Wednesday March 28, 2018 Edition

Libya – After blames, back to Libya

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IBYA has been happening for years. The feigned surprise by the authorities is part of hypocrisy that rules the land. What had not happened to this point is the high numbers involved, and the steely determination of the “victims” to go through hell, rather than remain in Nigeria.

THE first reaction to the Libya situation is to share blames, if they cannot be pushed.

Governments are not seeing their failure in the tragedy.

Hardship of unimaginable

THE ORACLE COMMENT

The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Section 14 2(b), Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 proportions descended on Nigerians with the superintendence of our governments, which have minimal concerns about Nigerians.

IT took years for Libya to build up. In those years, Libya

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

was a transit camp for those migrating to Europe, mostly Italy, where thousands of Africans die in their illegal attempts to cross in rickety boats into Europe. Majority of those who die could be

Nigerians. More Nigerians perish in the Sahara Desert as they make the tortuous journey to Europe.

THERE are other crossings through Morocco, Tunisia and Las Palmas. Italy is the most attractive because of traditional routes that decades of Nigerian migration had established. The links

drew Nigerian youths, mostly ladies, to Italy.

RISKY as the Mediterranean crossing is–many of those waiting to use it know they could die – people have lost so much hope at home that death on the turbulent sea is considered worthier than “doing nothing” about their condition. Many fully appreciate the dangers involved only at the point of “no return”.

THEY had invested so much of their lives and family

racle

WEDNESDAY March 28, 2018

Cont’d on page 24

www.oraclenews.ng

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.3 No.12 N200

Outrage over police • Withdrawal of VIP security a ruse • Non-protection of communities • Killings from lopsided appointments • All they do is extort people • Withdrawal will free officers for crime-fighting - Police From VICTOR NZE, Lagos; BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia; CHRISTIAN EZE, Yenagoa; CHUKS EZE, Enugu and IBE NWACHUKWU, Onitsha.

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HE ‘uninspiring’ response of the police and other security agencies to the spate of killings in the land, perpetrated by ‘herdsmen’ who invade farmlands in communities across the country and rape, murder and maim farmers, has continued to draw flaks from citizens who accuse the security agencies of either outright incompetence, complicity and or conspiracy in the fight against burgeoning terror in Nigeria.

In virtually every location where herdsmen have struck, leaving deaths and destruction in their trails, the police’s response is believed to have been mostly below par.

In June 2016 when herdsmen attacked Nimbo, a farming community in Uzo-Uwani Local Council of Enugu State, the police who had prior information about the attack and had deployed to counter it, reportedly withdrew shortly before the herdsmen struck, killing 15 villagers, including women and children.

The police and members of other security agencies have been accused of practically looking away as

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villagers were slaughtered in Southern Kaduna, Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara, Delta, Ebonyi, Cross River and many other places across the country in orgies of violence unleashed on those places by Fulani herdsmen.

Citizens’ criticisms of the role of the security agencies in the fight against terror heightened during the week following the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris’s directive that all police security details attached to private individuals and corporate organisations be withdrawn.

This, he said, had become necessary in view of the need to deploy more policemen to deal with the national security threat posed by the herdsmen and other categories of

Cont’d on page 2

•Chief Judge of the State, Hon Justice Peter Umeadi administering the oath of office on Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano during the inauguration for second term at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Photo: Modetus Igudobi

Mass sack looms in oil industry • IPMAN threatens 2000 filling stations in Calabar From SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, Lagos and ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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HOUSANDS of jobs are on the line as the confrontation between white collar workers’

union, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and petroleum industry service firms enter attrition stage.

The development comes with parallel turmoil in the Calabar Zone of the domestic fuel market where lo-

cal retail operators under the aegis of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, threaten to shut down 2000 filling stations in protest against supply deficits from depots.

Chairman of IPMAN, Calabar De-

pot, Mr. Lawrence Agim, said the marketers were taking the drastic measures after their appeals for fair allocation of petroleum products at approved official rates fell on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, the battle between PENGASSAN and oil service companies gathered under Petroleum

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NCC takes steps to sanitise 9mobile bid

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

NCC takes steps to sanitise 9mobile bid

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MIDST the disclosure of untidy handling of the bid for 9mobile and determined to salvage the deteriorating situation, telecoms industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has laid down rules of engagement that will ensure not only the transparent sale of 9Mobile but also the sustenance of its business post sale.

NCC rules of engagement are contained in a letter, by its Governing Board signed by the Chairman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The NCC letter is partly in recognition of the fact that 9Mobile is indebted to a consortium of banks that are regulated by the CBN. Both NCC and

• Odds favour Smile

CBN have been collaborating to ensure the successful sale of 9Mobile.

The letter espoused the three criteria that will guide the emergence of a preferred bidder for 9Mobile.

The first is “that whichever company would quality as successful bidder to take over 9Mobile has the technical competence apart from financial capability to turn round 9mobile and not further compound its problems”.

The second criterion is “that the successful bidder should come in with substantial funds (FOREX) to sustain the industry not just recycling funds facilities already with-

in the economy”. While the third insists “that the company that will take over should have adequate technical infrastructure on ground”.

The last criterion stemmed from NCC’s disavowal of the likelihood of the CBN been swayed by the creditor banks that “only focuses essentially on repayment of outstanding loans”. NCC’s concern for the sustenance of 9Mobile business post sale is hinged on the need for “the

continuity of the company for the betterment of the telecom industry, subscribers, labour force and the interest of Nigeria as a whole”.

In advising CBN to take into consideration all the issued raised before recommending a preferred bidder to the Commission for the approval of a licence, NCC restated its earlier stand in the press release of February 22, 2018, that “the NCC Board will not allow what happened to Etisalat to repeat itself. Therefore, the Board will scrutinise the technical capability and pedigree of

whatever company/companies are recommended as preferred bidders as regards their records in the immediate past 3 – 5 years before any of them is considered qualified to be issued a licence”. The Commission’s stance, the letter affirmed will safeguard 9Mobile from collapse and help it to raise enough funds to clear the debts inherited from Etisalat. Its stance it surmised “is in the overall best interest of the communication Industry, the shareholders, the subscribers, the labour force and the entire country”.

Outrage over police Cont’d from Pg 1

criminals.

About 200,000 police officers are said to be providing VIPs in the country with personal and or corporate security, a situation that has been described as anomalous given the urgent need for more officers and men to be deployed to provide security to the larger society.

However, while critics believe the withdrawal of policemen from VIP is good in principle, they doubt the sincerity of the IGP who in another breathe asked the VIPs to be affected by the withdrawal to reapply for the self-same police security details.

“It is all a ruse. It is obvious the police want to collect more money by way of reapplication fees from the VIPs. Otherwise, if you knew there was room for reapplication, why withdraw in the first place? Don’t tell me they want to scrutinize those apply for police protection because there is nothing like that. I am sure as many as would reapply and pay money would have their police protection permits revalidated,” a police community relations executive who wouldn’t want his name in print “for obvious reasons” said.

There are insinuations that the withdrawal or the announcement of the withdrawal of police security from VIPs was done not so much out of concern for the delicate security situation in the country, which requires more personnel to tackle it, as out of a seeming desire by the IGP “to be seen to be doing something.”

“After all, was it not the same IGP that ordered the withdrawal of firearms from personnel of agencies established by acts of state parliaments and licensed to carry firearms while saying nothing about any plan to withdraw similar arms from herdsmen who openly carry sophisticated weapons illegally? It’s all a ruse, I insist,” the police community relations executive added.

Nigerians are, indeed, worried by what many have called the security missteps of this government taken on its behalf by IGP Idris.

Accordingly, a stalwart of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chief Chris Nwokocha has described the security of the country under the IGP Idris as a mess.

Nwokocha noted that the IGP’s orders for the disarming of vigilance groups lawfully created by Acts of the State Houses of Assembly and withdrawal of security details of politicians and other private citizens who are paying for such services, call for concern.

According to him, against the backdrop of the frequent invasion of farms and communities by armed herdsmen who kill and maim, the

IGP’s order to disarm vigilance groups in the states smacks of a plan to annihilate “a certain group in Nigeria, either the Christians or those of the opposition,” citing it as “another worrisome aspect of Buhari’s regime.”

Nwokocha equally decried the latest order of the IGP, stripping VIPs of the security details.

“This is very confusing considering that political opponents may take advantage of the situation to deal with their targets who have been enjoying police protection,” he said. “Nobody actually knows if the IGP is talking for himself or he is the master’s voice. Remember that this is the same man whose appointment cost many AIGs and DIGs their jobs. Today, he has almost gone on rampage. I think it is condemnable. Somebody somewhere should tell us who this IGP is representing. Is he acting in the overriding public interest or he is his master’s voice? That is the question everybody should ask.”

Nwokocha who is the Secretary to Umuahia North Local Government in Abia State, said the disclosure by President Buhari that the IGP disobeyed his directive to relocate to Benue to handle security issues there made security conscious Nigerians to develop goose pimples.

“So security under the IGP is in a mess,” he stressed, adding that the IGP still enjoying the comfort of his office even after flouting a presidential directive is a confirmation that the President is not in control, that a cabal is running the government.

“Security under the IGP is very worrisome because we don’t trust him again. If he can disobey the president, then anything can happen. It shows that actually that there is a cabal running Buhari’s government. That is another reason why we are rooting for community policing; this will bring about decentralisation of the police. It has become more imperative now than at any other time,” Nwokocha opined.

To Barr Fabian Ugwuama, an Enugu-based legal practitioner IGP Idris Abubakar is a square peg in a round hole.

“He is so parochial, biased and lacks 21st century policing experience. He is not fit for the job because he has shown gross incompetence, tribalism and disrespect to constituted authorities; even disrespect to his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari. An IGP to whom a presidential marching order means nothing is not fit to be in the force talk less of becoming a

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• Barrister, Seyi Akinwunm, i First Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation with Aisha Falode, Chairperson, Nigeria Women Football League/ Member, NFF Executive Committee, who the University of Lagos Alumni honoured with an Award of Excellence

Mass sack looms in oil industry Cont’d from Pg 1

Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, has put thousands of jobs under threat as the dispute takes a worsening turn.

It is not clear what specific actions the oil companies will take, but inferences are strong that massive staff layoffs are imminent in most of the oil service firms recently picketed by PENGASSAN. Indication of drastic staff rationalisation emerged from the ongoing consultations among oil service companies in the country in response to routine picketing by PENGASSAN over alleged refusal of some of the oil companies to allow workers unionise.

Leaders of umbrella Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, who met in Lagos over a spate of widespread picketing on the group’s members, are currently exploring potent strategies to permanently deal with labour issues across that segment of the petroleum industry.

From legal determination of labour activism boundaries to internal reorganization and staff contracting, the oil service firms are working together to ward off common hindrance to the growth of their business before it stabilises as a tradition, inside sources said.

Chairman of PETAN, Mr. Bank-Antony Okoroafor, who spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said PENGASSAN has refused to play the role of patriotic partners in the pan-industry effort to sustain the Nigeria

Content Development programme in the face of the prevailing downturn in the industry.

“It is difficult times for the oil firms, not just the service firms but also oil firms that are facing the headwinds in the oil market. Some of them are finding it difficult to pay for jobs delivered by service firms.

So, they owe us. We don’t go to war with them because we know what the industry is passing through.

“Most of the contracting firms are owed. So, they are justifiably in debt, and the banks are chasing them.

And you go and shut them down because you want to unionize. That is insensitivity! Now, if these fledgling firms go down completely where will your members work? The biggest losers would be the workers PENGASSAN pretends to be fighting for,” Mr. Okoroafor pointed out.

He made it clear that apart from worsening the situation in the industry, picketing could prove fatal to small, fledgling companies.

In talking to members of his group, Mr. Okoroafor advised them to create internal communication channels that would enable workers at all levels understand the business dynamics and state of affairs in the industry at all times.

Other PETAN sources who spoke on the outcome of a meeting hinted that the investors’ response would take multi-faceted approach that does not rule out massive re-staffing, which might involve well defined work place behavioural codes and activities that conform to acceptable local and international labour laws.

They expressed anger at the temerity with which workers have shut down operations of some members of the oil contractors’ group, describing it as totally unacceptable.

One of the chief executives said many third party labour providers abound in the industry to assist companies carry on with their businesses without PENGASSAN members.

He pointed at blurred lines in the Nigerian labour laws and unclear definitions between intrusion and labour protests as the major loopholes exploited by PENGASSAN leaders to invade private businesses and inflict losses on them.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who had earlier decried the regular labour crisis in the industry as very disruptive to government’s economic growth polices also pointed out that the current crisis works against one of the key Nigerian Content policy targets to generate employment for hundreds of thousands of students pumped out from universities yearly.

He faulted picketing as a key obstacle to government’s policy on ease of doing business driven by Vice President Yomi Osinbajo.

Foreign investors that attended the launch of the Ease of Doing Business programme had pointed at frequent labour crises as key concern in taking investment decision for Nigeria.

Dr. Kachikwu added that the

Cont’d on page 44

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Lagos Assembly moves to review Land Use Charge law

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agos State House of Assembly has set up a sixman Ad hoc Committee to review the controversial state’s Land Use Charge Law, 2018. Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, announced the committee at plenary.

It would be recalled that public outcry had trailed a hike in the Land Use Charge last week, following an earlier review by the state government based on an amendment by the lawmakers. The state government responded, by reducing the rates, even as it promised to return the law to the Assemblymen for further review.

“As people’s representatives, there is need to address the issues raised by the people,” Obasa said.

The Speaker named Mr Bayo Oshinowo, Chairman, House

Committee on Lands, as the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, which he urged to report back to the House in two weeks.

Other members of the committee include Mr Yinka Ogundimu, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Mrs Funmilayo Tejuosho, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Petitions.

Others are: Mr Tunde Braimoh, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Mr Jude Idimogu (APC-Oshodi-Isolo II) and Mr Olusola Sokunle (APC-Oshodi-Isolo I).

“I am of the opinion that there is a need for us to pick up the law and look at those sections that our people perceived to be obnoxious. This will make us address the concerns raised by our people in Lagos State.

“We are representatives of the people and are responsible and responsive. We need to address the concerns,” said Obasa.

He said it was with this view that the ad hoc committee was set up to look at the law and ensure its amendment based on opinions and contributions to be received from the people at the second reading stage.

The speaker, who noted that law making is a process, frowned at the attitude of people to public hearings on bills.

“We appeal to our people to participate and contribute in the process of law making during public hearing to make their own contributions. This was actually done when this land use charge was in the process before passage and sending to the governor for assent.

“We invited the public but

we didn’t hear much from them concerning all these concerns. If only they had responded at that time, probably we would have done what would be acceptable to all. This (the review) is another opportunity for people to be part of the process.

“The committee has been constituted to listen to them and also consider the position of government as well. This is because it will be very difficult to separate government from taxation. Governance has to be run based on taxes collected by the government. So, we have to look for ways to agree with one another on this,” he said.

Obasa said that the first and second readings of the amendment would be on Tuesday and Thursday respectively, adding that the public hearing might be Friday or Monday.

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kiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has said the urban renewal programme of his administration is not a witch-hunt exercise or one that is done with malice against anybody or group.

He stated this in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with the Ewi in Council at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111.

In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Monday, the governor said so while responding to some observations by the chiefs on the ongoing projects in the town.

The spokesman for the council, Chief Francis Abe, who is also the Ejigbo of Ado-Ekiti, thanked the governor for the yeoman’s job he is doing in giving the state capital a facelift.

He, however, said some people were entertaining fear at the level of demolition of old houses in the town.

He added that what brought the fear was the inclusion of some areas not initially included in the market project.

Fayose defends urban renewal programme In his response, Governor Fayose, while appreciating the support of the people, urged them to understand that sacrifices had to be made for the state to progress.

“We are going to work until our last day in office. We are leaving indelible marks in the state. The houses being demolished are not done with malice.

We are not going after any political opponent. I am not demolishing any house because of political consideration.

“People can rebuild their houses as we are not after anybody’s land. The area behind the new Ojaba Market will be used for beneficial things and the project delivered within the next four months. By God’s grace, by first week of July, we will deliver the market project,” he said.

U.S envoy backs Ortom on ranching

By VICTOR NZE

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enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom’s advocacy for the establishment of ranches for cattle rearing today received a boost, Monday, as the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, backed the state’s stance against open grazing.

The U.S envoy who visited Ortom at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi, noted that if cattle are properly reared in ranches instead of open grazing, Nigeria could be one of the highest income earners from milk production.

“I come from a family of farmers and part of my family used to move cattle from one state called Colorado to another state called Texas every year and over time they changed until now the cow business that they do is very much one that takes advantage of the land and we have to move them on trucks.

“I had a great conversation the other day just outside the city of Jos with one of the great milk producers of the world, a company that produces milk. And I talked to the guy and he was mentioning to me that the milk that comes from the Fulani cattle can be incorporated into the great milk produced here. Literally the future of the nation could be rich when the milk of those herders get fed to the sons and daughters of families and their vegetables get fed to the sons and daughters of the herders. I am happy that you are thinking in this direction Mr Governor”, the U.S envoy stated.

Remarking, Governor Ortom thanked Symington for the visit and solicited the assistance of the United States in the realisation of the move for ranches across the country, stating that it is one reliable way of guaranteeing peace in the country.

“Let me on behalf of the government and people of Benue State welcome you to the

Presidential Wing of the Benue Peoples. I appreciate your visit. We were glad when we learnt that you are coming to visit us because we look up to America for a lot of things. Today, the Presidential system of Government that we practice, we borrowed it from America.

“I have been advocating ranching which I know America for the rearing of cattle instead of the grazing that we have in Nigeria today. Due to the shortage of land, the issue of grazing has become a major security challenge, especially in my state. Frequently, there are clashes between farmers and herdsmen because the land is not there and my people are mostly farmers. So they find the herdsmen encroaching and trespassing on farmlands and thus destroying their crops and when they are confronted, it will become a fight and we have lost so much.

“I have been calling for the establishment of ranches just like it is done in America.

Most of us look forward that our Government at the Federal level and the state level will come together and find a lasting solution because this crisis is not only peculiar to Benue State. There are other states too that are affected.

But to me, I see that ranching as it is done in America can solve the problem permanently because the land is not increasing but the population is increasing.

“When there were grazing routes in the fifties, the total population of Nigeria was less than forty million. Today, by the 2012 projection, we are over a hundred and seventy million and by 2027, I am sure we will be hitting two hundred million. So it is a big challenge.

While we want to support the herdsmen to graze and to rear cattle, it should not be at the detriment of lives and property of our people. And so you are welcome.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Form clusters to access loans -- Kebbi Govt advises farmers

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armers have been advised to form clusters or associations for easy access to loan and other forms of supports from the State Government.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Mu’azu Dakigari quoted the Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu as giving the advice during presentation of reports by committees on Agriculture of 21 local government areas, this Sunday at the auditorium, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi.

The Governor said his administration would partner with a private firm under the leadership of Professor Abubakar Muhammad Ka’oje, former Minister of Science and Technology and pioneer Vice chancellor, of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero to revive the tractor hiring unit for the benefit of the farmers.

He also announced plans to employ more agricultural extension officers as well as ensure their training and retraining to enable them offer useful advice to farmers to improve production.

Remarking, Professor Abubakar Kaoje expressed willingness to partner with the state government on how best to mechanize agriculture through tractor hiring.

He advised the commissioner for Higher Education Professor Mukhtar Umaru Bunza to encourage the state University of Science and Technology Aliero embark on massive cultivation of various crops in addition to research activities.

On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Garba Muhammad Dandiga said the state government has given support to farmers of agricultural input such as fertilizer and loans through the anchor borrower’s programme of the Central Bank.

He requested those who received fertilizer on loan to pay up for others to benefit, assuring that the tractor hiring unit of the ministry would be revived.

In his welcome address, the secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri explained that government decided to set up committees to go round various local government areas headed by a member representing the area in the house of assembly, or a commissioner.

This was to identify farm produce being cultivated, in peculiar area, problems faced by farmers and proper solutions on how best to tackle them.

Lagos flag-off 2018 World Water Day, seeks support for Vision Zero

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agos Water Corporation has flagged-off the 2018 World Water Day with Free Water Test campaign at various locations across the metropolis.

Speaking to the LWC Quality Assurance as well as Sales & Commercial Department teams before take-off, Monday, Head of the Department, Mrs. Monsurat Banire enjoined the Staff to be worthy Ambassadors of the Corporation, urging them to be polite in answering questions and friendly to all as they are esteemed customers of the Corporation.

She said the three-day event is expected to cover the eight operational regions of LWC, for easy accessibility, adding that “You are expected to take samples of water used in the

locations cover irrespective of the source, either it is LWC, borehole or any other.

According to her, the essence is to show the general public the quality of water the Corporation is serving the public compared to what is obtained from other sources such as boreholes.

Banire maintained that LWC distributed water is clean, safe and good for human consumption and urged Lagosians to migrate/connect to it due to conformity with World Health Organisation’s Standard.

She said this year’s theme: “NATURE FOR WATER”, explores how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century, stressing that environmental dam-

Mr. Hakeem Dickson said that safety issues should not only be seen as a priority but as a value.

The Vision Zero, according to him, is a transformational approach to prevention that interprets safety, health and wellbeing at all levels of work.

“The vision is to ensure there is zero tolerance for workplace incidents. It is also to increase awareness at all levels of work to cultivate positive change mindset”, he stated.

The Director-General explained that various strategies have been outlined to increase awareness for the forthcoming three – day Lagos Vision Zero conference with the theme: “A Mindset Change Towards Zero Harm”, to be held from the 26th – 28th of June, 2018, at the Landmark Center, Lagos.

Dickson said that the idea of Vision Zero was not about Censorship but about Leadership, Ownership and Partnership with all the stakeholders in the State to ensure strong tripartite support; raise Vision Zero awareness and engagement through individuals, companies and stakeholder-groups on how to mitigate unsafe practices.

He explained that the Commission has set up Committees to work on a Seven Golden Rules approach to realize zero harm in workplaces.

He said; “the Seven Golden Rules are – leadership commitment, identify hazards and create protective measures, set health and safety goals, ensure a safety and health system, use safe and healthy technology, improve qualification and competence and invest in people”.

The Director General recalled that Vision Zero was launched globally at the XXI (21st) World Safety Congress held in Singapore 2017 and it focuses on building capacities and raising awareness at all levels of work to cultivate a positive change mindset that all injuries and ill-health caused • Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar (r) with the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai in are preventable, believing that Zero attendance at the just-concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Zaria Education Development Association Harm is possible.

(ZEDA), in Kaduna, weekend

PCNI trains 300 teachers on trauma control in Adamawa

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residential Committee for the control and other psycho-social supNorth-East Initiative (PCNI) has port in Adamawa. commenced the training of 300 Declaring the training open in Yola, primary school teachers on trauma Monday, the Chairman of the Com-

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mittee, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, the surgency.

Danjuma, who was represented training was designed to enhance the capacity of the teachers to support by Alhaji Ibrahim Bapatel, Senior Speparents and pupils affected by the in- cial Assistant to President on Policy Development Analysis, said the participants would also be equipped in peace building skills.

He added that the training would the state, especially in rural areas,” last for one week. he said.

“The workshop is in line with the Ganduje said the state govern- Buhari plan and the PCNI core manment spent over N145 million in the date aimed at improving the content purchase of the kits which included delivery and skill of primary school diapers, surgical gloves, sanitary teachers from the states of NorthEast in post-conflict situation. pads, baby soap and oil.

“The training Module includes InHe added that the state government had trained 1,936 traditional tensive Teaching Techniques, Conbirth attendants in the state, explain- flict/Disaster Risk Reduction and Psying that the training had enriched the cho-social support training,” Danjuma skills of the attendants on safe deliv- said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Saidu Komsori, ery of babies.

He expressed delight over what the state Director, Quality Assurance, Basic Education Board, said he described as “tremendous in- Universal that over 25,000 teachers were excrease in pregnant women attend- pected to benefit from the training. ing pre- and post-natal clinics across Komsori said that participants were the state. drawn from insurgency-affected ar“This is further encouraged by the eas in order to expose them to teachfree drugs programme introduced ing principles and techniques. by the state government for pregAccording to him, about 25,000 nant women.” pupils were directly affected by the The state’s Commissioner for insurgency in the state.

Health, Dr Kabir Getso, had comHe further said that the training mended the state government “for would go a long way in assisting and improving social activities in the state. the strides in the health sector.”

Kano distributes delivery kits to 10,000 pregnant women Kano State Government has distributed delivery kits worth N145 million to more than 10,000 pregnant women in the state, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje said.

The governor disclosed this, Monday, while distributing the kits at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hos-

pital in Kano metropolis that the gesture was to assist the women.

“Today, we are witnessing another milestone as we distribute free delivery kits to pregnant women in Kano. The exercise is aimed at reducing hardships and saving the lives of pregnant women during delivery in

NSCDC deploys 50 motorcycles for patrols in Taraba

igeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), has deployed 50 motorcycles to its Taraba Command to enhance patrol in flash points of the state.

age, together with climate change, is causing the water-related crises, floods, drought and water pollution around the world.

She cautioned that neglect of our ecosystems makes it harder to provide everyone with the water we need to survive and thrive.

Meanwhile, the state government has called on the general public and relevant stakeholders on safety issues to key into its Vision Zero initiative, designed to reduce unsafe acts and promote wellbeing in workplaces.

Speaking, Monday, at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja at a Press Conference on Vision Zero, organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission, the Director-General of the Agency,

The State NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Kamilu Isah, who disclosed this in Jalingo said the motorcycles would assist the command in tackling the recurring violence in Takum, Mambilla and Lau areas.

“Adequate arrangements have been made for fuelling and maintenance of the motorcycles which will encourage my men to tackle criminality in difficult terrains. Security equipment including bullet proof vests, boots, helmets, shocking batons were also provided to the command.

“Other gadgets that will not be disclosed for security reasons were also

provided by the Commandant General,’’ he said.

He appreciated the support of the Commandant-General, Abdullahi Muhammadu to the command and assured that the facilities would be put to very effective use.

On synergy with sister agencies, Isah said the NSCDC and other security agencies in the state were like a family.

“We have been working as brothers and sisters. We share information, we consult one another; we are a family with a common goal,” he said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA www.cbn.gov.ng

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

You don’t like APC, it’s a problem – Okorocha tells Archbishop Obinna

By COLLINS UGHALAA

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OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha has declared that he has no score to settle with the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, even as he pointed out that his only problem with the Archbishop is that he does not like the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the Governor said that the Archbishop does not hide his dislike for the APC but rather likes APGA, even as he warned The Leader newspaper, owned by the Catholic Church, to stop destroying the name of the Archbishop.

“The only issue is that the Archbishop does not seem to like APC as a party and he does not hide it.

He does not hide his affiliation to

Umahi’s aide resigns, calls administration ‘evil’

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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enior Technical Assistant (STA) to Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Media, Chief Christopher Ngwuta, has announced his resignation.

Ngwuta, who is also popularly known as GNG, said he has communicated Governor Umahi of his resignation through a letter he submitted to the office of the Secretary to state government, Prof.

Bernard Odoh, who received the letter in person.

He said he resigned his appointment because he could no longer allow himself to be hoodwinked by the Governor and his government which he described as ‘evil’.

He first broke the news of his resignation in his verified Facebook account.

The resignation letter on his Facebook timeline read: “I Chief Christopher Ngwuta GNG, the General, wish to thank his Excellency the Governor of Ebonyi state for the opportunity to serve him in this capacity, as STA on media.

“Following some personal reasons, I write to inform of my resignation as STA on media. May the Lord almighty be with the great people of Ebonyi state this 2018 /20-19 in Jesus name Amen”.

Chief Ngwuta who spoke to The Oracle Today newspaper, Monday night, said he was fed up with Umahi and his style of governance.

“I was invited for a meeting by Prof. Jerry Gana. While I was in Abuja for the meeting, I received a call from the Governor asking why I attended the meeting without his knowledge. He was saying all kinds of things, and that he was going to suspend me without salary. I told him that I’m above such a threat and he should go ahead to do his worst. “After all, how much does he pay me? I am an international businessman. I know my worth. So, nobody can cow me with peanuts.

He should know I’m not like others he is controlling and manipulating with voodoo. This government is evil and I cannot continue to join others to die in silence.

“He said he is doing projects but he and his family members are the ones executing all government projects; running government as if it is a family business and looting the state’s treasury dry”, Ngwuta said.

APGA. So he finds it extremely difficult to be on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Rochas Okorocha, who are products of APC. That is all.

“We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to The leader newspaper owned by the Diocese to stop damaging the reputation of the Archbishop by publishing

most members of the Diocese were there and know the truth, beyond the propaganda of frustrated opposition in the state. And luckily too, the Archbishop himself had told the world that he was neither attacked nor manhandled by anybody”.

Governor Okorocha reminded the Archbishop that in 2011 and 2015 respectively, he and the APC won overwhelmingly in Owerri Municipal where most members of Owerri Catholic Diocese reside and more than 95 percent of the Diocese and the Archbishops’ senior brother and frontline politician in the state, Sir Paddy Obinna, have remained his strong supporters.

He boasted that in the coming 2019 elections there is no doubt that the Diocese will also vote for his choice for the governorship because they know the truth of the whole story.

“For instance, accusing Governor Okorocha of threatening the Archbishop which they made banner headline last Sunday over an interview by Chief Steve Asimobi in Abuja which was also harmless was very unfortunate and unchristian.

“It makes the newspaper look junk. A Christian newspaper should be conveyor of truth and peace and not marketer of falsehood and incitement”, Okorocha said.

Barely 24 hours after the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri raised alarm that Archbishop AJV Obinna was in danger and that they would • From left: Obi of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi hold Governor Okorocha responsiOkowa, former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Minister for Labour, Chris Ngige and Senator Andy Uba ble should anything happen to the during the during Gov. Willie Obiano’s inauguration ceremony at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka. Photo Modestus Igudobi Archbishop or any of his workers. falsehood and blackmails as if it is an opposition medium”, said the Governor.

He added: “They know that the governor has never in any way offended the Archbishop or the Diocese. They know that Governor Okorocha’s achievements in seven years have exceeded all that his

predecessors since the creation of the state in 1976 put together had achieved. And they equally know that the governor has invested in the Diocese more than any of those before him as governor, whether Military or Civilian, had done.

“Even the reported incident at a funeral service at Ngor-Okpala,

2019: I remain best option for Imo State – Ohakim

By COLLINS UGHALLA

F

ORMER Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, has assured Imo people that he remains the best option for the governorship position in 2019, explaining that his visit to his brother and a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, on Friday March 16, 2018, does not mean or suggest that he had backed down from his second term governorship bid in 2019 as suggested in media reports.

Ohakim who is running for second term in office in 2019 said he visited his brother at his country home in Isiebu Community in Isiala Mbano council because they remain brothers and that he believes that the security, stability, peace, unity and progress of the state is bigger than anyone’s ambition, even as he said that he was demonstrating that political tolerance should be imbibed by all.

In a press release on Monday in Owerri, Ohakim said that he “believes deeply in the unity, peace, security, stability and progress of Imo State and the people”, adding that ‘these are bigger than anyone’s political ambition.’

The former Governor added that “He also believes in the comradeship among those aspiring to be governor of the state, and that politics should be played without bitterness. Moreover, Dr Ikedi Ohakim believes in the brotherliness of brothers and that the love and bond between brothers should be

very strong that no kind of politics will be a wedge between them, no matter what.

“He believes firmly that if we must preach political tolerance we must first imbibe same and demonstrate it to our followers, so that they too will imbibe same qualities. It is for the sake of this long held principles that His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim paid an unscheduled visit to his brother, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, at his home in Isiebu in Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo State on Friday, March 16, 2018, putting aside their politi-

cal differences but bearing in mind that they are brothers after all.

“Ohakim will continue to relish the warn reception he received from Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and the good time they had, eating together, hugged each other, shook hands, cracked jokes and laughed together. He will also be glad to host Senator Araraume or anyone else in his house, and he will visit more governorship aspirants in the state.

Ohakim also called on other aspirants in the state to visit each other

as a way of preaching and demonstrating tolerance in politics.

He also noted that he “remains one of the fathers of Imo State, having been Governor for 4 years and now tipped for return for second term in office in 2019”, adding that his “second term bid which has got massive support from Ndi Imo both at home and the diaspora is largely due to his sterling performance while he was in office and the unique qualities he possesses, which many lack”.

By COLLINS UGHALAA

“And we sincerely make hay to publish our denial and also state with a very sense of sobriety that there was never a time throughout the duration of the media interaction that the governor mentioned Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, with regard to the governorship of the state or for any other reason. For goodness sake, the governor never said that.”

Governor Okorocha “challenge those who made the publications to publish verbatim all that the Governor said at the media meeting to fault our denial to that effect, since the burden of proof falls on the shoulder of the accuser”.

He added: “On our part, we have carefully played the video clip of the press briefing on that Friday and we could not locate where the governor mentioned Senator Ifeanyi Ararume to the extent of stating that he cannot be governor in the state.

“And that is also why we are chal-

lenging those who published the falsehood to publish the governor’s comments at the event wholesale for the public to know those on the side of truth or those on the side of lies.

“If the Governor had said such a thing, majority of all the National media outfits who attended and other prominent newspaper houses in the state would have led their publications with that.

“The Governor has been an ardent hater of zoning with regard to political offices. And in his response to a question concerning zoning, he said that talking about zoning would mean that, because he is governor now nobody from Ideato South should be governor again and so on.

At the end of it all, he said let those who have what it takes to lead vie for leadership positions and not on the basis of zoning or on the basis of where one comes from.”

I never said Ararume cannot be governor – Okorocha

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OVERNOR of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has denied media reports which quoted as declaring that former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who is contesting the governorship seat in the state under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, cannot be governor.

In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the Governor said he “has read and indeed taken exception to the leading story in one or two Owerri based tabloids quoting him to have said that ‘Senator Ifeanyi Ararume cannot be governor in the state’, with those behind the publications claiming that the Governor had made the remark at a parley he had with a category of journalists in the state”. The Governor said there was never a time he made the comments.

The Oracle Today

7

Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

N’Assembly insensitive to nation’s progress – MASSOB

By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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OVEMENT for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has charged Nigerians to rise up against the continued existence of the National Assembly, saying senators ‘evidently do not believe in building the nation positively.’

According to a release from the pro-Biafra group, and signed by the leader, Uchenna Madu: “Most worrisome is that majority of these senators of Federal republic of Nigeria do not exist in the Senate Chambers. They only exist during election campaigns or ceremonial functions. Most of them are

PDP nominates Udenwa, Iwuanyanwu for BoT

By COLLINS UGHALAA

O

pposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has nominated former Governor Achike Udenwa, and a leader of the party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, to be members of the party’s new Board of Trustees (BoT).

In a press release by the state publicity secretary, Mr. Damian Opara, the party said the decision was taken during a stakeholders’ meeting, which held weekend, in the state.

“The decision to nominate the above persons to the positions of BOT members was done by the PDP, Imo State, in a Caucus meeting which was held at the party secretariat at No. 98 Okigwe Road, Owerri”.

The party added: “In a unanimous decision, by the entire members of the State Caucus in a meeting chaired by Barr. Charles Ezekwem, the Party State Chairman.

“The Party agreed through a unanimous vote to forward their names to the National Executive Committee for inclusion as members of PDP BoT.”

glorified laymen with no qualitative educational background.

And a man without a good academic insight and exposures as a senator can never be fruitful to his nation. “

zens and infrastructure remain in abysmal conditions MASSOB called for dissolution of Nigeria and consequently the senate.

“Since they don’t believe in building Nigeria positively, we are charging the federating units of Nigeria to rise in dissolution and dismemberment of this estate of political criminals called Nigeria.”

he Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has strongly condemned the assault on the Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, warning those behind the act to refrain from such or attract God’s wrath.

The warning came on the heels of the action taken by members of the Ugwumba Movement, a political organization for the 2019 governorship ambition of Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

It was gathered that Archbishop Obinna during a commendation Mass at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, organised in honour of the late Mrs. Juliana Mbata of Mgwoma Obube Community in

D

eputy Governor of Imo, Mr Eze Madumere, said he would pursue his govWhile commending Senator ernorship ambition to a logical Lawal Sanni for exposing the conclusion in spite of opposition carting away of huge millions from the state overnor, Chief of the public wealth monthly by Rochas Okorocha. the senators whereas the citiIn a statement by Mr Uche Onwuchekwa, his Media aide, Madumere said that no amount of opposition from the governor would make him to lose sight of the ambition.

He said “God is the giver of power and decider of destiny and no man born of a woman can stop my ambition.

“I think that from the wealth of my experience as a seasoned administrator both in public and private sectors, I am the most qualified to take Imo state to the next level.’’

Madumere, however, revealed that the “greatest opposition’’ to his ambition was from people he nurtured politically.

He said he was betrayed by people he brought into politics, but stressed that no level of betrayal or sabotage could stop him from the governorship race.

Okorocha had some weeks ago announced in the state that his son in-law and current Chief • Anambra State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), John I. Ahwen, of Staff to him, Mr Uche Nwosu, flanked by some of the 72 officers of the command’s newly-promoted officers and representatives of other would succeed him as governor in 2019. paramilitary organizations who were decorated at a ceremony, Thursday.

You’ve reduced Imo APC to one-man-party -- Group tells Okorocha MO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has reduced the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to a one-man-party, according to a group known as the Imo APC Restoration Coalition led by Dr. T. O. E Ekechi, a former Commissioner for Information under Okorocha.

“Imo being the only APC state in the South East remains the barometer by which the entire party in the country and the Igbo nation

in particular will be assessed and evaluated by the electorate hence our concern for us to do things accordingly so as not give the impression that our great party is a one-man-show that dwells on imposition, lawlessness and arbitrariness - factors that can reduce the party to nothingness,” the group said.

The group which clarified that it was not at war with Governor Rochas Okorocha, however, regretted that its members have been

Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, criticised the policies of Okorocha as well as his plan to impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, on the people of the state as his successor.

He maintained that the people of Imo State were suffering, adding that despite creating a Ministry of Happiness by the governor, Imo people were still not happy.

It was at this point that he was interrupted by murmurings by some state government functionaries and their supporters.

They started raining abuses on the Archbishop and called him uncountable and unprintable names before rushing to the altar in an attempt to snatch the microphone from him. But for the intervention of priests who formed a protective ring around the Archbishop, he would have

been mobbed.

Bishop Ezeokafor who spoke at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, while playing host to the members of Civil Society Labour-Media Alliance, Anambra State, condemned the incident, describing it as a dastardly act.

“Judging from what I was told, a group of thugs perceived to be loyal to the Imo State Government disrupted the church Commendation Mass. I heard they called the Archbishop all manner of unprintable names.

“See, no one has the right to interrupt a homily. You do not question the preacher. You do not reply a homily. It is like a law court where you have to keep quiet. But, here in Imo State, you see them questioning and interrupting the Archbishop. It is abominable and condemnable.

By COLLINS UGHALAA

I

Archbishop Obinna: Bishop Ezeokafor warns perpetrators of God’s wrath

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The Biafra agitators described the Nigeria Parliament, especially the Senate as peopled by “market men/women who always see the National Assembly as a business market where they only make billions of monetary profit without investments.

MASSOB sees them as insensitive and shameless in their dealings with the people of their senatorial constituencies.”

Okorocha can’t stop my ambition – Deputy Gov

misrepresented by some officials of the state government, saying that “there are few misguided elements in the Imo State Government who truculently have been misrepresenting and misquoting our March 7, 2018 intervention”.

In a press release signed by its leader, Dr. T.O.E Ekechi and Barr Kingsley Ononuju (Secretary), the group said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we are not at war with His Excellency, the executive governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha’s government.

We are not also a splinter group or a faction of the Imo State APC. Not at all.

“We are a group working assiduously to restore the image, integrity and confidence which the good people of Imo State hitherto had in our great party. We do not want the APC to be disgraced at the 2019 general elections.

“To that effect, we are tirelessly working to instill justice, fairness, equity and orderliness in the Imo APC; and we are anchoring our modalities in constitution, constitutionalism, good conscience and morality. It is our conviction that the way and manner Governor Okorocha is going about the installment of his son-law as his successor is riddled with confusion, coercion, disorderliness and largely dictatorial. As a loyal, committed as well as stakeholders group in the APC”.

They insisted that that Governor Okorocha’s endorsement of his son-inlaw, Uche Nwosu, for the 2019 governorship election in the

state is a way of cowing other governorship aspirants in the party.

“We view the governor’s endorsement of Uche Nwosu as an insidious way of cowing other aspirants out of the race; and this is against Nigeria’s Constitution as well as APC’s Constitution. As we said before, we are vehemently opposed to an Uche Nwosu aspiring to the office of the governor of Imo State in 2019, not more when such an aspirant is openly being sponsored by a sitting governor.

“Our members see this act as inglorious, disdainful, rude, insulting, embarrassing, immoral and as we have clearly proved in the past, it is against the spirit and provision of APC Constitution”, said the group.

“Equally, let it be on record that we are not waging any zonal battle. You can confirm that our membership is drawn from all the three geo-political zones in the state. Let us use this opportunity to commend our brothers and sisters from Orlu zone,” the group said.

The Oracle Today

8

Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

Amnesty Programme: N/Delta militants reject Dokubo

By CLEM ONYEANUSI, Yenagoa Delta region, alleging that nothing tangible had been recorded OME militant groups in since the coming of the present the Niger Delta, under the All Progressives Congress-led aegis of the Reformed Ni- government at the centre. ger Delta Avengers, (RNDA) He lamented the action of have kicked against President Buhari, saying Boroh had sucMuhammadu Buhari’s recent ceeded in setting a template appointment of Prof. Charles for the smooth operation of Dokubo as Coordinator of the Amnesty Office and warned the Presidential Amnesty Pro- that the militants’ striking units gramme on Niger Delta. across the Niger Delta had been President Buhari, last week, put on the red alert to comsacked Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh mence “Operation Zero Oil” to (rtd), replacing him with the cripple the economy in a wellacademic, Prof. Charles Dokubo coordinated destruction of all who hails from Rivers State. major oil pipelines after the However, in a statement, expiration of the four-week ulMonday, Leader of RNDA, ‘Gen- timatum without looking back. eral’ Johnmark Ezonbi issued a “I want to warn that any infour-week ultimatum to Presi- truder into our planned action dent Buhari to reinstate the in four weeks’ time if the Fedsacked Boroh, just as he vowed eral Government failed to rethat failure to reinstate him at instate Gen. Paul Boroh would the expiration of the ultima- be severely dealt with without tum would force his group to mercy. Our attack will make seresume fresh attacks on oil in- curity agencies in the creek very stallations and facilities across small. the length and breadth of the “We are fully ready to take on region. anybody as we have the instruAccording to Ezonbi, it had mentality of warfare that will become obvious that the Fed- make the biggest military might eral Government was toying to marvel at our coordinated atwith the destiny of the Niger tacks. We are ready to dirty our

S

rivers and creeks with our oil; it is better we spill it than allow government use it to develop other parts of the country.

“We are not unmindful of the roles played by self-styled leaders of the APC in the SouthSouth region by sponsoring falsehood against the person and office of Boroh for his blunt refusal to grease their palms to the detriment of the Amnesty

Programme meant strictly for ex-militants and agitators.

“We have always known those leaders to be anti-Niger Delta since the coming on board of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government as the latter kicked against the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”

The militants’ leader further

said that Boroh had made concerted efforts to put the amnesty programme back on track with the regular training of ex-militants and payment of monthly stipends without delay.

He maintained that Prof.

Charles Dokubo is unfit for the job because of his age, adding that he has long lost touch with happenings in the creeks.

Group pledges to sustain advocacy on protection of C’River forest

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oordinator of Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Dr Odigha Odigha, says the coalition will sustain its advocacy on protection of Cross River forest in 2018.

Odigha, who said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday, said that the NGOs had resolved to step up advocacy against destruction of the forest.

“This is what the NGOs have resolved to do this year and the campaign has started since January. Defending the Cross River forest from being destroyed is our priority because of its enormous benefits. To sustain the tempo, we have started training people, especially youths, on different projects that will discourage them from relying on the forest resources for their livelihood,” he said.

Odigha said that the coalition had received support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for its efforts to preserve the forest.

He said that part of the advocacy involved mobilising the stakeholders to refrain from executing projects that would encroach on the forest areas.

According to him, the advocacy involves enlightening political leaders at the state and federal levels on the need to preserve the forest.

Odigha said that the destruction of the forest for any reason whatsoever would be out of sheer ignorance, adding that the communities ought to know why the forest should be preserved.

“The global community will be quite eager to know what becomes of the last forest standing in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He stressed that it was, therefore, in the best interest of Ni- • Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel (l) with his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose durgeria to safeguard the Cross River ing the Dominon Mandate Conference, organized by the Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly (ACA) at the forest from being tampered with Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo, Thursday. in anyway.

NDDC, Microsoft, others partner in primary, secondary e-learning for Niger Delta

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IGER Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Microsoft and other Silicon Valley companies in United States have begun an e-learning project to revolutionize education in the Niger Delta.

The Managing Director of NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere, said this on Monday while speaking with State House Correspondents af-

ter the organization presented the model to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Ekere, the project is aimed at bringing the Niger Delta youth up to date with the rapid technological changes taking place in other parts of the world. “We had a meeting with the Vice President and we made

EdoJobs, Oxfam partner on capacity building, others

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oised to prepare graduates with skills to contribute to the state’s economy and become self-reliant, EdoJobs has partnered with Oxfam in the Career Kickstart programme and Leanna Garage to train over 155 youths in Edo State on employability skills and automobile engineering.

The training is among a series of ongoing capacity building programmes organised by the state government’s Skills Development Programme expected to train graduates and empower them to tap from the 200,000 jobs promised during the governor’s first term in office. Oxfam is training 150 persons in the Career Kickstart programme, while Leanna Garage is training five others.

The over 155 youths, whose training began on Tuesday, March 13, were drawn from the Edojobs

portal, which holds the database of unemployed youths resident in the state and forms a pool from where employers in the state make recruitments.

Speaking at an event organised to launch the Edojobs 2.0, the second phase of the project, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Skill Acquisition and Job Creation, Ukinebo Dare, said that the state government is partnering with experts to equip graduates with skills that will prepare them to tap from the vast opportunities opening up in the state as more investments trickle in.

According to her, “EdoJobs is designed in such a way that some programmes have stipend packages, start-up packs while others have business support packages for trainees. The programme will also address the needs of participating business partners and individuals.”

a presentation to him on a project which in our estimation will revolutionize education and learning in the entire Niger Delta region and in the country.

“In these days where the world is changing very rapidly, e-learning, e-trading and e-solution is the way to go.

“And so we come with a project to replace the hard copy textbooks that we have for learning in primary and secondary schools, convert them into digital format.

“And each of the students in the primary and secondary school will be given tablets and laptops that will contain all the textbooks, all the learning instructions and learning manuals that they need and then prepare them to face the new world and be competitive with graduates from any part of the world.

“That is exactly what we are proposing for the Niger Delta.’’

According to Ekere, the Vice President is supportive of the programme.

He said it was a vendor-funded project and none of the Niger Delta State governments or the NDDC would spend its money on it.

“We are working with a company called Digital Learning Networks, part of the Silicon Valley in the U.S., and they have come with partners like Microsoft and the Black Centre. And so it is a vendor-funded project; they are funding it 100 per cent.

“So this project is going to be delivered to the entire Niger Delta region at zero cost to NDDC or to any of the state governments,’’ the NDDC CEO emphasised.

Pressed further to give the cost of the gigantic project Ekere stated that the organizations involved would have a better idea of how much it would cost “but for us it is not going to cost any of the state governments anything.

“It is totally vendor-funded and they have already worked out the financial model. Deloite is the financial partners on this and they have actually worked out the financial model in that this is a project that can be delivered without cost to the Nigerian government.’’

On the New vision for Niger Delta and how NDDC was keying into it he said the e-learning project was in line with the new vision for the Niger Delta that President Muhammadu Buhari had.

“This is part of the new vision; it is a new way of doing things; it is a new love for the Niger Delta people as shown by the president,’’ he stated.

He said the Commission was doing a lot of things in the President’s vision.

“We are part of the inter-ministerial committee that is being chaired by the Vice President on the Niger Delta and I am sure you have seen our work plan and the other things that we are doing in that project.

Yes, this is part of it,’’ he added.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS

YAGG: Why Nigerian youths State Police best must cease serving as errand for the country boys to old politicians – Nze Onuorah’’ Pg 10

Pg 14

War of words: PDP, APC spat R over council election ivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is vexed that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), has slated election into the 23 local government areas in the state for Saturday, June 16 this year.

The party is aghast that the chairmen and councillors of the 23 local government areas elected on May 23, 2015, a week to the expiration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s second term, are still in court over the legitimacy or otherwise of their three-year tenure, which was terminated by the order of the court at the inception of the current Nyesom Wike administration in the State.

Wike had upon resumption of office on Friday, May 29, 2015, approached a Federal High Court, asking the court to set aside the election that produced the chairmen and councillors because a court had earlier restrained former Governor Amaechi’s the government from going ahead with the said election.

The state government had insisted in court that the PDP had secured an order restraining the then APC state-controlled government from conducting the said election on the eve of its departure from office.

The PDP had, in obedience to the court injunction ordering that the status quo be maintained, boycotted the May 23, 2015, local council election.

Former Governor Amaechi, however, went ahead to conduct the election. However, while the APC won all 22 of the councils that were contested, the PDP was to clinch the governorship election.

Fearing that Governor Wike might dissolve the leadership of their respective councils, the chairmen and councillors approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and secured an order of interim injunction restraining Governor Wike from sacking the 23 APC chairmen who were in charge of the local councils.

On June 26, 2015, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria granted an order of Interim Injunction against the sacking of the chairmen of the 23 local government areas. The chairmanship of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government area was not contested because the tenure of then occupant was still running.

However, Justice Lambo Akanbi, in his judgment on July 9, 2015, declared the said election illegal and, consequently, sacked the elected officials since it was held in disobedience of the injunction granted to the PDP by the court.

In his summation, Justice Akanbi noted that for the APC government to have gone ahead to conduct the local government elections even after it had been restrained by an order of court was “a demonstration of executive lawlessness and impunity.”

The foundation for the sacking of the leadership of the local councils was laid by the Rivers State House of Assembly when it recommended to the governor to dissolve the board of RSIEC on June 8, 2015.

Governor Wike, despite street protestations by the APC leadership of the local government councils acceded to the request of the lawmakers by summarily dissolving the board of RSIEC. Justice Akanbi’s judgment effectively pulled the rug off the feet of the local government chairmen and councillors since the May 23, 2015 local council election was conducted in flagrant breach of an existing court order given by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Standing on the pedestal erected by the Federal High Court, Governor Wike swiftly sacked the 22 local government chairmen and their councillors and appointed caretaker committee chairmen and councillors in their places.

The Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local council was

APC threatens to boycott Rivers’ local council election this June, saying it’s against an extant law pronounced by the Supreme Court. But, PDP says the election must go ahead because it has not flouted any law.

From Port Harcourt, NATH OMAME reports…

• Governor Nyesom Wike spared because it was not among the local councils where election took place on May 23, 2015, since his tenure was still running when the election was held.

Wike sent a bill to the House of Assembly to amend the local government law, allowing a caretaker committee chairman to be appointed to serve for three terms of three months each. The House approved his request and he promptly signed it into law.

Since he was sworn in on Friday, May 29, 2015, Governor Wike has been appointing caretaker committee chairmen in all 23 local government areas in the state.

But he has often stated that his administration will conduct local council election before the end of 2018. Wike was categorical that the local government election would be held before May 25, when the court is expected to give judgment on the matter.

He said while swearing in six commissioners into RSIEC, on February 4: “Although the local councils were still subject to litigation, the issues would be resolved by May 25. In line with the amended RSIEC law that stipulates 90 days’ notice before the conduct of elections, RSIEC should commence the process for the conduct of local government elections.”

Wike noted: “If the commission issues notice for elections in February, elections could hold first week of May, setting the stage for

• Rotimi Amaechi elected councils’ inauguration by May 25, 2018.

“I want you to show Nigerians that you can conduct credible elections into council offices. Yes, we are in court, whatever the outcome will be by May 25, the issues would have been resolved.”

The governor who asked RSIEC to strive “to conduct credible local government election and adhere to the law, rather than allow itself to be influenced by any political interest,” pledged that “I will not interfere with the work of your commission.”

The interlude that had existed since the Federal High Court sacked the APC council chairmen erupted into a din after the Chairman of RSIEC, retired Justice Chukwuneye Uriri, informed representatives from 65 political parties, on Tuesday, March 13, in Port Harcourt, that the council election would hold on June 16.

“It is the responsibility of the commission to organize, undertake and supervise every election into local government councils. It is, therefore, imperative that we fix a date for local government elections in accordance with the said rules,” the retired judge said. “By the power conferred on me as enshrined in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Law No. 2 of 2018, I, therefore, declare Saturday, the 16th day of June, 2018, as Local

Government Election Day in Rivers State. It is accordingly so fixed.”

But, in its reaction to the term plate proclaimed by RSIEC, the Rivers State chapter of the APC condemned the proposed council election, describing it as “an act of illegality.”

State Chairman of APC, Dr. Davies IbiamuIkanya, who addressed journalists, in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, March 14, a day after Justice Uriri announced that the council election will hold on Saturday, June 16, was furious.

He insisted: “There is no vacuum in the leadership of the local government councils since the term of office of the elected chairmen and councillors had not expired and the matter remains a subject of litigation before the courts.

“Uriri, who served as a Judge of the High Court of Rivers should have known better that there is no vacuum and advise the state government to stop putting Rivers in the news for bad reasons.”

Dr. Ibiamu-Ikanya noted: “The local government leadership case is a subject of litigation before the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in Suit No: PHC/PH/CS/84/2015, Appeal Nos: CA/ PH/338/2016 and SC/536/2016 respectively.

“It is just but laughable that RSIEC as

Cont’d on page 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

BOLD & BLUNT

• Old politicians still active on the scene: when will the youths take over?

YAGG: Why serving as errand • Nigeria must measures are not taken to checkmate the situation by involving the youth in the leadership arrangement of the nation.

Is YAGG a political party?

No, it is not.

•Uzodimma Andrew Ekene Is Youth Alliance for Good Governance (YAGG) an affiliate of former President Obasanjo’s new coalition?

No, it is not. YAGG had been there before Obasanjo’s ‘Third Force’ came on board and there is no affiliation. YAGG is an organisation that was founded by a group of professionals, businessmen, entrepreneurs and lovers of democracy, who share common ideology about democracy and good governance. Our membership cuts across various religious and ethnic groups. YAGG members share mutual determined zeal about proffering solutions to Nigeria’s problems, especially as regards leadership and good governance.

We want the youths to denounce being perpetual errand boys to old politicians who have no plan to allow them take their rightful position in the country’s leadership scheme. We are starting by empowering our youths so they can have good means of livelihood, feed well and be able to resist the temptation of peanuts from never-retiring politicians. Already, some highly placed and influential individuals are in our membership, and we are discussing with many others across the country.

I am talking about influential professional youths, technocrats and successful businessmen and women, who are already convinced about the need for them to partner with us to save this country and save the future of our youths. We are talking about phenomenal achievers, from across all facets of life. And by the grace of God, we are making tremendous headway.

What does YAGG think is the panacea to Nigeria’s leadership problems?

Many people believe that Nigeria’s problems are only about bad leadership and there have been several moves to address them from different perspectives. But to YAGG, the nation’s problems are not just about leadership but about followership as well. We do not blame our leaders alone for the mess that we have found ourselves in. We try to make Nigerian citizens, who are the followers, realise that they are responsible for some of the ills we have in the country and that everybody has to put hands on deck to salvage our nation.

We believe that the future of the Nigerian youth would be a disaster if drastic

Do you intend to register it as a political party?

That is not in our agenda. We have no affiliation with any political party and we are not sympathetic to any, either. But we encourage our members, and indeed, every Nigerian, to join any political party of their choice. That is part of what we do.

We are against the idea of people staying away from political parties, especially businessmen and women, successful entrepreneurs and career people, and complaining from outside. Many highly intelligent, smart and immensely creative citizens avoid having any direct involvement in politics because it is largely perceived as a dirty game. But our notion is that if you think the game is dirty, get involved and help to clean up the system. You are more effective when you are inside. You cannot effect desired changes as a spectator. We must all get involved to be able to achieve our desired goals because politics is a game of number.

How does your group plan to bring about good governance without fielding candidates during elections?

We would look at profiles and pedigrees of candidates seeking various elective positions, and anyone that his profile and manifestoes sooth our ideology, we would roll out our organ to canvass support for such candidate, or candidates. Once we declare our support for any candidate, we would follow him through and through, with post-election checkmating, to ensure the candidate does not derail from his pre-election manifestoes. YAGG would always be on the alert to roll out organised

anti-policy campaign against any elected political office holder that may attempt to pursue anti-people agenda, both at state and federal levels.

What about funding; do you bother about the possibility of politicians high-jacking the organisation either directly or indirectly?

We fund the YAGG mainly through voluntary donations and we have never run short of cash. As regards possible highjack, we are mindful of that and we have taken care of that. No politician can highjack YAGG either directly or indirectly.

What are the core objectives of YAGG? The first one is youth empowerment and voter education. It seems that Nigerian youths have been rendered helpless and robbed of their present and future political rights by the non-retiring political elites.

The Nigerian youth has been reduced to perpetual handbag-carrying citizens and errand boys. Politicians who were telling us that we were Nigeria’s future over 40 years ago are still on the scene repeating same sermon till date. Would that future ever come if our youths continue to fold their hands? So, YAGG wants to change that development. Nigerian youths are highly creative, hardworking with enormous ingenuities; they are making waves in various spheres around the world. But unfortunately, such creativities and ingenuities are being suppressed in the home front by elders who have subjected them to rear seats in national affairs. We believe that the era of our youths sitting back for politicians to toss us about for peanuts is over. It is time for youths to take their destinies in their hands.

We also empower youths through skills acquisition. At YAGG, we believe that when a youth acquires the right skills and mentorship, he would be able to take care of himself and his family. We do not

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

BOLD & BLUNT

political party, it is structured like one.

How old is the organisation and what is your present operational coverage level?

It is a new organisation and we currently have over 12,000 members across the country, with regional offices in Enugu, for the South East; Lagos, for the South West; Kaduna for the North and Asaba as well.

We will soon set up state offices and move down to local governments and ward levels in that order. YAGG has no political, religious, cultural or ethnic connotation; it is all about Nigeria and good governance.

We are interested in fostering the unity and strength of the country because we believe that Nigeria is better off united and that greater percentage of our citizens desire to remain as Nigerians, under an atmosphere of equity and justice.

Nigerian youths must cease boys to old politicians get it right in 2019 or …

Uzodimma Andrew Ekene is the National Secretary of Youth Alliance for Good Governance (YAGG), an organisation which, according to him, was founded by individuals of like minds and ideology, drawn from different professions and determined to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems, especially as regards leadership. The multifaceted entrepreneur, farmer and CEO of ExProjects Nig Ltd, in this interview with CHUKS EZE, in Enugu, says it is high time Nigerian youths took their destiny in their own hands and cease being perpetual errand boys to old politicians, especially in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

Politicians should always be weary of praisesingers, who always hail them to high heavens whether their actions are good or not. Even in Imo State where taxpayers’ money is being used to mould statues while workers are being owed salaries, some people are still praising the governor.

”

only give our youths fish to feed, we as well teach them how to fish so they can also create jobs for other unemployed youths around them. YAGG is determined to reduce citizens’ over dependence and over-expectations on government, in this country.

We also empower youths through individual efforts. For instance, I am a businessman and I also have my hands on several other ventures such as farming. As we speak, I have over 10 acres of rice farm and I have acquired more acres for cas-

sava and other plantations. These are job opportunities for our youths because I am engaging more people to assist me in the farm. That is on a personal note. But YAGG is also going into large scale mechanised farming and we are planning to engage many more youths to work in various sections of the farm. We also intend to use our organisation to propagate positive values; to re-orientate our citizens and impart those values on them especially the youths and to change the face of the nation and fortify our democracy in the

coming days. Part of our goals is also to look at the respective candidates that are seeking elective political offices, irrespective of their platform; we would study his pedigree and past antecedents as well as his present capacity. And if we feel that he can do things right, like I stated earlier, we would support him, with the condition that he would call him to order, demand accountability, or even protest against his administration should he go against his original manifestoes or if he turns anti-people in future. We carry out our outreach through seminars, conferences, open rallies, lectures and media programmes among others. We take our outreach to both urban dwellers and the grassroots.

What is the current scope of the organisation?

It is a national organisation, and we are making final arrangements to open diaspora branches. We are going to operate from ward levels up to state, national and international levels, unlike the usual method of from top to bottom. Our support for choice candidates would as well range from councillorship to presidential candidates. So, although YAGG is not a

What is YAGG’s view about 2019 general election?

We view 2019 as the determining factor for Nigeria’s progress. If we get it right in 2019, things would be right for the country, but if we fail to utilise the forthcoming opportunity well, that may be Nigeria’s best opportunity as a nation. Nigeria is in a very dire situation now and citizens hold the key, as a people, to make the country a better place, once and for all. The first step is for every eligible citizen to obtain their PVCs legitimately, and endeavour to vote their consciences at the polls.

We have been running voter education campaigns in various media organisations to that effect, and we are as well planning to partner with various religious leaders, traditional rulers and Chief Imams, in the days ahead, to enable us take our sensitisation campaigns to the nooks and crannies of the Nigerian society. Our voters’ cards are like weapons - the only weapon that we can use to change the destiny of our nation. The youth must stop siting on the fence; they must get involved, obtain their PVCs, vote and present themselves for elections. Now is the time for action because we are convinced that Nigerian youths know their onions.

Since YAGG is concerned about advocacy for good governance, what is your rating of the present crop of governors in the south east, especially that of Enugu State, in terms of performance?

As far as I am concerned, the governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has not performed creditably. Incidentally, he is among the youngest serving governors and that is not so encouraging.

I just hope he improves before the 2019 election.

But the governor is reputed for being prompt in payment of salaries …?

Is payment of salary an achievement? It is not! However, the governor is trying but cumulatively speaking, he has not done well. That is my opinion and I know that when 2019 campaigns set in, issues would begin to unfold. Politicians should always be weary of praise-singers, who always hail them to high heavens whether their actions are good or not. Even in Imo State where taxpayers’ money is being used to mould statues while workers are being owed salaries, some people are still praising the governor. He turns Imo State government into a family enterprise and fighting tooth and nail to install his in-law as his successor governor, yet many people are still hailing him.

So, there are a lot of loopholes in Ugwuanyi’s administration in terms of infrastructural development as well as job and wealth creation. For instance, many people had expected the governor to look towards several projects that were abandoned by his predecessors but nothing is happening in that regard. For instance, the abandoned International Conference Centre, which is situated near the Michael Okpara Square.

That is a potential money-spinning project and job generating outfit. It was started by the Chimaroke Nnamani administration, abandoned by Sullivan Chime regime, and about three years into the Ugwuanyi administration, the project is still rotting away.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS

There can’t be good governance without booming agric sector – Okpalaeke • Urges S/East governors to do more for farmers The need for the Nigerian government to diversify the country’s economy by investing in agriculture and other sustainable sectors of the political economy has, of recent, gained a lot of currency in the media. In this interview with THEO RAYS, Prince Ugochukwu Okpalaeke, Managing Director of Eagle Food Processing Industries with large scale farms in Umuchu and Umunze in Anambra State, Okigwe and Arondizogu in Imo State and other places speaks on agriculture as a tool not just for building the economy in a new dimension but also for rendering good governance to the people. Chairman of Anambra State Chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), a National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award winner who also has the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Best Farmer Award in his kitty, among others, has also advised Southeast governors to support farmers and fight laziness and corruption among the people. In addition, he commented on the new tenure of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State among others issues.

T

here have been calls on the government to diversify into agriculture and other sustainable sectors of the economy. These calls intensified in the wake of the fall in crude oil prices, which adversely affected Nigeria’s economy as 95 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings comes from crude oil sales. As a farmer, do you think the government is responding positively to such calls?

Based on our political complexity and ambiguous circumstances like the situation of things in Nigeria now, everybody including the Federal Government does not need a prophet to tell him or her to embrace agriculture and start farming. To Nigerians, the need to go into agriculture is a natural call, a political call and a call for us to devise better means of survival and sustenance.

Yes, I can observe that President Muhammadu is yielding to the call. Under Buhari, it has not been business as usual in the oil sector and those who depend on oil are finding things somehow difficult. In that case, the next destination is agriculture. Buhari’s administration is by omission or commission making a strong case for Nigerians to move into agriculture and embrace farming on a large scale. And the hand writing is conspicuously posted on the wall that henceforth agriculture should be made the bedrock of our economy. People have to see the hand writing and start off a move into agriculture immediately. To individuals and families, agriculture is the alternative means to put one into a stronger position to face the challenges of survival and sustenance.

When you lose your job or fail to score a political goal or retire from service or serve out a political tenure elected or appointed, you have something to fall back on. That is what farming can do for you.

On the side of government at all levels, agriculture is not just about building economy but also an avenue to create jobs for the youth and render good governance.

Good development in agriculture is a huge mark of good governance. There can’t be good governance without sufficient agricultural yields. Even in the Western world, sufficient agricultural yields are a priority of government because people see it as a major area of assessing the performances of governance. You cannot claim that you have done well as president or governor or mayor or chairman when people under you lack access to food or when people under you are hungry. It is natural that as a leader, either as President, governor or Mayor or Chairman you put food on the

• Okpalaeke table of people under your territory.

You said that Buhari has yielded to the call and embraced agriculture but Nigerians are hungry and the rate of poverty, unemployment and suffering is still very high. How do we reconcile that?

What Buhari is doing is fundamental, recycling and monumental in nature. It is a whirlwind towards affecting a shift of order and paradigm dictated by interest

in our survival and sustenance. Buhari is moving us away from laziness and cheap system of life (which oil and corruption succeeded to impact massively on us) to a hard-working and strong-based system where our future is guaranteed. People have to suffer because their porous and weakened system of life were exposed and blocked to malfunction. Their laziness and cheap way of life were exposed and implicated. When people rely on money

they derive from doing nothing or just cheap things to survive with no longterm measure, it is obvious that they will suffer when that particular means of cheap money is closed. I think that is the situation many people find themselves in under Buhari. Now they have to face the consequences and endure it until what Buhari is doing begins to yield result.

From the look of things around the Southeast, the hope of massive agricultural yields is still far-fetched for now.

What is your advice to the governors of the five States in the Southeast in this regard?

First of all let them enact favorable policies for farmers and make fertilizer available and accessible. Secondly, let them do more for farmers by providing accessible soft loan. Thirdly let them ensure that what the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID) Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies are doing in agriculture in Nigeria are accessible to farmers and not hijacked by few individuals. Fourthly, let them give priority attention to places where they have much more interest in agriculture.

Each State has a place where farmers are predominantly occupied. We have rice farmers in Abakaliki--the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi should device means to boost rice production from there. There are rice farmers in Adani in Enugu State--the governor of the State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi should make sure that Adani is on the right track for massive production of rice. In Anambra, Obiano did it and others should also do it. Fifth and most importantly, let them emulate President Buhari to block the loopholes where people rely on to make cheap money. If Buhari could do that at the national level why can’t a governor do it at the State level? Let them fight against laziness and get people embrace farming, learn work and have something doing. Let them fight corruption at the State and local government level and ensure that the resources are well utilized in executing projects that impact positively on the lives of the people most especially projects that impact on agriculture like constructing roads in rural areas so that at the end of the day, there should be sufficient yield of agriculture in their States.

To many, it is a new dawn in Anambra State as Governor Willie Obiano goes in for a second tenure. So what are your expectations especially in the area of agriculture where you have interest as a farmer?

First of all permit me to congratulate Obiano at this point in time and also thank the good people of Anambra State for considering it good enough to re-elect Obiano for a second tenure. To me, Obiano’s second missionary journey to the Government House in Awka is not a new dawn; rather it is a continuous process of developing Anambra State with Obiano on the driving seat. The people see that he is on the right track and gave him the mandate to continue. I am sure that he will continue where he stopped from the first tenure and that our expectations not my personal expectations will come to fulfillment. We expect him to continue to protect lives and property with adequate security measures as the story was in the first term, continue to pay workers Cont’d on page 15

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS

Cattle colony is unrealistic, by Ijaw leader What is your reaction to federal government plans to create cattle colonies across the country?

Yes, we were once colonized by the British and our forefathers fought very hard to liberate the country but imagine somebody or persons are now saying that we should be re-colonized by cattle; in fact, it sounds very funny and unfortunate. I wouldn’t even allow another person to colonize me talk-less of cattle to colonize human beings.

Let me tell the proponent of this uncivilized idea that creating cattle colony in the Niger Delta will not work. The people of the area can never be colonized by anybody, cow or cattle.

In fact, any herdsmen who prove to be stubborn should be dealt with because our people cannot be colonized by cow or cattle. If I may ask, is cow business more lucrative than any other business in the country?

I find it as an attempt to cow the people of the area by selfish politicians who want to achieve their purpose in 2019 general elections. I advise governors from the region not to allow cattle colony in their respective states; it is a taboo which should not be tolerated. Imagine the mass killings of innocent persons by herders and I believe that we have no choice than to defend ourselves.

Comrade Austin Ozobo, National President Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) is bitter over the planned creation of cattle colonies across the nation, describing the move as unrealistic. According to him, the Federal Government should look for other means to sustain the nation economically instead of dissipating energy on fruitless initiatives. The Ijaw opinion leader however commended President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s plan to commission the controversial Maritime University at Okerenkoko next month, saying it will serve as a panacea to the numerous crises plaguing the Niger Delta region. He spoke to EMMANUEL OGOIGBE in Warri it belongs to all Nigerians. However, that argument is not an issue and should be discarded. As a matter of fact, that land called Okerenkoko is owned by the Ijaw and not Itsekiri. At the time the land was acquired, the Itsekiris never raised any motion against it but how come it is now they are trying to disorganize the laudable objective. I regard all these issues as diversionary attitude. My gospel is that the Itsekiris should embrace peace and regard Ijaw as their brothers and neighbours. We should not be jealous over the development coming to our area, because we are very close, we inter-marry and have everything in common. No need to antagonize each other, rather we should discard sentiments and see ourselves as one entity.

Do you support the setting up of state police?

Yes, I support it because the situation at this point in time shows that federal police can no longer guarantee the safety of lives of our people. So, it has come to a point for everybody, communities and various bodies to provide security for themselves. For instance, the federal government and politicians will always use the federal police to intimidate and torture any opposition, so, I support state police.

You have been fighting for the freedom of your people. Do you hope to drop the struggle for emancipation of the Ijaw ethinic nationality?

Yes, I will continue to fight for the liberation of the Ijaw, the fourth largest ethnic group in the country and the Niger Delta region. It is a known fact that Niger Delta is the sustenance of the entire country, but there is nothing on ground to show for it.

Where are you from?

I am from Ayakoromo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Are you angling for any political office in 2019?

Yes, I plan to contest for the Delta State House of Assembly to represent Burutu North constituency.

Why do you want to contest?

I’m really coming on board because there has not been an effective representation in my area. Unfortunately, the person presently representing the area is not doing anything to improve the lot of the people, hence I am anxious to go there and wipe away tears from the faces of my people; in fact, the people have been relegated to the background.

So, I am appealing to my people to consider my candidacy.

Tell us what you know about the Ijaw nation?

Ijaw is the fourth largest ethnic group in the country and she produces the bulk of the economic wealth of this nation. Sadly, the hen that lays the golden egg is being treated like second class citizen. Apart from being a peaceful ethnic nationality, we have produced the president of this country in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Above all, we are always at peace with our neighbours because we are accommodating too.

What is your take on the maritime university situated at Okerenkoko?

Yes, we are glad that after a long battle, the university has become a reality. It is our joy that the federal government has since ap-

• Comrade Austin Ozobo

proved it and workers have been recruited for the take-off of the school tentatively next month. In fact, we are extremely grateful to God and the federal government for hearing our prayers. However, we are hoping that in April, everything would be in place.

How do you react to the call by the Itsekiri

that Okerenkoko where the university is located is called Okerenghigho not Okerenkoko and that they own the land?

It is funny that some people are coming to foment trouble at this point in time, instead of coming together to develop the area. It should be known to everybody that the school is not owned by the Ijaw. Rather,

What advice do you have for the militants who are warming up for another round of crisis?

Of a truth, the federal government is not doing well. For instance, 16-point agenda given by PANDEF to the Federal Government has been abandoned; Government is not doing anything about it; the university is one of the 16-point agenda given to the federal government. Sadly, nothing has been done about it. Actually, militants have come to understand that the only language the federal government understands is militancy and destruction to oil pipeline and facilities hence they are now coming out. My candid advice is that government should do well to develop the Niger Delta region and end the sufferings of oil-bearing communities. Above all, the continued relegation of the people is the cause of the un-ending crisis.

Unfortunately, our environment is badly polluted even more than the problem in Ogoni land. I want to at this point advise the federal government not to abandon the region again and the militants should tread with caution. Even, the Vice President’s statement directing oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta has not been carried out.

‘War of words as PDP, APC spat over planned council election’ Cont’d from page 9 currently empanelled is engaging in a wild goose chase of conducting an election which RSIEC as a party is aware that the matter is subjudice.

“That is, the case is actively before the courts and the belief is that any words or acts that are likely to influence the case could invite prosecution for contempt of court.

“The APC and the 22 LG chairmen will approach the Court of Appeal with these facts and ensure that Wike and the PDP are not allowed to benefit from their brazen impunity and lawlessness.”

“Based on this, the APC will not partake in the contempt and sacrilege of Gov. Nyesom Wike and RSIEC over the local government elections in the state slated for June 16 because it’s an illegality,” Ibiamu-Ikanya declared.

Responding to the APC, Chairman of the PDP in the state, Felix Obuah said: “We are

happy for the declaration by RSIEC today for LG poll in the State. For a long time, council poll has not been conducted in the State; it has been from one set of Caretaker Committee (CTC) to another.

“Rivers people have been yearning for elected council chairmen and today, RSIEC has announced a date for the election; we are very happy. The issue of illegality should not come in; the electoral law stipulated 90 days and the last tenure in question will end

by May this year, so it will not in any way stop RSIEC from conducting council election in June.”

Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Sam Ihunwo, told journalists in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, May 15, that the decision of the APC to withdraw from the local council election “is unfortunate and ill -considered.”

“As you can see, 62 political parties are present to express their happiness with the State Independent Electoral Commission for putting the machinery in place to conduct

free, fair and genuine local government election on June 16, 2018,” Ihunwo said.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emma Aguma, SAN, debunked the argument of the APC that former Governor Amaechi conducted a valid council election on May 23, 2015, seven days before he left office on May 29, 2015.

“They went to the High Court of Rivers State and the Court said you did not win any democratically conducted election. The court said you never won any election. No election held. You never appealed the decision yet you say you are elected government. Is that the level of lawlessness we want in Nigeria?” he wondered.

From the crosshairs of verbal brickbats emanating from the PDP and APC, it is not unlikely that the APC will again dart to the court to contest the outcome of the local council election. And going by common law judicial traditional, those elected will remain in office as long as the matter runs through the legal gamut.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS What is your take on state police?

I support the setting up of state police because he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. If powers are narrowed down to the state level, one should know whom he is dealing with; hence I am in full support of state police.

Don’t you think the system could be abused?

Well, if you say so, I will also tell you that everything that has advantage also has a disadvantage. I tell you that state police is better and will not be used by the rich and highly placed to oppress the poor masses.

Do you think there should be laws guiding the state police if it is operational?

Yes, I agree totally that there should be laws guiding the state police because when there is no law the poor masses suffers. For everything one does, there must be rule and regulation in order to check mate the system.

What is your reaction to federal government’s plan to create cattle colony in every state of the federation?

If I may ask, is cattle rearing a federal government’s project? If not, why should government be so much interested in creating cattle colony? Everybody knows that cattle rearing is a private business or, simply put, a one-man business. Or is government trying to colonize us? Honestly, creation of cattle colony is a no-issue; government should focus on serious and meaningful issue that will benefit the country and not meaningless things that will further heat up the polity.

I am glad that some states have long rejected it but as far as I am concerned, cattle rearing is the business of the herdsmen and it is not for those who have nothing to do with cattle rearing or whatever the name they have given to it.

But one thing is clear, and that is, we are not stopping herdsmen from purchasing piece of land for grazing or having the land on lease. So, the issue of trying to acquire my land for grazing all in the name of creating cattle colony has no bearing.

I want to warn or advice that if government decides to force it on people, that means they are creating another round of crisis in the country, especially in the southern part of the country.

For instance, Governor Okowa recently stated that Delta state does not have land for cattle colony and that is the mind of the people of the state.

Supposing the cattle rearers also refuse to bring cattle for consumption to the south, will that not affect the people of the south as well?

I want you to know that cow meat is not the only meat we consume in the southern part of the country; there are other varieties of meat eaten by the people. I want you to also understand that in the south, we have native cows in abundance. Above all, cattle or cow also comes from other part of the country and not from the North alone.

We are not saying that cattle business should stop but I am against the purported creation of cattle colony.

How would you react to federal government’s antics on second Niger Bridge?

Well, it is unfortunate and we see it as a re-occurring decimal. Government is just playing politics with the issue but let us be hopeful that one day, it will come to pass.

What do you think should be done now to remedy the situation?

We are still hopeful that the federal government will keep to its promise and stop deceiving the Igbo. Well, the Igbo

State Police best for the country – Nze Onuorah • Condemns FG plans to set up cattle colony across the country

Hon. Francis Onuorah is the Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Non-Indigene Affairs in Delta State. In this interview with EMMANUE OGOIGBE in Warri, Onuorah, who is also an Igbo opinion leader in the state, condemns the planned creation of cattle colonies across the country, describing the move as a bad omen that will further heat up the polity. However, the sports enthusiast threw his weight behind the agitation for the setting up of state police, insisting that it will further fortify the fight against insecurity and also enhance the rights of the citizenry.

• Hon. Francis Onuorah also see it as a miracle because one can only believe in things seen and not things not seen. We believe that government is only campaigning with the bridge and I also describe it as a political gimmick.

2019 is around the corner. Some Nigerians are saying that the Igbo should be given the opportunity to produce the president, what is your reaction?

In politics you don’t beg for an opportunity to rule, as an Igbo man I have not seen any solid work done towards actualizing the issue of 2019.

It has been said that the Igbo are not united enough to be able to fight for and produce the next President. What is is your response to such perception?

One thing you should know about the Igbo is that they are people who are ever determined to do something affecting them; we don’t play with our unity but mark you, the ground work has not been done in respect of 2019 political dispensation. You have just said that the disunity prevailing among the Igbo is that they love money so much and can be bought according to the belief of some Nigerians.

But, I also want to tell you that an average Nigerian can also be bought over; it is not the Igbo alone. This is why people describe politics as a dirty game. I also wish to say that there is time for everything and I tell you that the time is very close for Ndigbo to take their destiny

in their own hands and also take what belongs to us.

It is a known fact that democracy is a game of number and Ndigbo have the population and all it takes to redeem Nigeria and it is only the Igbo that can do that.

Do you believe in the saying that no Igbo no Nigeria?

Well, it will be improper to say no Igbo, no Nigeria. However, I will put it this way that the Igbo are the number one image maker for Nigeria in all aspects because the Igbo contribute majorly to the upkeep of business activities in Nigeria.

The Igbo are allegedly being treated as second class citizens; is it because of the civil war?

That is a very good question. Yes, I will say without fear or favour that the major fallout of the war is the Igbo being regarded as second class citizens. Majority of Nigerians see Igbo as an ethnic group that can turn the table around if given the opportunity to rule Nigeria. Well, I will describe it as the fear of the unknown because they see Igbo man as someone that can always stand the test of time.

Chief, for some months’ now the whereabouts of IPOB leader, Nnandi Kanu, has remained unknown; what is your take on this issue?

Well, it is true that Nnamdi Kanu’s whereabouts is unknown for months now and I think it is not fair for a citizen of this country who did not take up arms but fighting for the liberation of his people to be badly treated this way. This action by government is not the best. We believe that it is the Federal Government that is keeping him.

What message do you have for Ndigbo world-wide towards next year’s 2019 general elections?

Remember I said that politically, I have not seen solid arrangement by the Igbo towards 2019 elections. But, be that as it may, we will continue to exist as one strongly united people but my advice is that we should be politically wise; we should have our PVCs because that is the weapon to show that we are ready for 2019 exercise. Besides, we should be focused and peaceful and do things intelligently.

President Muhammadu Buhari is almost three years in office; what is your impression about his administration?

We all know that the man is not doing well. And Mr. President is not fighting corruption to the fullest! I have not seen one person being prosecuted; in fact his fight against corruption is selective. Truth is, Nigerians are in chains. Sadly, this is not what we hoped for. It is unfortunate.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS Concerns over APC, PDP boycott of council polls EHICHIOYA EZOMON writes that the constant A boycott of council elections by the PDP and APC is head of the 2019 general elections, a trend has developed along with the rush to conduct local government council elections across the states: a tendency among political parties to boycott those elections on rather nebulous excuses.

For instance, of the elections conducted since late 2017 in eight states, four were boycotted outright by the two leading parties in Nigeria: the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

While the APC spurned the elections in Ekiti (and withdrew midway into the balloting in Akwa Ibom), the PDP abdicated participation in Osun, Kano and Edo states. Already, the PDP is planning to ditch the council elections in Oyo in May. Ditto the APC in Rivers in June.

The big question: Will the APC and PDP pass up the 2018/2019 elections in the states they snubbed during the council elections? For starters, will the APC evade the governorship poll in July in Ekiti, and the PDP doing the same in Osun in September?

Perhaps, the implications of this trend are not lost on the Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who would rather the PDP abandon the rest of the elections in 2018 and 2019. He was reacting to PDP’s dumping of the March 3 council polls in Edo. To him, however low a political party rates its chances, participating in election is an “opportunity to mobilise and energise its followers,” failing which “the injury is to the boycotting party,” adding that, “from our history in this country, you do not boycott elections. If you do so, you are paying a heavy price for it and

worrisome, indeed.

we wish it (PDP) luck. But I pray that they will boycott the others also.”

Certainly, Chief Odigie-Oyegun isn’t “earnestly yearning” for the PDP to shun the polls in 2018 and 2019, but he’s only expressing indignation that a political party that prides itself as the “largest in Africa” could abandon elections at the grassroots.

Ironically, in the rush to judgment, the APC chair failed to allude to his party’s pulling out of the council elections in Ekiti, not once but twice in two years - in December 2015 and 2017, respectively. And to think that the APC is the dominant political party in the country!

It’s not unusual, though, for political parties to shun elections, especially at the national level, if they stand no chance of winning any seat that would qualify them to exercise political or administrative authority. This necessitates the calls to give recognition to parties, that so desire, to operate only at the zonal, state or council level.

Political parties adduce various reasons for ducking council elections: from the seemingly genuine, such as having legal issues with the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), to the tenuous and downright ludicrous.

For example, the Ekiti chapter of the APC withdrew from the December 19, 2015 council polls on the allegation that officials of the EKSIEC were card-carrying

members of the PDP, and as such “they could not be trusted to conduct a credible election.”

Then in last December’s polling, the party had recourse to its ongoing legal action against the EKSIEC, promoting that it could not participate in an exercise conducted by an “unlawful body.”

In Edo, the PDP vowed non-participation due to “lack of confidence in the EDSIEC,” and urged voters to shun the exercise. It also challenged, at the state High Court, the “unlawful amendment of the notice of election, from 90 to 45 days, by the House of Assembly.”

Even in council elections that are earmarked for May and June in Oyo and Rivers, the main opposition parties in the states have given notice of their opting out of the voting. What are their reasons?

The APC in Rivers has cases against the leadership of the local government councils, which have run through the courts - High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court, and the “constitutionality of the RSIEC Law 2018” being litigated at a Federal High Court.

So, in bowing out of the council polls in June, the Rivers APC, through its chair, Dr. Davis Ikanya, reminded the RSIEC chairman, retired Justice Chukwuneye Uriri, that there’s “no vacuum” in the local governments, as the councillors’ tenures had not expired.

The Oyo chapter of the PDP is “boy-

cotting” the May council polls on the advice of a chieftain of the party in the state, Prince Adeyemi Saheed Arowosaye, who alleged that “information available to me” indicated that “the state government has perfected plans to rig the election in favour of the ruling All Progressive Congress.”

Actually, the fear of the controlling party, using its state governor and the SIEC to “manipulate” the system, is the beginning of wisdom for the opposition party to boycott council polls. Such abracadabra manifested in virtually all the states that had held elections in recent times.

To quote former Senator Domigo Obende (Edo North), “Political parties do not want to participate in elections so that it will not look as if they were defeated. They want the easy way out and to say, ‘We did not participate in the elections; otherwise, we would have won.’”

But the boycotters beware: Surrendering council polls undercuts a political party’s viability for the next big elections: State House of Assembly, Governorship, and National Assembly and Presidential elections.

According to the chairman of the Edo chapter of the APC, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, the decision of a political party to boycott council elections “is as good as signing its death certificate.”

So, haven’t the APC and PDP signed their “death certificates” in states they dodged council elections? Well, the Ekiti governorship in July and in Osun in September will likely show how wise both parties were in ditching the states’ council elections.

‘There can’t be good governance without booming agric sector’ Cont’d from page 12 promptly, continue to construct roads, continue to execute community development projects, continue to execute intervention projects where necessary, continue to pay good attention to agriculture, continue to attract investors, continue to ensure that education is thriving, continue to aid the health sector to effectiveness, continue to provide jobs for the youth and continue to carry everybody along with what government is doing. These are our expectations in the first instance.

On the second and very interesting too, we expect that the airport project at Umueri will be completed so that our children can gain job opportunities thereof.

things for himself and to know where it is itching us. If I am not mistaking, Mbanefo visited Eagle Foods up to four times during Obiano’s first tenure. So under Obiano farmers were duly recognized and we had access to government like never before.

The opposition are saying that Obiano’s so-called achievements in agriculture is lacking in reality because the impact doesn’t reflect on the prices of agricultural produce in the markets in the State. For instance, if you go to Benue State where they produce yam, you buy yam at cheap rate. They argue that rice, vegetable and even yam are said to be produced and exported from Anambra, but the prices of rice, vegetable and yam are the same as in other parts of the Southeast.

Obiano is being credited with doing well in agriculture to the extent of producing what is called Anambra Rice and exporting other agricultural produce like yam and vegetable to foreign countries in the first tenure, how did that feat reflected on private farmers like you?

What Obiano did in agriculture sector in the first tenure impacted positively on private farmers. Under Obiano, private farmers were impressively recognized by the State government. The Commissioner for Agriculture Afam Mbanefo then took the names of all agricultural firms in Anambra State and initiated a monthly meeting with us. Thus, we were queued into what the State is doing in agriculture. I am the Chairman of Anambra State branch of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) and I can tell you that government gave good attention to PAN likewise other groups of farmers in the State. Often times Mbanefo went round visiting farmers to see

Do we still have opposition against Obiano in Anambra State? Where were the opposition during the election? If we have opposition, Obiano couldn’t have won election in all the 21 local government areas in the state. So, we don’t have to take the views of the opposition because they are not on ground. Opposition doesn’t know what is happening in Anambra State and that was why they were roundly trounced. Let me tell you something which I believe the so called opposition elements don’t know. The secret behind Obiano’s 21/21 victory is the impact he made in Agriculture sector.

Obiano at the outset of his administration set out a conducive atmosphere for farming and inspired a lot of people to embrace farming. For the first in the State, we had a ceremony called Launching of Farming Season in Anambra State where Governor Obiano himself declared the

• Okpalaeke farming season open. That ceremony was held at Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area and he gave out seeds to beginners in the farming industries. That ceremony at Nteje was an indication that Obiano is agriculture-friendly and people took it up from there to embrace farming.

Let me answer your question directly.

When we talk about the prices of commodities we put certain things into consideration. First is the cost of production such as cost of raw materials, the cost of man power and secondly the logistics such as the cost of transportation - loading and off loading and distribution, the cost of procurement of equipment and

maintenance and thirdly the nature of environment where one operates. You talk about Benue State, it is likely that the cost of man power and labour is lower in Benue State than in Anambra State. Then you talk about raw materials. At Eagle Food we have Poultry of over 300,000 birds and we produce feeds. When we calculate the cost of exporting raw materials from North to produce feed you find out that it will impact on the price of old layer and chicken in the market. So people should stop talking about what they don’t know. The impact of Obiano in agriculture is positive and that was why he trounced opposition during election last year.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

POLITICS The man I am Leroy Chuma Edozien. I am a medical doctor and also a doctor of law. I hail from Asaba in Delta State. I had my primary education at Ibadan, Lagos and Nsukka and secondary education at Afikpo, Ibadan and Lagos. I hold degrees in Basic Sciences, Medicine and Law from the Universities of Ibadan, London and Glasgow. I have had a distinguished career as a gynecologist. I was honoured with UK National Clinical Excellence Award in 2008 and medical students honoured me as an “Exceptional Role Model” in 2009.I founded the African Forum for Quality in Health Care and initiated the campaign promoting Thrombosis Awareness in Nigeria.

I am a passionate champion of Nigerianism; the practical application by Nigerian citizens of the ethos espoused in our national anthem; unity, love, peace and progress.

Why politics?

Politics is more about service. It is for people who want to serve. It is about developing our country. It is about mobilising our people.

It fits very much into what I have been doing all along. I am bringing my skills now to serve the people in that particular arena.

PDP no longer useful in Delta State - Edozien Leroy Chuma Edozien, medical doctor and a doctor of law, is well one of the aspirants for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Delta State. The gynecologist-turned-politician bares his mind on what he intends to do if given the chance to govern the State, 19 years of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta, as well as the performance of the APC and the Buhari administration. From Asaba, JONATHAN AWANYAI reports. ions; different pressure groups coming with different positions and angles but that can be mobilized as a source of strength rather than a source of division.

His motivation What motivates me is the greater dignity of man but more specifically for Delta State is the rescue and transformation of the State.

We are in a rot and somebody needs to drag the State out of it and position it where it should rightly be. If I can achieve that in the next four years that means I will die a happy man.

People want new ideas, new approach and a new breed of politicians. They are tired of the same old politicians who are being recycled. They yearn for a breath of fresh air, so that they can begin to look forward with optimism rather than resignation.

And APC? The All Progressives Congress is a party of the progressives. I have always from childhood been left-of- centre when it comes to political orientation. Although some people may rightly argue that both parties are not too far apart ideologically but you find that no matter what APC will always be to the left of the other big party, PDP. It was only natural that I should gravitate to the progressive party. My grandfather, Chief N. O. E. Edozien was a staunch member of the Action Group, which was another party that was left-of-centre, so we have that heritage. The APC has a manifesto that one readily identifies with and it is consistent with its position in the Nigerian political spectrum.

What are APC’s with PDP’s dominance in Delta State?

The chances are very good. We just have to be organised and focused. The chances are better than they have ever been. Dominance is something that may have applied in the past but it is not static. A party that is dominant today may not be tomorrow. If you have a record or programme that is nothing to be proud of then that dominance is going to ebb and that is what is happening to the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State. PDP has outlived its usefulness in Delta State and it is time for a change and forward progression. It is time for someone to come up and actually show how this thing should be done because PDP have been given enough time to show effective leadership but they have failed to do so. We have very good chances and the people know that they need a change. The people want to see things turn better in the State. All they want to see now is a person who can move things forward and that person is my humble self.

PDP’s performance in in Delta State Delta State could be rated poorly under the Peoples Democratic Party. Its not just me saying this, it is what the people are saying. Anybody with an honest and objective approach will come to the same conclusion. When you look at a State like ours that is so rich in resources and you also examine what you see around you from the schools, hospitals and roads, you will discover that they have failed.

The PDP cannot even construct a simple airport despite the money that was spent on it.

With the present administration we are saddled with a wrong leadership or leadership that does not understand the priorities or does not have foresight. What is emblematic of the PDP performance in the last nineteen years?

What will you be doing differently, if elected?

Everything will be done differently. The governance for a start will be more efficient and transparent. It will be more effective and inclusive. We will give people a chance to participate in governance so that they can see what the government is doing. Right now,

• Leroy Chuma Edozien

there is a disconnect between the government and the people and if elected we are going to reverse that. If the people see that you are applying the State resources for their benefit they are actually going to move along with you. These are very simple things and it does not require unusual intelligence to turn things around. What is required is the commitment to the people and that is what I will be showing. As we go along the electoral process, I will come out with more details of my programme for the people but the over riding factor is that of good governance and integrity in power.

Revenue generation Taking Delta State beyond oil is not difficult; it is just that it has not been addressed squarely. In the days when we did not have oil, this State was rich in rubber, palm, cassava and other agricultural products. Before oil we were thriving, where are all those today? They have been abandoned because we have oil money. Going back to what we have traditionally and historically been doing well should not be difficult. All we need is innovation and making the best use of modern technology available and with that the State will experience improvements. The difficulty that we have had is putting our mindset to

it. What we need is a change of mindset and that is the change that I am bringing.

APC big wigs and chances of winning party primaries I don’t feel threatened because of our ability within the party to display leadership. Displaying good leadership is also important and I am happy that we have the big wigs within the party because with their backing we can actually make things happen. With these big wigs we are strengthened in the course of our regaining power from the PDP. Internal wrangling in Delta APC and free and fair primaries The issue is that some people use the word faction arbitrarily. What we would rather say is that there are different pressure groups within the party and in which part of the world do they not have pressure groups within the party? Pressure groups exist in the Democratic Party in the United States, the Republicans and so on. Go to Australia, United Kingdom and even in Africa it is the same thing and that is what democracy thrives on.

Anybody can come out with their own idea and way of doing things but it is who carries the majority that matters. Strength in diversity is important. We may have diverse opin-

APC’s performance The APC government led by President Buhari has done well at the federal level, obviously there are other areas where things could have been better managed but when you look at the overall picture, the party has done well. One of the things I wish could have been done differently is selling the activities of the government in various sectors to the public. There are a lot of things that the public is not aware of because the media have concentrated on negatives such as nepotism and herdsmen attack. On the other hand there are other areas in terms of construction of projects, bridge building, railways, electricity generation and transmission, build up of our foreign reserves where the Federal Government has done excellently well but unfortunately they don’t make headline news.

Nigerians must consider where we were before the APC took over government.

When you look at where we were before the APC took over and how far we have gone, you will understand that the party has done well and we just need to sell in a better way what the party has done and also acknowledge that there are areas where we have not performed to the public expectation and also let the public know what we are doing in those areas.

Solution to herdsmen attack The best way of attacking this problem is security and associated with it is intelligence.

We keep calling herdsmen but as far as I am concerned these are not herdsmen but people who have an agenda to pursue and it is for the security agencies to look into it and deal with it the way guerrilla warfare and insurgency is tackled. What is happening is more of a terrorist operation and that is where the security agencies need to come in. I want to trust that they are doing something about it Advice It is important for Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari to enable him execute his laudable programmes. Also, as the 2019 general elections draw closer, it is imperative that APC supporters ensure that they effectively participate in the continuous voter registration exercise. In Delta State, this is a chance to leave a legacy for our children and our children’s children and if we miss the chance to correct it now it will be difficult live with it.

BU$IN£SS The Oracle Today

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Energy

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Wednesday March 28, 2018

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Finance

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Aviation

Free Trade:

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e-Platform

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Tourism

Energy

OPEC quota: Cost efficient oil firms to produce more

More hurdles for AfCFTA’s implementation in Nigeria

P20

By VICTOR NZE

A

• Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

take an immediate consultations with entrepreneurs and experts on trade policies to review both the SAATM and AfCFTA’s impact on the Nigeria’s economy with a view to finding a way that will take into consideration the interests of Nigerian businesses in order for them to benefit significantly.

Reacting to the planned signing of AfCFTA, umbrella body of airline owners in the country, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) also told Government to immediately conduct an Impact Assessment of the SAATM/AfCFTA on domestic business environment.

Since the signing of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by African Heads of States in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

CBN EXCHANGE RATES MARCH 19, 2018 Currency Buying(NGN) Central (NGN) Selling(NGN) POUNDS STERLING 425.5224 426.2206 426.9187 EURO 375.5739 376.1901 376.8063 SWISS FRANC 320.6207 321.1468 321.6728 YEN 2.8829 2.8876 2.8923 CFA 0.5555 0.5655 0.5755 WAUA 442.498 443.224 443.95 YUAN/RENMINBI 48.1581 48.2375 48.317 RIYAL 81.2602 81.3935 81.5268 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 25.4778 25.5196 25.5614 DANISH KRONA 50.4111 50.4938 50.5765 SDR 442.7378 443.4641 444.1905 SDR 444.307 445.0358 445.7647

on January 28, 2018, the AON has continuously canvassed for government to halt its implementation until a clear policy on how the country as a whole can maximize the potential of the SAATM is evolved.

AON Chairman, Capt. Nogie Meggison warned that Nigeria cannot afford to rush into signing of AfCFTA which will give unfettered access into the Nigerian market and is likely to erode the good work Government has so far put in place to diversify the economy and reverse the gains of the present administration in reviving the economy out of recession.

Explaining that just like SAATM, African Passport, Continental financial institutions (Currency

S the fifth meeting of the African Union Ministers of Trade (AMOT), which held last week, and incidentally chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, adopted the legal instruments constituting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) some stakeholders have raised the alarm that the agreement if signed may jeopardize the country’s economic growth.

The instruments constituting AfCFTA include the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA, the Protocol on Trade in Goods, the Protocol on Trade in Services and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures for the Settlement of Disputes.

It would be recalled also that the AMOT meeting adopted the Transitional Implementation Work Programme which also includes a built-in agenda for the finalization of some annexes to the Protocol on Trade in Goods and other arrangements for the operationalization of the AfCFTA. Already, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), had Wednesday approved that Nigeria should sign the framework agreement for the establishment of the initiative.

This agreement comes as the dust is yet to settle on the controversial signing of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by African Heads of States, including Nigeria, represented by the Minister of State for Aviatin, Hadi Sirika, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 28, 2018, with its full implementation still pending in Nigeria.

Sequel to the formalization of that agreement, airline operators in the country have called on the Federal Government to under-

& Taxes), the AfCFTA is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 and is aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments.

According to Meggison, National Interest must be given priority and protected at all levels in the implementation of SAATM/AfCFTA by putting Nigeria and its youths first. ”An urgent need for government to immediately conduct an Impact Assessment on the domestic business environment and government needs to empower domestic airlines and manufacturers to compete favourably by removing VAT and other Multiple taxes and create a more business friendly environment in line with the government’s policy of Ease of Doing Business,” he said.

The AON boss also called for provision of better infrastructure and support services to allow Nigerian businesses compete effectively.

“AON, MAN and other professional bodies should be involved in the formulation of market access, tariffs and international treaties, agreements, MoUs or any other national decision that has to do with Nigerian businesses.

“It is worthy of note that about 80% of the Nigerian GDP is generated from the private sector. To this end therefore, Airlines, Manufacturers and other businesses provide critical socio-economic services to the Nigerian economy and should not be treated as secondary subjects in the implementation of decisions which directly affect their operations and has the potential of strangling them out of existence without due consultations.”

Travel

UNWTO evolves new 10-point agenda for Africa P26

Insurance

PTAD blames banks for delay in remitting February pensions P28

Cont’d on Page 19

Stock Market Highlights As At 19th MARCH, 2018

Summary ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP S/N

41,845.92 5,366.00 327,758,624.00 N5,259,283,709.81 N14,969,673,668,199.98

Coy (By Volume) Volume

ZENITHBANK FBNH FIDELITYBK ACCESS TRANSCORP

128,971,511 23,781,583 16,677,377 11,696,601 11,470,327

Value(N)

N3,495,193,795.85 N276,306,330.45 N37,998,685.15 N136,809,631.60 N19,178,522.51

5 Top Gainers Symbols Last Close DANGCEM N264 PZ N23 GUARANTY N44.9 ZENITHBANK N27.6 UCAP N3.19

Current Change N2651 N23.55 0.55 N45.3 0.4 N28 0.4 N3.37 0.18

%Change 0.38% 2.39% 0.89% 1.45% 5.64%

NB CADBURY STANBIC ETI NASCON

N128.5 N15.45 N49 N18.85 N19.35

-3.38% -9.65% -2.00% -4.80% -4.21%

Five Tope Losers

N133 N17.1 N50 N19.8 N20.2

-4.5 -1.65 -1 -0.95 -0.85

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday March 28 , 2018

BUSINESS

‘Get Alert’ promo: Fidelity Bank rewards 12 customers with N13m Stories by VICTOR NZE

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has rewarded 12 customers with N13 million in the fifth draw of “Get Alert in Million Reloaded” aimed at strengthening the culture of saving among Nigerians.

The bank’s Managing Director, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said in Lagos, weekend, that the promo, the seventh in the series in the last 10 years, was instituted to promote financial inclusion and savings culture.

Okonkwo, who was represented

by Mr Richard Ebo, the Regional Head, Retail Banking, said the bank had given a total of N81 million in cash and 90 consolation prizes to 183 winners under the “Get Alert in Millions Reloaded’’.

He said that the bank’s major priority was to reward its customers through different initiatives to improve their living standards.

Okonkwo said that the consolation prizes included television sets,

power generators and refrigerators, noting that a grand prize of N10 million would be won by a lucky customer at the end of the promo.

He said the bank would remain committed to initiatives that would touch lives and boost savings culture among Nigerians.

He said the initiative was in line with Central Bank of Nigeria’s

(CBN) financial inclusion initiative.

Winners emerged from a transparent process driven by the bank’s control team and witnessed by officials from Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and other regulators and stakeholders.

Two customers from South East, Ugonwa Uchechukwu from Nkpor Branch, Anambra State and Chukwuemeka Umeje from Iweka Road branch, Onitsha won N1 million

each.

Other lucky winners for the monthly draw were Mr Sani Sule, Warri branch and Ala Andrew of Rivers State University, who won N1 million each under South/South zone.

Damilare Emmanuel of Saka Tinubu branch, Lagos and Isreal Ogechi Nwaobialor of Egbeda branch won N1 million and N2 million under the Lagos zone.

Mastercard, Vconnect partner to empower MSMEs

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astercard has partnered with Vconnect, Africa’s leading online business listing service, to empower Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of a shared commitment to drive financial inclusion and literacy in Africa.

Nigeria will be the first market to benefit from the partnership, which will be rolled out over a three year period. Vconnect will work closely with Mastercard and its partners to provide MSMEs with Mastercard’s mobile payment solution, Masterpass QR. Additionally merchants will have access to an array of digital tools that will help to enable their online presence, ensure effective business management and provide access to finance.

“With access to Masterpass QR, these merchants will be able to accept fast and secure digital payments, removing the need for cash,” said Omokehinde Adebanjo, Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa, Mastercard. “Additionally merchants will be given access to skills that have the potential of helping the business owner to develop a sustainable business.

Vconnect currently has a community of over one million MSMEs registered on its database. These businesses play a pivotal role in the growth of the economy.

Naveen Luthra, Head of Growth and Partnerships at Vconnect, added, “We are thrilled to partner with Mastercard to ensure we are working together to support Africa’s growth. This collaboration represents what is possible when we combine global capabilities with firsthand experience.”

According to the World Bank, MSMEs make up approximately 60 percent of employment and 40 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in emerging economies, indicating the vital role in economic development.

In Nigeria MSMEs comprise about 96 percent of the country’s businesses.

However, these business owners often battle to access finance, with approximately 70 percent of smaller businesses in emerging economies lacking access to credit loans. Combined with a lack of critical financial literacy skills and gaps in infrastructure, many businesses fail.

(From left to right): Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Ed Ubong; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; and SNG Operations Manager, Niyi Salami, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Wednesday.

NAMA to install Cat 3A ILSs in Lagos, Abuja airports

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he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has revealed plans to embark on aggressive deployment of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure in the next one year to further boost the safety of air travel in the country.

In line with this proejction, the agency has moved to install Category 3A Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.

Making this disclosure while fielding questions from journalists at a Gateway Forum organized by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, the Managing Director of NAMA Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the deployment of the above hi-tech navigational equipment would ensure that aircraft land can land in zero-zero visibility given the adverse weather at certain times within the year.

Capt. Akinkuotu who recently clocked one year in the saddle listed some of his achievements to include installation of communication radios in strategic areas in the country as well as upgrade of existing ones, deployment of ILS and other navigational aids across the country.

He also revealed that a brand new ILS and a Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR) have been in-

stalled and calibrated in Kano.

Other areas of progress according to the NAMA boss include improvement in Air Traffic Control (ATC) capacity through training and retraining of critical personnel and others, addressing depleting ATC manpower, enhanced staff welfare through implementation of harmonization of salaries and the signing of new condition of service which is awaiting approval by government.

On critical projects to be embarked upon by his administration in the next one year, Akinkuotu said although the issue of Aero-

nautical Information Services Automation by the agency has dragged on since 2009, his administration was determined to see to its completion so that NAMA can migrate to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) in view of all the deliverables that would accrue to the agency.

Also to be given attention by management, according to Akinkuotu, is the upgrade of TRACON system and communication radios. Other areas include; another set of ILSs and DVOR to be installed in Maiduguri, Jos, Minna and other airports.

NSE boosts financial literacy in Nigeria

By SAMSON AKINTARO

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recently commemorated the 2018 Global Money Week themed, Money Matters Matter, with a series of educational programs aimed at teaching children and youths about the importance of financial literacy.

The week-long event, organized in collaboration with Access Bank Plc and AIESEC Nigeria, included interactive sessions with the executive management of NSE, school outreach programmes in Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Abuja, Onitsha and Port Harcourt, and excursions to the trading floor. The Exchange also joined other stock exchanges around the globe in the “Ring around the World” initiative, using its Closing Gong ceremony to further draw attention to the importance of financial literacy among youths.

In his welcome remarks, Bola Adeeko, Head, Shared Services Division, NSE, noted that: “As a sustainable Exchange championing Africa’s growth, NSE takes the issue of providing young people with the tools they need to make sound financial decisions very seriously. We are constantly implementing and supporting initiatives that encourage our youths to develop sustainable spending habits and to become financially savvy”.

“Since celebrating the Global Money Week in 2014, The Exchange has been able to reach over 12,507 students from 118 schools. This year alone, NSE impacted 5,337 students from over 25 secondary schools and institutions of higher learning, through various financial literacy programmes during the week”.

“Other financial literacy initiatives we carry out include, school excursions to the Exchange, NSE Adopt-A-School initiative, school outreach programmes, and financial literacy workshops.

Through these initiatives, we have been able to promote financial literacy among young Nigerians, by encouraging them to learn how good financial decisions can better their lives now and in the future, and ultimately grow the economy”, he added.

GTBank announces N200.24bn PBT for 2017 G

uaranty Trust Bank released its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2017 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges.

A review of the results shows positive performance across all financial indices, reaffirming the Bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria. Gross earnings for the year grew by 1.1 per cent to N419.2billion from N414.6billion reported in the December 2016; driven primarily by growth in interest income as well as e-payment revenues.

According to the report, Profit before tax (PBT) stood at N200.2billion, representing a growth of 21.3% over N165.1billion recorded in the corresponding year ended December 2016.

The Bank’s loan book dipped by 8.9 per cent from N1.590trillion recorded as at December 2016 to N1.449trillion

in December 2017 while customer deposits increased by 3.8 per cent to N2.062trillion from N1.986 trillion in December 2016.

The Bank’s balance sheet remained strong with a 3.9 per cent growth in Total Assets and Contingents as the Bank closed the year ended December 2017 with Total Assets and Contingents of N3.845 trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of N625.2Billion. In terms of Assets quality, NPL ratio increased to 7.7 per cent in December 2017 from 3.7 per cent in December 2016 largely as a result of classification of a single exposure within the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry.

However, non-performing loans would moderate to 4.6%, which is below regulatory threshold, if we exclude this name from NPL ratio computation. Overall, asset quality remains stable with adequate coverage of 119.6 per cent, while Capital

remains strong with CAR of 25.7 per cent. On the backdrop of this result, Return on Equity (ROAE) and Return on Assets (ROAA) closed at 35.4 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively.

The Bank is proposing a final dividend of 240k per unit of ordinary share held by shareholders in addition to interim dividend of 30k per unit of ordinary share bringing total dividend for 2017 financial year to N2.70 per unit of ordinary share.

Commenting on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “2017 was a pivotal year for the bank. We delivered a strong result in a challenging environment; achieving record growth in earnings, carefully managing cost margins and leveraging our digital-first customercentric strategy to deliver world-class services that are simple, cheap and easily accessible.”

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Wednesday March 28 , 2018

BUSINESS

CPC, online marketers unveil regulatory principles for e-commerce T

he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and senior management of online marketing companies in Nigeria have set up five guiding principles to regulate the operation of e-commerce in the country.

Director- General of CPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera, said this Thursday, in Abuja, while addressing newsmen at the end of a meeting between both parties.

Irukera said that the meeting was held in view of the dramatic rise in e-commerce in Nigeria, with global online shopping reaching 2.29 trillion dollars in 2017, but with 70 per cent of Nigerian consumers worried about the safety of their transactions.

He said that the principles were considered vital to the protection of consumers in the industry and relevant to business guidance and a regulatory framework.

According to Irukera, the council and the online marketing companies mutually agreed to abide by the said principles.

“Online marketers recognise that a dedicated customer service apparatus, which is an indispensable corollary of e-commerce is required to ensure engagement and a complaint resolution process which is not burdensome to the customer.

“Online market platforms recognise the importance of full frank and complete disclosures of any terms, conditions, exceptions or restrictions on products marketed on their platforms.’’

Others are that online marketers also recognise the need to promote consumer confidence and eliminate distrust.

He said that advertisement of products should be truthful, transparent and factual, including current/future availability, specifications, merchantable conditions, quality and relevant warranty information.

Irukera also said that part of the principles was that online market platforms recognise that timely delivery was a material and vital term of the contract/agreement between platforms and their customers.

“As such, timely delivery including reasonable and fair return windows, prompt and efficient refunds and respect for cancellations in accordance with prevailing policy, are a matter of contractual obligations.

“Online marketers recognise and respect the privacy of consumers and the need to protect such privacy by securing and only disclosing consumer data/personal information by operation of law or in accordance with consumer preferences.’’

He said that the meeting also resolved that parties commit to a broad-based stakeholder engagement to further promote and develop the principles, business guidance and regulatory framework.

Irukera said that there would be sanctions for erring marketers as would be contained in the framework.

“Regulatory regimes must have a consequence management system for it to be meaningful and worthwhile and so one of the things that will come out of the institutionalised guideline framework will be sanctions for inap-

Active bank account holders drop by 1.5m in 2yrs

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espite Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) effort to promote financial inclusion, Nigerian banks lost over 2 million customers between 2016 and 2017.

According to figures from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the number of active bank accounts also reduced by 1.5 million, dropping

from 65 million to 63.5 million.

The figures published on the NIBSS website, showed that the total number of bank customers dropped from 61 million in 2016 to 59 million in 2017.

According to NIBSS, the banking sector, however, made great strides in linking customers’ account using the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

propriate behavior.

He, however, said that both parties recognised the urgency required and as such agreed that the engagement and the guid-

ance development process must occur and conclude shortly and timely.

The meeting was held to commemorate the World Consumer

Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (middle) representing State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, presents a certificate to one of the graduands, Goodness Oyeniyi (left) ) during the Graduation ceremony/Job Fair of the Lagos State Employability Support Project at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Thursday, March 15, 2018.

With them are Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharm. (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (2nd left); Chairman, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru (2nd right) and Executive Secretary, LSETF, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode (right).

AfDB to raise Africa’s industrial GDP to 130% by 2025

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resident, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the bank planned to help raise Africa’s industrial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 130 per cent by 2025 and drive the overall GDP from 2.3 trillion dollars to 5.6 trillion dollars to enhance industrialisation.

Adesina said this in the Bank’s latest publication produced by the Department of Communication and External Relations at the Headquarters and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The president said structural transformation was needed to ensure sustainable, inclusive and shared growth in Africa. According to him, structural transformation will not be possible without industrialization that facilitate a move from low to high productivity activities.

Adesina who said the bank’s goal was to aid Africa move from agriculture to agro-industries from raw natural resource exports to high value semi processed or processed exports, added that this would curb high unemployment rates and lay the

ground work for greater diversification of economies.

He said industrialization must be underpinned by technology progress, reallocation of new investments into high return emerging markets by offering Africa opportunities to leap frog over its development gap.

Adesina said stakeholders, acting on the industrialization agenda of the continent, estimated that structural transformation required industrial GDP to grow by an average of 11.5 per cent per year corresponding to accumulative growth of 130 per cent by 2025.

He added that GDP per capita growth would have to almost double to four per cent per annum.

According to him, the experience of other industrializing economies seem to indicate that Africa can realistically achieve these objectives by increasing industrial GDP in the next 10 years from 751 billion dollars to 1.72 trillion dollars within the decade.

Adesina said “this will raise continental GDP to 5.62 trillion dollars and Africa GDP per capita to 3.368 by 2025.

More hurdles for AfCFTA’s implementation in Nigeria Continuesd fom P17

”While we believe the AU 2063 Agenda for a Single African Market (SAATM/AfCFTA) is a good idea, we humbly appeal to government to pause and reappraise the benefits of the treaties to Nigeria and should come up with a clear policy on how best to take full advantage of the single market agenda by putting Nigeria first and protecting our overall interest rather than rushing to sign treaties and implementing agreements that will reverse the gains of this present administration and jeopardize the future of our children.”

The AMOT meeting considered and approved the Kigali Declaration for the Launch of the AfCFTA for transmission to the African Union Executive Council and adoption by the Assembly of State and Governments, a statement that reaffirms

the integrity of the negotiations and the commitment of all AU member states to proceed to the ratification of the legal instruments.

“The skeptics have been proved wrong. What has been achieved in the conclusion of the first phase of the AfCFTA negotiations is remarkable. A continent-wide market is being opened for trade and investment.

This is a massive game-changer.

There will be far-reaching impacts on the business environment, the development and consolidation of supply chains, and the potential to lift millions out of poverty. The AfCFTA will further ensure policy coherence in Africa’s trade relations with international partners,” remarked David Luke, Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre who led ECA’s delegation, on the outcome of the AMOT meeting.

Similarly, President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr

Rights Day 2018, which is celebrated on March 15 every year.

This year’s celebration has as its theme: “Making the Digital Marketplaces Fairer.’’

Adetokunbo Kayode, commended Federal Government’s decision to make Nigeria a signatory to the establishment of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Kayode who gave the commendation in a statement signed by Mr Gena Lubem, the Media and Protocol Officer of the chamber in Abuja, Thursday, said the agreement represents a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses to gain greater access to the fast growing African market.

“It is vital that Nigerian businesses continue to diversify their export markets and with this agreement, trade barriers for companies across a number of sectors will be reduced thereby creating access to new markets within Africa.

“I am optimistic that the AfCFTA will increase intra-Africa trade by about 52 per cent, resulting in an increase of African manufacturing

exports from the current average in which manufacturing only represents about 10 per cent of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa,” Kayode said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on March 18, canceled his scheduled visit to Rwanda to attend an ExtraOrdinary Summit of the African Union on March 21, where he was to sign the framework agreement for establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area during the Summit that would host leaders of African countries.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the trip was canceled to allow for more consultations with stakeholders in Nigeria over the trade agreement.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) had kicked against AfCFTA.

Adesina also mentioned five key enablers that had been common to almost all countries that had rapidly industrialized their economies.

These enablers include supportive policies, legislation and institutions; conductive economic environments and infrastructure; access to capital; access to market; regional integration and addressable markets.

“In successful industralising countries, these enablers have typically been integrated into a comprehensive industrial policy that has enabled businesses, both large and small, to develop along the value chains of selected high potential industrial sectors.’’

FBN Holdings announces new appointments

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BN Holdings has announced the appointment of Mr Olawale Ariyibi as Chairman of the Board, FBNQuest Capital, and Mr Tijanni Borodo as Chairman of the Board, FBNQuest Trustees. This comes after the recent renaming of all entities under the investment banking and asset management subsidiary group.

The appointed Chairmen join the Boar following the confirmation of all regulatory approvals. Mr. Oyewale Ariyibi brings a combined 23 years’ experience in banking and allied financial services, business assurance, tax management, business process review and consulting across several institutions.

Ariyibi is also currently the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at FBN Holdings Plc. Before this appointment, he was CFO at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) and Country Financial Controller at Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria.

His core competencies include financial accounting and reporting, capital raising, tax planning and cost management, operational risk management, strategic and corporate planning, compliance and business assurance amongst others.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28 , 2018

ENERGY

OPEC quota: Cost efficient oil firms to produce more Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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OST efficiency will determine the oil firms in the country that would be allowed to pump more crude into the market as imminent production boom throws up concerns about the management of production ceiling slammed on Nigeria by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) It would be recalled that OPEC had last December limited Nigeria’s crude oil production to notional 1.8 million barrels per day as the 14 member group and another 10 countries led by Russia jointly tame supply in the export market in order to firm up prices of crude oil Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, told The Oracle Today that output volumes expected from new field development projects in the country means that Nigeria will have excess production capacity that would compel rationing among oil companies in the country The new barrels expected to flow from the Egina deepwater field under development by Total, Zabazaba deepwater field under investment decision by Eni, Bonga Southwest/Aparo (BSWA) deepwater field under development consideration by Shell and Erha II deepwater development planned

by ExxonMobil Already nameplate production capacity has been determined for Egina and Zabazaba. Whereas the Total operated Egina is to pump at plateau rate of 200,000 barrels per day, Zabazaba is expected to flow at 250,000 barrels per day.

The Shell operated BSWA as well ExxonMobil operated Erha II are estimated to flow at 250,000 barrels per day each if they secure approval for stand-alone developments. The production rates are estimated to be lower if they are

• Amenam-Kpono oil and gas platform planned to tie in to proximate production faciltities In all the four deepwater fields plus production upsides from restreamed facilities in the Niger Delta hold production addition of about a million barrels per day if the operating environment is perfect.

The expected volumes from new field developments would therefore push Nigeria’s daily output to over 3.0 million barrels per day Meanwhile, Nigeria is a key member of OPEC but was exempted from the group’s production restrictions since 2016 when the coalition decided to jointly reduce the volume of daily crude oil flow to the export market by 1.8 mbd in a desperate measure arrest falling oil prices and rekindle investments in

exploration and production However, the factors that led to exemption of Nigeria from OPEC quota, including production outages attributable to insurgency in the Niger Delta, revenue need for fighting insurgency in the northeast as well as low price cycle have all eased. Nigerian production has also risen significantly in the period to threaten OPEC+10 coalition’s efforts at enforcing production cut compliance Last December, the group advised Nigeria to limit its production to 1.8 million barrels per day, but Dr. Kachikwu insists that number is still notional and advisory, adding that the country could still pump a little more crude and a lot of condensate

“A combination of what we are producing today which is in excess of 1.75 million barrels per day of crude oil and some 400, 000 barrels per day puts us in the range of 2.3 million barrels per day. So we are slightly below the OPEC limit and we will like to move up a little “Challenge will come when we exceed 2.5 million barrels per day.

Egina has 200,000 barrels per day and that comes up in the last quarter of this year; then Zabazaba potentially come up last quarter of next year with 250, 000 barrels per day. It is then that you begin to struggle with what you do with those volumes. And that is why I said that it is a signal to oil companies that we are gonna be watching cost

Nipco leads new energy plan

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ederal government will plug into the clean energy initiatives already pioneered by indigenous Nipco Plc in line with the prevailing energy transition towards cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable options.

According to industry experts that proposed increased investment in natural gas for the country’s long term industrial, commercial and transportation application, changes in automobile technology would deal the greatest blow on distillate fuels when global regulation on high sulphur fuels come into effect.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated at an industry summit in Abuja that Nigeria is watching the global energy transition with keen interest as governments, environmental organizations, United Nations and industrialized economies set deadlines for switch from high polluting petroleum liquids to clean

burning alternatives.

The minister pointed at Nipco’s successful pilot programmes for vehicle engine conversion from petrol and diesel combustion to cleaner natural gas options as a ready strategy that would be adopted by government for improvement and expansion.

According to him, Nipco is championing the innovation with Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) for compression of natural gas for vehicular application, adding that the programme which has been very successful and technically certified by regulators would provide both the petroleum and automobile industries in Nigeria the needed foundation for seamless switch from liquid petroleum.

The minister stated that he would pay closer attention to the company’s gas for transport initiatives with target to make it a pan industry model for new energy in line with global movement to-

wards environmental protection, gas valorisation, transportation efficiency and treaty compliance.

The Oracle Today recalls that Nipco Plc has remained resolute with is gas-for-transport initiatives in the past decade with programmes that not only provide incentives for motorists to convert their vehicle engines to dual fuel combustion but also build gas refill stations for vehicles at key transit points in the country.

The pilot programme which kicked off in Benin in Edo State witnessed successful demonstration of efficient installation of engine accessories that permit vehicles to run on both gas and liquid fuels.

However, whereas Nipco had partnered NGC on the gas conversion programme to create high demand in the domestic market, the prevailing discussion winds around the future of Nigeria in a fast changing automobile market where innovators are driving inventions for

cars that run on low emission fuels.

Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Mr. Tony Attah, had warned government to speedily invest in programmes that would monetise the nation’s huge natural gas resources in the short to medium term as energy transition that would deemphasize use of petroleum liquids remains certain in the long term.

Mr. Attah who was urging government to speed up policies and strategies for generation of national industrial development revenue through rapid gas liquefaction programmes warned that the automobile industry that generates the highest demand for petroleum liquids has started transition to low emission energy options.

He pointed out that gas remains in the gap between the imminent transition from liquid fuels for automobiles and high performance electric cars. The time window between liquid petroleum and

“I will refuse to take a costly barrel to the market when I have a cheap barrel. What it means is that everybody has to start driving down to that $15 per barrel context that we accept as the ideal cost of production in this country, not $22 or $23. As I said, a lot of companies have met that and we are beginning to push other companies to do that.

“So it is an incentive in terms of access to the market and our willingness to produce, and also an incentive in terms of what we are gonna do for you as least cost producer. We are gonna work that out,” the minister explained Meanwhile the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is among the companies running behind the cost lines The company stated in a media statement that it has brought down the cost of production to $20 per barrel and now targets $15 per barrel Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said NNPC had been innovative and efficient in its various operations to drive down the cost of production through Nigerian Content utilization He stated that the corporation had succeeded in domesticating engineering, procurement, construction and most activities of the industry, adding that heading to London to prepare mere tender documents for engineering, procurement and construction belonged to the distant past “Today we have fully domesticated the engineering, procurement and construction aspect of the Oil and Gas Industry and we are working hand-in-hand with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to get Nigerians who are innovative.

He explained that today, there were fabrications going on in the areas of valves, line pipes, stressing that Nigeria has also gone into fabrication of vessels. electric cars, according to him, provides huge opportunity for Nigeria to rely on gas for both revenue and energy in propelling the economy.

At a recent conference in Abuja, panellists expressed concerns about the preparedness of Nigeria and other African countries that have huge infrastructural deficits and acute electricity supply shortfalls for the switch to electric cars in Europe by 2040.

Opinions had flown around developing domestic car manufacturing industry that would keep the country running in the foreseeable future. Other panellists suggested the use of existing conversion technology for continued utilization of abundant natural gas resources for vehicular application.

Dr. Kachikwu who admitted that he had not paid adequate attention to the emerging need for transportation fuel options in the face of the impending energy transition expressed gratitude to Nipco Plc for pioneering the vehicle conversion programme which, according to him, would provide easy adoption in case of strict compliance to low emission combustion.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28, 2018

ENERGY

FG endorses Kaztec’s $b yard for oil jobs • Company ready for VLCC dry docking by 2020 • Lays out billion-dollar site development plan • To employ 2000 workers SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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EDERAL government has pledged to map out robust work packages in upcoming field development projects in the country for the fabrication and logistics base run by indigenous oil service company, Kaztec Engineering Company Limited.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who led a delegation of industry captains to the billion dollar logistics base and fabrication yard under phased development by Kaztec, said the regulators are being mandated to guarantee patronage for the facilities in appreciation for the company’s huge capital outlay for local capacity development.

He declared government’s endorsement for the systems, facilities and technological skill sets deployed at the fabrication yard, saying the facility holds great potentials for significant participation in future deepwater development programmes.

The minister’s comments came as Chairman of Chrome Oil Services Limited, Sir Emeka Offor, said that the company has the requisite capacity to rehabilitate and upgrade the nation’s ailing refineries if given the opportunity in line with the Nigerian Content policy of the government.

Chrome is the midstream oil services sister company to Kaztec Engineering Limited which is focused on upstream oil services; and Sir Emeka Offor sits at the top of the board of both technologies companies.

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who led top captains of oil and gas producing companies, regulators and policy monitors to the fabrication yard located in Snake Island, Lagos State, described the investment plan by Kaztec as demonstration of faith in the Nigerian Content development policy of government.

The facility tour also attended by representatives the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as well as major international oil companies in the country provided the minister the platform to endorse capabilities displayed by the company which is currently fabricating an automated offshore platform jacket and deck for Addax Petroleum Development Company Limited.

He described the site under development and the project’s capital outlay as enormous. He also

pointed out that the host community and physical environment are good for integrated facility development processes and petroleum production equipment manufacturing.

Dr. Kachikwu urged the industry operators to tap into the innovation in automated facilities being demonstrated in the ongoing facilities production by Kaztec, adding that the prevailing cost reduction matrix in domestic industry operations calls for technology advantage.

He described high Nigerian Content profile in project delivery as credible, patriotic and logical strategy for cost reduction, arguing that massive local content input remains the best route to lowest per capital production cost at a time, he added, government was working to generate greater income with limited output volumes in a low price cycle.

He stated that while government was working to attract the right size of investment capital for field development activities, operators should fully engage existing in-country job delivery capabilities in line with policy objectives to encourage private investors to stake more funds in local capacity building and job creation.

Also pointing at the technical capacity flaunted by Kaztec during a brief presentation on its activities, Dr. Kachikwu commended the company on the brave stride on taking the local capacity challenge from the high technology end. He remarked that very few local oil service companies have been able to effectively position for jobs in the shallow and deep offshore terrains where the next flurry of development activities are imminent.

In promising the management of Kaztec of the support of the industry, Dr. Kachikwu pointed at upcoming final investment decisions that would spark off huge budget field development projects in the conventional and deepwater offshore Nigeria.

He applauded Kaztec for its high level capacity for technology intensive offshore facility fabrication, adding that the company’s site for its fabrication yard in a remote part of the Snake Island would yield multiple economic benefits in opening commercial and social activities is Ilaje island village, create opportunities for skills acquisition and mass employment for youths, drive down industry delivery cost and also dissolve significant part of the upstream operations budget in the

local economy.

He pointed out that whereas considerable milestones have been crossed in the government’s Nigerian oil and gas industry content development policy drive, the industry is still far from the target 70 percent performance by 2020.

He directed the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, to work out details of arrangements to funnel upcoming industry fabrication jobs to sustain uptime at the facility. He also advised the management of Kaztec to approach his office for full briefing on the opportunities and advantages the fabrication yard presents for the petroleum industry.

The Oracle Today reports that the fabrication yard is currently driving completion of offshore platform jacket and deck for a shallow water field under development by Addax Petroleum.

In his presentation to the visiting industry delegates, Project Manager of Kaztec, Mr. Mike Simpson, said the production deck under construction would be fully automated with capacity to produce some 12,000 barrels of light sweet crude per day.

The facility when commissioned, he said, could also be remotely controlled and operated from a convenient onshore location, requiring little or no onsite personnel for routine production activities.

Besides, the facility could also be tied back to proximate floating production vessel, Knock Adoon, also operated by Addax at Adanga field. The unmanned production deck, according to Mr. Simpson, would also share gas fuel with Knock Adoon.

He said the fabrication yard was at tertiary level of infrastructural development after committing over $300 million in development of facilities for Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Commissioning (EPIC) jobs.

He added that Kaztec has mapped out another $450 million for second phase of yard development with outlook for incremental investments until the full development design is realized.

The yard’s full logistics base development plan which carries a budget of about a billion dollars, Mr. Simpson said, Kaztec would also host Africa’s first dry dock facility for very large crude oil carriers (VLCC).

The base, according to him, is expected to engage over 2000

• Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

•Chairman of Kaztec Engineering Limited, Sir Emeka Offor. workers when completed by 2020.

It is not clear whether the base would also take fabrication orders for Chrome Oil Services which specializes in building and servicing of midstream oil and gas processing plants and facilities.

Former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Dr. Bafred Enjugu, told The Oracle Today in a chat that Chrome helped the company in no small measure in keeping uptime at a time turn around main-

tenance programmes consistently failed.

He said Chrome historically provided the management of the nation’s refineries technical interventions that saved the refineries from total collapse.

Sir Emeka Offor stated at Kaztec Yard in Lagos that Chrome has thrown in its own bid in the ongoing race for rehabilitation and upgrade of the Port Harcourt Refinery, saying that the company has all the technical, human and material resources to deliver on the refinery rehabilitation programme.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28 , 2018

e-Platform

Intrigues as reserved bidder warms up for 9Mobile’s acquisition

By SAMSON AKINTARO

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ESPITE the recent announcement of Teleology Group as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of the embattled telecom company, 9Mobile, the intrigues surrounding the acquisition process is far from over as the reserved bidder, Smile Telecoms, declared its readiness to reposition the company within the shortest possible time if allowed to acquire it. Incidentally, the preferred bidder, Teleology, is said to have yet to meet up its obligation of making $50 million non-refundable deposit, less than a week to the March 22 deadline.

A source close to Teleology said the company is still making efforts to pay the fee before the deadline while pressing external buttons to ensure it succeeds in the process. One of such overtures is said to have culminated in a meeting in Abuja on Monday March 12 which was hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Barclays Africa, financial advisors to 9Mobile had last month written to Teleology Holdings, one of the bidders, as the preferred bidder for the telecommunications firm, after what it described as rigorous process. In the letter announcing Teleology Holdings as the preferred bidder, it was asked to make a nonrefundable cash deposit of $50 million within 21 days from the date of the letter, dated February 21, 2018, or lose the bid to Smile Holdings Limited.

But Smile Communications had since faulted the selection of Teleology Holdings as the preferred bidder on the grounds that Barclays Africa did not do a thorough

job of the processes. It, therefore, called for a review of the process.

Smile’s grouse was contained in a letter addressed to Barclays Africa dated February 21, 2018 and signed

by Templars, its solicitors.

In the two-page letter, Smile, which emerged the reserve bidder, expressed surprise and disappointment at the manner in which the selection process for the Preferred Bidder and Reserve Bidder was conducted. Of particular concern to Smile Telecoms, was the fact that the selection of the Preferred Bidder was announced before the stated deadline of February 26, 2018 as set out in the process letter.

But Barclays Africa in its reply to Smile was said to have promised to “be in touch with Smile to discuss any updates on the transaction, to the extent considered necessary.

Meanwhile, not losing any hope, Smile continues to drum up why it is in the best position to acquire 9Mobile. According to the Executive Director, Operations, Smile Communications, Ahmad Farroukh, 9Mobile deserved the best and should be sold to an existing telecoms company with the right technical expertise and financial strength to turn it around for the highly competitive market within a few months Farroukh said Smile would bring three-dimensional values to 9Mobile once it was allowed to acquire it. “The first value is that we are Nigerian company already existing in the Nigerian telecoms space.

So, we will come up with our existing assets to boost the 9Mobile operations. We will seek the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC’s) permission to flip our existing 800MHz frequency to 9Mobile to enhance its operations. What we are bringing to 9Mobile is huge.

• From left: Senator Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye, Chairman Governing Board Nigerian Communications Commission; Houlen Zhao Secretary General International Telecommunications Union; Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO Nigerian Communications Commission, during a visit of Zhao to NCC Headquarters in Abuja recently.

He added, “The second value that we will bring to 9Mobile is the monetary value. We will bring in fresh millions of dollars from foreign financing outside Nigeria, into 9Mobile to pay off its indebtedness to the banks and also pay off any other group that the company is indebted to and we will still have enough to invest in 9Mobile and make it competitive.”

In all the scenarios playing out, the telecom regulator, NCC, has maintained a dignified silence, while insisting that due process

Mobile Internet subscriptions hit 100 million L

atest statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed an upswing in the number of internet subscribers in the country, jumping from 98.3 million in December 2017 to 100.2 million in January this year. The figure is based on number of subscriptions across the four mobile networks of MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9Mobile.

In the same vein, active mobile phone lines in the country rose to 146 million in January 2018, an increase of 2,233,467 lines from the 144,631 recorded in December 2017. The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), however, had 217,566 users in January 2018 just as in December 2017.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless in January 2018 was 137,262 as against 139,344 in December 2017, show-

ing a decrease of 2.082 lines.

According to NCC, the number of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 76,371 in January 2018 compared to 70,926 in December 2017, an increase of 5, 445.

Teledensity for January 2018 was 105.21 against 103.61 in December 2017, recording an increase of 1.60. The teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country. NCC also said the number of connected mobile lines in January 2018 increased to 237,755,757, compared to 236,927,497 in December 2017, an increase of 828,260.

The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for connected lines for January 2018 was 3,586.095, the same figure with December, 2017, it said. The report said that the number of fixed wired/

wireless for connected lines in January 2018 was 345.195 compared to 346,107 in December 2017, showing a decrease of 912 lines. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for connected lines in January 2018 was 523,298 while December 2017 was 472, 844,752, showing an increase of 50, 454.

would be followed in all the proceedings. The regulator had also reassured stakeholders of its commitment to ensure that the nation’s fourth largest Mobile Network Operatoris is duly taken over by investors with the requisite technical capability and pedigree to manage then organization. In one of its recent statements on the acquisition, NCC said pursuant to the powers conferred on the Commission by the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and

other instruments in that regard, it would ensure that all relevant statutory and regulatory processes are duly complied with in the process leading up to the emergence of new owners for the company. “…the Commission will apply all necessary diligence to see the ongoing sale process through to its logical conclusion in a manner that protects the overall national interest and the seamless operation of the national telecommunications network” it said.

Africa’s telecom sector poised for growth – Report

M

ergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the technology and telecommunication sectors in Africa and the Middle East will more than quadruple in 2018, from 2017. This is according to Baker McKenzie’s Global Transaction Forecast, developed in association with Oxford Economics.

The report shows that M&A in the tech and telecoms sector in Africa and the Middle East was valued at US$1 .2 billion in 2017. This is predicted to increase to US$5.9 billion in 2018 and a further US$5.9 billion in 2019, before decreasing to US$3.9 billion in 2020.

The report notes that a more positive global economic outlook, the expansion of technology across industries, investment from emerging markets, and strong corporate balance sheets are the key factors in driving investment in tech M&A around the world, including in Africa.

Darryl Bernstein, Head of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg,

South Africa, explains the predicted rise in tech and telecoms M&A in Africa, “Africa’s growing telecoms infrastructure and access to online services and platforms continue to improve access to the online economy. Increased local demand for innovative products, services and solutions drives offshore telecommunications and technology companies to target opportunities in Africa. The growing financial services sector has also seen domestic banks make significant investments in technology to advance their innovation agenda. African tech companies are also targeting offshore investments in companies that will deepen their access to new technologies, markets and talent.”

“The expansion of emerging technologies across industries, including agribusiness, automotive and of course fintech, will also drive M&A activity as we expect to see more cross-sector deals involving technology,” says Bernstein.

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday March 28 , 2018

e-Platform

More Nigerians dump desktop for mobile browsing – Report

L

ATEST report on the Nigerian Mobile Sector by Africa’s leading e-commerce company Jumia, has revealed an 11 per cent increase in the number of Nigerians who visited the e-commerce website via their mobile phones, moving upward from 71 per cent in 2016 to 79 per cent in 2017. Conversely, the number of people that used used their desktop computers or laptops dipped to 18 per cent in 2017 compared with 29 per cent in 2016.

The report also shows that in 2017, 70 per cent of Nigerians preferred the cash on delivery option, compared to 28 per cent and 12 per cent for credit/debit cards and mobile money options respectively.

Speaking at the launch of the Mobile Report in Lagos, CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah, described the upward shift from desktop to mobile as a positive development.

She attributed the increase in the number of mobile phone users to the multiplicity of affordable smartphones, especially the Asian mobile brands which continue to build on their Africa-specific strategy by introducing lower price points’ smartphones adapted to the profiles of African users. She also listed a growing market for second-hand

devices and the increasing use of social media sites (active social media users) as contributing factors.

Anammah further hinted that “the mobile industry continues to play an increasingly important role in the socio-economic development of the African region. As Nigeria swiftly becomes a mobile first country, with mobile phone penetration currently at 84 per cent of the population, Jumia is doing its bit to close the gap with sales initiatives such as Jumia Mobile Week.”

This year, the stage is set once again for the biggest sale of mobile phones, beginning March 19th through 25th. This is a mobilephone-only one-week-long sales event dedicated to opening up our customers to a wide range of mobile devices at half the normal prices. “We believe that, by end of 2018, at least every Nigerian will have access to a mobile phone,” added Anammah.

In his remark, the Chief Transformation Officer of MTN Nigeria, Olubayo Adekambi identified “the expansion of E-commerce into a dual business model that blends the physical and the digital to create an ecosystem between brands and consumers across the two

worlds”, as among the major factors fueling the increase in adoption of smartphones.

In order to ensure rural dwellers have increased access to ICT devices such as smartphones, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has created an IT Innovation hub,

MTN Foundation fetes kids across Nigeria

T

he MTN Foundation has put a smile on the faces of about 1,500 kids in 36 institutions across the country. Each establishment was gifted foodstuff and baby care products.

According to Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation, “the provision of basic living amenities and consumables to the less privileged is critical to the growth and development of our country. We are passionate about this and that is what these initiatives are about, making life better for the children of this great nation”.

The management of the homes visited expressed their gratitude for

MTN Foundation’s care, which they described as timely and uplifting.

MTN Foundation Director, Mrs Mosun Bello-Olusoga noted that “Children’s homes such as these typically have a hard time sourcing funds. We all need to do our part, we all need to do more. Moments like these give us the opportunity to step out, reach out and show love.”

During each visit, MTN staff and representatives of the Foundation spent time with the children, talking about life, interests and inspirations as well as playing with the kids.

“These are very special places with very special children. Bursting with ideas, kids are such great dreamers

not bound by perceived limitations.

They are so full of love, children are an inspiration to us all! I am grateful and honoured to have been part of this,” said Adekemi Adisa, a General Manager in MTN’s Human Resources Division.

Places visited include Kids with a vision Foundation, Jos; Katsina children’s home; Al Ansar home, Abuja; Bethesda Home for the Blind, Lagos; Grace Orphan Rescue Foundation, Rivers; Eruobodo Centre for Special needs children Ogun; Ancilla motherless babies home, Imo and Save the child motherless and abandoned babies home, Owerri, Imo state.

reaffirming an OLED era in the coming years.”

The world record breaking and award winning video wall at The Dubai Mall was unveiled by Emaar Entertainment in August 2017 taking digital signage into a whole new realm and scoring a hat-trick of record titles, in partnership with LG: largest OLED screen, highest resolution video wall and largest high-definition video wall. The wall is a magnificent, 50-meter wide, wave-like configuration spanning two storeys and fully visible from the ground floor at The Dubai Mall, the world’s most visited retail destination.

The next-generation display – LG OLED screens resulted in superb images with the deepest possible blacks and life-like colors as well as wider viewing angles than conventional backlit displays. While these flexible LG OLED screens provided the vibrant colour range and wider viewing angle necessary at the

location, Dataton’s WATCHOUT multi-display system and compact WATCHPAX 4 media servers handle content production and delivery. The mega-sized video wall was created using 820 LG Open Frame OLED signage panels. All functions and the user interface were tailored to meet the venue’s specific requirements.

According to LG, the use of its Open Frame OLED signage at the Dubai Aquarium was particularly fitting because the curved form factor of the display follows the undulations of flowing water. The LG Open Frame OLED signage can be configured into both convex and concave curves in both landscape and portrait modes, blending into any public and private space. The nomination for the award category was initiated by Dataton as part of the efforts to promote the world class video wall on an international platform.

LG bags AV Technology award

T

he LG OLED video wall signage has been awarded under the category of ‘Best use of Projection/Display Solutions’ award at the first ever AV Technology Europe Awards 2018. The AV Technology Europe Awards held in Amsterdam were dedicated to recognising innovation and achievements in AV throughout end-user businesses.

Commenting on the award, Kevin Cha, President, LG Electronics, Middle East & Africa, said, “Digital Signage industry today is paving way for unprecedented growth and creativity to create attractions that are a cut above the rest and our world record breaking LG OLED Video Wall truly exemplifies LG’s commitment towards proactively contributing to this phenomenal evolution. We are extremely pleased to be associated with world renowned partners on this exciting project which continues to create success stories further

which has the capacity to produce e-literate groups from low skilled or low paid workers, unemployed people, and those with disabilities who do not have access to these ICTs. “NITDA has seen in ICT the potential to change new and old forms of economic activity. We’ve

created e-Learning Centres to further enrich the rural communities’ quest for learning and for continuous after-school reading and learning by both the students and teachers, among other initiatives,” noted the Government’s Agency Director General - Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.

Google blocks 3.2bn bad online ads

T

he search engine giant, Google, said it blocked a total of 3.2 billion bad ads from sites in 2017.

Jessica Stansfield, the Head of Global Product Policy, Monetised Products, Google Trust and Safety Europe, the Middle East and Africa, gave the figure during a video conference in Lagos.

She said that Google pulled out the bad ads with the aid of policies, technology and people. According to Stansfield, the figure shows more than 100 per cent increase from the 2016 figure which stood at 1.7 billion. “In 2017, we took down more than 3.2 billion ads that violated our advertising policies, which is more than 100 bad ads per second.

“This means we are able to block the majority of bad ad experiences, such as malvertising and phishing scams before the scams impacted on people. “We blocked 79 million ads in our network for attempting to send people to malware-laden sites. “We equally removed 66 million “trick-to-click” ads as well as 48 million ads that were attempting to get users to install unwanted software,” she said. The official said that digital advertising played an important role in making the web what it was.

“In order for this ads-supported free web work for everyone, it needs to be safe. “It should also be an effective place to learn, create and advertise, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.

“To make things work and move smoothly, Google has introduced many measures to checkmate online ad violators.

“For the last 15 years, Google, in a bid to keep the ecosystem safe, has invested in people, technology and policies to help fight issues such

as ad fraud, malware and content scammers,’’ she said.

Stansfield listed some of the actions that constituted the violation as scraping which had to do with copying others’ contents, tabloid cloaking – deception of someone to click on a site, malicious activity and malware.

She said that, to remove sites that created and spread deceptive content online, Google introduced a technology called Page-level enforcement that allowed removal of over 28 million URLs monthly.

According to the official, Page-level enforcement technology allows better protection of advertisers by removing more bad ads from more sites while minimising the impact on legitimate publishers.

“This new technology has been critical in helping to scale enforcement for policies that prohibit monetisation of inappropriate and controversial content,” she said.

Stansfield said that Google was constantly updating policies as new threats emerged, adding that in 2017, 28 new advertiser policies and 20 new publisher policies were added to combat new threats and improve ad experience online.

She said that in 2018, Google would be adding several new policies to address ads in unregulated or speculative financial products such as binary options, crypto currency and foreign exchange markets. She said that Google had already updated gambling policies to address new methods of gambling with items that had real-world value.

“Google will introduce a new certification process for rehabilitation facilities, allowing legitimate facilities in this space to connect with users in need,” she added.

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Libya – After blames, back to Libya

Cont’d front page 1

resources in making the trip that abandoning it because of the obvious dangers of the sea was never an option. They had history behind them. Many knew those who passed through the same sea to Europe and prosperity.

HOPES of families dangled on the decisions they make. Back home were people waiting to benefit from the money sojourners would send or for the signal to join them.

In those circumstances, thoughts of abandoning the trip were rare. The bigger question was what they would do, if they chickened out at the verge of “success”.

THE blames are flying already. Who would accept responsibility for another failure of our governments? Who does not know that some of those whose psyches were battered in Libya, if they have the resources, would make another attempt to seek a future outside Nigeria? Would governments bother to halt the illegal migration of hundreds of thousands of young people, who have given up hope on Nigeria?

LIBYA is the symptom. Nobody should confuse it with the disease. A symptom if not used as the map to the illness, develops other features. If we listen to those who were lucky to return, many of them are

educated, or passed through our higher institutions. What were they searching for in Libya?

YEARS back, Libya’s prosperity was such that those who could not make Europe stayed back there. They worked, earned descent wages, while bidding their time to cross into Europe. Relations joined them. The remnants are reportedly the ones running the slave camps in Libya.

WHEN Mummar Gadhafi was killed, Libya collapsed. It has not recovered. Militias sprouted like overnight mushrooms. Each partitioned a part of Libya for itself, much like Somalia. Without a central government that is able to enforce law and order, lawlessness became the law.

NIGERIANS or others who ventured into any part of Libya have to live by the laws of those in charge of it. Calls on the Federal Government to intervene shows how unconnected the government is to the people. Does government need to be told that drastic measures were required to deal with the fallouts of the maltreatment of Nigerians in Libya?

YET anyone who expects that the Nigerian government would raise a voice against the Libyans, or ask for an investigation, does not understand how our governments work. Libya, if investigated, would indict governments for swearing to words, which mean nothing to them. All they want is power. Have they not got the power? Is the power not for them to attend to their greed?

WHERE is the security for our people? Where is the welfare of our people? Where are these two items, which the Constitution says should be the primary purpose of our governments? What government policies consider the “security and welfare of the people”?

LIBYA would keep happening because our governments do not care. In a matter of weeks, they expect Libya would not be a hot news item again. There are elections that are months away. The elections are the most important matter of the moment.

WHAT is Libya? Who are involved? What if hundreds of thousands of Nigerians die?

Does it matter how they die? Is it important who or what killed them? Their love for Nigeria would still be questioned, even if they were dead.

SPURIOUS debates about the Libyan debacle have commenced.

The most strident position is that the victims caused their own

troubles and deserved what they got. There are no rooms for expectations that Nigeria would protect her citizens. Has everyone given up on a country that we call ours?

OFFICIAL reactions have remained tepid. No strong condemnations of what happened (which most of the returnees claim is still happening) in Libya. Our government has affinities with Libya that it considers more important than the security and welfare of Nigerians.

NO words are too strong to condemn the Libyan affront. Nigerians expected a severing of diplomatic relations with Libya while investigating how its government could not protect Nigerians.

THE Nigerian Ambassador to Libya remains in office. His Libyan counterpart is in Abuja, no queries. Does Nigeria, in establishing the Libyan precedent, expect other countries would place any premium on the dignity of Nigerians?

SOME are calling for a stop to slavery in Libya.

The disinterest and indifference of our government to Nigerians is worse than slavery.

Would the government see the links between Libya and creating opportunities for a fulfilling life for Nigerians at home?

LIBYA, if any further proof was needed, confirms the hollowness of the oaths our leaders take, particularly as they affect the “security and welfare of the people”, and their primacy in the execution of government policies.

FINALLY, the shock is that some of those ‘rescued’ from Libya are finding their way back to Libya. Is Nigeria so unlivable that some would rather embrace death than live here?

Does it shock our leaders that people are ready to risk death than the uncertainties of living in Nigeria?

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.

25

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

OPINION

We are watching and waiting

By ANTHONY OLUBUNMI OKOGIE

I

n Nigeria’s security architecture, the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, appoints and oversees all service chiefs, including the Inspector General of Police. They take orders from him. He assures us that he receives regular security briefings.

But he has just made a candid admission that he is not in control of his service chiefs. He ordered the Inspector General to relocate to Benue State in January. He admitted in March that he did not know the order was flouted. Does the Inspector General of Police brief the President? Will the President fire him? Is it wise for Nigerians to count on this government for their security?

In affront to his person and office, his order was flouted, there were killings in Plateau State during his visit, and more killings in Taraba, Benue and Kogi States. Boko Haram, said by the President’s spokesmen to be degraded and technically defeated, abducted 110 school girls in Yobe State. Are the service chiefs still taking orders? Is the President still in control of security?

Instead of declaring the murderous herdsmen a terrorist organization, the President offers pious exhortation to their victims to love their neighbours. His party and the ruling party of yesterday score cheap political points, comparing notes on levels of incompetence and gravity of negligence in security matters displayed by their respective governments. The ruling party of today claims its government acted faster in Dapchi than the government of the ruling party of yesterday in Chibok. Both gloss over a disturbing question: where were our security operatives when our innocent daughters were abducted first in Chibok, and then, in Dapchi?

Our security is not only threatened by herdsmen. It is also threatened by the incompetence of our leaders, their conduct or misconduct, their greedy unethical glorification of perks of office. If, as one senator recently said, each senator receives 13.5 million naira per month as running cost, added to 720, 000-naira monthly salary, then our security is threatened. Interestingly, the Senate has not contradicted what this senator said. The senator himself has not told Nigerians if he too had been receiving this huge amount.

A senator should be able to do his work with half that amount, even with less. So, one may want to divide what Nigeria spends annually on her senators by two. The result would be 9, 299, 880, 000 naira. If that were divided by the number of universities in this country which is 175, the result would be 53,

142, 171 naira. Give that to each university for its library. It will drastically improve the quality of education in this country.

But the scandal is not just the amount we spend on our senators. Nigeria spends so much on government. Yet, there is little or no governance. We spend so much maintaining the President, 36 Governors, close to 50 Ministers, members of a bicameral National Assembly, and members of 36 state houses of assembly, advisers and special advisers, assistants and senior personal assistants. It is a security risk to spend so much on political office holders that Nigeria does not need while our education sector is in decay.

Education is the acquisition of wealth for human development, the assurance of prosperity and security in the land. Half of the huge amount of money devoted to servicing

political office holders in Nigeria can be spent on education. That will vastly improve our prospects for prosperity and security. To do otherwise is to sentence this country to a future of unending poverty and insecurity. That Nigeria invests more in her recycled politicians than in her youths is a breach of security that mortgages her future.

But education is not the only neglected sector in this country. Uninterrupted electricity remains a fleeting illusion. That certainly affects security. It affects the economy too.

Without electricity, this country cannot grow her economy. Nigerians hear of economic recovery. But it is not felt in their pockets.

Many are dying of hunger. Salaries are not paid. School fees cannot be paid. Parents withdraw children from school. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s politicians, paid huge sums of money, throw lavish wedding parties, at a time of heightened insecurity, and the President and Vice President lead the guests.

Lust for perks of office has made elections into public offices in Nigeria into a security concern. Machiavellian politics has become the most lucrative business. Nigerians must reflect on these questions before voting next year: when shall we have a government and Commander-in-Chief that truly protect us?

Will there ever be conversion of hearts among Nigeria’s politicians? When will Nigerian political office holders begin to serve those whose votes put them in office? Can it be said that this narrative of negligence, incompetence, greed and insecurity is a prelude to 2019? We are watching and waiting.

• His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos

Why Nigeria must scale up solar energy deployment

By CHIAGOZIE UDEH and OSELOKA H. OBAZE

N

ational development, economic growth, infrastructure, industrialization and manufacturing share a common denominator: they require adequate and constant power supply to grow. Such regularity in power supply guarantees that industries that create employment and wealth run on a 24-hour cycle. Despite years of lip service to building up power supply in Nigeria, the capacity and adequacy of electricity remain largely unchanged. Presently, Nigeria with a population of over 180 million people has a total installed capacity of 12,522MW of electricity with her peak generation output at 5,074MW. Comparatively, South Africa with a population of 52.4 million has a total installed capacity of 45,000MW and peak generation of 35,819MW. When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in May 2015, he prioritized solving the electricity conundrum in Nigeria. Recently, the Federal Government tweeted, “Generated power has gone up to 7,000MW in 2017 from 3,000MW in May 2015; transmission capacity at 6,900MW in 2017 from about 5,000MW in May 2015; peak distribution now averaging 5,000MW in 2017 from 2,690MW in 2015”. Encouraging as these figures are, they can hardly be confirmed by the realities experienced in Nigerian industries, homes and streets. To Nigerians, there have been no drastic changes in electricity generation and distribution in the past three years.

Nonetheless, Minister for Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has been trumpeting at every opportunity that Nigeria now generates more than its distributive capacity, seemingly oblivious of the dissonance in policy and implementation which he seeks to highlight. As Minister Fashola opined recently, “If we can produce 7,000 megawatts and we can only distribute about 5,000 megawatts, the problem has changed from lack of power to locating where the need is.” Generating power sans distributive capacity is equal to inability to generate.

Ironically, most Nigerians don’t understand or care about the dialectics of power supply; all they need is power twenty-four-seven. Nigerians want affordable electricity on demand. Just like their mobile phones - which they recharge when they want- Nigerians want an electricity

solution where they will be in control. Currently, the electricity sector operates on a “rob-Peterto-pay-Paul” basis, where consumers lucky to have the prepaid meters enjoy the indirect subsidy by consumers who are unlucky not to have their meters installed. Some consumers who paid for meters have been waitlisted for over five years and are in the interim paying almost 100 percent more than those boasting of the prepaid meters. What is perhaps more frustrating is that the assessed bills are inversely proportional to actual electricity consumed. This mode of electricity demand and supply is no longer sustainable in Nigeria. At a time the rest of the world is exploring alternative sustainable energy, Nigeria can’t afford to look away. Enter solar energy.

Nigeria retains great potentialities to switch to 100 percent clean energy with solar power.

Recent scientific analyses and recorded weather readings indicate that the scorching intensity of the sun in parts of Northern Nigeria result in solar irradiation at 7.0Kw.m2/day, while readings in the coastal areas hover around an average of 3.5 kw.m2/day. Accordingly, as reported

by Financial Nigeria International, “analysts have projected that Nigeria could generate 600,000MW by deploying Solar PV panels from just 1% of Nigeria’s land mass.”

Such generative capacity for a country that requires only about 50,000 MW to be adequately electrified is simply astonishing. What is far much astounding is why Nigerian policymakers seem averse to exploring the nation’s solar power potentials. Two causative factors bedeviling solar energy deployment are readily identifiable: government’s lack of willingness to invest in solar power and Nigeria’s officialdom treating the funding of solar power exploration as though it is the exclusive preserve of international development partners.

Acceptably, Nigeria’s federal government cannot fund diversification to solar energy alone.

However, it must exhibit the willingness and be seen as effectively proactive in deploying its limited resources in this area. There is also dissonance in related policy debate, as evidenced by the Nigerian Senate’s attitude and its consequent rejection of the N10bn solar proposal for rural electrification of nine federal Universities and 37 Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria. The query

by Senator Buka Mustapher, the Vice-Chairman

of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, during the Ministry of Power’s 2018 defense of its budget as to “Who is paying for the installations when the power sector had been privatized?” is indicative of the prevailing lack of requisite knowledge and proper briefing on the matter. The notion also exists that the lawmakers are simply protecting vested interests in the power sector.

Policy Incentives It can be readily concluded that besides a dearth of favourable policies on solar deployment in Nigeria, the prevailing inertia derives also from the lack of implementation of extant policies. The National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy 2015 (NREEEP), beyond setting the target of achieving 16% renewable energy consumption for Nigeria by year 2030, provides some decent incentives for the sector, including free custom duties for two (2) years on the importation of renewable energy equipment; allows project developers to obtain soft loans from the Renewable Electricity Fund (REF); tax incentives/holidays to manufacturers of renewable energy product and assist in allocation of land to manufacturers. These are great policies meant to incentivize solar energy deployment in Nigeria. The NREEEP If effectively deployed, would also assist Nigeria to achieve Goal 7 (Clean Energy) of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Government’s responsibility What must the government do? Government must change its attitude and approach to the solar energy sector. It must take the lead and see solar energy as a long-term strategic bankable option. Government should rethink Nigeria’s engagement with its international development partners, especially International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the African Development Bank (AFDB). Both organizations stand ready to not only support and fund solar projects, but also help member States develop such bankable projects. It should be realized also that lack of bankable projects remains the biggest reason most international funders won’t commit their money to some projects. Government must also delineate clearly, her experts and representatives in this critical sector. Oddly, at the 7th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi in 2017,

it was Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, who represented Nigeria, a fact that left many struggling to understand the absence of the oversight Minister of Power.

The consolidation of Ministries of Works, Housing and Power under one Minister is indubitably playing a negative role in this regard.

In the meantime, Nigeria is ripe for massive solar deployment and most individuals/businesses are already opting for home solar systems in the off-grid (stand-alone) space. It is now for the federal government to embrace its responsibility to scale up the deployment of solar energy starting with public buildings, parks and streets, then expanding to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMES) across the country. The time to act is now.

• Udeh is a Climate Policy Research Associate at Selonnes Consult Ltd.; Obaze is MD/CEO, Selonnes Consult Ltd.

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

The Oracle Today

26

Wednesday March 28 , 2018

Travel & Hospitality

UNWTO evolves new 10-point agenda for Africa

•Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (m) flanked by other African ministers of tourism gathering at UNWTO meeting which held on the sidelines of the just-concluded ITB expo in Berlin, Germany.

Stories by VICTOR NZE

A

N African ministerial working meeting conveyed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during this year’s Berlin International Tourism Fair ITB, which concluded last Thursday, agreed to move ahead with a new tenpoint UNWTO Agenda for Africa.

The final document will be adopted at the UNWTO Commission meeting for Africa, taking place in Nigeria in June this year.

Against the backdrop of international tourist arrivals expanding 8 per cent in Africa in 2017, thus outgrowing the world average increase in arrivals, tourism is gaining weight as a development opportunity for the whole continent, with its vast diversity of nature, culture and wildlife its greatest vehicle for development.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “tourism has huge potential to generate lasting development opportunities in Africa if we manage it in the right way, which is economic, social and environmental sustainability”.

The participants from 17 countries, including 14 ministers, supported a coordinated approach to seizing the continent’s potential for tourism, a sector that last year attracted more than 62 million international visitors. Issues on the UNWTO Agenda for Africa include, among others, connectivity, the image and brand of Africa, poverty alleviation, climate change, education and skills development, and financing. Delegates underscored the importance of educating other economic sectors on the broad impact of tourism for the benefit of societies and its people, and

P/Harcourt readies for NANTA AGM

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he National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has set machinery in motion for the grand hosting of its 42nd Annual General Meeting, AGM in Port-Harcourt from March 22-24 in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to NANTA, the elective AGM which promises to be unique and grand in every aspect is going to be the best in recent time by the body.

Speaking during the AGM press briefing in Lagos with the theme: ‘Symbiotic relationship of aviation and tourism, the key to economic development,’ the President of NANTA, Mr Bankole Bernard stated that the AGM will avail the body the opportunity to showcase the relationship between aviation and tourism.

Bernard said in other climes, aviation and tourism are never separated like is done in Nigeria, adding that tourism cannot thrive without travel.

NANTA boss advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of travelling

within the country, so as to promote travel and tourism.

He stated that the choice of Port-Harcourt for the AGM is to savour the cultural dynamism of the city and to show that PortHarcourt is not only about oil but also about tourism and culture.

He said NANTA will be welcoming the Governor of River State, Nyesome Wike, top players in the travel and tourism industry like the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba who is going to be the chairman of the AGM, the director general of the National Council of Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Segun, the director general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Mr Folarin Coker, among other dignitaries. He said NANTA is expecting over 400 participants for the AGM, coming from all over the country, including Journalists.

promoting tourism as a priority in national agendas.

The detailed, four-year UNWTO Agenda for Africa will be approved at the upcoming 61st Regional Commission for Africa –

UNWTO’s annual gathering of all its member countries of the continent –in the Nigerian capital of Abuja (4-6 June).

The following countries were represented at the meeting at

ITB: Nigeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

FG may split Tourism and Information Ministry

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HE Senate has urged the Federal Government to consider excising culture and tourism from the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure the harnessing of tourism potential in the country.

The Senate also mandated its Committee on Information and Culture to consider summoning the Minister of Information and Culture to brief the members on the performance of culture and tourism sector.

The resolutions followed adoption of a motion at plenary by Sen. Fatimat Raji-Rasak (Ekiti), who said that there was need for the country to formulate and adopt policies that would develop tourism in a sustainable manner.

Noting that tourism was a

wealth creator, the lawmaker said, “it has become absolutely necessary for the Senate to intervene in a manner that will ensure that tourism is given priority in our development agenda.

“This is because of its globally recognised potential in contributing to the growth of local economies. Over the last decade, tourism has emerged as one of the largest economic sectors accounting for nine per cent of the world’s GDP and over 200 million jobs.

“Tourism offers millions of direct and indirect entry point into the workforce, particularly for youths and women and ensure diversity of investment opportunities for young entrepreneurial talents.’’

Durban’s ICC to host 2018 WTA Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony W orld Travel Awards (WTA) has revealed that its Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony will be hosted at Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC), in South Africa.

Hospitality leaders from across the region will gather for the redcarpet gala ceremony on 6th October 2018 to see who amongst them has been voted the best in the business.

Enviably located moments from Durban Beachfront, the awardwinning Durban ICC is a state-ofthe-art events and entertainment venue. It will be WTA’s third visit to Durban ICC, having hosted ceremo-

nies in 2008 and 2009.

Graham Cooke, Founder and President, WTA, said: “It will be an absolute pleasure to return to Durban for the first time since 2009. With its beautiful beaches and fascinating Afro-Indian culture, Durban is one of South Africa’s essential destinations.

“We are honoured to partner with the Durban ICC. Opened by Nelson Mandela in 1997, this incredible facility has successfully staged some of the world’s most prestigious events. I look forward to welcoming all of our nominees here in October, as part of our silver anniversary celebrations.

In his contribution, Sen. Mao Ohabunwa (Abia-PDP) said that Nigeria must develop its tourism potential in efforts to diversify the economy.

According to him, Nigeria is endowed but we have not been able to develop what we have.

“This is important now that the country is diversifying its economy; we need to make our tourist sites beautiful and ensure they are well maintained to attract tourists. It is obvious that the discovery of oil made us to leave our tourism potential underdeveloped,’’ Ohabunwa said.

On his part, Sen. Barau Jubrin called for the review of the country’s tourism policy with a view to have a workable one.

“The problem is that there is lack of workable tourism policy and to have a robust economy there is need to have a sound tourism sector,’’ Jubrin said.

Similarly, Sen. Adokwe Suleiman said “Nigeria has beautiful milestones but this is undermined by neglect and insurgency.

“Tourism has continued to be more of lip service; we need to de-emerge the ministry in order to give more focus on development of tourism.’’

Stressing the need for the country’s tourist sites to be protected, Sen. Ben Bruce urged government at all tiers to take active efforts to promote tourism.

He also called for increased private sector participation in order to facilitate rapid development of the sector.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28 , 2018

AVIATION

Enugu to dismantle 2 masts at airport Stories by VICTOR NZE

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NUGU State Government has given approval for the immediate dismantling of the two obstructing masts on runway 08 of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport as well as the relocation of a community market at the other end of the runway to ensure security, according to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engineer Saleh Dunoma.

According to the FAAN boss, the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi gave the order during the visit of the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika to the state, last week, while also directing the relocation of the community’s market to give way for proper expansion and to ensure security of the airport.

Dunoma explained that restiveness from communities around the airport has warded off contractors installing the lighting facilities at the airport adding that all the lighting facilities were on ground but could not be installed as a result of hostilities from the communities around the airport.

Dunoma who was guest of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Gateway Forum, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Wednesday, said although airport is a public place that plays host to so many people, FAAN would provide closed-circuit television cameras at all its facilities, beginning from the international

airports.

Dunoma also disclosed at the forum that the airports management authority is providing additional surveillance technology to secure critical areas of the airports especially the airside.

According to him, the airports already have Close Circuit Television (CCTV) technology but that the authority is adding extra ones because airports operations are

dynamic and the changes come usually with challenges which FAAN has to adapt to in order to surmount them. ”Some areas in the airports are restricted; there is access control at the airports, we must have proper access control system. Security challenges come in various forms; when you address one, some others show up. We have mounted CCTV cameras at the La-

gos and Abuja airports. It is 80 per cent and 70 per cent completed at the Lagos and Abuja airports respectively.

“We’ll also install a mobile technology that can see up to seven kilometers. If you try to penetrate unlawful, the surveillance system will detect it. By the time all the technologies are put in place security will be water-tight,” he said.

•From left: Chief of Staff to the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Zakari Mamuda; Director Finance and Account, FAAN, Mrs. Nike Aboderin; Managing Director, FAAN, Engr. Dunoma Saleh ; Chairman League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents, Mr. Segun Koiki and Director Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Mr. Sadiku Rafindadi, during the official commissioning of Dunoma Saleh Press Centre at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

Our statistical data on tickets sold remains credible – NCAA

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he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised the public and all aviation stakeholders to disregard the misguided attempt to discredit statistical data emanating from the Authority.

The NCAA in a statement signed

by Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Relations stated that NCAA stands by its statistics.

“The figures are verifiable and are harmonised by all relevant aviation parastatals, government agencies and handling companies.

It is therefore important for the public to be aware that there is a disparity between NCAA’s data collection basis and FAAN’s. In addition, 5 percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) is not based on the total tickets sold but only on flown tickets.

On the other hand, FAAN computes its Passenger Service Charge (PSC) on all categories of passengers flying through the airport.

Furthermore, 5 percent TSC applies to all tickets originating from Nigeria with the exclusion of Diplomats, Tickets sold off-

shore, infants tickets and staff tickets. These are all classified as non-taxable tickets,” Adurogboye explained.

He pointed out that tickets sold

by National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and Airlines do not translate to taxable tickets until it is utilised by the passenger.

The Authority stated categorically, that there is no consultant(s) commissioned to collect its rev-

enue on its behalf.

“Payments have since been automated while the processing and data analysis for both international and domestic airlines are handled

by NCAA staff. The Automation process is a transparent system that obtains billable data directly from the reservation system of the airlines.

“On the international route, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is responsible for billing and collection of revenue

which is remitted into NCAA TSA account. This is the global practice as charged by member states (airlines) to ensure coherent fare structure to prevent exploitative and monopolistic tendencies of the airlines.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) therefore wishes to assure Nigerians that our statistical data undergoes due diligence and the integrity can be ascertained before it is published,” said the state-

ment.

Int’l exhibitors set to storm Nigeria as FAAN hosts ACI

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ocal, international exhibitors from airports, service providers and a host of other aviationrelated businesses—showcasing a range of products, services and technologies aimed at making aviation business more efficient and passenger-friendly are set to arrive in the country as Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN hosts the 59th Airport Council International board and regional conference and exhibition from April 14-19th in Lagos.

Speaking during the Airport International Council, ACI press brief-

ing and unveiling of the event logo at Raddisson Blu hotel, Ikeja with the theme: ‘Transformation for Sustainable Development of African Airports’, the managing director of FAAN, Engineer Saleh Dunoma disclosed that the safety reviews for Kaduna and Enugu will be carried out in May of this year.

Dunoma stated that last year, Nigeria signed the agreement to become one of the ACI global training centres, to further advance the goal of human capacity development in FAAN and in Africa.

He said the first training after the agreement was conducted in De-

cember 2017 where Nigeria received participants from other African countries.

Dunoma noted that over the years, ACI Africa had focused on safety as a priority leading to the initiation of the world wide acknowledged Airport Excellence (APEX) in safety programme.

FAAN boss observed that this has recorded great achievements as there has been a drastic decrease in the number of incidents and accidents in Africa.

He said in Nigeria, ACI has been of tremendous assistance in the certification process of the Lagos and

“We are planning to bring in sophisticated technology. The machine can detect anything.

If you are a student of physics, this particular scanner can break any element down to the atom, in fact it can provide the atomic component and so it is quite sophisticated and advanced. it is currently being tested and awaiting certification for airport usage.

We do not have it here but what we have if properly used is quite effective. We have the scanner and the hand-held detectors and when used it can detect things and make the user delve further,” said the FAAN chief.

Dunoma also disclosed that FAAN has begun the process of certifying the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kaduna International Airport, Port-Harcourt International Airport and Akanu Ibiam International Airports, Enugu.

This is coming on the heel of a similar exercise carried out in 2017 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Dunoma who said that FAAN was carrying out the certification process in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also said that the exercise would be completed by the middle of 2018.

Dunoma said that the current drive toward the certification of Nigerian airports was very significant.

“It is not only as a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, but even more importantly as one of the critical safety targets of the Abuja Ministerial Declaration.

“Very soon, we will certify all the international airports and then, we will focus on the domestic airports. All our airports will be certified within a given time frame,” Dunoma said.

He said that FAAN would continue to emphasise the need for safety and security of passengers as well as their comfort at the airports.

Abuja airports through the APEX in safety programme which helped the agency to identify safety gaps in our aerodromes.

“In recognition of the role played

by ACI and in FAAN’s bid to ensure safety in our airports, we have commenced the APEX in safety programme in other of our international Airports namely Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and Kaduna airports.

“I am pleased to announce that today is the inaugural day of the weeklong APEX in safety review in Port Harcourt which will be closely followed by the APEX review in Kano.

“FAAN is engaging a proactive means of mitigating risks and ensuring the overall safety of our passengers,” the MD said.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION PTAD blames banks for delay in remitting February pensions Stories by VICTOR NZE

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HE Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says it has paid all February pensions, even as it blamed the double payment errors recorded in January payments on banks, adding that the affected financial institutions have since reversed the payment.

Disclosing this in a series of tweets from the agency’s Twitter account, @PTADNigeria, Monday, Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor, said PTAD has paid the monthly pensions for February,

adding that ‘the commercial banks delay in remitting to their customers.’

“PTAD does not withhold payment. Double payment error in January was made by the banks and they reversed it. We pay out of our TSA accounts through banks. We do not control commercial banks neither do we operate commercial bank accounts.

“PTAD has paid every pensioner their February monthly pensions.

Delays by banks to individual’s account are not under our control but we have notified GIFMIS of the defaulting banks. PTAD has made all payments,” she said.

Meanwhile, PTAD has concluded the computation benefits of New Nigerian Newspapers pensioners.

The exercise which captures 467 pensioners and 17 Next of Kins (NoKs) of deceased pensioners was attended by New Nige-

rian Newspapers Management staff including; Maruf A. Ibrahim, Yusuf Musa, Hajia Mairo B. Umar, Mike O. Reis, as well as New Nigerian Newspapers Pension Union Chairman Mr Idah Sule.

The exercise was proceeded by a tripartite meeting involving PTAD Management team, New Nigerian Newspapers Management and the New Nigerian Newspapers Pensioners Union at the PTAD Headquarters in Abuja.

NHIS steps up awareness for elderly, retirees’ programme

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he National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) says it is stepping up public awareness on elderly and retiree’s health insurance programme provided by the scheme.

General Manager, Formal Sector Department, NHIS, Dr Emmanuael Uba, who disclosed this in an interview, Monday, in Abuja, said the programme, also known as Vital Contributor’s Social Health Insurance Programme (VCSHIP), was designed to cover the healthcare needs of retirees, aged and Nigerians who are not covered by any programme of the scheme.

He explained that the programme allows individuals to pay N15,000 annually for their own contributions while contributions could also be made on their behalf.

He added that the programme, which was renewable annually, also provides access to quality healthcare services for the enrollees.

“The NHIS designed this programme over three years ago for the benefit of our senior citizens, the elderly ones and Nigerians who are not under any programme of NHIS. “This is because NHIS is a contributory scheme, which means, is either you contribute or someone else contributes on your behalf which keeps you covered.

“However, when people retire from service, they are out of government payroll and contributions are no longer paid for them, that is why NHIS designed a special package for them to still have access to healthcare after they are retired,” Uba said.

On procedure for registration, the general manager said interested persons could register at any NHIS offices in the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the payment of N15,000 annually.

• Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (l), provides details on the State’s newly-deployed biometric health insurance platform using the NEXUSINSURE software, which is being implemented by a joint government and private sector team, comprising the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), and the NexusMax, the software developers.

Prioritise pensions, gratuities – Gaidam urges State Governors Y

obe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has urged other state governors to make payment of salaries and pensions as first line charge before any expenditure to entrench trust in the system.

The Governor made this remark at the official commissioning of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) House in Abuja, Tuesday.

He said there was no reason any governor should not pay salaries and pension.

According to him, Yobe has been able to live up to its responsibilities, in spite of the security challenges posed by Boko Haram insurgents.

“We have made it a deliberate policy to pay salaries and pensions as the first line charge before any expenditure, while many states have backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities,” Gaidam said.

He disclosed that Yobe is one of the few states which have consistently paid salaries of staff without resort to the bailout of funds from the Federal Government.

“We have also made it a deliber-

ate policy that all civil servants in the state start receiving payment of pensions one month after retirement.

“We have equally set-up a Committee to verify gratuities of staff in the state and have cleared backlog of gratuities of civil servants who retired from Services from 2014 to July 2017 the sum of about N4.7 billion, covering 2,543 beneficiaries,” he said.

Also, the national president of NUP, Dr Abel Afolyan appealed for more support to enable the union carry out more capital projects.

“We want to have a medical centre, where we would be taking care of our aged members. We also intend to establish the pensioners’ radio and television station where we can reach out to our members easily and also use it as a tool of advocacy for our interests.

More heat for insurance as aviation records 3 crashes in 4wks

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hree deadly air crashes that have killed 170 passengers in the past 4 1/2 weeks may indicate that 2017, the safest-ever year for aviation, represented a statistical blip.

A total of five fare-paying customers lost their lives in just two crashes on planes of 14 seats or more in the whole of last year, and there were no passenger fatalities at all involving jet-powered aircraft.

With 2018 only 2 1/2 months old, that death toll has already jumped exponentially, including the first fatal jet crash since the end of 2016.

The trend highlights the relatively higher risk associated with flying on smaller aircraft, especially turboprops, in locations with challenging terrain and less developed airport infrastructure lacking the most modern navigational aids.

“The airline industry probably isn’t as safe as looking at 2017 in isolation would have us believe,” Paul Hayes, safety director at Londonbased aviation consultancy Ascend FlightGlobal, said in an interview.

“But three fatal accidents in a few weeks doesn’t mean that safety has got worse.”

This week’s crash involving Bangladesh-based US-Bangla Airlines, which killed 45 passengers, appears typical of deadly incidents in the past few years. It featured a turboprop model — a Bombardier Inc. Dash 8 — and an airport, Kathmandu, that’s ringed by mountains and notorious among pilots.

Hayes, whose Airline Safety & Losses review proclaimed after 2017 that “the age of zero accidents is here, more or less,” said an air traffic control transcript from the plane’s final moments indicates confusion over its position and which runway it had been allocated to.

A Feb. 18 crash that killed 60 passengers on a flight operated by Iran Aseman Airlines also involved a turboprop, an ATR 72 built by Airbus SE and Leonardo SpA, which hit a 13,000-foot mountain. Both 2017 incidents with passenger fatalities again featured propeller aircraft, with one person dying when an ATR 42 came down after takeoff in Saskatchewan, Canada, and five killed when a Czech-built Let L-410 crashed short of the runway in eastern Russia.

Hayes said it’s not the planes themselves that are the issue, nor even the maintenance regimes at little-known operators, but the testing routes on which aircraft are deployed. “Turboprops generally operate in more hazardous environments,” he said. “In places like Papua New Guinea roads don’t exist and the only way is air, but the mountains and low cloud mean that it’s never going to be entirely safe.”

ATR planes are designed for their versatility and are in service with more than 200 customers in 100 countries worldwide spanning very different operating conditions, spokesman David Vargas said. Bombardier’s Nathalie Siphengphet said the company studies incident reports and works with airworthiness authorities and clients to improve processes, training and reliability.

Hayes points to the record of Western-built jetliners as indicating a rapidly improving safety trend at major airlines.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 21 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

Pension arrears: FG releases N54b to PenCom

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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EDERAL Government has released N54 billion to National Pension Commission (pencom) for the payment of the 33 per cent pension arrears to pensioners, according to Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Pension, Alhaji Hassana Shekarau, during last Tuesday’s during the official inauguration of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) House in Abuja.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had constituted a presidential committee to reconcile the pension figures and that job had been concluded.

According to him, the president also sent a bill seeking for

a loan to the National Assembly, which had been approved and part of the approval was to pay pensioners’ arrears.

“We don’t know what is delaying it that is why I took it upon myself to make sure that I charge the chief executives, who are handing pension matters that within two weeks they should report back to me on it.

“Any of them that delay I assure pensioners that we will still move another motion to ensure it payment. I have engaged stakeholders to make sure that the needful is done. I am happy to tell you that some progress has been made on the challenges of the 33 per cent arrears.

“I have given the relevant stakeholders on pension two

weeks to sit and resolve matters on the pending issues of the payment of 33per cent pension arrears since the money had been disbursed.”

He said he had recently engaged the three executives in-charge of pension: Pencom, PTAD and the Chairman, Military Pension Board and had given them two weeks to engage the Minister of Finance, the Director of Budget and the AccountantGeneral.

Speaking further, the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, gave assurance that the arrears of the 33 per cent would be paid soon.

“All those that we had verified we are completing their payment of arrears, we were able to pay six months last year. I assure you that this year we would pay the next one, we will make sure that all the arrears of the 33per cent

are paid soon,’’ she said.

She commended Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe for payment of pension in his state and promised to build a state office in Damaturu for the verification of pensioners.

“We shall have an office in Damaturu so that our aged parents and pensioners do not need to come to the headquarters in Abuja for their verification they will get the same service there,” she said.

UnityKapital now Veritas Kapital Assurance nityKapital Assurance Plc, Friday, announced that it has 2017, the company hereby notifies U changed its name to Veritas Kapital the public of its change of name Assurance Plc. This is contained in a noticed signed by the Managing Director/ CEO Mr. Polycap Didam that following the concluded divestment of Unity Bank Plc’s holdings in UnityKapital Assurance Plc and the Resolution passed by members of the Company at its Annual General Meeting held on 14th September,

Rivers restates commitment to health insurance

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ivers State Government on Wednesday said that it was committed to implementing the Health Insurance Scheme State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Chike said that the government was already building five zonal hospitals as part of the preparations for the project take-off.

According to him, the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BSMH) is also being upgraded to meet the requirements for the scheme.

The commissioner said that the government’s intention for the scheme was to make healthcare affordable and accessible to the ordinary people.

He said that the scheme would reduce out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare.

“The health insurance scheme is a good thing; it covers a wide spectrum of aliments; all you need to present is your card.

“What is required to access the scheme will be made affordable; it is a scheme that targets the ordinary people,’’ he said.

Chike said that the government was carefully packaging the scheme to ensure that challenges witnessed in similar programmes elsewhere would be eliminated.

The process of passing the Rivers State Health Insurance Bill into law is at an advanced stage in the State House of Assembly.

from UnityKapital Assurance Plc to Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc. He added that its Registered Address of the Company remains at Plot 497, Abogo Largema Street, CBD, Abuja.

While noting that all documents of the Company bearing its name remain valid.

He urged its esteemed customers’ nationwide, concerned authorities and the general public should please update their records accordingly and address all future business correspondence to Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc.

•PTAD Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor (r) supervising the Pension Verification Exercise of Nitel and Mtel Pensioner in Kano State.

Credit ratings firm downgrades Kenya Reinsurance

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redit rating agency A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B, Fair, from B+, Good, and the Long-Term Issuer Rating to bb+ from bbb- of Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Limited, Kenya Re. The outlook of these Credit Ratings has been revised to stable from negative.

The ratings reflect Kenya Re’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and weak enterprise risk management (ERM).

The rating actions are the result of A.M. Best’s concerns over the effectiveness of Kenya Re’s ERM in the face of expected business growth and increasingly sophisticated competition. Additionally, there are uncertainties related to the company’s ability to grow its capital resources at the same rate that it increases its revenue over the longer term.

Kenya Re’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is consistent with a strongest assessment; however, offsetting balance sheet strength factors include uncertainties related to the company’s natural catastrophe exposure and the financial sys-

tem risk associated with Kenya’s financial markets.

Although A.M. Best expects risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level over the longer term, the company is expected to face challenges in funding its expansion in its regional markets, should those markets continue to deliver high growth.

The ability to generate and retain robust earnings has supported the company’s balance sheet over recent years. The company has delivered an average return on capital and surplus of 15.9 percent over the five years

to December 2016, considerably ahead of average inflation, which has been in the region of 7% per annum.

Investment return is the primary contributor to profit, whilst the average combined ratio over the period was 97.5%. Investment returns are expected to trend lower compared with recent years.

Kenya Re’s business profile benefits from a very strong market position in Kenya where the company enjoys mandatory cessions of 20% and generates in the region of 57% of its gross written premium.

However, this is offset by a significantly weaker competitive market position elsewhere. A.M. Best assesses the company’s analytical capabilities to be limited, and management effectiveness to be untested in light of the significance of mandatory cessions.

Kenya Re’s ERM is developing from a low base, and A.M. Best believes that the risk management function’s ability to evaluate measures relevant to financial strength and performance, generate corporate actions, and influence management decisions is weak.

Luxembourg aims to attract more insurers seeking post-Brexit HQ

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uxembourg is seeking to persuade at least two additional global insurers to make their post-Brexit home there after attracting American International Group Inc. and Sompo International Holdings Ltd., the head of its financial lobbying group said.

“Contingency planning has started, but in September-October it will be crunch time,” Nicolas Mackel, the head of Luxembourg for Finance, said in an interview in Paris, without giving

names of companies it’s in talks with. Staff flows from London in favor of Luxembourg are accelerating in areas such as moneymanagement, he said, pointing to Citigroup Inc.’s plans to make it a hub for its private banking business.

Luxembourg City, a venue for European funds, insurance companies and private banks, should win about 3,000 jobs by the end of 2018, Mackel said. That’s approximately on par with estimates for Paris. Following the

2016 Brexit vote, ten global insurers have already picked Luxembourg as their new EU hub.

“Paris’s advantage is to be home of large players,” he said.

Until now, “trading is rather going toward Frankfurt and wealth management toward Luxembourg.” While fund managers are generally building on their existing presence in the Grand Duchy or Dublin, he said. Luxembourg can increase its financial workforce by 7 percent from Brexitrelated moves, Mackel said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

Crime

130 cultists surrender arms to Police in Lagos Stories by XAVIER NDAH

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ver 130 young men and who men who are members of various cult gang operating in Badagry Lagos state and its environ have voluntarily renounced cultism and surrendered their weapons to the police .

This brings to about 1,000 suspected members of different confraternity who have openly renounced their relationship in the last six months in Lagos.

At the recent event which was held at the Badagry West Local Government secretariat, Ajara, the repentant cultists who are mainly from Eiye and Aiye, also surrendered their weapons.

Armed surrendered include AK 47 rifles, pump action guns, locally made double barrel and single barrel guns, AK 47 ammunition, cartridges cutlasses.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, Imohimi Edgar, who was on ground to receive the former cultists said cultism was the biggest recurring problem in Lagos.

Edgal, while urging parents and proprietors of Primary and secondary school to take proper documentation of those entering and leaving their school premises said that the command is making progress in ensuring that the menace of cultists was out on check.

He said: “This is a big problem which is related with drug abuse even to the ridiculous extent of taking it to primary schools and recruiting these children into cultism.

“I remember the experience at Ikorodu, where over 250 boys and girls of cult groups renounced and surrendered arms after which I urged other communities to emulate Ikorodu’s bold step.

“The command has been able to address this by making strong use of community policing not only with religious or traditional rulers but also urging local government to talk to youths in their different community to relinquish cultism.”

He, however, urged everyone to be more vigilant, noting that: “We have to be more vigilant – not the police alone – collectively and concerted efforts by everyone. Entry and exit into schools must be welldocumented.”

• CP Edgal-with-some other dignitries when some cultist renounce their membership of secret cult in Lagos.

Edgar said this following the recent parade of two suspects at the Command Headquarters Ikeja, who were arrested by the RRS for selling Tramadol to secondary school students.

He said: “The problem of cultism has left our shores. Young Nigerian boys and girls who travelled to India and Malaysia to either study or do business are forming cult groups over there and killing themselves.

How long are we – parents, leaders, clerics – going to watch this happen?,” he asked.

He, therefore, called on various ll government, communities, cleric and other relevant bodies across the states as a matter of urgency to declare state of emergency in the fight against cultism using the stick method while calling on the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass stiffer laws – using carrot method – in fighting against cultism in Lagos.

“Also, other communities in Lagos

should emulate what’s going on here today. We must join hands to fight this menace”.

Meanwhile, some of the surrendered arms and ammunition he listed included: AK47 and its ammunition, pump action and its ammunition, axes, machetes, locally made pistols and SMGs among other dangerous weapons.

“We call the local government and other relevant bodies concerned to talk to the youths, give them training for us to reintegrate them into the society. Among these youths today are PhD, Bsc, HND and more degree holders of various institutions,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman, Badagry Local Government and Chief Host, Mr. Onilude Adeniran said that in the past, the problem of youth cultism was restricted to the tertiary institutions. But now, cultism is even in our primary

schools.

“Every now and then, my office receives news about cases of drug abuse and cultism in our secondary schools. To worsen the case, every street in our cities , towns and even villages seem to belong to one cult group or the other. How did we get here.

According to Adeniran, came into office when Badagry was experiencing cases of gang wars and cult related crimes. We made up our mind to rid our local government of traces of cultism. Today’s event is a result of weeks of painstaking interactions, negotiations and even sacrifices.

He urged them to identify their purposes in life and strive to achieve it. “On our part as administration, we promise to provide all within our means to ensure your rehabilitation into the peace society. We are already taking steps on that.

This came after members of the

Eiye and Aiye cults resolved to free themselves from mental slavery and turn a new leave. One of the leaders of the group, Oladapo Babalola said it was time for them to emancipate themselves from mental slavery.

He said further: “We admit that cultism has eaten deep into us. But the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Badagry was able to talk to and encourage us. We are turning a new leave now. And today, we are ready to work if the opportunity comes.

We, hereby, offer ourselves to the DPO to enlist us into the police.”

Others present at the renouncement included: DPO of Seme, Mr. A.A. Smith; DPO Orogbo Station, Johnson Adagba; Captain Okediran; Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 and his High Chief, Hundungan Samuel the Agoloto of Badagry among several other force men form the Navy and Army.

Police in Lagos restrategise to tackle traffic

• SP Okonkwo on duty

As Lagosians groan under heavy traffic jam the Police Lagos Command have restrategise by repositioning its men to meet up with the challenges of ensuring a free flow of traffic in the state.

Our investigations revealed that at the rate we are going traffic congestion in the city of Lagos may further be exacerbated by an increase in population in years to come if something is not done urgently.

Just like many urban cities in Nigeria Lagos is bedeviled with traffic congestion which tends to defy various remedial measures adopted by different governments over the years.

Police source revealed that the Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Imohimi Edgal who has been so concerned with the situation has put his men in the traffic section (MOTORPOL) on their toes to put in more efforts in tackling the situation even though they have done enough.

The Oracle Today investigations revealed that the major cause of traffic congestion in most part of Lagos has been due to the massive road construc-

tion activities embarked upon by the Lagos state government which cut across the state.

Another factor which causes according to an estate surveyor One Babajide Aluko, traffic is caused by poorly designed roads and too many cars in a densely populated city. “This state is becoming overrun by too many cars. Lagos has too many cars, not enough roads, so, the result is constant traffic couple with pot-holes everywhere”.

It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police in his wisdom has carefully selected a team headed by one Superintendent of Police (SP) Margaret Okonkwo to come to the rescue hence the now visible presence of police traffic officer’s at all strategic areas across the state.

Okonkwo is not a green horn in that area having won several awards to his credit in the area of traffic management and control and since her assumption of duty some months ago the traffic section activities has witnessed a tremendously achievements.

The officers are now well kitted and

presentable even as the synergy with other security agencies has improved.

Our independent investigations revealed that traffic officers have to resume at their duty post by 6am and closes by 2pm before another shift takes over and closes by 10pm.

It was gathered that the no nonsense officer has issued a new guideline to all traffic officers to be neatly dressed in a complete traffic officer’s attire or face the consequences.

When contacted for comments on how she has been able to achieved some much mostly on the area of neatness and effectiveness she declined comment but referred this reporter to the police spokesman but was quick to appeal “please tell Lagosians to obey simple traffic laws and to desist from harassing traffic officers on duty.

In his response, the image maker of the command Chike Oti attributed the successes of the command in traffic sector to the master plan of the Commissioner and for placing a highly experience officer who is more conversant with traffic management to be in charge of the unit.

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

Crime

Anger, anguish rage as stray bullet kills boy 16 Stories by XAVIER NDAH

I

t was a sad day for the family of Uzor Chukwu in the Ijora area of Lagos state , as their son identified as Emmanuel was reportedly felled by the bullets of a trigger happy cop at the weekend.

Emmanuel, a 16-year- old student of Randle Secondary School Apapa, whose parents hail from Ebonyi state, was said to have been hit by a stray bullet shot by one of the policemen attached to Badia Police Station during a fracas.

The deceased, third in the family of five was said to be standing in front of their residence at No 7 Fadaini street, Ijora Badia when the sad incident occurred at about 8am last Sunday.

It was gathered that the policemen, who shot sporadically were trying to prevent some youths that had stormed the police station to demand the release of a suspected child kidnapper rescued from them.

According to sources, the youths had apprehended a woman who had kidnapped a five year old girl at Giwa street and attempted to lynch her.

She was said to have been rescued by the policemen and taken to the station for protection, an act said to have infuriated the youths.

They were said to have mobilised themselves and threatened to attack the station, hauling stones at the policemen.

The sources, who preferred anonymous , said the policemen who had mobilised their colleagues from other divisions, shot sporadically in order to repel the rampaging youth, chasing them from the station towards Fadaini road inward Badia.

The mother of the deceased Mrs. Ijeoma Chukwu in a chat confirmed the incident, describing the policemen as the most heartless human

• Emmanuel

beings.

The perplexed Ijeoma, who was yet to believe that her son is dead, said Emmanuel was asleep and woken up by the noise of people shouting about a kidnapper.

According to her, the boy ran out to the front of their house to catch a glimpse of the incident, only to be informed few minutes that her son has been killed by the police.

“My son was with me in the room sleeping when we heard the noise of people shouting about a woman that kidnapped a baby. He immediately rushed out to the front of our house while I went to the back yard to watch plates. No quite few minutes, neighbours just rushed in to tell me that my son has been killed by police.

“I immediately rushed out and saw the police carrying the corpse to the station and I ran after them.

On getting to the station, I told them I am the mother of the boy that they should allow me see him; they refused and threatened to shoot me if I don’t leave the place.

I cried profusely but they didn’t listen to me until they took the corpse to the mortuary. My husband has traveled home for burial and his brothers have informed him”, the bereaved mother wept amid tears.

The police public relations officer of the command SP. Chike Oti in a telephone said he was not aware of the incident and promised to call back, which he was yet to do as at the time of writing this report.

Court jails ex-banker 12 years for N450m fraud

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , Lagos Zonal office, have secured the conviction and sentencing of one Paul Onwughalu, a former Head of Operations, Union Bank Plc, Head Office, Marina, Lagos, before Justice S.S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere.

The convict had been arraigned on February 24, 2014 on a fourcount charge bordering on failure to conduct due diligence in financial transactions.

One of the counts reads: “ That you, Paul Onwughalu, on or about the 9th of January, 2013, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, whilst being an employee of Union Bank Plc, failed to exercise due diligence in relation to the conduct of financial transactions with one DanKawu Bureau De Change by confirming and authorizing payment of the sum of 450,000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) fraudulently transferred by hacking into Union Bank database (flexcube) and transferring the said sum to Union Bank Plc account of one DanKawu Bureau De Change domiciled in Union Bank, Head Office Branch, Marina, Lagos and thereby facilitated the crediting and withdrawal of the said sum by one DanKawu Bureau

• Onwughalu

De Change to various accounts in Ecobank, Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa and Dankawu Bureau De Change. “ The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him, thereby setting the stage for his full trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, Fadeke Giwa, had presented a number of witnesses

and tendered various documents that were admitted in evidence by the court. to the convict, O. Fagbemi, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

Delivering her judgement, Justice Ogunsanya found the accused guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on each count.

Man docked for issuance of N8.7m dud cheque T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Ismail Nuhu before Justice Aisha Mahmoud of the Kano State High Court on a four count charge of Criminal Breach of Trust and Issuance of Dud Cheque.

The accused allegedly obtained fertilizer worth N8,700,000 (Eight Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and issued the complainant 4 Diamond Bank Cheques which were returned unpaid due to lack of funds in the account.

However, while the investigation was ongoing, the accused person paid the sum of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira Only) and refused to pay the remaining sum of N2,700,000 ( Two Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only).

One of the charge read “ That you Ismail Nuhu on or about 5th day September 2017 at Kano within the jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court knowingly and fraudulently issued cheque number 34385478 dated 5th September 2017 for the sum of N3,900,000 (Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira Only) payable to Continental Fer-

tilizer Limited from your Diamond Bank account with account number 0092377270 knowing there was no sufficient funds standing in the credit of the said account and the cheque was returned unpaid when it was presented for payment thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1)(b) and punishable under section 1 (1) (b)(I) of the Dishonored Cheques Offences Act Cap D11 LPN, 2004”.

The accused person pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

Counsel representing the accused person, Modube Speine moved bail application for her client.

Justice Mahmoud granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be senior civil servants resident in Kano.

The accused person was remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned to 30 April, 2018 for hearing.

Allerged killer of two pupils blames action on hunger A

man who has been arrested for the murder of two school pupils at Agodo in Ogun waterside area of Ogun state has blames his acts to hunger and frustration.

The suspect simply identified as Lekan Adebisi was arrested by police detectives attached to Ogbere area command led by ACP Makinde Kayode and the local hunters had gained entry into the compound of ST. John Anglican school Agolo with cutlass and hacked two pupils of the school to death after which he ran away.

It was gathered that the commissioner of police CP Ahmed Iliyasu who was so furious about the incident gave a matching order to the Area commander Ogbere and DPO Abigi Division to fish out the murdered within the shortest possible time.

In compliance with the CP order, the area commander mobilized policemen and local hunters for the manhunt of the suspect. Their efforts paid off when the suspect was seen in a bush around the community. While they wanted to arrest him, the suspect who was brandishing a sharp cutlass attempted to resist arrest and was shot and injured on the leg.

Police said he has been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of police CP Ahmed Iliyasu has directed that the case be transferred to Homicide section of state criminal investigation and intelligence department for proper investigation adding that the suspect will be charged to court at the end of investigations.

Meanwhile, the suspect Adebisi’s response was incoherent and he often switched from the English language to Yoruba in this encounter with The Oracle Today How old are you?I am 28 years old.Are you married or single?I am not married. I don’t have a girl-

friend.

What do you do for a living?I used to organise private lessons for children and charge N20 per child.

Why did you kill two pupils at St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Agodo, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area?

I did not eat for two weeks and I went out to beg other people for money. Nobody gave me money.

When I had money, I took care of family members, friends and even outsiders.

You haven’t answered the question. Why did you kill the pupils?

It was due to frustration. When hunger gripped me and it became unbearable, I thought of my life and concluded that it was a bad life. Then I grabbed a machete. I was prepared to face the consequence.”

• Adebisi

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Oral sex linked with throat cancer: Australian study

O

ral sex has long been considered the safer sex option for young people wanting to avoid pregnancy or STI infection.

But research from the University of NSW (UNSW) suggests that giving oral sex to somebody with human papillomavirus (HPV) could be linked with oesophagus cancer.

Rates of oesophagus cancer have been on the rise, particularly in men, but doctors have been unsure why.

Professor Shan Rajendra from UNSW compared the behaviour of people with throat cancer with those without and found that a high proportion of those with cancer have HPV in the oesophageal tissue.

For years, having Barrett’s oesophagus — where the throat cells change due to chronic heartburn — was thought to increase throat cancer risk. But Professor Rajendra’s research

suggests it’s only people with HPV in their Barrett’s that need to be concerned.

Professor Barrett studied just 261 people and said a larger longitudinal study was now needed to confirm his findings.

Past studies have linked HPV to mouth and throat cancers.

When researchers from Ohio State University compared people with mouth or throat cancer with those without, the greatest difference was their oral sexual behaviour.

The greater the number of oral sex partners someone had had, the greater their risk of oesophageal cancer.

With male and female high school students now being immunised against HPV, experts hope the incidence of oesophageal cancer will drop over the next 20 years.

The study was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Name: Joy Tel: +2347030801774 •

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Self-driving Uber car runs over and kills a pedestrian in Arizona

A

woman was killed after she was struck by a self-driving Uber vehicle in Arizona in the first pedestrian death via a self-autonomous car.

Elaine Herzberg, 49, was hit by a SUV 10 around 10pm on Sunday in Tempe when she was walking outside of a crosswalk She was immediately rush to the hospital where she died from her injuries, ABC 15 reported.

Tempe Police says the SUV was in autonomous mode at the time of the crash and a vehicle operator was

also behind the wheel.

The accident is the first time a pedestrian has been killed on a public road by an autonomous car, which has been praised as the safer alternative to a traditional car.

In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said the company is aware of the incident and is ‘fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation’.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi offered his condolences to the victim’s family on Twitter on Monday and afternoon, and reiterated that the

company will be working with local law enforcement to figure out what happened.

The ride-share service has since paused its self-driving car operations in Pittsburgh, Phoenix, San Francisco and Toronto.

This is not the first time Uber has grounded its fleet of self-driving cars. In March 2017, an autonomous Volvo SUV got into accident when the other vehicle ‘failed to yield’ while making a left turn according to police.

‘The vehicles collided causing the

autonomous vehicle to roll onto it’s side. There were no serious injuries,’ Tempe police spokeswoman Josie Montenegros said.

The only known death involving a self-driving car and a driver was when Tesla driver Joshua Brown was killed in 2016 while operating the company’s Autopilot software.

However, this crash occurred only after Brown ignored repeated warnings to put his hands back on the steering wheel.

Tesla has stated that Autopilot is

a driver assistance feature, not a replacement for a human driver.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said on Monday that it will be sending teams to Tempe to investigate the accident.

In a statement, the NHTSA said it is ‘in contact with Uber, Volvo, federal, state and local authorities regarding the incident’ and will take appropriate action.

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

True Confession

My husband impregnated a married woman M y name is Tina and I’m from Rivers state. I’m tall, slim and beautiful.

Although I’m from Rivers state, I agreed to marry Akin my husband, because I am not tribalistic.

When Akin asked for my hand in marriage about three years ago, my mother was not happy with his request.

She called me in private and told me that people from Akin’s place of origin don’t value marriage and have a high rate of separation and divorce.

But I disagreed with my mother and insisted that such bad opinions people have about Akin’s place of origin are due to tribalism.

I told her that such stories are told out of discrimination and that she shouldn’t believe such nonsense that Akin’s kith do not value marriage.

I went ahead to marry Akin and gave birth to a son for him within the first year of our marriage. But my son had hardly celebrated his second birthday when I started hearing rumoursthat my Yoruba husband was a flirt.

I quarreled with him severally over it and on one occasion when I saw a sexy text message in his phone, he beat me up so badly that my face was swollen.

I heard that my husband specializes in dating married women. Finally, the bubble burst in April last year when my husband impregnated a married woman and her husband threw her out because of it.

The husband of the woman told her to go to the man who impregnated her and tell him to marry her. My husband had to rent a house for the woman to stay.

But my husband is now saying that he loves the woman and wants to divorce me and marry her. After all I’ve suffered for him, he now wants to divorce me and marry a married woman that he impregnated.

He has no shame. He wants to divorce me to marry his shameless lover. To cut the long story short, I have informed my lawyer and told Akin that he has to be paying me every month for my son’s upkeep, else I will sue him. *Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

The husband of the woman told her to go to the man who impregnated her and tell him to marry her. My husband had to rent a house for the woman to stay.

Romantic Joke THE PHONE CALL

It was two o’clock in the morning and a husband and wife were sleeping when suddenly the phone rang.

The husband picked up the phone and said, “Hello? (paused for a few seconds) How the heck do I know? What am I, the weather man?” and slams the phone down.

His wife rolls over and asks, “Who was that?” The husband replies, “I don’t know. Some guy who wanted to know if the coast was clear tonight.”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

My love for him is controversial

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Ezinne, tall, light-skinned, beautiful and sexy, from Enugu, but willing to come to Lagos, needs a man that can take care of her. 08135416025.

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Dear Love Doctor, Hello, my name is Idowu and I am from Oyo state. I am dating a guy from the East and he has proposed. I’ve accepted his proposal, but the problem is that my family members object to our getting married since my boyfriend is not from the same tribe with me. Right now, my love for him is controversial among my family members, because it is causing a lot of arguments and quarrels. We are not from the same place, but still I love this Igbo guy. What should I do?

From Idowu.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Idowu,

L

ove knows no limit. Love knows no boundaries, tribe or nation. It is a thing of the heart. Therefore you need to hold on to what you feel and in the end they will you be. It’s not right for any person or group of persons to try to make you feel bad or ashamed of falling in love with a man from a tribe other than yours.

It is also unacceptable for your family members to promote tribalism or ethnicity as a barrier to true love and/or marriage. If they have any logical reason to disapprove of your getting married to that man, they ought to tell you, rather than rejecting your suitor based on his ethnic background. It is indefensible to reject a man who truly loves you and wants to marry you, on the basis of ethnicity, language or religion.

Trying to limit your desire for true love or trying to keep your roman-

tic feelings within the limits of race, ethnicity or religion is a recipe for unhappiness in life. However, your happiness should be the most important thing to consider in this situation. Their rejection of your suitor is probably based on common misconceptions and prejudices that exist between African tribes/ethnic groups. Tribalism is a local form of racism in Africa. Education and enlightenment ought to change such a mindset.

However, 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 to him or not.

However, you must search your heart to know if you truly love that man and want to spend the rest of your life with him. If you truly love him, listen to your heart. Go ahead and marry him. Stand firm on this true love you believe in, and with time your family members will back down and/or support you, and the controversy will go away.

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

It happened to me:

I

was 16 years old. I had just moved from the Midwest to the East Coast. I got my first job at a pizza place. The 23-year-old manager began hitting on me right away.

I fended him off over and over again even though I was flattered by his desire.

During this time, I was growing closer with a boy my age who also worked with us. We began dating and it was wonderful.

I found out his mother had died of breast cancer the year before and my heart opened up to him. Now it was just him, his Dad and his brother.

We spent all of our shifts working together exchanging smiles, looks, and the occasional pat on the ass. We didn’t go to the same high school so that was our only place to be coy and flirt with each other until we felt comfortable enough to hang out alone.

We would leave to go to either his Dad’s house or mine and have sex, watch movies and enjoy each other’s silly company. Many date nights and every Friday, the whole Pizzeria went to cosmic bowling.

He was very sincere, charming, gentle and so funny. He always had me laughing. We coordinated Halloween costumes -- he was a zombie and I was a zombie princess. We were cute. We both lived with our parents so I remember a lot of sex in the car.

Yet, at a certain point, I couldn’t resist my manager any longer. I secretly loved the attention he showered me with, and I eventually gave in. I don’t know exactly why I did it. The thrill and adrenaline rush of doing something I knew I shouldn’t have been.

The sort of “I know something and you don’t” childish mentality I had at the time.

He was in a committed long term relationship and I had become close friends with his girlfriend. My boyfriend and I would even spend the night in their guest room close to our work.

I was not a victim. I made an active decision to cheat on my boyfriend and have sex with someone else. I began having sex with him all of the time. At night when the restaurant closed, in the booths people sat and ate in (disgusting I know).

I would go to his apartment, have sex everywhere -- the couch, the floor, their bed, the shower. I would park far away from his building and walk in the back so his neighbors wouldn’t notice how frequently I was there. I found a thrill in this routine and embraced it.

My boyfriend and I and my manager and his girlfriend went on many double dates.

My boyfriend and I would still spend the night at their place. I became closer and closer to his girlfriend.

I knew what I was doing was wrong and hurtful on so many levels, yet I continued this lifestyle for many months. When leaving my manager’s place, I felt like the world knew that I was secretly trying to slip out of the apartment complex. But still I didn’t change a thing.

On a Wednesday night at the beginning of January, my manager’s girlfriend called me and asked if she could come to my parents’ house to talk to me. She had never been there before. I was very alarmed. I thought she had found out what had been going on between her boyfriend and me.

I started thinking of all the lies I could.

I am 30 now, yet I can recall her entry into my home so vividly. We went back into my parent’s room to speak privately because my room was in the basement; it seemed like too long of a walk for what I thought was about to ensue. I just wanted to get this confrontation over with.

As my stomach was doing flips thinking of how I was going to explain my affair with her boyfriend, her words melted the world away. She was coming to tell me that my boyfriend had died in a motorcycle accident only an hour before.

At the time, we used AIM to communicate. I had messaged with him and few hours before and he told me he was going for a ride. That was the last time we “spoke.”

What I had envisioned as a skirmish between two girls over a guy was was literally about life and death, about so much more than my teenage stupidity.

I was cheating on my boyfriend when he died

After she got out the first words -- that he had crashed his motorcycle around a steep curve -- everything became a blur. I cried for three days. I cried so much that when it came time for the funeral all of the tears were dried up and gone. I was just a zombie.

I have never been a religious person. But once he died,I believed he could see everything, know everything that I had been doing to him. How much I had wronged him, lied to him, and had continuous sex with someone he had become very close friends with.

I also felt something I didn’t think I would feel; anger. I was angry that he had died not only because of the loss of his beautiful life, but because I felt caught. The shame of this reaction weighed on me so heavily I can still feel the heaviness today.

Yet his death did not change my habits.

I continued having sex with my manager.

His girlfriend took me in and tended to me as though I was her child. She took such pity on me for having lost my boyfriend to a deathly accident.

I would spend the night in the guest room, but I never spent the entire night alone. My manager would come in and we would have sex after she fell asleep.

Even the night before the funeral, I had sex with him in the same bed I had shared with my boyfriend. I have never come to

terms with this specific act of complete lack of respect to my boyfriend who had passed, and the wonderful woman who was nursing me out of my depression.

I went to the funeral with my manager and his girlfriend. He picked out a white rose for me to put on his casket. My manager was one of the pallbearers. Seeing him walk along holding my boyfriend’s casket was too much to bear. Yet I still could not shed another tear.

I had found this comfortably numb space in my mind and I just stayed there. At the time I don’t think I realized the scope of my actions, and how they would affect me for the rest of my life. I have harbored this “I am an evil person” mentality ever since.

People will tell me I’m a good person and I secretly think to myself, You have no idea the damage I have done.

I kept my job at the Pizzeria for about a month. I tried to work there without thinking about my boyfriend, but I kept expecting him to be around every corner.

One day my manager’s girlfriend showed up to surprise me with a very nicely framed picture I had never seen of my boyfriend and I on Halloween. It is still in my bedroom to this day. I suppose I torture myself with it.

It’s a reminder not only of him but her as well; the thoughtfulness of the frame, of

surprising me, of trying to lift my spirits. And the whole time I was having sex with her boyfriend.

That day she came and gave me the picture, I later quit and walked out.

She never found out about the affair, but I was left to harbor so much pain that here I am still writing about it nearly 15 years later.

Now it was just his father and his brother in a house where there used to be a family of four. I could never even express my sympathies to his Dad; my guilt was too all-consuming to share comfort with others.

Would I be able to find peace with myself and those choices I made as a 16-year-old? If I could speak to my boyfriend now, I would acknowledge what I did to him. Own up to it and tell him how I have felt the burden for years.

I would tell him I never meant to hurt him, only to pursue my own desire of being wanted, by anyone. That I had such a deep, deep insecurity that when I was presented with two different lovers, I couldn’t say no to either. I doubt any of this would make him feel better, but at least I could try to explain.

I’ll never get that chance. Nevertheless, getting this story out was therapeutic in itself and at the very least, I hope that someone can learn from my mistakes.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

Love & Living

Cheating is fun, but…

B

EING faithful isn’t exactly interesting neither is it fashionable. It is in fact boring and drab; more like a straight road with no turns. Cheating is the opposite, full of activity, adventure; it lets you get expressive without restraint.

Sounds interesting, right!

I had a rather odd experience some years ago. Things were going quite smoothly in the relationship until the scent of another lady became unmistakable. Despite his denials, I just knew I couldn’t possibly be wrong. Men should know this, a smart lady who is into you can always tell when her place is in contention; we just know.

But strangely, hard as I tried, I couldn’t just pick her out. They were very arty and managed to keep it low.

I knew that he was only cheating just because he could. It was only a game, fun, proof of manliness. She wasn’t more than a sex toy so he kept her identity secret, he wasn’t proud of it. But he was really enjoying it, I could tell.

Much as I tried to make him stop, he just couldn’t. I hated unhealthy competitions so I had to recheck my relationship goals. I found that I was getting what I didn’t need. I wanted to believe in something and someone and safely so too.

Having to perpetually worry about finding out who he might be sleeping with per time was completely

S

OME many years ago, slavery was the order of the day as human beings were bought and sold for money and used as others means of exchange, including being exchanged for a bottle of rum. For many of us, we didn’t get to witness the slavery first hand, we read of them in books and articles, we studied them in schools, we even got to watch documentaries telling the slavery story and to crown the matter, movies were and are been acted to give us a glimpse of what it was like, and from the little we have seen, read and watched it wasn’t and can’t be a pleasant experience for anyone.

With the abolishment of slave trade came jubilation, merriment and anticipated development. Slavery did not disappear as many thought abolition would have. If anything, slavery assumed new forms and still thrives, some even in forms worse than the ones that outraged the world.

However, this is the 21st century and we are sadly becoming exposed to a more disastrous form of slavery: mental slavery. What makes it worse is that the oppressed has willingly accepted the condition. He never lets an opportunity pass without searching for ways to make his identity conform with the role that has been assigned to him The mind actualises most of the things it considers.

Slavery of the mind, mental slavery, is a more dangerous form of slavery.

The slave is happy in his position, and spares no efforts to sustain the position. He sees no value in his liberties,

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

out of it. I began to see those early signs as red lights worth my attention. It made no sense letting someone tamper with my self-esteem just because some girl was being extremely generous. It’s not even as if we had discussed the issue in this regard. So, I left him.

Some months later, I got a call from Janet, his cousin’s friend. She needed me to visit her to discuss something important. I remembered her, very quiet and unassuming personality. She was plain and innocent looking, ever smiling and respectful, everything good. I decided to go.

When I got there, a pregnant Janet welcomed me. Shocked and benumbed, I sat down waiting to hear what she had to say. Then she went on her knees and in tears begged

why it is not easily forgiven. Forgiving an unfaithful partner today usually means that you are willing to forgive him each other time. You might think that unfaithful partners want their partners to be faithful but that is hardly the case.

Most cheating partners prefer it when their partner are also discretely playing games; that way it’s even and no one bothers to stalk the other. A friend recently corroborated that saying that relationships work when partners are like-minded and not when one is good and the other bad. Hmmm…

I have always held that being able to see the red flag earlier on can for my forgiveness. She then con- make world of difference. If you fessed! They were seriously making noticeathat partner cheats, it is out all the while that she pretended only fair toyour clear the air just to be to be just a friend. He was always sure. If you find that it’s true, you worried about me finding out but have two options, walk stay. she reassured that she would never If you do stay, make sure or you are tell. They only stopped when I left. ready to always forgive each other By then she was already pregnant, time. In that case, you might want with his child? to invest in a robe of forgiveness.

No! luck!

Janet was pregnant for someone Good Cheating really interesting else. Apparently, my ex wasn’t the but the funseems dies out fast. Howevonly beneficiary of Janet’s bonan- er, partners who cheat come za. He was in luck though since to terms with the stark only emptiness she didn’t pin the pregnancy on it brings after a long time of addichim, at least she still had a bit of a tion. Many are never able to get off conscience. And then she asked that windy road and a crash is inevthat I forgive him too and take him itable. back. Truly, he was still asking for another chance at that time but I • Please send your comments, couldn’t give it. I knew that cheatcommendations, and condemnations ing is not easily overcome, that’s to ifyaronu@gmail.com

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

Slavery mindset Mental slavery is the kind of slavery where a slave thinks he is free because he is able to make some decisions, but in the actual sense, his mind has been manipulated and the decisions he makes are guided, inspired and motivated by the seeds of ideas sold in his mind. if they cannot be converted to food, his immediate need.

A few months ago, Libya as a country was on the lips of almost every Nigerian. With the deportation of many Nigerians who were been used as slaves, we were made to realise

that though slavery was said to have been abolished on paper; the present reality is that it is fully existent and the worst kinds of it.

This is the 21st century and a period when EVERYONE should be able to say no to whatever dehumanises

the other, ort the dehumanised refusing the condition. But the shocking truth has it that we are not as free as we think we are. It wasn’t a shocker for me to hear that most of the slaves retrieved from Nigeria had found their way back to Libya to be sold and used as slaves.

Freedom is an illusion as some of the stories that were told about Libya proved. While we enjoy some liberties, the tendency is to think that it applied too to others.

It brings back to mind the issue of mental slavery and how it is the worst kind of slavery. Mental slavery is the kind of slavery where a slave thinks he is free because he is able to make some decisions, but in the actual sense, his mind has been manipulated and the decisions he makes are guided, inspired and motivated by the seeds of ideas sold in his mind.

Mental slavery is the ONLY reasonable explanation why a person would of his own accord choose to be enslaved, just to be sold for the illusion of freeing him from the existing human condition that is unpalatable and unfavourable.

The mind is very powerful and whoever controls your mind controls your life. Slaves become slaves when they first see themselves as slaves in their mind, which is the seat that controls all human action.

• Please send comments, suggestions and questions to maureenalikor@gmail.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Validity of a will

I

t is said that a Will speaks from a testator’s grave. This simply means that the last wishes and desires of a deceased which is embedded in his last Will speak after his death. A Will is made during the lifetime of a man and fashioned by him in the way and manner he wants the affairs of his struggles and sacrifices here on earth to be administered even after he is no more.

However, there are usually controversies surrounding these his last wishes/desires if not validly made, by those whom the Will did not favor and in most cases this leads to untimely deaths and wastages of the family’s resources which ought to be invested to increase the estates of the deceased. It is predominant in polygamous families where expectation of each section of the family is very high. Even in monogamous homes it does happen, especially where some children feel they are the favorites of the testator/testatrix and don’t believe that the gifts bequeathed to them are actually the will of the testator.

This results in perpetual hatred, division and disintegration of a formerly peaceful family. It is to avoid these types of rancor and unpeaceful attitudes in the deceased’s home and to prevent those who are always sowing seeds of discord from reaping where they never sowed that it is important to know the requirements for a valid will especially in statutory marriage.

Therefore the following are the requirements for a valid Will: 1. Writing: It may be handwriting (holograph), typed, printed or even a combination of any of these forms that is necessary.

The language used in writing does not matter.

or even full name which a person uses in signing a document and letter known to all. The signature should be complete. It is a known fact that it is not everyone that knows how to sign signatures, such persons as the illiterates or blind person. In this case a jurat should be inserted indicating that the content of the Will were first read and interpreted to them before they made their marks.

Note: This topic is very technical in nature and it is only the experts in the field, that is Lawyers that can handle them perfectly and confidentially for you, so consult any Lawyer around you immediately or you may wish to call me via 08075763840 for any further advice or/and assistance.

of experts on this field (the Learned Lawyers) who do it perfectly and execute it same to keep your homes peaceful after you have gone as if you are still in control. Consult any Lawyer around you now for more actions or if you can’t see one around you call on me on my numbers or email for more assistance.

REVOCATION OF WILLS Questions most of my callers usually ask me include “Whether they can revoke or annul the contents of a will after it has been made?” The simple answer is YES. A will is revocable during the lifetime of the testator and it does not matter if the will declares itself to be irrevocable.

This revocation idea most often happens if the beneficiary 3. Attesting the will: This must be done in a formal manner as in the will turns out to be a disappointment and the testator the experts, the Lawyers, will guide you. If you do it wrongly it regrets his initial assumption about the person. There are four ways of revoking wills. They are: nullifies your interactions.

Note: A solicitor (Lawyer) owes you a duty to explain the pro1. Marriage: This, by operation of law automatically revokes ceeding rules to make your Will perfect. a Will. However, the marriage here is not marriage under customary law or Islamic law.

ALTERATIONS OF WILL Generally, any alteration made on a will after execution is not 2. Codicil: This is a later Will. valid. If there is need to effect any alteration, it is expected the 3. Writing with a declaration of intention can as well revoke testator and the witnesses must execute the altered portion of a Will. that Will the same way it was previously made to make it valid. 4. Destruction by means of burning, tearing with the intenHowever, in most cases executing and attesting to the alter- tion to revoke. ations made are usually at the margins of the Will close to the Note: All these processes in the filling of a Will at probate is altered part or memorandum signing the alteration or better the work of experts on the field (Lawyers) to forestall contest after death. If you are still not clear or have any question re2. Signature of the testator: This is usually the mark or means still by making a codicil. of identification of the testator which is usually recognizable by There are more complications to this process which a lay man garding these or more, please call or E-mail me or consult any all who knew it when he was alive. It may be an initial, across cannot effectively and efficiently process except by the use Lawyer around you.

CASE 1

“Can I make my Will alone?”

Dear Lawyer, I have been following your series of articles on Will for some time now and I feel like making my own Will. Can I as an individual or as a woman make my Will alone or must I consult an expert as you alwxays say, (lawyer) and why?

From Itunu, Akure, Ondo State

CASE 2

“I want my will to favour my secretary instead of my wife” Dear Lawyer, I am married in both traditional, church and court marriage with my wife who has three progressive children for me for over 18 years now. However, I fell in love for reasons I cannot understand with my secretary in my office and my wife observed this and always quarreled with me. I wish to make my Will and want to give substantial portion of my estate to my secretary but the Lawyer that I consulted to do this for me said that it would not work. Please, is my Lawyer correct and why?

From Chief Balogun, Lagos.

Lawyer’s Answer:

Lawyer’s Answer:

Dear Itunu,

Dear Chief Balogun,

As an individual you can make your own Will whether as a man or woman but the problem is that you might not be able to perfect it when you do it alone. There might still be some flaws. Therefore, my advice to you is to consult the experts so that there will be permanent peace and love in your family even when you are no longer there. The expert knows the best way and form of perfecting your Will to avoid unnecessary contest after you’re gone.

I am very happy that you used your hand to write that you are happily married with your wife and children. How then did you allow an accidental into your marriage?

Your lawyer acted in line with the profession of lawyers by advising you wisely. This is because the will can be contested after your death on the ground of undue influence and the court shall annul it if found to be so.

• 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

Eddy Ugbomah @77: I regret being Nigerian Veteran moviemaker, Eddy Ugboma has etched his name in the sands of time as far as African cinema is concerned. To date, he remains the only African to have shot 13 films on celluloid. The moviemaker clocked 77 recently and he opened up on his anger with Nigeria and why he feels frustrated.

U

gboma said: “I feel good as a father and a family man but I am very frustrated about being Nigerian. This is one of the greatest countries in the world but God has cursed us by giving us bad leaders. And I regret ever being a Nigerian and worst of all, being a Deltan.”

Lamenting his plight as a ‘Lagosian’ he continued: “I am a Lagosian but they call me okobokobo (foreigner). So tell me, why should I be proud of Nigeria or any state? I was born and bred in Lagos and I went abroad and when I came back, I settled in Lagos and supported Lagos economy. But when ever I want to do anything, the ‘evil servants’ advice the governors that I am okobokobo, I should go to my town.

“This is unfortunate. I am more Lagosian than any of them,” Ugboma thunders in anger. “Let them bring any Lagos State governor and let us see who can debate who the original Lagosian is between me and them. And as far as Delta State, my state of origin is concerned, it is not a state but a state of collect and chop.

However, he is thankful to God: “ Thank God I have been able to train them. Five of my kids have schooled in UNILAG and I paid all their fees. The were all born and bred in Lagos and I have their birth certificates but when they apply for scholarship, it is then they know that they are not indigenes. I am a happy and proud man and I thank God but I hate the name NIgeria. This is a God forsaken place. God has given us everything but unfortunately, it is the worst country on earth.”

But the Federal Government in recognition of his exploits awarded him an OON years back. what happened? “I was given OON first and I did not take it but after some centuries, they gave me OON again but to do what? If I send a check to the bank it will bounce because I don’t have money. An OON is supposed to have an agreed amount to be into his account every month as a pensioner but that is not the case. If I did not have the foresight to train my children and build my house I know what could have happened to me today.

“I know many of my colleagues who have died of frustration and penury.

Many of them are crying for help. Look at me, I don’t have stomach upset, I don’t have prostrate cancer because I take care of myself and that is why at the age of 77, I man still driving on Lagos roads. I don’t have bad eye sight. It is God’s own doing and my own discipline.”

Happiest moments “Happiest? there are too many. Whenever I sleep and I hear the alarm wake me up I say thank God I am awake because people die every night. So that I am celebrating 77 is just formality because everyday I wake up that I don’t run to the hospital or they beg me to eat I thank God; everyday I wake up is a miracle.”

The Oracle Today

40

Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

CVR: AKISIEC warns A’Ibom residents against multiple registration C

HAIRMAN, Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, has advised residents in the state to refrain from multiple registration in ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

Ikoiwak gave the advice on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ forum on CVR and collection of

Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in Ibiono Ibom.

He explained that multiple registration amounted to “no registration’’, because during the process of consolidation of data, all forms of multiple registration would be detected and deleted.

“If your name and bio-data appear twice or more in the sys-

tem, such registration will be nullified and the data deleted.

“Sometimes, when people complain that they had registered and their names are not on the register, it could be because of multiple registration,” Ikoiwak said.

He, therefore, urged all those who lost their PVCs or those who want to change their vot-

• Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Edo State on Skills Development and Jobs, Ukinebo Dare (middle, seated) with a cross section of beneficiaries of EdoJobs Initiative, after a press conference held to unveil the Skills Development Programme, in Benin City, Edo State.

ing units to present themselves for replacement of lost cards and transfer, respectively.

“Don’t go for fresh registration; if you card is defaced, just go for replacement and not fresh registration,” he advised.

Ikoiwak also advised registered voters to always go back to registration centres for claims and objections at the end of each registration phase to correct mistakes in their names and data.

He said that the law establishing AKISIEC empowered it to collaborate with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on issues of voter registration to achieve credible elections.

“For the politicians, the PVC will be a serious instrument in 2019 elections. The card reader will be the only instrument for accreditation and it will only read the PVC. “The 2019 elections will be a different ball game; your vote will count and you will use the PVC,” he assured.

The chairman appealed to eligible persons to go for registration and urged registered voters to support the process by helping to educate others on the need to registered and obtain the PVC. “Those who just turn 18, those

who never registered before, those who wish to transfer or replace lost voter card should go to INEC registration centre for their PVCs,” he reiterated.

He urged them to inform INEC officials at the centres of their need for transfer or replacement of PVC. In his response, Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Mr EkomAbasi Akpan, thanked AKISIEC for the sensitization tour of the area on the CVR. Akpan urged youth leaders, women leaders, traditional rulers and politicians to encourage their people to go and register.

Ikoiwak also visited Itu Local Government Area, where political leader, Sen. Anietie Okon, said that PVCs were very important because future leadership of Nigeria would be determined by those with voter cards.

Okon, who is a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said “very soon only those with PVCs would benefit from government empowerment programmes in the state’’.

He urged stakeholders to take AKISIEC sensitization tour very seriously and educate their people on the importance of voter registration and collection of PVC.

Okowa concludes town hall Delta South, Central inaugurate new meetings in Bomadi, Ughelli Ohaneze leaderships

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

I

t was a carnival like gathering in Warri recently as Hon. Mike Eze formally took over the reins of leadership as the new President General of Ohaneze Delta South, Delta Central zones of the state.

The occasion was colourful in every sense of the word as Ohaneze groups from Sapele, Adeje, Okpe, Warri, Effurun and others across Delta South and Delta Central senatorial District thronged the venue of the occasion in their numbers to pledge support to the new leader.

The occasion was quite historic as it ushers a new template of leadership for Ohaneze which had been embroiled in myriad of controversies in the recent past.

The visibly elated President General, Hon. Mike Eze promised to launch Ohaneze on the path of unfettered growth, even as he called on the members to support his developmental blue print for the good of all.

Fielding questions from The Oracle Today, Hon. Eze expressed joy at the success of

the occasion, saying that peace has finally returned to Ohaneze, a pan Igbo socio-cultural organization after it had been enmeshed in crisis over the years. He described his new office as a new beginning for Igbos in Delta South and Central, saying that the era of bickering, infighting and mudslinging is over. He thanked God for making the occasion possible.

Describing the tasks before his office as very huge, Hon. Eze said he is determined to wither the storm by the grace of God, saying,” after one or two years, I will assess my performance in terms of achievements and beat my chest for a laudable achievement.”

Continuing, he said, “there is a statement that says ‘the Igbos are difficult to lead’, but with God’s given wisdom and prayers, I am strongly looking forward to making a good President General of Ohaneze.

“Though the challenges may be huge, I believe I can navigate through them to deliver good leadership for my people by relying on the wisdom of God.” He eulogized the press for setting the agenda for societal development and promised to interface with the media to pro-

mote his developmental template.

Speaking at the occasion, Eze Ndi-Igbo, Delta South and Delta Central, His Highness, (Sir) Peter Chukwu, said Ohaneze will move forward under the leadership of Hon. Mike Eze. He noted that the past administration was embroiled in contentious issues that limited its performance.

His words: The baton of leadership has moved to Ebonyi state and we have chosen the right leader in the person of Hon. Mike Eze. Ohaneze will move forward this time; it will progress fully. The last administration did not do well due to the challenges it encountered, resulting from infighting and avoidable rancour, but with the new President General taking over the mantle of leadership, we hope to get to the promise land this time,” Hon. Mike Eze is a business magnate and hails from Ebonyi state. He took over as President General of Ohaneze Delta South and Delta Central from the immediate past President Genaral, Chief Jude Chiedozie who hails from Enugu state.

The tenure is four years.

T

he ongoing efforts by Delta State Government to interface with Deltans at the grassroots continued with the town hall meetings in Bomadi and Ughelli, as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa urged communities seeking to have kings to follow due process and avoid heating up the polity with their agitations.

The Governor who was commended by leaders and stakeholders for the even spread of infrastructural developmental projects in the state reeled out projects executed by his administration in the areas, emphasising that apart from the provision of infrastructure, the wealth creation programmes of his administration have received national and international recognition because of its success stories.

According to him, a lot of youths who were unemployed prior to his emergence as Governor have become entrepreneurs through the wealth creation programmes that are currently, receiving partnership with the United Nations.

He also, urged Deltans to key into the compulsory health insurance scheme of his administration, disclosing that it will save those who are in need of funds when they are ill the trauma of sourcing for funds.

Reacting to agitations for

new kings in Bomadi, Governor Okowa urged communities seeking to have kings to follow due process and avoid heating up the polity with their agitations. asserting that “It is a long process to have a King, you must follow due process, it is not achievable through violence,” The governor affirmed that the town hall meetings has afforded him the opportunity to see firsthand the level of development in the state and the challenges facing the various areas, promising to utilise the 2018 and 2019 budgets to tackling the developmental needs facing the people.

On backlog of pensions, the Governor said, “the problem we are having with the pension scheme is called, past services, it is a huge amount of money, it runs into over N50 to N60 billion, what we are doing is to make money available on monthly basis, every month, we spend about N1.1 billion on pensions, I don’t know of any state that is paying as much apart from one state.”

Chairmen of Bomadi and Ughelli North local government areas, Hon. William Angadi and Hon. Godwin Adode respectively, including traditional rulers and representatives of different groups thanked Governor Okowa’s administration for the spread of projects across the state.

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS Anambra’s Anti-Open Grazing Bill passes 2nd reading

By OGE ONYEANUSI

T

he ‘Anambra State Control, Movement and Grazing Bill, 2017,’ also known as the anti-open grazing bill has now passed its second reading during plenary of the Anambra State House of Assembly, last Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Hon. Charles Chukwuma Ezeani, representing Anaocha Constituency II in the State Assembly, when passed into law, will guide and checkmate cattle grazing activities by herdsmen, their controls and mode of operations, the relationship between the herders and their host communities as well as the rights and duties of the herdsmen and their hosts, among other things.

Speaking on the importance of the bill, Hon. Ezeani noted that it is a life-saving, wealth saving and faith saving bill, which when passed into law, will help the state government and her citizens sleep with their two eyes closed.

Expatiating on the life saving aspect of the bill, Ezeani regretted that several hundreds of Nigerians have lost their lives and properties in the hands of herders, who

have easy ways into territories, where they molest and kill people at will. He said that if passed into law, the bill will protect the lives of Anambra residents while also providing checks against the activities of herdsmen as well as providing capital penalties for those that take people’s lives in the name of herding animals.

On the faith saving part of the bill, Ezeani noted that many women and girls, including people’s wives, have been raped, re-married and converted to the Islamic faith. To check the trend, he said the bill when passed into law, will regulate such immoral activities of herdsmen in order to protect, not only the women/girls but also their Christian faith where they belong.

On the wealth saving aspect of it, Hon. Chukwuma Ezeani stated that the bill, when passed into law, will make herdsmen, who are owners of each herd to be properly identified and known so that their business activities will be properly documented; adding that herders will be made to pay taxes to the Anambra State government as necessary.

“Fulani herdsmen are business people, who carry out their business activities for

the purpose of making profit.

These herdsmen make a lot of profit in the state without paying their taxes and without ploughing the gains back to the state’s economy.

“Each month, Anambrarians buy and consume over one million cows. The cheapest cow sold here costs N150,000.

If summed together, Anambrarians are spending approximately N150 billion in cows alone in each month. In this regard, Anambra State government has been losing N15 billion each month to the herders, who transact their businesses freely in the state without paying taxes.

“If this bill sees the light of the day, the owners of these

cattle will not only be known and properly identified but will also be made to pay their taxes as necessary”.

Ezeani added that the bill will compel herdsmen, who wish to operate in Anambra State to purchase lands, build ranches and fence them properly; emphasizing that defaulters will be made to face the wrath of the law.

While speaking in favour of the bill, some members of the House, including Chuka Ezenwune (Idemili South); Pete Ibida (Njikoka II); Uche Okafor (Ayamelum); Lawrence Ezeudu (Dunukofia); Victor Jidofor Okoye (Anambra West) and Timothy Ifedioramma (Njikoka I), described the bill as

apt and necessary, contending that open grazing has caused a lot of havoc to Nigerians and is presently threatening the oneness of the country.

They argued that herdsmen have been having their ways in many areas because of nonavailability of enabling laws; and said that when the law is passed, law enforcement agencies, including the police will have where they will fall back to in prosecuting erring herders.

After the heated session, the bill scaled through the second reading and the Speaker of the House, Hon. (Barr.) Rita Maduagwu referred the bill to the House Committee on Agriculture and Mechanization to

PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME WOMEN ARTISANS AND YOUTHS SUPPORT CENTER This is to inform the General Public that the above name has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. NATHAN GOODNESS MMESOMA---CHAIRMAN 2. IWUCHUKWU CHINYERE ROSE---MEMBER 3. OGADA MCDONALD OKECHUKWU---SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TRAINING AND EMPOWERING YOUTHS, WOMEN AND ARTISANS ON KICK STARTING THEIR BUSINESS. 2. CREATING YOUTHS INTERVENTION CENTER. 3. ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 4. TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN, YOUTHS AND ARTISANS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THRIFT AND SAVINGS, THEN TAKING IT TO NEXT LEVEL. Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent , off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: By Chairman

DIVINE KING OF KINGS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 TRUSTEES 1.PROPHET OKONJI UDOKA HENRY (President/General Overseer) 2.UDAH BLESSING GRACE 3.KIFORDU NWABU EMMANUEL 4.UDEMBE NZUBECHUKWU A&O 1. To PREACH the gospel of Christ to the whole world 2.To minister the Gospel to the poor & make them rich in Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama , Abuja within 28 days from date of this publication Signed: PROPHET OKONJI UDOKA HENRY President/ General Overseer

I formerly as Miss MADU OLUOMACHI PETRA of umunneochi LGA of Abia State, now wish to be known as MRS OLUOMACHI PETRA JOSEPH ONYEKWERE. All Former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Oko and the General public should please take note.

I formerly known as NDOCHIE FELICITY UZOMA now wish to be known as NWABUWA FELICITY UZOMA. All Former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

•

An early morning accident in Owerri, Tuesday, a tripper delivering materials to a construction site plunges into an unmarked drainage under construction.

make their report available on or before Thursday, March 22, 2018, for the third reading and subsequent passage into law.

NAFDAC registers 54 products

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he National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it registered 54 products in one month in its first zonal registration conducted within the South-East.

NAFDAC’s South-East Coordinator, Mr Fori Tatama, who made the disclosure, Tuesday, in Enugu said: “Fifty four products met NAFDAC regulatory requirements and they were duly certified by the agency fit for human consumption and sales.

“The remaining nine out of the 63 products; their owners were advised to go back and perfect some regulatory requirements and procedures, before they can re-apply for registration. The NAFDAC’s decentralisation of products’ registration has helped to reduce cost and shorten the time by which products get registered.’’

The zonal coordinator said following the decentralisation directive, a total of 63 products were considered for testing, analysis and other regulatory verifications by the agency within a month.

He said the agency had fixed every first Wednesday of the month for their monthly zonal registration approval meeting.

“Today, NAFDAC has truly decentralised its registration to the zonal level for products of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Our people who are into cottage and home-grown businesses can get their products registered in NAFDAC zonal office.

“The agency has also slashed the cost of registration by 50 per cent; from N31, 000 to N15, 500 now.

I formerly known as OJUKWU JUDITH NKECHI. Now wish to be known as OKEKE JUDITH NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as OMULU OBIDINANWA ONYEDIKACHUKWU now wish to be known as OMULU STANLEY OBIDINANWA. All Former documents remain valid .Banks and general public take note

I, formerly known as MISS AGOMMUOH ONYINYECHI, now wish to be known as MRS MICHAEL ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid . Banks and general public, take note.

I formerly known as MAUREEN IFEOMA EJIOFOR Now wish to be known as FRANCISCA IFEOMA EJIOFOR. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as OKAFOR ROSELINE IFEYINWA now wish to be known as OHIAERI ROSELINE IFEYINWA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as ABONYI BLESSING NGOZI now wish to be know as ONWUAMAEZE NGOZI BLESSING. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as UBA CHIOMA LINDA now wish to be known as UBA CHIOMA LINDA IMMACULATE. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. Zenith Bank, First Bank and the general public please take note.

I formerly known as UCHE DAVID now wish to be known as OGBONNA DAVID ABUCHI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

Former MISS OGBONNA WAMAGHINNA CHINONYEREM NNEBUIHE, now to be called MRS UZOR CHINONYEREM JOY, former documents remain valid general public take note

I formerly known as NKECHI HENRRIETTA AJUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as NKECHI HENRRIENTTA OBIKEZIE. All previous documents remain valid. The general public especially banks should please take note

This is to confirm that NWANKWO FRIDAY, NWANKWO MAXWELL and NWANKWO MAXWELL FRIDAY Is one and same person. Now wish to be known as NWANKWO MAXWELL FRIDAY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as AMINU AKIBU BASIRU KOLAWOLE. Now wish to be known as AKIBU BASIRU KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as NWAEZE STELLA .O. now wish to be known as NWAEZE GRACE OKORIE. All former documents remain valid .Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as NKPUMA OZIOMA MARYCYNTHIA now wish to be known as NWAKPA OZIOMA GOODNESS MARYCYNTHIA. All former document remain valid, Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as MISS EKE EBERE REJOICE now wish to be known as MRS EBERE REJOICE MADUS. All former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OHODAH CHUKWUEMEKA. Now wish to be known as OHODAH CHUKWUEMEKA FRANK. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as Miss OKEKE UCHENNA BIBIANA now wish to be known as Mrs EZE UCHENNA BIBIANA All former documents remain valid .Banks, general public and Enugu State Ministry of Health 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.

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The Oracle Today

42

Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

Herdsmen: Okowa reads riot act to security agencies

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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ELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called on security agencies to curb activities of herdsmen in parts of the state before it snowballs into crisis.

The Governor made the call when the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, Mr Rasheed Akintunde paid him a courtesy visit at Asaba.

“There is a particular community in Delta State, at a point in time, we discussed it at security council meeting and just yesterday, while I was in Ughelli North for my regular Town Hall meeting, the people raised a very serious issue about the Uwheru community, it is a very pathetic situation, because the President-General of the community spoke on the fact that out of their seven communities, three of them are actually occupied by the herdsmen and the farmers are told that they must pay the herdsmen before they can enter their farms and that is very disturbing because

it is strange for indigenes to pay money before they can enter their farms and I believe something has to be done before it evolves into a crisis situation,” the Governor said.

“This has been going on for several years but it has gotten worse of recent, so, AIG, this situation has to be addressed immediately as security issue.”

The Governor told his guests that his administration is concerned about the security of life and property of every Deltan and their communities, stressing the Police and other security agencies must strive to protect the different communities in the state.

Governor Okowa lauded the synergy between security agencies in the state which has ensured a peaceful state that has become home for investors.

“As a people, we know that the more peaceful we are, the more investors will come into the state and in the course of this year, we will witness a lot of ground breaking ceremony as investors are coming to the state in their large numbers,”

the Governor disclosed, adding; “we are doing a lot to provide infrastructure, we are doing a lot to engage our youths, the more youths we engage, the less idle minds we will have in the state.”

Governor Okowa assured the AIG that his administration will continue to support security agencies in state, saying: “Delta State is largely peaceful, we take matters of security serious, there is a lot of

collaborations between different security agencies in Delta State and beyond the collaborations, we take the issue of information gathering serious as we nip security challenges in the bud. We also have state advisory and peace building council which is made up of experienced men and women of impeccable character, they also, help to maintain peace in the state.”

The AIG had told the Governor that he was on a familiarisation tour of police formations in the state, observing, “your administration has rendered uncountable support to the Police Command in different areas, your support has greatly, enhanced the performance of the Command and we want to thank you and assure you that the Police will ensure an all-time peace in the state.”

Wike signs Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps law

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overnor of Rivers State Governor, Nysom Ezenwo Wike, has given his assent to the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No.8 of 2018.

The Governor also gave his assent to the Rivers State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) (Amendment) Law No.6 of 2018 and the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) (Amendment) No.2 Law No.7 of 2018.

Giving his assent to the three laws passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, Governor Wike said that the laws are necessary to enhance security across the state.

He said that Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps will support existing security agencies with intelligence and information for them to effectively fight crime and make the state safer.

The governor said that the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps cannot work without the approval of security agencies who will profile all the operatives.

He said anybody who loves Rivers State will not do anything to undermine steps that will en-

hance the security of lives in the state.

“If your hands are clean, you have nothing to fear about the three laws that I have given assent to. By tomorrow, I will appoint the person that will head the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps. All criminals will face the full weight of the law. We will fight crime and ensure that the State is safe for investors. “ Debunking claims by the opposition All Progessives Congress (APC) that the state government plans to use the Neighbourhood Watch to arm youths, the governor said that the corps is a replica of what is already in existence in Lagos State.

Commenting on the Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Laws, Governor Wike said that stiffer penalties have been approved to discourage those who may want to be involved in the offences.

“If you are a cultist and you are caught, it is life imprisonment. If you are a cultist and you kill during cult activities, you will face the death penalty. If you are convicted of kidnapping and the Supreme Court affirms your conviction, I will sign the death warrant without looking back,” said Wike.

• Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo receiving in audience a delegation from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), led by the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Usani U. Usani, with Senator Victor NdomaEgba, the chairman (l) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Monday.

2019: Don’t toy with Nigerians’ destiny – Ohaneze warns INEC

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

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HE South-South Coordinator of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to rise up to the occasion and ensure a credible, free and fair election in 2019.

Arthur-Ugwa who spoke to The Oracle Today in Yenagoa against the backdrop of statement credited to the electoral umpire that it would phase out the use of In-

Clerics endorse Emmanuel’s second term ambition

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overnor Udom Emmanuel has restated his dedication to ensuring the prosperity of all Akwa Ibom people, insisting that the state is on the right track to achieving divine mission with God as the guide.

The state Chief Executive said that in spite of the lean resources, over 1,202kms of road and 35 bridges are at various stages of completion, and reassured the people that the protection of lives and property is the most critical components of the social contract he has with them.

The Governor stated this shortly after being anointed for a second term in office by Christian leaders and fathers of faith in a prayer converge organised by the Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly on Thursday at Ibom Hall

Grounds, Uyo “Our Syringe Manufacturing Company is running and the naysayers who said it could not be done have been proved wrong, our Metering Solutions Company is in full production and again our critics have been proved wrong.

The Peacock Paints is producing and expanding its operations, the Flour Mill is in the offing, as well as Plastic Manufacturing Factory and Fertilizer blending Factory to be located in Abak are also in the offing,” he said.

He said the state Government’s investment in power has attracted commendation from the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babtunde Fashola during his recent visit to the state, and told the people that his government had upgraded the main

runway at the Ibom International Airport to category 2 while the construction of the second runway is ongoing.

According to him, the flood control on Nsikak Eduok which had previously rendered that area impassable has been fixed, State Secretariat Annex was completed and inaugurated while a 21 storey modern office complex is under construction in Uyo. The Governor said that the State Government earmarks at least 600 million naira annually for the payment of West African Examination Council, WAEC fees for final year students in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom in addition to ensuring free education, maintaining that his administration will always invest in quality education as a bedrock to development.

cident Forms in the 2019 elections said INEC must be sure of what it wants to do and not throw the country into a mess.

“If they are sure that the card readers are not going to disappoint, no problem. But if they are not sure, because it is a network issue, the incident form is important.

“Let them not use the opportunity to rig election in this country.

This is the time to re position and fine tune the whole process. They should not undermine the people’s choice. The whole world is watching Nigeria”, he stressed.

The youth Leader called on Nigerians to play by the rules in the forthcoming election and not see it as a do or die affair.

“Election is not a do or dies affair. I maintain that election is who God chooses. Any person God chooses, let him go and serve and in serving, let him serve in the fear of God”, he added.

He called on the APC led government to sit up and do things right, saying that all the ills they accused the PDP of when they were in opposition are being repeated even in worse dimension by the administration.

“A lot of things are happening in this country and we are pleading that they should give us peace. If you can’t give us peace, please allow those agitating for their own country to leave.

“The country is not moving the way it is supposed to move. Now we are talking about what happened in Good luck Jonathan’s time- they kidnapped the Chibok girls. The same set of people said if they come to power, that kind of thing will not happen. Now Dapchi girls were kidnapped from the same axis. What is happening?

“This same people went to the streets to protest about fuel price hike, now the fuel price is going to over N200 per litre and nobody is talking. All they try to do is to protect the interest of the same government. Don’t we have conscience to look into the interest of our people? The masses are suffering” Arthur-Ugwa urged President Buhari to strike a good working relationship with the National Assembly, so that both arms can work in harmony to improve the lot of Nigerians.

He said a situation whereby many bills passed by the National Assembly are either left unattended to or rejected by the President does not speak well. He made a particular reference to the Peace Corps Bill passed by both chambers of National Assembly which the President refused to sign into law and said such an important bill that could provide jobs for teeming Nigerian youths should not be treated with levity.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS

NURTW to Obiano: Obey court order, return our motor parks

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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EMBERS of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Anambra State branch, are now urding Governor Willie Obiano to obey the recent High Court Order and return their members to motor parks in the state to carry out their legitimate duties, as obtained in other 35 states of the federation and Abuja.

South-East Zonal Chairman of the union, Chief Augustine Udeozor who made the appeal in Awka, shortly after the swearing-in of Obiano for a second term in office, said although they were already in talks with Obiano since the High Court deproscribed the union in the state in 2016, Obiano should expedite action to enable their jobless members return to work.

Flanked by the State Vice Chairman, Hon. Dominic Ezebuenyi and Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area branch, Chief Francis Ugboaja, Udeozor who is also the state chairman of the union, lamented that having been proscribed for over 17 years now and deproscribed since two years ago, Obiano should allow them to go back to motor parks and do their lawful duties because most of their members are idle and hungry.

He however congratulated Obiano for his second term feat and urged him not to relent in embarking on massive transformation of the state, since the electorate reposed such a huge amount of confidence on him and returned him with overwhelming votes during the last governorship election in the state.

The union had been outlawed by a court of competent jurisdiction about 17 years ago and was prohibited from operating in motor parks in the state by Anambra State House of Assembly Law No. 6 of 2000 when they had a running battle with the then state government, under former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration.

However, in 2016, an Awka High Court in Anambra state, presided over by Justice D. A. Onyefulu deproscribed the union by restraining the state government, its agent, servants, privies, workmen and/or cohorts from treating them as a body or entity prohibited or outlawed in the state.

The court however directed that NURTW is to operate under the provisions of Section 40 of the law No. 12 of 2005 (Anambra State Park Administration and Management Bureau Law of 2005), which repealed Law No. 6 of 2000 that prohibited NURTW from operating in the state.

Ikwo communal war: Group donates relief materials to displaced persons

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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group, Initiative for demonstrating Change in Nigeria, has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to three communities affected by the communal war in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state.

The three communities are; Ofenakpa, Ekpaomaka and EchiAlike, all in Ikwo local government area. Over 100 lives including security agents have been lost in the crisis between the affected communities and their neighbours in Inyimagu, Amagu in Cross River state.

Many houses and other valuable properties were destroyed by militias with over 5,000 persons displaced.

The pro-Buhari’s group visited the internally displaced persons camps set up for three communities and donated items including tubers of yam, bags of rice, cooking condiments, bags of water and cash to ameliorate their sufferings.

In his separate addresses at their respective camps, National Coordinator of the group Comrade Chinedu Ogah said the gesture was to complement efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing challenges facing IDPs in the country.

“We saw their sufferings and decided to give a helping hand on them. They are human beings like us, they are our brothers and sisters and we need to care for them.

While we are privileged, they are less privileged in their conditions.

“We also do this to support Mr. President having seen what he is

doing. He just visited Yobe, Adamawa, Benue and so many other states that have IDPs”, Ogah said.

The former PDP youth leader in the state who was endorsed by elders of Ekpelu the ancestral home of to contest House of Representatives for Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency, said he will pay more attention to the less privileged when he emerges the winner of election.

In his judgement in a suit filed

by NURTW, through their legal counsel, Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN), against the state government, Justice Onyefulu further declared that treatment of NURTW as a body or an entity prohibited or outlawed in the state by the defendant, its agents, servants, privies, workmen and/or cohorts is null void and of no legal consequence.

In the judgement which how-

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The union had dragged the state government to the court asking for a declaration that the NURTW (Prohibition) Law 1999 which became Law No. 6 of 2000 was repealed by the provisions of section 40 of the Anambra State Park Administration and Management Bureau Law of 2005 (Law No. 12 of 2005) and is therefore no longer in force in the state.

• Rivers State Commissioner of Water Resources, Professor Kaniye Ebeku (second left) representing Governor Nyesom Wike flagging off the execution of Rivers State Government, European Union and United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF) Water and Sanitation projects in two local government areas which held at Nkoro town school in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area, Wednesday.

Abia Governor’s wife plans sickle cell clinics for 17 LGAs

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IFE of Abia Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, said her pet project, Vicar Hope Foundation plans to establish sickle cell clinics in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking during an event on ‘Girl Child Marriage and Gender Inequality in Nigeria’ at the 62nd United Nations Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, United States, Mrs Ikpeazu said that the disease was the most neglected aspect of the health pro-

Igbo group lauds I-G on withdrawal of policemen attached to VIPs socio-cultural group, the Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), on Tuesday commended the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris for withdrawing policemen attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the country.

NUF gave the commendation in a statement jointly signed by its President and SecretaryGeneral, Mr Augustine Chukwudum and Mr Chinedu Onyebuchi in Enugu.

“NUF receives with excitement, the news of withdrawal of policemen attached to VIPs and other personalities by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

“The directive to withdraw a large number of policemen deployed to protect less than 2 per cent of the total population of the country is a welcome de-

ever has no order as to costs, the court declared: “may be the worry of the defendant (state government) is that the plaintiff (NURTW) will cause mayhem but I believe that this is not the issue as the Law No. 12 of 2005 gives the Bureau, power to regulate parks, including collection of dues. This means that the plaintiff is to operate under the supervision and control of the bureau”.

velopment,’’ the group said.

The Ndigbo Unity Forum also described the action as long overdue.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the memo that will be sent by I-G as soon as possible on the redeployment of the officers to security challenged areas in the country.’’

It would be recalled the IG Idris gave the order at the monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police on Monday in Abuja.

•IGP Idris Abubakar

grammes by governments.

According to her, sickle cell disease is the main focus of her project to bring succour to the patients.

“We have sickle cell centre at Awka. We have a clinic and when they – patients – come there, we subsidise their bills. But we give the routine drugs for free for the sickle cell patients. And we plan to have sickle cell clinics in all the local governments. This is so that each centre will ensure that people who have sickle cell get services close to them”.

According to her, the foundation also carries out enlightenment progrmme in the rural areas to reduce the prevalent rate of the sickness.

She said the foundation was being funded through donation from well-meaning individuals.

“Right now, we go from one school to the other, to sensitise the younger ones on the need to know their genotype because that is the only way we can break the cycle. You can’t cure it, we only manage it at the centre but we go to the schools to tell the younger ones that when they want to marry, they should know their genotype status.

“We also tell them the problems they will face if people of a particular genotype go ahead to marry.”

Ikpeazu also said her ‘Widows and Indigent Shelter Scheme’ had built bungalows for no fewer than 47 widows and indigent women across the state.

She decried the menace of baby factory in the state, saying she was working with the Ministry of Women Affairs to address the incident.

“Most of them-baby factories –

use the motherless baby homes to camouflage. We have been working with the Minister of Women Affairs to check the menace.”

In a related development, Mrs Ikpeazu has urged the Federal Government to extend the Home Grown School Feeding Programme to pupils in classes four, five and six.

Ikpeazu said this during an event on ‘Girl Child Marriage and Gender Inequality in Nigeria’ at the 62nd UN Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.

The Home Grown School Feeding programme, launched in June 2016 by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, aims to provide nutritious hot meal a day to over 24 million primary school children.

The national programme, which commenced in October 2016, provides a hot meal – lunch – a day for primary 1 to 3 pupils in public primary schools.

The wife of the governor said Abia who piloted the programme in the current democratic dispensation before the Federal Government commenced programme, explained that such gesture would reduce the vulnerability of the girl-child to early marriage and also help improve the enrolment of the girl-child in schools.

“In Abia, we started feeding children in the primary schools before the Federal Government came to feed primary one to three. We started the pilot scheme before the Federal Government came and started the free school feeding programme for primary one to three. But in Abia, we have gone a step further to feed primary four to six in all the state governmentowned schools.”

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

NEWS Cont’d from Pg 2 country’s police chief,” Ugwuama said.

“Nigeria has so far, under his tenure, recorded more death than it did since the advent of the present democratic experience in 1999. Look at the carnage in Rivers, Benue, Taraba, Kogi and other parts of the country. This is an IGP who looked the other way when mass burial was conducted for over 70 Benue citizens that were massacred by suspected herdsmen; that was after he had ignored a presidential order to relocate to that state and restore peace and order.

“He has a penchant for disobedience of court orders, which is a dangerous development. For instance, a Federal High Court had given an order that the Police should reopen the offices of the Nigeria Peace Corps but he vehemently ignored the order till date. He did not even appeal the court order; he just ignored it and remained adamant. If a Police Chief, whose core duty is maintenance of law and order and protection of lives and properties of citizens is disobedient to court orders, one wonders where we are going as a country. The constitution that established the court is there and the power of the court is there as well.”

“His latest move to recall officers that are attached to VIPs across the country is just an attempt to extort money from rich citizens who would readily part with good sums of money to buy back their security details,” Ugwuama contended.

Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, an Umuahia-based human rights activist and a commentator on national issues, is exasperated that the IGP is still in office despite his glaring “incompetence.”

While noting that too many security missteps “are happening and prevalent in this APC clueless administration, Njoku declared: “There have been some confirmable evidences such as extortion by Police officers on the highway. It has been confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari instructed him to relocate to Benue and he refused to relocate to Benue to tackle the security situation there.

“The Dapchi girls that were kidnapped, there were several calls that were made to the Police and Army leadership, according to Amnesty International today, and yet they were unable to curtail the menace of the abductors.

“Security under the IGP has been characterized by gross incompetence and corruption, much worse than what was experienced under the worst Police IG in Nigeria during the military administration. In other words, IGP should resign. Dapchi girls remain the de facto of the inactiveness of the IGP. “I don’t know why President Buhari has not sacked the IGP for disobeying him. And if he fails to do so, that means he is complacent of the security inactiveness that is happening in the country now. Nigeria is in a war situation, Nigeria is not secure and it is driving away international investors. We are not sure what could happen next.

“In Jos, Plateau, they struck yesterday (Monday). They have displaced 42 communities in Plateau.

In Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Fulani herdsmen are striking all the time.”

He blasted the Police for failing to effectively tackle the herdsmen menace, blaming it on their “complacency, complicity and conspiracy” with the invaders.

“That is why there is security emptiness, ineffectiveness in our system right now,” he said, adding, “The best thing is for Buhari to resign, along with the security chiefs and the IGP. They have failed us.”

According to Chief Nengi James,

Outrage over police Chairman Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Bayelsa Chapter, the IG is supposed to work in accordance with his constitutional responsibility and the laws empowering the police to do their job.

“But if he is doing more than what is expected or not expected of him like disobeying Mr. President, he has to face the wrath of Mr. President,” James said.

“With regard to the killings going in the country and all that, it is part of his job to make sure there is law, order and peace in the country and we also urge those in authority not only to give positions, but provide the necessary tools and welfare for the police officers to do their work.

The people doing these things are not spirits, they are human beings and the IG cannot just go and do his work, there must be proper intelligence, effectiveness and efficiency.

“The IG for me is just a position, but as they have appointed him as head of the police, I expect the IG to have some creativity, innovation and ideas of the contemporary times and use it for the policing of the country.”

James further argued that the missteps of the IGP are a reflection of the rot that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian police, lamenting that nowadays, “every Dick, Tom and Harry” is being recruited into the police; even cultists and other undesirable elements have infiltrated into the police and other security agencies.”

Besides, he contended that many police officers are more interested in corruption, and getting money quick than doing their actual job, a situation he said is affecting the policing of the Nigerian state.

According to him, the order to withdraw police men attached to VIPs is a step in the right direction saying many of them in such assignments aid and abet criminality such as gun running.

In another development, a human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has attributed the incessant killings of Christians in the country to lopsided appointments into key positions of authority, particularly in the military, paramilitary and police formations.

According to the group, no fewer than 520 Christians have so far been massacred within 105 days and yet no single person has been arrested and charged for the killings.

In a press statement issued in Onitsha, Anambra State, the group’s spokesman, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi lamented that among all the 28 military and para-military heads, including Army, Police, DSS, FRSC, EFCC, NDLEA, Navy, Air force, none is from the South East zone while majority of them are Muslims.

Intersociety further pointed out that out 29 Assistant-Inspectors General of Police in the country, none is from the South East zone while only two out of 37 commissioners of police (and these two have less than a year to retire) are from South East zone, just as no Southeasterner is heading any top military position in Army formations in the South East zone.

“The South East including its satellite extensions in South South and North Central also do not have a single serving zonal AIG out of the 12 serving AIGs there,” Intersociety added.

“In the Commissioners of Police (CPs), Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) ranks, the South East population is terminally diminishing with orchestrated plans

or policy to eliminate the zone from the top command echelon of the force.”

“It is also appalling that out of the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) serving CPs, only two are from the South East and the entire Igbo land, with their retirement barely one year ahead,” Intersociety’s Umeagbalasi added.

“It may most likely be correct to say that the sedentary semi-pastoral and pastoral Igbo Nation and their largely Christian faithful are at high risk of pogrom and religious cleansing in the country sooner or later.”

He contended that the ‘on-going extermination of Christians and other non-Muslim nationalities of Northern Nigeria, which have put an estimated 30 million of them in disarray, forced over 1.5million of them to flee and resulted in the death of over 20,000 others since 2009 is a case in point.

According to him, “it is also strongly suspected that the Igbo satellite communities in Benue and Kogi States are at a high risk of extermination and religious cleansing,” citing “the on-going butchery in Kogi State by Fulani herdsmen

that started last Wednesday night and resulted in the death of not less than 50 Christians…”

Said Umeagbalasi: “We also totally reject the false labelling, by the Buhari government and its mainstream media apologists, of the killings as “Fulani herdsmen-farmers clashes.”

The latest round of killings, according to Intersociety is a clear indication that the killings are purely ethno-religious project intended and executed with state aiding and abating, adding that 520 Christians have been killed since last year December till date and perpetrators have not been arrested, tried and convicted.

“All the police do is to extort people, whether at check points that are all over the country, or wen they report cases at the stations,” an lawyer said. “Count the number of check points all over the place. They do not are not interested in fighting crimes. So long as they are able to collect money from motorists and bike riders, they have done their work for the day. …Idris decorates Danjuma Ibrahim as AIG Meanwhile, in a move that is certain to deepen the controversy around the police officer, IGP Idris on Monday decorated Commission-

er of Police, CP, Danjuma Ibrahim with his new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG. This followed his controversial acquittal by an Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Ishaq Bello over alleged killing of five traders and a woman in 2005 at Apo, Abuja.

Danjuma was suspended from duty and charged on allegation of extra-judicial killing alongside Othman Abdulsalam, Nicholas Zakaria, Baba Emmanuel, Ezekiel Acheneje and Sadiq Salami as co-defendants.

In a judgment that has continued to rile many observers, Justice Bello discharged and acquitted Danjuma who was the first accused person, while Emmanuel and Acheneje were sentenced to death.

In December 2017 shortly after his acquittal, Danjuma was promoted from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, to the rank of Commissioner of Police.

He had since then been on course in Jos, Plateau State until his decoration with the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police along with CP Istafanus Shettima and CP Jimoh Omeiza Ozi-Obea.

Others decorated from the rank of DCP to CPs include Bello Yahaya, Mukaddas Garba, Dasuki Galandanchi, Fave Semali and Sadiq Abubakar.

Mass sack looms in oil industry Cont’d from Pg 2 service sector of the petroleum industry forms part of the key segments that underpin government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Programme, ERGP. It would be recalled that leaders of PENGASSAN have since last year embarked on relentless picketing of oil service companies in Port Harcourt, causing some of them to shut down, relocate from the country or suspend operations.

Most of the oil companies under attack have lost several contracts, missed delivery times or defaulted in commitments to financial services providers as labour-induced downtimes lingered.

Both President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson, and General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, have consistently declined media calls on the crisis, but issued a statement in which, among other things, they deplored “anti-union posture by indigenous companies and marginal field operators, and therefore resolved to resist any management that infringes on the workers’ Rights to Freedom of Association and Lawful Assembly.”

The statement also has it that “The PENGASSAN condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies against our armless members during picketing and other legitimate industrial actions, calling on the Army and the Police to call men and officers to order and refrain from harassing innocent and armless workers, especially PENGASSAN members.”

But PETAN argues that PENGASSAN is constantly in breach of the right to freedom of movement and association by other parties.

The group argues that every individual or group including employers also have the right to associate and dissociate with other groups and parties including workers and unions.

The labour picketing which started from altercations with few companies has since spread to many more companies,

prompting the leaders of PETAN to summon an emergency meeting penultimate week to forge a common front in saving their companies from alleged sponsored attacks by PENGASSAN. But whereas PENGASSAN leaders take fight to service companies many workers at the companies dissociate themselves from disruptive activities of the group.

Some workers in the affected companies who spoke informally expressed discomfort about the looming impact the dispute would have on their jobs.

One of the companies picketed

by PENGASSAN, Ciscon Nigeria Limited, has since suspended its Nigerian business operations and stepped up activities in the United States of America where, according to the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Shawley Coker, workers are more diligent.

At Calabar, IPMAN is protesting poor allocation of petroleum products from depots in the area.

The group claims that 90 per cent of its members in both states have no access to the products since November last year, adding that they are made to buy through middlemen.

The role of the alleged middlemen, it said, has led to scarcity and high cost of the petroleum products in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

The group stated that difficulty in accessing products at official ex-depot rates forces its members to break the price ceiling of N145 per liter of petrol.

The threat to shut down the market in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States comes in protest against sharp market practices said to have spurred high prices of products in the region.

A visit to filling stations around Calabar metropolis revealed that majority of the independent marketers across the city sell PMS above the regulated price of N145 per litre at between N175 to N200 per litre to motorists.

Members of the association who spoke in Calabar during a peaceful protest said they were working to draw attention to sharp practices at the Calabar Depot of the Nige-

rian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the tank farms located in the Calabar Free Trade Zone as the cause of high prices at filling stations.

According to Mr. Lawrence Agim, “We are licensed marketers; we have our bulk agreement with NNPC, have filling stations and entitled to be allocated fuel to service our outlets in Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

“The irony is that the whole public is feeling that IPMAN is the problem; we are not because we are not given product here to sell.

In most cases, we buy these products at outrageous prices ranging between N130 and N190 per litre at private depots. Therefore, it would be difficult to buy at exorbitant prices and sell at N145. And if they fail to sell to us we might be compelled to shut down over 2, 000 filling stations belonging to our members in both states.”

He alleged that the management of depots does not sell petroleum products to their members “but they rather sell petroleum products to people who are unknown to IPMAN and have no known filling stations.”

One of the marketers, who simply gave his name as Unyime Edet pointed accusing fingers at the management of the NNPC, stating that the organisation gives marketers two accounts if it doesn’t trust them. One account is government accounts to pay the official price and the difference to another account.

There are also allegations that one of the depots within the Calabar Free Trade Zone has over 50 million litres of petrol reserved to service markets outside the states.

Mr. Edet said: “When we confronted the NNPC officials, they told us that the stock is an intervention product meant to serve Abia, Enugu, Makurdi; and that marketers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom should go to Agara depot in Warri and load product.”

An official of the NNPC who refused to disclose his name said, “We are not allowed to talk to journalist. Besides, we don’t allocate the product here. The names

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

SPORTS

Amaju makes rallying plea for Eagles A

You can’t intimidate us, Usheoritse tells Jamaica, England, others

• Says “I have no regret saying Eagles can win World Cup”

By MADUABUCHI KALU

fans and all Nigerians to please continue to support the Super Eagles he President of the Nigeria because that is the right thing for us Football Federation (NFF), to do,” Amaju began.

Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has “It behooves on us to continue made a rallying plea to Nigerians to in that state. Again, and again I will keep supporting the national team, say that. People ask me why do I the Super Eagles as they prepare say that Nigeria can win the World for the biggest football party, the Cup? “If you have a child, what do FIFA World Cup which Russia will be you? You pray and want the child to playing host to as from June. be the best and nothing else. If you Amaju reveals that the plea has have a younger brother, what do become necessary because that is you pray for him? It is for him to be the right thing to do as he has a firm better than you. belief that the three time African “So, I don’t have any regret saychampions can bring back home ing that Nigeria can win the World the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy. Cup. “I plead with all well-meaning “From the hills from the Northern Nigerians, stakeholders, football part of Nigeria to the thick South

T

Forest to the aquatics splendor of Western Nigeria and Lagos in particular, everybody says one thing in Unisom, borrowing from Barak Ubama, “Yes, we can do it”.

“And I believe we can do it going to the World Cup because we have prepared our grounds, we have done everything and we pray humanly, we have given out our best.”

That is the words of Amaju Pinnick saying that they have given out everything, they have done everything humanly possible for the Super Eagles to sow out there at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also talks about motivation going to the Mundial: “Our players

are very well motivated. The technical crew are very much excited. The various committees have all been directed and mandated to sit up in making sure that our preparations are topnotch.

“We are beginning our preparations with our friendly game against Poland and five days thereafter we are playing against Serbia.

And coming back to Nigeria we are playing Congo Democratic Republic. On the 2nd of June we are playing against England and on the 6th of June we will be playing against Czech Republic and from there we will go to our venue, Kaliningrad in Russia,” Amaju explained.

Rohr demands more game-time for Iheanacho • As Ndidi denies Barcelona link

•

S

Coach Rohr

uper Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, is not leaving anything to chance as it concerns Super Eagles preparations to the 2018 FIFA World Cup which Russia will be playing host to from June.

Therefore in his bid to ensure that key player are not match rusty before and during the tournament, the Franco German football tactician has declared his desire to see Kelechi Iheanacho given more gametime at his club in Leicester.

It is on record that since the departure of Iheanacho from Manchester City for the Foxes, the 2013, the FIFA Under-17 Most Valuable Player, has endured a frustrating period with

six goals coming from just eight starts and 13 substitute appearances in all competitions.

Rohr said that he was impressed with the forward’s contribution off the bench against West Bromwich Albion penultimate weekend, but he is interested in seeing the Nigerian forward given more playing time by his coach at Leicester City, Claude Puel, who he described as his personal friend. He explained that there is the need for Puel to place more faith in the 21-year-old.

According to Rohr: “Kelechi is doing very well at the moment. I’m in touch with his coach – Claude Puel – he’s a friend of mine,” Rohr began.

“Let him now play a little bit more and I hope he does because it is not enough playing 20 minutes, even if he scores. He has to play more and I hope now he will have the opportunity to play other games and to be fit for our games.”

However, Wilfred Ndidi has repledged his allegiance to Leicester City amid speculation linking him with a summer move to European and Spanish powerhouse, Fc Barcelona. ‘’Ndidi is not leaving Leicester City, the interest from Barcelona is news to us, there has been no contact.

They want to build the team around him,’’ the source said.

s the countdown to the 21st Commonwealth Games draws closer, Nigeria Commonwealth Youth Games gold medalist, Itsekiri Usheoritse has categorically informed England, Jamaica and other countries billed for the Games in Australia to forget about it, as they are not going to intimidate the Nigerian contingent to the Games.

Usheoritse, will be making his senior international debut at the 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games come next month in Gold Coast Australia as a member of the Nigeria’s men’s 4X100 relay team, believes the squad would not be intimidated by the pedigree of Jamaica, England and Canada.

The 2016 African Youth Championship 100metres finalist was quoted as saying last week from their training camp in Abuja that he was excited making the team particularly with the selection of more home-based athletes in the 37-man athletics team.

“I am particularly thrilled with the selection for the Games because it gives everybody equal opportunity to make the team. Now, the homebased have the chance to prove themselves at the Games and for me; it is indeed a wonderful experience that I will be making my first international senior appearance at the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“As a member of the 4X100metre relay team, I know we are capable of beating teams like Jamaica, England and Canada for the title because they are men like us and we are well aware of their pedigree but we will not be carried away by their global status.

“We will go into the track and give our best hoping that our best will give us the best result at the end of the day. With the quality of coaches and training we have been undergoing in the Abuja camp, I am sure we will do well and return home with a medal,” the Delta State-born sprinter added.

Aside from aiming for the medal in Gold Coast, Usheoritse said he hoped to use his debut to get exposed to top class race and garner more experience ahead of this year’s African Championship holding in Asaba Delta State later in the year.

“I am so happy and my feeling has been so awesome since I realized that I will be part of the team to Australia because representing Nigeria at such big event is a rare privilege particularly when you are selected among the millions of people. Having featured at the youth level for the country, I cannot wait to enter the track for my first senior international competition,” he said.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

SPORTS Romario declares governorship ambition

F

ormer Brazilian international Romario de Souza has declared his intention to run for election as governor of Rio de Janeiro come October, according to reports from the South American country.

The former Barcelona star, who is currently a senator in the country, will stand as a candidate for the centrist Podemos party. He has been praised as a senator for his battle against corruption in football.

The state which hosted the 2016 Olympic Games has been racked by violence and is on the verge of bankruptcy and the 1994 World Cup winner, known simply as Romario, says his campaign will focus on tackling those problems.

“In these chaotic times, change is necessary, change is urgent… Rio always had safety problems, but never like now,” the 52-year-old said on Saturday while announcing his candidacy.

“I don’t have experience of being in charge. It will be, God willing, the first time that I’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate all I have learned in my life.”

Romario previously ran for mayor of Rio de Janeiro, but later backed out.

The former member of Barcelona’s Dream Team under Johan Cruyff is currently under investigation for allegedly concealing assets to avoid paying debts, Brazilian media report.

He, however, has since denied the accusations.

If he wins, he will join the like of George Opong Weah to be in charge of affairs of either their country or their state. This announcement by Romario will go a long way in motivating more sports personalities to through their harts into the ring to contest political positions as both men have shown the way for other to follow.

Nigerian teams booted out of CAF Champions League

W

hat a weekend for Nigerian club side on continental duties as they were booted out of the continental Premier club competitions by their opponents.

Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Football Cub of Lagos were totally disgraced out of the competition by MC Algers who handed them 6-0 defeat in Algier, losing out 7-2 on aggregate, having won 2-1 a forth night ago at Agege Stadium. What a shame for the Lagos based side.

However, Plateau United won their game 1-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano against Etoile du Sportive of Algeria but that was not enough to see them through to the next stage of the competition. The Jos based team bowed out 4-3 on aggregate.

Both teams have now dropped to the less fancied CAF Confederation Cup to join Enyimba International Football Club of Aba and Akwa United FC of Uyo who did very well by making it to the next stage of the competition.

Akwa United FC defeated Al Ittihad of Libya 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 aggregate stalemate while two time continental champions, Enyimba International FC of Aba saw off Energie 3-2 in Calabar to pull through 5-2 on aggregate.

NBBF releases D’Tigers Commonwealth Games team list

• As Ike Diogu leads other players

By MADUABUCHI KALU

T

he Nigeria Basketball Federation last week released the list basketball players that will fly the country’s flag at the XXI edition of the Commonwealth Games which will be taking place in Gold Coast Australia from next month.

Leading the list of players selected to fight for honours in the basketball event of the Games is China-based Ike Diogu, who is also the captain of the national basketball team, D’Tigers.

The list which was compiled by the technical crew led by Coach Alex Nwora was made public last Wednesday by the NBBF secretary, Chimezie Asiegbu.

The team, made up of six homebased and six foreign-based players, will be captained by Diogu, who plies his trade with Henan in the Chinese league.

Diogu captained the team to a silver medal at the 2017 Afrobasket Championship in Tunisia.

He was also influential in the team’s run of 3 straight wins in the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers with an average of 17.7 points made per game.

Azuoma Dike of Kano Pillars will be leading the home-based legion comprising teammates Abdul Yahaya and Dung Eli Abraham.

Mark Mentors of Abuja player, Musa Usman, will also be on the train to Australia.

Musa, who is one of the best ball rebounders in the Nigerian Premier League, re-joins the team after missing the World Cup qualifiers in Mali.

The duo of Abdulwahab Yakubu and Istifanus Sylvanus who played major roles in Gombe Bulls’ first

• D’Tigers’ Captain, Ike Diogu in action for Nigeria ever qualification for the FIBA Africa club championship in 2017, also made the final cut.

After his sterling performance for Stony Brooks in the 2016 to 2017 NCAA season, Uchenna Ireogbu will be making his national team debut for Nigeria in Australia.

Prince Ifeanyi Orizu plying his trade with the Far Eastern University, Philipines also made the list for the Commonwealth Games team.

The trio of Olalekan Graham Olantunji, Ofoegbu Uchechi Chima and Godsgift Achiuwa Onyekachi will also be joining the team in Australia from their base in the U.S.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that pre-Games camping is expected to end on March 22 and the team will depart for Brisbane on March 23 ahead of their first game against New Zealand on Friday, April 6.

Nigeria is in Group B alongside host Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Coach Nwora will be assisted by Aderemi Adewunmi and Mohammed Abdulrahman.

Team List Ike Diogu (Henan, China) Uchenna Ireogbu (Stony Brooks, NCAA, USA)

Dung Eli Abraham- (Kano Pillars (Nigeria) Azuoma Dike – (Kano Pillars, Nigeria) Olantunji Olalekan Graham- (Unattached, USA) Ofoegbu Uchechi Chima – (Unattached, USA) Musa Usman (Mark Mentors) Abdulwahab Yakubu (Gombe Bulls) Istifanus Sylvanus (Gombe Bulls) Abdul Yahaya (Kano Pillars) Achiuwa God’sgift Onyekachi (Unattached, USA) Orizu Prince Ifeanyi (Far Eastern University, Philippines)

rope top league and managers is a testament that the league is not inferior to the European Leagues.

Ighalo declared that the Chinese Super League has come of age and as a result it is now attracting top quality players and managers from EPL, Seria A amongst other top European leagues.

He therefore explained that he would be more than happy to advise any Nigerian football player who wants to migrate to China to start his football career and from there take to another level.

“As you can see now, players and coaches are coming to the league that is to tell you the level of competition of the league,” Ighalo began.

“These are good coaches, these are world-class coaches, and they played in big countries like England, Italy among other top European leagues. They are here in the Super League.

“So, it is going to be a good thing if you play under these kind of managers and start your football career and from there you can take your

Nations Championship team but could not do so. ”They already had their chance, remember that we invited Dele (Ajiboye). Dele is No2 in the CHAN team and it’d be surprising that he is No1 and Ezenwa will be number two in the Super Eagles,” Rohr was quoted as saying. ”Alampasu, unfortunately, is not playing. You cannot take a goalkeeper who is never playing.

Uzoho made his debut for Nigeria against Argentina and did very

well. He plays for the second team of La Coruna; we could see him (at the World Cup). Ezenwa was injured but he is returning gradually and he’s played with the second team at his club already. We’ll see who will be the fittest.”

Former Under-17 World Cup winner Dele Alampasu has not played a league game in Portugal since April 30, 2017 when he went the full 90 minutes in Cesarense’s 3-0 loss at águeda.

football career to the next level.

“I won’t discourage anybody that has the opportunity to migrate from Nigeria to come to China and start his football career. Why not?

You can start from there and move to the next level in your career you know,” Ighalo declared.

Ighalo may not have seen anything wrong with players migrating to China to ply their football trade but the same cannot be said of former Super Eagles’ defender, Ifeanyi Udeze who said the financial involvement is what he would consider before making a move to the Chinese Super.

According to Udeze, competition in the Super League cannot be the attraction if he were to make a move the Asian country with the sole purpose of playing football.

“To be honest with you, it all depends on the financial value before me. If the monetary involvement is good enough, why not? I will join them of course because money is the key thing as far as I am concerned.

But I can tell you that I cannot relocate to China based on the standard and quality of football in China. I am not trying to denigrate the league but that is the way I see it,” Udeze declared.

Ighalo rates Chinese Super League high

S

uper Eagles’ and Changchun Yatai forward, Jude Odion Ighalo, has given thumbs-up for the Chinese Super League saying because of the competitive nature of the league many people are trooping to the league.

According to him he will gladly encourage any Nigerian that has the opportunity of migrating to China to play football because the league is as strong as the major leagues in Europe.

He further explained that the migration of former players in Eu-

Rohr explains why Alampasu, Ajiboye will not make World Cup squad

S

uper Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has given reason why Plateau United goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye and Feirense starlet, Dele Alampasu will not be included on the 23-man roster for the 2018 World Cup. According Rohr, Dele Alampasu is inactive at his Portuguese club, while Ajiboye has not been selected in the latest squad because he was given the chance to displace Ikechukwu Ezenwa as the No1 goalkeeper during the African

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 28, 2018

SPORTS

Russia 2018: Big Money Entertainment launches scratch/win lotto

•

Members of Big Money Entertainment (BME) and former Eagles’ stars, Daniel Amokachi, 5th from left, Julius Aghahowa, 6th and Friday Nwankwo Kujah 7th at the launch of scratch and win lotto in Lagos

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

s the 2018 FIFA World Cup draws closer, every effort is being made by stakeholders to ensure that Super Eagles’ participation at the Mundial is a huge success and as a result many activities are taking place to realize this noble objective of Eagles’ successful outing in Russia.

As a result of this objective, Big Money Entertainment (BME) last Thursday, launched Scratch and Win Lotto with two former Super Eagles stars, Dan Amokachi and Julius Aghahowa as the arrow heads of the promo lotto.

The launching of the scratch and win lotto was held at the secretariat of the Lagos Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) with many dignitaries in attendance including the two former Super Eagles players Daniel Amokachi and Julius Aghahowa.

Others include Ambassador Fanny Amun, the Coach of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Football Club, Fidelis Ilechukwu, NFF’s licensed football agent, Friday Nwankwo Kujah, the President General of Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo and the Manager of Big Money Entertainment, Mr. Joseph Raphael.

In his opening remarks at the event, the chairman of occasion and the Project Manager of the scratch and win lotto, Daniel Amokachi explained said: “The scratch and win promo is a special lotto draw that is intended to empower the lotto players with instant cash prizes and give lucky player the opportunity of all expense paid trip to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.” “Apart from the star prize of all expense paid trip to Russia for the Mundial in Russia, there are other cash rewards for players of the

promo lotto ranging from N500, N1000, N1500 up to N1million,” Amokachi explained.

Also speaking, the vice chairman of the event and Vice Project Manager, Julius Aghahowa explained that there is nothing to fear about the Promo Lotto because the promo is real. He encouraged players of the lotto not to entertain any fear as somebody like him would never indulge in any project that is not real.

“I want to encourage players of this scratch and win lotto not to entertain any fear as for the authenticity of it. There is no way Amokachi and I will be involved in anything that is not real.

“As you can see, players stand a chance of winning various prizes with just N100. You can win N1million with just a N100. I think that this is a good deal. Apart from the jackpot of all expense paid trip to Russia for the World Cup, players

stand a chance of winning other monetary prizes ranging from N500- N1million. As far as I am concerned, I think it is a good deal,” Aghahowa explained.

Adding his voice, the former Under-17 FIFA World Cup winning coach, Ambassador Fanny Amun, assured the audience that they stand to benefit immensely by playing the scratch and win lotto being promoted by Big Money Entertainment (BME) as they stand to gain a lot and at the same time help in making sure that the Super Eagles are supported in Russia.

Other speakers at the event include the Manager of Big Money Entertainment, Mr. Joseph Raphael, Mr. Friday Nwakwo Kujah, and Dr. Rafiu Ladipo amongst others.

Many people played the scratch and win lotto and won various prizes and smiled home with their prizes as they were on the spot.

Joe Lasisi, Samuel Peter, Davidson Andeh and lots more. We shall be honouring these special guys on April 7.

“A promising Nigerian boxer, King Davidson and Ghanaian Daniel Sowah will also fight for the vacant World Boxing Union Super Middleweight title”, declared Williams who promised better deal for Nigerian boxers and boxing going

forward.

He admitted that boxing facilities, including the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, supposedly the best in the country are in terrible state, advising that radical provision of quality facilities are needed without further delay.

The World renowned boxing promoter based in the United King-

dom hinted that Monarch Events and Promotions would unveil their package very soon while expressing gratitude to the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C ) led by Dr. Rafiu Ladipo.

According to him, both Monarch Events and NBB of C will work hand in hand towards boosting facilities and boxing generally in the country.

Monarch plans big for Nigerian boxing

M

anagement of Monarch Events and promotions have declared their readiness to give Nigerian Professional Boxing a big boost beginning with an International Boxing Carnival on April 7, 2018.

Boxers from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Nigeria and Ghana are among quality pugilists billed to thrill Nigerian audience on April 7 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Events and Promotion, Prince Stanley Williams, is emphatic that the like of Damac ‘Chop Chop’ Corly who lost to Floyd Mayweather in a WBC fight a few years back, alongside Jesus Ortega, Aaron Coley, Paul Valinzuela and Eugene Buchmuller would provide plenty of excitement come April 7.

“Monarch Events and Promotions is about providing the best in entertainment. We have done great boxing promotions in the past six years in the US and UK, but it’s time to revolutionalise the sports in Nigeria,” Prince Stanley Williams began.

“This country has provided quality boxers like late Dick Tiger Ihetu, Nojeen Maiyegun, Obisia Nwankpa,

Ndidi ready for Anfield move

B

arring any hitch, Nigeria and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, will this summer switch over to Anfield if report from England is anything to go by.

Ndidi has been in terrific form for Leicester City since making a 17million pounds switch from Genk of Belgium in the summer of 2016.

The 21-year-old has been touted as a replacement for German midfielder, Emre Can, who is set to leave Anfield at the expiration of his contract.

Ndidi has become one of Leicester City’s key figures since he joined the club from Genk in January 2017.

The former Genk star has since Monday hit the Super Eagles’ camp in Wroclaw. He has made 14 international appearances for the Super Eagles since he made his debut in 2016 and has featured in all English Premier League games for Leicester City (30) this season.

Ndidi has been linked to various clubs due to his good run of form.

While other Nigerian Leicester City Stars have found it difficult to adapt with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, Ndidi did not experience any problem adjusting to Leicester style of play when he switched over from Genk.

If at the end of the day the Nigerian succeeds to switch from Leicester, he would make history as Nigeria’s highest paid player in EPL as unconfirmed report has it that Liverpool have agreed to cough out 54million pound for the Nigerian midfielder.

WEDNESDAY March 28, 2018

The

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SAM HART

Ikpeazu, the value of trust in leadership

D

ATE was Tuesday, March 13, 2018 and time was 10am. Venue was the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had an august visitor in Amaju Melvin Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation. Mr. Pinnick, a vibrant and dynamic leader, was in Abia State to check on the football family in the State. Abia incidentally is one of the two States in Nigeria (Rivers is the other) with two teams in the elite division of the Nigerian Football League - Enyimba International Football Club and Abia Warriors Football Club.

As part of his visit, Governor Ikpeazu took his guest to the Enyimba International Stadium currently undergoing reconstruction to show him the progress of work and apprise him with progress on the project.

Governor Ikpeazu would later confess that he was a bit worried about the reception the delegation would get from the teeming Enyimba FC supporters around the stadium as work had been ongoing for a while necessitating the relocation of the club to Calabar to play her home matches and the supporters of the club were expected to be somewhat hostile to a government delegation to the stadium.

After showing his host around, Governor Ikpeazu sought to apologise to the gathered fans and explain the delay to them and he got a response that made him emotional.

The instantly appointed spokesperson for the fans assured the Governor that they trusted him and understood that if the work was taking this long, then they had no doubt that the outcome would be world class. That they had seen the work he has done and is doing in Aba and around Abia State that although took time, the end-product was always worth the wait. They assured him of their support and wished him well.

It was an emotional Governor Ikpeazu that left the stadium.

In one of his interviews at the onset of his administration, Governor Ikpeazu was asked his greatest expectation of the populace of his administration and he responded in his trademark cerebral nature that it was the need for him to get social engineering right over and above the provision of infrastructure. Social engineering here being the need for the populace to be on the same page with government, understand programmes and policies of the administration and take personal ownership of projects and visions and be able to interpret and explain them without government having to do so.

Today was a confirmation for him that he was meeting his objective.

• Governor Ikpeazu

A people who should ordinarily be agitated and angry with him that they are being deprived of the opportunity of watching their darling team play at home have understood his vision and are wholeheartedly trusting him to give them the best. What a moment! What a Eureka moment!

The Governor would later explain why he approaches developmental challenges the way he does and it is better reproduced in his own words: “I do not believe in palliatives. I do not believe in treating symptoms and manifestations while the original cause of the ailment remains unaddressed. I would rather go to the root of a problem and deal decisively with it than engage in window-dressing, showmanship and cheap publicity that come with quick fixes. For two reasons - it is just not in my nature; and Abia State does not have the resources to expend on projects that we will have to redo after a while. It is penny wise, pound foolish.”

This mindset is evident in the way he has approached road construction in Abia State.

It is why he first built a kilometre-long water-evacuation outlet from Oomne Drive to the Port Harcourt Expressway before commencing the tarring of the road. That road, which is a key artery in and out of Aba, has for the first time in re-collectable memory, survived two rainy seasons. The road has been tarred countless times by previous administrations but never survived the next rainy season. It took time and discomfort but today, the people are happier for it.

It is also for this reason that the Ikpeazu administration first built the engineering wonder known as the Ifeobara Pond and then constructed a 7-km underground water evacuation system before commencing work on tarring of Faulks Road, Aba with giant drainages on both sides.

It rained heavily in Aba recently and even as the rain was pouring in torrents, there

was no collection of water anywhere on Faulks road.

Cars were driving past blissfully. This seemingly ‘normal’ occurrence was unthinkable years ago. At the slightest shower, you would need a canoe to pass through Faulks Road. NEVER AGAIN! This mindset is why the Aba Road in Umuahia is a sort of tourist attraction.

Years prior, that road perennially failed after every rainy season because it is below sea level and rain water percolates there leading to constant collapse but today, the road has been elevated and a drainage system underneath built for water to naturally flow without the road disrupting its natural flow. Water is happy to pass underneath, the road is happy to exist above!

It is why the Governor has insisted that every road to be built by his administration MUST come with drainages on both sides. It is why he is building roads with rigid pavement technology, which entails a concrete and rod underlay before an asphalt overlay. It is why he is constructing roads built to last.

His projects may take time but you can be sure that for every road the Ikpeazu administration constructs, for the next 20 years, government will not need to work on that road again!

Another factor glaringly highlights the trust that exists between Governor Ikpeazu and his people. To date, the Abia State Government has had to knock off 86 houses to achieve the desired width of proposed roads. No protests, no resistance from the home owners.

These days, all the government has to do is to mark buildings on road paths for demolition and the owners of the buildings will on their own, bring down the buildings even before government bull-dozers arrive. They know that it is for the general good. They know that it is not an act of vendetta. ‘If Ikpeazu says my building needs to make way for a road, then I will pull it down myself. I trust him!’

The examples go on and on but the message has been made clear. In Abia State, the people trust their Governor. They trust him to do the right thing and even when it causes them pain, they excise the tumour so that the body can be spared.

Come to Abia State and see the value of trust in leadership. It is not coerced, it is not enforced, it is earned. It is organic.

Flowing naturally from the people to their leader.

Come to Abia and see.

Sam Hart, a lawyer, writes from Aba

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