That you, Olawunmi Dilureni, on or about 17th April, 2013, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, dishonestly converted for your own use the sum of N10, 000, 000. 00 (Ten Million Naira) only property of Tony Rapu and committed an offence contrary to Sections 278 and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

to grant press interviews against his person and businesses which had resulted to many of his clients and associates calling to verify the authenticity of what they heard and read about him.

Nwokolobia said that he had instructed his lawyers to file a libel suit against the couple and demanded for N50 million damages from each as well as an apology which must be published in three national dailies.

“This campaign of calumny is affecting my image and business. Many of my friends and business associates are calling everywhere to verify the authenticity of what they hear and read about me.”

He said that problem started when Mrs. Josephine Onome Dickson who was a friend to his wife and three other ladies had invited Roseline to advise her over some of the character she exhibits which does not befit a married woman as her friends.

According to him, there was no quarrel in the meeting where the said Josephine allegedly acknowledged her mistakes, apologized to her friends and promised to be of good conduct.

He said he was surprised when petitions started flying and the police inviting on allegation that she was molested, beaten up and kidnapped. He said he was even accused of kidnap, ritual activities and murder threat using hired killers.

He said that the matter had taken them to Idimu Area Command of the Lagos State Police command, the Zone 2 Police, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, with headquarters in

Onikan, Lagos, the Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon, adding that the police did not find him and the others wanting.

Following this Mr. Ifeanyi Nwokolobia, the husband of the petitioner who is a Licensed Customs Agent has given a 14-day ultimatum to Mrs. Josephine Onome Dickson and Mr. Onome Dickson to retract what he described as sponsored, malicious and libelous publication against him.

A letter to that effect signed by Ahmed Musa Rufai Esq of Ahmed & Associates, Succour Chambers, Solicitors, Advocates, Property and Commercial Consultants dated 22nd February, 2018 with caption: “14 (fourteen) days ultimatum to retract your sponsored maliciously libelous publication on the person of Mr. Ifeanyi Nwokolobia and publish apology in three national dailies”, made available to The Oracle newspapers stating that the Chambers was briefed and “our service retained

by Mr. Ifeanyi Nwokolobia, therein called our client for who and at whose behest we request for formal retraction of false laden, malicious and libelous publication”.

“Take note that should you remain obdurate in retracting your maliciously libelous sponsored publication with a written apology in three national dailies within 14 days of receipt of this letter, that is on or before 15th day of March, 2018, we have our client’s standing instruction to proceed against you in law court”, the law firm further stated.

• Dilureni

Man cloned ex-customs boss’ aide’s phone to defraud victim of N2m

Business woman petitions IGP over threat to life J A business woman Mrs Roseline Nwokolobia has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to save her from her detractor one Onome Dickson over serious and established facts of threat to life and plans to invade her family home over a minor disagreement.

In a petition dated December 28, 2017 Mrs Nwokolobia had alleged that the threat to her life is real as she had been friends with the suspect for some time and she know her line of thought and mental state.

“I asked that this petition be speedily addressed and discreet investigations be enabled so as to bring this culprit and her cohort to face the full wrath of the law. That adequate protection be given to my family as to ensure our safety, this aside, and also she has to write an undertaking to the police to guarantee my safety and that of my family” Her husband Mr Nwokolobia who is the Chief Executive Officer of Ojeweta 360 Nigeria Limited, an import and export, clearing and forwarding, shipping and general merchandise outfit said that some people whom he alleged were not happy with his flourishing businesses were doing everything possible to drag his name and business to the mud.

The CEO alleged that one Onome Dickson and wife Josephine who are equally into undisclosed business and estranged friends of his family had gone ahead to drag his name in the mud to the extent that apart from doing petitions against him before the police, were calling him unprintable names and even went ahead

In view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, Fadeke Giwa, asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

Counsel to the defendant, Tunde Kolawole, however, informed the court that he had filed an application for bail on behalf of his client.

The prosecution counsel told the court that she was served the bail application yesterday and that she needed time to respond accordingly.

She, therefore, asked for a short date to enable her reply in writing.

Justice Solebo adjourned the case to March 14, 2018 for hearing of the application for bail and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of her bail application.

ustice D.Z. Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Jabi has ordered Balarabe Abdullahi to produce his co-defendant Usman Baba Yusuf (currently at large) as part of conditions to be fulfilled before he is granted bail.

Abdullahi is facing a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, after he cloned the phone number of Abdulmumini Bako, a former Special Assistant to the former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, and used it to defraud his victims of N2million.

He had been in prison custody since his re-arrest by EFCC. In granting him bail, the trial judge ordered Abdullahi to “lead the prosecution to where Usman Baba Yusuf is”, as part of his bail conditions, which included two sureties in the like sum of N1million each.

“The sureties must be resident in Abuja and not below level 12, and the

sureties must ensure that the defendant is available to stand his trial till the matter is concluded,” the judge held.

One of the counts reads: “That you Balarabe Abdullahi and Usman Baba Yusuf (alias Usman Dakingari ) at large, sometimes in June 2015 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory held out yourselves as Assistant Comptroller of Nigerian Customs Service and that assumed position directed one Zakari Jibril (a Comptroller of Nigerian Customs Service) to pay the sum of N1million (One Million Naira) to account number 0049663040 in the name of Balarabe Abdullahi domiciled in Access Bank Nigeria Plc and thereby committed the offence of cheating by impersonation, contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act (Abuja)LFN, 1990 nad punishable under section 322 of the same Act.” The matter has been adjourned to May 7, 2018 for continuation of trial.

• former Comptroller General Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Revealed: The biggest MYTH about the clitoris

• Why the CAT position is the best for female orgasms

W

Name: Yvonne Jegede

hen you think of sex education classes, you might remember a sheepish-looking teacher, lots of awkward giggles and something about a condom and a banana.

What you might not remember is lots of the facts about genitalia and their functions - which is something two women are out to change.

Medical academics, Dr Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl, are the co-authors of the bestselling book, The Wonder Down Under which arrives in Australia this month.

The Wonder Down Under aims to explain everything you ever wanted to know about the vagina but didn’t dare ask, from the truth about the clitoris’ inner life to whether the elusive G spot really exists.

‘One new hypothesis is that the G-spot is not a separate physical thing at all, but simply a deep-lying inner part of the clitoris that’s stimulated during sex,’ Dr Nina and Ellen wrote for FEMAIL earlier this month.

‘Hold on, you might say. The inner part of the clitoris? What inner part?

And this brings us to perhaps the biggest myth we discovered in our research,’ they continued.

‘We’ve been brought up to believe the clitoris, the site of all female sexual pleasure, is roughly the size of a raisin.

‘But the truth is this little button is just the tip of an iceberg, a small part of a large and extraordinarily sensitive organ that extends deep into a woman’s pelvis.’

It’s not just the G spot that’s exposed, either.

The academics reveal that there is no ‘absolute physical ‘seal’ that acts as a proof of virginity’, rather just an ‘anatomical structure which has

caused the misunderstanding’.

They also found that the pill does not in fact controversially make you gain weight.

‘Actually, the real cause of putting on the pounds could be that a lot of women put on a bit of weight when they find a partner, which is also likely to be the time they start taking the Pill,’ they wrote.

Similarly, the missionary position doesn’t have to be seen as boring.

Instead, if you try the coital alignment technique, or CAT, it can prove the best position for the female orgasm.

To find this, instead of resting on his hands, your partner should rest on his lower arms and keep his body in contact with yours.

Then, instead of thrusting, he should slide his body up along yours horizontally.

The Norwegian pair behind the book met in 2011, when in their first year of medicine at the University of Oslo, they decided to start teaching free sex education classes to a mix of school students, refugees and other people.

They soon realised that there is a wealth of confusion and misinformation around women and sexual health - and so started looking into the myths and misconceptions about female anatomy.

After starting a blog in 2015 called Underlivit (or ‘The Genitals’), they later went on to write The Wonder Down Under, which was first published in January 2017.

Since then, the best-selling book has gone on to be translated around the world - arriving in Australia this month.

Daily Mail

•

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Heart attack threat ‘up 40% after an infection’

P

atients who suffer common infections have a much greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the years to come, a major study has found.

The findings suggest hundreds of thousands should be given statins or other heart pills if they suffer a chest infection or bladder problem.

A project tracking 1.2million patients found those admitted to hospital for pneumonia or urinary tract infections were 40 per cent more likely to have a heart attack within eight years. They were also 150 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke.

This suggests infections have an even greater impact on heart health than obesity, which raises the risk of strokes and heart attacks by about 25 per cent.

The research team, from Aston Medical School in Birmingham and the University of Cambridge, believe Continued on pg: 34

Romantic Joke STOLEN CREDIT CARD Q: Why didn’t the man report his stolen credit card?

A: The thief was spending less than his wife.

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

True Confession

I found love with a prostitute

I

don’t want to disclose my name so that people who are close to me won’t be able to detect my identity.

All I can say is that I’m married to a former prostitute whom I met in Benin.

But I did it for love.

I grew up in Lagos and after I graduated from YabaPoly in the 90s, life was very hard for me. I walked about looking for a job all over Lagos until my feet were sore.

I submitted so many job applications to many different companies and banks that I lost count.

Sometimes I would write an aptitude test and pass, but still I wouldn’t get the job. I would be invited for an interview, but somehow, something always went wrong along the way to prevent me from getting the job that I badly needed to help my family and keep body and soul together.

After three years of searching for a job in Lagos in vain, I was invited for an interview by a company based in Benin City.

One of their officers had already assured me that they were going to offer me the job. The man had even collected some money from me as a bribe.

So, I travelled to Benin City with the little money I could borrow from friends with the expectation that when I resumed work at the company, I would repay the money. But to my greatest shock, I traveled to Benin City and was turned down by the company.

After that incident, I made up my mind to commit suicide. But I didn’t know which method I should use to kill myself.

So I sat at a bus stop weeping from 7pm to 10pm. It was while I was crying and thinking of my life that a girl walked up to me and asked what the

matter was.

I poured out my story to her amidst tears. And she asked me whether I had a place to sleep in Benin that night.

I told her that I had nowhere to sleep and had no money to return to Lagos because I had placed all my hope in the man who had promised me the job.

She comforted me and invited me to sleep in her place that night.

Esther took me to her room in a brothel and we slept there together that night.

Before we slept, she told me her own pathetic story of how she was forced into prostitution because her parents died when she was five years old and her extended family members abandoned her and her siblings.

I took pity on her too, and realized that I wasn’t the only one who had serious problems in the world.

That was how I fell in love with her. From that moment, I and Esther started our friendship and promised to stand by each other forever.

We got married five years ago, and I must confess that she is really a good and faithful wife. I now know that when people say that a prostitute can never change, it is not true.

Prostitutes are the best wives to have because they have seen the world, so when they decide to change, they change permanently.

That is why my wife always tells women that there is no amount of money she hasn’t seen before, which a man would now give her to make her unfaithful to me.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

Heart attack threat ‘up 40% after an infection’

Continued from pg: 33

this is because infections cause long-term inflammation in blood vessels – making them more prone to clotting and clogging.

Patients who suffer an infection should be treated in the same way as someone with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or diabetes, the researchers said. This could involve prescribing statins or aspirin as a preventive measure to cut the risk to their heart.

Nearly 600,000 people are admitted to hospital with chest infections such as pneumonia in England every year. About 300,000 are admitted with urinary infections.

The study, which will be presented today at the American College of Cardiology conference in Orlando, also found that those who had had infections were more likely to die if they did suffer a heart attack or stroke.

They were three times more likely to die from a heart attack than those who had not had infections, and almost twice as likely to die if they had a stroke.

Cardiologist Dr Rahul Potluri, of Aston University, said: ‘Our figures suggest that those who are admitted to hospital with a respiratory or urinary tract infection are 40 per cent more likely to suffer a subsequent heart attack, and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke, than patients who have had no such infection – and are considerably less likely to survive from these conditions.’

Experts have shown greater interest in the role of inflammation in heart disease after a study last year found that treating patients

with anti-inflammatory canakinumab could cut their risk of having a heart attack by 24 per cent. Doctors say this drug – not yet available for heart patients – could represent the biggest breakthrough in cardiovascular medicine since statins were developed 30 years ago.

Dr Potluri said: ‘Infection appears to confer as much, if not more, of a risk for future heart disease and stroke as very well established risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

‘Although inflammation has been linked to atherosclerosis [when plaque builds up in arteries], this is the largest study to show that common infection is such a significant risk factor.’

Lead author Dr Paul Carter, an academic clinical fellow at the University of Cambridge, said: ‘The data illustrate a clear association between infections and life-threatening heart conditions and strokes – and the figures are too huge to ignore.

‘Serious infections are amongst the biggest causes of death in the UK directly, but our research shows infections that are severe enough to lead to hospitalisation may present a delayed risk in the form of atherosclerotic diseases.

‘The sheer number of people who could be affected presents a challenge that needs investigation.’

Daily Mail

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

My family doesn’t want me to marry him, because he is not from my tribe

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Uchechukwu, 37, a graduate, tall, needs an evangelist or God fearing, tall, educated, employed and naturally endowed Igbo man for marriage. 08069088945.

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Dear Love Doctor, Hello, my name is Ifeoma and I am from Anambra state. I am a 19-year-old girl and I am dating a boy of 23. He loves me so much that he has proposed to marry me. I love him too. However, the problem is that my boyfriend is not from the same tribe or ethnic group with me and for that reason, my people, that is, my family members object to both of us getting married. Moreover, my aunt says that I am too young to get married now. Please what should I do?

Thanks, From Ifeoma.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Ifeoma,

Y

ou are definitely not too young to marry now, especially considering the fact that you are now over 18 years. Secondly, it is wrong for your family members to promote tribalism or ethnicity as a barrier to true love and/or marriage.

Ethnicity should not be used to separate two people who love each other. Ethnicity/tribalism should not be a barrier to true love and marriage.

Ethnicity has been used as a divisive factor for a very long time in Nigeria and is partly responsible for the poor political, social and economic state of the country.

Inter-tribal marriages ought to be a welcome development since it helps unite diverse ethnic groups and promotes greater understanding and friendship among members of different ethnic groups. Basically, the two most important requirements for marriage are love and the

mutual consent of both parties involved. Therefore, you are the only one to take the decision to get married now or not.

Before making a decision, however, you must search your heart and ask yourself if you are actually ready to spend the rest of your life with that boy. Do you love that boy enough to want to live forever with him? Love is far different from infatuation because love or marriage involves sacrifice. True love and marriage involves making a lot of painful sacrifices. At your age, do you think you are old enough and ready to make such sacrifices? Marriage, my dear, is not a child’s play. It is a lifetime affair and needs careful thought and planning. Therefore, I strongly advise you to take your time to think very well before making a decision. It is wise to look before you leap.

However, your aunt may have good reason to tell you to wait a little, instead of rushing into marriage at this time, considering the young age of your prospective husband.

He is only 23 years old while you are 19. How do you hope to start raising children together now? Are both of you aware of the financial, emotional and psychological implications and consequences of raising a family? At this age, can both of you afford to rent an apartment and feed yourselves, not to mention your children?

You need to take all these things and more into consideration before deciding to marry or not to marry. I advise that you continue dating your boyfriend for a few more years to enable both know more about each other and contemplate the implications of marriage before taking any life-changing decision. 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.

Sarah from Jos needs a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage.

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

It happened to me:

I caught his side chick with an STD test When I received a phone bill of his a few M days letter, I couldn’t help myself — I had to y boyfriend Donny and I had been together for almost two years and although we didn’t live together we were inseparable. Every Friday night we would head to the local pub together and because we lived in a small town we knew most people there.

One night, I returned from the bathroom to find him chatting to a flirty brunette who I’d never met before.

He introduced me to Julie and quickly explained that they went to primary school together and hadn’t seen each other in years.

open it. Donny had made several late-night calls to a mystery number, which I soon confirmed was Julie’s. It seemed that they were making a lot of contact for two old primary school friends who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years.

I soon forgot about her until one day a friend told me that she had seen Donny and a mysterious brunette eating lunch at a local cafe. I decided to confront Donny about. Donny laughed it off and said that he was having lunch with his sister and that I was being paranoid.

When I received a phone bill of his a few days letter, I couldn’t help myself — I had to open it. Donny had made several late-night calls to a mystery number, which I soon confirmed was Julie’s. It seemed that they were making a lot of contact for two old primary school friends who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years.

But my suspicions didn’t leave me, and they weren’t helped by the fact that we began to stay together less and less. And when we did, upon his insistence, we only stayed at my place.

I was convinced that Donny was cheating on me but he wouldn’t budge, not matter how much I probed him, so I decided to call Julie.

I cleared my throat, dialled her number and put on my most official-sounding voice.

“Hello Julie, this is Heather from the local healthcare clinic. I have something very private I need to discuss with you”.

“OK,” she replied slowly.

“It’s concerning your friend Donny. He is very embarrassed at the moment and has asked me to contact you on his behalf regarding the results of his

STD test. Donny put your details on a list of people he has had intercourse with in the last six months. Is this correct?”

I could hear Julie gasp before blurting out, “Yes, but what’s wrong with him? Oh my God ... Am I going to be all right?!”

I could hardly contain my anger and slight amusement at her freaking out, so I swiftly ended the conversation.

“Well you better get yourself checked out then. Bye!” I was so hurt by what Donny did but I figured that there was little point in bringing it up with him, if he hadn’t been truthful to me all this time, why would he start now? I broke up with him two days later saying that we had grown apart and, between that and all of the STD rumours about him flying around, that it made sense to just put it behind me.

Besides, I had a few old friends that I wanted to look up myself.

Do you have a story or comment about this true confession? Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

Love & Living

Mother may not be female

MARCH is mothers’ month.

This special month, we can’t stop celebrating the wonderful women who rock our worlds. What don’t mothers do? What can’t mothers do? They care, protect, advise, assist, supervise... They never stop, and so the party must go on.

Are mothers overrated?

A certain NGO based in Anambra State changed its name from Women of Dignity to Women of Patience, primarily because most of its loans beneficiaries kept defaulting. Some even ran away. Women? YES! I learnt that the name change was effected because they saw “no dignity” in their relationship with most of the women.

They also thought there was no point in carrying on with the pretence about women and their dignity.

Apart from such civil breaches, females are increasingly getting involved in all kinds of criminalities and becoming threats to the society. There are female kidnap masterminds, armed robbers, swindlers all over the place, unleashing unimaginable terror on the society.

When caught though, they are usually quick to appeal to our emotions. Their best assertion, maybe defence, is that they took to crime “to be able to feed their hungry children”. Never mind that some of them may not have children, or they knew nothing about how the children, who they had abandoned for crime, were surviving.

And they expect that ‘children line’ to help their cases? They fail to realise that situation doesn’t make a crime any less than it is. How can these so-called mothers claim to love their own children and so

T

HE rise of social media is one of the most fascinating things that have hit us in recent times, and it is very interesting. When we think it is at its peak, the flight of the social remains on the ascendency.

Would the flight cease?

Indications are on the opposition direction. While may be debates about the impact of the social media, few of them suggest that the social media may be on its way out anytime soon. Who would want it out, the current users, or those who are aspiring to join the family?

At the initial stage, we thought it was all about chatting and uploading pictures. We embraced those aspects with all the enthusiasm we would muster. We put up more enthusiasm as it appeared that whatever zest we had, the social media had more capacity than we had imagine.

It did not take too long for us to realise how much power one has with just a mobile phone and Internet connection. We realised that we had the world literally on our palms, in our hands.

We had become more powerful, except that we did not quickly realise how powerful that was. We could reach people and places that were well beyond our imaginations.

We could connect. We could make contacts with not only people but also purposes.

Our ideas grew wings that flew them to parts we never knew existed. We learnt more things without stepping into any formal learning processes. While we used to wait for the news, now the news is ever present. In our various ways we have become the news, we contribute to the news. We are news and news makers rolled into one. We have become more things than generations before us thought were possible.

The advent of social media has it good and its bad influences on our generation.

Let us start with the good vibes of the social media.

taking some pride in their ‘family identity’. What a woman initiates gets to linger because her life says so much about her generations – born, unborn.

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

Posterity will judge the woman who blazes a disgraceful trail in a family. A lady who had a baby out of wedlock and does nothing to school her own daughter not to make the same mistake, risks having the daughter and even grand daughter repeating the mistake the second and third times, even more. It is not a curse; it is reality. hate others? How do they live with themselves knowing that there’s hardly any love in their hearts but rather selfishness and greed! Motherhood must be overrated, if we are to use such women as the measuring sticks for what motherhood entails.

But is it, really?

It is very sad to see some mothers make nothing of their place of pride. Clearly, not every woman deserves to be so called even if she has many children. Motherhood is beyond the biological process of

conception and childbirth. Of what use is a woman who can’t impact virtues in the children she claims to love?

Posterity will judge the woman who blazes a disgraceful trail in a family. A lady who had a baby out of wedlock and does nothing to school her own daughter not to make the same mistake, risks having the daughter and even grand daughter repeating the mistake the second and third times, even more. It is not a curse; it is reality.

I know a case like that and it is beginning to seem like a norm for their ladies to birth bastards. They even seem to have started

Motherhood isn’t womanhood Being a mother is very different from being a mere female. To “mother” is to lovingly and tirelessly nurture, and that entails continuously impacting virtue. That explains why some dads are at best “super mums” but in disguise. They may not always be there doing all the “caring” because they have to work so hard to cater for the home but one still can’t get enough of them when they are around.

They perform the mothering roles and more. For some men it is forced on them by say, death of their wives but for others, it’s purely by choice and passion. It is this latter class of super mums in disguise that I’m electing to celebrate now. To all fathers out there who pay no heed to gender divide but are in fact actively nurturing, protecting, supervising and supporting their wards.

Fathers who don’t feel emasculated when they cry for our sakes and can give all to put smiles on our faces even at their own expenses are worth more than gold.

Fathers of this kind are redefining motherhood and challenging conventions. We make a toast to that father who has been “everything” to his children.

This month of March is for you too. We celebrate you more.

Please email recommendations, commendations, and condemnations to ifyaruonu@gmail.com

Power of social media

M

e& ore

• Politics: Outside entertainment, no sphere of our lives enjoys more presence on the social media than politics. Campaigns play out in this space as we saw in the 2015 elections. It can be taken for granted that there is a bigger place in the 2019 campaigns for the social media.

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

We had become more powerful, except that we did not quickly realise how powerful that was. We could reach people and places that were well beyond our imaginations. We could connect. We could make contacts with not only people but also purposes.

• Businesses are booming: With the numbers recorded, we have come to understand that there are more human interactions online than we have offline and this has made it possible for businesses to grow beyond their immediate environment.

Some are exploring the opportunities that online businesses provide and they are expanding their businesses.

• Charity organisations’ support: There are many charity organisations that their major supporters and contributors are the online community, my organisation Demystify Abuse Campaign is one of those whose major supporters and contributors are the online community. If audiences buy into the cause a certain organisation is bent on pushing, then whether or not they know the leader, owner or convener of the organisation, they would support it.

• The social media is a place where we have people from various walks of life and a place where people who share same philosophies and ideologies meet and interact. In the same way, those who have divergent views, stake their issues for accommodation or rejection on those platforms. Unlike the traditional, the more there are needs, the more specific arms of the social media seem to spring up to cater for them.

• Friends, family system: A couple of persons have found their long lost family relatives and friends from searching the online audiences. This usually begins with a single post, which soon travels far and wide. The answers tumble in faster than in other media.

• More job creation: This is another important aspect of the goodies that come with social media. There are so many online jobs and people do not need to leave the comfort of their homes to become employed or employers. Sometimes, social media users, through their ingenuity and mastery of social media, create their own jobs and employ others too.

Social media is a tool, and there are a lot of advantages of the social media, and if you were on the social space, I’d advise that you begin to maximise it fully.

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 14, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Burglary and house-breaking

M

ost people find it difficult in differentiating between these two felonies (or simply put offence for laymen). However, both attract severe punishments in Law. What at times we jokingly do can result into any of these offences.

One may without theconsent of one’s neighbor break into his room to collect a needed thing inside his room on the ground that he is his friend. When the friend returns and discovers his room door broken and an entry made by somebody, he makes a report to the police that his friend has committed a felony, either burglary or house-breaking depending on the time of committing the offence.

Under Section 441 of the Criminal code, any person who breaks and enters a dwelling-house of another with intent to committee a felony therein, or having entered the dwelling-house of another with a like intent or having committed a felony in the dwelling-house of another, breaks out of the dwelling-house, is guilty of a felony. If the offence is committed in the daytime it is appropriately called house-breaking and if it is committed at night, it is called burglary.

Note that the punishment for house-breaking is 14 years imprisonment while that of burglary is life imprisonment.

To my own understanding on the variation of the prison terms on both is that in the day time the occupants of the dwelling-house may not be in for the thief to harm them while at night grievous harm may be inflicted on the occupants who may like to protect and defend themselves and their rights.

Whatsoever is the case, it is my candid advice to all to stay away from crime no matter what. No condition is permanent especially if one has the determination to succeed honestly as well as is very prayerful and believe that God changes situationsand can visit one in any situation.

ANALYSES OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SECTION 411 OF THE CODE BREAKING: In Section 441 of the code, breaking is one of the essential ingredients in this topic. Breaking may be actual or constructive. Actual aspect is involved when a person breaks any part, whether external or internal of a building or even opensby unlocking, pulling, pushing, lifting, or by any other means whatsoever, any door, window, shutter, or other thing. When a person opens a door with a key, lifts a latch, or pushes open a closed door or window, then there is a breaking.

However, when the door or window is partly open, though not open enough to admit a person to push it open further, it is not breaking. Breaking is not only when a thief breaks the front door in a house which is external.

It can be internal like when a servant in the house breaks the internal door of his master’s bedroom.

Breaking by construction occurs when entrance into a dwelling-house is made through any threat or by collusion with any person in the building, etc.

Note also, that if a man intending to commit a felony in a dwelling-house gains admittance into it by deceit and posing as a local government staff, his conduct amounts to breaking but if the owner of the dwelling-house was the one that led the person in and turns round to allege breaking, it is not breaking.

INTENT: Here the intent must be to commit a felony, not necessarily stealing. It may be arson, rape or murder but the usual intent here is to steal which is best proved by the commitment of the felony. The time of the commitment of the felony as well as merely a breaking and entering with the purpose to commit the offence is sufficient.

time uninhabited. A building is a dwelling house as long as some person habitually sleeps in it and uses it as his home irrespective of holiday period of staying away from the house.

PUNISHMENTS 1. FOR ENTERING DWELLING HOUSE with intent to comDWELLING-HOUSE: Dwelling-house is not tested on what mit a felony:- If the offence Is committed in the day the the house is built for, but what it is used for. Section 1 of punishment is 7 years imprisonment and if at night it is 14 the code defined dwelling-house to include any build- years imprisonment TIME: day and night in this topic differentiate these two ing or structure or part of a building or structure, which cases -Burglary and House-Breaking. Here, Night means is for the time being kept by the owner or occupier for 2. OTHER BUILDINGS:- For school-house, shop, warethe period between 6:30pm and 6:30am. This means that the residence therein of himself, his family, or servants, house, office or even a building adjacent to a dwellor any of them, it is immaterial whether it is from time to ing-house and occupied with it but not part of it. The Day is between 6:30am and 6:30pm. punishment is 7 years and 14 years depending on the particular felony.

Under Section 441 of the Criminal code, any person who breaks and enters

a dwelling-house of another with intent to committee a felony therein, or having entered the dwelling-house of another with a like intent or having committed a felony in the dwelling-house of another, breaks out of the dwelling-house, is guilty of a felony. If the offence is committed in the daytime it is appropriately called house-breaking and if it is committed at night, it is called burglary.

3. PLACE OF WORSHIP:- Some worshippers even go to churches with the intention to steal. Breaking a place of religious worship with intent to commit a felony is punishable with 7 years to 14 years imprisonment depending on the circumstances.

Finally, stay away from crime and do not even allow your friends or company to deceive or push you into it because the consequence is disgraceful to you and your loved ones.

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

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

I never knew Maradonna will be a hit – Ninola, rave of the moment Though she hit the limelight in 2013 on the platform of popular realty TV show, MTN Project Fame, it would take another four years before she found feet in the industry.

Welcome to the world of Niniola, the rave of the moment hitting hip up act heating up the Nigerian music space with her latest single, Maradona, from her debut album entitled This is Me.

A

nd when it comes to delivering mind blowing and energetic performances, the Ekiti State born singer and graduate of Biology Education from the University of Lagos is a force to reckon with and one thing you can’t ignore about her is her use of her local dialect in her songs.

In a chat with Oracle Today, the act confessed that she never knew that Maradonna would be successful and launch her to stardom. She began: “At the point of recording the song, my team was excited because from the production stage, we knew it was a good song but we never envisioned the wide spread acceptance but in all, we give thanks to God Almighty. I can tell you that whenever I am performing the song, I see how blessed I am with the way the audience relates with the song. The song won me a lot of fans. It will interest you that when I travelled out of the country, I was amazed to see the way people could sing the song from beginning to end with excitement.

“I am super excited,” Noniola continued, “I am very thankful to everybody who has supported me from day one and I am thankful to God. This is my debut album and I am grateful God and my fans.

I had like 10 singles out already but this is the proper album.”

One of her selling points is the use of the Yoruba dialect prominently in her songs. What inspired it? She smiles broadly as she responds: “ I am proud of my language because this same language has taken me this far in the industry and that is why in South Africa and beyond, Maradona’ is being appreciated globally even though it is in Yoruba. Music is a universal language that breaks all barriers. I am proud of my language as it is also a way to sell myself by being original and promoting my country at the same time.”

With 10 songs out already, why did it take her so long to come out with an album?

“Yes, you may say it took me so long to deliver an album but the real fact is that I wanted people to understand the brand name Niniola because I am known to have done lots of Rn’B songs but my root generally is Afro-house and when I saw

that lots of people had understood my genre of music and how versatile I could be, I discussed with the management that the time is now and here we are.”

Commenting on why the album was entitled The Is Me she continued: “Well, for me, I feel like the title ‘This Is Me’ sounds as honest as it can be vocally. On the album I just don’t have only my genre of music which is Afro-house, I also have Rn’B. So this is me telling you that I can jump on any beat as long as my body and soul connects to it.

“In the album we have song like Moyo, which is praising God and it is a folk song as produced by Johnny Drille.

There is Rn’B and I also have very danceable songs on the album.

Today, Ninola is smiling to the bank but once upon a time, it was rough and tough and finances were a major problem. This much she admitted when she said: “It has been quite a challenging journey but I thank God that I can stand here and talk today. Thanks to my team and my entire management.

The truth is, you do can’t anything without money. I remember I dropped a song in March last year which was my debut single entitled Ibadi but I did not have money to shoot the video until December and that was not really good because people had already embraced the audio well and even forgotten it so when the video was ready it was like an anti-climax.. At the end of the day, money is key.”

Now that she has found success, who is the guy in her life? “No sorry, that is very private but for now I am married to my career.”

40

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

Entertainment

Ojaja Talent Hunt announces audition dates

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fter weeks of intense planning, the organisers of the second edition of Ojaja II Talent Hunt show have announced dates for the auditions of this year’s edition of the competition.

According to a statement from the organisers, while sale of forms commenced on March 12 and runs till April 5, auditions come up in Lagos at Silver Cafe Lounge, Ozone Cinema, Yaba from April 9 to 10. In Ibadan, it will hold at Mauve 21 from 12 to 14, while the Ilorin and Akure auditions come up at Princess Luxury Hotel from April 16 to 17.

For Ekiti and Ondo states, interested participants will be auditioned from April 19 to 21 while April 23 to 25 will be for Oshogbo and Ile Ife residents at Plan B Lounge, Opposite Ife Grand Resort will be the venue for Ile-Ife. Speaking on this year’s talent hunt which will be featuring top music artistes and producers, Director of the project, Olasoji Olatunde said that interested participants can register with a thousand naira, earning them a chance to go home with a star prize of one year recording and promotion in Nigeria and London, cash prize, scholarship to a music school as well as loads of other freebies.

According to Otunba Jide Fadairo, CEO House of Oduduwa (the Kabieesi’s mouthpiece), the hunt is further proof of His Royal Majesty’s commit-

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fter an extensive tour which took her to some cities in the U S viz: New York, Boston, Houston, Portland, Gospel musician, Aity Dennis is poised to storm Nigeria for her next mega concert tagged Festival of Hymns.

In a telephone chat with the artiste, Mama Aity as she is fondly called, said fans should watch out for an evening of explosive praise and worship this coming Easter.

Aity said: ‘I fell in love with hymns because of the influence of my grand mum who made it compulsory that we sang hymns last thing before we slept at night and first thing in the morning. Since then, I have come to appreciate the depth and lyrical beauty of hymns. “This Festival of Hymns concert will feature hymns performed in classical and contemporary style with renown Lagos choirs like The Tribe of Judah Classical, and other artistes including N K Maduforo, Christo- Desire et al .

“It will also feature hymn stories. You will be amazed when you discover the writers and the stories that birthed the writing of some of the hymns we sing daily. The concert will be take place on Easter Sunday evening at The Megalife Centre of Sure Word Assembly, Lagos,” Aity Dennis concluded.

• His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II ment to youth development and empowerment.

He further revealed that the hunt will span across seven Yoruba speaking states of the Federation, UK and the United States of America.

Powered by His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife, the event is packaged

by Nuff Jamz Entertainment run by Olasoji.

The event is supported by Black Music Initiative, Samich Records, Puffy T

Entertainment, Campus Alive Initiative, Funmi Sparrows Music, In house entertainment, Ife Grand Resort and Leisure, Mauve 21, Silver Cafe Lounge, Princess Luxury Hotel, Club Quebana, Plan B Lounge, Tentakul Lounge, Jusseg Travels, Ice Cool Contracts and a host of others.

The activities open with a carnival April 30 and runs May 5 while the grand finale comes up May 6 at Ife Grand Resort And Leisure, Ile-Ife.

How God called me to sing for him – John Agoha, gospel singer

S

RMD appointed Johnnie Walker Blue Label ambassador

S

Aity Dennis gears up for Festival of Hymns

aturday, March 3 was a special day for Richard Mofe-Damijo as Johnnie Walker hosted a gastronomic experience in his honour in Victoria Island, Lagos and also appointed him a brand ambassador of one of its products, Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Despite his early success as a writer, RMD kept his wheel of personal progress moving. That pioneering spirit saw him change the game in movie acting and film production before heeding the call of his homeland by taking up a role in public service in his native Delta State.

Also present at the event was former governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who lavished praises on RMD. Also present was Mo Abudu, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Don Jazzy, AY Makun, Kate Henshaw, Emeka Mba among a host of others.

Meanwhile, Richard Mofe-Damijo is set to star in a Johnnie Walker series tagged Whisky Tales. The online video series will spotlight RMD’s love for whisky as he shares his expert knowledge of a drink he has experienced his entire adult life with.

ecular musician turned gospel singer, Agoha John has released a new single entitled Ebube, a song which he says was inspired by depression.

Recalling the events that led to the birth of the song, the Edo State born singer said: “You know we all go through challenging times that could test our faith but God also uses such moments to inspire us. I was at home one evening and was so depressed and thinking about my life when the inspiration for my latest single, Ebube came along.

“Currently, the song is doing well on radio and people have been asking, when will it drop online. That is why I am dropping it now. I am dropping singles now because my album is not ready but the title of my album is Songs From the Future but by the grace of God, my album will drop this year. “ did not leave secular music because of money. I was called to sing for God and that is what am doing. Ever since I became a gospel singer, my life has moved from glory to glory.”

Civil society coalition honours Kwam 1 as UN Ambassador

K

ing Wasiu Ayinde Olasunkanmi Marshal popularly known as K1 De Ultimate was om March 6 decorated with yet another honor as UN-SDG Ambassador by the Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development, (CSCSD) Ogun State Chapter, at the International Stakeholders’ Conference on SDG. The event which took place at the Cultural Centre Kuto, Abeokuta, had many important dignitaries in attendance including the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and the wife.

K1 unquantifiable contribution to humanity through music was stated by the organizers as the criteria they considered in selecting him for the honour.

On hand to present the award and certificate was the number one citizen of the rocky state who extolled the virtues of the Fuji music king as deserving of the honour.

Aside k1, Ogun State First Lady, Olufunsho Amosun, prolific Film Maker, Tunde Kelani and others were also honoured as UN Ambassadors.

The Civil Society Coalition has over 150 registered civil society and nongovernmental organisations under its fold in Nigeria and it is affiliated with United Nations.

Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV Show berths

H

igh Definition Film Studio has re-launched its Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project and it will run from March 24 to April 21.

Themed Film as a Catalyst for Revolution, it is focused on raising a new breed of filmmakers who understand that, though film is big business, film still has the capacity to create social impact. Hence in addition to the glamour and glitz that film offers, Script2Screen Africa seeks to explore its transformative effect.

According to a statement from the organisation, through training, mentorship and support, the vision is to shape thought provoking short and feature films that will pioneer positive revolution in Nigeria and across Africa.

“The Journey began in 2017 with a press conference in Lagos, auditions across Nigeria, and the 60 finalists for the Reality Show were selected. For logistics reasons the project was moved to the first quarter of 2018. And now, the wait is over as Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project is set to come alive on your TV screens, now rebranded as Script2Screen Africa. And the sub theme for the 2018 edition is Corruption Free Nigeria,” the statement added stating that i will be aired on Silverbird Television, Africa Movie Channel, Wazobia & WazobiaMax TV, and AIT.

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME UZODINMA SUPPORT INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, decree no. 1 Of 1990.

TRUSTEES 1.MR. UZODINMA ANDREW EKENE 2.MRS UZODINMA CHIOMA GLORIA 3.MR. DAVID ALFA 4.MR OBINNA DURU AIM/OBJECTIVE To engage in civic, socio-economic, sociopolitical sensitisation campaigns and youth capacity building and devlopment programmes Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: MR UZODINMA ANDREW EKENE, (CHAIRMAN).

08035841732.

I formerly known as EDWIN KOSISOCHUKWU STEPHANIE now wish to be known as OZURUOHA KOSISOCHUKWU STEPHANIE. All former documents remain valid .Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MR NNOCHIRI OKORIE UGWUZO, now wish to be known as MR WASHINGTON WINSTON NNOCHIRI OKORIE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MISS ESHI IFEBUCHE CATHERINE now wish to be known as MRS NWILI IFEBUCHE CATHERINE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MISS ADAKA OBIANUJU LOVELYN, now wish to be known as MRS JAMES OBIANUJU LOVELYN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MISS OHA CHINWE PEACE now wish to known as MRS UKAGHA CHINWE PEACE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS EGBO CHIDINMA PEACE now wish to known as MRS NWOYE CHIDINMA PEACE All former documents remain valid. Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry Of Health take note

I formerly known as MISS IGBO MODESTER CHINWEOKWU now wish to known as MRS ANICHUKWUEZE MODESTER CHINWEOKWU All former documents remain valid. Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry Of Health take note

I formerly known as Miss UKE AUGUSTINA CHIEBONAM now wish to known as Mrs NNAJI AUGUSTINA CHIEBONAM All former documents remain valid.

Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry Of Health take note

I formerly known as Miss ONOVO ANTHONIA AMAKA now wish to known as Mrs ONUIGBO ANTHONIA AMAKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry Of Health take note

I formerly known as MISS MBAEWO NNENNA PATIENCE now wish to known as MRS ONOVO NNENNA PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry Of Health take note

I formerly known as MISS OKAFOR CHINELO FAVOUR now wish to known as MRS NWACHUKWU CHINELO FAVOUR All former documents remain valid. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE COUPS (NYSC) and general public take note

• All is set for the inauguration of Gov Willie Obiano for a second term on 17 March

Expos learning platform for SMEs - MAN

By EBELE NWANOLUE

NME, Expo, and manufacturing Partnership for African HE Manufacturers Asso- Development, mPAD, was ciation of Nigeria, MAN a strong platform through has said the Nigerian which SMEs could learn new Manufacturing Equipment,

production processes that would boost their production.

The benefits would include cost reduction, improved product quality and diversifi-

I formerly known as UCHE DAVID Now wish to be known as OGBONNA DAVID. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

ed my company because due diligence was not executed by your revered office and that of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service because: The Memorandum of Understanding between Anambra State Government and Global Gaming Company limited with your signature on it, is more or less a worthless paper, with the facts concealed to your office.

“Global Gaming Limited is not a duly registered company with the Corporate Affairs Commission as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding. The only Global Gaming Company recognised

by Corporate Affairs Commission was registered on August 2016 with office at No 16, Awka (113 Limca) Road, and Nkpor, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“Draft Bill on Anambra State Gaming Law 2017 in favour of Anambra State Gaming Company Ltd

by Uju Meta Esq presently in your high esteemed office is another negligence to due diligence.”

He added, “There is nothing known to both our law and that of Corporate Affairs Commission like Anambra State Gaming Company Limited that the said purported Gaming Law 2017 intends to favour.

“The non-existent Global Gaming Company Limited was used as special purpose vehicle as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding to create a non-existent Anambra State Gaming Company Limited which culminated in opening of an account with a new generation ban,” Ezeonwumere alleged.

He urged the Attorney General to use his good offices

to investigate $11m allegedly paid into a certain account as result of the MOU signed by the State in respect of gaming business in 2016.

Similarly Megwas & Associates, a gaming agency in the State has dragged the Anambra State Gaming Company to a Federal High Court for fraud and forgery.

A consultant with the agency, Mr. Chinedu Offomata said, “The forgery, illegalities, and status of the company are a subject of litigation at Federal High Court Awka in suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/184/2017.

Efforts to get the views of the Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, who is one of the directors of Anambra Gaming Company Ltd did not yield any result as he did not pick calls placed on his phone line nor reply a text message sent to him on the matter.

Former MISS OGBONNA WAMAGHINNA CHINONYEREM NNEBUIHE, now to be called MRS UZOR CHINONYEREM JOY, former documents remain valid general public take note

Former Mr NJOKU ONYEOGUZOLA ISREAL SUNDAY, now wish to be known as Mr UZOR ONYEOGUZOLA ISREAL SUNDAY former documents remain valid, general public take note

Former miss AMOS KELECHI CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known as Miss UZOR KELECHI CHRISTIANA, all former document remain valid,general public take note

I formerly known as UGONNA DANIEL now wish to be known as ENUKA DANIEL UGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS MOZIE QUEEN JOSEPHINE now wish to be known as MRS OTTOR QUEEN JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as TONY UDEH now wish to be known as RAYMOND UDEH. 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 JUSTIN IZUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid .Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MRS NDUBUEZE NGOZI JUBILANT now wish to be known as NGOZI JUBILANT MGBEKE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as AGBEDO ONYEBUCHUKWU EMMANUEL now wish to be known as ALI IFEANYICHUKWU EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

This is to certify that EZEH CLETUS, EZEH CLETUS CHIDERA and CLETUS NWAEZE EZEH. Is one and the same person. Now wish to be known as CLETUS NWAEZE EZEH. All former document remain valid, Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as OKOYE JANE OBY now wish to be known as NEBO EUNICE OBY. Born on 18th day of October 1979. All former documents remain valid .Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as IKECHUKWU COLLINS OFOELO now wish to be known as COLLINS CHINAGOROM IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid .Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as UGOCHUKWU OBIUGO PETER now wish to be known as UGOCHUKWU ANENE PETER. All former documents remain valid .Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as ONUKA UDOKA PEACE now wish to be known and addressed as OZOWARA UDOKA PEACE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

T

$11m scam rocks Anambra Gaming Coy

Continued from page: 1

cation of their product lines.

At the opening ceremony 2018 edition of the NME Expo and mPAD, themed, “Enhancing Nigeria’s Manufacturing Competitiveness in the Global Space’’, MAN President, Dr. Frank Jacobs said the infusion of the NIRAM Expo into the NME Expo was to afford several companies and countries that registered as exhibitors as well as visitors to the Expo an opportunity of exposure to the entire manufacturing value chain, which included machinery, equipment, raw materials, financial support and professional consultancy.

“The primary objective of Continued on page: 44 I formerly known as NDIGWE JENNIFER NNENNA, now wish to be known as OKECHUKWU JENNIFER NNENNA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

This is to confirm that my correct name is NZEGWU PATRICK KENNEDY OKECHUKWU and not PATRICK OKECHUKWU NZEGINU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

For your change of Names, Public Notice & Announcements Please call: 08037741102, 08036682255, 09078310060 Or Visit our office at: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. Email:oraclenews@oraclenews.ng.

CHANGE OF NAME COSTS N3,000 ONLY.

The Oracle Today

42

Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Herdsmen’s killings may lead to war – Umahi warns

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

G

overnor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state yesterday said the unprovoked killings by herdsmen across the country may lead to war if not urgently and properly handled.

He was reacting to the recent farmers and herdsmen clash which resulted to the death of four farmers with two others wounded, at Enyanwu Igwe , Igbeagu community of Izzi local government area of the state at government House, Abakaliki during an enlarged security meeting.

Umahi called for caution among leaders in handling the herdsmen menace.

Umahi who was addressing the gathering of security chiefs, leaders of the affected communities/ local government, and leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), described the killings in Enyanwu Igwe village as unprovoked killings by herdsmen.

Consequently, Umahi ordered herdsmen around the area to leave until he is able to calm down the embittered villagers to avoid reprisal attack. ”It is unprovoked killings, life is so sacred. You can’t kill people as if they are fowls. Izzi people are warriors, I physically held them not to go for retaliation. The herdsmen there in Izzi have to leave the place for now until I can calm everybody down. The way we are going, it can provoke national war and it will not help anybody. If there is reprisal attack, I will hold all the leaders squarely responsible, I will charge all of you for any reprisal attack. ”The life of every Ebonyian is very dear to me. God forbid, I can’t withstand where 76 people were killed like in Benue, I can’t withstand it. Some people may be fighting to die but we fight to live. Let’s use wisdom and handle the matter.

“This is a national problem; we don’t want our people to be continuously killed. We must to use wisdom to handle this problem. It is very easy to say I

want all the herdsmen to leave Ebonyi but there are lots of implications”, he said.

He regretted that agreement reached between the state and herdsmen in the area for peaceful co-existence have been jettisoned.

“We banned under aged herders, we banned night grazing in the state. We have no grazing routes in Ebonyi which means that nobody has the right to carry cattle by route to Ebonyi state and we agreed on that.

“We also agreed with the herdsmen that the first offender must be prosecuted. We also said that no farmer should go to farm with gun and no herdsmen should rear cattle with gun or machete, it is stick. We must abide by these rules”.

While addressing Umahi, National Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Bello Bodejo corroborated the Governor’s position that the killings in the country can cause an uncontrollable chaos.

He said the state has been very accommodating to the herdsmen more than some northern states and warned that it should not be abused; even as he called on leaders to handle the matter with caution to avoid escalation.

“Ebonyi state is very peaceful and it is accommodating to our members. It has been so accommodating to our members even more than some Northern states of the federation and we condemn these killings in this state. There are minors and migrants who are causing these lots of problems. There are also criminals moving as cattle herders who are causing these havocs.

“Chairmen of Miyetti Allah of various states in the south east and south are all here and we are not happy with what happened, we condemn these killings in totality. Nigeria is confronted with so many security challenges and one of them is the unfortunate farmer/herder conflict. If this conflict is not resolved, it has the potential of throwing this country into unnecessary chaos”, he said.

• Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (r) in the company of the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick; Chairman of Enyimba FC, Felix Anyansi Agwu; Chairman of Abia Warriors of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Enyiama; at Enyimba FC Stadium Aba , Tuesday morning to inspect level work on the facility by Moni Michelle Construction.

Buhari sacks Boroh, appoints Charles Dokubo P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Brig. General Paul Boroh as Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants. This is as Prof. Charles Dokubo has also been appointed as the new helmsman.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, announced the change of guard in Abuja, Tuesday.

Prof Dokubo is currently Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, and hails from Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the President has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to carry out a full investigation into the activities of the Amnesty Programme from 2015 to date.

According to Adesina, the investi-

Nigeria records 756,000 under-five deaths annually F

ederal Government has said the country records about 756,000 under five deaths annually. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Osarenoma Uwaifo, disclosed this at a two-day annual symposium on experience sharing on Integrated Community Case Management of Childhood illness (ICCM) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Osarenoma, who was represented by Dr Bose Adeniran, Head, Child Health Division, said that the data was made known by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME).

According to him, Nigeria contributes 11 per cent of total global deaths of under-five, ranking second on the list of countries with burdens of child mortality.

He said that one in every eight children born in Nigeria die before their fifth birthday.

He said that pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria represented an estimated 58 per cent of under five deaths with malnutrition underlying about 50 per cent of them.

He said that majority of these childhood deaths can be prevented with high impact interventions and treated with very low cost medicines which most of these children living in hard to reach areas do not have access to.

“The challenges to childhood deaths remained finance and access to healthcare; that is why the ministry adopted the ICCM; an evidence based community curative intervention that addresses the issues of access, quality, demand and equity in healthcare.

“Strengthening the ICCM will maximise the impact on treatment outcome for sick children,’’ the permanent secretary said.

Osarenoma urged state governments to buy into the initiative in order to curb childhood deaths.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was represented

by Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, Director, Family Health Department in the ministry, said that government was working on scaling up of the evidence based intervention of the well-being of children.

Adewole said that Nigeria with an approximate population of 190 million people and annual growth rate of 3.2 per cent was the second largest population in the world and the most populous nation in Africa.

He said that children below five years of age constituted approximately 17 per cent of this population and Nigeria’s demographic and health indices as at 2013 was characterised with fertility rate of 5.5 per cent.

gation should particularly cover the allegations of “financial impropriety and other acts that are allegedly detrimental to the objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.’’

Gunmen kill 25 persons, raze houses in Plateau Twenty-five persons were killed and many houses razed by gunmen in a midnight attack at Dundu community of Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, ASP Terna Tyopev, who confirmed the incident in Jos, Tuesday, said that two persons were also severely injured in the fracas.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adie Undie, had directed the officer in charge of operations to mobilise to the

scene of the crime.

“Twenty-five persons were on Monday night killed in an attack in Dundu community of Bassa Local Government Area. Two persons were severely injured and many houses burnt to ashes. As such, the Commissioner of Police has directed the DCP Taiwo Jebiyisu, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Department of Operations, to visit the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“Armed policemen have also been deployed to the area to contain any further break down of law and order,’’ he said.

The attack came at the time the Irigwe community was preparing to bury four of its members killed by gunmen few days ago.

Lassa fever kills 3 in Ekiti

T

hree persons have been confirmed dead in a fresh case of Lassa fever in Ekiti. State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rotimi Ojo, made the disclosure in a statement in Ado Ekiti, Tuesday, adding that five out of the eight new suspected cases in the state tested negative while one was uncertain, with the last pending as at press time.

Ojo added that the patient that tested positive and two others had passed away.

The commissioner insisted that there was still no cause for alarm in the state as government was taking proactive steps in its surveillance activities.

He gave an assurance that the State Disease Control team had been activated while the process of sensitising the people with jingles and other communication media were ongoing.

Ojo said that similar actions

taken during the 2016 outbreak were successful, adding that the epidemic was controlled and the identified patient, who was properly managed, survived.

He said that the three isolation centres located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital, Ado Ekiti and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, were still operational.

The commissioner urged all stakeholders, including health practitioners, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as community and opinion leaders, to collaborate with the state government to prevent the spread of the disease.

Ojo also advised residents of the state to avoid self-medication and keeping sick people at home, adding that any unusual increase in temperature or fever must be promptly reported to the nearest health facility.

The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

FG under obligation to construct Bonny-Bodo Road – Wike

R

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that the All Progresives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government has no choice, but to construct the Bonny-Bodo Road.

The Rivers governor stated this while flagging off the upgrading and remodelling of Bonny National Grammar School, Bonny, Tuesday.

At the event, in Bonny, Wike regretted that the APC Federal Government was playing games with the Bonny-Bodo Road project after the NLNG committed N60billion as counterpart fund for the all-important road.

The governor said that the Bonny-Bodo Road is important to the economy of the area in view of the resources that the Federal Government gets from Bonny Island .

“I was the one that approached the NLNG to contribute to an arrangement for the construction of the BonnyBodo Road. Shortly after that meeting, the NLNG wrote to me that they will contribute 50 percent to the construction of the road, while the Federal Government will contribute the other 50 percent.

“There is no year that the NLNG contributes less than $1billion (USD) to the national economy. The contribution of

FG to auction N70bn bonds on March 21 – DMO

these excuses on why they must liberate step by the administranot succeed”, he said. tion to empower the people.

“None of the contractors doOn the Bonny National Gram- ing this job is from outside. This mar School , Governor Wike said is to show that we are interestthat the school will be complet- ed in empowering the people”, ed on schedule and the people he said.

While stating that the State “The APC is under obligation duly empowered, adding that to keep her promises to Nige- all the contractors involved in Government has acquired six rians. The people are tired of executing the project are from Gunboats for improved security Bonny, noting that it was a de- on the waterways, Governor Wike informed that the administration will improve the marine transportation system for safety and security.

He said that the Bonny/Bille/ Nembe Jetty which is nearing completion will be commissioned soon.

Earlier, the State Commissioner of Education, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja said since 1966 when the Bonny National Grammar School was established, there has been no major intervention.

He said that the upgrade will witness the construction of new laboratories, libraries, hostels, Christian Chapel and improved classrooms.

Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Mr Cyril Hart praised Governor Wike for the intervention in the remodelling of Bonny National Grammar School, saying that they were neglected by the Amaechi administration.

He also commended Governor • Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu (l) representing the Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu at a 4 Wike for the construction of the day training workshop for Community Based Targeting Team (CBTT) and Enumerators for identification and Bonny/Bille/Nembe Jetty, urgData capturing for poor and vulnerable persons organized by the National Social Safety Net Coordinating ing him to work for the initiation Office( NASSCO ) Abuja, Office of the Vice President Collaboration with the Abia State government held at of a cheap and safe transport Kolping Society Umuahia. system to the Island.

N60billion for the construction of this road is nothing to the Federal Government, said Wike.

He said that there is no need for the Federal Government to play games with the Bonny-Bodo Road. He assured the people of Bonny Island that he will continue to work for the comple-

tion of the road.

The governor charged Rivers leaders in the APC to also work towards convincing the Federal Government to site key projects in the state.

Abia Govt backs social safety net initiative

G

overnor Okezie ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed confidence that the National Social Safety Net Programme will address the challenges of insecurity, unemployment and school drop-out syndrome.

Ikpeazu further stated that the programme if proper handled will ensure robust planning for vulnerable persons in order to achieve even development for all striata of persons in the country.

Ikpeazu stated this at a 4 day training workshop for Community Based Targeting Team ( CBTT ) and Enumerators for identification and Data capturing for poor and vulnerable persons organized by the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office( NASSCO ) Abuja, Office of the Vice President Collaboration with Abia State government held at Kolping Society Umuahia.

Represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Okochukwu said NASSCO would ensure the generation of the National Social Registry for

the poor and vulnerable group in the country and disclosed that his administration created a Ministry in Charge of vulnerable group to keyed into the National Social Safety Net programme to provide safety nets system building blocks that would enable it target and deliver a wide range of programmes to poor households effectively and efficiently.

The governor charged participants to uphold the principles and objective of their training which would become agent of change by acquiring skills for themselves, relations and local government through the pilot programme to mobilize over 12,000 Abians for job creation scheme.

Dr Ikpeazu restated his commitment to ensure that the poor and vulnerable groups have access to primary education through massive renovation of schools and providing food to pupils from primary 1- 6 and employing over 2,700 women as food vendors and thanked the

delegation of Uturu Development Union led by the executive Chairman of Isiukwuato LGA, Hon. Nnamdi Udueze, paid a courtesy call on the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Speaking on behalf of the Union, Hon. Emma Uche Akaeme, the President of the Development Union, commended the State Governor for his Developmental strides and also for appointing sons and daughters

South East, are as well expected to grace the occasion. The theme ll is now set for the com- of the 2018 fair is ‘Engendering mencement of the 29th the Competitiveness of Nigerian Enugu International Trade Products in the Global Market’.

Director General of Enugu ChamFair on Friday, March 16, 2018.

The 10-day show, which is slated ber of Commerce, Industry, Mines to run till March 26, is expected and Agriculture, ECCIMA, Sir Emeka to be flagged of by President Mu- Okereke, told our correspondent hammadu Buhari, accompanied in Enugu that the fair promises to by other relevant Ministers and be exceptional, well-attended and impactful. He explained that repfederal government officials.

The Oracle Today also gath- resentatives of several countries multi-national companies were ered that many state governors, and already in the country to partake in especially all the governors in the fair.

But, when asked whether the chamber had received signal that the President would be there to personally perform the flag-off ritual, the DG said, “All I can assure you is that Mr President would be there, either in person or through via representative”.

It would be recalled the neither the President nor the Minister of Trade and Investment, personally attended the 2017 edition of the Enugu business show, where several dignitaries, including the Governor of Enugu State, and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekwer-

emmadu, among others, had called on the Buhari administration to develop the fair site, at least to bring it at par with those of Kaduna and Lagos.

Meanwhile, when our correspondent visited the site, before filing in this report, it was already burbling, with various exhibitors making frantic efforts to wrap up construction of their temporary stands before the opening ceremony. Many day-job seekers and hawkers of food and other edibles were also seen making brisk business at the site.

T

he Federal Government has offered for subscription by auction N70 billion worth of bonds in its March 21 auction, says the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The offer circular obtained from its website on Tuesday in Abuja, said that it would sell N10 billion of a five year re-opening bond maturing in July 2021 at 14.50 per cent.

It would also sell N30 billion seven year new issue to mature in March 202, at an undisclosed interest rate and another N30 billion 10 year re-opening at 13.98 per cent to mature in Feb. 2028.

Nigeria issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

federal government for establishing the programme.

In his remarks, the National Coordinator, NASSCO, Mr Apera Lorwakwaga disclosed that they have so far registered 460,243 households and signed MOU with States across the federation to fast tract their intervention and success of the programme and commended

Uturu community expresses support for Ikpeazu

A

29th Enugu trade fair set for Friday kick-off

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

A

the Abia state government for embracing the programme as well as for establishing a ministry targeted at the vulnerable group.

In her address, the Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary, Abia state Planning Commission, Ugoeze Adanma Iheuwa expressed optimism that the programme will render empowerment.

from the community as members of his cabinet.

He expressed delight in Gov. Ikpeazu’s political sagacity which led to the successful conduct of local Government election that resulted to an unprecedented emergence of an illustrious Uturu son as council Chairman. He assured the Governor of maximum support.

He however, appealed to the Governor to intervene in the Electricity challenge faced by the community. He disclosed that Uturu community has not had power supply for several years.

Additionally, Hon. Akaeme also commended the wife of the Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, who through her Vicar Hope Foundation, built a bungalow for a widow, Mrs. Celestina Obieze in the community.

In his reaction, the Governor who was shocked on hearing the electrical challenge in the community, promise to donate transformers to the community and promised to connect them to the national grid when all necessary enquiries are made.

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

NEWS

Has Buhari lost control?

Continued from Pg 2

“I think we should wait for him to reprimand the IGP and not just to say that he didn’t know that the IGP did not obey him.

“When we are looking at such serious, sensitive issues that have to do with loss of lives and insecurity, I don’t think that kind of excuse is what somebody who is our President should mention or even think of going on air.

“I know he is hiding under possible deniability, but this one does not work at all. It shows insensitivity of government towards issues of national discourse and national importance.”

In his own reaction, a human rights lawyer based at Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra state, Ben Okoko noted in a telephone chat with The Oracle Today that if, indeed, Idris disobyeyed a presidential order, he should be shown the way out of his position.

“If truly Idris disobeyed Buhari, he deserves to be sacked outright or given any other type of punishment, otherwise we will regard both of them as conpirators or unserious minded fellows,” Okoko stressed, adding that Buhari and security agencies should tell Nigerians why the herdsmen are still killing farmers, acting without control as if there is no security measure in Nigeria.

Fiery cleric, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh of the By Fire By Fire Ministry, Nnewi, in a phone chat with The Oracle Today, asked Buhari to resign voluntarily or be disgraced out of office in 2019 if the National Assembly does not impeach him before then.

Bishop Udeh who described the alleged disobedience as a mockery of democracy, regretted that hunger, killings and monumental corruption have become recurring decimals in the Buhari administration, which he said has become an ill wind that blows no one any good.

From Awka, the Anambra State capital, Chief Sam Oraegbunam, Anambra State Chairman of the Hope Democratic Party, said: “For Idris to brazenly disobey President Buhari, it clearly depicts the pathetic situation the country has found itself in today. It shows that the president is not actually in charge, as one wonders how many other directives and instruction of his are daily being ignored, neglected and disobeyed in place of that of the particular officer.

“It’s little wonder most actions from the presidency appear unconscionable and without a hoot about

• Samuel Asuquo, one of the receiptients of the N1m Akwa Ibom State Government disbursed to owners of small businesses at the end of the Dakkada Business Summit the feelings of citizens. The president is an unwilling leader that is being tele-guided by his lieutenants.

Similarly, Dr Alex Obiogbolu, a stalwart of the PDP and former governorship candidate in Anambra State declared: “Well, I am not surprised because we refused to learn from history, because the July 5, 1993 edition of The News magazine, the then Head of State Buhari had alluded that the military government was ambushed by fellow colleagues who undermined his authority and administration.

Specifically, he stated that he was unaware of the arrest and detention of the popular Muslim leader of the time and was one of the factors that undermined the acceptability of that administration. Today he admits that the IGP did not follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. What did he do after finding out the Muslim Imam was arrested? What has he done now that he found out the IGP flouted his directive? Criminality and chaos reign where there are no punitive measures for lawlessness.

However, while Special Assistant on New Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan in, Reno Omokri, declared, that President Muhammadu Buhari has lost control of the security apparatus of his government following his open admittance that the Inspector General of Police flouted his orders on deployment

to check the herdmen’s killings in Benue State, the Presidency, said the nation’s leader is ‘not omniscient.’

Omokri, in a statement made available to newsmen during the week, said the President’s utterances during his official visit to Benue State on Monday showed his apparent helplessness in the issue of insecurity.

“This revelation from President Buhari has vindicated his wife, Aisha Buhari, who in 2016 revealed that the President had lost control of his government,” Omokri said, adding: “What type of Commander-in-Chief gives an order and does not have processes in place to verify that such orders have been carried out? A weak leader that is!

“President Buhari and his All Progressive Congress sold a lie that former President Jonathan was weak, however, if an Inspector General of Police had disobeyed President Jonathan’s orders two things would have happened: A) Former Jonathan would have known because he had a practice of verifying that his orders had been obeyed, and B) President Jonathan would have sacked such an IGP before you could say Jack Robinson.

“A case in point is that of former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba. IGP Suleiman Abba was established to have committed an infraction on April 21, 2015 and he was fired

He said in order not to reverse the gains made in the manufacturing sector over these years, Nigeria should not succumb to the pressure by the European Union for Nigeria to sign the EU-ECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the current form. “Also, the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, should be done cautiously as it may have the unintended consequence of opening up our economy to foreign products, through the back door and exposing our relatively disadvantaged productive sectors to unmanageable pressure. There is the need for proper and adequate consultations with critical stakeholders to mitigate this imminent onslaught ahead the of the implementation phase”

he stated.

The event manager, Clarion Event West Africa, Mr. Joseph Oru, said their goal with the annual NME expo collocated with the Nigeria raw material expo is to build a sustainable international platform for organisations to secure bulk orders from buyers.

“Manufacturing activities plays a significant impact on the economy of any nation, and the objective of this expo is to support manufacturing industry through new technologies, financing and networking. The concentration of visitors from targeted sector ensures that everyone you meet at the exhibition will be a useful connection for business,” he said.

Expos learning platform for SMEs Continued from pg. 41

NIRAM Expo is to create a platform where stakeholders in the raw materials value chain come together to synergize, showcase and trade-in available resources and raw materials with the users of same, which is mainly the manufacturing sector. This way, we intend to bridge the information gaps as well as encourage increased sourcing/procurement of locally available raw materials by manufacturing industries. To this end, we can proudly say that the incorporation of the NIRAM Expo is the most exciting thing that has happened to the Industrial sector in Nigeria” he said.

by President Jonathan on the same day.”

Omokri added: “During the Jonathan administration, some ministers and other officials were accused of either corruption or conflict of interest and they were summarily fired, one on the same day and the other after a two-week investigation.

“But contrast that with President Buhari who left his Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, in his job even after glaring evidence that the man was crooked. Till today, Nigerians do not know which official in the Buhari administration brought back Abdulrasheed Maina, reinstated him into the civil service and gave him double promotion.

“So indisciplined is the Buhari government that his Head of the Civil Service and his Chief of Staff were caught on video quarreling over the Maina affair in full view of reporters and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Such is the hallmark of an administration with a weak and gutless leader.

“Even a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, showed more spine in office than President Buhari.

“It will be recalled that when then Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, was ‘impeached’ then abducted and locked in a toilet, he testified that a phone was smuggled into his toilet detention center with which he called then Vice President Atiku

• Dr. Frank Jacobs

Abubakar, because then President Obasanjo had traveled out of the country, and that Atiku Abubakar subsequently called the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, and ordered him to reinstate Ngige.

“If a sitting Vice President can order an IGP and ensure that his order was carried out, Nigeria has no use for a President who cannot do the same.

“A President that cannot supervise his appointees, is that one a President? A President whose orders are disobeyed, is that one a leader? A President who does not know what is happening in his government, is that one in power?”

But, reacting to condemnations which have trailed President Buhari’s controversial statement, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has defended his principal, saying ‘he is not omniscient.’

Adesina who was a guest on a radio talk show, Tuesday morning, in Abuja, also used the platform to deny insinuations that the President was insensitive to the Benue killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen, stating that the assumption by Nigerians that ‘everything will flow from the top is not correct. It rather should even flow from the bottom up.’

According to Adesina, President Buhari has other channels of information but does not receive all information.

“It just tells you that the president is not omniscient,” Adesina said, adding: “As president and commander-in-chief, he has other channels, but it doesn’t mean that he gets every information under the sun.”

The Presidential aide, who admitted that expectations by Nigerians on security matters were not misplaced, noted that in other climes, there was also room for security breaches.

“The message it (the killings) sent is that security is a collective responsibility; it is not the responsibility of the president alone. What Nigerians expect is that everything will flow from the top which is not correct.

It rather should even flow from the bottom up.

“What Nigerians expect is that the president would be like a knight in shining armour who comes to settle all security issues even in wards and villages and hamlets. No, it doesn’t work that way,” he said.

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

SPORTS

•Gianni Infantino

2018 W/Cup: Am not under pressure – Ighalo .Vows to score against Croatia Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

S

UPER Eagles’ and Yatai Changchun strike, Odion Jude Ighalo has sensationally declared that that he is not under any pressure going to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. According to the Edo Stateborn attacker, there is nothing like feeling any pressure due to the World Cup because he is a professional football player who has no other means of livelihood and as a result, if called upon to play during the Mundial he will have no other option than to step in and perform his duties to the best of his ability.

Speaking further, the former Watford goal poacher explained that the fact that he has never played at the Mundial does not put any pressure on him rather he is anxious to play at the highest level of the round leather game which is at the World Cup tournament.

“I really do not know what being under pressure is all about.

As far as I am concerned, I am not under any pressure,” Ighalo began.

“The fact that I have not played at the World Cup does not in any way put pressure on me after all, I am a professional football player who does not have any other means of liveli-

hood.

“The only thing I can tell you is that I am anxious of the Mundial because just like you said I have never been at the World Cup which is the highest level foot-

ball competition.

“Of course it is the dream of every football player to be at the World Cup and I don’t think that mine is different from the rest of other football players.

“Whether to play or not to play in any game is the prerogative of the coach. It is the coach who determines who and who is to play in a match. So, if I am called upon to play, I will certainly go in there and contribute my quota to the team.

“Whether, I start or not is in the hands of the coach. Any player that starts in a game does not matter, what matters is the success of the team at the end of the day.

“So, whether I start or not is immaterial. If I am considered to start, I will give my 101 per cent and if I do not start, I give total support to my teammates for the team’s success,” Ighalo assured.

Ighalo, who will be celebrating his birthday on the same day that Eagles will file out against Croatia at the Mundial has vowed to give himself a birthday present by scoring a goal against Croatia if he is fielded for the game.

The Yatai Changchun striker

Wilder willing to accept 60-40 purse to fight Joshua

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N a bit to ensure that he realizes his dream of fighting Nigerian born British boxer, Anthony Joshua in a unification bout, WBC champion, Deotay Wilder has expressed his willingness to accept a purse split of 60-40 in favour of Joshua.

A super fight to unify the heavyweight world titles could occur this year if Anthony Joshua (AJ) as he popularly called triumphs against Joseph Parker later this month in Cardiff.

A war of words between the American, who owns the WBC belt, and Hearn (Joshua’s Promoter) has broken out in recent weeks, with veteran manager, Shelly Finkel also involved.

Hearn has always maintained that Joshua is the bigger draw and the more popular champion, meaning he deserves a bigger slice of the pie, but Wilder has conceded ground in the public negotiations in order to force the fight.

“I’m there,” Wilder said when asked whether he would accept 60-40 in favour of Joshua with the winner receiving 60-40 in the rematch.

“Nothing has been offered, nothing. Even when (Eddie) Hearn and his father (Barry) came to America last year, they weren’t talking about Joshua.

Joshua wasn’t in their mind.

“They were saying ‘you guys and Dillian Whyte’. Like I said before, I would fight Dillian Whyte no problem. That’s easy.

“As long as you have Joshua on the end of that, we’re good. And they didn’t even want to make that happen.

“That was the only thing that

was going. There wasn’t anything about me and Joshua discussed.

Nothing. Not one thing.

“They come back and said we didn’t make an offer, we didn’t reach an agreement.

“How can an offer be made when the main subject wasn’t even discussed – we’re talking about Wilder vs Joshua.”

E

were thwarted even as Rangers couldn’t see any other goal throughout the encounter.

Bright Silas playing for the Flying Antelope headed home the clincher from Felix Ogbuke to give the Flying Antelope the three maximum points at stake.

“The victory means a lot to us today because before the game, everybody’s mind was set for us to get the three points. That’s the most important thing and that will help to maintain the position we are,” began Madu.

“So, as we are right now, everybody is happy because we achieved our target,” Madu declared.

It is recalled that any local derby as it were between the two oriental clubs have always been explosive and most times Enyimba have always taken upper hands either by winning at the Cathedral or by drawing while they will not

Madu celebrates Rangers victory over Enyimba nugu Rangers midfielder, Christian Madu is in ‘Cloud 9’ over the Flying Antelope’s home victory against oriental neighbours and two time African champions, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game at the Cathedral.

According to him the victory means a lot for the Coal City club as they had set their mind on getting the maximum point not minding the score-line.

Ranger piped Enyimba 1-0 to secure the maximum points and the only goal of the game was scored in opening moments of the game at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium popularly called the cathedral by Rangers fans.

That as a matter of fact, was enough to ensure Enyimba left Enugu without any point as every effort made by the victors

allow Rangers see either draw or victory in Aba. It was a sweet victory for Rangers particularly the coach, Gbenga Ogunbote who was discarded

by Enyimba after helping the two time African champions secure a continental ticket last season when nobody expected them to do so owing to the obvious reason.

It is on record that Enyimba have been playing all their home games in Calabar instead of their fortress, the Enyimba International Stadium Aba due to the renovation works at the stadium which has taken a very long time than expected.

It is noted that not too long ago, the Abia State Government not satisfied with the pace of work at the stadium, terminated the contract and at the moment, nobody knows what the fate of the stadium is.

will turn 29th on the 16th June as he said he wanted a special birthday gift in form of goal for his birthday.

The game will be played in Kransdor and the Yatai striker has assured his fans he will not disappoint them if selected to face the Europeans.

“I will be glad celebrating my birthday with a victory against Croatia. It’s obvious that day will be my day and I won’t disappoint my fans who are party ready. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and see how it goes” he said.

Elechi confesses relief after Go Round victory

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o Round Fc of Omoku, Rivers State at the weekend got the better of their opponents, Sunshine Stars of Akure1-0 as Okon Otop scored on the dot of 32 minutes to secure victory to the brother Felix Obuah financed club.

With the three maximum points pocketed by Go Round Fc, an elated coach of the team, Ngozi Elechi has admitted to a relief after the game.

“I have a relief because before this match, we have already thought of this match and the remaining three games we have here at home, to make sure that we struggle and win the whole four matches to have 22 points on the road to put the team in contention,” Elechi began.

“So, in today’s game I know that Sunshine is a team that doing very well. I am not their coach. Their coach is a very good friend of mine.

He plays the kind of football that whenever you play a game in the first half he puts some players on the pitch to come and put pressure on their opponents.

“That was why I was not a little bit happy that my boys did not take their chances they have in the first half.

“But I think that taking three points is very important for the team which we are glad that we secured the maximum points,” Elechi explained.

It recalled that Go Round FC of Omoku were among the four teams that gained promotions to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the end of 2016/17 league season.

The Omoku club have on several occasions failed to make it to the elite division of the Nigerian Football League but succeeded at the end of last season.

Kudos must go to it financier and promoter, brother Felix Oduah who has remained consistent and committed in taking care of the affairs of the club since he founded it several years ago. It is only natural that the club rewards his efforts with good result as he continues support the club.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

SPORTS

Eagles’ll play with caution in friendlies – Rohr

By Maduabuchi Kalu Super Eagles’ head coach, Gernot Rohr insists his charges will play with caution when they play the two friendly games against Poland in Wroclaw on March 23red while they file out against Serbia on the 27th at

Hive Stadium in England.

“We have to play with caution and prepare well for the World Cup,” he enthused over the weekend. The German tactician who is also excited that Ahmed Musa is now playing regularly after his move from Leicester City to CSKA Moscow of Russia

said Musa is a very, very important player to the squad.

“I am very happy that Ahmed Musa has been playing regularly since his loan move back to his former club CSKA Moscow from Leicester City. He has been playing regularly and of course they love him.

“Of course Ahmed Musa is a very important player for us. We only need him to play at Leicester but now he is playing in CSKA to see that he is fit. This is very important for us,” Rohr said.

So, it is all about fitness for Ahmed Musa and he will certainly be in plane to Russia for

the World Cup. It is recalled that Ahmed Musa is the only Nigerian player to have scored two goals against World Cup favorites, Argentina at the World Cup. Musa struck twice against Argentina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil at the group stage game against two time world champions. Despite the Eagles losing that game Musa ensured that Nigeria were not humiliated in that encounter as he took it upon himself to respond to each Lionel Messi’s goal at that particularly encounter.

So, Rohr is right, Musa is a very important player for the Eagles especially now that the three time African champions have once again been pitched with the South Americans.

Meanwhile, Ado Deen Hag right back, Tyronne Ebuehi is injured and now faces race against time to be fit for the country’s friendly games against Poland on the 23rd and Serbia on the 27th of this month. Ebuehi sustained a groin injury in last weekend Dutch top flight defeat to NAC Breda that has Sadiq Umar.

Recovery of groin injuries depends on the severity of the injury. A mild groin injury may recover within a few weeks whereas a severe injury may take up to six weeks or longer to recover and that is not too good for Ebuehi.

Bolt made me a better human, athlete – Gatlin

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

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he world would have been a better place if only individual could say the truth all the time but only very few could be trusted to say the truth. And one of those very few individuals is no other person than the reigning 100m world champion, Justin Gatlin, who has just has commended his long-time rival and retired sprint legend, Usain Bolt as the greatest Olympian of all time.

Gatlin‚ in SA for a 150m race in Pretoria, said competing against

Bolt turned him into a better athlete and human being.

“Of course he is the best track and field Olympian of all time because the guy rises to the occasion when it’s time‚” the US sprinter said.

“You see him run in smaller meets and he does about 10 to 15 seconds and when it’s time to compete on the big stage‚ he understands that he has a different kind of pressure than everybody else.

“He was usually the defending champion and that’s a lot of pressure and he never relaxed‚” Gatlin said‚ also hinting that he may stick around for the 2020 Ol-

ympic Games in Tokyo at the age of 40.

“Racing against Usain has made me become a better athlete and better human being.

“I say that because when you are defeated and feel like you were at your best, there are only two ways you can react — either you will feel that you have let yourself down or you take that as a lesson and try to come back stronger,” he said.

“He (Bolt) took track and field to another level. When you race against him you come across situations that make you feel like you are the man but you get defeated by a better man.

“So‚ the only thing is how can I beat this guy. Along the way I just had to become confident and take my losses throughout my career against him,” he said.

Gatlin‚ who has won only one Olympic gold, in Athens 13 years ago‚ finally managed to beat Bolt when it mattered most, in the 2017 World Championships in London, to spoil the Jamaican’s farewell party.

Gatlin‚ who was banned for doping on two previous occasions in 2001 and 2006‚ is often jeered by crowds at meetings around the world and he said the younger generation must learn from his mistakes.

“I am human and that kind of stuff does affect me, but as an athlete I focus on my job and I do

what I need to do. That is a lesson that must be learnt by the younger generation,” he said.

The sprinter recounted the story of the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, where Bolt beat him in the 100m final, leaving him devastated and in tears.

“I had a great season in 2015 and losing in a hundredth of a

second was difficult.

“Getting back in the car and back to the hotel‚ I cried because I knew that I let myself down because I did not stick to my race patterns.”

Gatlin said he had been swept along by the hype of the event instead of focusing clearly on the job at hand and delivering the goods.

Nigerian wrestler ranked No1 in World

H

istory is being made every day in different aspect of human endeavour and sports is not left out of the areas where history is being made on daily basis.

However, it is a special feeling to have one of your own make history and this is the situation with a Nigerian Wrestler, John Emmanuel, who has just been declared the best in his weight category.

Emmanuel has just been ranked No1 in the world in the Men’s 70 kg Free Style by the United World Wrestling. Emmanuel, a two time African champion who retained his African title at the 2018 African championship held in Port Harcourt recently, become the first Nigerian man to reach the No1 ranking in Wanganui.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Agunwa Ekerekeme is ranked also ranked 3rd in the Men’s 79 kg free style. In the Men 86 kg, Melvin Bibor narrowly missed the top spot by just a point after gathering 23 points for winning the African title last month.

Ama Diniel is ranked 5th in the 65kg with 25 points. In the Women category, Odunayo Adekoroye is ranked 7th in the 57 kg with 16 points. They keep doing very well.

These Nigerian wrestler are doing the country proud and should backed with every available resources to enable them continue to do well for the country.

In boxing, an Olympian, Efe Ajagba on Sunday at the Freeman Coliseum in the Sana Antonio United States of America beat Antonio Johnson in his fourth professional fight. The 23 year old Nigerian who has won his first four fights via knockout since turning Pro last year making light of Tyrone Aaron at Rabbinate Theater, on July 30th last year.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 21, 2018

SPORTS

Don’t dare to come back if Eagles didn’t perform in Russia, Wike tells Amaju, NFF Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

G

OVERNOR Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of River State has told the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to attempt returning to the country if the Super Eagles did not do well and as a result should do everything humanly possible to ensure that the team perform well at the Mundial.

Governor Wike explained that the only way to ensure that Eagles perform well in Russia is to ensure that the team have adequate preparations for the World Cup even as he told Amaju that Nigerians would not accept failure at the Mundial.

Wike spoke on Monday when the President of the NFF paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Port Harcourt, saying exiting the World Cup at the group stage would be unacceptable to Nigerians.

In his words: “If you fail to advance beyond the group stage, don’t bother to return. Find excuses to stay there in Russia.

Nigerians expect the best from the Super Eagles. That is why the NFF must intensify preparations.”

Governor Wike urged the NFF to close ranks and work in unity for the development of football in the country.

“There must be disagreements; but these disagreements should be platforms for development. Disagreements should

• Gov. Wike and NFF President, Amaju Pinnick., not destroy the place. It should make NFF stronger,” he said.

The governor disclosed the state government is using football as a source of empowerment for the youths.

He said: “Football is a unifying factor in the country, as it douses tension whenever the nation is engaged in international sporting events.”

Wike, however, used the opportunity to commend the NFF for the improvements in the country’s league, charging the

federation to develop it to the level where teams can win on the strength of their capacity.

Speaking earlier, the NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick said the NFF were in the state to thank the governor for providing the foundation for the qualification of Super Eagles for the World Cup. He said the journey to Russia 2018 started in Port Harcourt after the Super Eagles defeated Swaziland.

Venus ousts Serena Williams in Indian Wells

V

ENUS Williams on Monday ended Serena Williams’ return to tournament tennis as she ousted her in the third round of Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open in two straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

Venus closed out the 29th career meeting between the two on her second match point as Serena sailed a forehand long to end the third round match.

The 10th seeded Venus moves on to the round of 16 where she will face either Anastasija Sevastova or 12th seeded Julia Georges.

It was the first meeting between the two sisters since they clashed in the final of the 2017 Australian Open, which Serena won before taking a 15-month hiatus due to her pregnancy.

It is rare for the Williams sisters to play this early in a tournament.

It is the earliest they have faced each other since their first encounter at the Australian Open in 1998.

The sisters arrived outside the stadium together on a golf cart then walked through the tunnel with Serena entering the court first with many in the crowd standing and cheering.

Venus blasted six aces but had eight double faults in the one hour 26 minutes main stadium match.

Serena is still shaking off the rust after the long layoff as she hit four aces but had her serve

broken four times.

This was their first encounter with Venus as an aunt and Serena as a new mother after giving birth to her baby daughter, Alexis Olympia, on September 1.

Venus’s victory also comes 17 years after an ugly booing incident led to a 14-year boycott of the tournament by the sisters.

But for some it brought closure to the once testy relationship between Indian Wells and the sisters who hail from the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

Said Serena Williams at the end of Monday night’s match: “There’s a silver lining always for me. I have to look forward to the next match and the next time.”

Serena said she is still easing her way back into match fitness.

“It wasn’t very easy, obviously,” she said. “It was good to play and try to get in the rhythm and get into the swing again.

“I can’t really replicate the situation no matter how much I do in practice. I make those shots 10 times out of 10 in practice.

“It’s just the nerves, the anticipation you feel naturally. It’s a little bit of everything that comes in a match that just doesn’t normally happen.”

And sister Venus complemented her: “Her level was super high.

It was really difficult to close out the match. She’s going to be winning tournaments sooner than later.” (NAN)

Lawal solicits support for Eagles F

ormer Super Eagles’ utility player, Garba ‘Chindo’ Lawal has called for support for the Super Eagles. According to the Kaduna State ex-international, Eagles need every support to enable them succeed at the Mundial in Russia.

He explained that there are no small teams as far as the World Cup concerned. So based on that; the three time African champions should not underrate any team as doing so will cost them a lot.

The former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee said for any team to make it to the Mundial means the team are as good as any other that qualified for the World Cup final.

Lawal also explained that the country had not had it easy during the qualifiers for the World Cup but that this time the country qualified without much stress and as a result to prepare well to ensure that they do well in Russia.

“The point is we have always had it tough and this time round we had it so simple and I believe that the current players that we

have by the grace of God will excel at the world championship,” Lawal began.

“We have the Argentines in our group, Argentina, Croatia and Iceland. All these three games are massive. They are all important and they are very strong games and they are very tough as well.

“So, we have to approach them with caution. As a matter of fact, every game is important,” Lawal declared.

It is recalled that Lawal played 26 times for the Super Eagles, scoring six goals in the process including the foremost strike against Spain even as he gave some tips to help the current players.

“This is an opportunity for them to help themselves, if they want to make a name. It is easy for them to make names for themselves and there is no other platform to do so than the world championship.

“If they want to do it, why not? They only need to believe in themselves and say we can do it.

If they believe that they can do it I don’t see anything stopping them.

“I am saying this because during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, nobody gave us a chance, but we did it and I believe that they can do the same also if they want. It all depends on the players,” Lawal explained.

Lawal also spoke about the Coach Gernot Rohr who he said has done a very good job and the players to expect tough competition in Russia.

“All the 36 teams are world class, all the countries are good.

It is the World Cup. It is the highest level in football. There is no pushover in there. So, Iceland will be difficult, Croatia will be difficult and Argentina will also be difficult. “If you have opportunity of plying for your club, people are seeing you, people are watching. If you are playing good, people are seeing and if you are not playing people are seeing. So, if you are not playing and when a coach does not call you, nobody will complain. “If you are not playing at you club side and the coach calls you, people will complain because we have not seen you play. So, discipline is key and continuity, that’s the key,” Lawal declared.

• Serena and Venus after the match.

Nigeria’s contingent ready for Gold Coast 2018

N

igeria’s contingent to the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia is ready and would start departing the shores of the country on March 18.

This much was disclosed to the media on Monday by the Special Assistant on Media to Minister of Youths and Sports, Nneka IkemAnibeze.

According to her an advance team made up of officials of the Sports Ministry would leave on March 18 to enable them attend the Delegates’ Registration Meeting due to hold on March 22.

“Federations competing at the Games will round off their pre-games training at the end of March and proceed to Brisbane on March 23.

“Athletics will depart on March 25.

The athletes comprised of 25 home-based athletes and five coaches while the Wrestling team will arrive the Games Village on April 2, she said.

The Spokesperson said the Games Village would be opened officially on March 25 while team officials would be allowed to check their athletes’ rooms five days earlier before the event.

She said Nigeria would take part in Athletics, Wrestling, Basketball, Gymnastics, Boxing, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Para Powerlifting, Para Table Tennis and Para Athletics. The 2018 Commonwealth Games would hold from April 4 to April 15.

WEDNESDAY March 21, 2018

The

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Uncertainty targets a second term

I

T took us a long time to get here. Maybe some of us did not notice. We have moved from unbelief, as a national culture, to disbelief. We have also managed to so regionalise and religionise belief and unbelief that they have become entrenched in what we are as a people.

With religion as the epicentre of most of our belief systems, to the point that we swear on holy books, draw on the name of the Almighty to buttress the veracity of the claims we make, the roots of beliefs, which are smeared with propaganda, therefore taint us. We blissfully participate in decimating our nation under the guise of serving it, saving it.

Instances of these proclivities abound – • Where is President Muhammadu Buhari? It used to be a question about the well being of the President, or an attempt to know which part of the globe had enticed him. Everything has changed. Any such question now meets with a bazooka of curses, accusation of inadequate patriotism. They will not forget to add that corruption was fighting back through an innocuous question.

Just a question about our President’s health?

I heard that it was no longer our right – we never had any - for the President to speak to us. He would speak to who he wants to speak to, where he wants to, and when he wants. He would address them in the language of his choice. He may decide not to speak to anyone at all.

There is nothing that we are expected to do about it, having been blessed to have a messiah as President.

Any discussions about the health of the President polarises the country. Nobody is left in doubt over the tentativeness that the country has reversed to following the long absence of the President.

Speculations have become rife about when and if he would return.

Is there a nation that has spent as much time as we have in the past seven years debating the health of its Presidents – two Presidents in that short space. Remarkably, similar secrecy has enveloped their status, long absences are on the menu and regularly some testify that it was a matter of time for the President to come back.

There is little certainty about what the government would have done if the President were present. Early in his administration, before we got any firm clues about how ill the President was, he told some Nigerians, in South Africa, that one of his regrets was that he did not become President earlier. We thought it was all about age. We were often reminded that he was human because throughout the campaign, the President was presented as super human, beyond the frailties that confront the rest of us.

He was not definitely one to allow all the stains and strains of corruption to affect him.

• Buhari

Now we cannot talk about the President unless we agreed that his health was his private matter, admit that any of us can be ill and could actually be ill, confirm that he was excluded from orders that government officials should not seek medical remedies abroad and that even if the presidential jet sat on the tarmac of a London airport for months, it costs only some barrels of oil daily to pay the parking charges, maintain the crew and remind the world that Nigeria’s President was still in London.

Sometimes they insinuate, by asking for more prayers, that we were not praying enough for the President. Could it be that we were saying specious prayers because we knew not what ached the President? Should we know under the Freedom of Information Act? If you cannot discuss these, would you

venture into asking the man to resign?

How dare you? What is the purpose?

Have we exhausted the list of the elect, who have to make the London trips to explain to us that the President was well?

Left to the President, he would have been home to continue the good work he was doing. We have been reminded that his doctors are battling his steely determination to return to fight corruption to a stand still. A little before his current departure to London, corruption stood still, ground to a halt, when more than $41.6m was found in an Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, apartment.

• We revert our attention then to the National Assembly. We wonder the purpose of the laws it makes. Our anger lies elsewhere. Figures jump over themselves about the earning of the

legislators. We claim our laws are too expensive, another way of saying that the cost of maintaining the legislators is high. We agree and we are unlikely to do anything about it.

They make laws. They unmake laws.

One law they would never make is one that would reduce their privileges and perks of office. It takes complete dumbness (in these parts we would think it is a cursed individual) to explode a bomb in one’s bunker. Our legislators are smart; that it may not be for our sakes does not nullify the fact. I have heard muted complaints that their earnings did not match the arduous work they do. Obviously, that came from the legislators.

In pressing their rights to huge earnings, they plead the high cost of earning elected positions. As investments go, investors, those who wear the angel tag inclusive, have an eye on early returns on their investments. Where the investment is in politics, the returns have to come quickly because political tides and waves are more turbulent than elsewhere.

What type of laws should we expect?

Our legislators are under siege, from constituents who spend all their lives working the mathematics of how, if legislators gave up half of their pay, a certain number of graduates would get jobs. These calculations are made with0ut room for bank charges - VAT, stamp duty, card maintenance fee, account management fee and COT. It should be clear about now that no legislator earns those exact amounts on which our calculations are based.

There are like-minded constituents, in the majority, who reason that the best manner of representation would be to share the money across board, after Honourable had taken some to reflect the fact that he was the leader. It was better that everyone got his bit and decided what t0o do with it.

As these tendencies persist, we are reminded that elections are less than two years away. It is a warning for the elected to prepare for elections, which means that is the only work to do from now to 2019.

Finally…

WE run a risk of minimising the importance of religion in our lives if we query why foreign exchange would be sold at subsidised rates to pilgrim across the faiths. Until we establish that religions are businesses, we have no option than to keep subsidising them. Anyone who wonders about the importance of our religions should imagine what we would have become without the pilgrimages.

PS: The material had been published earlier. It is reprinted to assert that our uncertainties are going into the next gear.

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oraclenews@oraclenews.ng, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.