September 21, 2015 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

•Six die, eight injured in Lekki-Epe road accident P52 •Boko Haram desperate, says army after explosions P6 •15 former ministers hold on to official vehicles P49 •LASTMA begins booking of city traffic offenders P53 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3343 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Catholic Bishops: Page 6 looters must face justice NEWS

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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HID AWOLOWO (1915 - 2015)

•Mrs Oyediran (fifth left) receiving the dignitaries...yesterday. From left are: Alhaji Jakande, Dr. Fayemi, Chief Akande, Asiwaju Tinubu, Governor PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID Ajimobi. And (from right) Governor Aregbesola, Sir Olaniwun and Governor Ambode.

State burial likely for HID From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s delegation was in Ikenne, Ogun State yesterday to commiserate with the Awolowo family over the demise of its matriarch, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo. The late Mrs Awolowo may get s state burial. When Buhari received the news of Mama Continued on page 6

INSIDE •HID and vicissitudes of life •Awo’s love letter to HID AND MORE ON PAGES 2-4,6,43&44

•From right: Vice President Osinbajo, his wife Dolapo, Lawal and Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu...yesterday

•The late HID Awolowo

Buhari: I’ve nothing to do with Saraki’s ordeal

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

Senate President likely to show up today at tribunal From Augustine Ehikioya and Tony Akowe Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has no hand in Senate President Bukola Saraki’s travails, the Presidency said yesterday. It also dismissed those claiming that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) were being influenced as uninformed.

This is purely a judicial process ... Government has no desire to persecute anybody. —Presidency

It is purely political ...You are presumed innocent until proven otherwise —Ilorin union

The tribunal is trying Saraki for alleged false declaration of assets. He and his supporters allege that it was

all instigated – politically. But Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Mal-

lam Garba Shehu stressed the institutions’ independence, saying they take no instructions from any quarters. The tribunal is set up by the Constitution to determine default, false declaration or forgery in assets declaration. It is equal to any superior court of record, Shehu said. The statement reads: “This therefore Continued on page 6

•SPORT P20 •CEO P31 •JOBS P33 •MOTORING P35 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P54

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS H.I.D. AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Yeye Oba... Echoes of a The late Hannah Dideolu Awolowo lived well. She was not just standing while her husband, the late Obafemi Awolowo, dominated the political space of the defunct Western Region and tried to get power at the centre. Her role in the political career of her husband is the stuff legends are made of, writes LEKE SALAUDEEN

HE late Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu, popularly known as HID, was born in 1915 to a modest family in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State. A successful tycoon, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957 and she was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into the country. Until Saturday afternoon, she was Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, Dideolu Specialist Hospital and Dideolu Stores Limited, among others as well as the Matron of the National Association of Nigerian Women in Business, Ogun State Chapter. The widow of the late political sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who fondly referred to her as his “Jewel of inestimable value”, the late HID was a successful businesswoman and an astute politician, who once served as the First Lady of the defunct old Western Region. She played an active role in the politics of the old Western Region, where her late husband served as Premier. She was by every standard, the woman behind her successful husband, especially in the alliance formed between the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) that culminated in the formation of the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA). The late sage was in jail then. There was an arrangement that she would contest the elections and if she won, she would step down for her husband in a bye-election. To fulfil her husband’s dream of becoming the President in the Second Republic, she toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning and mobilising women. The late HID coordinated the women’s wing of the party and was always present at all party’s caucuses. Those who knew the late HID intimately described her as goodness personified. To many, she was a caring mother and the woman with conviction, deep enough to weather the storm of life without giving up. Indeed, she was never over-awed in the face of calculated and concerted efforts to destroy whatever her late husband stood for. The late Yeye Oba of Ife stood with her late husband through thick and thin and she never wavered in her support for the good cause her husband stood for. When Chief Awolowo described her as Jewel of his inestimable value, there was general concurrence in the polity that it was a fitting tribute to a woman of courage and solid pedigree. It was to the credit of woman-activist that, 28 years after the demise of her husband, she has been able to hold the

Awo Dynasty together and continued to contribute to the unity and development of the country until Saturday. Her life of total dedication to family values, solid support for her husband and moral chastity cannot but be celebrated. She has been described by many, including her biological children, as a good wife, caring mother and a woman with deep conviction to weather the storms of life without giving up. In fact, the greater part of Awo Dynasty, as represented by the Yeye Oba of Ile-Ife was dedicated to charity and service to humanity, an attribute that made observers to wonder if there was ever any privacy in her life. The life of Mama HID Awolowo is worthy of emulation by the younger generation, especially, those with the intention to make a big success of their matrimony. “The sky cannot be bright all the time. But, with total commitment with unshaken trust in the Lord, success is certain”, that was her usual admonition. The principle sustained her for as long as her late husband faced political persecution. It is on record that the Chief Awolowo did not only face his travails with equanimity but survived them because he had a peaceful and solid home support as the HID held the forte and stood in the gap. For a woman who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly sides of the country in its process of nationhood, the late HID appeared not too happy with the challenges the future holds for the youth of the country. She always expressed concerns on why the society could not empower the youths, who constitute the human wealth and future of the nation. She would not also keep quiet from decrying the menace of child trafficking and the abuse of womenfolk. In his description of her mother, the late Oluwole Awolowo once said: “If you study any aspect of Mama’s life, whether as a wife, a businesswoman, a politician and above all, a mother, you will find in it a noble lesson worthy of love and complete admiration to all and sundry. One thing about Mama is the inability of any of her children to know her favourite amongst them is. “If you ask any of us, he or she would think he or she is the best loved by her. But, at the end of the day, one would discover that she is not only kind-hearted, but a very strict disciplinarian and fair mother to not only her children, but those who happen to cross her path.” Dr Olatokunbo AwolowoDosumu, had this to say about her mother, who doubled as a role model any child would desire to have. She said “My mother is gentle but highly industrious. She looks after the home front, yet was able to contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the family.”

• All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, speaking at the Awolowo’s Ikenne home...yesterday. With him are: Ogun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga (second left); wife of Ogun State Governor’s wife, Olufunso Amosun and an APC chieftain, Senator Anthony Adefuye.

•Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba... yesterday

Buhari’s wife: a great woman is gone

HE wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has described the late Awolowo’s wife, Hannah Idowu as “a remarkable mother, wife and a fountain of inspiration”. Mrs Buhari, who was paying a tribute to the late Mrs Awolowo in the course of a visit to the deceased’s grand daughter, Mrs Dolapo Yemi Osinbajo, the wife of the Vice President, said it was “impossible to recall Chief Awolowo’s impressive political record and contributions to our democratic development without recognising the significant role the late Hanna Idowu played in his successes in life.” At 99, the wife of the President said the late Mrs Awolowo had lived a fulfilled life, and left indelible footprints on the sands of time. She extended her condolences to the family, the government and people of Ogun State over the death of what she described as “an extraordinary woman that deserves extraordinary accolades”. The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, also joined other Nigerians to mourn the death of Mama Awolowo, saying that the matriarch of the Awolowo family lived a fulfilled life. She was an upright Nigerian with an impeccable and immaculate character, worthy of emulation, the VC remarked in a statement by the University ‘s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo. Quoting the words of Victor Hugo, the VC said “It is nothing to die, it is frightful not to live”; for Mama Awolowo, she came, she fought and she conquered. Prof. Adewole said she has lived and done her best, “she is irreplaceable. She will forever live on in our memories.” “On behalf of council, senate, congregation, management, staff and students of the University of Ibadan, “ we commiserate with the Awolowo family and Nigerians. We pray that her gentle and tender soul rests in perfect peace. Indeed a gem has gone to be with the Lord”, the VC said.

The immediate past Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji described the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty as a rare breed among women. Ikuforiji stated this in a in a condolence message on the death of Mama to the Awolowo family yesterday. According to the former speaker, Mama was “ a rare breed among women and an uncommon heroine that would forever remain a huge symbol of stability on the home front”. He added: “With more women like Mama Awolowo in Afica, there is no doubt that the era of large scale divorce in many homes today will be a thing of the past .” Ikuforiji stated further that “as our dear Mama Hannah Dideolu Awolowo finally departs this planet to join our hero and late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo , in glory, It is very important for us all to note that Mama’s life is that of celebration, and not mourning. “For an uncommon woman of her calibre to have given her all to Papa Awolowo through thick and thin, and stand firmly behind her husband while implementing earth-shaking revolutionary socioeconomic and human development programmes for his people in the defunct Western region of Nigeria, thus liberating them from poverty, lack, and deprivation for life, now is the time to celebrate her for all her good works and her uncommon love for her husband, and humanity while she was with us. “ He stated that it is very important to teach the young ones, particularly the female folks, that they should embrace the rare virtues of love, trust, and perseverance in order to enjoy a blissful marital life like the late Mama Awolowo. He prayed for “the peaceful repose of the great soul of this uncommon heroine of love and trust who stood firmly behind her husband, through good and bad times, to enable him actualize his dreams and aspiration for his people .

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS H.I.D. AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

life well-lived • Prof Soyinka and the late Mrs Awolowo during one of his visits to her in Ikenne.

Atiku, Fayemi, Soyinka, Peterside mourn Mama

F • APC National spokesman Lai Mohammed... yesterday.

•Former SGF Babagana Kingibe... yesterday

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo...yesterday.

• Sir Olaniwun Ajayi... yesterday

‘

Much as we would have loved to keep Mama Awolowo with us permanently so as to keep drinking from her wealth of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, the Almighty God, however, decreed it long ago, at the beginning of creation, that every human being He created must live and die at one time or the other

‘

“Much as we would have loved to keep Mama Awolowo with us permanently so as to keep drinking from her wealth of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, the Almighty God however decreed it long ago, at the beginning of creation, that every human being that he created must live and die at one time or the other. So, that makes it impossible for us to want to keep a precious jewel of Mama’s calibre for ever with us. Our joy is however in the fact that she lived up to the very ripe age of one hundred, which we would have all celebrated with her , had Mama waited for some

•Mrs Buhari

more sixty-seven days before closing her eyes.. “ Ikuforiji asserted . “I therefore, on behalf of my entire family, commiserate with the entire members of our Papa Obafemi Awolowo, the good people of Ikenne, indigenes of Ogun State, and indeed all Yoruba sons and daughters, both at home and abroad. on this sad occasion of the loss of Mama H.I.D. Awolowo. May the Almighty God grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Ikuforiji prayed

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside have described the late H.I.D. Awolowo as ‘epitome of honesty’. Atiku, Fayemi and Peterside, in statements yesterday, said the late Mrs Awolowo would be missed. Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka also mourned the late Mrs Awolowo. In a statement, he said: “An Era recedes. As solace, it leaves in its wake a treasured privilege for those who knew her, who experienced her indomitable spirit at first hand, and drank from her depthless fount of family embrace.” Atiku, who shares November 25th birthday with the deceased matriarch of the Awolowo family, said he was already looking forward to celebrating her centenary birthday. In a statement by his media office, he eulogised the departed YeyeOba Adimula of Yorubaland and ageless national icon. He said: “Mama HID (Awolowo) was mother to all and an epitome of honesty, integrity and dignity. She was a rare gem, a symbol of fineness and firmness, a woman of substantial depth on all matters, a devout and dedicated Christian, a successful business tycoon, a faithful and committed wife, and indeed a case-study for current generation of women leaders and those yet unborn.” The former Vice President, who is also the Aare Adimula of the Source, described the grandmother of Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), as “an embodiment of primordial and contemporary history, symbol of traditional norms and virtues, a fashionista of repute and stickler to discipline and transparency; whose indelible imprints on the sands of time would be hard to erase.” Atiku urged wives of leaders and aspiring female politicians to imbibe and emulate the legacies of endurance, patience, honesty, integrity and dignity that Mama Awolowo, “jewel of inestimable value”, bequeathed to the nation, and the world at large, in the course of her century-old sojourn on earth. “I am deeply saddened and immensely touched to lose a mother, birthday mate, generous adviser and matriarchal legend, but glad that I had the privilege to drink from her fountain of abundant wisdom and knowledge.” Fayemi commiserated with the family of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; the government and people of Ogun State and the Yoruba race on the demise of Mama Awolowo. Fayemi described the death of the late matriarch as a glorious end to a remarkable life devoted to the service of humanity. Describing Mama H.I.D Awolowo as a woman of remarkable grace, bravery and strength of character, the former Ekiti State Governor said the late matriarch remained a shining example of loyalty and devotion. Fayemi recalled the crucial roles played by the late Mrs Awolowo in providing the right support for the late sage during the period of his political activities and keeping the family together after Awo’s passage as well as working tirelessly for the unity and progress of the Yoruba race. He also recalled his many encounters with the late matriarch whom he described as a woman of immense grace who had and demonstrated great passion for the unity and wellness of the Yoruba in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Fayemi said: “In all, mama put in her very best and remained for us all a shinning example in leadership, courage and loyalty. Mama’s peaceful passage barely two months to her 100th birthday celebration after a fulfilled life, remains a cause for celebration.” “While mama would be missed for her wisdom, candour and as the conscience and custodian of the Awolowo dynasty, the fact that she lived a good life, impacted many lives and left a legacy of honour are sufficient reasons to celebrate rather than mourn her passage. “On behalf of my family, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the Awolowo family, the people of Ogun state and Nigerians on the passage of this great woman.” Peterside described Awolowo as a great woman of substance said Nigeria will miss her interventions and wise counsel. His words: “Among the wives of First Republic politicians, HID was without any doubt, one of the most visible and outstanding women of that glorious era. The sage himself captured her real essence when he fondly described her as ‘My Jewel of Inestimable value’. That apt description, over the years, gave a hint on her real meaning, not just to the Awolowo family, friends and admirers, but to the entire nation. “A great Iroko has indeed fallen but like every mortal, she must travel this path. She will be remembered for her resourcefulness and carriage, and for being the pillar behind the great Awo. “Without HID, it is very doubtful if Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have become that enigmatic and successful politician who bestrode our nation’s political space for many decades. “HID, like Chief Awolowo, will never die. Surely, she will live forever, particularly in the minds of those who benefitted from her husband’s vision in human capital development. “She will be greatly missed. And for the living, particularly those in public office, we must all draw from her example of service, consistency and commitment to great ideals. May her soul rest in peace.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS H.I.D. AWOLOWO (1915-2015) ‘An ambassador of peace’

Lagos Speaker, Makinde shocked

From Tayo Johnson,

Ibadan

THE leader, Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee and the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan has described the late Mrs. Awolowo as “an ambassador and mother of the nation”. He recalled how his committee was set up at “mama’s instance” in Ikenne to unite Yoruba obas. “Mama was a symbol of peace and I pray to God to grant her family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Ahmed: a national loss KWARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has described the death of Chief HID Awolowo as a national loss. Ahmed, in a condolence message, commiserated with the Awolowo family, Ogun State government and Nigerians. The governor said the late Chief HID Awolowo would be missed by Nigeria, especially now that Nigeria was charting a new moral value. He prayed God to give the family, the Ogun State government and Nigerians the fortitude to cope with the loss.

Ebonyi mourns EBONYI State Governor Dave Umahi has commiserated with the Awolowo family. In a statement, he said: “No doubt, her passage is demoralising because it took place only 61 days to November 25,when the world would have joined her family to celebrate her 100th birthday. “We must, however, give glory to God because He gave her the ability to live a worthy life. “It is a known fact that Mama, even in her old age, was a rallying point not only in Southwest politics but across the nation. “Her husband and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, once described mama as his “jewel of inestimable value” but I state here that Nigeria has lost that same jewel that Chief Awolowo left for us.”

Tambuwal, Oshiomhole, Fashola, Orji mourn ‘nation’s mum’ OKOTO State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has described the death of Mama Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo as a great loss. In a statement, Tambuwal described the matriarch of the Awolowo family as a unique human being whose virtuosity, influence and charisma will be sorely missed. The governor urged the Federal Government to immortalise her. His Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole, described Mrs. Awolowo as an avatar and a “pillar of Christian propriety and fountain

of humanism, who was always eager to dispense goodwill to all”. Oshiomhole said: “The Awolowo family and the people of Ogun State have lost a good woman, the towering figure who stood strong behind her children. “Mama H.I.D was a pillar of Christian propriety and fountain of humanism, always eager to dispense goodwill to all who came to her. “Although Mama was advanced in age, we appreciate the depth of the grief of her children and family, knowing how affectionately close and tightly-knitted the family is.

Our hearts are with the family at this difficult period.” Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said “the nation’s mother has translated to immortality”. “I condole with with the Awolowo family at this moment of physical separation and bereavement. “No words will suffice to describe how sorely mama will be missed. But I am confident that the memory of mama’s legacy, her national service without a title, and the pride of her life’s work will build bridges of comfort for the family,” he stated.

Osun APC, Adeleke pay tribute

A colossus of her time, says APC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Mrs. Hannah Dideolu Awolowo as a colossus of her time, who will always be remembered for good. In a statement in Ikenne yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Mrs. Awolowo was an ideal wife, a great mother and indeed a jewel of inestimable value, as her husband once fondly described her. ‘’While we understand that death is inevitable, there are

times that we secretly wish that our loved and great ones would live forever. “Mama gave us reasons for such a secret wish, with her sterling personal and public life that made her a strong pillar behind one of the country’s foremost nationalists,’’ it said. APC commiserated with the Awolowo family and prayed that God will take Mama into his bosom and also give all those she left behind the strength to carry on without her. The party said the best

tribute that can be paid to Mrs. Awolowo is for the new generation of Nigerian women to emulate her love of family and nation, life of industry, selflessness as well as a strong and abiding faith in God, all attributes that served her well and made her a colossus among men and women. The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said Mrs. Awolowo’s value was even

Dickson, UI VC condole with family

We’ve lost a great soul, says Afenifere HE Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, yesterday described Mrs. Awolowo’s death as a great loss to the Yoruba nation. It said a gem like her would be too difficult to replace. Its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in a statement in Akure yesterday said the nation has lost a great soul, who dedicated her life to the development of the nation, especially the Western Region. He said the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty stood by her husband, adding that she remained the pillar of the family after her husband’s death.

PEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa has described Mrs. Awolowo’s death as a colossal loss. “I was shocked when I learnt of the news. •Lagos “Personally, despite the fact State Governor that Mama died at a very ripe Akinwunmi age, we will still miss her and Ambode the Nigerian federation will signing the miss her because this is the condolence moment her words of wisregister at dom, advice and motherly Ikenne ...yesterday role is most critically needed to contribute to the growth of our democracy which her great husband with her by his side, lived and died for,” he said. The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said death is unavoidable chapter of human life. He said: “Those who read Chief Awolowo’s many books will discover that mama played active roles in baba’s many political adventures. And was a strong pillar of support which culminated in being described as jewel of The senator representing inestimable value. “ Abia Central Senatorial Zone, Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, said: “I had looked forward to her 100th birthday in November which would have been announced with pomp From Adesoji Adeniyi, and pageantry. Osogbo “I had known Mama over the years as a woman dediHE All Progressives cated to her husband. She was Congress (APC) in in a class of her own. Always Osun State said Mrs. working in the background, Awolowo influenced women exhibiting the real meaning of and continued to affect famithe virtuous woman King lies by her lifestyle and attainSolomon spoke about in Prov- ment. erbs 31. According to a statement by “She was kind to all she came its Chairman, Prince Gboyega across and was never known Famodun, Mama HID to discriminate; rather she Awolowo was a combination of treated everyone equally.” models in a single individual. “The most outstanding of these models that she represented was her absolute loymade more glaring in the way alty to husband and family.” The first civilian governor of and manner she provided leadership to the personal and Osun State, Senator Isiaka political families of the Adeleke, described the late Awolowos in the last 28 years matriarch as the political of the demise of the great mother of Nigeria. In a tribute by his media adsage. “Mrs. Awolowo was a viser, Olumide Lawal, the woman of peace, whose sense senator representing Osun of service, kindness, humil- West, added that Mama HID ity and piety, despite her Awolowo was a fountain of towering attainments in busi- knowledge, whose wealth of ness and political leadership, invaluable experience, would remained a source of inspira- be greatly missed across the tion to the younger genera- world. tion of Nigerian leaders.”

•ACF: a vacuum created From Damisi Ojo,Akure and Blessing Olaifa, Kaduna

In its tribute, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said Mrs Awolowo’s death has created a vacuum not only in the Yoruba race but the entire nation. Its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, lauded her for her statesmanship and motherly concern for the unity and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians. The ACF noted that since the death of her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1987, “Mama has been the rallying point of the Yoruba”.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State said a glorious chapter has been closed in a progressive family that impacted positively on the lives of many Nigerians. The party said Mama Awolowo lived a fruitful life that would remain indelible in the nation’s history. In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said Mama Awolowo complemented her husband’s progressive ideals and left remarkable footprints on the Nigerian polity.

•Dickson

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson, has described Mrs Awolowo’s death as unfortunate, noting that, she passed on at a time, she was just getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday. “On behalf of the Government and good people of Bayelsa

State, I, sincerely, commiserate with the immediate and extended families on the death of Mama, who was the matriarch of the great Awolowo family. It is unfortunate that Mama died at a time when she was just getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday”. The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, said she was an upright Nigerian with an impeccable and immaculate character, worthy of emulation. Quoting the words of Victor Hugo, the VC said: “It is nothing to die, it is frightful not to live”; for Mama Awolowo, she came, she fought and she conquered. Prof. Adewole said she has

lived and done her best, “she is irreplaceable. She will forever live on in our memories.” The National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has said Nigeria has lost a role model. In a statement in Kaduna, its Secretary General, Comrade Issa Aremu, said: "Mama HID Awolowo lived to the end on her sweat and hard work NOT on corruption and stolen public wealth. "Both Mama and Papa Awolowo respected dignity of labour for Nigeria, Africa and humanity. Africa has indeed lost a role model for womenhood, family, humility, hard work and love of "inestimable value".

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS Buhari’s wife advises healthworkers

How to end terrorism, corruption, by AIG Ogunsakin

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

SSISTANT InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Zone 12 in Bauchi Tunde Ogunsakin has said proper enforcement of laws will checkmate terrorism and corruption. Ogunsakin, according to a statement, spoke at the 33rd International Symposium on Economic Crime at the Jesus College, University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The police chief, who delivered a paper, titled: “Compliance versus Organised Crime and Terror,” said the act of terrorism had become a common phenomenon. He said: “In Nigeria, terrorism has become rampant and taken a major toll. Communal living in Nigeria frowns on organised crimes, such as terrorism, oil bunkering, money laundering and others. “This cannot be totally divulged from the impact of globalisation that has taken a centre stage in interstate re-

From left: Justice Igbetar, Justice Ngwuta, Ogunsakin, Justice Ariwoola and Israel Ibeleme at the conference. By Olukorede Yishau

lationship globally. The effect and impact of organised crimes in Nigeria is enormous. It affects the development of the country and discourages investment, particularly in the area of insecurity, Organised Crimes had eroded the people’s conscience .” Ogunsakin noted that terrorism constituted an infringement and intentional deprivation of the citizens’ right to life as enshrined in Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. “They wreck severe havoc on human and material resources. The courts must be able to fast track trials to de-

liver judgments early enough in order to act as deterrent to others. There are trials that have been on for over two years that till date there is no judgment, yet matters of this sort are not supposed to be allowed to linger before judgement is delivered”, AIG Ogunsakin said. He said the approach of the police in tackling organised crimes and terrorism has shifted the emphasis from reactive policing strategies to intelligence-led policing strategy. “The approach has enhanced our investigative and prosecutorial competence, sharpen our operational competence to fashion a professional synergy with other compo-

nents of the Joint Task Force and to explore the best international practice towards management of internal security challenges of the nature posed by organised crime and terrorism. “Our conviction is that it is only when these initiatives are fully optimised that the professional ability of the police to attain its counter-terrorism mandate within the rule and within international best practice can be guaranteed.” He sought greater cooperation for the police in terms of skill acquisition, training and technicalities. “For us to achieve this goal in the most professional manner, operatives must constant-

ly be exposed to the highest level of training to grapple with the dynamics of the intelligence world.This is expedient because intelligence-gathering is an intellectually-demanding and technology-driven venture, which demands constant training and re-training.” The event was chaired by Mr. Robert Rhodes (Queens Counsel), Outer Temple Chambers, Recorder of the Crown Court of England and Wales and Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple, UK. Nigerian delegates in attendance, included Supreme Court Justices; Olu Ariwoola and Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, among others.

Bad construction practises cause building collapse HE former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Guillaume Roux, has said the company will hit 16 million metric tonnes of cement production by 2020. The company produces 11 million metric tonnes. Roux spoke at the farewell party organised for him at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday. He said the company grew under his leadership, making inroad into South Africa and other parts of the world. Roux said efforts were being made to resuscitate its ailing plants, stressing that the blue chip company was working hard to ensure that building collapse is reduced. He said: We are working on our cement plants in Calabar, Ashaka, with their turnout; Lafarge is expected to hit

By Musa Odoshimokhe

14 million metric tonnes. I am sure that by 2017/2018, we will hit the 14 million metric tonnes. I believe by the end of 2020, we would have doubled our capacity and I think we would reach 16 million metric tonnes by the level of progress we are making. “We are present here in the Southwest, the Southeast and northern Nigeria, working to meet up with the demands of the market.” The former CEO of Lafarge explained that West Africa Portland Cement Company (WAPCO) transformed to Lafarge Africa Plc under his leadership. “During my tenure, we transformed WAPCO and transferred it to South Africa. We put together all our resources and with our resource in South Africa, we would reach the 16 million

•Lafarge cement to hit 16m tonnes The cause of building collapse is because of bad practises in the construction itself. This is why we are coming up with civil engineers and all the actors who can manage the situation properly metric tonnes in 2020. “With the combination of Lafarge South Africa, we are No. 6 on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. This is really a blue chip for Nigeria. This combination, transformation had been hailed. We are one of the major actors in the corporate

world in 2015. He added that Lafarge was not relenting in its effort to build a safe and better society, noting that it was imperative to checkmate the activities of incompetent builders all over the world. “I have had much experience in countries, which have suffered earthquakes and where questions were raised about building collapse around the world. “The cause of building collapse is because of bad practises in the construction itself. This is why we are coming up with civil engineers and all the actors who can manage the situation properly. “We want to put them in place to guarantee good work through proper supervision. There must be proper supervision of the work site. We are promoting good working eth-

ic for civil engineers, to educate the population and anybody on the street who want to have a house. “They must understand that they have to work with qualified engineers, building contractors and if they do that the house will stand. “We have arrays of product in the country; we have products for tall buildings, high rise edifice and for individual homes. We want to develop already-made concrete, the more people use already-made concrete, the quality of building will be guaranteed,” he said. Roux said he had a good team, which assisted him to accomplish the objectives of the company. “The most important thing for me is to make sure that we continue to make Lafarge one of the best in the world. I am proud to say that I have a fantastic team here.”

Saraki’s associate urges court to stop arrest

HE Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to show cause why it should not be restrained from arresting Managing Director of Carlisle Properties, Mr. Kennedy Izuagbe. Justice Mohammed Yunusa directed that the status quo be maintained until the commission appeared in court on October 12. EFCC, last Thursday, declared Izuagbe, who manages Senate President Bukola Saraki’s property company, wanted. Izuagbe is wanted for alleged N3.6 billion money

•Court orders status quo maintained By Joseph Jibueze

laundering. He was alleged to have conspired with others to launder the money as the managing director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank. EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren said the 45-year-old banker was declared wanted because he could not be reached by the anti-graft agency. But in an ex parte application, the applicant’s lawyer Efot Okoi prayed the court to stop the EFCC as well as its Director of Operation, Olaolu Adegbite, from further un-

lawful harassment and intimidation of Izuagbe and the firm’s directors. The lawyer said Izuagbe’s intimidation was unconstitutional, null and void and a gross violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed by sections 34, 35 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution. Okoi argued that until the hearing/determination of the motion on notice, the EFCC and its agents should be restrained from intimidating Izuagbe and Carlisle Properties. He also asked the court to stop the commission from car-

rying out any unlawful arrest and detention of the applicants, their agents and associates. The lawyer prayed for an order setting aside an invitation from EFCC to Izuagbe and Carlisle Properties pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. According to him, Izuagbe was only head of Internal Control at the SGBN and was never directly involved in loan approval. Justice Yunusa, in his ruling on the ex-parte application, ordered that the status quo be maintained. He said EFCC should be put on notice.

WIFE of the President Hajiya Aisha Buhari has urged health workers to ensure accountability in the sector. Speaking while distributing fortified milk to pregnant women and lactating mothers in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, she said they should be ready to face the law if they did otherwise. Represented by the wife of the Kebbi State governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu, she said while commodities often come into the country for the needy, some are commonly found in the open market indicating leaks in the health storage system. Presenting the items to over 2,000 women at the Sir Yahaya General Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Bagudu said the gesture was a contribution towards improving the nutritional status of women in order to ensure healthier children and better pregnancy outcomes. The wife of the governor earlier in the week visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Makera housing victims of the flood disaster in Kebbi State and distributed milk, food and clothes. Over 700 people, including women and children, were displaced by the flood. Mrs Buhari unveiled her project, the Aisha Buhari health initiative for women and children, a few days ago.

Entry opens for Etisalat Prize for Literature today SUBMISSION of entries for the 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature Flash Fiction Category will open from today till October 19. The flash fiction category of the annual Etisalat Prize for Literature is designed to celebrate unpublished writers across the African continent and challenge budding writers to create compelling stories. The prize is open to all unpublished writers of African citizenship but resident anywhere in the world. All entries must be submitted online via the Etisalat Nigeria website, http:/ /prize.etisalat.com.ng/ flash/ and should not exceed 300 words.

‘Buhari’s war against corruption must be total’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

ORMER Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs Senator Domingo Alaba Obende yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption should be all-embracing. He said for the battle to be meaningful, no corrupt individual should be spared. Obende insisted that Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion, should support Buhari to succeed in his crusade to purge the country of corruption. The senator, who spoke after he was honoured with the African Achievers Award in Abuja, urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to perish the idea that it would win Edo State in the next governorship election. He said: “For me, whether it is APC, PDP or anybody, irrespective of your religion, as long as you are corrupt, the person should be brought to book. I do not see the President having a different body language.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS State burial likely for HID Continued from page 1

•From left: Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Chairman, Island Club, Mr. Oladipo Opeseyi and Chairman of occasion, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade at the Island Club Public Interest symposium at Island Club, Lagos yesterday. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Catholic Bishops: bring looters of treasury to justice

UBLIC officials genuinely identified to have looted the treasury must be brought to justice, Catholic bishops said at the weekend. According to them, Nigerians must transcend ethnic, religious and regional affiliations and sentiment to guarantee sustainable success in the fight against corruption. The bishops said Nigerians, who are found to have “either stolen or recklessly used the national wealth, must be compelled to make comprehensive restitution”. They spoke under the umbrella of the Catholic Bishops

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in a communiqué after their second plenary meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The conference ended at the weekend with the communiqué signed by the CBCN President, The Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, and the Secretary, Most Rev. William Avenya. It was made available yesterday in Ado Ekiti by the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, the Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye. The bishops also advocated

for a drastic reduction in the cost of governance to address the massive poverty in the land and make government more responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians. The bishops urged Nigerians to eschew personal interest, political vendetta and bitterness in the fight against corruption. They described as a welcome development the government’s determination to make the fight against corruption and insurgency central to its programme. “We affirm that the war

against corruption is not just a battle for virtue and righteousness in our land but a fight for the soul and substance of our nation. ”This is a collective responsibility that requires our collective efforts. All Nigerians should be part of this struggle, which ought to be carried out at all levels, in order that we may recover our wasted opportunities. “Those with the mandate to facilitate this process should be guided by a true sense of justice and act in accordance with the rule of law,” the bishops said.

Boko Haram desperate, says army after explosions

HERE were multiple blasts in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital last

night. Boko Haram terrorists were believed to have struck a mosque and the area outside the building, according to witnesses. A statement by Army’s acting Director of Information Col.Sani Usman said: “This is to inform the public that there were three improvised explosive devices explosions at Gomari and Ajilari general area in Maiduguri at about 7.21pm today evening. “Although details are not clear, it is important to note the attacks signify high level of

•‘Troops haven’t defeated us’ desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists. “Security personnel and emergency management teams have been drafted to the area and appropriate security measures being taken. “We would like to state that the Nigerian military would not be deterred in its determined efforts of defeating Boko Haram terrorists in the shortest possible time. “We would like to assure the public also that now the terrorists have shown their ugly presence in such areas, there is need for more vigilance, security consciousness and

prompt reporting of suspicious persons or group of persons in their midst. This would enable the security take appropriate measures against them. “It will be recalled that their previous attempts to attack and blow up Allau dam was thwarted” Boko Haram yesterday denied claims by the authorities of winning the six-year war against insurgency after the army said it was pushing “for the final defeat” of the militants. “We are still at battle ground,” Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the terrorist group

was quoted to have said in an audio recording posted on YouTube. It could not be immediately verified. Shekau’s status has been hazy for a long time with claims and counterclaims on whether he is dead or alive. It is believed in security quarters that he may have died and that some sect members are impersonating him. Besides, the fact that yesterday’s message was relayed on an audio rather than video, which he had always used, is another pointer to the fact that all is not well with Shekau. Comments by the military are “propaganda” and “lies”, Continued on page 7

Awo’s death on Saturday, he called the family of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to commiserate with them. Besides, his office wrote a condolence letter. The late Chief Awolowo was the grandmother of Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the vice president’s wife Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described the late Mrs Awolowo as “an institution in her own right” and “a model of motherhood”. He said to the Osinbajos that the late Chief Awolowo was one of the greatest women political icons in Africa who was revered for her remarkable virtues. Buhari also noted that her shinning virtues as “a great mother, wife and motivator”, would live after her. The President’s delegation, which met the Vice President and other members of the Awolowo family at Ikenne, was led by Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olanishakin and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Morgan Monday.

The delegation extended his condolences to the family, the government and people of Ogun State over the death of Mrs. Awolowo. The SGF said the President was willing to give a beffiting state burial to HID if the family permitted. He said: “I was with the President when the Vice President broke the news of our mother’s transition and you could see from the President’s contenance that he was disturbed. “ As believers, we believe death is the beginning of good things to come and we are consoled by the fact that we know our mother, our grandmother, our great grand mother, our sister, our aunt, etc. has gone to be with the Lord. “Therefore, having reached a ripe age, we only can celebrate and thank God for her life, we are not supposed to mourn. However we know death, no matter how old you are, is a thing of sorrow not of joy because nobody would want to lose a loved one. “We have this to say that Mama had lived a fulfilled life. Mama fulfilled the saying that ‘behind a successful man, there is a successful, strong, courageous and bold woman’, I think Mama was that. Mama lived an exemplary life for the Yoruba people and Nigeria. “Our regret in government is that Mama did not live long Continued on page 7

Who said what in Ikenne...yesterday Osinbajo “We are in mourning and at the same time in celebration of the life of a woman who stood all her life for the unity of this nation. “I think that one of the great things that has been said about her was her great love for people. “She had a personal relationship with practically everybody, those who were her family members and those who were not. “Mama was always a very caring, devoted and loving mother. She was a woman with so much fortitude, such strength of character and everything that you know about her. “I pray that with her passage, all will be well with each and every one of us,” Osinbajo said. “She lived for this nation, everyday of her life, she want-

ed to see a great nation and I know that she had begun to see that great nation. “The evolution of this nation in the past years had shown that we were on the right path and would get to our deserved destination. “I believe that her memory would best be served by the kind of nation we would want to see – a united nation,’’ Tinubu Mama HID Awolowo was a “heroine” and a “great mother” who would be “missed by Nigerians.” She was a “nationalist and shining example of womanhood.” “Just yesterday, we heard of Mama’s departure, all of us were looking forward to her centenary celebration on this earth, but the celebration was fast forwarded. “Human can plan but God Continued on page 7

Buhari: I’ve nothing to do with Saraki’s ordeal Continued from page 1

is purely a judicial process and has nothing to do with the Presidency. “If anyone has an axe to grind with what they are doing, they should do it in a judicial manner by challenging those actions in a proper court of law. “Let them hire a good team of lawyers to prove their innocence. Government has no desire to persecute anybody.” Shehu said the President had vowed to respect the rule of law and that is what he is doing by staying out of the matter. According to him, Buhari has said many times that the war against corruption has no sacred cows. He said: “Even if the President wants to help, there is no way he can do anything. Is he going to ask the judge to stop the trial?” “It is purely a judicial pro-

Senator: let CCB publish assets of public officials

ENATOR Shehu Sani has urged the CCB to publish all declarations made by public office holders since 1999. The civil rights activist, in a Facebook post, said doing so would allow the public to form ‘transparency vigilante groups’ who would verify claims made cess, the type of which is routinely dealt with by the CCB and the CCT. There are many cases like this that are going on. “The President has sworn to an oath to protect the Constitution and will not violate that oath.” Saraki will most likely appear before the tribunal today. Also, the Chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, has banned visitors from his home and restricted his movement to stave off pressure. He has also shut his

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

by public office holders. He called on Nigerians to demand full disclosure from the CCB. But the constitution does not compel the CCB to make public assets of public officials. “The masses deserve to know the ma-

mobile phone. It was learnt that despite his notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Saraki has offered to show his respect for the Judiciary by going to the tribunal. Saraki’s decision followed a pledge by his counsel, Mr. Joseph B. Daudu (SAN), a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, that his client will be in court today. He made the pledge on Friday before Justice Umar issued a bench warrant for the Senate President’s arrest.

terial worth of all their elected and appointed public office holders. Every public office holder must come to equity with clean or at least not dirty hand. “PMB, by his public declaration, has set a high moral standard that must be abided by those who particularly lay claim to the change agenda.”

A top source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The President of the Senate has chosen to appear before the CCT to demonstrate his deference to the Judiciary. “He said he has been an apostle of the Rule of Law and due process and would stick to his commitment to these ideals. “This decision may make the tribunal to stay action on the issuance of a bench warrant. “Basically, a formal arraignment of the President of the

Senate will be made and the tribunal will hear the subsisting application for bail, which was already filed by Saraki’s counsel. “The appearance is just symbolic to start the commencement of the trial, it is not an end in itself.” Justice Umar has banned visitors from his home to stave off pressure. “There has been pressure on the chairman and members of the tribunal. This is why the judge has banned visitors from his house and he also shut

down all his phone lines,” a source said, adding: “Umar has restricted his movement since Friday to ward off any influence. He is only out to dispense justice without fear or favour. “Without any pronouncement, the judge is already being attacked by some people or groups in the media for no just cause. They want to intimidate him.” The Senate President got the support yesterday of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), which described his travails as “purely politically-motivated.” Speaking on last week’s visit of the body to Senator Saraki in Abuja, IEDPU National Continued on page 7

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS Boko Haram desperate, says army after explosions Continued from page 6

Shekau said in Hausa, dismissing claims that the group would be flushed out before the end of the year as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari. The military could not be reached for comments. Text messages sent to both the army spokesman and the acting Director of of Defence Information were not replied. They also did not pick calls. President Buhari has ordered the military to end the insurgency in three months.

”Buhari said he is going to finish with us in three months. You did not finish with us; there is a lot more to do, you Nigerians, you Chadians, you Cameroonians,” Shekau said in the audio recording. The latest attack by the group was staged in Cameroon at the weekend.Two young suicide bombers killed three people in far north Cameroon yesterday.. The youths set off their suicide belts in the town of Mora as a police officer became suspicious of their appearance and approached to question them,

a security source said. “The toll is five dead, including two civilians, a police inspector and the two suicide bombers,” a security source at the scene told AFP. A separate source close to regional security forces confirmed the toll and said the attackers, who aimed to target the town’s market, were a “young girl and a young boy”, without giving any more details. “If they had succeeded in their plan, the toll would have been terrible,” the second source added.

The military has started reopening some of the schools closed for the past two years in Borno State. Troops reopened a public school in Gwoza on Saturday. Military spokesperson Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said schools were being reopened. Troops continue to recapture territory from the insurgents. The UN children’s agency said at least 1.4 million children are displaced by Boko Haram’s uprising.

State burial likely for HID Continued from page 6

enough to see the transformation that this country will undergo with the active participation of her son-in-law, with the active participation of grand daughter, so, this is something that saddens us. Chief Awolowo died at 99. Apart from the presidential delegation, governors, former governors, former public office holders and elder statesmen visited the Awolowos. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose wife is a granddaughter of the late Chief Awolowo was on hand to join the children and grandchildren to receive visitors. Chief (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and Dr. Mrs Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, her two surviving children, were joined by grandchildren to host visitors. Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) were in attendance.

There were also All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and elder statesmen Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Olaniwun Ajayi. Also there were Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Ogun Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Ali, Senators Iyiola Omisore, Biyi Durojaiye , Anthony Adefuye and Adegbenga Kaka and Mr Dapo Abiodun among others. They all signed the condolence register. A short service was held in the Family Chapel in honour of the late matriarch. The service was conducted by ý Ven. Emmanuel Adegbuyi and officiating ministers from the Diocese of Remo, Anglican Communion. A minute silence was also observed in her honour during the service. Describing how her mother died in her arms, Awolowo-

Dosunmu told reporters that the late business woman was devoted to God until her last breath. Awolowo-Dosunmu, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Holland, said that the family was happy about the accolades her late mother received following her passage. She said her mother impacted positively on the lives of both the high and low, promising that her legacy would be kept by the family. “She was in high spirits before she left us and didn’t give us room to suspect the contrary as she kept praying for us. “Whether she had a premonition about her death, we will never know for sure as she kept singing and praising God. It was her voice of prayer that we heard last. “That moment was huge and we are glad to receive her final blessings. Mama eventually breathed her last in my arms,’’ she said. Asked what she would miss most about her mother,

Awolowo-Dosunmu, the last child of the matriarch said, “her wise counsel and motherly care obviously.’’ She expressed sadness that the late Awolowo could not live to mark her centennial birthday scheduled for Nov. 25. “This is very sudden for us. If anyone had told us that Mama would breathe her last yesterday, we would have argued till thy kingdom come. “ I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s gone. I feel very disappointed and wished she had the opportunity to see how much she meant to everyone,’’ she said. Mrs Oyediran gave further insight into her mother’s last moment before she passed away. Mrs Oyediran said Mama requested for pounded yam with vegetable soup for her breakfast which she objected to on the grounds that at her age, she shouldn’t have a heavy meal for breakfast. The daughter added that a light food, pap was prepared and served her as breakfast and thereafter, began to hold series of meeting with them and other relatives in respect of the envisaged Centenary birthday slated for November 25. Mrs Oyediran spoke at the Efunyela Hall at the Awolowo home while briefing the Vice President Tinubu, Governors Aregbesola, Ambode and Ajumobi and others. According to HID’s eldest daugter, at launch time, mama ate pounded yam and vegetable soup before retiring to the bed to observe her siesta but shortly, someone called to notify the family that Mama was having difficulty with breathing. She said: “She passed away in the presence of three generations, her life is big challenge to us, she kept the faith, kept the Nigerian Tribune 27 years after the death of Papa, we are still in a state of shock.”

‘Saraki not planning to dump APC’

ENATE President Bukola Saraki is not in hiding, his media aide Yusuf Olaniyonu said yesterday. He told Premium Times that the senate president was not in hiding but merely travelled to Ilorin to” pray and calm frayed nerves and attend to some engagement,” “How can he be hiding? He will return today (Sunday) to the Guest House to which he moved when a section of his house got burnt some weeks ago. You know he moved to the Guest house before the issue of Code of Conduct arose and so it was not because of the issue that he moved.” “I remain a card-carrying member of my dear party. But I’m also honoured to serve as Senate President of all Senators,” he said in a terse statement on the twitter handle.

Who said what in Ikenne...yesterday Continued from page 6

will act, we lost a heroine of our nation, a great mother, a devout christian, a nationalist and shining example of womanhood. “Some of us will not forget that we drew a lot from her strength, particularly when we were growing up. Mama was a great accountant, in the days of Action Group, each and every one of would have to account for the numbers of sourvenirs, fez caps, handkerchiefs that were collected. “Her memory was intact and one can say her God did not desert her. Nigerians will miss a great woman, I believe it is a time to celebrate one of the icons of womanhood, her commitment to growth and development of Yorubaland and Nigeria. With two years apart with my mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, they followed one another, Nigerians will miss this great woman.” Aregbesola “Some people would say there are political and biological political children of Awo and Mama, but to us, we wish she had lived on and on, but death is the end of living. “Should we mourn her death? I had a feeling of loss, it happened ultimately, but I felt a sense of relief later because it will become a celestial reunion of the Mama and her husband, Papa Obafemi Awoliwo because they stood with each other. Ambode ``We are here to celebrate a woman of honour and not to mourn in whatever capacity," "Papa was born in 1909, mama died yesterday, 19-09. Papa died on a Saturday and Mama also died on a Saturday. "So what you see is a message that mama is trying to pass to us, we are the new generation? of progressives and that message according to the message that was told yesterday, she was actually part of the planning process for the centenary party. She had never attended any of such meetings, yesterday was the first time she attended". "She's telling us that the Yoruba ?nationhood must sit down together and celebrate that nationhood, that's the message". "I just want to plead with us that whatever vision of the progressive Yoruba race that had been envisioned by Papa Awolowo and which mama had tried in her own little way to sustain in those years she lived with us, that's the message papa and mama are passing to us. We must all stand up because of the situation Nigeria had found herself. They stood for nationhood, both of

them stood for Nigeria". Ajimobi “A princess has died. This woman undoubtedly, is the matriarch of the Yoruba race. She epitomized commitment, womanhood and virtue. She lived an exemplary life.” Akande Chief Akande charged the children - Mrs Omotola Oyediran and Dr Tokunbo Awolowo - Dosunmu, to ensure that the attraction that makes people to always converge on the Ikenne home of the Awolowos are sustained. Fayemi “Mama was mama, unique in her own way, with an indomitable spirit. I remember when her son Oluwole died; she asked whether it was a sin to be old? I understand what she meant by that question but she lived purposeful life in full. “I admired her courage of conviction, resolute and focused, her memory is impeccable, gifted in very many ways and was a woman of conscience.” Jakande HID Awolowo was a wonderful and good woman. I thank God for sparing her life till the end and I advise Nigerians and family members to emulate the legacies she left behind.” Olanihun Ajayi “She is a will go down in history as one of the Yoruba heroine, Remo people can never forget her, she was a pillar in the Anglican Church, the children she sent to school will not forget her. She is a jewel of inestimable value.” Babatope “Mama was an exceptional and a great woman who stood by her husband in times of trials and peace, a staunch member of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) which strive for the unity and growth of Yorubaland,” Babatope said. Mimiko "For us, her death is a celebration actually, we look at her life from political circle and for any politician in Nigeria, the Awolowo family represents the depot option for good governance, for integrity and for confidence. I don't have any doubt in my mind that Mama is with the lord. Papa would not have achieved if he did not have Mama. We thank God for this wonderful union that taught us as politicians what it takes to be good leaders. She provided succour during Papa's tribulations." "Anytime we met her, she was very sharp. She died the way everybody would have loved to pass on. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grand children singing praises to God".

I’ve nothing to do with Saraki’s ordeal Continued from page 6

President Abdulhamid Adi wondered why the Code of Conduct Bureau failed to raise any issue concerning the Senate President’s asset declaration forms since 2003. According to him, the 12year interval to unearth the allegations by the Code of Conduct Bureau and the way the Code of Conduct Tribunal is handling the issue is suspicious. ”I see it more or less a political persecution. It is purely political. Maybe there are some political opponents that are trying to get at him,”he said. Alhaji Adi urged the CCB not to be used to achieve cer-

tain political gain but to do its job without external influence. The IEDPU President, who pointed out that Saraki is the first Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State indigene to clinch the coveted position, expressed solidarity with the Turaki of Ilorin. He said:” We believe he will come out of it. You are presumed innocent until proven otherwise”. Adi added that members of the IEDPU across the country were mobilised in the solidarity visit to the Senate President to present a position paper on issues affecting the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State at large.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS

Lagosians should support Ambode, says Fashola •Ex-Lagos Governor Johnson now church patron

ORMER Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has called for more support for his successor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Fashola said any effort to develop the state would always remain a continuous exercise, adding that successive administrations must continue to make plan adequately for the state’s increasing population. The former governor spoke at the installation of the state’s first Military Governor, Brig-Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), as Baba Ijo (patron) of Salem Evangelical Church of Christ, Ilupeju at the weekend. At the event were first civilian Governor Lateef Jakande and former Military Administrator Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd). Ambode was represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Balogun. Fashola urged residents to support Ambode, saying the task of governing the state was tough and demanding. He said the development model, which had evolved in the last 16 years, was made possible by the foundation laid by past governors and leaders, including Brig-Gen. Johnson. The former governor said: “Lagos has remained the Centre of Excellence as it was desired to be from the beginning. But there remains work to do. And it would take a committee of actions to achieve that work. “We must continue to give our support to the governor, because having been there, I speak from experience; it is a very tough job.”

By Wale Ajetunmobi

“Being there also gives me the experience to know what he (BrigGen. Johnson) did; what Ndubuisi Kanu and Alhaji Jakande did. And what (Bola) Tinubu did. And it remains a continuous one-touch passing moment, because the work of developing Lagos will never finish. It is a work about people’s life and progress…nobody can finish the work. “If the work could be finished, Alhaji Jakande, Brig-Gen. Johnson and Admiral Kanu would have finished everything and there would be nothing for us to do. Unfortunately, it has not ended. Ex-Governor Tinubu couldn’t end it; I couldn’t finish the work and neither will Governor Ambode. The effort continues.” Fashola, who noted that he was four years-old when Brig-Gen. Johnson governed the state, said he laid a solid foundation for the state to prosper. If the foundation laid by previous governors had been faulty, Fashola said Lagos would not have witnessed today’s development. In his sermon, “Shining and Abundant Life”, taken from Matthew 5:16 and John 10:10, the Southwest Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, observed that the desire for material wealth was making Christians lead lives not conforming to the teachings of Christ. He decried the level of corruption in the country, saying it was depressing that some Christians, who were supposed to lead exemplary lives, engage in reprehensible vices, including drug trafficking,

Police armoured vehicle kills two siblings From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

HERE was civil unrest in Ilesa, Osun State, yesterday, following the killing of two siblings by a policeman driving an Armour Personnel Carrier (APC.) It was gathered that the policeman lost control of the APC and rammed into the two kids, who were playing in front of their parents’ house at Egbedi in Ilesa-West Local Government Area. The policeman, who was allegedly drunk, was said to have hit an electric pole before hitting Sade (five) and Anu (three) After the incident, the policeman allegedly escaped. An eyewitness account said some commercial motorcyclists pursued him but could not catch up with him. Angered by the incident, a mob marched on the ‘A’ Division Police Station at Ayeso, where all the police operational vehicles parked in the station were vandalised. The policemen on duty were

said to have fired several tear gas canisters and shot into the air to scare the mob but the mob was not deterred. The distressed father, who returned from the farm to received the sad news, was said to have gone to the police station to report the incident. The father could not even in company of his lawyer secure the release of the bodies, which were still in police custody. Police spokesperson Mrs. Folasade Odoro described the incident as an accident. According to her, the policeman driving the APC lost control and hit an electric pole, which electrocuted the kids. Describing the incident as unfortunate, Mrs. Odoro said all operational vehicles in the station, private cars and police quarters were vandalised by the mob. Appealing to the residents to remain calm, she assured that the matter would be investigated and the culprits punished.

Free train ride in Osun

HE Osun State government has announced arrangements to provide free Eid-el-Kabir train services for its citizens in continuation of its commitment to making life more meaningful for the people. A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, yesterday, said the free train service would be offered between Tuesday and Wednesday. It explained that the train would by 11am on Tuesday and Wednesday, convey people from Lagos to Osogbo. He said the return journey to Lagos will be on Sunday by 11am.

•From left: Mother Captain Y. Ukiri Esho, Rev Ositelu, Brig-Gen Johnson and Bishop Atilade... at the weekend. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

tax evasion, money laundering and public funds embezzlement. Atilade said corrupt officials, irrespective of status and religion, must not be pardoned, but made to “vomit” their loot before seeking people’s forgiveness. He said: “Somebody has said corrupt public officers should be forgiven, I say no way. If corrupt officers are asked to return all they have stolen and given a soft-landing, they would not have learnt anything. “If anyone found to have stolen public funds is made to vomit everything and after that, he is stigmatised by being asked to march on the streets and say ‘I am a repentant thief. I have stolen from this country. Please, forgive me’,

they would truly have a change of heart.” The cleric said the regime of BrigGen. Johnson was corruption-free, adding that the former military governor laid good foundation for Jakande to take off peacefully. Atilade, who described Brig-Gen. Johnson as child of God born into an illustrious family, said the retired general was a good example of a disciplinarian and community leader. Ambode said Brig-Gen. Johnson’s service to the state remained a paradigm of excellence, saying he left a legacy of unblemished records and achievement. The minister-in-charge, Superintendent Apostle Babatunde Odele, said Brig-Gen. Johnson donated

generously to the church, which was why the retired general was honoured. Brig-Gen. Johnson was formally installed and decorated with a garb of honour by Most Reverend Rufus Ositelu. Accepting the title, Brig-Gen. Johnson, who spoke for a few seconds, said he was overwhelmed by the honour and love shown him by the church. Other guests included the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, represented by Eletu Edibo of Lagos, Chief T.A. Gbadesere, Admiral Akin Aduwo (rtd), General C.Y. Ekwensi, Olujimi Jolaoso and Pa Babatunde Johnson, elder brother of Brig-Gen. Johnson, among others.

Ondo tribunal orders parties to file final addresses

HE Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal at the weekend directed parties appearing before it in the Ilaje II petition to file their final written addresses. APC’s petition was filed by its counsel, Charles Titiloye, on behalf of the party and its candidate, Gbenga Edema. The order followed information by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would not be calling any witness and would rest its case on the evidence called by the peti-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tioners and respondents. The petitioners last week subpoenaed the Returning Officer, Dr J.A Adewuyi, who was allegedly forced to declare the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Coker Malachi, winner of the election. His evidence was corroborated by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, who was also subpoenaed to give evidence. The first respondent’s

counsel called four witnesses without calling Malachi, who was earlier listed as one of the witnesses. It was learnt that the decision not to call the PDP candidate, was as a result of fear of cross examination, following his investigation by the police for parading himself as a lawmaker when INEC had not given him a certificate of return. The PDP also closed its case without calling any witness. The tribunal gave the respondents six days to file their final written addresses

while the petitioner is to react within six days. The respondents, it was learnt, could file a reply on points of law to the petitioners’ final address within two days. The matter has been adjourned till October 5, for adoption of final written addresses by all parties. The tribunal thanked the parties for their cooperation towards expeditious hearing of the two petitions ordered to be heard by the new panel through the mandate of the Appeal Court.

PDP accuses APC of plotting to blackmail Fayose

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to blackmail Governor Ayo Fayose on what it called “the struggle for ministerial slot”. The party, in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Jackson Adebayo, claimed the APC members alleged that “an APC group, which believes that its leader has been shortchanged in the screening exercise carried out by the Department of State Security, is attacking other leaders not in their group and blaming the governor for it”. According to the PDP spokesman, the group, which was alleged to have instigated last week’s police invitation of the former Governor of the old Ondo State, Evangelist

•APC: stop ridiculing yourself From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Bamidele Olumilua, had held meetings in Ado Ekiti where further attacks on some of the APC leaders in the state were hatched. Adebayo said it was also at the meetings that it was decided that after the attacks, their media team should go to the press to blame Governor Fayose for it. Adebayo said: “We are constrained to raise this alert now because this is not the first time that the APC will be fomenting trouble and fighting dirty only to blame Governor Fayose or the PDP for it.” But the APC Secretary, Paul Omotoso, advised the ruling party to stop ridiculing itself before the people with infantile statements which stand

‘

It is only a party that lacks idea, a party that is idle and bereft of ideas that will be churning out lies and falsehood and this is a result of their frustration in justifying its stolen mandate.

’

logic on the head. Omotoso said the alleged struggle for ministerial slot only exists in the “wild imagination” of the PDP which he said had been overwhelmed by challenges of governance and is now chasing shadows. He said: “Everybody knows

that the PDP thrives on blackmail and it only accuses opponents of what it is planning to do. The so-called struggle for ministerial appointments only exists in the PDP’s imagination. “The PDP having failed Ekiti people with its shambolic and woeful performance is now resorting to false allegations. The PDP is not concerned with how a minister is nominated in an APC-led government, it has had its time in power and Nigerians know how their ministers plunged Nigeria into a deep mess our party is now clearing. “It is only a party that lacks idea, a party that is idle and bereft of ideas that will be churning out lies and falsehood and this is a result of their frustration in justifying its stolen mandate.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS Democracy sliding under Buhari, says Metuh

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said no amount of blackmail and diversionary tactics by the All Progressives Congress (APC) will deter it from exposing the deliberate agenda, already in motion, by the present administration to destroy the nation’s democracy and impose a dictatorship in the country. The party said by resorting to insults, threats and personal attacks on its leaders, instead of responding to issues of emerging fascism raised by the PDP on Saturday, the APC and the Federal Government further confirm their intolerance, disdain for democracy and frenetic appetite for totalitarianism. PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said Nigerians await answers to issues and would not be hoodwinked by the antics of APC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, whose cleverness in using insults, personal attacks and wild allegations to divert attention is well known. “While we understand the nervousness of Alhaji Lai Mohammed to remain relevant, especially in the face of desperation for an appointment, this administration must come to terms with the fact that democracy requires accountability, adherence to the rule of law and constitutional order, and not the crass infractions, executive arrogance, intolerance and undermining of the legislature; the symbol of the sovereignty of the people, which we now witness under the APC. “The question is, has the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government not exhibited all the trappings of despotism, including ruling without a constitutional component of a cabinet, persistent abuse of power, corrupting of democratic institutions, quest to appropriate the National Assembly, in spite of the principle of separation of powers; invasion of state government and personal houses, injecting confusion into the judiciary and hounding of individuals perceived to be against its interests? “What is APC’s position regarding the anti-democratic statement by the President, who, in an interview, during his visit to France, expressed his reluctance to appoint ministers, in addition to his disparaging allusion to cabinet ministers as noise makers? Does this not smack of totalitarianism? “How else can one explain the relentless interferences in the activities of the National Assembly, a separate and independent arm of government, in addition to the bitterness with which the Presidency and the APC hold the duly elected leadership of the Senate, simply because it is not occupied by their preferred candidates? “If not for a possible ulterior motive of appropriating the federal legislature as a means to undermine its statutory role of checks and balances and set the stage for dictatorship, what other reasons could there be for the current fixation on the leadership of the Senate by the APC and the Presidency? “Nigerians are still waiting for APC, a party which prides itself as a progressive platform, to respond to the widely condemned invasion of AkwaIbom State Government House by the Department of State Services (DSS), under the direct instructions from the Presidency. Is it not part of the plot activat-

ed for possible forceful takeover of PDP states and impose a oneparty administration in Nigeria? “What about the July reprehensible invasion and sealing of Rivers local councils by the federal-controlled Police, who also barred members of caretaker committees that were duly appointed by the state government to take charge of the councils? “In the same vein, how else can one explain the undue interference of the DSS in the activities of election tribunals in PDP controlled states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and others where electoral officers are being harassed, intimidated and detained, ostensibly to influence judgments against the PDP?’’

PDP’s ceaseless accusations a distraction, says APC •Mohammed

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the rash of wild accusations against the APC-led Federal Government has confirmed its earlier statement that the PDP has perfected plans to distract the Buhari administration from its onerous task of reviving the country’s fortunes. ‘’The PDP is wondering why we are not responding to the wild accusations emanating from its fertile imagination.

It is because we consider the accusations nothing but an irritant,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. It said there is no doubt that in issuing his bombastic statements, the PDP spokesman most often mistakes the APC for his party, hence he kept attributing to the APC the failings of his own party, the same failings that propelled the former ruling party into the opposition. ‘’Mr. Metuh wrote that ‘this administration must come to terms with the fact that democracy requires accountability, adherence to the rule of law and constitutional order’. Very

interesting, because if the PDP had known all that, it would still have remained in power at the centre. ‘’It is therefore clear that the PDP spokesman has been so traumatised by the defeat of his party that he sometimes imagines he is writing about the APC when indeed he is listing the failings of his fallen party, the PDP,’’ APC said. On a personal note, the party challenged Mr. Metuh to substantiate the claim in his Sunday statement about contracts allegedly awarded to the APC national spokesman or be ready to do so in court. ‘’For the avoidance of any doubt, the APC spokesman has never been involved in any airport fencing contract in

Osun or any deal involving fraudulent purchase or supply of ambulances anywhere in Nigeria,’’ it said. APC insisted that Mr. Metuh is mortally afraid that he could be consumed by the anti-corruption battle, because of the allegations of graft hanging on his neck, as contained in published petitions to the anti-graft agencies from within his own party, rather than mere conjecture from anyone ‘’Mr. Metuh’s assault on the Buhari administration’s anticorruption battle is a futile attempt at saving his neck and that of his party. Unfortunately, it is too late in the day for them, going by the quantum of allegations against them,’’ the party said.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Northern ‘decay’ •The North must look inward to fix its own problems

ORTHERN governors, under the auspices of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), met on September 11 and declared their region was ‘decaying’. “It has become imperative, especially for northern state governors,” said Kashim Shettima, chair of the forum and governor of Borno State, “to brace up for the challenges ahead.” The governors’ alarm would elicit varied responses, with not a few claiming it could be another northern ploy to corner more resources, now that the president is from that region. That would be cynical but not altogether unfounded. But if that is true of the North, it is also true of other parts of the country. The Nigerian political elite, for selfish interests, often regionalise power — the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency’s SouthSouth - South East coalition being the latest example. But there appears no guarantee that even other regions yet to taste federal power, would not return to such clannishly selfdestruct behaviour when they eventually get their chance. Still, that is no path a nation should travel. That is why it is reassuring that the northern governors themselves, from their resolutions, appear to be looking inward, not towards some federal might (euphemism for loading the dice of federal favours in a regional direction), to solve their present and pressing problems. Again, from Governor Shettima: “After exhaustive deliberations, the northern state governors have resolved to adopt a holistic approach towards solving the problems. Should the present leaders fail, the consequences would be better be imagined than experienced.” On this, the NGF is spot on — the region, wilting under numerous crisis, from the

economy to security, does need a holistic plan: of the North, for the North, by the North. Take security. The Boko Haram menace is the North’s most reported security challenge. It is good news the government appears to, at last, be routing the insurgents. But even with that, the terrible scars remain. So, there must be a grand post-militancy resettlement and reorientation programme. Aside from Boko Haram, ethnic killings, with roots firmly in economic parchment, lay the North prostrate. Even with a reported peace initiative, 20 people, on September 11, were reportedly slain in killings in the Plateau communal crisis, where the Fulani and Berom are falling upon themselves. In Taraba and Adamawa, it is the same gory tale of ethnic killings. This conundrum of inter-ethnic resentment, if not outright hatred, is what the North must sort out — and fast. But it cannot do that without digging deep into its roots; and a major problem is the fatal match-up between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers. The herdsmen appear to have gifted themselves the divine right to feed their cattle, even if that means wilfully destroying the farmers’ livelihood. The farmers too would appear to take laws into their own hands, pleading criminal collusion from some elements of state, who they allege illicitly embolden the marauding herdsmen. Yet, both herdsmen and farmers are entitled to legitimate livelihood. What to do? The northern authorities must come up with a solid plan of building modern ranches, within which the herdsmen can graze their cattle, without endangering farmlands of pastoralists. Aside from doing away with the traditional nomadic grazing, that has triggered so much violence and bloodshed, the modern

ranches would come with a sweet valueadded: agro-allied processing. That way, the ranchers would get more money for their produce now turned products; but exert less physical energy; and suffer less loss of human lives. The same argument goes for the farmers. But mass enlightenment is needed to sell this new approach, to wean the mind of traditionalists off the old ways. But more than anything, if the North really is desirous of exiting its present sorry pass, it must make conscious and collective investment in social infrastructure. Encouraging vibes are already coming out of Sokoto and Kaduna states, which governments have declared free and compulsory education to secondary school level. The key word is compulsory, for education in the North has always been largely free; but not many have taken advantage of this precious investment. This challenge can be confronted with a sound and comprehensive education master plan, under the auspices of northern regional integration. Indeed, integration should be the developmental elixir for other geo-political regions in the country.

‘But more than anything, if the North really is desirous of exiting its present sorry pass, it must make conscious and collective investment in social infrastructure. Encouraging vibes are already coming out of Sokoto and Kaduna states, which governments have declared free and compulsory education to secondary school level.’

Banks’ unwholesome ways •Banks must be held to account for holding on to federal government money and unilaterally hiking interest rates.

OR an industry permanently on the spotlight, two developments –not unrelated – have merely driven home the reality of extant practices that continue to erode trust in the financial services sector. The first is the whopping sum ofN12 billion said to have been collected as revenue by banks on behalf of the federal government but which they failed to remit. This was the finding by the consultant engaged by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to verify and reconcile revenue collections and remittances by 19 collecting banks engaged by the Nigerian Customs Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service. The period is said to cover January 2008 to June 2012. Now, RMAFC is demanding that the banks promptly remit the amount into the federal government coffers. The other is the subject of an on-going probe by the Consumers Protection Council. It involves alleged N1.8 billion excess charges on the account of the Bauchi State government by one of the banks. The CPC is said to have stepped into the matter following a petition to the council; that was after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reportedly declined further adjudication on the case earlier brought to it by the state government. In the petition, the state government alleged that the bank, without any prior information, charged 21 per cent interest rate per annum on two loans of N10 billion

and N3 billion, which the bank granted it on January 22, 2009 and June 15, 2011 respectively both at the rate of 13 per cent interest per annum, and that this has resulted in excess interest charges on its account, amounting to the sum of N1,864,188,594.78 as at February 2014.” The state government further alleged inconsistencies in the application of interest rate with the rate going up as high as 54.46 per cent in some cases. Both cases, obviously exemplify some of the more brazen abnormalities in the banking system for which Nigerians are now only too familiar. To start with, only in the most permissive, laisez-faire environment that the banking sector has become can the idea of an agent withholding revenues collected on behalf of its principal for months, if not years, can be contemplated. Worse is that a process so basic or elementary, and yet so fundamental to the revenue collection process, would take several years to accomplish. The same – unfortunately – is no less true of the dispute between the Bauchi State Government and one of the banks over interest charges. This time, a bank is accused of changing the applicable interest rates at will, leaving the customer terribly short-changed. The RMAFC should proceed forthwith to get the offending banks to remit the funds – we daresay with appropriate penalities- without further delay. As for the matter before the CPC, we consider it as deserving of serious investigations to be undertaken – and this expeditiously.

It goes without saying that Nigerians are entitled to know how the matters are resolved given the public interest nature of the cases. The whole affairs reek of fraud and impunity. Both developments obviously underscore the need for further sanitisation of the financial system. Here, the challenge would seem essentially one of restoring integrity and best practices into the system without which the factor of trust will continue to be a mirage. The issue is simple. If the financial services industry cannot be trusted to play strictly by the rules, wherein lies the future for the overall economy? The need to embrace global best practices is even more imperative now with the coming of the Treasury Single Account. We expect the federal government to enforce the deadline scrupulously as the issues of transparency which made it imperative can no longer wait.

‘It goes without saying that Nigerians are entitled to know how the matters are resolved given the public interest nature of the cases. The whole affairs reek of fraud and impunity.’

Ambode, a listening governor

IR: The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has not only proved his readiness to seriously consolidate on the performance of his predecessor, but has also proved to be a listening public servant. I wrote an open letter to the Governor published in The Nation Wednesday August 5, page 19, on solution to the teething traffic gridlocks across the state, calling for the reopening of Alimosho junction of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, blocked by the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) last year. The road which allows free-flow of traffic in Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja, Abule egba, Agege and Egbeda axis was created three years by former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola in response to my suggestions through private and open letters. Like I stated in my open letter to Governor Ambode, it worked like magic. To my amazement and excitement, the state government has again opened the Alimosho link road on LagosAbeokuta Expressway on Tuesday September 1, barely one month after The Nation published my open letter to Governor Ambode. I hereby express my eternal gratitude to The Nation for giving me the opportunity to express myself. Like Oliver Twist, I will also remind the governor of a kilometer L-shaped road leading to my hotel at Mosan-end of the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate (Shagari Estate), in MosanOkunola Local Council Development Area. It was built by me some 18 years ago with street lights and personal maintenance without any form of government assistance. The road which has turned into an alternative route to people of Baruwa, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Ayobo and Ikola E.T.C Years ago, following the construction of the Iyana-Ipaja/Ayobo Expressway, is now seriously dilapidated, begging for your government’s attention. Please yield our distress call sir • Tony Adenubi Mosan- Ipaja, Lagos.

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: President Muhammadu Buhari has left behind his attempt at making jokes in America. He must have been properly educated that Americans will welcome you with open heart once you can show them that life is a comedy. Obviously, his trial at show business was brief. There is nothing funny about politics in Nigeria. The war front is tight. Nobody is laughing in the face of infrastructural dilapidation and massive economic woe. The stone-cold face he wears in most of his public appearances reflects more of the menace he has to fight against in society. The ugliness of the system does not leave space for humour. Hence, the rascals will think it is the reign of folly all over again. Disappearance of hooligans from the business of governance gives hope that his stoic outlook is striking dread in their eyes. It is a welcome respite to experience momentary interlude in the dark drama that citizens have come to know as public service. His weapon of choice seems effective. Indifference to the nuisance elements is moulding him to be a disciplined fighter. The biggest problem with Nigerian politics is that even the person with the toughest moral fibre is worn out within a short period of time by the forces of corruption. Masters of deceit will work their witchcraft on him in different ways. If

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The strongest President they do not succeed with lavishing him with luxury, they will throw in the perpetual downfall of men; charming women. They will not desist until they soil the impeccable image and bring the person to muddle in the pigsty with them. But they seem to get the message that they are dealing with a purposeful monster. Who would have thought that the political scene will be devoid of those arrogant

fraudsters who masquerade as statesmen? The country seems to be getting along fine without their wise counsel. It is not lost to discerning minds that the cabals are a congregation of exploiters draining the lifeline of a prosperous Nigeria. Let them eat their fruit of wrath. A political greenhorn will pack his bag and drive to the beach to bask in the sun. Not so fast. Facets

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• Pius Okaneme, Umuoji, Anambra State.

Re: Mr Adesina, Buhari is hardly all that…

IR: OLATUNJI Ololade’s piece on page 17 of the September 18 edition of The Nation is brilliant and precautionary, and therefore a commendable effort. But, when, in an attempt to caution and criticize, one throws out the baby with the bath water, it becomes utterly detestable. In the article, Ololade accused the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesinaof flattery over the latter’s piece on President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) entitled: “A new Sheriff is in

town”. While the author has every right to be pessimistic as far as PMB’s tenure is concerned-as he clearly demonstrated-, he, selfishly, failed to accord Adesina and other Nigerians their own rights to be optimistic. Significantly, the author was guilty of contradiction in at least two instances. While affirming, for instance, that Adesina’s “aggressive bid to portray President Buhari as a hero was uncalled for (I wonder, why?), he still declared that: “This minute, President Buhari is our hero, tomorrow, he may become the

Saraki: When solution becomes the problem IR: The establishment of the judiciary was necessitated by the desire of a nation to dispense justice to all manners of people. It is in manifestation of this lofty expectation that our courts through the instrumentality of the law have been equipped with powers in the exercise of their functions. It is therefore right to say that the existence of judiciary, nay court system, is predicated on the twin assumptions of justice and fairness. It is however a disappointing and strange development when the same court system become an instrument of manipulations and a readymade tool for the taking by the untouchables. The attempt to stall the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal

of piggishness of the system will stomp out of the wild to demonstrate their stubbornness. The culture of utter disregard to civility has been emblematic since the nation’s independence. Tribal sentiments, for example, have been used to whip up social destabilization. Egoists eschew orderly governance. The dominance of President Buhari in the mainstream politics is not without its share of un-

due provocations to many. Why do they allow him to get away with this power? Mere mortals may not know the answer. Movers of the problematic system know the trait each kingpin possesses. They know who to chance and who to revere. The president has been unorthodox in his approach and no King Kong has risen up to buck heads with him. His brazenness to flatly leave those who use to allot power as if they are God as relics of the rubbished past is astonishing to the citizenry. One can never neglect the power of bad habit; the bandits will waylay him if he snoozes. The stage is open for him to make or mar his presidency.

through an ex-parte application from the Federal High Court is to say least unfortunate and amounts to using the court to achieve inglorious ends. Ex-parte applications have been employed by some lawyers to halt criminal trial in high profile cases and sadly the courts have continued to encourage this ugly jurisprudence in our land. Criminal trials do not by themselves translate to guilt of an accused. It is the proof of evidence that decides conviction or otherwise. And this is why we feel the Senate President should have demonstrated some modicum respect for the judiciary by appearing before the CCT to raise whatever defence he has rather than turning the courts against themselves. This may be politics to

them; it is law to us! It stands logic on its head that a court would attempt to halt the proceedings of another court with coordinate jurisdiction. This is the level in which our court system has degenerated into. It is this type of practice that has confined our country to a banana republic and a clown in a comity of nation. It is a strange jurisprudence, not to mention shocking, for a lawyer to raise issue of jurisdiction on behalf of his client to attempt in another court other than the court/tribunal in which the accused is being tried. It is hoped that the judiciary would halt the unfortunate drift to judicial precipice. AlatiseTaofeeq, Lagos.

brute in our recurring nightmares, if we do not take care”. He also stated: “We are done (with) propping Buhari up as our hero; it’s time for him to truly match his heroic promises with actions that will resonate positively in the life of the average Nigerian”. It is disappointing, to say the least, that Ololade prefers pain- relieving tablets for the patient (Nigeria) suffering from Cancer and chronic cough, rather than surgery and cough treatment medication which PMB prefers to administer. Surgery takes time, requires maximum care, expertise and patience. The surgeon, who must of course have been assessed to be aptly qualified for the job, must not be distracted. And the patient must be still, hence the need for sedation. A major question the likes of Ololade should be asking is: What would have become of the treasury, the economy , the state of affairs generally and the country’s image had former President Goodluck Jonathan returned to office instead of Buhari? How could anyone ask Buhari to “work now”, when he has been working tirelessly-locally and internationally-since resumption? How uncharitable it is for someone to rubbish the increased power supply, which we never witnessed in 16 years of the rule of Jonathan’s party by describing this simply as what ought to be in the first place? How can any sincere Nigerian dismiss the

symbolism of the president’s voluntary salary reduction? And how unaffectionate is it to declare that even if Buhari is setting good examples, he is simply doing what he is paid to do? Perhaps the last straw was the author’s declaration that: “Integrity is not enough to resolve the nation’s economic woes. It is not enough to transform Nigerians into law-abiding citizens overnight. At the moment, Buhari is still the president of the rich. And that is because, he is yet to evolve economic policies that will liberate the economy and citizenry from the stranglehold of certain influential and powerful characters”. The question is: how much can a man achieve in 100 days? Wouldn’t there be priorities? Must the president rule the way we want or the way he considers best to achieve stated objectives? I recall Robert Orben’s advice, that: “We have enough people who tell it like it is-Now, we could use a few who tell it like it can be”. That is why optimists like Adesina are stating facts and figures with optimism, and therefore do not deserve subtle disrespect . If Adesina, according to Ololade, seemed to be “a spectacle of submission and ideological sodomy”, the Adesina I know is-at least for now- certainly doing so for a man and a cause he believes in, and not falsely for pecuniary benefits. Babatola Adeyemi, Ikeja, Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

COMMENTS

ERTAIN things about the past speak to the present in the presence of the future. Such is the case with the September 2 news of the dating of an 11, 000-year old moat at Sugbon Eredo in Oke Eri. Prof. David Aremu of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, said in a statement: “The research in Sugbon Eredo, Oke Eri, is aimed at examining the structure, component, technology and functions of Sugbon Eredo Moat, which is 165 kilometres surrounding the former Ijebu kingdom. It also throws more light on the history of the people who built the embankment and how they adapted to their forest environment.” According to a report, Prof. Aremu said “the moat covered Ijebu kingdom up to Epe in the south, Ago-Iwoye in the north, Eredo in the west and the area towards Ore, Ondo State, in the east.” The researchers, led by Prof Aremu, said different charcoal samples from the moat analysed in a U.S. laboratory gave dates of 11, 000 years and 4, 900 years. These results have been interpreted to mean that human presence in Ijebu land dates back to a time beyond the scope of oral history. “These findings pose a lot of questions, which we may not be able to answer now about the establishment of the Yoruba in Southwest Nigeria,” Prof. Aremu said. The statement also said: “The chronology of the site provides information beyond the myth of the Queen of Sheba and her possible influence in Nigeria and the Middle East. In the narrative of the Ijebu, the building of Eredo moat was organised by a powerful influential woman called Bilikisu Sungbo (that is, Queen of Sheba), who travelled to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem.” The don reportedly “advised the Ogun State government to convert Eredo moat to an international tourist site, stressing that foreigners had shown interest in it.” Of course, this is easier said than done. The reality is that in Nigeria tourism promotion is little more than lip service. At the governmental level, the latest report on the antiquity of Sungbo Eredo Moat, and the historical and social implications of the research results, may well pass unnoticed, not to say ignored. Over a decade ago, I couldn’t resist the attraction and decided to go and see the 8,000-year-old Dufuna Canoe in Damaturu, Yobe State, from my base in Lagos. Billed as “Africa’s oldest known boat,” it was discovered in May 1987 by an obscure Fulani herdsman, Mallam Yau, who had struck the dugout canoe buried in the earth while digging a well on the outskirts of Dufuna village. News of this discovery travelled fast and reached the government of the old Borno State, which at the time included Dufuna, now part of Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria. “Then I came in,” said Abubakar Garba, who was an Associate Professor at the Centre for Trans-Saharan Studies, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, when I first interviewed him in 2001. He recalled: “I was contacted to make a full investigation as an archaeologist. I knew at the time that I was making a breakthrough in my field. I got a chip sample from the canoe, which I sent to a laboratory in Germany. They were fascinated

IGERIA’S economy has all it takes to rank amongst the world’s top 10 economies. Driving the polity effectively towards that goal is the urgent task of the country’s present political and economic managers. Nigeria’s 2015 general elections have been won and lost. The nationwide focus on politics for almost a year has however been detrimental to the economy and the financial markets. Despite being poised for fast growth, Africa’s largest economy is currently crawling on all fours. Key economic and financial indicators are down year-on-year and year-to-date. Ditto for corporate earnings. The most significant being a 1.5% loss in GDP growth and speculative devaluation and volatility of the national currency, the Naira, which has lost at least 20% value against most benchmark currencies. The year-end outlook is also not bright. Most investors and corporate players are coasting and seem to have accepted 2015 as a lost year from a productivity standpoint. Politics in Nigeria as clearly proven by recent events is driven by political cum personal interests. This is always at variance with the national economic interests. The cumulative cost of perceived political instability, record low crude oil prices, and dipping confidence in economic and financial markets is estimated to be anywhere between US$2530bn. Who is counting? Certainly not the political class. They have not come to terms with the fact that a new budget cycle has commenced, and it’s clear that the only tangible approach the new government can take, is to start the process of amending the existing budget and delivering a brand new 2016 budget that reflects contemporary economic realities. After hinting that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency controls were making Nigeria’s bond market transactions too complex to meet its rules, JP Morgan, the United States-based lender, has now moved to expel Nigeria from its Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI) by the end of September, as a result of the illiquidity and lack of transparency in our foreign exchange market. This exit will hurt Nigeria’s financial and economic ratings, putting the nation’s $31bn external reserves under threat of further massive sell-offs of Nigerian assets by foreign portfolio investors. The cost of borrowing will increase; access to the international financial markets for both sovereign and corporates will also become limited. More importantly, this exit will stem the inflow of portfolio investments which peaked at US$20.5Billion in 2013, that otherwise could help stabilize the Naira and balance of payments. To state the obvious, the lack of articulation on policy and economic direction by the new government is not helping matters and is unsettling the financial markets. Time is money. And in the fast emerging global fiscal order, lost time and opportunities may never really be regained. The next challenge the Nigerian government faces is the validation and structured financing plan for the current fiscal deficit, estimated at =N=6.5 trillion. The government’s actions on the fuel subsidy could significantly increase this figure. With the restructuring and swap of state government commercial bank loans into Treasury Bonds, the new government has increased the domestic debt profile by =N=1trillion overnight. Unfortunately

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Attractions made unattractive by the first date.” Radiocarbon dating put the age of the chip at over 8,000 years. Two separate tests on chips taken from different parts of the canoe, carried out at different times at Kiel and Cologne universities in Germany, gave similar dates of over 8,000 years. “There is no reason to doubt the broad date of the boat,” according to Peter Breunig, an archaeologist involved in its excavation on the platform of the University of Frankfurt, Germany. On the boat’s period, Breunig said in a statement, “In archaeological terms it is described as an early phase of the Later Stone Age, which began rather more than 12,000 years ago and ended with the appearance of pottery, probably more than 7,000 years ago.” An initial trial excavation sponsored by the University of Maiduguri led to collaboration on the canoe project with the University of Frankfurt. The lab results redefined the prehistory of African water transport, ranking the Dufuna Canoe as the world’s third oldest known dugout. Older than it are the dugouts from Pesse, Netherlands, and Noyen-sur-Seine, France. But evidence of an 8,000-year-old tradition of boat building in Africa throws cold water on the assumption that maritime transport developed much later there in comparison with Europe. Breunig said the canoe’s age “forces a reconsideration of Africa’s role in the history of water transport”. It shows, he added, “that the cultural history of Africa was not determined by Near Eastern and European influences but took its own, in many cases, parallel course”. The canoe was eventually lifted out of the earth in March 1998, over a decade after its discovery. “Some educated people wanted the canoe to be left in the earth”, Garba recalled, adding that it was a battle to get the then military administration to build a conservation site for what was regarded as “just a piece of wood.” Garba recounted his excavation experience: “To uncover the canoe involved up to 50 labourers, who took about two weeks to

accomplish this task. About five metres down inside the museum, the archaeologists had to use mechanical means to evacuate the water, which kept oozing back continuously.” The Dufuna Canoe was found, he said, “water-logged, on a sandy base with intermittent intervals of clay, and inaccessible to oxygen; circumstances most favourable for most organic materials”. Other objects that surfaced at the excavation site were of little archaeological value. “It has a length of 8.40 metres and maximum breadth and height of around 0.5 metres. The sides are barely more than 5 centimetres thick,” Breunig described the canoe, adding that it even outranks in style European finds of similar age. To go by its stylistic sophistication, he reasoned, “It is highly probable that the Dufuna boat does not represent the beginning of a tradition, but had already undergone a long development, and that the origins of water transport in Africa lie even further back in time.” Contemplating the discovery is like sailing on a sea of puzzles. Garba wondered, for instance: “What could have been the Dufuna environment and adjacent areas at the time the canoe was in use? If the vegetation was more luxuriant and denser, what might have led to its deterioration? What types of prehistoric populations were present at the settlement? Could they have any link with the present population or adjacent groups? Could it have been possible that the mega-Chad extended up to this area or could it have been transported from elsewhere to this area. What was it for?” Today, 17 years after its excavation, the famous Dufuna Canoe is still being kept out of public view to the public’s chagrin. At the time I tried to see the canoe in 2001, it was out of view within a circular fortress in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. A notice on the building’s wall pointed out that the canoe was “Under Conservation”. Scary skulls and crossbones gave bite to two warnings: “Keep Off”; “Beware of Corrosive Chemicals”. Attractions can be made unattractive, which probably explains why official performance in the business of attracting domestic and international tourists to attractions across the country has not attracted public attention in any impressive way.

‘The reality is that in Nigeria tourism promotion is little more than lip service. At the governmental level, the latest report on the antiquity of Sungbo Eredo Moat, and the historical and social implications of the research results, may well pass unnoticed, not to say ignored.’

Driving Nigeria’s economy to G-10 status By Tilewa Adebajo state governments have not been compelled to execute conditional covenants, such as adhering to the tenants of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which stipulates provisions for fiscal discipline. With a US$49bn domestic debt and US$10.8bn external debt overhang, Nigeria is now committing 23% of its fiscal revenues to servicing debt. With the levels of projected fiscal deficit, we might exceed the revenue-to-debt service best practice benchmark of 25% by year end. The alignment of fiscal and monetary policy which the economy befitted from over the last five years, seems to have been lost over the last several months. The apex financial institution and industry regulator, the CBN, seems to have lost its independence and the intellectual fecundity central banks are renowned for. With an outflow of new policy pronouncements almost every week, the bank has struggled to articulate a well thought out strategy for managing the Naira. This misalignment of fiscal and monetary policy has started to impact the macroeconomic indicators as inflation creeps up into double digits. Unemployment also stands at a high 35%. The effects of quantitative easing are manifesting on the Naira exchange rates as interest rates remain artificially high at 25%. This, despite the excess supply of the currency in circulation with M2 at =N=19Trillion, 25% or =N=4.75Trillion denominated in US dollars deposit. Our commercial banks have also exacerbated the situation: about 50% of their loan books are denominated in US dollars. These artificially high rates, and the distortion it causes are not sustainable in the long run. Western nations over the last eight years have maintained rates at below 1% clearly aimed to spur economic recovery. Nigeria’s financial intermediation rates at 25% cannot support productive investment and development; it will also stunt economic growth. Major reforms are therefore required in the banking system to support single digit rates. Banks also have to better deploy technology to reduce and manage costs. Their productivity and efficiency levels will consequently improve leading to a more competitive financial services sector. Beyond the macro economy, we need to do a critical reappraisal of our trade and investment policies, we need to ensure they are properly integrated into the global value added system. The domestic gains and success we have had in the cement sector with import substitution backward integration has primarily been driven by an individual and unfortunately not yet replicated nor institutionalized in other critical sectors such as agriculture, another potential engine room of Africa’s political economy considering its huge social development and value chain effect. Drastic attention also needs to be paid to Customs and Excise reform and management to ensure proper implementation of Trade Policy, Industrial Development and Investment. The

corruption menace of duty waivers, duty evasion, smuggling and weak import documentation also continues to affect the Naira, clearly disrupting and discouraging industrial development, investment and expansion. Nigeria has been defined as a corrupt country with weak institutions, poor governance, and a compromised judiciary with consistently low scores in the ease of doing business and competitiveness rankings. Despite or in spite of all these quirks, the Nigerian economy with a GDP of US$535Billion is the largest in Africa with a global G20 ranking. Until recent times, the Nigerian economy sustained a 7% annual growth rate, ranking it amongst the top three fastest growing economies globally. Our substandard physical and social infrastructure needs to be upgraded; we need to make Power, Healthcare and Education sectors key focus priorities. Addressing the infrastructure deficit, corruption, good governance and the rule of law will no doubt propel Nigeria to realize its potential and capacity as a G10 economy. Indeed, despite the absence of a cabinet, the euphoria the new government has generated, including its ongoing efforts to clean up the Augean stable is highly commendable. Restoring sanity into the polity was never going to be an easy undertaking. President Buhari’s recent working visit to Washington DC, USA left a good a good impression in the minds of our international business and diplomatic allies. His top level meetings, appearances and the opinion pieces in the critical and pro-Western US media were obviously left a good impression. This was an African leader who seemed genuinely sincere, and genuinely concerned about Nigeria’s place in the global economy. Going forward, the President and his ministerial team (even before he finally unveils them) must constantly balance the dual priorities of institutionalizing probity and economic management. Curbing high level graft must be accorded equal weighting as curbing hyper-inflation. The Nigerian environment despite all its shortcomings and shenanigans is clearly a potential G10 economy. A recent Economist article highlights the “opportunity that knocks” with the new government in place, having endorsed President Buhari before the election. A 2013 article in the same publication cautions that Nigeria, “Africa’s giant is waking up but still looks unsteady on its feet like a heavy weight boxer who has gone too many rounds.” The same publication has in the past enquired if “anyone has seen a giant” and warns further that the awaking giant eventually might fall flat on its face. The Nigerian economy is a purposeful and powerful contraption akin to a Formula One racing machine. Unfortunately, the economy has in the past, been driven by a leadership and a political elite class behaving very much like a “Danfo Driver” in the driving seats of a Formula One. • Adebajo, an investment banker & economist is CEO of The CFG Advisory.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

COMMENTS

ESPITE pretensions in some quarters, Nigeria is really sick and would require a dose of varying therapies to recover. No matter how we try to paper over the endemic malaise, the foreboding realities are manifest in increasing evidence of disenchantment by the component units with what the federation holds for them. There are palpable feelings that the government at the centre has proved innately deficient in delivering equitably. This is not entirely new. Such feelings have been the motivating force for agitations for national conference or its sovereign variant. They also account for the resurgence of ethnic-nationalism and religion-induced strife. Ironically, at each stage a conference was about to be convened, you will find sections still opposing it for one reason or the other. That was the experience of the National Conference organized by the last administration. Since the Buhari regime, we have witnessed discordant tones regarding what his government should make of the recommendations of that outing. While some have called for its implementation, others especially from the north want that document thrown into the dustbin. There are some others who would want Buhari to take a dispassionate look at the document with a view to adopting its recommendations with higher prospects of moving the country forward. Such has been the level of dissonance. But a new dimension was introduced into the matter last week when a group of northern leaders under the name, Northern Reawakening Group (NRG) came out boldly to call for another national conference to specifically address problems of the north-east zone that has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency and other parts of the north. Not only do they want another national conference, they would have nothing to do with the one convened by Jonathan on the ground that he had a different agenda for setting it up. Ironically also, many of the prime movers of the NRG were participants in that conference. In a communiqué after their summit and retreat with the theme “Rebuilding a safe, secure and economically inclusive Northern Nigeria”, the NRG sought to justify its demand on the alleged marginalization of the north with statistics of the disparities in development levels of the north and the south. According to them, while the north has the highest number of people below $2 per day, a 2013 World Bank Report showed that poverty in 16 out of the 19 northern states doubled

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Northern or National Conference? since 1980. They said that the north has the lowest literacy rate in the country and while Lagos posted 92 per cent, Kano has 49 and Borno trailing with less 15 per cent. In terms of the number of boys and girls that are out of school, they said 65 per cent northern boys and 53 of the girls are not in school as against 20 per cent for the South-east. Ostensibly, the bandied disparities in development indices are meant to persuade the public to the desirability of convoking another national conference to specifically address the marginalization of the north. The NRG is within its rights to highlight the problems of the north and seek solutions to them. That was the purpose of the retreat. And it accounted for the dignified attendance it attracted including the presence of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and no less than five northern governors among others. Their resolve for a national conference is an admission that all is not well with the country and some fundamental changes are imperative to effectively tap into the innate potentials of its disparate peoples. That point cannot be discounted. But the advocacy for another national conference and the reasons adduced for it are flawed on many grounds. First, it is not clear whether what the group wants is a northern conference or a national conference. A proper reading of their presentation, suggests they want a conference attended by all sections of the country to solely address challenges from the north. Conceived this way, it is a northern conference that will draw the participation of other Nigerians. That is where the problem lies. The failure to resolve this conceptual lacuna did incurable damage to whatever they intended to achieve by their call. It is patently childish and amateurish to conceive of a national conference

OMETIME in December 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced some policies to rein-in currency speculation and round-tripping by FOREX dealers, who were in the habit of hoarding foreign currencies to create artificial demand. The CBN took the decision to curb speculative attacks on the Naira by these unscrupulous elements that were bent on taking advantage of the steep dip in global oil prices, and its recent measure to defend the naira and national reserves by exempting 41 items from the forex window. Since then aggrieved local and foreign collaborators have taken up arms against the CBN. Only recently, the JP Morgan Index Team in a statement released to selected media groups disclosed its decision to delist Nigeria from its Government Bond Index by the end of October. This is in spite of the fact that Nigeria’s apex bank had, at every turn, explained its policy decisions in line with its code of transparency. Little wonder many analysts see JP Morgan action as either blackmail or disrespect or even both. The reader may want to know: what is JP Morgan, a commercial bank among others, that, its assessment should be taken so seriously? How was Nigeria before 2012? And what is not working in Nigeria that justifies this action? Do they really have the morals to arrive at that decision? While the World Bank and the IMF, the real managers of economies are laboriously pursuing developmental goals and building institutions around the world, the JP Morgans of this world are busy pursuing selfish commercial interest. The action veils their real intention, which is purely commercial interest. It is quite obvious that the JP Morgan index team has refused to acknowledge the structure of Nigeria’s peculiar economy cum the strangulating effect of the oil crisis. The investment bank has also refused to respect the actions so far taken by the CBN as necessary at this moment not to allow the economy to crash. What works in a particular country, may not work in another. Since the CBN decided not to further devalue its currency, these neo-colonialists and their local collaborators have embarked on tailored-made criticism crafted to suit their commercial interest. Precarious as the situation is, with the federal executive council yet to be constituted to complement the efforts of the apex bank, the CBN has been managing the economy. The unreasonable attacks started from The Economist and later Standards and Poors and now JP Morgan, which had earlier given notice, in January, to phase out Nigeria from its Government Bond for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) for lack of liquidity in the economy. This is nothing but a demonstration of arrogance by the international financial institutions that cares for no one but their selfish interest alone. What really is the concern of the JP Morgan in forex

that will set out solely to address problems of a section of the country to the exclusion of others. Such a weird advocacy is a recipe for confusion and unmitigated disaster. Secondly, there is no problem that is found in one part of the country that has no variant in other parts. One is therefore at a loss to fathom how any person in his right senses would ignore a holistic perspective to national problems in preference to a sectional handle that stands dead even before it takes off. Thirdly, the entire idea is again flawed by the same arguments they raised against the last conference whose recommendations are with the current regime. If they do not trust the former because Jonathan put it together, what in their imagination gave them the comfort that a sectional conference sponsored with taxpayers’ money will not draw this country closer to the precipice? Or is it a veiled attempt to appropriate the current leadership of the country to do the bidding of the north? Again, the last conference was attended by the north and many of the issues confronting this country were exhaustively addressed. A group that is not propelled by parochial and sectional lure will not be in a hurry to embark on a hazardous and wasteful journey to another conference. One may not even bother about cost if embarking on another conference is all it will take to see this country through. Before then, we needed to tell Nigerians why the recommendations of the previous conference are deficient in tackling identified challenges. That is the real issue to confront rather than resort to theatre tactics. It is also not enough to bandy statistics on the development disparities of sections of

the country without accounting for the factors that brought them about. The group erred woefully for failing to show why the north lacked behind in those human development indices. We needed to know whether the progress in education and income per capita in the south was due to special attention by the federal government or a product of the survival instincts and initiative of their peoples. The presentation of those figures conveyed the unmistakable impression that either the south is responsible for the fate of the north or the federal government aided the development of the south against the north. None of the two propositions holds water. On the contrary, we do know of the existence of such principles as quota system and educationally disadvantaged states that were designed to get some states catch up. The north has been the major beneficiary of both discriminatory policies. It is a matter of regret that the southern states which are being referenced upon have been the ones bearing the brunt of such discriminatory educational policies over the years. Yet, we are still in a hurry to flaunt disparities in human development statistics to further perpetuate the inequities of extant order. The challenge before the north is to find out how these states moved fast in the literacy ladder and other human development indicators and tap unto them. It is good a thing they are worried by the abysmal conditions of their people in the face of plenty. They should rise to the challenges of the socio-cultural and institutional hiccups that hold down their people and frontally dismantle them. Before then, the exhortations of Osinbajo in his address at the opening ceremony blaming the present crop of northern leaders for the backwardness of the region due to selfishness and personal aggrandizement, should serve a sufficient food for thought.

‘The presentation of those figures conveyed the unmistakable impression that either the south is responsible for the fate of the north or the federal government aided the development of the south against the north. None of the two propositions holds water’

JP Morgan: Bank or rating agency? By Michael Deepak issues, which is global and not peculiar to Nigeria? It had earlier given a target date of December 15, to decide on Nigeria, and therefore the unanswered question is – why the sudden change to September 15? More so that, the bank is known to deal and trade in bonds and this makes clear their interest. Yes, we need development partners but not as determinants of our fate. We are peculiar people with rich heritage and intelligence. If I may ask, what have we really benefitted from their so-called economic agenda? If, Nigeria and the CBN have decided to chart a new course for its people, who are the JP Morgans of this world to say otherwise. It is also interesting to note how every financial analyst, commentator, broker, institution, captains of industry and agencies within and outside Nigeria, especially in Europe and North America, is so fixated with Nigeria, and the call for devaluation of the Naira. Quite disheartening too is the fact that some Nigerians, many of whom lack the grasp of what usually plays out in such game as to who stands to lose, if Naira is devalued, have joined the financial blackmail train in piling pressure on the Central Bank to devalue the Naira. What product are we exporting that we need to devalue the Naira to create market for? Is it the crude oil that has driven its value underground? Inasmuch as many are at daggers drawn with Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of CBN and his team, every country has to do what it has to do to protect its economic interest, and Nigeria should not be railroaded into a western designed strategy that will end up impoverishing Nigerians and enriching the pocket of investors. If Nigeria succumbs to the blackmail of international financial institutions and uninformed local analysts, the Naira will have a free fall and would not be worth more than what late Ugandan military leader, Idi Amin Dada, referred to as “toilet paper”. And recent was the case of the Zimbabwean dollar. Whoever is calling for the devaluation of the Naira has evil intentions as alluded to in press statement issued by the bank on the wake of the action by JP Morgan. As the statement said, “doing so would lead to an indeterminate depreciation of the Naira”. The consequence of this is dire, and should be left only to imaginations. Advocates of devaluation are not just what they are, but insensitive to the plight of many Nigerians who spend over 70% of their expendable income

on food alone. Further devaluation of the currency will exacerbate the present high inflationary pressure, which will eventually erode whatever little gain the large population of the Nigerian masses, most of whom are already wallowing in abject poverty have, and this may trigger public unrest because of the abnormal high cost of food items that Nigerians are presently experiencing; the very worst time in history. With this scenario playing out, the federal government should stop the usual rhetoric about economic diversification which stage we had long passed; rather it should radically diversify its source of income, and forge a strong partnership and collaborate with the monetary authority. Let JP Morgan take its index elsewhere, as any promise made of a weaker Naira exchange rate that would promote industrial and economic growth is suspect. Though the CBN policies and its obstinacy to the call for devaluation may look quite unfriendly, but it is about patriotism and responsibility to protect our heritage, the Naira, reduce inflation, create jobs and grow the national reserves. No responsible country will heed the call for devaluation recommended by JP Morgan, given our economic vulnerability and weak productive base, and allow the Naira to crash to its own death. Supporters of JP Morgan’s misadventure to blackmail Nigeria into unprofitable devaluation to enable its cronies profit should understand that Nigerians are smart and intelligent to see through their selfish desire. Nigerians have resolved to carve a new and profitable course for economic renaissance. What the CBN needs from Nigerians now is support and understanding. • Deepak, a social commentator wrote in from Akure

‘If Nigeria succumbs to the blackmail of international financial institutions and uninformed local analysts, the Naira will have a free fall and would not be worth more than what late Ugandan military leader, Idi Amin Dada, referred to as “toilet paper”’

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

“Without adequate taxation the government would not be able to provide key infrastructure. Everybody that is in a position to pay tax should do so without prompting, that is the only way government can work. -Former Minister of Industry and Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs Nike Akande

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE CEO

JOBS Renewable Energy: Emerging jobs creator News Brief JP Morgan: Nigerian investors hold govt bonds, treasury bills THE majority of government’s securities are held by domestic investors with ever-growing desire for FGN Bonds and Treasury Bills, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said. –Page 22

Concrete roads are cheaper, durable, says Dangote AFRICA’S richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote has reiterated his plea to the Federal Government to consider building concrete roads in the country. –Page 22

Govt urged on joint airline ownership AN airline economist, Mr Gbenga Olowo, has urged the Federal Government to put in place a policy that will encourage joint ownership of domestic airlines by Nigerians and foreigners. –Page 22

‘Our environment not conducive to aviation concessions’ - P. 33

- P. 31

Nigeria spends N180b on paper importation, others A

N estimated N180 bil lion is spent yearly on the importation of paper and paper products according to a report obtained by The Nation. The report said the sum expended on importation of papers and related products is due to the failure of three privatised mills in Jebba, Kwara, Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom and Ogun states to commence production. It is estimated that the cost implication of the non-performance of the Nigeria Paper Mill (NPM), Jebba for four years, from 2006 -2009 is about N30.25billion, Nigeria News Print Manufacturing Company (NNMC) Oku-Iboku, within the same time frame, stood at N18.76 billion, while the Nigerian National Paper Manufacturing Company (NNPMC) in Ogun- State, was abandoned at 85 per cent completion. Director-General, Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, who spoke to The Nation in Lagos, during a meeting organised with the Manufacturers Asso-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

ciation of Nigeria (MAN), warned that the benefits that could be derived from the engagement of the Mills is being lost. He explained that the technology involved in pulp and paper production in the 1990’s may not be compatible with trends in the industry globally and that Nigeria should move fast so as not not to lose the huge investment in that sector. He said: “As we are all aware, the technology for pulp and paper production has advanced considerably since the paper mills in the country were established. He said efforts are being made to reduce the environmental impact of pulp and paper production processes through the use of organosolv pulping method which was developed to avoid environmental problems related to sulphur emissions. ‘’Many mills globally are also

introducing micro and nano materials, in view of their renewability, fibriller structure, multi-functional applications and the possibility of being selfassembled into well-defined architecture.” Ibrahim, who was represented by RMRDC’s Director of Agriculture and Agro Allied Department, Dr. Abimbola Ogunwusi, said pulp, paper, paper products, printing and publishing sector of the economy holds the key to the sustainable economic and industrial growth of the country. According to him, paper production is one of the major industrial activities that are imperative to sustainable development of education, achievement of Vision 20:20: 20 and Millennium Development Goals and should be encouraged. MAN’s Director-General, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun urged the Federal Government to invest large funds and technology into the sector as their finished products cut across the different sec-

tors of the economy. He noted that the local sufficiency of raw materials that needed to be exploited but quickly added that current foreign exchange (forex) policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may hamper the importation of some needed raw materials that is meant to complement the local substitute. He encouraged involvement of local manufactures in the value chain through a robust policy that will involve all stakeholders. A university don, Prof Oluwadare Oluwafemi observed said the demand for pulp and paper is growing globally irrespective of the move to a paperless economy. He urged RMRDC and MAN on exploiting local alternatives while asking the government to evolve what would encourage long fibre pulpwood improvement programme in addition to supporting research in paper and pulp development in tertiary institutions across the country.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

8.4%

Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d)

• From left: Deputy Team Leader, GEMS 4, Mr. Olatunde Oderinde; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Bashorun and Group Head, Agriculture Finance, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya at the Lagos Rice Fair organised by GEMS4 and supported by the bank in Lagos.

‘Indigenous firms can’t meet IOCs’ fabrication needs’ By Akinola Ajibade

OCAL fabrication firms have not grown to the level of meeting all International Oil Companies’ (IOCs’) needs, the Group Managing Director, Obijackson Group, Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, has said. The Group has notable interests in construction, telecommunication, maritime, aviation, electricity and oil and gas, where its subsidiary, Nestoil is gradually assuming the status of a major player in the energy sector. He said though the nation’s fabrication industry is growing, it has not been able to meet the offshore fabrication needs of oil majors. Obiejesi said the few fabrication firms in operation do not have the capacity to meet the needs of foreign oil companies that now operate offshore. He said: “Following the divestment of stakes in the nation’s oil and gas by multinational oil companies and their decision to leave onshore for offshore engagement, there is increase in demand for fabrication activities. The oil majors do not have choice than to meet their fabrication needs offshore. “Incidentally, the foreign oil companies operating in Nigeria decided to look outside the country for supply of fabrication materials to compliment whatever they are getting from Nigeria.” He said Dorman Long, LADOL and EWD, a subsidiary of Obijackson Group, provide fabrication services, adding that they are unable to meet the needs of IOCs offshore. “To bridge the gap between the demand and supply of fabrication materials, or facilities offshore, is a problem because local firms that render fabrication services cannot do everything due to their limited capacity,” he added.

Maximum lending 30% Prime lending Savings rate

15.87% 3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR Foreign Reserve

13% $34.5b

PenCom to issue new investment regulation before December

HE National Pension C o m m i s s i o n (PenCom) will before end of December issue a new investment regulation for operators, The Nation has learnt. This is coming on the heels of recognition by the Commission that the expansion of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has created dearth of investment outlets. In a report exclusively obtained by The Nation from the Commission, it was also ob-

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

served that there is the risk of concentration of investment portfolio especially in bonds and fixed income securities. It was disclosed that the amended regulation is currently undergoing the usual Board approval process and would be issued shortly. According to the report, the amended investment regulation will become effective at a later date to allow for enough time

for adequate public education/ enlightenment as well as for pension operators to align their internal processes accordingly. “The Commission has established investment regulations that specifies the allowable securities and outlets for the investment of pension fund assets which currently are the traditional equities and bonds. ”However, we have recognised that the expansion of the CPS has created a dearth of investment outlets and there is the risk of concentration of in-

vestment portfolio especially in bonds and fixed income securities. “Consequently, the Commission has amended the investment regulation to encourage further diversification and safety of the pension portfolios amongst other considerations. “The revised regulation is proposing to introduce the Multi-Fund Structure for Retirement Savings Account Funds; Non-Interest Capital Market Products (NICMP) such as Sharia compliant bonds

(Sukuk), Exchange Traded Funds and other securities; Mortgage Bonds guaranteed by the Federal Government.” The Commission explained that the proposed amendments to the regulation on investment of pension fund assets seek to broaden the available asset classes for pension fund investments especially in infrastructure and real estate as well as appropriately align the demographic distribution of contributors with their risks appetite.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS Govt urged on joint airline ownership

N airline economist, Mr Gbenga Olowo, has urged the Federal Government to put in place a policy that will encourage joint ownership of domestic airlines by Nigerians and foreigners. Joint airline ownership, he said, would guarantee better efficiency in airline management as well as attract more institutional funding. Olowo said such ownership of domestic airlines would bring about constant flow of income for “troubled domestic carriers’’, which constantly go cap in hand seeking intervention from government through the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON). He said the ownership of airlines had become imperative to discourage the ownership structure of domestic

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

airlines - which are mainly one man businesses. He canvassed the merger of domestic carriers into two or three strong ones that could be designated as flag carriers to compete with foreign carriers. Olowo said attempt to rescue the domestic air transport market from foreign carriers might remain a mirage until the carriers were strengthened. He said AMCON and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could collaborate to put in place a template for strong flag carriers. Such flag carriers to be must advance a roadmap to develop air transport and set timelines for safety.

• From right: General Manager, Techno Group, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo; Chocolate city rapper, Mr. MI Ibaga; Public Relations Manager, Techno Mobile, Miss. Hanane Karroumi; Head, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Lagos Office, Mr. Joshua Yakubu and a musician, Mr. Chukwudi Ken Agalion (Chuddy K) during the Techno Phantom 5 launch in Lagos.

JP Morgan: Nigerian investors hold govt bonds, treasury bills

‘Increase investments in power’

HE Manufacturers As sociation of Nigeria (MAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to increase investments in the power sector to boost efficient management of the various sectors of the value chain, particularly in manufacturing. It Chairman, Apapa Chapter, Mr. Babatunde Odunayo, who spoke at the weekend, lamented that the hiccups stifling power supply leaves a heavy impact on operators, noting that the high cost of production of alternative energy source negatively affects the profitability of manufacturing operations and competitiveness of finished products. Odunayo said: “Until now, the industry has clearly not been efficient in meeting the needs of consumers. The irregular energy service being provided and its rising high cost have weakened the manufacturing sector over the years. This weakening ema-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie and Temitayo Ayetoto

nated from heavy investment in own-generators, full complement of spare parts, use of expensive diesel and the investment in full complement of staff for the maintenance of generators.” Despite her stand as the largest country in Africa, accounting for almost 15 per cent of the continent’s population, Odunayo noted that Nigeria has the lowest per capita energy consumption estimated at 40Kw/000 inhabitants contrary to South Africa’s 270Kw/ 000 inhabitants and Indonesia’s 120Kw/000. He also expressed disenchantment in the transformation agenda wrought by the previous government, saying it planned to achieve 12 megawatts capacity in 2014, 14 megawatts in 2015, and 20.3 megawatts by 2016, but failed to meet the projections. He added that Nigeria still struggles with a capacity of four megawatts.

HE majority of govern ment’s securities are held by domestic investors with ever-growing desire for FGN Bonds and Treasury Bills, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said. Its Director-General, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, spoke while reacting to Nigeria’s removal from the JP Morgan Index, adding that the FGN Bond market is predominantly reliant on a well-diversified domestic base but one that also encourages foreign investors to participate. The increased participation of non-banks (Pension Fund Administrators) in the FGN Bond Markets Nwankwo said are indicative of the level of diversification that has been achieved in the investor base for government securities. Nwankwo said: “The dominance of local investors in the

In a statement by the Chambers’ National President and Chairman Chief Olabintan Famutimi, said it she is also a graduate of the Isle of Man College, United Kingdom (UK) and has worked in both the private and public sectors in South Africa, the UK and Nigeria. A prolific facilitator of trainings on ‘sustainability’ in the private sector, her work experience also spans Price Waterhouse Coopers, Concepts Solutions and Lagos Business School.

‘Work on stable power in progress’

HE Managing Direc tor/Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution (IKEDC), Abiodun Ajifowobaje, has said the country’s transition to uninterrupted power supply is in progress. He expressed confidence that the advent of privatisation in the power sector would deliver the expected dividend. Ajifowobaje, however, cautioned Nigerians not be unmindful of the time it will take the country to reach the desired levels of gas availability, infrastructure, human capital and financial backing, which are all critical ingredients needed for the complete transformation of the

By Muyiwa Lucas

sector. According to him, so far, the best thing that has happened to the power sector is its privatisation. This is because prior to the privatisation, the industry was in need of fresh investments to boost capacity and supply. Privatisation, he explained, has given the sector a boost, especially with the introduction of private sector initiative, including private funding, which he noted, is completely changing its operational framework all over the country. Therefore, he said, Nigerians should give kudos to the Federal Government for this laudable feat.

(Asst. Editor), Abuja

FGN Bond is highlighted by the share of Allotment of FGN Bonds to Pension Funds at the Auctions which grew from 20.28 percent in 2010 to 33.35 percent in 2014, with the share of Non-Bank Financial Institutions in Allotments at the Auctions rising from 7.08 percent in 2010 to 20.93 percent in 2014.” The DMO while admitting that there are benefits that come with the inclusion of FGN Bonds in the GBI – EM, it maintained that it will “continue to introduce measures to attract more domestic investors to the Bond market particularly, nonbank institutions and retail investors in order to enlarge and diversify the investor base.”

The DMO, Nwankwo explained, “is convinced that the expected reduction in foreign participation in the FGN Bond Market due to the phasing out from the GBI – EM will not impact the market adversely. “The share of Allotment at the Auctions to foreign investors dropped from 15.51 percent in 2013 to 3.34 percent in 2014, yet the markets remained stable” because the DMO and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were tracking the market and knew that portfolio investors who lurked around the market were skittish and would run at the slightest sign of shock to the economy like they did to Russia and Venezuela years before Nigeria.” Nwankwo described the JP Morgan announcement as unwelcome, because the de-

cision “(as stated in their Announcement), was based on their perception of the Foreign Exchange (FX) Market (not FGN Bond Markets) which they claimed was lacking in terms of a fully functional two-way FX market and had limited transparency. The response of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which is the agency charged with FX management, has been made public.” The DMO and other stakeholders, Nwankwo said, remain committed to further developments of the Bond Market due to its strategic role of mobilising long term capital to finance growth and development, stating that “the phasing out of FGN Bonds from the GBI – EM by JP Morgan does not dampen this collective resolve.”

Concrete roads are cheaper, durable, says Dangote

Chamber appoints new DG HE Nigerian-Ameri can Chamber of Commerce has appointed Dr. Delia Jumai Nzekwu as its new Director-General. Nzekwu holds a doctorate in Political Studies from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg and led the 2007/2008 Wits team on the Cooperation Framework between Finland and South Africa (COFISA), which developed a framework for the development of Johannesburg as an emulative world-class city by 2050.

From Nduka Chiejina

• Invests over $4.34b in 10 African countries

FRICA’S richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote has reiterated his plea to the Federal Government to consider building concrete roads in the country. Speaking with reporters over the weekend, Dangote, who is Chairman of Dangote Cement, said if exploited, it would be of benefit to Nigerians. Aside from being very cheap, he said concrete roads are more durable and that their maintenance cost is near zero. “We are pushing for Nigeria to do a concrete road. It is cheaper to do a concrete

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

road that will last 50 years than to do a bitumen road. It will also help in eliminating corruption because if you go and build a bitumen road, it will have to be adequately maintained unlike a concrete road that is very durable.” It would be recalled that the company has expanded its frontiers to Asia, by constructing a three million metric tons per annum (mmtpa), Cement Plant in Nepal, is part of its new investment of $4.34 billion in 10 African countries. In 15 African countries, excluding Kenya, Niger and

Mali, which are new projects. The company’s total capacity stands at 48mmtpa, out of which Nigeria alone has the largest chunk of 29.3mmtpa. Dangote said: “ ...We are not only building cement plants in Africa, we have gone far away to NEPAL to build a three million metric tons Cement Plant capacity and by the time all these our new projects are completed in the next two years, Dangote Cement will have more than 70 million capacity but we are not going to stop there, hopefully, by 2020, our targets is getting to somewhere around 100 million tons capacity. I can assure

• Dangote

you categorically that Africa will not lack cement now and even in the future…Africa will be self -sufficient rather than be a dumping ground for other manufacturers of cement. “

Power: LCCI urges Buhari to engage stakeholders

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Indus try (LCCI) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt stakeholders’engagement on the energy sector to get proper feedback that would shape the nedeed policy for the sector. LCCI’s Director-General, Muda Yusuf told The Nation that such engagement was lacking, noting that the out-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

look on the power industry was bright. He said: “The outlook on power industry is very bright given the commitment of the administration to tackling the problem of power. There are several issues that need to b addressed such gas pricing, power purchase agreement, need to make it flexible to enable

investors and producers to supply power and key into the power deal. “But considering the Buhari administration’s commitment to tackling these power issues, I think the outlook is very bright. Some of these concerns I’m sure will be dealt with. It is also important there is proper engagement with stakeholders in all of these because the President is still not engaging

enough, the stakeholders on the way forward with some of these critical sectors. “That is one thing we need to advise the administration. Stakeholders’ engagement should begin, so that he gets proper feedback in order shape the kind of policy that we need for the entire energy sector (power, oil and gas industries). It is very critical because that is still not done yet.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Business News

‘Nigeria’s private security regulation hazy’

ESPITE the prevailing high level of in security, Nigeria still has unclear regulations for the private security sub-sector. The Chief Executive Officer, Risk Control Services Nigeria Limited, Olufemi Ajayi, made, this submission while receiving the ISO 9001:2008 certification from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for his company. According to Ajayi, most of the regulations in the private security industry are still targeted at security guards, but the industry incorporates manufacturers, consultants and trainers. He urged the Federal Government to unveil a policy for players in the industry, saying: “The truth is that insecurity thrives in an atmosphere of disorder.” The company is the first and only security consulting company in West Africa that has submitted and obtained ISO certification for its background screening service. “Private security in Nigeria is not well-regulated. This is why we submitted to international standards,” he said. Insecurity, ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery to Boko Haram insurgency, has thrived in the country. Nigeria has, incidentally, relied on fewer than 400,000 police officers and few private security guards to protect its over 170 million population. Ajayi said for the sector to help improve security, its institution and rules must be strengthened, as his company’s quest for ISO

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

necessitated a one-year rigorous process of systems enhancements and quality improvements under the supervision of our consultants and the guidance of auditors from SON. He also revealed that his company has established an internationally acclaimed school for accredited National Diploma in Security Management, Technology and IT networks and Electronic Security to train security managers. “Students from this academy will have basic knowledge in every area of security,” the CEO said. He further confirmed that National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the body that regulates polytechnics and colleges of education, has given the academy a licence while accrediting two of its programs – Security Management and Technology, and. IT Networks and Electronic Security. Chairman of the company Tokunbo Talabi said, “Nigeria is a country of high risk.” According to Talabi, the government should create an enabling environment that will help institutions and organisations to thrive. “We need infrastructure provision to ensure that all spectrum of security is covered. International companies need to do business with our local businesses but they cannot do as much as they want to without authentic information on the companies the deal with, this is where we come in. Unfortunately our laws cover the rudimen-

• From left: Talabi; Mrs Ayeni and Ajayi at the event.

tary levels. We need to engage decision makers to ensure that this spectrum of security is fully covered,” Talabi added. Praising them, Director General, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu said a company that wants enduring foot print in economic competitiveness in these challenging times should aspire to get enlisted into the ISO certification. He said that remains the only way they can be recognized globally. “Quality for excellence has no destination and remains a moving target. Your product that won you the certification delivers various security solutions in all manner of forms to industries, banks, service industry and the manufacturing sector. There is a need for you to consistently improve on your services to retain the certification as the bedrock of the

certification is integrity, quality, passion and professionalism.” The SON chief represented by the Director Management Certification, Mrs Oluremi Ayeni, an engineer commended the management of Risk Control Services Nigeria Ltd, on their robust database that has the data of graduates from Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions in the last twenty years. He said the feat is not only the first in West Africa but a platform to eliminate the hassles employers of labour go through to confirm claims by would be employees. Furthermore, he said the total security package of the company, which includes forensic, anti-counterfeiting and background screening, is more attractive as the top notch service.

‘How cashew can create jobs, grow economy’

BoI gets CBN licence By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

By Daniel Essiet

HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has secured Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licence after meeting the requirements for Development Finance Institutions (DFI). A statement by BoI said CBN approved its application for the licence, in line with the CBN guidelines which stipulate, “all existing DFIs whether established directly by an Act of the National Assembly, incorporated under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) or any other law shall be required to obtain licence from the CBN.” Similarly, the bank noted that, to drive industrialisation, it has embarked on strategic and tactical initiatives to reposition its operations. “BoI wishes to reiterate our readiness to continue to provide financial support to SMEs and Large Enterprises with good business propositions. The Bank will also continue to provide business support and capacity building for SMEs. “We have in recent times taken bold steps, both strategic and tactical, to reposition the Bank among which are the formulation of Strategic Plan 2015-2019; institutionalisation of corporate governance structures; implementation of enterprise wide risk management and compliance systems; and introduction of mobile and digital platforms for interfacing with SMEs, thereby improving our efficiency. “We have also Introduced cluster specific SME products for Agro-processing, Nollywood, Fashion business, and others; we also expanded our branch network from seven to 14 offices to bring our services closers to our customers; our operations have also been certified as we recently secured the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems (QMS) Certification as well as secured good credit ratings from Agusto & Co (A-) and Fitch Ratings (BB-). ”Our ongoing SME Cluster development initiative will ensure that all credible SMEs in Nigeria can feel the impact of BOI in due course,” the statement read in part.

•From left: President, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka; Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi and Managing Director, Lateef Lamina Memorial School Ltd, Alhaja Kudirat Lamina, during a visit to Oba by a delegation of the chamber.

Sanusi urges Fed Govt on infrastructure growth

ORMER Central Bank Gover nor, and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Mohammed 11, has advised the Federal Government to adopt a holistic approach in resolving infrastructural problems in order to move the country forward. He said infrastructural development should not be limited to road construction, but extended to other sectors, such as health and education to achieve meaningful socioeconomic growth. Sanusi, in a statement while giving his approval to the forthcoming Nigeria Infrastructure Public Private Partnership Summit billed to hold in the last quarter of this year, said the development of social infrastructure, especially health and education is critical to the well-being of the people. In the statement titled: ‘Emir of Kano, Sanusi Mohammed 11 Welcomes Focus on Social Infrastructure at the forthcoming Infrastructure Private Public Partnership (PPP) Summit,’ said this during a

By Akinola Ajibade

visit to his palace in Kano, by the Summit Planning Team headed by A. B. Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He said the non-implementation of several recommendations from previous successful summits by past governments, has affected infrastructural developments in Nigeria, urging the team to ensure that the summit provides solution to problems relating to infrastructural gaps among others, besetting the growth of the country. His words: “I understand the critical role infrastructure plays in developing our economy, and in particular, the need for Nigeria to address the key social infrastructure deficit particularly in education and health that will deliver a better quality of life not just for the elite, but for those in society for whom access to one thousand naira could make the difference between losing a child and obtaining the medi-

cation and treatment that could save a child’s life.” In his response, the leader of the delegation, Mahmoud, said the summit would put in place a roadmap that would make government at all levels work together to develop critical infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Also, Gori Olusina Daniel, partner and Africa Regional Director at Adams & Moore, said the event would focus on four critical sectors– Power, Health, Transport and Education, in order to align with the Federal Government’s development priorities. Olusina, also a member of the delegation, said: “This summit is about charting the way forward in four critical sectors and establishing a private sector led Community of Practice, working in collaboration with government across all levels that will ensure the successful implementation of these roadmaps.”

ASHEW has the potential for economic growth and employ ment if farmers and processors are supported to improve production, the Acting Executive Director of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Mr Julius Adebayo Onietan has said. In an interview, he said there was a need to revamp the industry and expand its processing capacity to higher levels in the coming years. According to him, the industry is dogged by low input, low yields and poor prices for raw nuts. Onietan praised the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for the training of more Nigerians in cashew processing, adding that such interventions would increase competitiveness, as well as facilitate improved production. He acknowledged TechnoServe’s activities in the North on farmers’empowerment to boost their agricultural methods. According to experts, Nigeria good for growing and processing of cashew nuts. The north for exmaple, has expanse of land to increase production but little support is given to farmers. According to experts, processors should be competitive in four areas: broken nut yields, production costs, working capital rates, quality and reputation. Meanwhile, the West Africa Trade Hub of the USAID has earmarked over $150,000 to help finance processing raw cashew nuts to increase regional trade competitiveness, improve food security, and reduce poverty over the next five years. The programme, which is in partnership with Cashew Alliance, is among other objectives aimed at boosting international exports, jobs, and investments; and also to promote broader, more sustainable growth by improving both the private sector’s capacity and policies, rules and practices that govern regional and external trade. It will also increase regional trade in key commodities through more value added exports: shea, cashew, mango, rice, maize, millet/sorghum, livestock — cattle, and small ruminants.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

ISSUES The need for a review of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003, otherwise called the Cabotage Act by the National Assembly as part of the change mantra remains an issue. The clamour for its review is gaining momentum so the benefits inherent in the Act can be harnessed, writes, Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

•Containers

12 years on: Cabotage Act dead on arrival? T

HE expectations were high. Stakeholders in the maritime sector, both in private capacity and government, were upbeat about the benefits that would accrue to their operations should the Act see the light of day. It was therefore not surprising that no effort was spared in ensuring the passage of the Cabotage Act by the Second National Assembly (NASS) Session. That was in 2003. However, 12 years after its enactment, maritime operators are yet to start reaping the attendant benefits from the Act. This situation has now presented the current NASS- the Eighth Session, with a demand for a review of the Act. The reasoning being that the Cabotage Act of 2003 may have outived its usefulness considering that the bottlenecks that it should have addressed, and the implementation of its provisions, are yet to be addressed.

2003 Cabotage Act and Policy thrust The Act was enacted to encourage indigenous companies' participation in shipping, increase capacity building and provide employment for Nigerian seafarers. It would also help to develop the domestic maritime fleet, create employment opportunities for trained but unemployed seafarers, boost training requirements at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, lead to optimal exploitation of the currently under- utilised facilities at Nigerdock, and encourage the development of required infrastructure and technical know-how in the inland waterways, transport and haulage system." Aside other considerations, the policy thrust of the Act, include the Protection of

the nation’s territorial waters; safeguard national security; promote and preserve national shipping operators; development of the national fleet; and the development of intermodal transportation. Others include freight generation and capacity building to stimulate and expose indigenous shipping firms to coastal shipping business as a launch pad to deep sea and international shipping; acquisition of shipping technology; creating and diversifying employment opportunities in the industry, improved environmental safety, promotion of economic growth and national development among others.

Concerns For stakeholders in the maritime sector, the Cabotage Act has presented nothing but 12 years of failed expectations and worries. The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Belllo, captured this feelings succintly last week when he told The Nation that 12 years after the Act was signed, Nigerians were still awaiting for its full implementation because the Act is yet to per-

form the laudable objectives for which it was enacted. For instance, The Nation’s investigations revealed that contrary to the provisions of the Act, there are several foreign owned vessels providing shipping services locally. According to industry sources, there are over 100 vessels owned by foreigners but trading in Nigeria under questionable circumstances. They alleged that these category of vessels are often patronised by the oil majors in collaboration with some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in less than legal transactions and that they keep changing names and flags at wil.The Nation’s sources at NIMASA may have tacitly corroborated this allegations as they equally alleged that most of the accused vessels do not have up-to-date survey and requisite certificates to trade in other overseas countries and so are stuck in Nigerian waters where they carry out their illicit business.

Call for review Vs Lobbyists Following these allegations and others, stakeholders have at various times called for

The implementation of the Act have not been effectively handled due the role of the Minister " as imbedded in the Act, as well as the role of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

‘

’

the intervention of the NASS for a review of the Act. Bello is one of such making the calls. But how far can this agitation go given the intense lobbying being mounted by the beneficiaries of the faulty arrangement, especially the foreign ship owners? Further investigations have revealed that multinationals and foreign shipping companies are lobbying the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), some politicians and some former members of the NASS to ensure that a review of the Cabotage Act does not see the light of the day. A senior official of NIMASA, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that foreign shipping companies and others are making the move so that they can continue to get a bigger slice of the market. At the moment, only about 60 of the over 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned by indigenous operators; yet, only about six of the 60 do business in the offshore sector. From this anomaly, our source claims that each vessel used for offshore jobs charge at least $5,000 daily. This, according to the official, is the least amount collected by a foreign vessel. The country, he said, loses over N2 trillion yearly. “As at today, for ships that earn $5,000 and above per day, there are about 600 of them. There are those that even earn $150,000 per day. You have 60 belonging to Nigerians out of the over 600. Those 60, if you go to our waters, you will see them there; they have no jobs because there is no full implementation of the Cabotage Act because of its deficiencies that necessitated the current review," the official said. Sources at the Ministry of Transport alleged that multinationals, with the sup• Continued on page 25

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

ISSUES

12 years on: Cabotage Act dead on arrival? •Continued from page 24

port of some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been mounting pressures on the ministry to ensure the implementation of the Act does not see the light of day. He said foreigners, who will be affected, are worried over the review.

Wasted opportunities The Cabotage Act also stipulates that all cargoes and passengers in the inland and coastal waters be transported by ships and ferries built, owned, crewed and manned by Nigerians. Therefore, if fully implemented, the Act would have inevitably led to the development of support industries such as moving, towage, pilotage, dredging of the channel and waste disposal and the development of the inland waterways by dredging coastal waterways and silted.According to the former Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman, oil and gas sector plays a predominant role in the nation's sea trade, with an estimated contribution of about 95 per cent to coastal and inland shipping allied marine activities. The remaining five per cent is made up of fishing trawlers and breakbulk carriers. Therefore, Suleimon reckoned, the physical and economic environment, would have thrown up opportunities in a wellimplemented Cabotage regime such as envisaged by the Act.

Structures for the implementation of Cabotage regime A number of institutional structures that are supposed to define the building blocks for the implementation of Cabotage regime had been put in place by the government. Some of the institutions are: The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)), NIMASA, The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC),the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) among others. Operators said there may be need to tinker with these institutions, but the main institution that needs serious funding, according to them, is the NPA, which is saddled with the responsibility of providing an integrated approach to port administration in the country. Despite the ports reform and the laudable efforts of the Mallam Habib Abdullahi-led management of the authority, the nation's sea ports are still regarded as far below international standards and commercially unfriendly as terminal operators are accused of charging high tariffs and the roads leading to the ports are in poor shape. Other problems, according to importers and stakeholders, are myriad and include an inadequate supply of craft and plants, a cumbersome documentation system, unnecessary delay in releasing cargo from the ports, extortion, dilapidated port infrastructure, low labour productivity, corruption, vandalism, criminal damage, congestion, problems of empty containers and gridlock on the road despite the past synergy between the Federal and Lagos State governments. All these problems, stakeholders said, are part of the problems confronting the Cabotage law that need to be looked into by the lawmakers while carrying out the review to make the law effective.

Ports reform The importance of the ports to Cabotage administration, the President, National Association, Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu said, cannot be overemphasised. According to him, there cannot be regulated loading or discharging under the Cabotage trade without proper systems for controls. The NPA, he said, must have regulatory control over all harbours, piers and jetties used in the Cabotage trade for the law to be effective. The port reforms by way of investing the NPA with only landlord functions, Shittu said, suits the Cabotage regime. But in order to achieve the desired objec-

•President Buhari

• Bello

• Shittu

tives of the Act, the port reforms, he said, should include achievement of efficiency in port operations, reduction of port costs, reduction in bureaucracy, 24 hours port operation, provision of modern cargo handling equipment, easy clearance of cargo, efficient pilotage, reduced tariffs and increased level of productivity. Lack of synergy between the remaining government regulatory agencies at the port collating levies and charges, the ANLCA chief said, may hamper the successful implementation of the Act, as operators will have to deal with each of the agencies separately.

instead of employing Nigerians to man their vessels. This development, according to ISAN scribe, has impacted negatively on the Cabotage Law as it is denying Nigerians the benefits of getting employment opportunities.

value from a port or point within Nigerian waters.”

Waivers and the role of NIMASA The Minister of Transport is given powers under the Act to grant waivers to foreign vessels to partake in Cabotage trade where he is satisfied that there is no capacity on the part of Nigerians with respect to satisfying the requirements as contained in Sections 3-6 of 32Section. The waiver system adopted by the Act is based on grounds of non-availability. Speaking with The Nation, the former National President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, called for the removal of the power given to the Minister from the Act. Agbakoba said that the power given to the minister in the Act has been responsible for the poor implementation of Cabotage law since inception. He lamented that issues relating to the implementation of the Act have not been effectively handled due the role of the minister as imbedded in the Act, as well as the role of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). "The job of NIMASA should be clear, then we will have the relevant policies in place. The new NIMASA I am talking about should carry on without interference from anybody including the Ministry of Transport. For this to happen, the legal framework of Cabotage must be amended. Wherever the name of the minister occurred in the Cabotage Act must be deleted and its place it will be inserted NIMASA," Agbakoba said. Also, a maritime lawyer and university don, Mr Dipo Alaka, identified financial involvement at the point of applying for waiver under the Cabotage Act as one of the reasons for the circumvention of the gains of the Act. He alleged that waivers are granted "before approval because those who apply for waivers are made to pay while their applications are still being processed. "The Act stipulates that 100 per cent rating, 60 per cent of officers for Nigerians and 40 per cent for foreigners. But the foreigners come in with a waiver clause that the country does not have qualified hands to man the industry. The Executive Secretary, Indegenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Niyi Labinjo, said that most of the foreign ships are hiding under the provision of waiver in the Cabotage Law to continue to use foreign crew

‘

Indigenous ship owners, Cargo lifting As part of its efforts to increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the country, the National Assembly is beaming its searchlight on the maritime industry with the aim of amending the Cabotage Act, so as to increase the involvement of indigenous ship owners in trade activities along the nation's coastal lines and boost revenue generation One of the major challenges confronting the implementation of the Act which the review must address is the issue of putting cargo lifting in the hands of indigenous ship owners. Stakeholders said the Assembly members need to examine solutions to this issue which has made the country to lose several millions of dollars which can be used to further the development of the country to foreign ship owners. For almost 12 years after the enactment of the Cabotage Law, the purpose of the law, they said, has failed to yield its desired outcomes, the reason being majorly because of the non-coverage of indigenous vessels in oil and gas off shore operations and other obligations under the law. It is a global trend for governments to reserve the domestic shipping activities for indigenous participation but the case has not been the same in Nigeria. The fact remains that cabotage is still largely comprised of foreign operators with foreign built, crewed and flagged vessels. The review of 2003 Cabotage law must address the issue of developing the nation's economy as well as meeting the agitation of operators and stakeholders in the sector through the review of the Act by restricting foreign vessels in the nation's coastal trade and promoting indigenous tonnage and establishing financing and related matters. One key area they operators fingered as the problem was the seeming exclusion from jurisdiction of several offshore operations in the Oil and Gas sector as prescribed in the 2003 Act. According to part II of the amendment to the Act prescribed in the clause titled 'Restricting of Vessels in Domestic Coastal Trade', “A vessel other than a vessel wholly owned and manned by a Nigerian citizen, built and registered in Nigeria shall not engage in the domestic coastal carriage or cargo and passengers within the coastal, territorial, inland waters, island or any point within the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria.” It also adds in clause 4(1) "A tug or vessel not wholly owned by a person who is a Nigerian citizen shall not tow any vessel from or to any port or point in Nigerian Waters, or tow any vessel carrying any substance whatsoever, whether of value or not or any dredge material whether or not has commercial

Contrary to the provisions of the Act, there are several foreign owned vessels providing shipping services locally. According to industry sources, there are over 100 vessels owned by foreigners but trading in Nigeria under questionable circumstances

’

Cabotage Vessel Fund (CVFF) The Cabotage Act establishes a fund to be known as the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). The purpose of the fund is to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity by providing financial assistance to local operators in the domestic coastal shipping. The sourcing of the fund shall be from a surcharge of two per cent of the contract sum performed by any vessel engaged in the coastal trade; a sum as from time to time to be determined and approved by the NationalAssembly; tariffs, fines and fees for licensing and waivers; such further sums accruable to the fund by way of interest paid on and repayment of the principal sums of loans granted from the fund. The Fund shall be managed under guidelines to be proposed by the minister and approved by the National Assembly. While the fund is salutary, it is hoped that it will not have to go the way of the SASBF, which was bedeviled by corruption and bad management. The fund on its part will in all probability not be enough to satisfy the demands that would be made on it. Recourse will have to be made to other sources of funds like commercial banks, multilateral and development institutions assistance, grants aid and shipyard credit.The target funding level of NIMASA is to attain a funding base of $500 million. Today, the money is over $250million and NIMASA is yet to disburse the money because of bureaucracy and stringent conditions attached to the money by ministry officials. The National Assembly, operators said, should see to the quick disbursement of the fund to assist local ship owners. The former President, Indigenous Ship Owners Association (ISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo said the Act had been ineffective due to poor implementation. Jolapomo advocated N200 million penalties and forfeiture of ship, five year- jail term instead of the current N10 million for offenders. He said that the existing temporary importation regime should be abolished and a maritime bank established.

Maritime Bank A maritime expert, Mr Solomon Adedayo said the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund(CVFF) should also include maintenance and repairs of vessels used for Cabotage trade.With the recapitalisation in the banking sector, he said a specialised bank should be established to fund maritime industry and activities

National security There is the question of national interest and security, which is the prime benefit of Cabotage. According to the President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu "Cabotage laws are critical to every maritime nations security interest. More than 40 nations, including all G8 members, he said, agreed that free markets are bedrock ideas but secondary to the welfare of their citizens…" Shittu's position is self-evident and the country cannot afford to be an exception; security of the country must not be sacrificed on the altar of globalisation and free trade and its must be given serious consideration during the review of the Cabotage Act.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

MONEYLINK

Nigeria’s agric produce imports exceeds N630b, says Emefiele

HERE is urgent need for government to give priority to the agricultural sector and save over N630 billion spent in importing agricultural produce, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele has said. The CBN chief who disclosed this at a workshop on innovative agricultural insurance products, in Lagos at the weekend, said the agricultural sector provides up to 70 per cent of employment in Nigeria and accounts for about 42 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Emefiele, who was represented by the Acting Managing Director of Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Edwin Nzelu, said the large import food products include wheat, rice, flour, fish, tomato paste, textile and sugar. “We are confronted, as a nation with a wide range of development challenges especially with the dwindling global crude oil prices and

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Stories by Collins Nweze

the nation’s dependence on it as its major source of revenue. There is the need to diversify the mono-cultural tendencies of the economy by developing other sectors of the

economy especially agriculture,” he said. H added that Nigeria’s formal financial system is lending about four per cent of all formal credit to the agricultural sector compared to three years ago when only about one per cent of all credit went to agriculture. He insisted that lending is still low given the lingering perception by banks that agriculture is highly risky. Emefiele said development and expansion of the agricultural insurance sub-sector will go a long way in mitigating against natural disasters and eventually encourage banks to lend to agriculture. “Agricultural insurance has been proven to be instrumental in transferring risks and stabilising farmers’ income, but in Nigeria, agricultural insurance is one of the less developed line of business. Therefore, there is need for insurance companies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to develop innovative products that will carter

Sterling Bank partners govt on e-PASS

HE Federal Government has entered into a partnership with Sterling Bank Plc and a project contractor, Continental Transfert Technique for the collection and payment accounting for a project called ‘ePASS. The project will start tomorrow. The e-PASS project is a scheme designed by the Federal Government to ensure that all NonECOWAS immigrants that visit Nigeria with a Tourist or Business Visa and intend to stay beyond an aggregate of 56 days in a year are made to pay a certain amount of money as advised by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). With this agreement, Sterling Bank in a statement said the fee

can now be paid from the date of commencement of the scheme at the bank’s designated airport stations or branches. Already, the bank has designated its representatives to be stationed at the five international airports located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu for this purpose. The branches that will be involved in the e-PASS scheme in Lagos include the Airport Road, Ilupeju, Adeola Odeku, Allen Avenue and head office branch along Marina, Lagos while branches at Sterling Boulevard, CBD, Mamman Kotangora Close, Area 3, Garki and Adetokunbo Ademola, Wuse will take part in Abuja. Others include Okpara Avenue, Enugu, Trans Amadi 1 in

Port Harcourt, and Murtala Mohammed way in Kano. In a statement signed by its Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, the bank explained that an aggregate stay beyond 56 days but not exceeding 90 days would attract a fee in the equivalent of $200 while 91 days to 180 days will attract a fee equivalent to $1,000. Aggregate stay beyond 180 days but not exceeding 365 days would attract a fee equivalent to USD2,000 while an over-stay without due permission from the Federal Government would attract a penalty which is 100 per cent of the prescribed fees. A fee of N8,000 will be charged for each application form, the bank said.

for the needs of farmers in their provision of agricultural insurance,” he said. He explained that over the years, only the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) was licensed to underwrite agriculture insurance in the country, until two years ago when NAICOM liberalised the insurance subsector for conventional insurers to underwrite. “I urge private insurance companies to take advantage of this opportunity and consider extending insurance cover to the agricultural sector to create a competitive market which will eventually increase insurance penetration to rural areas,” he said. Emefiele said expansion of agricultural insurance products has become imperative especially now that climatic reports have it that

Nigerian farmers are prone to risks from natural disaster such as flood, draught as well as different crop and livestock diseases. He said that NIRSAL was established to tackle both the financial and commodity agricultural value chains and that its insurance pillar was created to facilitate the expansion of the agricultural insurance products for lending by encouraging the introduction of new products such as weather index insurance, yield index insurance, multiperil among others. He said the workshop was organised in collaboration with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) which has garnered experience over time in introducing various insurance products in some African countries and was one of the major stakeholders in designing NIRSAL.

Fidelity Bank begins Saturday banking services

IDELITY Bank has announced the commencement of Saturday banking services in select branch locations across the country. This initiative which is in line with the bank’s mission to make financial services easy and accessible is part of the bank’s renewed effort to provide a new face of service in the industry. In a statement from the bank, effective September 12, Saturday banking services began between 10.00am to 2.00pm in 15 select Fidelity Bank branches across the country. The branches include Ketu, Alaba, Computer Village, Gbagada, Egbeda, (Lagos); Ekpoma, Mission Road (Edo State); Aba 3, Umuahia (Abia) and Challenge, Ibadan. Others are Polo Park, (Enugu), Nnewi, Onitsha Main

(Anambra); Kano 3 and Owerri Main. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo said that the introduction of Saturday banking services further reaffirms the bank’s commitment towards the creation of new customer experience in service delivery. “We are actively changing the way we do business; becoming more focused on our customers’ needs and exceeding their expectations from us.” He noted the changing business environment and insisted that the only way to remain relevant to customers is to be in tune with the times. In terms of value proposition to customers, Okonkwo said Saturday banking will allow customers to send and receive money to and from over 200 countries of the world.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

116.27 30,317.18 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.68 1.39 1,850.90 1,100.57 108.53 1.67 1.2457 1.3572 0.7762 1.1739

115.91 30,317.18 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.67 1.33 1,850.90 1,099.82 108.01 1.62 1.2393 1.3572 0.7637 1.1739

O/PRICE

ETRANZACT 2.21 BERGER 9.46 ETERNA 1.86 AIICO 0.90 CONSTINSURE 0.94 CHAMPION 4.45 UNITYBNK 1.31 SEPLAT 233.00 FLOURMILL 23.01 ACCESS 5.05

C/PRICE

CHANGE

4.43 9.93 1.95 0.94 0.98 4.63 1.35 240.00 23.62 5.18

9.95 4.97 4.84 4.44 4.26 4.04 3.05 3.00 2.65 2.57

LOSERS AS AT 10-09-15

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

CONSTAIN DEAPCAP OANDO VONO UACN NPFMCRFBK PZ STERLNBABK DANGCEM TRANSCORP STANBIC

0.61 0.61 11.40 0.93 33.00 1.03 26.65 2.13 170.00 2.38 22.00

C/PRICE 0.58 0.58 10.87 0.89 31.82 1.00 26.00 2.08 167.01 2.34 21.66

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE -4.92 -4.92 -4.65 -4.30 -3.58 -2.91 -2.44 -2.35 -1.76 -1.68 -1.55

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 10-09-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

15.033

15.977

15.809

17.177

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-09-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-09-15

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

UK productivity lags behind rest of G7

HE UK was much less productive than the rest of the G7 in 2014, lagging by the most since 1991, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said output per hour was 20 percentage points below the G7 average. The UK was behind the US, Germany and France by a large margin and was slightly worse than Italy and Canada. Productivity is seen as key to helping increase living standards in the UK by many experts. “These figures show UK productivity continues to lag behind other de-

veloped economies,” ONS chief economist Joe Grice said. “Since the economic downturn, productivity growth has slowed in most developed economies, but by more in the UK than the average.” The Chancellor, George Osborne, pledged in July to take steps to encourage more long-term investment in infrastructure and by businesses to boost productivity. Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight, said British productivity had been held back since the financial crisis by the creation of lots of low-skilled, low-paid jobs where productivity is limited.

However, Institute of Directors’ chief economist, James Sproule said UK firms should focus on “agility” rather than productivity. “The economy of the future looks set to be dominated not by big companies, but by fast, agile, quick-moving and reactive ones,” he said. “The firms that can respond to consumer demands most effectively and bring new products and services to market will reap the rewards.” Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it’s almost everything as Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman noted 25 years ago in his book, “The Age of Diminished Expectations”.

“Unless you improve the amount each worker produces, you can’t expect living standards to rise. “It’s a harsh verdict on British economic performance that since 1991 when the ONS started making international comparisons, the gap between our productivity and the rest of the world’s advanced economies widened to a chasm. “Sure we have had economic growth. But the fact that we’re still 18 per cent less productive than we would have been on pre-crisis trends gives you some idea why that growth hasn’t always flowed through to higher wages.

Japan’s Nikkei falls after Fed decision

•From left : Enugu Zonal Coordinator , National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr. Eke Michael, , Nollywood actor, Kingsley Ogbonna (Dauda), Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank, Nkolika Okoli and Senior Manager, NLRC, Mr. Nwafor Ramsay at the Bank's Reach for The Skye reward draw in Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State.

Bank of England may cut rates, says chief economist

HE Bank of England may have to cut rates to combat low inflation, rather than raise them as its next move, its chief economist, Andy Haldane, has said. UK inflation may not pick up in the second half of the year, and there are risks of fallout from emerging economies, he said in a speech. “Should those risks materialise, a rate cut would be a viable option," he said. UK interest rates have been held at a record low of 0.5 per cent for more than six years. Softening employment figures and weakening surveys on manufacturing and construction output suggested growth in the UK could slow in the second half of the year and inflation might not pick up as expected. Furthermore, problems in emerging markets could be a drag on UK growth and the headwinds from those economies were unlikely to

abate any time soon, Mr Haldane added. He described recent events in Greece and China as "the latest leg of what might be called a three-part crisis trilogy.” "The balance of risks to UK growth, and to UK inflation at the two-year horizon, is skewed squarely and significantly to the downside," Mr Haldane said. The case for raising interest rates was "some way from being made", he added. "Were the downside risks I have discussed to materialise, there could be a need to loosen rather than tighten the monetary reins as a next step to support UK growth and return inflation to target," he said. However, former Monetary Policy Committee member, Andrew Sentance was scathing about Mr Haldane's analysis. "Sorry to say, but Andy Haldane's

spouting rubbish here," he tweeted. "Cutting interest rates from all-time low is unnecessary. Doing so when economy is in 7th year of recovery is totally foolish." "Andy Haldane seems to have no concept of longer-term need for interest rates to strike balance between savers and investors," he added. According to Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight, Mr. Haldane has "cemented his place as the arch-dove" on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). "While there is currently considerable uncertainty as to when the Bank of England is likely to start raising interest rates, Andy Haldane's stance looks isolated within the MPC," said Mr Archer. His views seem to be at odds with fellow MPC member Ian McCafferty, "who has voted for an interest rate hike from 0.50 per cent to 0.75 per cent at both the August and September MPC meetings.”

Wall St. slumps as Fed fuels global growth concerns

ALL Street fell sharply last Friday after the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates near zero fueled concerns about global growth, muddying the outlook for stocks. Apart from the state of the world economy, the Fed cited financial market volatility and sluggish inflation at home in its decision on Thursday, while leaving the door open for a modest policy tightening later this year. “The path forward for stocks just became a lot less clear,” J.P. Morgan analysts said in a note. An economic environment in which the Fed feels it can’t end the era of near-zero interest rates is not one likely to foster the kind of earnings growth needed to support stocks at their current, above-average valuations. Despite recent declines, the S&P 500 is still trading near 15.6 times forward 12-month earnings, above the

10-year median of 14.7 times, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine data. Third-quarter earnings are already expected to decline 3.7 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. “Investors are wrestling with how concerned they should be regarding global growth,” said Jeremy Zirin, chief equity strategist at UBS Wealth Management. “The Fed has introduced a quasi third mandate about the global growth, apart from the labor market and inflation.” At 11:27 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 166.39 points, or 1 percent, at 16,508.35, the S&P 500 .SPX was down 15.67 points, or 0.79 percent, at 1,974.53 and the Nasdaq composite .IXIC was down 26.42 points, or 0.54 percent, at 4,867.53. Nine of the 10 major S&P sectors were lower with the energy index’s

.SPNY 1.73 percent fall leading the decliners as oil prices declined after the Fed’s comments. Exxon (XOM.N) fell 1.5 percent, while Chevron (CVX.N) was down 1 percent. The financial index .SPSY fell 1.65 percent as Citigroup (C.N), Bank of America (BAC.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and JPMorgan (JPM.N) were all down about 2.5 percent. Banks would benefit from an interest rate increase. Investors are now focusing on the Fed meeting on Oct. 27-28 as the next chance for the central bank to raise interest rates for the first time since 2006. A growing number of economists, including those at Morgan Stanley and Barclays, are now wondering whether the Fed will raise rates at all this year. Interest rate futures indicated only a 21 per cent chance of a hike at the Fed’s next meeting, with a 47 per cent chance in December.

APAN’S Nikkei index fell 2 per cent as the yen strengthened against the dollar in the wake of the US Fed’s decision not to raise interest rates. The Nikkei 225 index closed down 2 per cent at 18,070.21. The dollar fell against the yen following the Fed’s decision, which hit shares in Japanese exporters. Shares in Toyota and Honda dropped by 1.4 per cent, while Panasonic was 2.1 per cent lower. A stronger yen against the dollar affects exporters, as it makes their goods more expensive to sell overseas. The US Fed’s decision to hold rates also renewed concerns about the strength of the global economy. The Federal Reserve said worries over the global economy, particularly China, had influenced its decision not to raise rates. US shares saw choppy trade after the decision, with both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 closing lower. Angus Nicholson, market analyst at trading firm IG, said the Fed’s decision to hold rates could influence other central banks to ease further. “It is a telling sign for how much the global outlook has deteriorated in the past few months, with the likelihood for even an October hike now sitting at 19.2 per cent,” he said. Chinese shares were mixed after government data showed that property prices had shown some signs of recovery. New home prices rose for a fourth consecutive month in August, up 0.3 per cent from the previous month, but were down 2.3 per cent from a year ago. The property sector accounts for 15 per cent of China’s economic growth, so even minimal gains have a positive impact on the world’s second largest economy. The Shanghai Composite index ended 0.4 per cent higher at 3,097.92, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed up 0.3 per cent at 21,920.83. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index erased earlier losses to end up 0.6 per cent at 5,178.50.

European, US markets fall after Fed rate decision EUROPEAN and US markets have fallen following the Federal Reserve’s decision last Thursday not to raise US interest rates. The Fed had cited concerns about weakening global growth and recent stock market volatility. The FTSE 100 fell at 1.45 per cent, Frankfurt’s Dax plunged at 3.25 per cent, and in Paris the Cac 40 dropped by 3.17 per cent. On Wall Street, stocks opened sharply lower, with the three major indexes down more than 1 per cent in early trading. Brenda Kelly, head analyst at London Capital Group, said: “Markets have taken cues from the US, but uncertainty prevails and choppiness is the only certain result. Deflation is a concern. China is a concern, and oil prices look set to take another leg lower.” Some analysts said the Fed could still raise rates this year. “The Fed’s assessment of the global economic conditions has made investors nervous as uncertainty about the timing of a US rate hike continues. We think that a rate hike could still be announced in December,” said Robert Parkes, equity strategist at HSBC. But Michael Hewson, chief strategist at CMC Markets, said: “The Fed’s rather downbeat outlook came as an unwelcome surprise, and it’s likely to take a while for investors to figure out whether the Fed is seeing something that the rest of us aren’t.”

Finland strike ‘shuts down ports’ A widespread anti-austerity strike in Finland has shut down ports and disrupted flights in the country, news agencies have reported. Finnair, the national carrier, has cancelled 16 domestic flights and delays are expected. Trains and city buses have stopped running, but ferries, including those to Sweden and Estonia, are operational. Strikers are protesting against government cutbacks, including limits to benefits and overtime pay. Talks on a collective agreement on wages and working hours collapsed, leading to the strike, Associated Press reported. Last week, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila announced plans aimed at reviving the eurozone member’s economy after three years of recession. The plans included cutting back holidays, reducing pensioners’ housing allowances, and reductions in employees’ overtime and Sunday pay. “The Finnish state has contracted debt at a rate of almost a million euros (£730,000) per hour for seven years, day and night, every day of the week. We cannot continue like this,” Mr Sipila said. Police and organisers expect thousands of people to demonstrate in Helsinki, the AFP news agency reported.

Worldpay share flotation aims AYMENT processing comto raise £890m pany, Worldpay, has said it

plans to raise £890m by listing its shares on the London stock market. The flotation could give the company a market value of nearly £4bn and push it into the FTSE 100 index of the largest UK-listed firms. The company says it processes about 31 million transactions a day on mobiles, online and in stores. Worldpay said it would use the money raised from the flotation to reduce debts. In 2014, the company’s revenues were £863.4m, with underlying earnings of £374.7m. Worldpay is currently owned by two private equity firms, Advent International and Bain Capital, who

bought the company from Royal Bank of Scotland in 2010 for £1.7bn. “Worldpay has been transformed into a global leader in payments since it became an independent company in 2010,” said Worldpay chief executive Philip Jansen. “The IPO is an exciting and logical next step as we seek to continue this momentum. It will enable us to access new capital for growth, augment our global proposition and further enhance our ability to serve customers across the world.” There were reports earlier in the week that Worldpay had received a takeover approach from French company Ingenico.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA

HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the Consumers Protection Council (CPC) to engage true social dialogue before taking any action against companies and other stakeholders. NECA said the agency’s action could stifle the growth of existing businesses and scare potential investors. In a statement by its Director-General, Mr Segun Oshinowo, the association said the CPC has been acting ultra vires and in spite of ongoing court action against the CPC, the body has continued to usurp the responsibilities of other agencies with the primary responsibilities to protect consumers in their sector”. He equally deplored CPC’s sensationalism, whereby the body, in the name of dialogue, always parade enterprises and engage them in the full glare of the media. “We will not accept CPC’s gestapo approach at territory grappling and relevance seeking by performing roles already being carried out by other agencies of government such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),” he said. He said the latest foray of the CPC into the electricity sector, an action contrary to the provisions of the Electric Power Reform Act, 2005, which

NECA ask CPC to engage in dialogue By Toba Agboola

vested the regulation of operators in the sector on NERC. The commission, according to the Act, has the primary responsibility regulating and protecting the interest of all stakeholders, including consumers in that sector.

“Organised businesses are opposed to duplication of regulatory roles and as such, we do not subscribe to the CPC performing roles already being carried out by other Agencies of Government “It is on record that the CPC has blatantly rebuffed every attempt by

the Organised Private Sector through its representative bodies like NECA, to engage it in social dialogue in order to explore ways of ensuring that it carries out its mandate in a civil and decent manner,” Oshinowo said. In a further reaction to the development, the Director-General urged

Ashafa praises Opal Techologies on Sharp deal

• From left: Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Emeka Mba; Head of Content, Com World Series, Mr Adam Thompson and Executive Head of Department, International Products, Enterprise Business Unit, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr Wale Odeyemi, at the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Forum sponsored by Vodacom Business Nigeria during the sixth annual NigeriaCom 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

Firm repackages Red Cab to check adulteration

FIRM, Citrans Global Limited, has said some people are impersonating the logo of Red Cab, the popular Lagos Cab or taxi, in order to make cheap money The Managing Director of the firm, Mrs Stella Okolo, said the development informed the decision of the management of the company to change the logo of Red Cab from a single colour of red to double colours of red and white. She said the idea would check the activities of illegal users of the brand

By Akinola Ajibade

and further restore its image. White and red colours, she said, symbolise elegance and strength, adding that the changes would impact positively on the brand. She said the unveiling of the new logo in Lagos last week, would create a positive image in the minds of their customers. She said: “”The rebranding is to reposition Red Cab for growth, despite the challenges being faced within the industry. It is a new dawn

Govt inaugurates SME expo committee

at Red Cab. Take a ride in any Red Cab cars and feel the difference.” The new Red Cab, according to her, would deliver high level of efficiency, top notch services, promptness, cultured and neat drivers. According to her, there are infiltrations of the industry by unauthorised operators to the detriment of modern taxi business. Okolo said the issue was accentuated by the fact that there was an absence of strict regulations for taxi operators in Lagos State. Okolo said the firm has deployed

free Google App, redclick’ where customers can book and make payments online even in their comfort zone and have a cab at their doorstep without interacting with anybody. “ In line with the cashless policy, we have Point of Sale (PoS) terminals in each cab so that our customers can make cashless payment right inside the cab. Also, the company is empowering drivers through its ‘ Drive- To - Own’ scheme you take ownership of the cabs after a specified period of successful operation,” she added.

Phase3 reiterates commitment to efficiency

ETERMINED to make Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as the fulcrum of development in Nigeria and Africa, the Federal Government has inaugurated a multi sector planning committee for the maiden International SME Expo scheduled for the first quarter of next year in Nigeria. Inaugurating the Committee in his office, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Ajiya Mamman, reminded the members of the committee that the Expo is “aimed at providing a continental forum for policy formulation and exchange of ideas on fostering synergy within the African SME sector, as participants would be drawn from all the continents. He added that the maiden SME Expo will provide a platform for positive engagements among stakeholders and promote an avenue to draw up a holistic framework directed at addressing the challenges of the sector. He noted that issues relating to challenges on specific products ranging from standardisation, packaging, competitiveness, etc would be addressed in line with global best practices. While planning, the acting Permanent Secretary enjoined the committee to focus on overcoming the barriers to affordable financing, employment generation, development of SME industrial clusters, export promotion, technological advancement and value addition to products emanating from the sector.

the government to call the agency to order as it has become an embarrassment to the “New Nigeria”, the administration is labouring to build, which forbids impunity and arrogance of office holder, as currently displayed unabashedly by the leadership of CPC.”

•Jegede

HASE3 Telecom has said it will deepen investment on infrastructure to extend its reach, increase efficiency, scale up resilience and adaptability for efficient network services and offer solutions that will amplify the operations of its clients across the West African sub-region. The firm which is West Africa's largest independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider continues to reinstate its dedication to maximising the sub-region's growth potential within the sector. Being an indigenous firm, Phase 3 has been at the forefront of increasing backbone infrastructure that will

HE economic opportunities of the girl-child in Nigeria received a boost when Coca-Cola Nigeria and the United Kingdom Department for International Development of Girls Education partnered to launch the Educating Nigerian Girls in Nigeria Enterprise (ENGINE). Speaking on the initiative, which was launched simultaneously in Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and Kano, the Programme Manager, ENGINE, Ayodele Fajemilola, disclosed that the Lagos initiative would benefit over 6000 girls. According to Fajemilola, “a voca-

boost digital market viability and minimise the challenges of accessibility and reliability across sectors and layered connectivity needs. Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stanley Jegede, said the firm will continue invest on robust network to enable the firm extend its reach as the IT world migrates to the new era of internet of things (IoT). He said: "As more clients that ride on Phase3 network take advantage of the Internet of Things to deliver efficiency in their areas of business; it is very important for us to continue to extend reach as well as adopt the best technology and resource to make our network more secure, resilient and adaptive. Without this, the network will be largely exposed to incessant point of failure with fatal impact on the client and huge cost in millions on downtime." Jegede added that the focus of Phase3 in the coming months; is not just to drive a network infrastructure that connects people but to be the frontrunner in scaling a network that helps grow economies and effectively

support technological innovations that expand the world and make it better in all sectors. This is essential to accelerating the social development, growth in gross domestic product (GDP) and productivity the sub-region has been clamoring for. The firm which is set to mark its 12th year anniversary next month, said because of its capacity to deliver homegrown solutions deliver significant long term value and as part of its wider West Africa roll out plan to deliver regional connectivity through a single network, it has commenced the deployment of a 228 km long aerial fiber optic infrastructure from Kano to Gazaoua in the Republic of Niger, a landlocked country that borders six other countries of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya and Mali. The project is under the Niger-Nigeria fiber-optic cable project being facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) through the extension of the Backbone Transmission Infrastructure Programme (BTRAIN) programme.

ENATOR Gbenga Ashafa has commended the management of Opal Technologies for securing Sharp Electronics distributorship licence. He spoke at an exhibition at the University of Lagos. Representatives of Sharp Africa and Middle East in Dubai were part of the exhibition, where Sharp office equipment were displayed at the main foyer of the Auditorium. It attracted manufacturers, students and several members of the public to the ivory tower. Ashafa solicited more investmentsfor foreign investors, saying that the anti-corruption policy of the Muhammadu Buhari administration provided an opportunity for business to thrive. General Manager Altech SFISO, distributors of Sharp products in Africa and the Middle East, Philip Johnny; Deputy General Manager, Varghese George as well as Mr. G. Baraj, Country Head of Altec SFICO were at the event. Chief Executive Officer of Opal Technologies Nigeria Limited, Femi Awoyemi, said, the firm is a client to various leading companies, saying it repairs and services their air conditioners as well as photocopiers. On the services provided by the firm, Mr. Awoyemi said: "We do a lot of freelancing; a lot of training for staff and the maintenance of equipment as well. In another vein, we are creating employment, transferring knowledge, among others." Opal Technologies Nigeria services and maintains over 160 Sharp photocopiers of various brands in the University of Lagos alone. The firm is also partnering Panasonic on its air conditioners. Awoyemi continued: "We are also in agreement in what we call retailer-ship with a lot of institutions like the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI), Arbico Industries Plc, Premier Lotto, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and a host of others that are under maintenance agreement both for the photocopying machines and air conditioners." The firm also, it was gathered, is planning creating a bank of technicians to do servicing of the equipment, while it also plans to create employment bureau which would serve as a pool of technicians for industry growth. Johnny lauded the focus and drive of Opal Technologies, saying the company has a bright future if it continues in the trend.

Coca-Cola, UK group empower girl-child tional training programme would be implemented in five local government areas, namely Kosofe, Ojo, Bariga, Alimosho and Epe and about 6,357 girls would benefit from the programme, which is aimed at empowering them educationally and economically.” She explained that initiative will empower young females with training modules in four important areas to help them succeed. “The girls will be taught four basic courses, namely, business education, life skills, financial education

and savings education,” she said. On the involvement of Coca-Cola Nigeria, the Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Sam Umukoro said the organisation’s belief that investment in women education and career would spur economic growth, while nurturing sustainable development in Nigeria. “At Coca-Cola Nigeria, we support women empowerment and we are committed to assisting marginalised adolescent girls in the society by offering

business skills, training courses, financial services and mentors to help them become micro- entrepreneurs. This objective derives from CocaCola’s conviction that educating females contributes to social and economic growth,” he said. He described the partnership as a demonstration of Coca-Cola’s belief that sustainable solutions to most society’s challenges lie in solid partnership among the civil society, private and public sectors.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

Fed Govt to criminalise vices by operators H

ENCEFORTH, vices among practitioners will be treated as criminal offences, Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, has said. He spoke at the ongoing Insurance Professionals forum with the theme, “The Nigerian business environment, implications for insurance industry’’, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He claimed most of the actions of professionals are criminal. “The challenges of huge competence deficit, corruption, low level of innovation, over-dependence on the oil sector leaves all asunder to phantom the best soluble buyouts and how to harness the opportunities inherent therein. “In consequence of the effect of uncontrolla ble changes in the macroeconomic environments affecting our businesses, organisations and entities either passively or negatively, we are therefore implored to map-out adaptive strategies and identify the opportunities inherent in the ‘change’. As far as innovation is concerned, we need to improve the content and quality of our services. In addition to our quest for innovation, changes in companies’ business model must be

•From left: Deputy President CIIN, Mrs Funmi Ashaye-Babington; Kari; Lady Chukwuma and former CIIN president, Adeyemo Adejumo. Stories by Omobola Tolu-kusimo

exploited. The earlier we realised that the music has changed and thus the need to adjust our dancing steps, the better for us all, ‘’ he said. Kari continued: “We have seen unbridled, unsustainable and technical unsound rates being offered by supposedly insurance

professionals more out of the need to meet a target than to properly underwrite. Professional brokers’ takes business from contraptions called ‘sub-agents’ who by the way are not registered by anyone. Premiums are loaded, discounted, retained or returned with impunity market indiscipline among practitioners, boards and management con-

flicts may degenerate to threatening the stability of some of our companies. The implication of such practices on the in surance industry in this new Nigerian business environment is the gradual diminution of our professional relevance as a veritable shield for the financial sector of the economy. We must all have zero tolerance for these unethical practices and vices.

Most of the actions of our professionals are actually criminal.” Kari stressed that the industry would no longer sit on the sidelines and allow opportunities to pass by. He charged professionals to correct themselves than be corrected by external forces. In her address, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) President Lady Isioma Chukwuma said the survival of the industry was non-negotiable. She said it was their collective drive to reposition the industry and to reinforce the integrity of the profession. “This can only be achieved by our individual and collective commitments to the ideals of ethical and professional best practices. “We are charting a new course aimed at consolidating the recent gains of the industry for national economic growth. It is pertinent to reiterate that this agenda is what I have set for my tenure as the 47th President of the institute. It will be driven by means of an articulated action-plan geared at reinforcing the identified projects and ensuring their logical conclusion. This approach will also engender a rolling plan for the growth and development of our institute,, she said.

SLOT, IGI introduce smartphone screens’ cover S LOT Systems Limited and Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI) have introduced a cover that allows customers to insure their phone screen against damage. Speaking on the policy, a representative of Slot, Jane Smith, said a customer could get a new phone if it is insured. According to her, the new policy is aimed at creating awareness about insurance to phone users and saving owners

By Fatima Shehu

the stress of getting a new phone or wasting money to repair the phone screens. She explained that the screen insurance ensures the cost of replacing any damaged phone screen that has been insured would be handled by the insurance company adding that

phone users can only insure a newly purchased phone and not an old mobile phone. She said new phones worth N18,500 and above were qualified for the cover, adding that premium is N500. ‘’We urge customers to take advantage of the insurance policy which provides cover and compensation in the cause of any damage to the screen of their phones,’’ she said.

SA boss, Akinboye returns to NIA Council

HE Group Managing Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Bode Akinboye, has been joined the Governing Council of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA). In a letter by the association to Akinboye, the Governing Council noted that he was expected to add value to the body. The Council added that the decision to co-opt him was also in line with the provision of article 6 (1) (d) of the association’s con-

stitution. Akinboye, who assumed office as the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Standard Alliance in JanuarY after leading Gemrock Management Company Limited to acquire strategic stakes in the company, is returning to the association, having earlier served on the Governing Council as the treasurer for four years before he in 2009 to set up a firm. Since his return as an investor,

he has initiated various fresh ways of doing underwriting through his company, culminating in his co-option as a member of the association’s highest organ where his transformational contributions are being expected. Akinboye believes that insurance can be done with integrity. This belief is already yielding results in his underwriting firm which returned 104 per cent profit after tax rise in its half year result as at the end of June.

Inspenonline unveils new portal

NSPENONLINE, an insurance and pension online news, has unveiled a new portal. In a statement, its Managing Director, Chuks Okonta, said the portal was designed to enhance public knowledge on pension, insurance and related matters. He maintained that in its three years, the organisation has helped to deepen insurance and pension awareness through indepth news reportage, analysis, interviews and

the yearly insurance and pension awards, which has helped to showcase companies and individuals that are making giant strides. Okonta, who was recently nominated for an honorary doctor degree by Commonwealth University in the United Kingdom, for his contributions to business, said the organisation would continue to promote the sector and its relevance to humanity. He stressed that the portal could be accessed via

www.Inspenonline.com. He called on the public to embrace insurance, adding that it remains the best way to mitigate risks, adding that insurance exists for the survival of businesses and better lifestyle for humans. While commending the successes in the sector, he called on the government to enforce laws that will promote the new pension scheme, and employers to secure their employees’ future by embracing the scheme.

• From left: Chief Executive Officer ,Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane; Managing Director, Chams Access Limited, Mrs. Funke AlomoOluwa and Vice Chairman /CEO Insurance Brokers of Nigeria ,Mr. Prosper Okpue during the Insurance Industry Consultative Council Mega Conference in Abuja.

ARIAN inaugurates chapter

HE Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) has inaugurated a new chapter in Owerri, the Imo State capital, its President, Gbadebo Olameru has said. According to him, the new chapter will enable the national secretariat to conduct the needed assessment to address some of its strategies towards the deepening of insurance. Olameru said the association had also identified developmental strategies to take records of registered agents. The chapter was tasked to consolidate and develop the agency network in Imo State and work with all stake holders to eradicate fake insurance and create working relationship with the state government by increasing internally generated revenue of the state and reduce the rate of unemployment by developing agency network initia-

tive across the state. He said: “It is our vision to see a strong and vibrant association with unlimited capacity to support the agency practitioner and improve the well-being of a successful insurance agent. It will also reduce fake agents around the country. “This establishment is also in line with NAICOM’s Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI).” He said the new excutive members of the chapter are: Chairman, Okereafor Chinedu; Vice Chairman, Ezeigbo Bush; and Secretary, Anunusor Sandra. Olamerun said he was determined to expand the insurance agency networks, hence the initiative to do a nationwide sensitisation. He further said the association was planning its yearly conference and annual general meeting for November.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• Solar panel

Renewable Energy: Emerging jobs creator Aside the economic gains and benefits derived from the usage of renewable energy, such as solar, the sector can generate thousands of jobs, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

ENEWABLE energy is generated from sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewed or replenished naturally. Each of these renewable energy sources has unique characteristics which influence how and where it is used. In 2006, about 18 per cent of the global final energy consumption came from renewable energy, with 13 per cent coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and three per cent from hydro electricity. Renewable energy projects in many developing countries have demonstrated that it can contribute to poverty alleviation by providing the energy needed for creating businesses and employment. A solar loan programme sponsored by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has helped 100,000 per-

sons finance solar power systems in India. The success of India’s solar programme has led to similar projects in other parts of the developing world like Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia and Mexico. A recent report released by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21stCentury (REN21) shows that each year is seeing progressively more renewable energy generated than the last. Looking at the economic impact of renewables in 2014, the REN21 report says that over the course of the year worldwide, 7.7 million jobs were created mostly in Chinese solar power production. Interestingly, developing nations in Africa particularly are rapidly shifting towards wind and solar energy production. This is an area Nigeria needs to key into. Recent studies have showed that Nigeria is not actively participating in the renewable energy boom in Africa. According to 2015 Central Intel-

ligence Agency (CIA) world fact book, Nigeria ranks 68 on the global electricity production chart with an annual production of 25,700,000,000 kilowatt/hour (Kwh) as at 2010 compared to South Africa which was ranked 16 with a 2012 estimation of 257,900,000,000 kwh. Nigeria, according to the rankings, has no meaningful energy generating capacity from renewable sources. Kenya with a population not up to half of Nigeria has about 12.4 per cent installed energy generating capacity. Renewable energy is not an entirely new concept, but it is an alternative to fossil fuels. Investigation reveals that job creation via local production and/or installation, operation and maintenance of solar power plants is huge because solar is more work intensive than conventional technologies and, hence, creates more jobs.

According to the Nigeria Directorate of Employment (NDE), there is an effort to use solar energy to boost employment generation. Speaking recently at a solar energy system training, NDE Director-General Mallam Abubakar Mohammed said the NDE had been involved in environmental scanning to address unemployment over the years. He said one of the steps taken was the training of youths in renewable energy, specifically solar energy system, due to the energy crisis confronting Nigeria as a nation. “Renewable energy refers to energy sources like solar, hydro, wind, biomass and geothermal. This energy source is very attractive because, it is non-depletable and inexhaustible, and available on periodic or cyclic basis. “Energy service is desired and useful in products, processes or indeed services that result from the use of energy, such as for lighting,

provision of air-conditioning, indoor climate, refrigerator storage, transportation and appropriate temperature for cooking,” he said. According to Mohammed, who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Small Scale Enterprise, Mr. Kunle Obayan, the energy chain to deliver the services begins with the collection or extraction of primary energy, which is converted into energy carriers suitable for various end users. He said although Nigeria needs adequate supply of energy to drive its economy and power its domestic, economic, technological and social sectors, it has however been difficult to meet the energy needs of the citizenry by successive governments. •Continued on Page 32

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

JOBS

Renewable Energy: Emerging job creator •Continued from page 31

“The above informed the decision of the management to approve the training in renewable energy such as solar, not only because of the inherent advantages it has over other sources of energy, but because of the employment potential. “We are encouraged that this source of energy is capable of generating employment in geometrical proportions, in the design, harvesting, installation and maintenance,” he said. The NDE boss also stated that the directorate had produced 950 technicians in 19 states of the federation, adding 50 were resettled in Ilorin, Kwara State out of the 100 unemployed youths who were trained while another 50 were resettled in Akure, Ondo State, out of the 61 persons trained. According to Mohammed: “It is a known fact that over 70 percent of Nigerians are living in the rural areas, a larger percentage of which have no access to national grid-supplied electricity; the high cost of grid extension to such areas and widespread of rural communities, combine to make rural electrification by means of renewable energy attractive.” He also appealed to governments at all levels to patronise this crop of professionals who have been certified competent to undertake maintenance of existing installations, deploy and install new solar system, especially in the rural ar-

eas. “As renewable energy technology applications in the developing countries are attracting increased interest and financial support from the donor community, it is recommended that the government of Nigeria develop financial instruments that specifically target renewable energy technologies and stimulate market to attract investments. “There is also the need for deliberate collaboration between various governments and the NDE for definite capacity building both at the institutional and personnel levels for acquiring technical, organisational and managerial skills required for increased development of renewable energy,” he said According to him, the NDE was willing to work closely with the state governments to tackle unemployment in the land. He appealed to all unemployed youths to take advantage of the various job generating efforts of the directorate at the various skills acquisition centres, to acquire new skills and become self-sufficient. Also explaining how renewable energy can generate employment, Chief Executive Officer, ShineLite Limited, Mr. Olubunmi Oluwadare said many jobs can be created through renewable energy, specifically through the installation and running of solar energy. He said: “There is an angle we call solar for jobs. It is a project that

• Juliet

is targeting youth employment and we hope it’s going to work because our partners had done it in Asia and it created a lot of jobs for youths. “Since our project is a compact one, what we are looking at for instance, is if government gives us one thousand street lighting, or a perimetre of airport to put all in one solar light, what we are going to do is to offer training for the engineers that will install the solar street lights and we assign like 100 poles for each to manage and main-

• Mallam Mohammed

tain, we can generate about 500 to 1000 jobs. How are we going to do it? “We can tailor 10 poles to each youth, you install, maintain and we train you. It’s your job to make sure that these 10 street poles are functioning. You oversee it. And it must be within the community we are running the project. It’s not a big deal for us to do since we can train them, they would be the ones to oversee the maintenance. “If my own is 20, I will know I’m overseeing 20 street lights and

those lights must not go off and if any other problem arises I will be the one to alert the authority and they would be able to fix it, and I will also acquire knowledge to fix the fuse or clean the panel, among others. These are the areas we are looking at to create employment opportunities for our youths. “For example, if there are 80 utility-scale solar energy projects that represent about 56,000 megawatts of new electric power, it will mean creating about 20,000 permanent jobs,” he said.

EMPOWERMENT CLINIC

Caging unemployment with your CV L AST week, we X-rayed chronological and functional types of CV. This week, we will end the discourse by examining the third type called Combined Chronological Functional.

Combined chronological functional CV A combined CV includes elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It may be a shorter chronology of job descriptions preceded by a short “Skills and Accomplishments” section (or with a longer Summary including a skills list or a list of “qualifications”); or, it may be a standard functional CV with the accomplishments under headings of different jobs held. There are obvious advantages to this combined approach. It maximises the advantages of both kinds of CVs, avoiding potential disadvantages of either type. One negligible disadvantage is that it tends to be longer.

Better CV-presentation guidelines Your CV should be visually enticing. It should be simple and clean. It should be very easy-toread, un-crowded and balanced. Include as much white space between every two sections of writing as possible. The sections of writing should not be longer than six lines. Make maximum use of italics, capital letters, bullets, boldface, and underlining, with uniformity and consistency. Employ total parallelism or uniformity in design decisions. For instance, if a full-stop is at the

By Goke Ilesanmi

end of one job’s date, a period should be at the end of all jobs’ dates; if a degree is in boldface, all degrees should be in boldface. Remember to think of the CV as an advertisement. Make sure it is error-free. All the basic, expected information is included. A CV must have the following key information: your name, address, and phone number (immediately identifiable and at the very top of the first page), a listing of all jobs held since beginning your career, in reverse chronological order, educational degrees including the highest degree received, in reverse chronological order. Additionally, targeted information will of course accompany this. Much of the information people commonly put on a CV can be omitted but these pieces of information are mandatory.

Main focus A CV should be targeted towards your goal, to the ideal next step in your career. Highlight your strengths and de-emphasise your weaknesses. Focus on whatever is most impressive. Make careful and strategic choices as to how to organise, order and convey your skills and background. Make liberal use of words. For every skill, ability or accomplishment described, use the most active and accurate verb you can think of. Keep sentences as short and direct as possible. Eliminate any extraneous information and any repetition. Do not use four examples when one or two are okay. Say what you want to say in the most direct words possible, instead of trying to impress with

bigger words or more complex sentences. You also need to vary long sentences, if necessary, with short and punchy sentences. It is better to employ phrases rather than full sentences when phrases are possible, and start sentences with verbs, eliminating pronouns, e.g. I, We, You, He, She, They, etc.

Addition Vary words, do not repeat a verb or adjective in the same paragraph. Use commas liberally, to clarify meaning and make reading easier. Remain consistent in writing decisions, for example, the use of abbreviations and capitalisation. As far as CV length is concerned, everyone freely offers advice on what it should be. Some say a CV should always be one page, while others say a CV can be as many pages as you want long if you can sustain the prospective employer’s reading interest for so long, and at the same time create excitement that makes him or her pick up his or her phone and call you for an interview. However, it is better not to follow length rules blindly. Instead, do what works. Sometimes, it is appropriate to have a three-page CV. But, unless your life has been filled with a wide variety of extraordinary achievements, make your CV short.

Length of consulting CV In a consulting CV, you are expected to dig everything as deep as you possibly can. If you are selling your own consulting service, make it sizzle, just like any other CV. Additionally, include a little more detail, such as a list of wellknown clients, powerful quotes

from former clients about how fantastic you are, etc. If you are seeking a job with a consulting firm that will be packaging you along with others as part of a proposal, include everything that makes up your intellectual strength and profile. You can include a full list of publications, skills, assignments, other experience, and every bit of educational achievements you can, that have something to do with your work. The philosophy here is: the more the better. CVs can be written using either the first- or the thirdperson verb tense. Use whichever you choose consistently. Verb tenses are varied and based on accurate reporting. If the accomplishment is completed, it should be past tense. If the task is still underway, it should be present tense. If the skill is something which has been used and will continue to be used, use present tense. A way of “smoothing out” transitions is to use the present perfect tense. Be sure the telephone number on the CV will, without exception, be answered by a person or an answering machine. I am sure you do not want to miss an interview just because of lack of response when you are called on phone. Include e-mail and fax numbers, if you have them.

Choosing references Before you choose a person as one of your references, you need to seek his or her consent. It is very risky to take this for granted. Equally ask whoever volunteers to be your reference about the address and phone number he or she wants you to use for him or her. Thank a reference for the time

•GOKE ILESANMI

spared with you in your meeting and for agreeing to act as your reference. Make sure you keep in touch with him or her constantly even after securing the job. Concluded. PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated here for details. GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/ MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant. Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425 Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

THE CEO Airport terminal management is a money spinner. But in Nigeria, it is not so. Many are watching their investments become a liability. Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Christophe Pennick, in this interview with KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR, speaks on the prospects and problems of managing concessions in the domestic aviation industry and how investments in airport infrastructure can be a catalyst for economic development.

‘Our environment not conducive to aviation concessions’

AN you assess airport concessions in Nigeria? An airport concession is an interesting concept in infrastructure development. But, airport concession in Nigeria, seen from the point of view of public-private partnership (PPP) is still a novelty. The reason is very simple. Nigeria, until about eight years ago, has not been involved in any form of public-private partnership in airport development through the model called concession. To a large extent, it is still very new in this part of the world. Interestingly, both parties, that is, the government through its agencies and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited involved in the concession agreement are still learning the rules governing airport concession; in this case, the concession of the new domestic terminal two of the Lagos Airport. The parties are still learning what to do about the concession and how to make it work. Although there is a document called the Concession Agreement that ought to guide the contracting parties, it is very clear that government is trying to pull the blanket under the feet of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited. This is despite that the terms and conditions of the concession are very clear in the agreement. How does this affect the implementation of the agreement? For us in particular, there are few issues still left unresolved as it affects the supposed hand over of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), at the domestic wing of the Lagos Airport, because it is covered in the scope of the concession agreement, government through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is making it difficult for us as a company to use that aspect of the agreement, which is clearly expressed in the scope of the concession agreement. The agreement was very precise in giving us as a company right to manage the terminal, which in this case refers to as the MMA 2 and GAT, and not one of the terminals as the other party to the agreement is claiming. There is a big difference. People will say this is unfair completion, but in many parts of the world, airports are supposed to be a quasi – monopoly. For instance in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to London Heathrow Airport, which has a much more developed traveling market, it was only recently that the British Airport Authority was mandated to separate and give the total management of Gatwick Airport to another company. Until recently it was one company. Do not forget that Gatwick and Heathrow are not the same airports. They are two different airports. Here in Nigeria, the traveling market is not that developed, big enough, so I think it was an opportunity for Nigeria, without sufficient funds to engage the private sector to assist to build a decent domestic airport terminal in Lagos. I am convinced that what Bi-Courtney Services Limited has done in building and managing the MMA2, is an example of what is to done. The reason for this is very simple, because the terminal is the best handled the private sector in Nigeria. What about the controversies surrounding the airport concession and its terms? So going back to the concession and its terms, its scope, it would have been easier for government to say, Bi-Courtney you run all the domestic flights and FAAN run international flights and let us see who does it better. Unfortunately, things have gone very different today. But, thank God we have survived, through different attacks. And like the saying goes what does not kill you makes you stronger. But, I think that how is it to manage an airport concession and what I think about the way it has been done is to simply say we are still learning. I think we have gone very far, in our eight years of managing a private airport terminal in Nigeria. I am convinced we are going from strength to strength. Are there opportunities in airport conces-

• Pennick

sions and management in Nigeria? I am optimistic that opportunities still exists to get involved in more airport concessions in Nigeria. The prospects are there. I think we are a perfect example of learning out of experience as a company to handle such business. Yes, we have gathered a lot of experience, not only from the operations side but, also from the legal perspective to do the business better, if we are approached for another concession agreement by government. A few concessions have gone wrong in Nigeria. The Bi-Courtney Agree-

ment to build and manage the MMA2 has been quite successful because as a company we have been able to defend ourselves in the various attacks. So, I will say that Nigeria could use a few other concessions, but I would say to anybody who wants to endeavor into any concession concerning airport infrastructure or reacted areas must have the experience and deal with the ignorance of some parties involved the writing and signing of concession agreements and for foreign companies that want to date into such ventures must endeavor to have a strong

‘Why should government look at the agreement in a way that suggests that if this concession it has signed with any firm succeeds, it should be looking for any way to take it back from the concessions because it is successful’

Nigerian partner. Why do you think airport concessions in Nigeria are problematic? The reasons why airport concessions in Nigeria has gone the wrong is for many reasons. If any public private partnership concession agreement must be signed, it should be based on the clear understanding that government and other contracting parties must see the concession as an opportunity to develop private enterprise. The terms should be very clear, and this should not be handled with suspicion. For instance, why should government look at the agreement in a way that suggests that if this concession it has signed with any firm succeeds, it should be looking for any way to take it back from the concessions because it is successful. That is very important. What we have concerning the Bi-Courtney concession is that we are successful, it is an airport on its own, it should be a success if we’ll managed. Places like Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos can be profitable as airports and it should not be fight between government and the private sector. Government ought to say you have done it better than me and let us together reap the benefits of a successful private public partnership agreement by helping to develop air transport infrastructure. This would have also led to the development of the region where the airports are located and also make it an attractive point for airlines and investors to come into the country to do business and see how this could attract further investment. But, in the case of Bi-Courtney’s concession, with government it is sad that, rather than commend the firm, many people are jealous of what the company is doing in managing a private airport terminal. We are successful, we are probably the only airport terminal in Nigeria that has invested a lot in technology, we have also invested a lot in passenger facilities, escalators and other operational equipment. We have a very strong maintenance culture, and people are looking at us that this is success. This is an airport that is properly working, making money, why don’t we try to take back what we have them, and ride on that success without investing in it. So, for us as a company, this concession has been interesting, and also a reason for people to be jealous. What is your take on the policy thrust of the aviation sector? I think the terms of the concession and the policies around it are clear. They cannot be interpreted in many, many ways. Still, if there is disagreement among the parties to any concession or any policy guiding any agreement, as stated in the contract, there ought to be a dispute resolution mechanism. Such mechanism must state how to move forward with the agreement in resolving whatever dispute that may arise and a dispute committee should be set up to examine any such grey areas in the agreement with a view to reaching an amicable solution. If such mechanism does not work, there could be suggestions of going to court. The courts are not the ideal places to discuss misunderstanding over airport concessions. If we must go to court, all parties to the dispute must respect the authority of the courts. This is perhaps probably, what is should be. If we are a country that is law abiding, we should just respect what the courts say. We have been to court several times concerning our airport concession, we have been to court more than ten times, and the problem is, whatever is decided in court it is not binding, or enforced by parties to the concession agreement. How many times have we been to court? The courts have decided many times, but government will want to abide or enforce what the courts have decided. So, the policies are clear, the policies are clear to both parties, but the real problem is that it is both scary and uncomfortable that gov•Continued on page 34

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

THE CEO

‘Our environment not conducive to aviation concessions’ •Continued from page 33

ernment is looking at the bright sides of how public private partnership could develop infrastructure. It is clear globally that concessions have as dusted countries to develop infrastructure, but in Nigeria, the few concessions that have existed have all been bumpy. Now has had a smooth ride. Any government that wants to attract foreign investment, must look big examples of concessions are ads the vital questions how have they fared. Yes, it is learning curve, if you have to always go to court to seek for contractual enforcement, then it is not good for the country. What is the scale of operations at the terminal? The MMA 2 terminal is running very well for aeronautical and non - aeronautical operations. The activities are related but different. We have utilised eight years of the concession agreement and we still have twenty eight more years to go, because the concession is for thirty six years, looking at what we have achieved in the last eight years, many good things have happened. We hope for increased activities in the next twenty eight years and we are steadily growing. For now, we have five domestic carriers operating their flights from this terminal, major airlines operate from here, but a few airlines have challenges and we are supporting the carriers with difficult times. We are looking forward to growth in the terminal capacity and we are recording about 10 per cent growth which is above the global industry average. What we do as a terminal operator which is part of a major airport is to try to assist the airlines that are flying to achieve better partnership to assist the domestic airlines to grow. We support all domestic airlines by constantly building on our aeronautical sources to boost the non aeronautical sources because the activities are related and interdependent. The growth of ten per cent at the terminal has assisted us to attract non aeronautical revenue sources. How do you source for non-aeronautical revenue? We have been working hard at this commercial offering by reaching out to shop owners, who are our tenants, banks, car hire, and other service providers. We also get revenue through our outdoor advertisements. While our aeronautical revenue has grown by 10 per cent, the non aeronautical source has grown by thirty five percent. We have done this for two reasons. One is because as a private sector company, we are profit driven. That is why we as many customers as possible and that are why we offer quality services as a terminal operator. We have concentrated our efforts on both sources of referee with a team dedicated to pursue that. We have people who look for brands to attract more people into the terminal. Very soon, a big super market will open at the terminal. From these increased number of clients, we are looking for how to expand the terminal despite the limitation in land. That requires a lot of innovation. My team has been quite good at that. Many things will change and I think the terminal should have international airport standards. Why don’t we then make the airport an international airport? If we have the standards of international airport terminal, we are working hard to attract more airlines to come in here for international flights. This is more than just domestic flights. Are there plans to operate international flights from MMA2? Although, we are not yet at the final stages, we have almost done everything to do more than domestic flight. There is still a bit of work on that. We are working towards having current airlines operating from this terminal into regional routes in West Africa to operate from here. I can assure you that this is covered in our concession agreement. It was covered from the onset, because of some issues; we ensured it is totally covered now. What plans do you have to upgrade and expand facilities at the terminal and what is the cost implication? In line with global standards, we have embarked on upgrade of technology at the terminal, its facilities as well as service. The easiest one is just to go and buy an equipment, yes it is capital intensive we went ahead to replace all escalators at the terminal. It was a headache, a big challenge to do it, with huge financial implications, and the customers have shown understanding. We have also upgraded and changed genera-

• Pennick

‘In the beginning it was difficult to attract more people to do business at the terminal because of the seeming hostile relationship between tenants and landlord. But, we have gone steps further to forgive our relationship as being more than that. The existing tenants and future tenants understand that we are here to make their business thrive’ tors at the terminal, to have more capacity in terms of electricity and changed nine lifts, we did this in the heavy equipment category. The other things we have done is changing all the checking in counters to have more capacity, we also changed the check in system, to the latest technology you find in any airport in Europe, in particular Paris Airport, we are looking at a terminal that could handle fifty to sixty million passengers annually. We are looking at check in counters that are the same design as you will find in Europe, and we increased the check in counters from thirty one to thirty five counters. We have made the counters and terminal more comfortable to be user friendly and ensure that other stakeholders are trained how to handle the technology. Why did you invest so much in facility upgrade? This is very simple, because we are service providers to the public and we want to demonstrate the same quality of service you could find in other countries. This is only a first phase of facility upgrade; we are going to improve on investment in human resources. What about investment in personnel? We have trained our security staff up to the international civil aviation organization (ICAO) standards. We have over four hundred and thirty security personnel. We

have trained over 120 that have undergone ICAO certification in aviation security. We have organised two classes with the international air transport association (IATA) on customer service and development of the airport. We have also sent some of our personnel to Dubai, France and other countries to train on what is obtainable in the industry, in airport development and management and technology management. In software and other areas. We have done more that what we should do in training of our personnel compared to the level of competition in the terminal and industry. We have trained them both in Nigeria and around the world. What is the relationship between your firm and financial institutions? We have embraced the strategy of engagement with the financial institution and others. It is the strategy of looking at others as partners. In the beginning it was difficult to attract more people to do business at the terminal because of the seeming hostile relationship between tenants and landlord. But, we have gone steps further to forgive our relationship as being more than that. The existing tenants and future tenants understand that we are here to make their business thrive. So, it is a partnership, we engage them, we have doubled our team on customer relationship to bring in more people into the terminal, we have dedicated

managers that discuss without internal tenants how to growth due business and resolve challenges. That has helped us foster good relationship. We have used different models to attract more tenants to expand the business by ensuring that our terns are reasonable and the product the clients want to offer is appropriate for the environment. It is relationship model we have evolved to attract customers as a team builder and facilitator. It is being in good relationship with your tenants. Should Nigerians expect from BiCourtney in the years to come? Despite the huge challenges we have encountered as the first private airport terminal manager in Nigeria, we are seeking fresh opportunities into other areas of airport management. As for the opportunity to venture into other airport, we will take the opportunity. Why not? But, for in this company, as investors in aviation, the sky is not the limit. We will take maximum opportunity from what the sky has to offer. I think that the public should judge us by what we have done. We could ask that a poll be carried out to ask passengers which terminal they would love to travel from, whether in Abuja, Lagos or elsewhere. Would they like to travel through a terminal run by Bi-Courtney or other airport managers? Why can’t government say BiCourtney you have done well in managing an airport terminal in Lagos, why don’t you handle such project in Abuja. Let us try the same experience in Port Harcourt and let us see what happens. It is not only about building an airport terminal. It is about management of the airport and investment in terminal facilities. You could build a good airport terminal and not maintain it well. It good that you build an airport terminal that would endure for the next thirty years. In aviation, you have to constantly invest in technology, constantly know what is happening around the world to do it in your facility. I will say, if everybody will be honest and look at, what this company has done in airport development and give them another opportunity to do same in Abuja or Port Harcourt. I think that government should stop give airport terminal managers like Bi-Courtney the opportunity to manage major gateways into Nigeria to give a good impression to visitors. From there, we see weather other airports are viable and necessary. Should government throw such opportunities open in form of a bid for prospective investors? It should not be thrown open to all. It should be done in stages so that we as a company could come in. There was no bid thrown open when airports like Abuja under construction was started. Everything happened in a fast pace. Airports should not be built in a hurry; it requires more time and careful planning. If called upon BiCourtney will be interested in building and managing more airports in Nigeria. We could even manage airports already built by government, if it is built the right way. It is not just to build and after a few years everything falls apart and the company called upon to manager will have to replace everything inside. We were never asked to come and bid for any new airport under construction let alone being called upon to manage it. Neither were we called upon to supervise how the new airports are being built. I mean new airports in Abuja, Kano and the others. Concerning the airport in Port Harcourt, the construction is not in good taste some of the facilities even in Benin, Enugu, have major issues because these airports were built in a hurry. If we are called upon to manage Port Harcourt and Abuja airports we will be interested, but the terms of engagement have to be sorted out clearly. We will need to see what is in ground. Concerning Abuja airport, there is no escalator; it had only one boarding gate for flights. This is not ideal, in MMA2, we have ten boarding gates. As you can see there are structural issues with such a terminal. Why should it be that way? These are the specifics we are talking about. So, we are careful about every detail. What is your relationship with airlines operating at the terminal? We have excellent business relationship. We relate very well and we try to understand the operational challenges they have and we advise them on how to achieve better relationship. Though they owe us some money, but not to the extent that we would not want to do business with them.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

BUSINESS

MOTORING

Nissan fortifies Altima for improved services

•The Altima

With its Maxima-like look and unique features, the Altima really does give shoppers a viable alternative to the Camry and Accord. The new Altima remains one of the most engaging family sedans that targets people who want more out of life and do not want a conservative or dull midsize sedan, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

HE 2015 Nissan Altima is a favourite choice among family sedans, delivering excellent fuel economy; a rare blend of comfort and exceptional capacity that compares to most premium sedans, says Edmunds.com, a leading online site for automotive information. The online resource described Nissan Altima as stylish, bold and aggressive with long body lines that distinguishes the Japanese engineered sedan from rivals like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima. Emerging from a total model change, the new Altima offers exceptional premium experiences and high technologies that could give mid-size sedans better value proposition and keep it fresh against rivals. Edmunds.com says while many manufacturers are offering different 4-cylinder engines with hybrids and diesels, the Altima sedan goes the traditional route by offering a base 4-cylinder and a V6, reaffirming Altima’s innovative features to reposition the car way ahead of competition. The Nissan Altima is mated to a lighter weight 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine with improved efficiency while the 3.5-litre V6 version delivers better fuel economy, placing the car way ahead of competitions. Both engines however drive Altima’s front wheels through Nissan’s next generation Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives engine revs ahead of vehicle speed during strong acceleration and helps both specifications achieve tremendous fuel economy, the Japanese Automaker assured. Popular Mechanics, a United States classic magazine of popular technology affirmed

•Interior of the car

this claim, stating in one of its recent publications that “the new Altima remains one of the most engaging family sedans, and its fuel economy approaches 16 kilometres per litre of gasoline (pms) for the 2.5 litre engine and 13 kilometres per litre of gasoline (pms) for the 3.5 litre engine, on highway driving.” The Altima’s driving dynamic which rarely sacrifices its mainstream family-sedan features conveys a measure of driving fun that is uncommon in the mid-size segment reaffirms Auto Trader. Some auto analysts have similarly applauded the distinctive features of Altima’s

“multilink independent suspension and bestin-class continuously variable automatic transmission as a testimony to Nissan’s ingenuity, especially when benchmarked against premium sedans like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.” The Nissan Altima could in the coming few months, beat rivals like Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in a segment described as the toughest, where every automaker wants a slice of the pie, the analysts said. Altima has a fantastic sporty handling, making it more fun to drive than most affordable midsize cars just as its standard

•

four-cylinder engine provides plenty of power for passing and merging highway. On the other hand, the V6 engine delivers robust acceleration with a responsive automatic transmission (continuously variable transmission) that operates seamlessly, giving a smoother and lag-free drive when viewed against competitions. Altima’s modern and attractive styling with first-rate materials make the car’s cabin one of the nicest in the class with features like ‘Nissan intelligent key and NASA-inspired zero gravity seats - proven to reduce fatigue Nissan intelligent key lets you tap a button on the door handle or trunk to unlock while the key stays in your pocket or purse, and subsequently allows you start your car from up to 100 feet away while you turn-on the a/c to cool down the Altima before it’s time to get in. Inside the car, Altima’s rear seats have generous legroom, and the trunk size of 436 litres is ambitious for the class. Other features include Smart Phone Connectivity (Bluetooth) and a USB/iPod input, leather upholstery, a rear-view camera, premium BOSE audio x 9 speakers, 3D display, Xenon Lamps, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). The Altima is distinctively tailored for “Stylish and confident individuals as well as responsible adults seeking personal and professional fulfilment on their terms. This class of people want more out of life and do not want a conservative or dull midsize sedan,” Amit Sharma, Stallion NMN head of sales and marketing said.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

MOTORING

•Krueger making a presentation

•Krueger on his way down

•Krueger can’t imagine himself on the floor

•And.... Krueger finally down

The ‘fallen’ CEO •BMW boss collapses at auto show

ERMAN luxury BMW Chief Executive Officer Harald Krueger collapsed last Tuesday during a news conference at the Frankfurt auto show and was helped off stage by staff. His condition was not serious, the company said later. Krueger stumbled backward and fell on his back during the first five minutes of the presentation of the BMW’s latest models. Staff members rushed to help Krueger back on his feet, and he rubbed the back of his head, looking stunned as he was lifted up and led off stage by staff. BMW spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl said over the public address system: “I’m a bit lost for words. BMW will try to redo the press conference at a later stage.” Schoeberl said the 49-year-old Krueger had been travelling a lot recently, and was not feeling well ahead of the presentation but decided to go ahead with it.

ITH a different beat and an enhanced armoured technology against ammunitions attacks, Kia Motors Nigeria has created a niche in the super-luxury market with the introduction of the shatterproof, grenade resistant, opaque anti-blast armour, and protective coated reinforced bulletproof Quoris for high-net-worth individuals and government officials. The bulletproof Kia Quoris currently selling at N39.6m has enjoyed an impressive outing and gained momentum amongst top chief executive officers and government officials. It’s armour-plating is rated as one of the best bulletproof cars in the country with a sniper resistant roof fitted with special steel and shatterproof glass. “The armoured luxury sedan handily gets a turbo-charged

•Oh my God!

•Krueger being assisted

By Tajudeen Adebanjo with Agency reports

Schoeberl said Krueger, who took over as BMW’s CEO in May, was seen by a doctor following the incident, who recommended that he cancel his other appointments for the day and rest at home. “His condition is not worrisome, they’ve ruled out anything serious,” Schoeberl said. The IAA auto show opened for a press tour. Alongside Volkswagen and Daimler, BMW has a prime place in the huge exhibition, where more than 1,000 exhibitors are showing their latest models. In early trade in Frankfurt, BMW shares were up 1.03 percent to 86.22 euros. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly known as BMW or BMW AG, is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

•Krueger seems back on his feet.

PHOTOS: YAHOO

Kia showcases bulletproof Quoris 3.8-litre V6 and boasts enough protective capability to defend against rifle fire from military weapons, hand grenades, explosive charges, amongst others. High-tech fibres and enhanced materials are used to implement the armouring process with top notch installation techniques to provide greater protection and exhilarating experience for our well-heeled, security-conscious customers,” Sandeep Malhotra, Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria said. Kia Quoris armoured luxury sedan provides an exceptional level of protection from the impact of collisions for all occu-

pants and is outfitted with high-performance run-flat-tire inserts. The springs, shock absorbers, role and torsion bars and brake system are replaced with updated parts. The ratings of the components are measured to provide the optimum balance in handling so as not to affect the overhaul driving dynamics of the reinforced luxury sedan from the standard model. The bulletproof Kia Quoris charts a new course of fortified sedan with pre-fabricated opaque armour components and elegant style.

Petroleum Varsity unveils eco-friendly Nigerian race car

HE Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, last Thursday unveiled the “Delta Cruise”, a marathon car. It was built by the university’s Electrical Electronic and Mechanical Engineering students. The car was designed and built to participate in the Shell Eco Marathon, which holds next month in South Africa. FUPRE’s Vice Chancellor Prof Akin Ebadode urged the students to build two more cars for next year’s event, to be held in Rotterdam, Holland. The vice chancellor expressed optimism that in a few years, students of the university would manufacture car engines. He hailed the students for building a near-total Nigerian car. According to him, the Shell Eco Marathon, which he said has grown into a world-wide competition, began in 1937 by young Shell engineers who were building cars that could go long distances with little fuel. “It is the start of a new beginning that will usher peace into the university and the entire Uvwie kingdom. It was only last year it took place in Africa. On May 27, this team was raised and challenged to build this vehicle. We hope that the students will build two cars for the 2016 Shell Eco Marathon, one for the prototype and one for the urban

•Two of the students pose with the car

drive,” Ebadode said. Earlier, the team manager of the FUPRE Eco Marathon, Egujakpo Efemena, a 400-level student of the Department of Electrical Electronic Engineering, stated that the car was built strictly according to the Shell Eco Marathon specification,

with a dimension of 110 by 90 by 275 centimetres, with its basic components built with locally made materials. Those present at the event include Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso, Gen. O. E. Obada (rtd.) among others.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Nigerians have applauded President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for making their assets public. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines what this development portends for accountability and good governance, particularly considering the war against corruption.

Pressure mounts on governors, senators to declare assets T

HE recent public declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is putting pressure on other public officers to follow suit. Analysts said though the law did not mandate them to declare their assets publicly, their moral conscience should persuade them to emulate the good example of the President and his deputy, otherwise they would be under suspicion. They argued that such public disclosure of assets is imperative for purposes of transparency and accountability in governance and to build public confidence people. Experts are in agreement that the gesture has taken transparency and accountability in governance a notch higher, compared to the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The former President had declined to make his asset public, despite repeated calls by the civil society and Nigerians in general that he should go beyond what the law required by doing so. But, according to experts, what the present leadership has done will eventually rob off on the legal and institutional frameworks for good governance, particularly those for fighting corruption. Legal luminary Chief Akintola (SAN) called for the amendment of the constitution to make public declaration of assets mandatory on public office holders. According to him, many public servants indulge in anticipatory declaration. “They do this by declaring what they don’t have before assuming office and work towards achieving them before the expiration of their tenure,” he said. Akintola added: “I know of a former governor who claimed in his asset declaration in 2000 that he had a house in London which he didn’t. He acquired the house in 2004 two years after he became governor. He implemented his agenda by stealing public funds to build a house in London. It was one of the charges that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) used to prosecute him. “It is high time we made false declaration of assets a criminal offence. Where public officers or civil servants declare what they don’t have, they should go to jail for perjury. I will even suggest we make official corruption like false declaration of assets an offence punishable with death like they do in China and Singapore.” The legal luminary wants verification of assets not to be limited to the Code of Conduct Bureau alone. He said civil society groups should be involved in the exercise. Second Republic lawmaker Dr Junaid Muhammed commended the president and his deputy for moving a step further in making public their assets. “What they did was not mandatory, but voluntary. They have set a good example for other public officers to emulate,” he said. Junaid described the gesture as a positive development, adding that it speaks volumes about the integrity of the duo. He said the development makes it incumbent on other public officers to emulate the example. The Kano-born politician said the expectation of Nigerians now is that governors, legislators, judges, ministers and other political appointees should follow the Buhari and Osinbajo example. He said: “The law in its present form does not make it compulsory that they should publish their assets. It is not part of the law to make public your assets; it is a personal decision. That doesn’t mean that we cannot embrace good idea. “I think we should now put pressure on the National Assembly to amend the law and make public declaration of assets compulsory for all public officers. Until that is done, we can’t fault those that are not willing to toe the line of Mr President and his deputy. Despite that, I think those of them that have nothing to hide should make public what they have before assumption of office and after their tenure.” A lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr. Wahab Shittu, said the gesture by President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo would assist in the fight against corruption. He noted that asset and interest disclosures have become a key global anti-corruption issue. He said: “In the light of the clear agenda of Mr. President on the basis of which he rode to power, the public declaration of asset is one clear signal that his administration is really serious and committed to the promise of fighting corruption. “If the number one and number two citizens have declared their assets publicly, what prevents any other public official from not following this worthy example? It is also important that this declaration is coming before the appointment and constitution of the cabinet ministers. My expectation is that all

•Buhari

•Osinbajo

I think we should now put pressure on the National Assembly to amend the law and make public declaration of assets compulsory for all public officers. Until that is done, we can’t fault those that are not willing to toe the line of Mr President and his deputy appointed ministers and other categories of public officials now have heavy moral and legal responsibilities to publicly declare their assets. There can be no excuse for non-compliance. Indirectly, the President and Vice President may have started the war against corruption on a very solid footing. “The understanding is that the asset declaration represents

a veritable tool for transparency in governance, an important hallmark of the democratic tradition. On a personal level, I feel fulfilled that the two topmost public officials in the country have kept their promises, meaning that optimism that some of us expressed have not been betrayed.” Woman activist Mrs Raliat Usman said public asset declaration by President Buhari and his deputy is a phenomenal action. “It is remarkable and highly commendable. For whatever it may worth, the two leaders have made true their promise that they would make public declaration of their assets,” she observed. Usman urged other political officers to follow suit. She added: “It should not just be matter for the President and the Vice President alone. It should be a matter for all our leaders showing leadership by example, especially if they are sure they don’t have anything to hide. This is an era of governance by transparency. It is government of accountability and we now have a government through which citizens hope is being rekindled. “I think that the declaration is part of what is required in building confidence in the Nigerian people. It shows that they have leaders who have the capacity to keep to their words. We should give kudos to Mr President and the Vice President for daring to do this. It is a very good omen for Nigeria and now, we have high hopes that very soon things will begin to take shape.” Another lecturer, Dr. David Aworawo, also opined that the public declaration of assets by the President and the Vice President is a positive thing that should be commended. He said it is a step in the right direction because it will give Nigerians a yardstick to evaluate them after leaving office. Aworawo said considering the level of corruption in the country, Nigerians should capitalise on the Buhari factor to compel other public office holders to declare their assets publicly as a way of stemming corruption within the corridors of power. He suggested that there should be an amendment of the law to make public asset declaration mandatory for all public officers. The President of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, Shetima Yerima, agrees. He described the action of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo as encouraging. He said: “If other public office holders don’t follow their examples, then they would have fallen short of our expectations and as such they are not likely to deliver on their promises. The truth is that many of the public office holders have skeletons in their cupboards and may not want to follow the example. “The National Assembly should amend the constitution to make it compulsory for public office holders to publicly declare their interst.” Legal practitioner Kingsley Obasi also backed the call for a legislation to make public asset declaration compulsory . He urged President Buhari to take measures to ensure that such legal framework is put in place, to bring the country in line with international standards and best practices. Shittu explained that the international best practices on asset declaration vary from country to country, depending on the legal regime and the emphasis placed on combating corruption by the authorities. He added: “While some countries prefer to restrict the disclosure requirement to senior office holders or those in sensitive positions, others require the declaration of interests of less senior public officials more generally, with some also requiring information about the assets of public officials’ spouses. Few countries however, require asset disclosure of public officials at all levels. Examples of countries in this category include: Belarus, Columbia, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon and Malaysia. In Albania, there is a Revised Asset Disclosure Law approved by the Parliament on the strength of the demand by the Albanian Coalition against Corruption. It took over one and a half years to convince the government that drafting a new law was a necessary element to the reduction of corruption in public finance. The Albanian experience was informed by research findings indicating the lack of transparency of financial disclosures by public officials. The law is enforced by an independent body called the High Inspectorate. Similarly, there is a model for combating political corruption through asset disclosure in Liberia. It has demonstrated how effective asset disclosure can lead to public accountability. The National Election Commission (NEC) is actively involved. The political parties and candidates contesting elections publicly declare their assets.

THE NATION MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

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I do not hesitate to confess that I owed my success in life to three factors; the grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline and a good wife. Our home is to all of us a true haven; a place of happiness, of imperturbable seclusion from the buffetings of life

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POLITICS HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

HID and vicissitudes of life

OR Yeyeoba HID Awolowo, life was full of ups and downs. Like her husband, she bore the vicissitudes of life with uncanny courage and philosophical calmness. Awo and HID were one soul in one body. From the onset, she was prepared and determined to weather the storm with him. Their fruitful marriage was still young when the teacher, journalist, stenographer transporter and produce buyer from Ilishan Remo left the country for the United Kingdom for legal studies. He was armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, which he had earned as an external candidate. Awo could not raise enough money, despite the efforts to get bonds from the late Chief H.O Davies and the OgbeniOja of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Adeola Odutola. He had to sell his building. The lot fell on HID to raise the children-Segun, who later entered Igbobi College in 1948, Omotola, and Oluwole. Awo returned to political activism and legal practice, following the completion of his studies abroad. He founded the Action Group (AG), became the Premier and Leader of Federal Opposition. He sought to served as the Prime Minister, but he lost his deposit at the 1959 poll. AG could not win the majority of the parliamentary seats. Then, hell was let loose in his party. The AG split into two camps in 1962. Tragedy hit the family. The Coker Commission of Enquiry was set up to probe the finances of the Western Regional Government, which Awo headed between 1951 and December 1959. The tribunal was manipulated to discredit Awo. It has not completed the task when the Federal Government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa announced that it has uncovered an arm plot. A state of emergency had been declared in the region, with the Federal Government detaining Awolowo at a mosquito-infested area of Lekki. One day, policemen invaded Awo’s residence at Apapa for a search. They could not find any in-

Awo’s love letter to HID

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Political Editor

criminating material. After that, they informed him that a similar search will be conducted at Ikenne. The policemen insisted that HID had to follow them that night to Ikenne. Awo objected. When they arrived the residence the second day, the female officer who searched Mama Awo unleashed a psychological torture. She asked HID to off her dress completely as part of the search. It was an agonising experience. During the treason felony trial, Awo’s first son, Segun, the Britishtrained promising lawyer, who had completed her Master’s Degree in International Law, was involved in an auto crash at Shagamu. He died instantly. The news was broken to her mother by Awo’s associates. She was heart-broken. Then, it was broken to Awo in detention. When the husband and wife met inside the prison where Awo was held, she wept uncontrollably. Awo did not succumb to emotion. He comforted her, saying that she should take heart. The deceased left behind two children-Segun and Funmilola. Awo played a prominent role in the life of the country as the war time Minister of Finance and Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council led by the Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. But, efforts to rule the country in the post-military years were aborted in 1979 and 1983. He died without realising this lofty dream of transforming the country as he did as the Premier of the defunct Western Region. In post-Awolowo years, the political family was in disarray. Things fell apart and the centre could not hold again, especially after the demise of Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, who wielded the family together under Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group. Four years ago, death sneaked into the Awo family again, snatching the fourth child, Mrs. Ayodele Soyode. She was a successful lawyer who

•The late Mrs Awolowo

‘

In post-Awolowo years, the political family was in disarray. Things fell apart and the centre could not hold again, especially after the demise of Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, who wielded the family together under Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group

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managed the chambers left behind her father. It was a painful death which hit Mama HID in her twilight of life. Mourners thronged her residence at Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, There was an outpouring of grief. Mrs. Ayodele was married to a political activist, Tayo Soyode. In 2012, Ayo’s brother, unbreakable Oluwole, also passed on. Almost five years before his death, he had been confined to a wheel chair, following the spinal cord injuries sustained in an auto crash. Thus, in her life time, the great woman had to endure the pains of losing three adult children to death.

A great example for women, says Jafojo

ORMER Lagos State Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo yesterday described the late Mrs. Dideolu Awolowo as a great example for women. He noted that she supported her late husband in the period of comfort and tribulation, urging women to emulate her example. Jafojo, an Awoist, hailed Mama Awolowo’s tolerance and sense of accommodation, which made her to

always show kindness to the followers of her husband. He attributed Awolowo’s success in his career as a lawyer and politician to the peace of the home front, which was enhanced by Mrs. Awolowo’s disposition. Jafojo recalled that the deceased kept hope alive when her husband was unjustly imprisoned by the power that be, adding that she became a rallying point for the pro-

gressive forces when Awolowo was absent. Jafojo stressed: “Mama Awolowo extended love, affection and kindness to all of us who were the political children, disciples and associates of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Unlike the first ladies of today, she was not power conscious. But, she supported the ideas, dreams and pursuits of her huusband and avoided scandals and controversy.”

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode with Prince Demola Aderemi and first daughter of deceased, Mrs. Omotola Oyediran, during the governor's condolence visit to the family at their Ikenne, Ogun State, on Sunday.

HE was described by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as ‘my jewel of inestimable value’. She passed through her husband’s school of thought and was baptised in the democratic norms. The jewel’s journey into the heart of Awolowo started in 1934; she was just 22 years old, beautiful and charming. HID’s irresistible disposition, coupled with motherly mystic, became a fountain where many learn the fundamentals of successful home. Chief Awolowo with an uncanny insight noticed the alluring character of his jewel and never wasted time to express this in a letter he wrote to HID expressing his profound desire to spend the rest of his life with her. Recalling with nostalgia how the sage won her heart, she said, one of the first things Chief Awolowo did was to write her a letter. “The first day I met my husband around 1934, in those days a man would propose to a woman through writing. Awolowo wrote me a letter that he was in love with me and wanted to marry me.” The lette,r which the sage crafted with choice words and flowery language, swept HID off her feet as she caved in for the man, who meant so many things to her and took her through the journey of life ensuring that she was well protected. Though many women of her category would probably miss the point and play to the gallery, undermining the very essence of their first contact, but HID in her wisdom, knew when to cave in for the late sage’s love letter which sunk to her memory. Looking back, she said: “I thank God for the good time we both spent together.” Prior to when the wedding bell tolled, they dated from 1934 to 1938. The period of courtship enabled them to build trust and love. The courtship offered HID the opportunity to understand that the person she was offering hands to was political giant who she would later share in his pains and triumphs. The marital bliss, which stated in 1934, when they had their first contact, was solemnised on December 28, 1937 when Chief Awolowo got married to his better half. When the marital vows were taken to remain for each other until death do them part, it was very obvious that HID was ready and fully committed to her husband of many years. The marriage which was witnessed by friends and well wishers and family members was solemnised in the traditional and Christian fashion. His best man was Chief Michael Oyewole. Also present during the wedding was the former Justice of the Western Region, Justice Olujide Somolu Extolling the virtues of HID, Awo said throughout the changing fortune of his life, she did not only give him the support, but had constantly motivated him not to falter in his service to mankind. HID did not allow whatever natural gift she got from God to get into her head. She was humble and generous as her abode became a rallying point for those in needs and never hesitated to share whatever she had with them. She offered wise counsel to those who approached her for their marital challenges Awolowo said her charm notwithstanding, HID was a humble spouse who is very generous and was ever ready to give helping

•The late Awolowo By Musa Odoshimokhe

hands to his friends and acquaintances. She was equally an epitome of courage, which according to the late sage, was very rare. He Awolowo said: “I have that courage too but I am no match for her, in her exercise of infinite patience and forbearance under all manner of circumstances.” The sage who regarded HID as the only charm of his life equally got in return from his loyal wife the same feelings. He said: “I am sure she too regards me as an ideal husband.” He added: “She absorbs without a word of complaint all my occasional acts of irritability. But her unique virtue, she has been of immeasurable assistance to me in the duties attached to my career as a public man.” “She has taken more interviews and listened to far more representation from the members of the public than I have time or sometimes patience for. “I do not hesitate to confess that I owed my success in life to three factors; the grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline and a good wife. Our home is to all of us a true haven; a place of happiness, of imperturbable seclusion from the buffetings of life,” he said. He added: “It is on record to my wife’s credit that she never made financial demand on me throughout my stay in the United Kingdom. Besides, she always sent me good news every week about herself and the children.” “When I returned home, I learnt that she passed through many anxious times with the four children, the oldest of whom was only five when I left home and the youngest of whom arrived four months after my departure.” “It is a matter for joy and profound gratitude to Almighty God that our mutual love and devotion has been richly blessed. We have five children, two boys and three girls, the eldest of whom, Olusegun died in stragic circumstance in 1963. The others are Mrs Omotola Oyediran, Oluwole, Ayodele and Tokunbo,” he stated. A hard working woman, she later became a successful business woman and astute politician. She co-ordinated the women wing of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and always present at party caucuses. A successful business woman, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957. She was the first to import lace material and other textiles into the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS N5b council bailout ‘ll be released soon, says Ahmed

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will soon release the N5billion bailout loan for the payment of salary and pension arrears at the local government level. Speaking at a meeting with the officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at the Government House, Ilorin at the weekend, the governor said he had received an assurance from the CBN that the funds would be

•Former CPS to Kwara State government, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, (middle), flanked from right by Alhaji Billy Adedamola, MD, National Pilot, Alhaji Abdullah Olesin, Bureau Chief, Leadership, Northcentral Zone., Chairman NUJ, Kwara Council, Comrade Abiodun Abdulkareem and Malam Kola Gambari of NCDC, Kwara Command, cutting the 50th birthday cake at a special prayer to mark the golden jubilee in Ilorin... at the weekend.

15 ex-ministers hold on to official vehicles O VER three months after leaving office, some ministers in the last administration of exPresident Goodluck Jonathan have not returned their official vehicles. Such vehicles include pilot cars with which they get easy passage on the highway and cars attached to their families. The Federal Government has, however, written some of the ex-ministers to return the official vehicles to the ministries. Some of the former ministers claimed they had not returned their official vehicles because of outstanding salaries, claims and severance package. Fifteen former ministers are yet to surrender the vehicles assigned to their former offices. The government is believed to have asked permanent secretaries in the ministries to write the former

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ministers. The government threatened to compel the ex-ministers to handover the vehicles or face sanctions. A Presidency source said: “Some of the ex-ministers are yet to return their official vehicles, especially the Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), which they were using. It is amazing that some of them are still using pilot vehicles for passage. “While some of them claimed they are still entitled to such perks for about three months after leaving office, a negligible few handed over their vehicles before May 29. “Some of them said they had not fully disengaged because they had outstanding eight-month salaries, allowances, claims and severance

package to collect from the government. “We have about 15 of them who have not fully complied with the directive to hand over their official vehicles. “The government has no choice but to write the affected ex-ministers. Or else, we may be forced to buy new vehicles for the incoming ministers.” Responding to a question, the source said: “Some former ministers assumed that they were entitled to some of these vehicles because of the monetisation policy of the government. “They said they were awaiting official clarification on the matter.” It was learnt that the memo has started having effect. Some ministers last Thursday returned some vehicles.

A former minister in the Ministry of Power was said to have returned 15 vehicles to the pool. The source added: “The vehicles included some which were hijacked from the parastatals or agencies under the ministry.” A former minister said: “They are talking of vehicles when some of us have not been paid for eight months. Most of us have outstanding claims and legitimate allowances to collect. “Do you know that most of us, including ex-President Jonathan and ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo have not been paid our severance package. We left this vital decision to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. “Some former ministers went on annual leave abroad shortly after leaving office. Others were displaced and had been busy with relocation. But they are already returning these vehicles.”

NNPC secures $1.2b to fund operation, boost gas to power

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has secured a $1.2 billion multiyear drilling financing package for 36 offshore/onshore oil wells under the NNPC/ Chevron Nigeria Limited’s Joint Venture (JV) to supplement the Federal Government’s cash call commitment. The Corporation’s spokesman, Ohi Alegbe said the funding package, which is being financed by a consortium of Nigerian and international lenders is an integral part of the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme (AUFP) initiated by NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counterpart funding of the JV upstream activities. This first programme under the AUFP is codenamed ‘Project Cheetah.’ Alegbe said it also envisaged that the initiative apart from supplementing the cash-call commitment would help in the maintenance of current production

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

levels in the short term as well as replacing depleting reserves. A breakdown of the deal, which was executed at a signing-ceremony in London at the weekend, indicates that the $1.2 billion is to be channeled into the development of 23 onshore and 13 offshore wells on oil mining leases (OMLs) 49, 90 and 95 in two stages from 2015 to 2018. According to him, stage one comprising 19 wells is projected to deliver 21,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day alongside 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/ d) over 2015 and 2016 while stage two, comprising 17 wells is projected to yield 20,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day alongside gas production of seven mmscf/d between 2016 and 2018. It is envisaged that both stages of the project would generate $2-5 billion of incremental revenue to the Federation Account, he added.

Beyond the contribution to the national treasury, the projected peak incremental gas production of 127 mmscf/d, which is the electricity equivalent of 400 megawatts (Mw) would help boost the Federal Government’s aspiration to supply gas to boost power supply. Speaking at the ceremony, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, described the new alternative funding arrangement as the new contractual model in upstream financing, which would serve as a template for future initiative to supplement the Federal Government’s Joint Venture cash call commitment. Praising the NNPC/ Chevron joint finance team and the consortium of local and international lenders led by Standard Chartered Bank and UBA for a job well done, Kachikwu noted that the Corporation will not relent in the renewed effort to restore probity and transparency to the process of generation, collection and remittance of crude oil pro-

ceeds. He said: “I have always believed that issues of federation accounts must be left sacrosanct and not to be toyed with. The Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme is designed to help us achieve this objective.” The Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Clay Neff pledged the readiness of Chevron to work assiduously with the NNPC to meet its set target in the project. With the completion of its financing, Project Cheetah stands as the pioneer project under the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme of the NNPC. The project is operated under the NNPC/CNL JV which is owned on a 60-40 basis in favour of the NNPC. The NNPC/Chevron JV is reputed as the third largest producer in Nigeria. Project Cheetah is projected to achieve a peak incremental production of 61 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

released soon. He expressed concern about the hardship caused to local government workers and pensioners by the arrears, which he attributed to a drop in federal allocation. Ahmed hailed the workers and pensioners for their patience, pledging to ensure that the funds were released. He stressed that the N5 billion bailout loan, when received, would clear the arrears at the 16 councils. On the bailout promised by the Federal Government, the governor said the government received N4.3billion to clear the two-month arrears owed civil servants.

Prison food: Group expresses concern over debt owed contractors

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organization, under the aegis of Alliance for Good Governance and Democracy has expressed concern over the non – payment of the outstanding monies owed contractors for the food supplied to inmates in prisons nationwide, several months after the Federal Government announced increment in the feeding allowance for[ prison inmates from N200 to N300. The group, in a statement by Comrade Shadrack Nwokolo and Jimi Sanwo, its National Coordinator and National Secretary in Lagos, said that after a thorough investigation of the state and conditions of prisons across the nation, it discovered that contractors responsible for food supplies are being owed huge sums of monies for the services they rendered to Nigerian Prisons Service in the last one year . “There are about 56,000 inmates scattered all over Nigerian prisons. A lot of prisoners would have been dying on a daily occurrence if not for the kind gesture of the contractors who have not stopped supplying foods to the inmates despite the huge amount of money owed them by NPS in the

last one year. “We are concerned about the welfare of inmates and that was why we were in the vanguard for the upward review of their daily feeding allowance from N200 per day to N300 per day, which we still admit to be grossly inadequate considering the cost of food items in the country. “We therefore call and appeal for a quick intervention by the Federal Government and the Prison authorities in particular to address the lingering issues to avert an imminent stoppage of food supplies to inmates in Prisons nationwide, the consequences may be fatal if something is not done urgently to pay up the backlog of outstanding indebtedness to the contractors.” The group recalled that “In January 2015, the Federal Government increased feeding allowance for prison inmates from N200 to N300 per prisoner per day excluding allowance for gas which is N150 per inmate per day. The total provision for feeding prisoners in Nigerian Prison is N450 per prisoner per day.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS Oando distributes gas stoves

O alleviate the suffering of women entrepreneurs in the food business, Oando Marketing Plc has distributed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to them at affordable prices. The firm distributed LPG Cooking Gas Stoves to women entrepreneurs in Ipetumodu, Osun State, at the weekend. The women fry bean cakes (Akara Osu) on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway. Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Olaposi Williams said Oando was motivated “to embark on this initiative first, to alleviate the suffering of the women who are exposed to health problems arising from the use of firewood in frying their “akara”, as well as ensuring a switch from the use of firewood to a cleaner and safer fuel, which is LPG”. She said over the years, the women have been renowned for their trade but have been exposed to poor health resulting from inhaling smoke from firewood. “We at Oando have looked at the health issues associated with the use of firewood and

suffering of these enterprising women and have decided to give back to this community by initiating this social benefit scheme as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility”. She said the company was poised to ensure that Nigerians switch over from firewood to LPG, which is cleaner and safer. Head of Liquefied Gas Mr. Ganiyu Azeez said the company, last month, gave out 30 units of LPGs Gas Stoves and would in a couple of weeks, give another 30 units. He said the company would ensure that women in the area use LPG Gas Stove to preserve the environment. Responding on behalf of the traders, Iyaloja/Founder of Ipetumodu Market Women Association, Mrs. Grace Kayode Oyatomi thanked Oando for the gesture, saying the initiative would herald a new dawn in the business of her members. “We are grateful to Oando for this giant stride. Today marks the beginning of a new life in the business of our members.”

NCC impounds N25m pirated books

THE Lagos Operational Office of The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), in conjunction with the Book Sellers Joint Task Force at Ajegunle, at the weekend, impounded pirated textbooks worth N25 million from a warehouse in Aspander.

By Sina Fadare

Zonal Manager Mr. Chris Nkwocha spoke at a news conference. He said the commission acted on a tip off. He said constant monitoring and vigilance of the warehouse assisted the commission in its quest.

•From left: Mrs. Williams; Aro of Ipetumodu, Chief Rufus Oladele Onifade; Agbaakin of Ipetumodu, Chief Akinloye Olarewaju; Head, LPG Oando Marketing plc, Mr. Ganiyu Azeez and Mrs. Oyatomi...at the weekend.

Abia NSCDC to prosecute 14 suspected pipeline vandals

HE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia State will prosecute 14 persons for suspected pipeline vandalism. The vandals were arrested within the week. Parading four new suspects: Peter Ugochukwu, 28, Uzoma Anyim, 48, Winner Onwuegbu, 28, and Udoka Nwokorie, 27, Corps Commandant Dr Benito Eze said the vandals would be arraigned after investigations. Eze worried that pipeline vandalism had increased since the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed the pumping of petroleum products.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

He noted that in August, the command arrested about 18 suspects on the Osisioma pipeline highway. “Between the second week of August till date, 18 suspected vandals have been arrested along Osisioma area of the Nigeria National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC) pipeline highway.” The commandant said about six trucks, jerry cans, eight cars and buses, which were confiscated during the period, were parked at their Isiala Ngwa field office. He warned oil marketers against patronising vandals because the command was also on the trail of buyers.

One of the suspects, Nwokorie, from UmudiawaOfeiyi-Ohuhu in Umuahia South Local Government Area, said he was arrested when he came home to see his sick parents. Nwokorie, who claimed to be a student of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), said he was arrested during a raid.

MASSOB lists achievements in 16 years of agitation

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said its 16 years of operation has benefited Ndigbo. The group listed its achievements in the last 16 years as the dismantling of toll gates mounted on “erosion-devastated roads” in the Southeast and Niger Delta, and stopping the lifting of crude oil, among others. A statement by MASSOB’s

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

National Director of Information, Maxi Chris Mocha, claimed the appointment of Mike Okiro, Ogbonnaya Onovo and Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika as Inspectors General of Police and Chief of Army Staff, was as a result of the group’s agitation. The statement reads: “MASSOB observed that before the formation of the Movement on September 13, 1999, no Igbo

son or daughter was considered trustworthy for appointment into any sensitive position in Nigeria. “What is remaining now is the United Nations’ granting of full sovereignty to Biafra. We have our currency, uniformed security personnel, international passport, Coat of Arms, flag, income tax, vehicle documents and number plates. We also have Ministries and Heads of Departments”.

Kogi commissioner: we haven’t received bailout

HE Kogi State government has debunked allegations that it received the bailout approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but refused to pay workers’ salaries. Commissioner for Finance Alfa Zakari, who debunked the allegations while reacting to the protests by local government workers, described it as disinformation and mere assumptions, urging government workers to exercise more patience. He explained that Kogi and three other states - Oyo, Delta and Benue- were yet to access the fund, cautioning the workers against protests that could destabilise the peace in the state. Noting that the workers had exercised commendable patience, Zakari urged them not to resort to chaos when a solution was around the corner.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

He said he was in Abuja with the Deputy Governor for the Federal Allocations Committee (FAC) and the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, adding that they were in touch with the CBN to facilitate the release of the bailout. “As at Thursday, September 17, what the CBN governor said was that 18 states had accessed the money. Four other states are being processed. “And these states are Oyo, Delta, Kogi and Benue. So, as it is now, we have not been paid. “The government appreciates the patience of the workers but reassures them that on receipt of the money, no delay whatsoever will occur in making sure that all the outstandings are paid. “The whole process will be

transparent; notices will be published, Kogi people will see clearly what is being paid and to whom, across the entire state. “We sympathise with the protesting workers because they have been very understanding. However, on this account, they have been misinformed that the bailout fund has been released. It has not. “We appeal to them to be patient. They have been patient for a long time. The solution is just around the corner now and we will still appeal to them that they should not be used as political tools in causing upheaval and destabilising the peaceful nature of the state. It will be most unfortunate if fifth columnists capitalise on such protests to wreak havoc. “The moment it is paid, workers will feel the impact immediately,” Zakari said.

‘Buhari will turn things around’

HE founder and General Overseer of Christ Family International Christian Centre, Pastor Solomon Oziegbe, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari, who he described as a messiah sent by God to bring positive changes to the lives of Nigerians. Pastor Oziegbe spoke at an interactive session with reporters on the church premises at Promise Land, Chemlap Avenue, Beside Nipco Filling Station, Meiran, Ojokoro, Lagos. Answering questions on his

forthcoming crusade, tagged: ‘All night Miracle with The Prophet’ and themed: ‘The Captivity is Over’, scheduled for Friday, September 26, the clergyman said: “The policies of this government is God-ordained. God brought Buhari to change this country. So, Nigerians should exercise patience because God wants to use him to change this nation, to bring security, prosperity and a country we shall be proud of. “Nigerians will see shocking and accelerated developments within the next few months,

which already is manifesting in his 100 days in office, though, it is too short a time to access the performance of an administration.” Pastor Oziegbe decried the rising level of partisan politics by a section of Christian leaders, saying this had led to spiritual and political polarisation of the country. “The ugly situation should not be so; religious bodies in Nigeria and beyond should speak with one voice, irrespective of their different denomination.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

NEWS

Nine died in Odukpani auto crash, says FRSC

HE Cross River command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said nine persons died when a truck ran into two buses and another truck on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar Ikom highway. The truck was said to be speeding towards Calabar,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

the state capital, when it ran into traffic and veered into the opposite lane. FRSC’s Commander Ikechukwu Igwe said nine persons died in the accident. He said: “The actual number of persons that died in that accident was nine. Seven died

PTD decries plot to create artificial HE national leadership fuel scarcity of petroleum tanker

drivers of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has said some “cabals” among politicians and top industry players are planning to cause artificial fuel scarcity across the country. The drivers’ union said the plot was meant to disrupt petroleum products supply and spread false information about its “impending strike” to create artificial scarcity and cause untold hardship. The union’s National Chairman Salimon Oladiti spoke in Benin, the Edo State capital, at the end of union’s executive meeting. The union leader urged the Federal Government to fix dilapidated federal highways across the country. He described the Ilorin-Oloru-Jebba road and the CalabarOdukpani road as national disgrace and death traps for drivers.

on the spot and we took the bodies to the mortuary in Calabar. Two others later died at the General Hospital in Akamkpa. On the whole, nine persons died. There are six survivors. “It took us almost three hours to remove the driver, who caused the accident, from his truck, because he was

trapped. Four other persons in one of the buses came down to see the cause of the traffic. That was how they were saved. “The people who were killed were inside the buses. Those who died instantly were the drivers of the Toyota Sienna and Toyota Picnic as well as five passengers. Four vehicles were involved in the

accident. “The impatient driver left his lane, probably lost control and ran into the Sienna and Picnic before colliding with another truck coming from the opposite direction. The cause of the accident was impatience.” The FRSC sector commander said the truck driver was in a terrible condition.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Oladiti urged President Muhammadu Buhari to build new roads and bridges as well as repair and rehabilitate dilapidated ones in state capitals. The tanker drivers’ leader accused men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) of extorting tanker drivers under the guise of checking for illegal products from vandalised pipelines. He pledged the union’s support for President Buhari’s anti-corruption fight and the gains recorded in the war against insurgents. Oladiti said: “We are aware of the intention of a faceless group planning to misinform our members and the public of an impending illegal strike by petroleum tanker drivers and to create security challenges in some strategic petroleum loading and storage points across the country...”

Customs seizes N20m contraband tyres

HE Cross River State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the weekend seized 5,000 pieces of contraband used tyres worth over N20 million. The Area Comptroller for Akwa Ibom and the Calabar Free Trade Zone, Comptroller Nicholas Oshomah, told reporters in Calabar that the seizure followed an intelligence report and three days of surveillance at Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State. He said no arrests were made. Oshoma regretted the sabotage on the economy because of the activities of smugglers,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

adding that anybody caught would be punished. The comptroller said prohibited goods would be destroyed because they posed serious danger to the nation. He urged those willing to trade to conduct their businesses in line with extant laws guiding importation and exportation. On how the NCS got the products, Oshoma said: “When we got there, we saw the situation and, because of the incidents we faced in the past with miscreants who came around to attack officers, I quickly mobilised my other units, the federal operations unit.”

Bayelsa monarch escapes abduction

HE paramount ruler of Ogbogoro community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, G. G. Igodo, at the weekend escaped abduction by six gunmen. It was gathered that the kidnappers shot a teenager, identified as Alex ThankGod, following their failed attempt to whisk Igodo away. It was gathered that the hoodlums invaded the home of the monarch, who was the former chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, at 10pm on Saturday. It was learnt that the information members of the community gave the polcie saved Igodo from the gunmen. The police were said to have rushed to the home of the monarch about one kilometre from Yenagoa. A source, who spoke in confidence, said when some policemen arrived on the scene, the gunmen abandoned their target and started shooting to scare the residents. “It was in the process that the 18-year-old boy, ThankGod, was shot and injured before the bandits escaped,” the source said. Police spokesman Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident. He said: “On September 19,

From Mike Odiegwu,Yenagoa

at 2200 hours (10 pm), six gunmen stormed the home of His Royal Highness G. G Igodo, in Ogbogoro community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area, to abduct him.

•Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, the Igba of Warri Kingdom (left), leading Chief Francis Omatseye and other chiefs to mourn the late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II in Warri...at the weekend

APC: we have no consensus candidate as we are preparing for the HE national leadership in Bayelsa itprimary on Tuesday.” of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) yesterday said it has not anointed any candidate for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State. The party debunked a report that former Governor Timipre Sylva had been anointed as its consensus candidate for the election. There was a report that APC leadership had settled for Sylva and asked other contenders, including a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, to step down for him. But the APC said its candidate would emerge in a peace-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ful, free and fair primary scheduled for tomorrow. APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank said the party would not ask any of its aspirants to step down. The party chief stressed that there was no going back on its primary. He said: “The party has not and does not intend to ask anyone to step down as far as the governorship ticket in Bayelsa State is concerned. The report is preposterous and distractive. Please, ignore

BoI’s facility for creative industry hits N2b

HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has unveiled plans to enable members of the Nigerian Creative Industry access its facilities. This is coming as the bank’s intervention to the sector hits N2 billion. Seven projects are currently accessing BoI’s facilities and another 10 are at various stages of getting loans approval. During a visit at the weekend to the set of a film by award-winning movie maker, Kunle Afolayan, Boi’s Managing Director Rasheed Olaoluwa noted that the bank had restructured its operations to improve public access to its services. The bank chief said the peculiarity of each sector was being considered for loan disbursements. According to him, the BoI has relaxed its criteria to aid access to the facilities as viable distribution channels are being financed to aid loan repay-

ment and mitigate default among stakeholders. Olaoluwa said BoI, in line with its mandate, had developed a special product, tagged: “BoI NollyFund”, under which Nigeria’s leading movie producers would get financial support to produce international quality films and screen them through various platforms of movie distribution in Nigeria and abroad. He said: “To support this process and ensure that only commercially viable scripts with good story-lines benefit from the scheme, the bank did set up a NollyFund Implementation Advisory Group to advise the institution on loan approval to the creative industry. “The group’s mandate is to critically review all the film scripts and associated budgets submitted to BoI by movie producers and make technical recommendations to BoI management for final credit appraisal and subsequent approval, in

line with the bank’s credit policy. “The visit to Kunle Afolayan’s set for the production of his new movie, The C.E.O, is part of the bank’s activities in assessing the utilisation of the facility approved for a project. It is the same way when we visit factories to see how funds are utilised. “NollyFund had an initial programme limit of N1.0 billion and a single obligor limit of N50 million for individual loans. However, over N2 billion has been accessed so far by the industry. Afolayan is the first person to access the fund, while others are underway.” Afolayan hailed the bank for improving access to its facility, adding that the project would not have started without funding from the bank. He said: “The BoI initiative for the creative industry should be encouraged...”

Some elders, women’s groups and youths, under the aegis of Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders for Good Governance (CBSGG), yesterday urged Sylva to step down for Alaibe. They accused Sylva of failing them when he was the state’s helmsman. The group’s Coordinator Ebitimi Jonathan said Alaibe was the best foot for APC in the governorship race. He noted that he had all it takes to make a good governor. Jonathan said: “Alaibe has not been tested. Like President Muhammadu Buhari, who tried four times before Nigerians gave him their mandate, Alaibe should be given the opportunity to steer the ship of the state.” The coordinator recalled that Alaibe performed well at the NDDC. He added: “It is time to let him replicate his performance in Bayelsa. He is loved by all. Many people in government have said immediately Alaibe emerges as candidate for the APC, they will leave the government.”

Buhari fighting for unborn generations, says APC chief From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

N ELDER statesman and governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Imoro Kubor, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari is fighting to save the future of Nigeria. Kubor, who holds a doctorate degree in Aeronautics Engineering, said it was by God’s grace that Buhari became a President at a time Nigeria nearly collapsed. He said: “It is by the grace of God that Buhari should come into government at this point in time. Nigerians should support him because what he is fighting for is for generations unborn. It is a selfless service.” Kubor served Nigeria in various capacities and retired as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation. The APC chieftain said the President had demonstrated his belief in democracy and the rule of law, adding that before President Buhari’s election, the rule of law was absent in the polity. He urged Nigerians not to forget how the country was run before Buhari became the President. According to him, without encouraging the President to bring sanity to the country, Nigeria will go the way of Iraq. On his ambition to govern Bayelsa State, Kubor said he joined the governorship race to tackle mass unemployment. The APC chieftain said a lack of jobs had driven many youths into criminal activities and made them think that the only way to survive was through militancy. He said unemployment was one of the reasons for massive oil pollution caused by peipeline vandalism and illegal refining of crude oil. Kubor said: “People open pipelines but they can’t close them properly. There is total disappearance of living things in the environment. It will take generations to clean up the state. The President is concerned about this and he wants to stop it.” The APC aspirant said instead of engaging in projects and programmes to create jobs, successive administrations wasted money on unproductive ventures.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

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Six die, eight injured in multiple road crash

IX persons were feared dead yesterday and eight others injured in a multiple road accident in Lekki, Lagos. The accident occurred at Marwa Roundabout at about 1pm, causing heavy traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. An eyewitness posted on social media that “a commercial cab rammed into a

By Precious Igbonwelundu

car causing another car to join in the unfortunate incident. “The Lagos Ambulance Service was yet to show up as at the time of filing in this report but well-meaning individuals alongside policemen are taking the injured to the hospital.”

A motorist, Kelechi Duru, who posted the picture of the scene on his Twitter account, @iamfatdon, said the accident claimed six lives. But a source at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said three persons died. Eight others, he added, were injured. The source said over

speeding was responsible for the mishap. “I really do not have much information on it but I overheard a colleague who said three people died and eight injured. He also said it happened just by the bridge at Lekki second roundabout and involved three vehicles. He also said the accident was caused by overspeeding. That is all I know,” he said. LASTMA spokesperson Bola Ajao could not be reached for official statement as her telephone number was not reachable as at press time.

•The scene of the accident ... yesterday

Doctors, others resist psychiatric hospital’s MD’s retention

OCTORS yesterday vowed to resist the reappointment of Dr Rahman Lawal as Medical Director (MD) of the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. But, Lawal dismissed his colleagues’ protest, saying he was asked by the Ministry of Health to remain in office until a substantive MD is appointed. Lagos State Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman Dr Tope Ojo said Lawal has passed the mandatory retirement age of 60 as stipulated in the civil service rule, stressing that his continued stay in office is condemnable. Ojo, who spoke on NMA’s resolution urged Lawal to step down to make way for the appointment of a new medical director for the hospital. He said the MD, whose tenure ended on August 28, turned 60 on January 3, adding that as such, he should vacate the post as required by civil service rule. The MD’s continued stay has caused a lot of commotion with staff crippling activities in the hospital by embarking on indefinite strike, Ojo said. Besides, he was allowed to complete his term in August despite turning 60 in January, Ojo added. “The current imbroglio of all health workers under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), is particularly made worse by the fact that similar contention as above preceded the exit of the former MD of the hospital, Dr Harry Taiwo Ladapo, some years ago for which Dr Lawal led a revolt that led to his removal from office before he (Dr Lawal) assumed the position,” he said. Ojo said the workers strike was to ensure the termination of Lawal’s tenure, urg-

Bridge railings theft suspect held •‘We sell them for N7,000’

HE police have smashed a three-man syndicate which specialised in stealing bridge railings in Lagos. Musa Inusa, 32, was arrested at Costain last Monday while carting away the stolen railings. Inusa’s two other colleagues, Abdullahi and Ibrahim fled on sighting a police patrol team. Lagos Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said his men intercepted the suspect and his gang members while carting away the stolen railings. Disu said: “On the fateful midnight, policemen from RRS while on routine patrol at Costain by National Art Theatre, intercepted three men, one was pushing a cart with ten-cut-to-size aluminium bridge rails and the other two were coming behind him. On sighting the police approaching, two of the suspects, Abdullahi and Ibrahim ran away and Musa was arrested. “Upon completion of our preliminary investigation, we found that the suspect and his gang members are in the habit of cutting down the rails of highway bridges which are meant to save lives when eventualities occur on the highway within the me-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

tropolis.” Disu said efforts were on to apprehend Ibrahim and Abdullahi. The suspect told the police that they cut the bridge railings into pieces and sizes before selling the aluminium to buyers at Ijora and Oyingbo markets. Inusa told police: “I am one of the three-man syndicate stealing bridge rails across the state. We have our own market where we sell the stolen rails. I came to Lagos in 2010 from Kano to search for means of livelihood, all my efforts to secure a job was fruitless. It was Ibrahim who introduced this robbery act to me. The midnight I was arrested, I, Ibrahim and Abdullahi went to Costain by National Art Theatre and stole 10 pieces of aluminium bridge rails. Suddenly, on our way home, we were intercepted by the RRS men.” He said they have two businessmen who buy the stolen goods from them. “We always sell one pole of bridge rail to one Alhaji Ibrahim at ijora at the rate of N7,000 and another man simply identified as Baba Supo at Oyingbo. My own job is to convey the stolen items to the buyers while the duo of Abdullahi and Ibrahim do the sawing and cutting,” he said.

•‘I was asked to remain in acting capacity’ By Wale Adepoju

ing President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Ministry of Health to remove the MD because his retention constituted an illegality, which does not conform with the change agenda. MDCAN chairman in the hospital Dr Grace Ijarogbe said the MD’s action was inexplicable. According to her, MDCAN is the body responsible for producing MDs for the hospital but “we are saying no to him because he has not performed well and he has brought us nothing but disgrace among the unions in the hospital”. She continued: “He is responsible for the various crises in the hospital. We have been praying for him to vacate the post since he mounted the saddle four years ago. When his tenure lapsed, we did not expect him to come back. He told us he would go to Abuja to solicit for another four-year term but we will not allow that.” Ijarogbe said Lawal’s continued stay as MD violates public service rule. “This is our fight and we will resist him from wreaking havoc on the hospital. He is 60 and should respect the law of the land. If he is allowed to continue it will be a bad trait. It will even mottle the name of our union. “We have written to the Federal Ministry of Health but there was no response. We even carried the letters through courier but as at today nothing has been heard,” she said. Ijarogbe said to MDCAN, the post of MD at the hospital is vacant, adding: “We will not be part of any illegality.” A senior consultant, who did not want his name mentioned, said Lawal called a meeting to read a purported recommendation letter from the Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Health to the staff. The source said the letter was a personal letter by the Perm Sec to him and not for tenure elongation. No worker will go back to the hospital until a new person is appointed MD, said the source. Lawal said he resigned his civil service appointment in 2011 when he became MD. “But, the rule allows me to complete my tenure. And the Ministry of Health says I should continue to act as MD through a circular it sent to

the hospital,” he said. He said the ministry set up a committee to look into the issues. “I am not working contrary to the civil service rule. I was asked to continue in acting capacity pending when a decision will be reached,” Lawal said. He said only the ministry that can determine if he should continue as MD or not. “I do not know why the workers are on strike despite the circular from the ministry. I didn’t force myself on the hospital,” he said.

•Inusa with the stolen items

Suspected pick pockets caught sharing loot

HREE persons have been arrested by Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged phone theft. They are Ebuka Ekujere, Monsuru Onanuga, and Segun Alao. The suspects were caught about 1:20pm on Friday, around Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, after they allegedly snatched a phone belonging to a passenger in a tricycle. It was learnt that Ekujere who boarded the same tricycle with the passenger, removed the phone from the owner’s pocket and hid it on the seat. Onanuga and Alao were said to have seen him, but they kept mum and later collected N3,000 from Ekujere for not giving him out. According to the police, Ekujere, who lives on Ezeagu Street in Ajegunle, said the other two suspects knew he was a thief. The police quoted him as saying that he usually settled them whenever they caught him in the act. The suspects were caught, while arguing on how to share the loot. In his statement, Ekujere said: “I boarded a tricycle at

•Ekujere (right) with other suspects By Precious Igbonwelundu

Eko Hotel roundabout to Obalende and in front of Eko Hotel gate, I removed a handset from a passenger’s pocket and dropped it on the seat. “Not knowing that his phone has been stolen, the passenger alighted by the hotel. “But Alao and Onanuga who saw me when I picked the handset, joined me in the tricycle. “Both of them demanded for settlement and I gave them N3,000 but Onanuga further attempted to collect the phone and my money. “Then, I engaged them in a verbal confrontation and this

attracted the tricycle rider. “Having explained what transpired to him, he held me and handed me over to RRS operatives stationed in front of Eko Hotel.” Other suspects denied knowing Ekujere is a thief, but admitted that they collected N3,000 from him. Onanuga, who claimed that he is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jakande Branch, said he was on assignment at Eko Hotel round about to regulate traffic. He denied knowing Ekujere before the incident, adding that he was not his accomplice. “I was at my duty post

when I sighted a man later identified as Ekujere pick a handset on a seat inside a tricycle. I and Alao challenged him to know if he is the owner but he said he was not. “He promised to give us N3,000 which he did. Having collected the money, we parted ways. “Later he came back and asked us to give him N1,000 out of the money which we did. We later saw Ekujere and a tricycle rider dragging themselves. “We went there to ascertain what was happening, in the process, Ekujere pointed at us to the Police that we are his accomplices. That was how the RRS team arrested us.” Alao admitted that they demanded for settlement from the prime suspect after he stole the handset. “I did not know it’s a crime to aid and abet criminal act. We promised never to do that again. We were only looking for daily bread,” he said. Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), warned residents against aiding and abetting crime.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

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Lagos pilgrims move to Mina today

Booking of traffic offenders begins

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

•LASTMA chief leads operation

NEW era in traffic management has begun in Lagos State. The Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Friday introduced the booking of offender as advocated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. In the past, erring motorists were arrested and their vehicles impounded. But, booking allows the offending drivers to go with their vehicles. They are expected to pay their fines and answer other charges within seven days. Four vehicles which violated the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane were arrested when the new traffic control regime began in Ojota. The Vehicles included two commercial buses marked AGL 109 XA and JJJ 7775 XJ, a black Honda - FST 914AX belonging to one Nike Elegbede and a blue Toyota Camry car marked EJ 54 KIJ driven by one Adamu Danladi. The car owners provides valid vehicle documents on the spot, but the commercial bus drivers could not. LASTMA General Manager Bashir Braimah, who led his men to the field, said the exercise was in line with the governor’s directive.

HEAD of the Hajj rites at Mount Arafat, the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (LSMPWB) will today move its 3,047 Pilgrims to Mina on the outskirts of Mecca. Amirul Hajj Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who made this known during a meeting with the pilgrims in Lagos House, Mecca, on Saturday, reiterated the need for pilgrims to spend the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah, that is tomorrow, in Mina. They will proceed to Arafat on the 9th day of DhulHijjah, which falls on Wednesday. He said in the state’s tradition, which conforms with Prophet Muhammad’s practice, pilgrims will supplicate individually and collectively for themselves, families, Lagos State Government and Nigeria. The Amirul Hajj urged pilgrims especially the elderly to be mindful of their health, considering Mecca’s harsh’s weather. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has hailed LSMPWB’s efforts in catering for the pilgrims. During a visit to Lagos House on Saturday, NAHCON scored this year’s Hajj operations of Lagos state high.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Braimah said there would be no hiding place for traffic violators as they are expected to pay their fine within seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices. Offender, he said, would be arrested if they did not pay after the expiration of the seven day grace. “To those without valid documents or not registered in the state, there is a working synergy between the agency and other sister agencies across the federation, therefore no traffic offender will go unpunished. It’s in their own interest to either fall in or fall out with this new method,” he said. Braimah said the state is gradually turning into a traffic bottleneck because of the excesses of motorists, particularly commercial and truck drivers, who, he said, were fond of flouting traffic rules. According to him, LASTMA can’t fold its hands and allow impunity to continue on Lagos roads, hence the enforcement. Danladi claimed that he was directed by his boss to ply the BRT lane, thinking that there is no more enforcement in the state.

•Nike Elegbede being interrogated by LASTMA officials at Ojota

•Danladi and his boss (second left) after their arrest at Ojota

SPORT EXTRA

AG: Buhari hails Team Nigeria

RESIDENT Muhammad Buhari praised the performance of Team Nigeria at the All Africa Games which just ended in Brazzaville, Congo. He urged the Nigerian athletes, who came second on the overall medals table to make Nigeria proud by constantly improving on their performance. In a press statement in Abuja released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President said he was impressed with the perfor-

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja mance of Team Nigeria at the continental event, and that he was not in doubt about their zeal and determination to make Nigeria great. President Buhari noted that the performance of Team Nigeria at the Brazzaville games has yet again brought the massive potentials of Nigerian sports men and women to excel in their

chosen areas against all odds. He implored the country's athletes to do all they can to ensure that Nigeria regains its number one position in Africa and the world at large. The statement disclosed that a presidential delegation had attended the closing ceremony and conveyed the President's appreciation to Team Nigeria and its officials. Promising the team a

befitting ceremony, President Buhari assured Nigeria's sports men and women that his administration would accord priority to sports, in addition to boosting the morale of the players and enhancing training for future challenges. He reminded the sports men and women not to rest on their oars because the challenges grow bigger and more complex each day.

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIER

D'Tigress off to Cameroon for Nations Cup

HE female national basketball team, D'Tigress will today, depart Abuja for Cameroon for the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifier. The team which left Brazzaville Sunday along with other Team Nigeria contingent after the close of Brazzaville 2015, having won a Silver, will slug it out against arch rivals Angola who defeated them in the final of the just concluded

From Akeem Lawal, Brazzaville AAG 2015 . Other countries in the group with Nigeria competing for the only slot for the continent at the Olympics are: Algeria, Egypt, Senegal and Guinea. Coach Adewunmi Aderemi who spoke to NationSport at the Mayamaya International Airport in Congo before the Team

Nigeria departed for Nigeria, expressed optimism that the female basketball team will pick the Olympics ticket to join their male counterparts. Although Aderemi agreed it won't be easy task, he, however, expressed optimism that the girls are capable and they will put in extra effort to make it to Rio 2016. The qualifier starts on the 24th till the end of the month.

African Games: Team Nigeria returns

EAM Nigeria contingent Sunday evening departed Congo aboard a chartered flight to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Director General, National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut. Nigeria placed second behind old rival Egypt in a keenly contested games held in Brazzaville. In a brief chat with NationSport

From Akeem Lawal, Brazzaville at the Mayamaya International Airport as the team were boarding at 3.15pm, the NSC boss who expressed happiness with the performance of the team, said the Commission will ensure corrections where necessary and do more for the athletes so as to improve in the medals table in subsequent games.

According to him, "the athletes and the officials really made the country proud on and off the field because there was no case if any crisis about our team and this is a good development as they all comported themselves very well. "I am so proud of them and we at the NSC will ensure we do more and correct the mistakes noticed here ahead of future games", he said.

No more fire brigade approach — Yakmut • ‘Frequent change of govt affects sports policies’

IRECTOR- GENERAL of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut has assured that henceforth Nigerian athletes will be enjoying early preparations ahead of any competition. Inability of Nigerian athletes to prepare early enough has always been identified as one of the major factor why they fail to live up to expectation at major championship. After the end of the 11th edition of the All Africa Games, Brazzaville 2015, attention now shifts to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Yakmut who also admitted that frequent change of governments has caused adverse effects on sports policies which would have aided development, revealed that preparations will start in earnest for Rio 2016 and All Africa Games in 2019. "In my presentation to President Mohammad Buhari, that is one of our weaknesses and analysis we presented at the

• Yakmut

From Akeem Lawal, Brazzaville sports commission is the sustainability of policies and also incessant change of leadership. "For instance, when we developed the Blue print for grassroot sports development in Nigeria in 2006, a week to the prersentation to the federal executive council, the minister in office, opted to go and contest for governorship and because he left, nobody attempted to implement that blue print, and that blueprint was surpossed to run for four year. The Blueprint got there without implementation. "So it is not about solutions, it is rather about providing the enabling environment for the nation to sustain year in year out preparations. "The presidential sports retreat on October 22nd, 2012 had done everything that you need to do, road map was drawn and this is three years after it, no one step has been taken and another administration has taken over. But for those of us that have survived all these series and today the opportunity given us, the person in office has directed the director general, that is the king of power, authority that one will do to implement. "So as soon as we go back, they will have 21 days break and start preparing for 2016 Olympics and also preparing for 2019. Our preparations will not be on the eve of the Games again."

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Greece election: New Democracy Party admits defeat

Cuba: Pope celebrates Mass before thousands

OPE Francis has celebrated Mass in front of tens of thousands of people in the Cuban capital Havana, on his first visit to the Communist-ruled island. President Raul Castro, who is not a Catholic, attended the event in city’s iconic Revolution Square. The Pope may also meet the leader’s brother and predecessor, Fidel Castro. Pope Francis, who is at the start of his Cuba and US trip, has been credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic ties between both countries. After his arrival on Saturday, he hailed improving ties between the two countries as “an example of reconciliation for the whole world”. But he also urged both Cuba and the US to “persevere on the path” of detente. Security services were seen arresting at least three people who were shouting and attempting to distribute flyers at the edge of Revolution Square as the Mass got under way. On his way to the service Pope Francis stopped to greet some

• Pope Francis in Havana greeting faithfuls...yesterday

of the thousands who had come out to see him. During his homily he said that “Christians are constantly called to set aside their own wishes and desires, their pursuit of power, and to look instead to those who are most vulnerable”. From my vantage point, it's hard to gauge exactly how many people filled the enormous Revolution Square in Havana, but their enthusiasm was clear to everyone watch-

ing. The Pope was greeted by thousands in good voice and high spirits, despite the suffocating Caribbean heat. It was a rare sight: the iconography of revolution such as the huge cast-iron Che Guevara mural juxtaposed against the images of religion, including a vast huge picture of Jesus Christ. Or Raul Castro embracing Pope Francis. Once again, it felt like evidence that times are changing

PHOTO: Getty Images

on the communist island. In terms of his homily, the Pope discussed ideas of brotherhood and unity but the more overt political message was aimed not at Cuba, but Colombia. He urged the Colombian government and the left-wing Farc rebel group to persevere with the talks being held in Havana, saying they could not allow “another failure on the path of peace and reconciliation”.

AU awaits EU's $50m to fight insurgency

S the continent continue it's search for peace and security, the African Union (AU) has said that the European Union (EU) $50 million pledge to fight insurgency in the continent will soon be ready. This is as the continental body also acknowledged the receipt of $21million from President Muhammadu Buhari. AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui who revealed this at a press briefing at the end of the three-day retreat for AU and regional bodies in Abuja, also commended Pesident Muhammadu Buhari for redeeming the country’s pledge of $21m. The contributions he said

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja was necessary for the takeoff of the multinational force. This he explained the raising of 9,000 multinational force to contain insurgency in the continent. He said: “is not for Nigeria alone but for African region. When it comes to Nigeria and I think since the election of President Buhari, this is as a witness, and as a person who is working on a daily basis with the government of Nigeria on the issue this is now the first priority for the government. “I mean dealing with unspeakable terrorist attacks and their effects on the population is really a priority here in Nigeria. And we are coordinat-

ing and helping also so that not only that the insurgency can be stopped. I can mention the regional launching of the MNTF on the 25th of May. I inaugurated the headquarter of that force. “As we speak, we have almost 9, 000 persons from Nigeria, from Chad, from Niger and from Cameroon together with Benin engaged. So now we are really working on improving that force, not only through the contribution of Nigeria which is effective”. “This underline the fact that the president of this country is really serious and determined about the issue. So the 21 million announcement has been really put in place to reinforce the fight. We have now what

we mobilise from the partners which is almost $70 million US dollars which will be also very soon put in place. Just before coming here, I made sure that the contribution of European Union which is 50 million will be ready very soon. So this is to say that really we are with Nigeria and we are overwhelmed by the determination of each security and army to deal with this matter and really prevents the killings of innocent people or pushing people to be IDPs in their own country”. Apart from raising a formidable force to contain Boko Haram and other sects, Chergui also said that AU will be looking at how to prevent radicalism.

Kerry: U.S. to accept 85,000 refugees in 2016, 100,000 in 2017

CRAMBLING to address a growing Syrian refugee crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Sunday that the United States would significantly increase the number of worldwide refugees it takes in over the next two years, though not by nearly the amount many activists and former officials have urged. The U.S. will accept 85,000 refugees from around the world next year, up from 70,000, and that total would rise to 100,000 in 2017, Kerry said at news conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier after the two discussed the mass migration of Syrians fleeing their civil war. Many, though not all, of the additional refugees would be Syrian, American officials have said. Others would come from strifetorn areas of Africa. The White House had previously announced it intended to take in 10,000 additional Syrian refugees

over the next year. Asked why the U.S. couldn't take more, Kerry cited post-Sept. 11 screening requirements and a lack of money made available by Congress. “We’re doing what we know we can manage immediately,” he said, adding that the U.S. cannot take

shortcuts on security checks. Conditions in Syria have been growing increasingly dire as the civil war grinds on. As many as 9 million people have been displaced, including more than 4 million who have fled the country, according to the United Nations.

A letter made public last week and signed by several former Obama administration officials urged the U.S. government to accept 100,000 Syrian migrants, and to put in place special rules to speed the resettlement process. Germany says it will accept as many as a million Syrians this year.

REECE’s conservative New Democracy party has admitted defeat to Alexis Tsipras’s leftwing Syriza in the nation’s fifth election in six years. The concession came as Syriza was given a lead of 35% to New Democracy’s 28% with a third of votes counted, interior ministry data showed. This is likely to leave Syriza just short of an absolute majority, and the party would need partners. The snap election was called after Syriza lost its majority in August. This followed the signing of an unpopular new financial bailout deal with international creditors. New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis said: “The electoral result appears to be concluding with Syriza and Mr Tsipras in the lead. “I congratulate him and urge him to create the government which is needed”. Syriza supporters at the party's main electoral HQ in Athens earlier cheered and clapped as exit polls were announced. Mr Tsipras was hugged by party supporters as he arrived there. He later said there was “hard work and struggle” ahead for the Greek people. Following the exit polls, Syriza member and ex-energy minister Panos Skourletis said

•Votting...yesterday

on local TV: “It is the first time a party has brought in a tough bailout deal and is rewarded. Until now, the electorate was clearly anti-bailout”. One projection on the current vote count gives Syriza 144 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with New Democracy on 75. This is only five fewer than Mr Tsipras’s thumping victory in January’s election, but again leaves him just short of an absolute majority. Greece’s turbulent year 29 Dec: Greek parliament fails to elect president, leading to snap elections a month later 25 Jan: Leftist Syriza party’s Alexis Tsipras elected PM on an anti-austerity manifesto 24 Feb: Greece’s European lenders agree to extend its second bailout by four months Jun: Marathon talks take place to avoid Greece bankruptcy and possibly leaving the eurozone. PM Tsipras calls a referendum on a possible bailout agreement 5 Jul: Greek voters overwhelmingly reject terms of third EU bailout in referendum vote 14 Aug: Greece agrees •85bn (£60bn) bailout deal with its creditors - its third in five years - allowing tax hikes and new spending cuts. Mr Tsipras resigns a week later clearing the way for snap elections in September, as he seeks a new mandate

PHOTO: Getty Images

South African police arrest man with female genitalia parts

OUTH African police said on Sunday that it had arrested a man after finding 21 pieces of women’s sexual organs in his freezer. According to the police, scalpels, anaesthetics and other medical materials were found in the Bloemfontein home of the suspect, a 58 year-old married father of two. “We are not sure how many victims there are; we are in the process of tracing them,” police spokesman, Hangwani Mulaudzi, said. Mulaudzi said that the authorities made the discovery after one of the victims contacted police. He said forensics experts were examining the frozen tissues and the suspect would appear in a Bloemfontein court on Monday under suspicion of sexual misconduct.

Russian opposition draws thousands to anti-Putin protest

• US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with refugees fleeing Syria, at Villa Borsig...yesterday PHOTO: AP

USSIA’s beleaguered opposition has drawn several thousand people to a protest rally in an outlying Moscow neighborhood to decry the 15-year rule of President Vladimir Putin. Protesters denounced the Kremlin-controlled political system that allows Putin to stay in power and prevents the opposition from running in elections. They complained of political repression and official corruption. Opposition leader Alexei

Navalny called on Russians not to give up hope that they can make a difference. He said the opposition’s mission was “to work with those who don’t believe” that anything can be changed. The Kremlin intensified its crackdown on the opposition after anti-Putin protests drew huge crowds in the winter of 2011-2012. Sunday’s protest was held in the Maryino neighborhood because the city government refused to allow it in central Moscow.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3344

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

OT many Nigerians know Professor Theo Vincent. If I did not thrill to the bounty of the written word, I probably would not know him or care. When I first met him, I actually did not care. I admired him, but for a different reason. I did not meet him in flesh and blood. As I write, I have not. I met him in the form of a book on poetry when I was a teenager in high school and preparing for my school certificate exam. Poetry was beautiful tyranny in my eyes. Words came together in an opaque assault. I was expected to hollow out every poem, but I was hollow at the end of every exercise. Vincent’s book, A Selection of African Poetry, defogged the material. He compiled African poems with K.E. Senanu. At Government College, Ughelli, we called the book Senanu and Vincent. I forgot about the man, as many do their teachers when they have moved ahead in life. But a year after, I was glued to the NTA on a Sunday afternoon, and I saw a man clutching a book, and he spoke with an accent of rare sonority. I knew he was Nigerian, if his accent betrayed his foreign exposure and education. His voice had a low, rhythmic tenor. His lips moved with a slight tremor as though praying for the listener to lend an ear. But it was not a beggary tone. It buried a vitality of intelligence and confidence in the humility of its rendition. Now celebratory, now melancholic, it tore the book apart. I lent an ear, then my mind, then my heart. It became a regular for me every Sunday afternoon after church. When my father, Moses, observed my surrender to our pint-sized television set with this fellow, he asked everyone at home to grant me my 10 or 15 minutes with Theo Vincent. I remembered his chin hid inside a voluminous goatee. His eyes were sober behind a pair of glasses, and he held whatever book he reviewed with a sort of subdued flourish. Even though I passed my school certificate and GCE in literature at an elite grade – I had an A1 in GCE – Professor Vincent’s Sunday classes tore than my vanity. I knew from him that literature was an open-ended survey of words, and it was not about words but society. It was no mystery but a power of enquiry. It provided a platform to interrogate society’s failings and potential and to celebrate our humanity. It was the nexus of words and myth, the playground villains and

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Buhari, help this man

‘

•Prof. Vincent

The least this man deserves is a decent home and a regular living allowance. I appeal to the President to step into his case, or any Nigerian with the means to do so, especially men in high positions in government

heroes. He gave me the first true introduction to literature. I gained admission to Ife a year after and had great teachers in my literature classes I took as electives. The teachers helped my flame to a ruddy colour, but Vincent lit the spark. He has been a subliminal figure in my consciousness. When my friend, Professor Hope Eghagha of the English Department at the University of Lagos, spoke fondly of him, my heart quietly zipped back to his feast on television. I followed his career with aloof gratitude and was happy he became vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt. Somehow news about him fizzed away, and in my subconscious I thought he was in retirement until I saw a report

in The Punch about him. The writer Chux Ohai titled it with an alliterative flair: Battered, Blind and Broke. I have read the piece a few times, but I could not understand why such a man, who has given so much to the society, should be allowed to pass his hoary years not only in penury but in neglect. According to the report, he is blind, and lives in one of the dingy neighbourhoods in Lagos where area boys, pimps, loafers and other never-do-wells thrive in dirt and darkness. There are speculations why the man cannot afford to live in a comfortable environment, or even get proper care with his eyes now locked in perpetual night. The Universities of Lagos and Port Har-

RIPPLES LIKE PDP, WE WON’T DISPLAY BUHARI’S PICTURE –Labour Party, PPA

Who cares?... I say who cares about ‘MUSHROOM PARTIES’?

’

HARDBALL

ARDBALL is not given to sectionalism and ethnic jingoism – yes, even if he says so himself. Hardball, if he must go on this self-adulatory trip, is something close to a humanoid - human machine programmed to redeem, ha, ha, ha. But today, Hardball will pick on a nascent group known as Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF). According to reports last week, NRF chaired by Alhaji Mohammed Umara Kumaila had a summit and retreat in Abuja and the communiqué emanating from the event was at once remarkable and unsettling. This is why Hardball is giving a warning upfront that it is going out of its way today to do a regional number. Alhaji Kumaila who was a member of the House of Representatives in company of other northern elements like Tajudeen Dantata, Jack Yakubu Pam, Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, Aisha Dukku and Mallm Saidu Malami. Others include; Salam Ahmed, Adamu Moddibo, Suraj Yakubu, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Bilkisu Magoro, Hajiya Amina Jambo and Hajiya Fatima Saleh, among others. Those who know can tell that these are the new young Turks of the North most of who have held plum public appointments in the recent past. And if we might add,

court issued statements that they have done well by him according to the law. They have paid all his entitlements. What that means is that he is left to his sightless devices. The universities are saying it is not about compassion. It is about the law. It reminds me of Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, who asked with aghast illumination when he was cornered, “Is that the law?” In his case, he wanted to use the law to take a pound of flesh. He lost many pounds of honour to the bargain. The universities are losing pounds of goodwill to this bargain. Whatever led to the man’s state, even if it is due to personal indiscretions, he should not be left in that state of increasing immiseration. We should not allow him regret his many years like Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of the Salesman who died with neither substance nor love after sacrificing his vital years to the service of his employer. He was a stellar professor, and also a vice chancellor. The fact that he is so poor shows that he did not take advantage of his lofty position for unlawful self-enrichment. He was an activist of the word, and played a great role in installing Nigeria’s top literary accolade, The NLNG Prize for Literature. As some people say, a man like him ordinarily should be bedecked with the Nigerian Merit Award. Men like Vincent indict our society. They have given service. They have served with their minds and might. We look back coldly. He did not leave the university environment in a scandal. He is not like the character in Philip Roth’s novel, The Human Stain, where a professor quits a United States university over a racial slur or disregard for other ethnicities. Or J.M. Coetzee’s novel, Disgrace, where a professor quits for taking advantage of a female student in his bedroom. The least this man deserves is a decent home and a regular living allowance. I appeal to the President to step into his case, or any Nigerian with the means to do so, especially men in high positions in government. I recall that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former Governor Babatunde Fashola came to the rescue of Nigeria’s best soccer hero Haruna Ilerika. Tinubu also built a home for Fatai Rolling Dollar. Icons stand for the best in us. We should do well to serve them when they are no longer in a position to serve us.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

NRF and the rest of us most of who are ‘loaded’ to the hilt; if you understand Hardball. Now what does this group of young men and women want? At the summit which had the vice president and four governors in attendance, they demanded that (1) the national conference held last year be discarded; (2) a new confab to focus on how to rebuild the Northeast be convened, (3) the Federal Government must pursue within the next 12 to 24 months, issues of health care, youth empowerment, education, security, human suffering, good governance and infrastructure in the Northeast. These demands by the NRF seem legitimate but are obviously ill-digested. One, most of them did not only participate actively in the Jonathan National Conference of 2014, they also benefited immensely from it both politically and in pecuniary terms. Hardball happens to know that ageold maxim which says you cannot have your cake and eat it; and the other one: you cannot burn your candle at both ends. Two, the NRF says their demands have become necessary because the Northeast zone has been marginalised. Hardball on his

part demands that this word must be banished from Nigeria’s political and grammatical lexicon for good. ‘Marginalisation’ has over the years, been sharpened into a deadly weapon of victimhood, a handy totem to terrorise the polity. NRF quotes a 2013 World Bank Report to corroborate the fact that poverty has doubled in the North since 1980; that the North has the lowest rate of literacy in Nigeria among other damning indices. But the NRF so conveniently forgot that the North has held power in Nigeria, it has the highest number of former heads of state, former top military brass, former permanent secretaries, former Supreme Court justices and former governors. The North has the highest number of senators, House of Representatives members, government appointees, states, local government areas; billionaires and apart from the Southsouth, the largest share of the national cake. Now, short of asking the rest of the polity to evaporate or live on sawdust, all the money in Arabia will not help the North if it won’t stand up and help itself.

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