Thursday 17th March 2016

NNPC Rejects Audit Report on Non-remittance of N3.2tn Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday rejected the findings of the audit report submitted recently to the National Assembly by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, stating that the audit query it raised over

the non-remittance of N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account was erroneous.

The corporation also said that the report with its “errors” had the capacity of undermining its current and future business operations,

compelling it to set the records straight.

It made the clarification in a statement by its Group Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, in Abuja.

It said that even though

the claims by the auditor general’s report were broadly within the 2014 financial year before the current management came on board, it still has a duty to safeguard the integrity of the corporation by

correcting the office of the auditor general on its audit errors.

“The Auditor General of the Federation declared to the National Assembly on March 14, 2016 that NNPC failed to remit the sum

Anger After Senate Rejects Gender Equality Bill… Page 8

of N3.235 trillion to the Federation Account for the period ended 31st December 2014.

“NNPC wishes to state in strong terms that the auditor general’s declaration was erroneous. It should also be noted that although Continued on page 6

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Tension Reaches Fever Pitch Ahead of Rivers Rerun Polls Wike declares public holidays, police restrict movement APC, PDP trade accusations and counter-accusations as INEC absolves self of bias Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja With two days to go to the federal and state assemblies' rerun elections holding in Rivers State, tension has reached fever pitch and palpable fear has enveloped the state as the candidates

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Governor Nyesom Wike and the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, prepare to do battle for the soul of Rivers State.

Continued on page 6

Buhari Condemns Attack as Suicide Bombers Kill 22 in Borno Mosque

Troops clear Boko Haram camp, recover armoured tank Tobi Soniyi, Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condemned the suicide terrorist attack on a mosque in Umarari

village, near Maiduguri, Borno State, saying that the attack on worshippers had shown that Boko Haram insurgents are not Muslims but criminals.

Continued on page 6

PEACE TO REIGN Lone Nigerian Victim Identified FOR L-R: The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, after a reconciliatory meeting mediated by the governor in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in Ivorian Attack… Page 11 to resolve the differences between the two traditional rulers over supremacy in Yorubaland… yesterday (See story on page A)

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N’Assembly Budget Silent on Breakdown of Lawmakers’Salaries Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja For the first time since 1999, the National Assembly yesterday released a breakdown of its budget. However, the breakdown of the 2016 budget for the federal legislature, which was obtained

by THISDAY, only provided information on the capital and recurrent expenditure of the Senate, House of Representatives, the management of the National Assembly, as well as its research institute.

The breakdown did not reveal

detailed line-by-line sub-heads as expected by Nigerians, as the figures were lumped together and were opaque on how the monies will be spent.

The breakdown also did not reflect the earnings of the lawmakers, which Nigerians have demanded to know, effectively entrenching the absence of transparency on the salaries and allowances paid to federal lawmakers in country.

The budget breakdown showed that their earnings were only listed under the recurrent expenditure

sub-head of the budget, just as projects to be executed under the National Assembly capital expenditure framework, were also not revealed.

The National Assembly has come under severe attack since the resumption of democracy in 1999 over allegations that members’ earnings are humongous and unjustifiable relative to the services they render.

Some foreign media organisations have also joined the campaign with reports

that Nigerian lawmakers earn higher salaries than most of their counterparts across the globe.

These allegations have put members of the National Assembly under immense pressure to make the details of their budget transparent.

However, the breakdown in the one-page document showed that N26.9 billion was allocated to recurrent expenditure for the Senate and N3.258 billion for capital expenditure, totalling N30 billion.

The House of Representatives

was allotted N44.55 billion for recurrent spending and N2.652 billion for capital spending, amounting to N47.212 billion, while the National Assembly management got N10 billion as recurrent expenditure and N1.576 as capital expenditure, totalling N11.625 billion.

Also, the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), National Assembly’s think-tank, was allocated N5.044 billion as capital expenditure and N3.383 billion as recurrent expenditure.

The total allocation to NILS was

N8.43 billion.

The National Assembly Service Commission got N1.858 billion as recurrent expenditure and N113.7 million for capital projects, general services was allotted N8.669 billion and N789.7 million as recurrent and capital expenditure respectively, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts got N115 million, its House equivalent got N138 million, legislative aides were given N9.668 billion, while the service order vote got N374.4 billion.

in conducting FAAC meetings where all federation revenues are presented, discussed and approved. There are series of meetings before and after FAAC meetings to reconcile and resolve any issue as the need may arise."

On the $235 million reportedly transferred to an undisclosed escrow account, he said: “With respect to the $235 million proceeds from the sale of natural gas allegedly transferred to some undisclosed escrow account, it should be noted that NNPC does not have any secret escrow accounts.”

The fact, he explained, “Is that the alleged $235 million represents proceeds from the sale of gas feed stock to Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) that was used to repay part of the Modified Carry Agreement (MCA) loans, applicable royalty to Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and tax to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)." ”The MCA loan was contracted specifically to fund the development of upstream oil and gas projects whose transactions are regularly reported to FAAC as part of the reconciliation of the revenues to NNPC, FIRS and DPR. “The MCA and all other alternative funding arrangements are annually appropriated by the National Assembly and are therefore fully disclosed to FAAC on a monthly basis,” he stated.

Abdulrazaq said that best practice and established due process in accounting require

that after any audit there should be an exit meeting between the auditor and the auditee where any outstanding issues are finally discussed and explained before the issuance of an audit report.

He noted that there was no such meeting and NNPC did not receive any draft report from the auditor general’s office for comments before it was submitted to the National Assembly.

NNPC REJECTS AUDIT REPORT ON NON-REMITTANCE OF N3.2TN this period was before the new NNPC management was appointed in August 2015, the management still deems it fit and important to correct any misinformation about the activities of the corporation as this will adversely affect its current and future financial and operational plans if not corrected,” said Abdulrazaq.

He further stated that since the new management was appointed, it has placed great emphasis on transparency, accountability and integrity, and has sought to refocus and reposition the NNPC as demonstrated in the ‘‘20 fixes” initiatives which it adopted.

Listing some of the 20 fixes, NNPC said they included the publication of its monthly financial and operations' reports; the focus on cost reduction across board and subsequent drop in monthly operational losses from N30 billion in August 2015 to N3 billion in January 2016; and the restructuring of NNPC to improve its performance and profitability.

Abdulrazaq said that the corporation’s new management had made efforts to identify legacy claims and settle same.

He said NNPC, in this regard, had also undertaken a forensic audit of all the claims and a report is expected from its appointed forensic auditors soon.

According to him, “Upon the appointment of the new NNPC management, it identified all legacy claim issues between NNPC and the federation account and engaged

with the Federal Ministry of Finance to resolve the issues by inviting the appointed forensic auditors to conclude the previous forensic audits on these claims and the final report on this is expected soon.”

NNPC, Abdulrazaq noted, would have ignored the auditor general’s report but for the level of publicity it had generated.

“It is not in NNPC’s character to join issues or trade blame with other agencies of government, but considering the high level of publicity generated by the purported declaration by the auditor general to the National Assembly that NNPC has failed to remit the sum of N3.235 trillion and the erroneous impression it has created among Nigerians and the international financial community, it has become imperative to set the records straight.

“The declaration by the auditor general may have been borne out of a misunderstanding of how revenues from crude oil and gas sales are remitted into the Federation Account,” he explained.

While providing insight into the country’s crude oil revenue stream and NNPC’s role in the process, Abdulrazaq said: “As part of its responsibilities, NNPC is allocated 445,000 barrels per day for processing into petroleum products for distribution to the nation.

“Any unprocessed crude is sold and the proceeds used to pay for importation of petroleum products. The proceeds from the sale of these products are remitted

to the Federation Account after deducting the cost associated with the supply and distribution.”

These costs, he said, include subsidy on petroleum products which he noted that the corporation was entitled to as a major supplier of petroleum products to the nation, and crude oil and petroleum product losses as a result of vandalism on its network of pipelines for the period covering January 2012 to December 2014 amounting to N202.68 billion.

Other costs incurred by the corporation include those for holding strategic petroleum product as well as repairs and maintenance costs for the period January 2012 to December 2014, all of which amounted to N358.88 billion.

“Consequently, the figure owed the Federation Account as at the January 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting report was N326,142,137,205.79 which is still being reconciled.

“All the stakeholders in the FAAC meeting are familiar with the N326.14 billion and has been in the public domain since then to date.

“As regard to the N1.374 trillion claims against the federation, this is currently being reviewed by FMF-appointed forensic auditors at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Finance,” he added.

Abdulrazaq further said: “It is clear that the auditor general failed to reflect all the figures as they should be, not minding the fact that there is a clear process

BUHARI CONDEMNS ATTACK AS SUICIDE BOMBERS KILL 22 IN BORNO MOSQUE His condemnation came after the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of 22 people in the latest suicide attacks near Maiduguri by two female carriers suspected to be linked to the Boko Haram sect.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday said there were twin person-borne improvised explosive attacks carried out by two female carriers yesterday morning.

According to Usman, the first attack targeted a mosque, while the second blast occurred about 50 metres away, a few minutes later.

“Sadly, 22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“Troops, security agents and caregivers have been mobilised to the scene, while the wounded have been evacuated to Molai General Hospital for treatment.

“The troops, security agents and the Civilian JTF have secured the area and are combing the environment for possible clues,” he said.

The army spokesman, while commiserating with the families of the victims, reassured the public that the military would continue to rout the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they may be hiding.

“We will not rest on our oars until all those that masterminded this latest heinous and other similar crimes are apprehended and brought to justice,” he added.

Usman implored Nigerians to be more security conscious, cooperate with the troops and security agencies.

Reacting to the attack, the president, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, assured Nigerians that with the current renewed determination of Nigerian security agencies, coupled with the regional and international attention constantly focused on the eradication of terrorism, the end of Boko Haram was in sight.

Buhari, while commiserating with families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Umarari village, said the condemnable and reprehensible attack on a place of worship by perpetrators who pretended to be worshippers, had once again exposed them as mere criminals who had no place among civilised people.

Buhari expressed his deepest sympathy and condolence to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Borno State over the incident.

The president, who wished

speedy recovery to those injured, also commended the security agencies and caregivers for their prompt deployment to the area and reaffirmed that those who perpetrate, finance, organise and sponsor “these reprehensible acts of terrorism would not escape punishment”.

He implored Nigerians to continue to remain vigilant to the antics of these lawless individuals and cooperate with the relevant government agencies in their unshaken resolve to defeat the enemy.

Also, the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, said the twin suicide bombings were indicative that the terror group is struggling to survive.

Buratai, who stated that it was unfortunate that young innocent girls were being sent to kill themselves, spoke in Benin City when he paid a working visit to the headquarters of 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

Buratai said efforts were ongoing to bring an end to insurgency in the country, adding that those carrying out attacks are the last remnants of Boko Haram insurgency.

Addressing soldiers of the brigade, Buratai urged them to uphold the tenets of the constitution and to the president and commander-in-chief,

promising to address the challenges they currently face.

The attack near Maiduguri notwithstanding, Usman said yesterday that the Nigerian military had sustained the clearance of Boko Haram’s reported locations and hideouts in the North-east, leading to the recovery of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Yobe State.

Usman said that troops of 120 Task Force Battalion cleared a camp at Bulasari in the state yesterday, adding that the latest onslaught against the terror group came after another camp in Golgore was cleared on Tuesday.

During the operation, he said, quite a number of insurgents were killed while one soldier sustained a gunshot wound.

He said the wounded soldier’s condition was stable and was being managed at Damaturu General Hospital.

According to Usman, “One of the most significant aspects of the operation was the recovery of a Nigerian Army armoured personnel carrier captured by the terrorists during an attack on Buni Yadi on July 9, 2015.”

He said that the APC was discovered at Golgore River and evacuated.

TENSION REACHES FEVER PITCH AHEAD OF RIVERS RERUN POLLS The war of attrition between Wike and Ameachi, which started under the Goodluck

Jonathan administration for the control of the oil-rich state, has led to bloodshed and the loss of many lives, with both sides accusing each other of sponsoring the violence and mayhem that has turned the once-peaceful Rivers State into a political war zone.

Preparatory to Saturday’s elections, Wike yesterday declared today and tomorrow work free days to enable workers fully participate in the polls.

In a statewide broadcast, Wike said the workfree days would enable workers in the private and public sectors to fully participate in the rerun polls.

The governor also expressed confidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct free, fair and credible elections based on the assurance he had received from the electoral body.

He stated that security agencies had also been given clear instructions to enforce the restriction order on human and vehicular movements on election day.

The governor directed the security agencies to: “Arrest any person or group of persons, including government vehicles, that violate this order and or attempt to act in any way to undermine the peaceful conduct of the rerun elections in the state.”

While urging the people of the state to turn out in their numbers to participate in the elections, Wike said he had been assured by the armed forces that they would not deviate from their constitutional role of safeguarding law and order before, during and after the elections.

“In line with the ongoing security operations to rid the state of cult-induced violence and criminality, I have requested the armed forces to increase security surveillance around some identified flashpoints of cultism and banditry in Abua/ Odual, Andoni, Akuku Toru, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, Emohua, Ikwerre, Opobo/Nkoro, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state.

“There is really nothing to fear for every law-abiding citizen of the state while exercising our rights to vote. On election day, simply take your permanent voters cards (PVCs), walk to your polling units to be accredited, peacefully cast

your vote and, wait at a reasonable distance as allowed by law until the results are counted, announced and documented.

“Do not submit to any intimidation by those who seek to scare you away from voting with the military. Take note that no person is allowed to go to the voting areas with uniformed security personnel or thugs,” he warned.

Wike urged the people of the state to take advantage of the court-ordered rerun elections to exercise their democratic rights to vote candidates of their choice.

He said: "You will also be electing worthy representatives to the state House of Assembly to join me in delivering our developmental agenda and help chart the future of our state through effective legislation and oversight.

“Now that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to conduct the court-ordered National and State Assemblies’ rerun elections in Rivers State, it is imperative that we take full advantage of the opportunity to, once again, exercise our democratic rights to vote for the candidates of our choice.”

Also, the Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police (DIG) (Operations), Sotonye Wakama, also affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force was prepared to take on any person that might truncate the polls.

Wakama spoke yesterday at the police officers’ mess, Port Harcourt, Continued on page 8

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Anger After Senate Rejects Gender Equality Bill Saraki: Bill should be reintroduced The Senate has been condemned for rejecting a proposed bill aimed at eliminating “all forms of discrimination” against women.

The Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill was thrown out on Tuesday after some lawmakers voiced their opposition purely for arcane religious reasons.

Rights activists say the bill would promote women's equality in marriage, inheritance and education.

Senators who opposed the Equality Bill said it was not compatible with Nigerian culture and religious beliefs.

Some senators also argued that the constitution already recognises the rights of

everyone.

In Islam, women get half of men’s share in inheritance and it is unacceptable for anyone to change that, a Muslim senator told the BBC. One Christian lawmaker also quoted some sections of the Bible to condemn the bill.

But the decision has been widely condemned.

Human rights activist Bukky Shonibare said it was a sad day for Nigerian women.

“It shows how backward we are and how much we want to hold on to our lopsided religious and cultural beliefs,” she told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme.

It is unfortunate that some men who see the emancipation

Saraki of women as a threat, are the ones being trusted with making laws and order, she added.

“Every senator that voted against the bill should hide their face in shame,” said prominent actress Uche Jombo.

Some activists have started

circulating a petition urging the Senators to reconsider their stand against the bill.

Worried about the backlash over the rejection of the bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday advised Nigerian women to reintroduce the Gender Equality Bill.

This was contained in a statement signed by Fatima Kakuri, Special Assistant on Gender and Equality to the President of the Senate, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Biodun Olujimi, but was rejected by the Senate over alleged constitutional violations.

Saraki said although the bill had suffered a setback, it could still be amended and reintroduced.

“Unfortunately, the bill suffered a slight setback because there were some parts of the bill that some senators disagreed with along the lines of religion and tradition.

“The beauty of democracy is that it gives us the opportunity to consider different opinions and this bill can still be represented and reconsidered on the floor of the Senate.

“I have it on good authority that Senator Biodun Olujimi, who introduced this bill, will reintroduce it after redrafting it to address some of the reservations that were

expressed on the floor of the Senate.

“As I said during the International Women’s Day last week, I am of the opinion that there are substantial parts of the bill that are crucial to the development of our nation.

“Such bills like the Equal Access to Education, strengthening of the laws on Violence against Women, Ending Abduction of Girls, Sustenance and Promotion of Entrepreneurship Opportunities, Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Equality are equally important,” he said.

Tuesday was the third time the Gender Equality Bill was rejected by the National Assembly.

Rivers State against INEC and the Nigerian Army. On Tuesday, Nyesom Wike accused INEC Commissioner, Mrs. Amina Zakari, of an unsubstantiated and cooked up plot to swap election result sheets in the yet-to-be-conducted election.

“He went ahead to issue a death threat on the INEC commissioner over the unsubstantiated and cooked up plot.

“The APC takes Nyesom Wike’s death threats and campaign of calumny against critical national institutions including the Nigerian Army very seriously.

“Under Nyesom Wike’s watch, the country and indeed the international community has been traumatised by the daily lynching, maiming, killing and beheading of APC members and supporters in Rivers State.

“The APC believes that Nyesom Wike’s repeated threats to INEC to ‘write their will’ before coming to conduct elections in the state is real and must be looked into by relevant security agencies.

“The APC calls on the relevant security agencies to hold Nyesom Wike responsible for any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections.

“The party also welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security services to deal decisively with sponsors and perpetrators of political violence in Rivers State.

“The police and other security agencies must ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law,” it said.

The ruling party reiterated that the politically-motivated killings in Rivers State were a real emergency that should not be treated with kid’s gloves.

“The situation is distressing, tragic and a huge source of worry to the party. We are already actively collecting evidence of the politicallymotivated killings which have taken genocidal dimensions under Nyesom Wike’s watch.

“The APC will present evidence to national and international law enforcement agencies.

“The APC hereby calls on security agencies to be on high alert over the dangerous threats and actions by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and by extension the PDP in the lead-up to the Rivers rerun election.

“While we call on INEC and security operatives to be mindful of the dangerous threats by the Rivers State governor, the APC is confident in INEC and security

agencies’ ability to deliver peaceful, free and credible supplementary elections come March 19, 2016,” APC stated.

In the same regard, the candidate vying in the Rivers South East senatorial rerun election, Senator Magnus Abe, yesterday called on youths from the Ogoni area of the state not to attend a meeting with Wike before the election.

This came as the PDP in the state described as provocative and inciting, a statement credited to Amaechi that he would visit polling stations, especially Wike’s wards during Saturday’s elections.

In a statement he personally signed, Abe said Wike was planning to meet with Ogoni youths where he planned to induce them financially to scuttle the elections.

He said: “Information available to me has also indicated that adequate funds have been provided for that purpose. I am also aware that the agenda of the meeting is to preach hate and incite the youths against APC leaders and their supporters with the intention of fomenting trouble in order to scare the general public to abstain from the venue of the elections.

“The essence is to ensure that areas that have massive support for APC do not vote or return scanty votes.”

He expressed surprise that the governor had not held such a meeting with youths in his own native Ikwerre land and wondered why it had become expedient to hold such meeting in Ogoniland.

“I therefore call on the youths to shun the meeting despite the inducement,” he said.

Despite Abe’s accusation, the PDP yesterday called on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Bori Camp Brigade Commander to respond to Amaechi’s claim on the use of soldiers and his planned tour of some polling units in Wike’s ward during the elections.

The chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Felix Obuah, said the planned tour of the electoral units

by Amaechi during the elections was not only provocative but also aimed at inciting crisis in the state.

Obuah, in statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, regretted that Amaechi after failing in his bid to orchestrate commotion in some parts of the state through the activities of cultists and compromised military personnel, acting on his orders, had decided to execute his last and final plot through the planned tour.

Describing the tour as unconstitutional and a direct affront on the electoral law, Obuah warned

that Amaechi should be held responsible “for the consequences of such a dangerous undertaking”.

He wondered why the leadership of the APC and Buhari were keeping silent on such a condemnable plot by one of their own, alleging that they must be acting in concert with Amaechi.

Obuah also wondered why the Rivers State rerun polls are different from those of other states, adding that the threat to the lives of innocent people by Amaechi’s rascality and desperation appears not to bother the federal government and the APC. “Are Rivers people sacrificial lambs for the failure of APC in other places or is PDP responsible for the hardship the APC has brought on lamenting Nigerians,” Obuah queried.

He called on the COAS and the Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army, Bori Camp to respond to Amaechi’s alleged deal with the army to flood the state with soldiers whom he boasted are more loyal to him than the police.

Obuah said the way and manner Amaechi was carrying on and going about intimidating people with his claim of having the army in his pocket calls for caution and a clear cut statement from the army and brigade command disputing or verifying the minister’s claim.

Meanwhile, the new DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, yesterday held discussions with the National Chairman of the APC Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on the elections in the state.

The former APC governorship candidate in Rivers State met behind closed doors with Oyegun at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, after which he and his delegation left without uttering a word to journalists seeking clarifications on his mission.

Peterside also met with other national officers of the party in their offices in what looked like a thank-you visit for their support.

Although, the agenda of the meeting was not made known, Peterside and others with him were overheard chanting “they will bow, they will bow” as they made their way down the stairs.

A reliable source told THISDAY that the two main reasons for his visit was to thank the party leaders for his appointment as NIMASA DG and perfect plans for the Saturday’s elections in his home state.

TENSION REACHES FEVER PITCH AHEAD OF RIVERS RERUN POLLS while addressing leaders of political parties and candidates in the rerun elections.

The DIG, who was in the meeting with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone Six, Calabar, and service chiefs, as well as heads of other agencies, stressed that the security agencies would confront any person, irrespective of status in the state, that would cause problems.

He frowned on the recent killings in the state, adding that as a Rivers man, he would bring an end to the violence, adding that there would be heavy deployment of police personnel and equipment ahead of the elections.

“In other words, if volatility should arise, we are going to stretch, and I repeat, we are going to stretch the law to the fullest elasticity. Let me explain it, if it would require us to use a mortar pestle to kill a mosquito – I am not saying we are killing anybody – we are going to bring any erring person to book.

“We are not here to plead; we are not here to beg; we are not here to beseech or to request. We are here to tell you that, should there be any problem, wherever it rises from, we will deal with that problem with the full weight of the law,” he promised.

Reinforcing its position, the state Police Command also warned very important persons (VIPs) not to go to polling stations with armed or uniformed escorts.

A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ahmad Muhammad (DSP), said: “The Rivers State Police Command, after due consultation with stakeholders, has placed outright ban on the use of tricycles, motorcycles and motorised speed boats with capacities of 200 horsepower and above from Friday 18 to Sunday 20.

“Total restriction of movements would commence between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm on Saturday, March 19, 2016.

“The command further emphasises that very important personalities are barred from going to any voting centre with their security escorts except with an unarmed orderly. They are also to desist from moving about from one place to another on election day, as provided for by the Electoral Act. “Note that monitoring teams will be moving to ensure strict compliance and will arrest security men accompanying any dignitary in such unauthorised manner.”

He also appealed to the public for cooperation to ensure peaceful elections.

Also warning residents in Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase, said that

the police intelligence unit was in possession of comprehensive security data on the state, including the identities of individuals and political thugs likely to pose a threat to the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s elections.

Speaking at a joint press conference by the police and INEC at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the IG asked all political actors in Rivers to avoid statements and actions capable of breaching public peace and threatened to deal decisively with offenders.

“I must state with maximum emphasis that while the security framework to be emplaced will be civil enough to protect all political actors across party divides, it will also be potent enough to deal firmly, swiftly and professionally with any individual regardless of his or her political leaning or status,” he said.

Arase warned anyone who might want to test the will of the law enforcement agents by “threatening public order, endangering the lives of the electorate, or engaging in any act that is capable of threatening the electoral commission to have a rethink”.

The IG, who recently got marching orders from President Muhammadu Buhari to deal with the security situation in Rivers State, said on the whole, a total of 6,000 police personnel would be deployed to reinforce security across the three senatorial districts of the state.

According to him, the deployment would comprise eight units from visiting PMF squadrons, and 46 units from the three existing PMF squadrons in the state.

He said conventional policemen had also been drawn from 13 states of the federation to complement the manpower.

He said that detachments of the anti-robbery squad, antibomb squad, anti-terrorist team and a special marine force with helicopter surveillance are to be deployed to complement the security arrangements.

Regarding preparations for the conduct of the elections, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said every measure and precaution had been taken to ensure free and fair elections.

He assured Nigerians that INEC would never allow itself to be compromised or subscribe to any form of conduct that would portray it in a partisan manner.

According to him, there would be a simultaneous accreditation and voting between 8.00 am and 2 .00 pm, adding that the commission

would assign three national commissioners and six resident electoral commissioners for election duty in the state on Saturday.

“Sensitive materials will arrive Port Harcourt today and will be shared to the local government areas and registration area centres tomorrow. All our sensitive materials are customised by local government areas and the type of election.

“The breakdown of the list of the Saturday’s elections in Rivers State shows that the rerun elections will take place in the senatorial districts, 12 federal constituencies and 22 state constituencies in 23 LGAs. “Also, the elections are to hold in all the 23 local government areas of the state comprising 319 wards or registration areas and a total of 5,942 polling units and voting points,” he said.

Yakubu explained that, for the successful conduct of the elections, INEC had engaged 24,930 adhoc staff drawn from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and students of federal tertiary institutions, specifically the University of Port Harcourt, Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, and the Federal University in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Speaking further, the INEC boss said that the youth corps members would serve as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers while there would be 379 collation officers and 37 returning officers from the three tertiary institutions.

Yakubu used the opportunity to dismiss allegations that one of its electoral officers was colluding with politicians of the APC to ensure that the election goes in their favour.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the APC has expressed concern over what it described as a reckless statement made by Wike against officials of INEC, especially on the person of Mrs. Amina Zakari.

The party said contrary to the allegations of partisanship levelled against her, the INEC national commissioner has a record of supervising some of the most credible, free and fair elections conducted by INEC in the past.

A statement by the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, also said it viewed Wike’s petition to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and the governments of about 50 countries demanding “global surveillance” for the Rivers rerun elections as an affront on the constitution, INEC and sovereignty of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Nyesom Wike has been in the forefront of inciting the people of

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News Editor Davidson Iriekpen Email davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

Osinbajo, Dogara, CJN, Others Bid Ocholi Farewell Dignitaries eulogise legal luminary

Tobi Soniyi and Paul Obi in Abuja

but confronted the reality of death.”

He also comforted the children of Ocholi, urging them to remain The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi firm and steadfast and look up to Osinbajo, Chief Justice of the Lord for consolation.

Other dignitaries who attended Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Speaker of the House the event include the Secretary to of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara the Government of the Federation and the National Chairman of the (SGF), Mr. Babachir David All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawal, Minister of Labour and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were Employment, Sennation Chris among dignitaries who attended Ngige, Minister of Power, Works the service of songs for the late and Housing, Babatunde Fashola Minister of State for Labour and (SAN).

Speaking at the event, Ngige Employment, James Ocholi, his wife, Blessing and son, Joshua in said the legacies left behind by the late minister were good ones and Abuja yesterday.

The church service which was would forever be remembered.

“I have known him before we presided over by Archbishop Sam Amaga of the Foundation Faith started working together; we were Church had in attendance several together in the party, APC. “He was our deputy legal other dignitaries who came to pay their late homage to the Ocholis. adviser and was also a member The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac of the merger committee which Adewole, read the second reading I also belong.

“I have also known him as from the book of 1 Thessalonians, Chapter four, from Verse 13 to 18. a lawyer and working together Paying his tribute to the late in the Ministry of Labour and minister, Osinbajo explained that Employment was a home coming the “legal profession lost one of its to both of us.

“We were already friends and shining stars,” eulogising the legal luminary for his many contributions we had to pilot the affairs of the to the party and the nation at large. ministry together.

“Our main goal in the ministry The vice-president described Ocholi as “selfless,” adding: “His was to bring change that will benefit acceptance to serve as a deputy the Nigerian workers and the society legal adviser to a junior in the as a whole,’’ he said.

He said Ocholi’s departure would profession confirms his humility.”

According to Osinbajo, Ocholi not be forgotten in a hurry.

In his remarks, the President of “was a man of God, fair in character,

the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayba Wabba, said Ocholi had left his indelible footprints in the sands of time.

Wabba described Ocholi as one of Nigeria’s brightest and finest minds who was cut down alongside his family members when his star was in the ascendancy.

“It is with a grief-stricken heart that I perform, arguably, one of the most difficult tasks as the President of the NLC. “As Ocholi’s death is an unspeakable tragedy that numb the senses and he left no one in doubt that he was a trusted ally of labour.

“Indeed, Ocholi’s knowledge of labour laws, industrial relations practice and his eagerness to work with social partners in the labour circuit raised hope for the labour

movement,’’ he said.

The NLC president also described Ocholi as a legal luminary, an urbane, highly cultivated person and an invaluable asset in governmentlabour relations.

“What a shame death has robbed us of this priceless and irreplaceable gem. How can we come to terms with this? It is ever so difficult.

“The least we can do in memory of this illustrious son is to imbibe his noble qualities.

We should also go a step further to immortalise him by naming worthy edifice or institution after him. “Fare thee well, my friend and my brother, Mr. James Ocholi, (SAN),’’ Wabba added.

Also, eminent jurists praised the deceased minister for his

exemplary integrity and hard work.

“Ocholi was such an icon; from a humble beginning he grew and became a colossus in the legal profession and Nigeria,’ Justice Mohammed said.

For the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, Ocholi’s brilliance and hard work to the advancement of law and legal jurisprudence earned him the prestigious rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2007.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) who was represented by the SolicitorGeneral of the Federation, Mr.Taiwo Abidogun described the deceased Labour Minister as a “community leader, philanthropist and icon of

the legal profession in the country.

“Despite our individual and collective loss, we are consoled by his enduring legacies of hard work and excellence which defined his life. He will be sorely missed at the Federal Executive Council for a long time to come,” Malami submitted.

On his part, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), bemoaned the tragic demise of Ocholi, his wife and son.

Alegeh commended the deceased minister for conquering the existential barriers that fate threw at him following the death of his father while at High School.

“Ocholi was a lawyer of high repute who committed his life to the cause of justice for the downtrodden.

OPEC, Non-OPEC Producers to Meet in Doha on April 17, Says Qatari Minister Ejiofor Alike with agencyreports As part of the collaborative efforts between the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producing countries to freeze crude oil output in an attempt to prop up prices, the two groups will hold a meeting in Doha, Qatar on April 17.

Before this development, Saudi Arabia and several fellow OPEC members had agreed with non-OPEC Russia to freeze output at January levels in an attempt to prop up prices.

The renewed cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC members had led to a rise in the price of oil above $40 per barrel but that was still a fraction of the $115 per barrel of 20 months ago.

However, Iran’s latest position that it would only join the discussions for cooperation after its output has hit 4 million barrels per day (mbpd), had led the price to slump below $40 per barrel before it rose on Wednesday.

Iran’s oil exports are due to reach 2mbpd in the Iranian month that ends on March 19, up from 1.75 million in December 2015.

Iran’s position also made the scheduled meeting of OPEC members with Russia on March 20 to look unlikely.

But yesterday’s announcement

by Qatari Oil Minister, Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, who is also the President of OPEC that the members of the cartel and non-

member producers would meet in Doha on April 17 will likely renew confidence in the oil market.

“This comes as a follow-up to the meeting that was held last month in Doha between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela at which they proposed an accord to freeze oil output at January 2016 levels and called on other producers to do so,” Bin Saleh Al-Sada was quoted by Reuters as saying in a statement.

The statement said that to date, around 15 OPEC and non-OPEC producers, accounting for about 73 per cent of global oil output, are supporting this initiative.

The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported that oil prices wavered after new data showed some disappointing signs on demand, adding however that the market is still holding to gains tied to a meeting among exporters who may cap their output.

According to the report, the oil market has been pushing higher since the Qatari oil ministry said members of OPEC will meet with Russian energy officials and other oil producers in April to harsh out agreement to limit output.

Light, sweet crude for April delivery recently gained $1.35, or 3.7 per cent, to $37.68 a barrel, while Brent, the global benchmark, gained $1.30, or 3.4 per cent to $40.04 a barrel.

DESERVED RECOGNITION

Area Business Head, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide (left), presenting the Cashless Champion award to the Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Amangbo, in Lagos...yesterday

48 Hours after Court Order, EFCC, Army Yet to Release Dasuki’s Aide Tobi Soniyi inAbuja More than 48 hours after an Abuja High Court ordered the immediate release Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to the erstwhile National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who has been in detention since December 23, 2015, the authorities are yet to comply with the court order.

Justice Yusuf Haliru had last Monday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army to immediately release him on selfrecognition, saying his detention for over three months without trial was “illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constituted a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant.”

Ashinzee’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who spoke with THISDAY yesterday, said both the EFCC and the Nigerian Army had been served with the court’s order but that they had yet to release him.

He said the EFCC told

one of the juniors in his chambers that Ashinze was not in its custody.

On the other hand, the Nigerian Army admitted he was in its custody and had been served with the court’s orders.

“They said that they were studying the judgment and would comply with it very soon,” the lawyer said.

He expressed the hope that the army might release him before the week ends.

THISDAY gathered that the respondents have not appealed the judgment and that there is also no application to stay the execution of the judgment.

The judge also ordered the immediate release of documents and items the anti-graft agency seized from his house.

Justice Haliru lambasted both the EFCC and the Army which he said acted as if Nigeria was still under military dictatorship.

“The EFCC is a creation of the law. The court will not allow it to

act as if it is above the law. It is remarkable to note that the motto of the EFCC is that nobody is above the law, yet they are acting as if they are above the law.

“The EFCC Act is not superior to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The respondents in this matter have not behaved as if we are in a civilised society. They have behaved as if we are in a military dictatorship where they arrest and release persons at will.

“The respondents, I must be bold to say - the EFCC and the army - have behaved like illiterates,” the judge added.

He said the constitution stipulated that any person so detained should be charged to court within reasonable time not exceeding two months from the date of arrest.

Justice Haliru stressed that under section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, an accused person is deemed innocent until his guilt is established.

“Why has the 1st respondent kept the applicant without bringing him to court? Why was the applicant, being a serving military officer who could be easily reached, not granted administrative bail?

Or is it that the applicant has been found guilty and already serving his jail term?

“Nobody should be subjected to the whims and caprices of the EFCC. The essence of the rule of law and constitutional provisions is to ensure a just balance between the ruler and the ruled, between the powerful and the weak.

“Though the EFCC has the responsibility to investigate financial crime, it must however conduct its operations in accordance with the rule of law.

“The court is empowered to guard against improper use of power by any member of the society or agency, EFCC inclusive.

“The detention of the applicant, for all intent and purposes, is not just unfair but unfortunate,” the court held.

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INEC Says Conflicting Judgments Frustrating the Electoral System Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has raised the alarm over conflicting judgments emanating from the various divisions of the Court of Appeal which he said are making it difficult for the commission to do its work.

Speaking in Abuja at a National Conference on Election Petition Tribunals and Appeals held at the Appeal Court Headquarters in Abuja, Yakubu said the commission had always complied with the judgments of the Supreme Court on electoral disputes.

He said: “However, contrary to the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court, there were conflicting decisions by the Appeal Courts arising from

the 2015 general election. The Court of Appeal, in one judicial division, ordered INEC to conduct fresh election ‘in which only the duly qualified candidates shall participate’. In another division, the Court of Appeal, under similar circumstances, nullified the election, disqualified the candidate and allowed the political party to submit the name of another candidate for the re-run election.

Yet in another division, the Court of Appeal nullified the election and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election but is silent about the status of the disqualified candidate, thereby giving room for endless commentary and new rounds of litigation on the eligibility of the disqualified candidate to participate in re-run elections.”

Yakubu said as a law abiding institution, INEC would always

respect court judgments.

“Although, we have implemented these judgments on their own merit, the conflicting decisions make us sometimes appear inconsistent in our application of the law thereby encouraging some disqualified candidates to initiate fresh litigation in the Federal High Courts,” he added.

He cited the cases in Plateau and Anambra where the commission had been forced to postpone re-run election because of injunctions and judgments from high courts which ordered INEC to include

new candidates in re-run elections to represent political parties whose candidates had been disqualified by a court of superior jurisdiction and whose judgment is final in election disputes.

He said: “In one case, a high court defines a fresh election as a ‘new election’ based on dictionary definition rather than the clear and judicial precedence set by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.”

While commending, the Court of Appeal for holding the conference which was supported the International Foundation for

Electoral System (IFES), Yakubu said INEC had mooted the idea of approaching the judiciary for an overview of matters arising from the judgments of the various election tribunals and appeals.

He said: “That this initiative is coming from the judiciary itself is most commendable.”

According to him, the fact that the Court of Appeal intends to use this conference to share experience and chart a way forward for future tribunals is one of the best decisions to come of the judicial arm of government in a long time.

He said it was even more

challenging to manage re-run elections arising from candidate disqualification.

He said: “While it is appreciated that courts treat each case on its own merit, certain trends point to conflicting judgments on similar cases by different judicial divisions of the Appeal Courts.

“We are made to understand that the courts have a principle of obeying the decisions of superior courts by what lawyers call the doctrine of stare decisis.This has helped the court’s to streamline their decisions on the same matter.”

Uncertainty over 2016 Budget as Senate Defers Passage Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola OyedeleinAbuja Assurances by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on Appropriations that the 2016 Budget would be passed into law on March 17, 2016 may no longer be feasible as the committees continue to work to resolve the issues and errors in the estimates.

The harmonised report of the joint committees was not laid before both chambers yesterday as earlier promised.

The parliament had earlier scheduled February 25 for passage of the budget but postponed it over allegations of padding and errors.

It now rescheduled it for today.

A lawmaker who asked not to be named, told THISDAY that the issues with the budget had to be completely resolved first.

“We have been working 24 hours and practically sleeping at the secretariat. We are trying to resolve so many issues associated with the budget,” the lawmaker said.

The lawmaker however promised that the budget would be laid by both chambers on Thursday ‘at noon’, but declined to comment on the feasibility of its passage same day.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, told THISDAY that the budget would be laid today.

He, however, did not provide reasons why it was not presented to the House on Wednesday, ahead of consideration and passage today.

Namdas also refused to comment on if the budget would be passed on March 17, 2016.

Attempts to get a response from he Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee

on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumim, failed as he could not be reached on his mobile line.

The budget was initially scheduled to be passed on February 22, 2016.

Two weeks ago, the Chairmen of the Joint Committees, Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumim at a joint press conference announced the date for the passage of the budget into law, adding that the grey areas had been identified.

Abdulmumim had stated that the report of the committees would be laid on the floor of the Senate and the House on March 16, 2016.

“It would be considered on March 17, and passed. That is the date Nigerians have been waiting for,” he had said.

When the issue on the budget came up yesterday in the Senate, the upper legislative chamber deferred its passage which it had slated for today, saying the document would now be passed on Tuesday, March 22.

Senate’s spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, while briefing journalists on the issue, said the budget would only be laid today but not passed.

But the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said the bill would be passed on Tuesday, adding that the Appropriation Bill would also be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent before Easter.

However, Abdullahi, during his briefing, said after laying the budget today, it would be subjected to further legislative actions which he said would culminate in its eventual passage. Unlike Ndume, Abdullahi did not specify the new passage date.

FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

L_R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Deputy Governor of Kogi state, Mr. Simeon Achuba; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, at the service of songs held in honour of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi; his wife, Blessing; and son, Joshua in Abuja...yesterday Godwin Omoigu

Fiki Marine Partners Egypt’s Giza Shipyard to Build SuperYachts, Boats in Nigeria Sunday Okobi Fiki Marine, a subsidiary of Fiki Bal International Inc, Lagos, has concluded plans to partner a foremost ship builder in Egypt, Giza Shipyard, to commence the building of yachts, speed boats, ships among other water transport vehicles in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Fiki Marine, Taofiki L Balogun, who disclosed this exclusively to THISDAY yesterday at the pre -signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Egyptian partner in Lagos, said it was a landmark achievement to have such project in Nigeria, “because it is unfair to our economy that most of the boats used in Nigeria are brought in from Dubai, United Arab Emirate. I want to build super standard boats in Nigeria to meet the international

standard.”

He added that rather than import boats from abroad, “we have decided to get some manpower and materials here for the project as a way of creating employment and improving on our technological development in Nigeria.”

Among other services provided

by Fiki Marine, Balogun said they were also into sales of boats brought in from abroad, adding that: “We rent boat and do ferry services mainly for picnics to different beaches, and Nigerians are really enjoying the services, which is good for our socio-economic sector.”

In order to raise the standard and the quality of the boats built in Nigeria, which he described as substandard, Fiki Marine boss has promised to take the Nigeria marine transport sector

to a greater height by bringing in experts from African countries in boat building business without losing sight of the Nigerian local content policies.

“I think the immediate past Governor of Lagos State has paved the way to enable us to start manufacturing our boats here in Nigeria. I have been in the boat business for over 30 years. My late father was the first person to have a motorised boat, so I believe that with the way we are going, we are going to have a head way, create jobs for our teeming youths and consequently contribute to the economy.

“Also, we have decided to focus on Africa, because we will have a better control as to who we are going to employ, as we have worked with many Nigerians who were former militants. With this boat

building project in the pipe line, they will have gainful employment.

While some are doing apprentiship, they will be paid, some of them could not even fend for themselves.

I don’t like a situation where they have to go back to their families to feed them, after they have struggled through school. Therefore from the onset, they will be paid. I have a lot of Nigerians working for me,” he explained.

Speaking in his personal capacity as the Giza Shipyard Vice President, and on the company’s behalf to THISDAY, Shady Azmy ElBadrawy, who was elated over his futuristic contributions to the marine transport system in Nigeria, said the yacht building project, when commenced, would boost Nigerian economy as well as curb youth restiveness, as virile and tech savvy youths would be seriously involved in the project.

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Lone Nigerian Victim Identified in Ivorian Attack We saw it coming, says Ambassador

Okechukwu Uwaezuoke and Olawale Olaleye in Abidjan A 25-year-old Nigerian, Adekunle Sikiru, from Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State has been identified as the only casualty Nigeria might have recorded in the last Sunday terrorists attack in Grand Bassam, a beach town in Ivory Coast.

Speaking exclusively to THISDAY at her office in Abidjan, the capital city, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the country, Mrs. Ifeoma AkaboguChinwuba, who hinted at the development, also said with the recent attacks in neighbouring countries, they knew an attack would be launched on the country too, more so that the French intelligence had earlier issued a warning to the country and Dakar over imminent threat of attacks.

Akabogu-Chinwuba, who described Grand Bassam, the nation’s first capital city and UNESCO’s heritage site as a popular weekend spot, where tourists usually find attractive, said she did not know at first that any Nigerian was lost in the attack as

her initial spot check did not reveal any such thing.

But after another round of combing, it was discovered that a Nigerian was actually killed too because his car was spotted at the hotel vicinity, before his remains, which had been deposited at a morgue, was identified by his brother.

“Last Monday, I was told that a Nigerian, Adekunle Sikiru, was killed in the attack. On that first day, it was not clear and we did not know who was who. Even when we went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Monday, we were told that there were four white-skinned and eight black-skinned but they did not tag their identities.

“But already, we had been told that the consular was able to find out that a Nigerian lost his life in the attack and his body is still in the mortuary. He was a victim – a 25-year-old. His brother had to be led to the police station to identify his car too because he wasn’t staying at Grand Basaam but Abobo, somewhere in Abidjan.

“I think he went to Grand Bassam to relax. That’s the only

The Federal Ministry of Finance has confirmed the suspension of the Director General of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Nellie Mayshak.

The suspension followed the searchlight on PTAD, which was established in August 2013 in line with the provisions of Section 30 sub-section (2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004 (amended in 2014) which stipulated the establishment of an independent pension department for the Public Service of the Federation.

The agency is responsible for the pension administration of the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), and was established to address the numerous pensioners’ complaints that border on such issues as the non-payment of monthly pension, short payment of pension and gratuity, removal of name on pension payment voucher, non-payment of harmonised pension arrears, irregular payment of federal pensions and non receipt of pension after retirement, among others.

An online news portal, The Cable, which had first reported her suspension yesterday, said the development followed a damning audit report which uncovered an alleged scam running into billions of naira in PTAD. Confirming the suspension via a telephone chat, the Special Adviser, Media, Minister of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi, said Mayshak’s suspension was in tandem with civil service procedure to pave the way for unfettered investigations to be carried out.

Although he did not give details on why the PTAD chief executive was suspended, THISDAY gathered that Mayshak had already complied

she believed could have upset the terrorists, especially France’s recent invasion of the Sahel.

“We had expected it and we had beefed up security at our level and we’d also asked the host authority to help us beef up security in terms of diplomatic police patrol. We also know that Burkina Faso was recently attacked; Mali too was attacked and already, the government here had also expected that such thing might happen here too.

“This is due largely to the high number of French people and high number of Lebanese too and the cooperation that exists between France and Cote d’Ivoire and in fact, in certain quarters, they say Abidjan is a new Paris – the African Paris. So, if an attempt had been made in French Paris,

so you could expect that it would happen here too.

“We have always felt that Nigeria has been at the receiving end of a lot of these terrorists attacks and people used to ask us in form of jokes that ‘have you caught Boko Haram’s Shekau’ and I used to tell them, ‘you are laughing; it is not a laughing matter’. Terrorists, what do they want? Can you negotiate with them? At least, if they tell you what they want and if you cannot supply, maybe then you can react, but, hey, nobody knows what they want.

“It has happened here now ,because from nowhere, they just appeared and started shooting indiscriminately – blacks, white – it is now clear to everyone that it is not by national boundaries and every country has to team-up with

the other and fight collectively,” she said.

On regional cooperation and the need for a review of strategy, Akabogu-Chinwuba said: “There is the need to widen the dragnet because more countries are being affected. Initially, it was concentrated in northern Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and so, it is normal for a nucleus of that multi-national force to be composed of.

“As the attacks are now widening and consuming the whole region, we have to also widen the dragnet. I read recently that Benin was willing to send some troops, of course, what does that tell you?

It’s a collective and concerted effort that we need,” She noted claiming Nigeria has shown support and solidarity with the country since the attack.

WEF Names Umar-sadiq, PHN CEO, 2016Young Global Leader

After a rigorous and comprehensive selection process, Muntaqa Umarsadiq has been honoured and announced as the 2016 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF), an international organisation for publicprivate cooperation committed to improving the state of the world.

By this selection, Muntaqa with the directive to proceed on joins a community of past Young suspension.

Global Leader (YGL) honourees However, a close confidant of that include David Cameron, the suspended PTAD boss told the Prime Minister of the United THISDAY yesterday that she was Kingdom; Chelsea Clinton, Board in a meeting, but the nature and member of Clinton Foundation; venue of the meeting could not Larry Page, Co-Founder and be ascertained.

Chief Executive Officer, Google, When contacted, another source USA; Mark Zuckerberg, Founder close to her dismissed the alleged and Chief Executive Officer, Facebook, scam with a wave of the hand among others. because of what he referred Klaus Schwab and John Dutton, to as inbuilt mechanism in the Executive Chairman and Head pension system to forestall fraud respectively of the Forum of YGL under PTAD as against the recent in a statement explained that the experience in the Pension Reform honour awarded each year by the Task Team (PRTT).

WEF recognises and acknowledges the PTAD is made up of the Civil most outstanding young leaders from Service Pension Department (CSPD), around the world for their professional Police Pension Department (PPD), accomplishments, commitment to Customs, Immigration and Prisons society and potential to contribute Pension Department (CIPPD), to shaping the future of the world.

Treasury Funded Parastatal “This honour is bestowed by Pension Department (PaPD), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Pension Support Services each year to recognise the most Department (PSSD) distinguished leaders under the In accordance with another age of 40, nominated from around Act of the National Assembly, the world,” they explained further. the Military Pension Department, Umar-sadiq comes to the and the Security Agencies Pension table with impeccable pedigree Department were exempted from as a young graduate of the the consolidation and management University of Cambridge, England, of PTAD. and Imperial College School of PTAD had in July last year Medicine in London, and also a disclosed that there were no fewer holder of Chartered Alternatives than 132,000 pensioners from the Investment Analyst (CAIAI) charter. core civil service, parastatal, agencies He is currently the CEO of the and the police drawing pensions Private Sector Health Alliance, and from the federal government. prior to this position, he was the At the same period, it reported Senior Technical Advisor to the the uncovering 3,000 ghost police former Minister of State for Health pensioners, and saved over N100 in Nigeria, Muhammad Ali Pate, million monthly, which would have and commenced his career as a been paid to the ghost pensioners. healthcare M and A investment The establishment of PTAD was banker at Morgan Stanley in the UK a marked response to the huge where he focused on the Healthcare police pension fraud involving the & Pharmaceutical sector. former Chairman of the Pension Together with business and Reform Task Team (PRTT), public sector leaders in Nigeria, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has including Aliko Dangote, already been declared wanted President/CEO, Dangote Group; by the police.

Muhammad Ali Pate; Jim Ovia,

FG Suspends Pension Directorate DG over Alleged Fraud Ndubuisi Francis inAbuja

casualty we have from Nigeria – a 25-year-old man from Ejigbo Local Government Area in Osun State,” she reiterated, adding that further checks from other sources including the Nigerian community did not reveal any more Nigerian casualty.

The ambassador however claimed it was a complete feeling of distraught when the news of the attack first filtered in because even though they had expected that the terrorists might someday look in the direction of the country, no one had expected it would be that soon.

She reckoned one of the reasons they might have struck in Ivory Coast, like the terrorists too had explained, was because of the support and cooperation the country and its neighbours might have accorded France, a disposition

chairman, Zenith Bank; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, President, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Kelechi Ohiri of HSDF and other corporate leaders, Umar-sadiq has led a pioneering work that has developed a Private Sector Health Alliance.

His selection and recognition

by WEF are anchored on his record of professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the

world through leadership and, according to Schwab and Dutton, as an honouree, Umar-sadiq has been invited to become an active community member of the Forum of Young Global Leaders for a period of five years.

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DSS Flouts Court’s Order, Lawmaker Still in Detention Six Days After Ruling CNPP, CSOs protest Fayose’s tax policy

Six days after the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in AdoEkiti calling on the Department of State Services (DSS) to release a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Afolabi Akanni or produced him in court yesterday, the lawmaker was still in the custody of the security agency.

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the lawyer to the detained lawmaker, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, told the court that the failure to produce Akanni was as a result of the recalcitrant posture of the DSS to receive the production warrant issued on it.

“The court bailiff told us that the DSS in the state did not accept the

production warrant brought to them having received instruction from Abuja not to take such,” he said.

Akanni, who was arrested on March 4 and taken to Abuja for undisclosed reason, had gone to court through his lawyers, Adewale and Bunmi Olugbade, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution.

While ruling on the ex-parte motion brought by Akanni, seeking interlocutory injunction restraining the DSS from further detaining the lawmaker, Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted the prayers and ordered immediate release of the lawmaker, representing Efon

Mrs. Gbonjubola Kolawole for Burial The death has been announced of Mrs. Gbonjubola Kolawole. She passed on after a brief illness on 6, 2016 at age 56. She is survived by her husband, children and grandchildren and will be buried on Friday, March 18, 2016 at Okemesi, Ekiti State.

A burial service will be held at 10a.m. at Saint Michael’s Anglican Church, followed by interment at her residence. Mrs. Kolawole is the immediate senior sister of Chief Akin Osuntokun, former

Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Mrs. Gbonjubola

constituency.

In the alternative, the court ruled that the DSS should produce Akanni in court on March 16 (yesterday) and show cause why he shouldn’t be let off the hook.

Sequel to his continued detention, his lawyer yesterday filed an application for substituted service on DSS.

Justice Taiwo while ruling on the application said: “Due to the difficulty being encountered in the service of the production warrant on the DSS, the court hereby granted the order of substituted service.

The order must be published in two national newspapers.”

He adjourned the matter to March 24 for further hearing.

Meanwhile, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and groups , which claimed to be civil society organisations, yesterday trooped to the streetsof Ado Ekiti in protest against introduction of what it described as ‘obnoxious’ tax policy of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government and other alleged sundry offences.

The coalition said virtually all the businesses in the state have been taxed by Fayose’s government, lamenting that the worst of it has been the imposition of N1,000 tax on students in private and public primary and secondary schools, describing this as the highest point of ‘wickedness’ and ‘misrule.’

Amosun Mediates in Alake, Awujale’s Feud Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, yesterday met the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, over the feud between the two monarchs.

For some time now, there have been exchange of words between the two traditional rulers in the state.

The Alake had said the Awujale remained the least among the Yoruba traditional rulers.

Adetona, while responding to Alake’s position, said the Alake was a junior chief in Egba under the Alaafin of Oyo. However, Amosun who met the two monarchs privately at the Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta yesterday, failed to disclosed what happened at the meeting.

He therefore said the monarchs

were in his office to deliberate on how to keep the state more peaceful.

Amosun said: “Yes, we are here, our fathers are here to see me. Of course we deliberated on so many things.

“I’m sure you want to say what is happening. Indeed nothing is happening. They came here to see the possibility of how to make sure we have peace in the state, among so many other things that we did.

“Don’t forget that this would be the first time I would have the opportunity – I have shown my appreciation before for the 40th anniversary - so, it’s an opportunity for me to still show that.

“So, if you think you want to ask that what is the outcome, outcome of what? We have come here to deliberate and it’s always a pleasure for me to have our fathers around here.

“These (you) are the people

writing the thing. Don’t just sit somewhere and write. But this one, there is nothing like ranking of Obas.

“We know ourselves. Our fathers have ways, even before the advent of all these colonial masters and what have you, we have ways of how we live in harmony and I think we will continue to do that.

“Don’t forget, and I’m saying this again with all due humility and sense of responsibility that in the context of we Yorubas, we know our pre-eminence status. Those of us from Ogun State, we want to keep up with that tradition. We are not going to fan any ember of disunity.

“What we are known for in the state is that all of us are one and we are still one. Indeed, in the comity of the Yorubas, we know what we do, we know what we stand for and we will continue to do that.

“You know I told you that they are here to ensure there is peace and harmony in the state. It’s part of the things they have come to discuss with me. Unless, you are now saying that we should discuss what we considered to be classified openly. But our Kabiyesis are here; they can say maybe hello to you.”

The Awujale said there was no problem and that he merely came to say hello to the governor, saying: “I want to say hello to you....there is no problem gentlemen, please.

Thank you very much.

On his part, the Alake said he was in Oke Mosan to see Amosun on many things and not for issues regarding Obas’ ranking.

“I have come to see my governor for many things, including the strike action of the workers, and I’m very sure they would go back to work very soon by the grace of God,” he said.

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THURSDAY MARCH 17, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

AMCON Liabilities Rise to N6.6tn, House Committee Expresses Worry Damilola OyedeleinAbuja The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has disclosed that its current liabilities stand at N6.6 trillion following the purchase of bad loans worth N3.3 trillion at the sum of N1.7 trillion.

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged fraudulent sale of banks by AMCON, however raised eyebrows at the rise in liabilities particularly as AMCON owes the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about N4.5 trillion.

The committee headed by Hon. Albert Adeogun heard that the CBN was closely monitoring and supervising AMCON to ensure that its liabilities are cleared before time the corporation is to wound down in 2024.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Albert Adeogun, queried the amount of liabilities.

“About two months ago when we met, you said the liabilities of AMCON stood at N4.5 trillion, today you said it is N6.6 trillion.

What are the components of this

Mile 12 Crisis: LASG, Traders Agree on Market’s Relocation Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government and traders in the crisis-ridden Mile 12 Market yesterday agreed to move the market from its current location to a new area.

They also agreed that the government should ban commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada from the area.

The agreement was disclosed at a news conference by the leaders of the market and officials of the state government at Alausa, Ikeja.

The conference was attended by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olatunji Bello, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, among others.

Speaking at the conference, the Financial Secretary of Perishable Foodstuff Association at Mile 12 Market, Alhaji Shehu Usman, said the traders had resolved and agreed to work with the state government to enhance peace in the area.

He said the traders had agreed to work with the government to ensure the ban on the use of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, as a means of transportation in the area because of their flagrant disobedience to traffic laws in addition to causing road accidents.

“Okadas were responsible for the breakdown of law and order that predicated the present crisis. We have agreed for peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups in the area. We have agreed on the removal of all shanties and blighted areas within the area which may be harbouring miscreants and eliminate their illegal activities.

“These shanties are illegal structures which are unsuitable for human habitation and are prone to landslides and other environmental problems.

Their removal will greatly enhance the security of lives and properties in the neighbourhood.”

Usman said in view of the fact that the Mile 12 Market had been in existence for decades and had outgrown its present location and available structure, it had become necessary for its relocation to another suitable and more convenient location within the state.

“The market executives will dialogue further with the state government on the relocation programme which will help increase theeconomicgrowthanddevelopment, provide better infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion,” he stated.

While regretting that crisis erupted in the market, leading to the loss of lives and properties, Usman denied that the crisis was not a fight between the Hausas and the Yorubas but between Okada factions in the area.

Also at the conference, Bello said the state government would deal decisively with any group or persons bent on disturbing public peace in the area and all parts of the state, thereby urging the leaders to talk to their people to be law abiding and maintain peace.

On relocation of the market, Bello said the state government would finalise on the new location and time frame when the traders will be relocated, saying that the public will be adequately notified in due course.

When asked on the compensation for the traders and members of the communities who lost items and properties due to the clash and closure of the market, Bello said government will look into it and compensate those with genuine claim.

liability? Who are your creditors,” he said.

The Director of Banking Operations, CBN, Tokunbo Martins, however explained to the committee that while the debt owed the CBN stood at N4.5 trillion, the N6.6 trillion included calculated interest which would have accrued to the debt by 2024.

“AMCON looks at its cash flow periodically...and the banks generate N250 billion annually to AMCON, they have assets that can pay off their liabilities, and by 2024 when AMCON is expected to be wound down, the liabilities would have been extinguished,” she said.

Martins added that due diligence and process were followed in the sale of Mainstreet and Enterprise Banks.

She explained that the buyers, Skye Bank and Heritage Banks, were

not permitted to use depositors’ funds.

“Rather shareholders’ funds or external funds that would not be called in, in a short while...and for the fact that we have not withdrawn their licences is a testament that the buyers are fit and proper,” Martins added.

The committee also queried why AMCON deemed it fit to takeover Aero Contractors for its significant debts, and did not do same to Arik Air. The Managing Director of AMCON, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, explained that Aero Contractor showed weak corporate governance, because from a fleet of 15 planes at the start of 2015 the airline now has three planes by the end of the second quarter.

“If we did not intervene, there would be no airline called Aero

by 2016...AMCON owns 60 per cent equity in Aero in addition to a debt of N12billion. So we also needed to save our money.

Arik is a good airline, and they have not shown any weakness in what they are doing,” he said.

Kuru, however, added that in the next two weeks, AMCON would release its resolution on Arik Air. In another development, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation to investigate all failed concessions and the terms of outright sales of government own companies.

It also mandated the committee to determine why some of the agreements failed as well as proffer solutions on how to avoid further failures, and enhance the

productivity and profitability of the affected enterprises.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Hon. Gabriel Kolawole (Ondo APC) who noted that non-conformity to the terms of some of the agreements has caused enormous financial losses to the country-due to non-remittances of appropriate taxes and other financial commitments.

Kolawole noted that there had been uproar by individuals, staff and unions of privatised/ partially privatised and conceded government-owned enterprises owing to concerns on the non-conformity to the terms of sales and/or agreements by the concessionaires of the enterprises.

The committee is expected to report back to the House in eight weeks for further legislative action.

BOAT BUILDING PARTNERSHIP

L-R: Director Giza Shipyard, Cairo, Mr. Haidar Abashar Daap; Chairman/CEO, Fiki Bal International Limited, Mr. Taofiki Balogun; and Vice-President, Giza Shipyard, Egypt, Mr. Sshady Azmy Elbadrawy, preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Fiki Marine and Giza Shipyard in Lagos...yesterday Mubo Peters

MTN Pleaded for the Reversal of Suspension Order on Regulatory Services, Says NCC Emma Okonji Facts have emerged as to why the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) decided to lift the ban on the suspension of regulatory services it imposed on MTN last year, based on various infractions committed by MTN. According to the NCC, aside addressing all the infractions, MTN also wrote the NCC severally, pleading for the reversal of the suspension order on regulatory services imposed by NCC on MTN. It was gathered that it was the combination of both factors that made the commission to lift the ban, NCC said in a statement.

According to the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo: “Having reviewed MTN’s plea therefore and in consideration that the operator has addressed all the infractions listed above, the NCC hereby lifts the suspension, urging MTN to ensure that it maintains good regulatory standing with the commission at all times to avoid future occurrence.”

MTN had yesterday, announced

at its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa that NCC had at last, lifted the ban.

In lifting the suspension of regulatory services to MTN, “the commission expects total compliance with the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 regulations and the terms and conditions of licences issued to MTN and will not hesitate to impose necessary sanctions where MTN flouts any provision of the foregoing regulatory instruments,” Ojobo said.

He however clarified that the lifting of the ban on regulatory services was in no way related to the fine the commission imposed on MTN on October 20, 2015, for failure to deactivate 5.2 million improperly registered SIM cards for which a fine of N1.04 trillion was imposed. These infractions predated this fine, he said.

He explained that the letter lifting suspension of regulatory services to MTN, was signed by the Head, Compliance, Monitoring/ Enforcement and the Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, Mr. Efosa Idehen and Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, respectively.

Ojobo specifically stated that the lifting of the suspension was as a result of several letters from MTN to the NCC requesting for the lifting.

“We have reviewed MTN’s plea and also took into consideration the fact that MTN has abated all the infractions that gave rise to the suspension of regulatory services by the commission,” Ojobo said.

He listed the infractions to include tariffs and promotions

by MTN, which were stated in letters from NCC of May 4, 2015, May 9, 2015 and May 25, 2015 respectively, ordering MTN to withdraw all unapproved tariffs and promotions specifically MTN Trutalk, MTN Best II promotions among others.

Compliance checks on MTN showed that it had failed and deliberately refused to comply with the directives issued by the commission.

Inspite of that, MTN continued to introduce additional promotions in utter disregard for the NCC directive, contrary to the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA)

2003 and Regulation 8(2) of the Enforcement Regulations 2005 and the relevant provision in the Guidelines for Advertisement and Promotion, Ojobo explained.

“Further communication with MTN in letters dated June 19, 2015 and July 13, 2015 did not in any way discourage the operator from these infractions.

Consequently, in a meeting between the NCC and MTN management on October 5, 2015, it was resolved among others that: NCC should compile and communicate list of all outstanding infractions to MTN stating what they need to do regarding each of the infractions; MTN should resolve all the outstanding infractions within two weeks and revert to the Commission; The Commission will monitor and validate the claims

by MTN; MTN must commit to settling all outstanding annual operating levies (AOLs) debts from 2014 and MTN must pay all penalties resulting from these outstanding infractions, Ojobo said.

News Extra on pg 50

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

FG, CBN AND THE LOCAL INDUSTRY

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We hurt the naira every time we choose foreign products above local ones, argues Maureen Babatunde

here were mixed reactions last year when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) decided to stop forex supply for the importation of 41 items. The major criterion for exclusion was any item Nigeria can produce domestically. For as long as we continue to import these items, the local producers will suffer, according to the CBN. Rice, cement, textiles, woven fabrics, clothes, tomatoes/ tomato pastes, soap and cosmetics are some of the items on the list. Many of the items are also not considered to be of critical importance, for example Indian incense and toothpicks. Metal products such as cold rolled steel sheets, galvanised steel sheets, roofing sheets, wheelbarrows, head pans, metal boxes and containers are also on the ‘exclusion’ list.

Reactions came in different tones. Some derided Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, for practising “voodoo economics”. The Economist of London, in a widely circulated editorial, was very brutal in its criticism of the policy. According to the newspaper, the logical thing to do was to devalue or float the naira to encourage realistic demand for forex rather than an outright ban on allocations. Other analysts thought it was an inevitable measure by the CBN given the global commodity crisis which affected Nigeria’s oil income - the biggest source of public revenue. Failing to contain demand for forex would have led to a run on the reserves and this could eventually put Nigeria in a clumsy situation in international trade. This debate is still on. My take to the CBN action was that it is impossible to stimulate local industry with monetary policy alone. Inasmuch as Emefiele had to react to the threat to foreign reserves which, if not properly managed, could topple the economy and return us to the inglorious days of the early 1980s, the reality was that he needed support on the other side of the divide - the fiscal side. Maintaining healthy key rates is the primary responsibility of the CBN, but importation is a trade policy which is under the purvey of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Therefore, Emefiele was fighting a mammoth battle all alone. Unfortunately too, the cabinet had not been constituted at the time and there was no minister to look up to for answers to the fiscal questions. It is instructive, however, that the CBN policy has ignited a national debate on the place of locally made goods in the Nigerian economy. This is one positive outcome of Emefiele’s forex policy. For decades, Nigeria had been importing many products that it could produce domestically. As long as the CBN was making forex available to the importers, they had nothing to worry about. They had no incentives to invest locally. Nigeria’s import bill rose by over 500% in 10 years because of this unfettered access to forex. Agricultural produce such as vegetables, poultry chicken, eggs and turkey were freely imported. This had negative impact on Nigeria’s balance of trade and placed enormous pressure on forex demand. Not only was local industry stunted, our forex reserves were not growing.

The sharp drop in oil prices since 2015 exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability to these external shocks. Although Emefiele was derided for his forex restriction policy, it is a good thing that other Nigerians have now taken up the issue on the need to buy locally produced goods in place of foreign products. On the social media, #BuyMadeInNigeriaToGrowTheNaira has been trending. Nigerians are saying: why buy imported corn flakes when there is one made in Jos? Why not patronise locally assembled cars? Why not reduce dependency on foreign spirits and wines? This campaign has opened the eyes of millions of Nigerians to the fact that we are hurting the naira every time we choose foreign above local products. This pressure on the dollar to import products cannot go on forever.

However, and this point is very important, Emefiele needs support.

The reality, at the end of it all, is that he cannot use monetary policy alone to encourage domestic industry. Now that there is a full cabinet in place and very competent ministers, the fiscal side of the equation needs to kick in. The Ministry of Finance, for instance, can introduce

WE NEED TO RE-EXAMINE OUR TASTES AND PRIORITIES AS OUR OWN CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US TO BE CONSUMING FOREIGN PRODUCTS AT THE EXPENSE OF MADE IN NIGERIA. WE NEED A NEW ORIENTATION ALTOGETHER

tariffs that will protect locally manufactured goods. There will be a lot of fuss about free trade and international rules, but there is nothing in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules that prescribes compulsory suicide for countries. To the best of my knowledge, different countries adopt many WTO rules to suit themselves so that their industries are not sent out of business.

Furthermore, it is very important that security be tightened at the country’s borders so that what we are gaining through differential tariffs and forex restrictions, we will not lose through smuggling. No matter how well-meaning the CBN and the Ministry of Finance are, as long as other agencies of government do not do their own part of the job and live up to expectations, we will be back to square one. It is good news that Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), the Comptroller-General of Customs, has tried to clean up the service so that it can deliver better security and screening at the country’s borders. But it is equally important to help him achieve the desired results so that all the efforts of other agencies are not in vain. Beyond the forex restrictions, the CBN, according to news reports, is also offering loans to manufacturers and other members of the real sector at a single digit. This stimulus is expected to allow the real sector access to cheaper finance so that the businesses can expand. If it works out well, it will stimulate output growth, enhance value addition and engender economic productivity. The results will be favourable to the economy if credit goes to sectors that have sufficient employment capabilities and high growth potential. Nigeria can start earning FX through other sources as the industrial base expands and the economy is diversified. Laudable as this stimulus is, it desperately needs the buy-in of Nigerians to succeed.

The CBN alone cannot bring about the needed change in the appetite of Nigerians for foreign goods. Although, the controversial restriction on forex has made some of those imports very expensive and uncompetitive compared to Nigerian products, we must think of ways to make this sustainable. The tendency in Nigeria, as we all know, is that as soon as oil prices recover and the country’s reserve position improves, we tend to forget where we are coming from. We throw caution to the wind and return to an unsustainable lifestyle. We need to re-examine our tastes and priorities as our own contributions to national development. It does not make any sense for us to be consuming foreign products at the expense of made in Nigeria. We need a new orientation altogether.

I understand quite well that many people think Nigerian products are substandard and do not compare with imported products. There is no argument to be made against this fact. However, there is something called differentiation in an open market. If Nigerian products begin to enjoy good patronage, the companies will have to start competing for the consumers’ loyalty. At this stage, they will seek to improve the quality of their products in order to become the market leader or the dominant product. This will lead to healthy competition, and the smartest producers will go for international standards so that their products can be export quality. But without demand, they cannot recoup their investment, much less improve the quality of their products.

To sum up, I would emphasise, yet again, the importance of fiscal measures to complement the monetary measures being rolled out by the CBN. If you have malaria and the doctor prescribes Quinine, paracetamol, B-Complex, a lot of fluid and rest, the tendency may be for you to take just the Quinine and go back to work, but you are exposing yourself to another breakdown soon because you are reliant on just one of the prescriptions. This is also the case with the country’s economic crisis. We need a cocktail of policies to tackle overdependence on imports and protect our forex reserves. Monetary policies will help but alone, they cannot solve the “malaria”. It is, thus, imperative for the federal cabinet to look at other ways of complementing CBN’s efforts.

Dr. Babatunde, an economist, wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State

ECONOMICS OF SOKOTO’S 1000 NEW MILLIONAIRES

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Imam Imam writes Aminu Tambuwal is impacting positively on the socio-economic landscape of Sokoto State

n December last year, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, announced the release of N2.6 billion for the payment of backlog of arrears of gratuity to nearly 2000 of the state’s former workers. The payment captured those who retired from 2011 until August, 2015. The release of the funds elicited wide commendation from the beneficiaries, their families, and the public in general. Of the 1902 beneficiaries, approximately 1400 earned one million naira and above. In essence, in one payment swoop, Sokoto State government created 1400 new millionaires from among its citizenry.

The impact of this important gesture cannot be overemphasised, especially when we consider the multiplier effect on the economy of Sokoto State and that of the neighbouring. Let us look at the economics of the multiplier effect. To begin with, what is a simple definition of the multiplier effect?

Every time there is an injection of new demand into the circular flow there is likely to be a multiplier effect. This is because an injection of extra income leads to more spending, which creates more income, and so on. The multiplier effect refers to the increase in final income arising from any new injection of spending.

The size of the multiplier depends upon

household’s marginal decisions to spend, called the marginal propensity to consume (mpc), or to save, called the marginal propensity to save (mps). It is important to remember that when income is spent, this spending becomes someone else’s income, and so on. Marginal propensities show the proportion of extra income allocated to particular activities, such as investment spending by construction firms, saving by households, and spending on imports from abroad. For example, if 80% of all new income in a given period of time is spent on local products, the marginal propensity to consume would be 80/100, which is 0.8. To look at it in another way, if, as one of my neighbours in Sokoto did, a beneficiary opted to complete the building of his new house with his share of the gratuity payment, the project injects extra demand and output into the economy of the state. Many businesses, including architects, suppliers of blocks, sand, water, iron rods, woods, etc., will benefit directly from the beneficiary’s expenditure.

As economists say, building a new house generates a new flow of factor incomes ---including wages and profits, so the multiplier effect is likely to be strong and the resultant impact on GDP quite large.

This reasoning came about because injections of new demand for goods and services into the circular flow of income stimulate further rounds of

spending – in other words “one person’s spending is another’s income.” This can then lead to a bigger eventual effect on output and employment. As well as calculating the multiplier in terms of how extra income gets spent, we can also measure the multiplier in terms of how much of the extra income goes into savings, which in turn supports banks with enough cash to lend to other sectors to ensure continued growth of the economy of the country.

Doling out N2.6 billion to pensioners is part of a larger economic policy put in place by the Tambuwal administration to impact positively on the socio-economic landscape of Sokoto State. Within its first months in office, the government announced series of measures to stimulate the economy and provide job opportunities for the people. These measures include clearly defining areas of competitive advantage and working hard on realising their full potential. Such areas consist of rice, tomato, onions and wheat farming, development of solid minerals sector, and establishment of the Sokoto State Small and Medium Scale Development Agency (SOSMEDA) which will coordinate the activities of SMEs all over the state. This is not forgetting the plan to establish three micro-finance banks to lend cash and support services to women and small and medium scale businesses.

The economic potential of Sokoto is enormous.

With the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and other important factories located in the state, Tambuwal has taken the path of industrialisation.

In efforts to tap the huge potential from abundant water resources available, irrigation farming has now been given the needed attention it deserves.

Few months ago, government reclaimed over 1000 hectres of land abandoned since 1927 in Kware to add to the land prepared for irrigation. This new project will be executed under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme- Phase I. The project involves the construction of 175 irrigation water conveyance canals; 120 units of hydraulic structures; 55 kilometres of feeder roads; five units of primary schools, two primary health centres and two community markets among others.

Tambuwal’s vision is to develop the human resource capacity of the people of Sokoto to meet modern challenges. Since his coming to power, he has invested handsomely in education, based on a vision premised on developing skills for the future.

For the first time, the highest allocation in the state’s budget in the 2016 fiscal year went to education.

Imam, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Gov Tambuwal, wrote from Gawun Nama Area, Sokoto

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

EDITORIAL STILL ON THE VALUE OF THE NAIRA

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There is need for the Buhari administration to unfold a coherent economic agenda

he naira, which has been volatile, tumbled further significantly at the parallel market recently, hitting N400 against the dollar as foreign exchange scarcity continues to batter the economy. Even though the Nigerian currency reversed some of the significant losses in recent days, Forex dealers and financial experts believe the unpredictable nature of the currency is hurting the economy very badly and that the authorities need to do something about it quickly.

Perhaps some of the major cause-effects of the knocks are the plunging oil prices, the war in the Northeast against the brutal Boko Haram terror sect and messy pre-election politics. These have set the stage for a rough time for the national currency that has become vulnerable to all manner of forces. Added to this is the fact that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, relies mostly on oil exports for government revenues and has been hit badly as crude prices fell to a 12-year low of below $30 a barrel before the recent recovery to around $40 per barrel. To worsen matters was the recent 18 per cent plunge in the local PRESIDENT BUHARI HAS stock market.

CONSISTENTLY STATED With the collapse HIS OPPOSITION TO of oil prices, it is not THE DEVALUATION OF surprising that the THE. WHAT IS MISSING, naira has become a HOWEVER, IS A CLEARLY prime candidate for THOUGHT OUT STRATEGY attacks by speculaTO PULL THE COUNTRY tors. The situation is OUT OF AN IMMINENT compounded by the ECONOMIC CRISIS growing reality that there is very little ammunition to defend the currency, as data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reveals its liquid reserves have declined to $27.21 billion from over $40 billion by this time in 2014. It is preposterous that we were running down our war chest of foreign reserves in the era of high oil prices only to start panicking in the face of dwindling prices.

Meanwhile, the debate continues to rage between

Letters to the Editor

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proponents and opponents of devaluation of the naira on how it will affect the diversification of the productive base of the economy, unemployment, inflation and export promotion. While the pro-devaluation divide wants us to believe that it will save the naira from speculative attacks and eradicate round tripping by making the dollar available to only genuine imports, the anti-devaluation divide counters that this will lead to industry closures, worsening unemployment and hyper-inflation. CBN’s response has been at best knee jerk, sending more panic across the system.

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T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAfE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

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hat is particularly worrying is the underhand manner and lack of transparency surrounding the forex fiasco. For instance, we understand the Bankers’ Committee was recently directed by the CBN to apply the parallel market rate for their customers to discourage people from using their ATM cards abroad. But that has not only created a lot of distortion, racketeering and fraud, it has also engendered uncertainties that do not help in any serious business environment.

President Buhari has consistently stated his opposition to the devaluation of the naira. What is missing, however, is a clearly thought out and articulate strategy to pull the country out of an imminent economic crisis.

Yet, as we have consistently argued on this page, there is need for the administration to unfold a coherent economic agenda. Against the background that we are dealing with a huge country where people and businesses need to plan, project and rely on consistent economic policies, it is evident that the current handling of the economy is not benefiting from the pool of talents that is richly available in Nigeria.

At a time the country is in an economic mess that demands clear direction and competent hands, the CBN cannot be left alone to continue to be in charge of fiscal, trade and monetary policies, all at the same time. Therefore, it is important for President Buhari to assemble an economic team quickly so that his administration can begin to arrest what has become a slide not only for the naira but, indeed, the entire economy.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

THE DANGERS IN BURNING TYRES

here is an obvious danger posed by the invisible spectrum of light. A palpable environmental vulnerability is triggered off by the greenhouse gases like carbon II oxide emitted by the ubiquitous fossil fuels and hydrocarbons in Nigerian cities and towns. We are all guilty of using these hydrocarbons daily. The greenhouse gasses they emit have built up layers in the troposphere leading to a backlog of infrared radiation (an invisible electromagnetic wave) and consequently global warming and epileptic weather patterns.

Not only that, we use gadgets, solvents and materials that are made of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), and these CFC gasses have risen to the stratosphere and attacked the ozone layer that shields us from the dangerous ultraviolet radiation (another invisible electromagnetic wave) that can cause cataract and skin cancer. One single atom of chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone forming chlorine monoxide and oxygen.

However, besides these ecological human-made dangers facing our planet today, I have observed frequent burning of rubber tyres on our streets—with the release of black plumes of smoke rising and spreading across the Nigerian skies. Toxic fumes from motor tyres are poisonous and cause heart disease, lung disease, and leukemia. Exposures to Carbon Black, Benzene, and Carbon Disulfide endanger our health and cut short the already relatively short life span of Nigerians. Carbon Black is a fine particle produced

by incomplete combustion of fossil fuel. Carbon Black can amass in our lungs and lead to chronic bronchitis, inefficient lung functioning, and exacerbation of asthma attacks.

Benzene is carcinogenic and thus a potential cause of blood cancer. Carbon Disulfide affects the central nervous system and amplifies the chance of heart disease.

Everything we breathe has an effect on our bodies. Clean oxygen has a positive effect on our bodies and toxic oxygen has a negative effect on our bodies. Nigerian senators, you have power reverse the danger posed to the public health by ubiquitous burning of tyres in Nigeria. It is a scientific fact that burning tyres release toxins in the air. Other chemicals in tyre that can cause cancer are Styrene and Butadiene. The fumes released from burning of tyres also have high levels of poisonous metals like chromium and lead. Chromium can cause cancer. About 20 different metals released during tyre burning do not disintegrate. One of them, zinc, can cause birth defects. Metals fragments released during tyre burning are too tiny for our naked eyes to see, and these small particles can settle deep in our lungs. Another derivative released in the air from burning of tyres is Dioxin, and this can cause reproductive deficiency and damage. Dioxin can also increase the stake of diabetes in Nigerians. Additionally, Dioxin contaminates our agricultural crops. The odourless and poisonous gas, Carbon Dioxide (CO), which is also released during tyre burning, has the potential to cause blood poisoning, coma, and ultimate death. Tyre burning is

extremely hazardous to adults and children, and the chemicals discharged confer dangerous residues in the air and soil.

Please Senators, use your platform of service to pass a bill that will abrogate the burning of tyres in Nigeria. A fine of N500 000 per burnt tyre should be levied on any person who burns tyres. Yes, the fine should be high because burning of tyres is an offence to the human dignity and environmental rights of the present and future generations of humanity. Environmental parastatals should be charged with the duty of collecting used and depleted tyres from streets and mechanic workshops and intelligently disposing them without causing harm to the environment. In some Western societies, tyres are recycled by being used for flower pots. Manures are simply poured into them. We could devise other ways of reusing tyres. My supplication to the Nigerian senators is that, without dilly-dallying, you will pass a law that secures the rights of Nigerians and our children’s children to enjoy cleaner air devoid of Carbon Black, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide, and Styrene, to mention but a few toxins released from tyres. When this is done, then there will be reduced risk of lung disease, blood poisoning, and cancer. When this is done, we will breathe cleaner oxygen. When this is done, we will live under clearer blue skies. The old adage is eternally true: prevention is better than cure! Thank you in advance for taking immediate action.

Rev. Fr. Leo Muoneme, S.J. Veritas University, Abuja

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Olawale Olaleye Email wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com 08116759819 SMS ONLY

THE PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

‘WeKnowThosetoHoldResponsibleifAPCFails’ Former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly and one time acting governor of the state, Chief Clarence Olafemi, spoke with Yekini Jimoh on topical national issues and the state of affairs in the confluence state. Excerpts:

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hat is your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government?

I have told people that we first need to find out why President Muhammadu Buhari was persistent with his ambition of becoming the president of Nigeria. Buhari’s persistence to be president of this country was because he already knew much about this country. He is not the only one. Many had been in government up to the presidency and knew what was going on, but a lot of them kept quiet. I don’t want to say they kept quiet because they were afraid or didn’t want the country to disintegrate, but Buhari saw it and felt that if given the opportunity, he could make a difference.

He contested for the first time and lost. In his second and third attempts, he still didn’t give up until the fourth time. Then you should have known that the man was not coming in because he wanted to enrich himself or because he wanted to make a name. He believes that corruption is the root cause of our setback as a country. A former Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) chairman with little assets and up till today, nobody has come out to challenge his assets.

What an honest person!

You can see how the economic situation in Nigeria has been bastardised by some selfish individuals. What do you want to do, for instance, with $1 billion for God’s sake? Is it for you to secure yourself or your family? When I was in school in Okene, the school authority in the afternoon gave us free oranges, free banana and would also provide us with free clothes, inner wear, trousers and soaps.

They provided us cap for Sunday service and Muslims too for their Friday prayer. In fact, virtually everything was free and yet, there was no oil boom. But the leaders then were very mindful that they needed the resources of this country to develop the country.

All the over-head bridges in Lagos were built by the Yakubu Gowon regime and it is the same over-head bridges that are still there up till today, with the exception of the third mainland bridge. So, which recent development has taken place in this country?

As a member of the BoT of the party, I am not aware there is problem between the president and Senator Ahmed Tinubu. But even if it is true, I believe there are no true friends that will tell themselves the truth and not quarrel. Where they may not quarrel is when they refuse to tell each other the truth. But I can tell you that the APC I know has been through hell before it could stand as a party

but what can we do? That is the beauty of democracy and life must continue. That does not mean because I was not considered for a ministerial appointment, I must kill the party in my state or because I was not made governor, I must kill the party. It is easy to kill the party than to build. Don’t say that the man that lost out can’t kill the party; he can kill the party but if such a person made any attempt to kill the party, it means that he joined the APC for his selfish interest in the first place.

I didn’t join APC for my selfish interest. I saw that the economy of the country was in bad shape and we needed change. There are a lot of expectations from Nigerians. We will surmount any problem that comes our way before 2019.

Olafemi…still holding on to the change mantra

Look at all the industries that we laid their foundations – instead of reviving them so that employment can be generated, our people turned their eyes against them. If our leaders had made sure that NEPA functions well, there would be no need for generators and the cabals would not have any generators to import.

If the automobile industries that collapsed at the same time in this country are functioning now, don’t you know that more than 200, 000 Nigerians will be working in those places?

They were established and functional. But what was responsible for their collapse?

This is economic disaster caused by massive embezzlement of Nigeria’s money. So, when he got to power, he wanted to face the scourge of corruption. My problem now is that the man knows that the problem of Nigeria is corruption and he doesn’t care if he uses four years to fight it. But he needs to be careful because Nigerians are not patient.

We have problems in the petroleum sector and the president will like to fight them. The cabals too will not keep quiet; they will fight back. So what we need to do now is to find a balance between cleaning up the mess and moving the country forward. If you fight corruption for the next four years, people will say the president has not done anything. So, he needs to be very careful so that at the end of his four years in office, people should be able to say he has done well.

The president has been accused of victimising some innocent people in the fight against graft. Do you think that is correct?

It’s a normal expectation in a situation like this. The president is not victimising anyone.

They are right to think that way because corruption actually did not start with the Jonathan government. Corruption started far behind. I wouldn’t know because I did not serve in Yar’Adua’s government or Obasanjo’s government, neither did I serve in Abdulsalam’s nor Babangida’s government, but corruption did not start from Jonathan. We had devalued the naira several times before we got to where it is now, and why? It is because people were dodging to tackle the problem head-on; they found a short cut to cover it up.

We were importing massive crude oil while the refineries were not functioning and bad people were benefiting from the importations. All

these are corruption. We had a situation, where our roads were bad, and yet if something was 1000 naira, somebody will just add another zero behind and it would become one million naira.

A lot of our monies were stashed outside this country by people who had been in government.

We don’t need to be told, but the president knows this himself. I have strong feelings that there is no way you could solve those problems without stepping on toes. I still strongly believe that he must go beyond Jonathan’s government.

However, if he tries to carry the load at once on his head, the pressure will collapse him. I believe even now that he is carrying too much load because there are still many issues he need to look into. Look at the corruption in the railway sector, oil sector, arms deals and others that the president is yet to fully investigate.

There is a swirling insinuation that the president and Senator Bola Tinubu, a leader of the APC, are not in good terms. As a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, do you not think such in-fighting could affect the standing of the party in 2019?

As a member of the BoT of the party, I am not aware there is problem between the president and Senator Ahmed Tinubu. But even if it is true, I believe there are no true friends that will tell themselves the truth and not quarrel.

Where they may not quarrel is when they refuse to tell each other the truth. But I can tell you that the APC I know has been through hell before it could stand as a party.

Sometimes, whenever a problem was coming, you would think it would consume the party but it usually did not. For instance, giving the party name was a heated debate. Setting up the structure was another problem. Choosing the presidential candidate was also a problem but because APC was the only option open to Nigerians for change, everybody swallowed their differences when it came to moving the party forward.

Whatever the problems, they cannot be more than the problems that we had encountered before. I believe that the leadership of APC is very much conscious of this. However, if the APC collapses now, we will hold some people responsible and we will say to them that it is as a result of their selfishness because there is no need for it to collapse.

In the first place, it was Buhari, who chose his minister and some of us had our reservations,

How will you describe the appointments made so far by Governor Yahaya Bello?

Well, it took the president many months before appointing his ministers. So, I believe the appointments of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello is making now are an ongoing assignment until his government finally sits properly. One month is too small in the life of a governorship of four years. But the ones he has announced now are his personal aides. He doesn’t need to go to the House of Assembly to request for approval for the appointment of Director of Protocol or Chief Press Secretary to the governor or any appointments announced so far.

But as governor of this state, he needs competent hands because APC was massively voted for by the people of Kogi State. Those of us who are very close to him are trying, albeit politely, to caution him not to bring in people that are novice on the job. He should not repeat the mistakes of the immediate past governor, who brought people from outside the country – some from Ghana and Canada – and at the end of the day, they ended up disappointing him.

The governor should mix old hands with new ones so that he can have proper advisers. Well, the present deputy governor was a two-time legislator; he should be able to use his experience to guide the governor in the area of legislative reforms. I have made up my mind to support Yahaya Bello and anybody I am supporting, I will tell him the truth.

I will never deceive him. I will tell him the way I see it. It’s my party, he is my governor and if he does not do well, all of us will bear the burden. He is a listening governor. Whenever I go to him, as busy as his office is, he is never in a hurry to dismiss me from his office. He listens attentively to what I tell him and he admits wherever he thinks there is a mistake with explanations.

If you don’t see anything good about Yayaha, you will never see anything good about his government. You don’t criticise just for criticising sake. So, let us give him a chance. He is just coming on board. We need to assist him and cooperate with him because he means well for the state.

The governor recently directed that all workers in the state must be screened as a form of recertification of their employment. Do you share his position?

The screening must be done. Part of the allegations either true or false, is that the Permanent Secretaries had compromised because they were the chief accounting officers of each ministry. So, if there were ghost workers, they must have tolerated it. I support the governor to go to any length to flush out ghost workers in the state and the local governments’ civil service so that a greater percentage of the people will be sure of their salaries at the end of the month.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

Acting Features Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Nigerians Languish in Chinese Jails Chiemelie Ezeobi writes on the fate of over 4,000 Nigerians who are in detention in various prisons in China, where they are allegedly subjected to unfair trials and inhumane treatment

Protesters calling for the release of Nigerians unlawfully detained in various prisons in China

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hilst the perception many have of China is the land of karate, Jet Li and Jackie Chan, its huge population and budding technology, for Francis Jones, a Nigerian, who traveled to China with hopes and dreams of a greener pasture, that dream has since been shattered.

He tasted the other side of life in China, beyond what the screen portrays, that has changed his life irreparably.

Jailed for 15months in jail under the most inhumane treatment in a Chinese prison, Jones who spoke at a recent rally held to create awareness on the plight of Nigerians in Chinese prisons, said his problem started from a false accusation that led to an invitation to the police station and then the courtroom to prison.

His charge was that he allegedly assaulted his Chinese wife. He said, "I was detained for a year and three months without making calls. I was not allowed to contact my people nor were they allowed to see me for an issue that I was asked to come and clear myself.

“I was accused of violating my wife’s rights; that I touched her, whereas I didn’t, which did not warrant being detained for an hour.

Whoever wants to go to China should be careful. Those people are dangerous."

Recalling his experience in detention he said, "Nigerians in Chinese prisons are used as labourers in producing most things made in China, yet they are not paid up to the minimum wage. They set targets based on what machines produce. If you don’t meet the target, your sentence won’t be commuted.”

He said due to the challenge of language barriers, some Nigerians in detention do not know what is being said during their trial,

since it is conducted in Chinese, adding that after that, long sentences are handed to first time offenders.

Jones, who said he attended the rally because he had witnessed first-hand what

Nigerians in Chinese prisons are used as labourers in producing most things made in China, yet they are not paid up to the minimum wage.

They set targets based on what machines produce. If you don’t meet the target, your sentence won’t be commuted

Nigerians go through in Chinese prisons said, “What is happening there is really scary.

I never pray for anyone to experience it, because it is hell on earth. What we read in the news is different from how the Chinese treat Nigerians there. They treat the black people like animals. They trade human organs.

They subject people to hard labour.

“If you don’t work hard enough, your sentence will not be commuted. For instance if you’re given 20 years, if you’re very hard working, they could reduce the sentence.

There are thousands of Nigerians in Chinese prisons being used as slaves. Most of them don’t know when they are coming back home because the government doesn’t care for them.

“China has prisoner exchange programmes with other countries where citizens return to serve prison terms in their countries. So, we’re calling on Nigerians to intervene for our citizens. Many have died. Sometimes they will execute Nigerians, claiming the embassy signed for their death.”

On how he was released, Jones said his wife, whom he was accused of assaulting helped out. He said, “My Chinese wife helped me. I fired my first lawyer who wanted to collude with the Chinese to alter my statement.

The Chinese hate blacks. All they want is our money. My wife used to pay through her nose for me to be a bit comfortable in prison – just to get fresh air. Sometimes my temperature would rise so high."

Like Jones, another returnee prisoner, Chidi Cruiz, said close to 80 Nigerians died in Chinese prisons since last year. He said, “Our people are going through hell in those prisons.

I spent nine years and a month there. We’re pleading with government to do something urgently to release our people or bring them back home to serve their sentence. They treat

us like animals, some are not even guilty of the crimes they are accused of. There is no fair trial.

“Sometimes our embassy doesn’t believe the things we tell them. The embassy staff come to the prisons once in a while but the problems persist. The Chinese authorities confiscated everything I had, all my sweat.

I was set up with a Chinese woman. They found foreign currencies in my place and I was charged with money laundering.

“During trial they didn’t even allow me to make a call. They would intimidate you because you have nobody there to stand up for you. There’s no human rights there. It’s like slavery. During trial, the people they bring to translate don’t even understand English.

They mis-translate English to China."

Unlike Jones and Cruiz who are today free men, there are still many others who are still behind bars in different Chinese prisons, who are victims of unfair sentencing and trial, delayed cases, and are being treated as human machines.

A Needful Intervention Thus, after years of going through the issues alone, the families later found a help in the Patriotic Citizens Initiative (PCI), a non-governmental organisation, that has been doing all it can to mediate in the situation.

Recently, the NGO and the affected families stormed FESTAC Town, Lagos, where they held an advocacy rally calling for the Federal Government's urgent intervention. The families carried placards, some which read: “China, give Nigerians fair trial”, "China, stop killing Nigerians", “Nigerians die monthly in Chinese prisons", amongst others.

According to PCI’s director, Osita Osaneme, a lawyer, no fewer than 40 Nigerians are

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• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

FEATURES It is true that most of them might have committed offences, but these people were not given fair hearing... The prison authorities perpetrate all sorts of atrocities against them like breaking their legs.

All of this is because nobody is asking questions. I feel that it is necessary for us to ask government to intervene

Protests against inhumane treatment melted out to Nigerians in various prisons in China

executed yearly or die mysteriously in Chinese prisons, with some undergoing unfair or no trial at all.

The Prisoner's Tale The prisoners, in a statement, accused the prison authorities of violating their rights.

They said they are not allowed to contact their families, nor are they given access to lawyers for proper representation in court. According to them, their cases are deliberately delayed by the police, prosecutors and judges so as to force suspects to confess to crimes they did not commit. Such delays, they said, last for as long as five years, with the suspects kept in detention until they give in.

They alleged that prisoners who are sick are not given proper care. According to them, in Guangdon Province prison, suspects are forced to shower with cold water during winter even if it leads to their untimely death, adding that relatives are also allegedly denied visas.

In their letter, they lamented, "We Africans in Chinese prisons and detention centres are treated as lower humans. Some of us were picked up based on mere suspicions or coincidences, or being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes people are manipulated into committing crimes they did not intend to. The police will refuse to investigate thoroughly or verify allegations before making arrests."

According to them, their right to call their families is dependent on the amount of work they do. Despite being turned to human machines, they lamented that the pittance given them is not enough to buy toiletries.

They said, “Our phone bill per month in some prisons is as high as six Renminbi (RMB), but we are paid as low as one RMB or 0.5RMB. We labour day after day, yet after serving for even up to 20 years, inmates cannot even boast of up to one dollar savings."

The prisoners also leveled grievous allegations of organ trafficking against the prison authorities. They noted that although some of them are found guilty as charged, it was however degrading to harvest the organs of those condemned.

They said, “People are sentenced to death for the purpose of harvesting their organs for sale. So many of our colleagues who are not even on death row cannot be accounted for. Again, some of these sentences handed Nigerian suspects are unfathomable. If one is arrested in China, you are kept for as long as three years before trial. If you are found guilty and given a death sentence with two years suspension, it will take about three years to change the verdict to life sentence.

“You have to wait for another three years to be given a fixed term which is usually between 20 and 25 years.

You will discover that it takes about nine years for a sentence to be converted to a fixed term. These nine years are not counted as part of the time served. All this is because the Chinese government uses prisoners as working machines to make their products at no cost. Most of the ‘Made in China’ products are produced in Chinese prisons by prisoners at little or no labour cost."

On the unjust judicial system, they claimed that because the Chinese authorities promote police officers, prosecutors and judges based on the number of people they are able to convict, “In desperate need for promotion, these officials rape and abort justice, cover up the truth and line up false witnesses in their own selfish interests and due to their hatred for Nigerians. They hand out excessive sentences to Africans because their governments do not care about their citizens."

Pains of Affected Families Expectedly, the greater burden lies with the families of the detained suspects, who daily battle with uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

For Mr. Louis, a Nigerian businessman, who travelled for a business trip 30 months (two years and six months) ago, mum has been the word as he is yet to return after being jailed on yet-to-be ascertained charges.

In fact, when the wife, Mrs. Amaka Louis got married to him, she never dreamt of spending the rest of her life without her husband. Mrs. Louis is among families who are demanding justice for their relatives who are victims of alleged unfair treatment by Chinese authorities.

She said, "I am married but I have been living like a widow for over two years and six months. It has been a painful experience for me. I am pleading with the government to intervene. I haven’t even heard from him all this time. I have contacted the Nigerian Embassy, to know if I could speak to my husband. I have been calling but to no avail.”

Another family is the Ezeonu's, whose brother has been in detention for years.

According to his sister, Miss Nkiru Ezeonu, the Buhari administration should intervene urgently in their matter. She said, “My only brother is in detention in China.

He’s been in prison for over seven years.

We have been pleading with the government to intervene so that they are given more humane treatment or bring them back to Nigeria to serve here."

Also, one Chimezie Njoku, whose relative is also in detention in China, said if there is an enabling environment, youths would not go to China in search of greener pastures.

He said, "Through government’s help, they can return. Our country should not abandon its citizens abroad. And when these people return, they should be helped to resettle because they can contribute to the growth of this country. There are so many able bodied Nigerians languishing in prisons.

“If the child of a governor or minister or top politician were detained, the government would surely go after him. But because it involves ordinary Nigerians, the government feels unconcerned. They don’t care for the ordinary Nigerians. And that is why other countries take us for granted.

“Also, if there was an enabling environment, I don’t see why Nigerians would be trooping to China to seek employment. We have the resources to be an industrialised nation, but the problem has always been management.”

Amaka Loius, calling for her husband's release

A Call for Help The prisoners and their families unanimously called on the Federal Government to come to their aid and their plea was corroborated

by PCI Director, Osaneme, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the rights of Nigerians in Chinese prisons are enforced. He said, “It is true that most of them might have committed offences, but these people were not given fair hearing. I interviewed some of them and they said they were just dumped in prisons there. The prison authorities perpetrate all sorts of atrocities against them like breaking their legs.

“All of this is because nobody is asking questions. I feel that it is necessary for us to ask government to intervene. The government must investigate if these things are actually true because they are atrocities.

“If a country can be harvesting Nigerian citizens’ organs, it is very wrong. There are procedures for these things. If there is a drug crime or a case of illegal migration, there are procedures. People should be given access to justice.

“So, we’re asking the Federal Government to please intervene. If possible, send a delegation to find out if what these Nigerians are saying is true. These Nigerians have wives and children back home. We’re not saying they may not have committed any offence, but the government should intervene because an accused also has rights.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo went to Thailand to rescue Nigerians suffering there.

If you commit an offence in Thailand now, you can come back and serve your prison term in Nigeria. If Nigerians in China are demanding that they want to serve their prison terms in Nigeria, the government should go into agreement with Chinese authorities. That is our demand."

In the same vein, the prisoners also urged the

government to, "Look out for us, especially those that cannot be accounted for and find out what happened.

The Chinese government should also release photographs, DNA and details of all unclaimed dead Africans or provide their ashes if incinerated to African embassies in China so that the families can lay them to rest. Because some Africans entered China with fake passports or without passports, the only way to identify these hundreds of bodies and ashes is by releasing their pictures and through DNA testing."

The prisoners also urged the government to prevail on the Chinese government to repatriate those of them who have served at least five years or more in prisons. They said, “The Chinese government should bring African countries to a roundtable and discuss repatriation of their citizens. China has benefited so much from Africa yet they treat us like animals.

“If African countries decide to crack down on the Chinese some of who also engage in illegal activities on the continent, there will be many Chinese prisoners in African prisons, if not that our governments turn a blind eye to their illicit activities in Africa. The African Union and the Nigerian government should make effort to bring back Nigerians in Chinese prisons.

"The African Union and the Nigerian government should always demand to know when Africans in Chinese prisons were arrested.

If the Chinese tell you a Nigerian has served two years, it may mean 11 years when counted from the day of arrest. Some have stayed in prison for up to 10 years since their arrest, yet they have 20 more years to serve. While the PCI has said it has written a petition to the Federal Government to investigate the fate of Nigerians in Chinese prison, the affected families continue to wallow in pains and fear of the unknown.

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IMAGES

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu ; Vice-President, Prof. ‘Yemi Osinbajo; and Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, at the exhibition stand of Shell Companies in Nigeria during the opening session of the 6th congress of the African Petroleum Producers Association in Abuja …recently

L-R: Head of Budget, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Emmanuel Gege; Director, Training and Research, SON, Dr. Justin Nickaf; Assistant Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Abdul Yekini Lawal; and Director General, SON, Dr. Paul Angya, at the SON 2016 Arrive Alive Campaign in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (left) with the new state Commissioner of Police, Hilda IbifuroHarrison, during a visit by the new Commissioner of Police to the Governor’s office, in Akure...recently

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (right) and Heritage Bank Divisional Head, Retail/SME, Mr. Davidson Regha, representing the Managing Director/CEO, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, at the unveiling of the Delta State Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) Card, powered by the bank, during an interactive session on IGR collection in Asaba, Delta State …recently

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Brand Edge Limited, Mr. Femi Akinwunmi; Director, Private Education and Special Programme, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ajoke Gbeleyi; and Director, Children’s International Schools (CIS), Mrs. Joke Chukuwmah, during a media briefing on the Top Nigerian Private Secondary School (NPSS) Education fair and instant admission, in Lagos....recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Bunmi Adeniba; Vice President, Brand Building, Robbert-de Vreede; President, Nigerian Dental Association of Nigeria, Dr Bode Ijarogbe; and the Director, Corporate Affairs, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mrs Soromidayo George, during the Pepsodent World Oral Health day, media briefing with Nigerian Dental Association, in Lagos ...recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R : Specialist, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Michael Nwoseh; winner of Cliqfest star prize, Hyundai i10, Daniel Nfon Bassey; Manager, Consumer Segment, Debo Agun; Analyst, Youth Segment, Olanike Faroun; and Retail Advisor, Etisalat Experience Centre, Lagos, Olamide Ajani, at Cliqfest campus activation in University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State... recently

L-R: Co-ordinator, God’s General Foundation, Mr. Steve Akuwajah; Co-ordinator, Shallom Community, Mr. Basil Obi; Chief Trainer/CEO, Purpose Enterpreneurship Skill Institute, Mr. Peter Okonkwo; and member of the Enterpreneurship, Dr. Emeka Arinze, Patron, God’s General Foundation, Hon. Donald Chukwujekwu; and Mrs. Tina Akwajah, at a One day Empowerment Summit 2016, jointly organised by Shallom Charity and GG Foundation, in Lagos…recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD OVERDRAFT PRIME NORMAL LENDING

R A T E S 17.9773% 20.3040%

LOAN PRIME LOAN

A S 18.0478% 20.7143%

A T

GroupBusinessEditorChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Emailchika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

M A R C H

DEPOSIT/LENDING SAVINGS ACCOUNT STRICT CALL 7 DAYS

2.3119% 2.8642% 3.2102%

1 1 ,

60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

6.4400% 7.2438% 7.2417%

2 0 1 6

EXCHANGE RATE N155.70 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Firm to Hold Human Capital Summit

ENHANCING 4G LTE SERVICE OFFERING

L-R: Head of Programme Management, Smile Communications Nigeria, Ogor Chukudebelu; Managing Director, Michiel Buitelaar; Chief Marketing Officer, Alero Ladipo and Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobe Okigbo, at a media briefing to announce the introduction of two 4G LTE solutions by the company in Lagos...recently

MTN May Integrate Visafone into Its GSM Operations Stories by Emma Okonji Two months after the acquisition of Visafone, the a Code Division and Multiple Access (CDMA) operator by MTN Nigeria, there are indications that MTN may neither run the acquired Visafone network as a CDMA entity nor maintain the status quo as demanded by the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC). Although THISDAY investigations reveal that MTN still maintains the status quo, providing the same CDMA voice and data services to its subscribers, it is barely awaiting the right moment to migrate Visafone’s over two million subscribers to its network as

ICT well as integrate the spectrum to roll out niche 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services across the country.

It was gathered that after several months of wheeling and dealing, the MTN and Visafone hierarchies finally reached an agreement December 31, 2015 to sell and buy for an undisclosed sum. In addition, it was also gathered that MTN categorically made it clear that it was only interested in the 800Mhz spectrum and would not shoulder any liabilities like staff etc.

Which explains why, according to THISDAY investigations, shortly after assuming control

of the company, 80 per cent of the acquired company’s staff were laid off in compliance with the agreement.

However, according to a source familiar with the developments, MTN’s hands were however forced by NCC (which insisted that the status at Visafone should be maintained) to rescind its decision and recall about 70 per cent of the staff that were laid off and offered a terminal contract of six months in the interim.

Giving reasons for insisting that MTN should maintain the status quo at the acquired network, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, explained that the

NCC approved the acquisition of Visafone by MTN to save the Code Division Multiple Access operators in the country.

“With the acquisition, the commission will now engage other top industry players who may have interest in other CDMA players so that the operators won’t just lose out of business.

“If we did this, we shall also be saving the subscribers of these CDMA companies who might have invested so much in terms of commitment to the CDMA system,” he said.

Since its acquisition by MTN, mixed reactions from Visafone’s customers have Continued on page 24

Telecoms Operators Record 431,978 Porting Subscribers in One Year Telecoms operators, last year, recorded the highest number of porting subscribers on their networks, totaling 431, 978 for both outgoing and incoming porting. The figure became the highest since Mobile Number Portability was introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in April 2013.

A recent statistics released by NCC, which captured porting activities across networks from January to December 2015, showed that a total of 219, 577 subscribers ported out of the networks of Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom and MTN, while 212, 401 subscribers ported into the networks of the four

TELECOMS GSM operators, totaling 431, 978 recorded number of porting as at December 2015.

In June 2015, operators recorded the highest number of incoming porting subscribers across networks, totaling 51, 251, while they recorded the lowest number of incoming porting subscribes across networks in the month of January 2015, totaling 26, 824. The statistics also showed the operators recorded the highest number of outgoing porting subscribers in the month of June 2015, totaling 28, 712, while the lowest number of outgoing porting subscribers in the month of January 2015,

was put at 14, 330.

From the statistics, Etisalat recorded the highest number of incoming porting subscribers to its network, totaling 14,125 in June 2015, while MTN had the lowest number of incoming porting subscribers totaling 436 in December 2015.

For the outgoing porting subscribers, MTN recorded the highest number of subscribers that ported out of its network in the month June 2015, which was put at 19,214, while Etisalat had the lowest number of subscribers that ported out of its network in October 2015, which was put at only 1, 241.

NCC had on April 22, 2013, launched Mobile Number

Portability (MNP) across all networks, designed to offer subscribers the opportunity to port their GSM numbers from one network to another, without losing their original numbers.

Over 4,000 subscribers ported within the first four days of its launch, while 7,164 subscribers ported to different networks within one month of the MNP launch. However, the excitement from subscribers later reduced in the subsequent month, which many attributed to the strings attached to MNP by the NCC. One of the attached strings Continued on page 24

Human Capital Asset Management Group (HCAM), a UK-based human resources firm is set to hold this year’s human capital summit in Lagos, using latest technology solution to address professionalism in the sector.

First held in 2009, the summit, which had recorded success in the past, serves as a valuable platform for human resource professionals to benefit from highly sought-after expert perspectives on local and global trends from reputed industry resource persons, and also to network extensively.

This year’s summit will focus on human empowerment, access to high-value network, expanding the human resource information pool and laying out strategic plans for professional and social impact.

The value proposition has appreciated with successive summits since its launch.

Over the period of 2009 to 2015, the summit has attracted over 3000 participants and over 100 exhibitors. An elite group of resource persons have shared deep insights with participants over the years.

Notable among them are: former Vice-President Africa, World Bank, and former Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Principal Consultant, RBL Group, Allan Freed; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Babatunde Fowler; Managing Director/CEO, FITC, Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman; Founder and MD of PeoplePrime and PeopleTemp Limited, Mrs. Nike De Souza, among others.

Forum to Discuss Nigeria’s Digital Frontier

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Etisalat, among other industry stakeholders, will lead in discussions aimed at proffering solution to challenges hindering Nigeria’s achievement of a truly digital society and economy.

The companies will present key papers at the 2016 eWorld, with the theme ‘Expanding Nigeria’s Digital Frontier in the Change Era’, which holds next week in Lagos.

They will be joined by top ICT industry experts such as the Director, Information Technology and Communications Unit (INTECU), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Sola Aderounmu, whomis also the President of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) and the Head, Department of Management Technology of the Lagos State University, Dr. David Olateju, President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Lanre Ajayi, President of Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Sunday Folayan and Chairman of Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo and Chairman of Teledom International, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, are among discussants at the one-day eWorld Forum that focuses on finding solutions to the best way forward in Nigeria’s quest to quickly gain ascendancy in achieving a truly digital economy.

CHI Introduces New Pack

Chi Limited has introduced the new 315ml ‘Grab ‘n’ Go mixology pack. The new pack is introduced to enable consumers enjoy their favorite Hollandia yoghurt mixed with their preferred drinks.

A statement issued by the company said the new innovation has become an instant hit with consumers who love to mix drinks, adding that the smooth texture and taste of Hollandia Yoghurt goes well with any chosen beverage.

The company also indicated that the new packs are also good for on the go fun as they are light and handy, with a specially designed prismatic shape and an attractive screw cap that you feel proud to be seen with The Managing Director Chi Limited, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, was quoted as saying; “We are committed to ensuring that our loyal consumers continue to get value and satisfaction from our products. Our customers are being offered great value with the new Hollandia Mixology Grab ‘n’ Go packs which provide them a tasty and nourishing option to mix with other beverages”.

Synergies between the SON and other relevant government agencies will reduce fake products in the market, Acting Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD MTN MAY INTEGRATE VISAFONE INTO ITS GSM OPERATIONS trailed the acquisition.

Some other Visafone customers that spoke to THISDAY, said they were still receiving and making calls on the Visafone CDMA network, but complained that the quality of service has deteriorated since its acquisition by Visafone in January this year.

When asked to give details on how MTN intended to run the operations of Visafone, MTN’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Funso Aina told THISDAY he had sent the media enquiry for management approval, but as at press time, he was yet to get any approval.

Disclosing the initial plans on how Visafone would be managed, Corporate Services and Human Resources Executive of MTN Nigeria, Amina Oyagbola, had earlier said that the acquisition, which seeks to leverage resources for service enhancement, is also reflective of MTN’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and roll out broadband services across the country in support of the National Broadband Plan for the benefit of Nigerians.

Visafone according to her, “is one of the leading CDMA/ ICT companies in Nigeria offering a number of services including voice, high speed data (3G), internet and other Value Added Services (VAS).

Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.”

TELECOMS OPERATORS RECORD 431,978 PORTING SUBSCRIBERS IN ONE YEAR was that a subscriber must remain on a particular network for up to 90 days after the initial porting. The implication was that the subscriber would remain on a particular network for as much as 90 days after the initial porting, even when the network service quality is poor. Although the attached strings initially slowed the rate of porting, as recorded in the month of June, 2013, the total number of porting subscribers dropped to 5,759, as against 7,164 recorded in the month of May, 2013.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Maritime Editor

John Iwori

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Linda Eroke (Labour) Eromosele Abiodun (Cap Mkt) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Obinna Chima (Money Mkt) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (AgricBusiness)

NEWS

NCC Enjoins Police to Protect Telecoms Infrastructure Emma Okonji The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Umar Danbatta has called on the Police to protect telecoms infrastructure from being vandalised.

Danbatta, who led a team of NCC Directors and officials on a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase in Abuja recently, expressed worry over the rate of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure in some parts of the country. He insisted that the action is illegal as it violates Criminal Justice Act, 2004 of the Federation of Nigeria.

Danbatta said the call became necessary, considering the pivotal role telecommunications play in the lives and economic wellbeing of any country, adding that no effort should be spared in protecting the infrastructure and platforms of the industry.

Danbatta said: “Willful destruction of telecoms infrastructure, cutting of fibre optics and general vandalism have become very worrisome, hence the proposal for the institution of a critical infrastructure law that will require the police to monitor and protect public infrastructure.

“While we seek your support for urgent actualisation of this law, we wish to implore you to see to the use of the current provisions of the law to ensure that individuals found to be engaged in willful destruction of telecoms infrastructure are timely prosecuted.”

Both agencies of government pledged to collaborate on vital issues concerning security of telecoms infrastructure and capacity building for modern policing which the IG, stressed, forms the bedrock of modern security practices.

Explaining that over the years the telecommunications sector has grown in leaps and now forms the super structure of modern lifestyle, social and economic practices, Danbatta told Arase that except some-

thing was done urgently the adverse practices vandalism of telecoms infrastructure, will hurt the industry and impact very negatively on life in the country “Virtually all the financial transactions, mobile money and mobile banking are made possible as a result of the infrastructure and platforms provided by the telecom industry. The vibrant social media industry that we are witnessing today is made possible by the platforms

provided by the telecom industry. The telecom and ICT industry currently contributes about 10 per cent to the GDP of this country. It is therefore evident that telecommunications impact positively on our lives, our families, businesses, governance, security, and even our social lives, and even in our international relations,” Danbatta explained while appealing to the IG to help provide security for the protection of these vital facilities.

Danbatta said several arrests had been made over the past two years, of those involved in either the use of pre-registered SIM Cards or those perpetrating other criminal acts, but lamented the situation whereby most of the cases were either thrown out for lack of proper investigation or lack of diligent prosecution, even though the Police was part of the compliance team of the Commission that carried out the arrests.

A BOOST FOR ONLINE TRANSACTION

L-R: CEO, Sophia ERP, Mr. Conrad Adigwe; Chief Channel Officer, Shopsmartdiscount.com, Mr. John Ekwueme; Regional Manager, Skye Bank, Victoria Island branch, Ms. Oyinkan Adesanmi and CEO, Goldbanc, Olu-Abayomi Sanya, at the formal launch of Shopsmart Online Discount platform in Lagos...recently

Experts Seek Exchange Rates Convergence Ugo Aliogo and Jemima Bolokor The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has expressed displeasure over the wide gap between the official and parallel foreign exchange rates.

To this end, he stressed the need for enactment of policies that would help bring about a convergence of both rate.

However, Rewane also called for an adjustment of the official rate to reflect “reality.”

Rewane, who gave the advice in Lagos during a business clinic organised by the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) tagged: ‘2016 Business outlook Petroleum: Downstream perspective”, noted that clarity and consistency of policies have to be established

by Nigeria’s policy makers.

According to him, if policies were not well articulated, the market will continue to publish the economy.

He added: “Today, there is a queue for forex and fuel. If there is a disparity between availability, value and price, then you will have a distortion. The distortion will disappear and I’m confident that the right decisions are been made at this point.

“The federal government is totally determined to ensure that they do the right things, if we don’t do the right thing, the market will publish the

economy.

“Until we do the right thing, the market will continue to publish the consumers. Loot recovery is an integral part of the agenda, it is necessary but it is not sufficient enough, the country is suffering anaemic economic activity. Economic activity is almost paralysing, you need to activate the economy.

“The punishment of looters is not about the loot that is lost, it is about sending a signal to serve as a deterrent to those willing to do the same.

What is gone is gone, if you recover anything, which is a bonus.”

He said further: “There are two types of corruption - financially certified corruption, this is common with those that are greedy, and there is structurally certified corruption, which happens because the structure fosters that kind of attitude, what we are going to deal with is how to remove those structures because they have breed corrupt tendencies.”

He stated that the economy needs to begin functioning properly, as it requires a consistent plan on how “to convert savings into development, and development into welfare and well-being of the people.”

In her welcome address, the President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande noted that the petroleum industry has witnessed several setbacks such

as shutdown, vandalisation of pipelines, and recurring scarcity of products, adding that despite the several discussions to reform the sector, little progress has been made.

She further stated that the

harsh economic climate has weakened the revenue generation drive of the nation, stating that the sustained decline in global oil prices since 2014, has put the nation in a difficult position and consequently led

to various fiscal and economic challenges such as “the drop in foreign earnings, decline in foreign reserves, huge financial bailout for some state government and unstable business environment.”

Globacom Maintains Lead in Data Subscription Emma Okonji Globacom has maintained a lead position in data service offerings from 2015 to 2016, according to the figures for new internet customers released for 2016 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator.

In the new industry figures showing the number of new data customers, each of the four major operators added to their subscription number in January 2016, with Globacom leading with 354,178 subscribers joining its internet customer base.

The figure, published on the website of the industry regulators, represents 94.7 per cent of the total number of 373,835 new internet customers for the four major operators.

While MTN recorded a drop in its data customer base with 1,705,878 internet users leaving its network in January. Etisalat lost 94,115 internet customers in January, and Airtel gained 19,657 new subscribers in the same month.

With the release of the

January statistics, a clearer picture has emerged on how the operators fared over the last 12 months.

An analysis of the 12 months figures shows that Globacom added a total of 7,251,657 new internet users during the period which is 53 per cent of the total 13.644 million new customers who subscribed to internet services of the four major operators.

Etisalat came second with a total of 5,431,190 new internet customers, while Airtel finished third with 961,548 new data customers in the 12 months period.

On the other hand, MTN recorded a net loss of 1,059,160 data subscribers in the last one year, as more data subscribers left the network than those who joined.

The January 2016 figures are a reflection of the trend witnessed in the last quarter of 2015.

A breakdown of the industry figures for that quarter showed that Globacom had 23,285,454 internet users in October, 24,952,559 in November and 25,082,066 in December, which

is an addition of 3.2 million new internet subscribers in the quarter.

On the other hand MTN, Airtel and Etisalat all lost subscribers within the period.

MTN which had a total of 41,835,294 internet subscribers at the beginning of October 2015 had 39,924,737 data subscribers at the end of December, a loss of almost two million customers.

Similarly, Airtel, which began the last quarter of 2015 with 17,730,955 internet customers ended with 16,835,952, a loss of nearly 900,000 subscribers.

The steady growth in the number of data subscribers on the Globacom network is said to be a result of its massive infrastructure including the Glo 1 undersea cable and the extensive fibre optic cable that crisscrosses the length and breadth of the country. These deliver unmatched capacity of data anywhere at the most affordable prices, according to Globacom, which also launched several attractive and user-friendly packages which offer a lot of appeal to data users.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

As Nigeria Targets New Digital Switchover Date Having missed the digital switchover deadline twice, Nigerians are skeptical about the country’s chances of meeting the new June 20, 2017 date. Emma Okonji reports The journey towards migration from analogue to digital broadcasting started on June 17, 2006, and NIgeria signed international and regional agreement to conclude the digital migration

by June 17, 2012.

In an effort to achieve the 2012 deadline, the federal government had in 2008, inaugurated a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The committee had been mandated to come up with a recommended policy, regulatory framework and a broadcasting model for the process. In 2009, the committee submitted its report with several recommendations, but the then administration, for three years, failed to release the white paper for digital migration, a situation that caused Nigeria to miss the June 17, 2012 initial date. The federal government was forced to shift the migration date to June 17, 2015, following its inability to achieve the initial date, and through the NBC, set a deadline of January 1, 2015 as the switch off date. In December 2012, a 14-man team tagged: ‘Digiteam Nigeria’, with Mr. Edward Amana as the Chairman, was inaugurated to drive the process of digital migration.

Although the Digiteam, in collaboration with the NBC, worked hard to conclude the migration by January 1, 2015, the efforts again did not yield result, as paucity of funds stalled the process. Although Nigeria had failed twice to meet the DSO deadline, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba, had hoped he would eventually lead the country to achieve migration by June 20, 2017, which is the new deadline. But his hope was dashed following his sudden removal from office, along with other 26 DGs of federal government parastatals.

Mba’s hope of accomplishing the DSO task

by June next year, was hinged on the level of work already carried out, following the N34 billion funding that the commission had raised from the licensing of 700MHz frequency slot to MTN to assist in the completion of the digital migration.

According to Mba, the commission had received approval from the federal government to raise money to fund the digital migration process, since the government was unable to release the substantial amount required for the funding. Lack of funding had been the major reason for Nigeria’s inability to accomplish her DSO plans in the past.

Ironically, the same N34 billion that was raised from the licensing of MTN to fund the DSO, actually led to Mba’s removal as DG of NBC. Heightened fears Nigerians are becoming skeptical about the country’s chances of meeting the new deadline in view of Mba’s removal as the NBC DG. They argue that the country may still miss the next deadline if the next DG decides to jettison what Mba had done to begin the process afresh.

According to them, much work has been put in place towards the pilot phase launch of the DSO project, and they expected the next DG to work hard in order to surmount the challenges that bedeviled the migration process since 2012.

Government, they noted is a continuum but some stakeholders have expressed the fear that successive governments in Nigeria always insist in doing things their own ways, instead of continuing from where their predecessors stopped. They therefore advised that the migration process should not be stopped by whoever takes over at the commission.

Set-Top-Boxes for DSO With the understanding that Nigeria was about to create the largest digital free television network in the world with a known 26 million television households, government also approved a household set-top-box (STBs) rebate assistance scheme for poor families across the country.

The scheme is to ensure that economically disadvantaged families are not cut off from watching television when the analogue switch

Digital transmission satelite

off occurs.

The NBC, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders involved in the DSO, including the licensed set-top-box manufacturers, agreed on the STB rebate scheme financing, with the NBC providing the necessary “off taker guarantees” to all the STB manufacturers through Zenith Bank for the off-shore manufacture and delivery of STBs for the pilot DSO launch in Plateau State.

Industry watchers are aware that the major reason the guaranty was instituted was to ensure that the STB manufacturers were assured that their investment in importing the products for the Jos DSO pilot and establishing manufacturing plants locally in Nigeria would be safe. The guarantee was also to ensure that government’s funds were not paid upfront to anyone who may end up receiving the funds and do away with it. It was a win-win situation designed to guaranty the availability of the products and the security of the government funds. The off-taker guarantees and also covers the cost of the provision of the digital content access fee (DCAF) for all the STBs by the authorised middleware provider (Inview Limited).

Part of the innovative plans was that the DCAF was to be used for activation of each STB and would be plough into a broadcasting fund for maintenance of the digital infrastructure, provide training for professionals in the industry, create digital content, and provide support to owners of some thematic channels such as children’s programming.

Alleged misappropriation of funds for STBs Although there were allegations that the N34 billion that was raised from the licence issuance, from which part of it was kept aside for the funding of STBs, was misappropriated, some stakeholders have argued that it was absurd for anyone to allege that the NBC defied the federal government’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by diverting funds from the proceeds of the licence fee.

Investigations have revealed that the NBC had with appropriate approvals, entered necessary agreements with Zenith Bank and the authorised STB manufacturers for the bank guarantees on manufacture of the equipment, without which it would be impossible to achieve the digital switchover. A portion of the DSO fund was already encumbered through the bank guarantees provided for authorised STB manufacturers before the TSA directive took effect.

Mba’s achievements Assessing the performance of the former NBC DG, a Lagos based telecom expert, Dr. Lanre Omololu said: “Mba is a known agent of positive change and a proactive person who is even needed in this present government if am asked.”

According to him, the former NBC boss transformed the broadcast regulation at commission and liberalised the industry for accelerated development. Another ace broadcaster and opinion leader in the broadcast sector, Garba Rano, said Mba enabled the industry to grow and become key contributor in several international content markets such as MIPCOM, MIPTV, DISCOP, CABSAT and a host of others.

To him, “these platforms created foreign partnerships and attracted foreign investments in the broadcasting industry.”

Rano added: “The NBC received several local and international awards while Mba was at the helm of affairs. It was his presence that provided confidence and attracted several foreign investors into the industry. He elevated several senior staff members, even when some of his predecessors refused to do the same.

“Mba changed the NBC website, which attracted the Philips Consulting Award last year in Lagos and also brought about more professionalism in broadcast regulatory practice through reformative regulations and industry research.” A source in NBC revealed that the Managing Partner of Technology Advisors, Basil Udotai, worked with NBC to prepare all memoranda and documentations required for all the approvals; developed the project framework; managed the special auction licensing process with the NBC; negotiated and drafted the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) License Agreement, amongst others.

Misrepresentation of facts Investigations have shown that the purported recovery of N10 billion is a total misrepresentation of facts. Details gathered from Zenith Bank indicate that the truth of the matter was that the authorised STB manufacturers, who were provided off-taker guarantees in the form of collateral for the manufacture and delivery of STBs for the DSO were meant to also open letters of credit for that purpose.

“However, it was agreed at a recent meeting between the Minister of Information, Zenith Bank and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the guarantees meant for those STB manufacturers, who were yet to open letters of credit through Zenith Bank, but have completed necessary agreements with their foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) should be cancelled and the funds meant for them transferred to EFCC’s account, while those who have commenced theirs should complete the process. It should be noted that the funds for off-taker guarantee was in the NBC DSO Collateral account and never left Zenith Bank,” NBC said in a statement.

According to the commission, from the foregoing, it is important to clear the air and

make it open that no money was missing, lost or stolen by anyone at NBC. “The NBC followed the necessary processes and acquired appropriate approvals from the then Minister of Information, former Minister of Communications Technology and President Goodluck Jonathan to accelerate or fast track the NBC to successfully transit Nigeria to digital broadcasting,” it said. Only a few days after Mba’s removal, the NBC took delivery of over 150,000 pieces of the STBs manufactured by SMK Engineering Limited and Gospell Technology Limited. These companies were part of the authorised manufacturers who were provided with bank guarantees by the NBC. Some of the companies have also manufactured theirs and are about to bring them into the country.

It is on this note that experts in digital broadcasting, who met in Ibadan recently, called on the federal government to avoid anything that will derail DSO platform and set up the former DG, stressing that it will be sad for Nigeria to miss another digital switchover deadline with all these disruptions. To them, everything must be done to achieve a successful digital switchover so that Nigeria can begin to reap the immense benefits of making this transition.

Fresh expectations In spite of the controversies trailing the removal of Mba, industry stakeholders have called on the next DG to make the federal government see the importance of migrating Nigeria from analogue to digital broadcasting, come June 20, 2017. They are of the view that the federal government was yet to see the importance of digital migration, hence the issue of funding had stalled the process of achieving the mandate for digital switchover. The stakeholders therefore advised that NBC must intensify efforts to ensure that government releases sufficient funds to drive the process to a conclusive end. They argued that June 2017 was close at hand, asking NBC to set new agenda, while considering the previous agenda for the actualisation of nation’s DSO plan.

They warned that should Nigeria misses out for the third time in June next year, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) may not grant another extension to the country.

The stakeholders explained that should Nigeria fail to meet up with the June 2017 deadline, the country may create frequency interference along border countries, which will attract sanction from ITU. Now that Nigeria still has some months to achieve the switchover mandate, it is essential that NBC begins to make adequate preparations ahead of time, in order to overcome previous challenges.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Olumodimu: Location-based Service Apps Will Boost Businesses in Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Life Developers Network, a content development and digital marketing platform, and founder, BarFinderNaija App, Mrs. Florence Olumodimu spoke with Emma Okonji on the importance of location-based service apps in revolutionising human social needs and providing online visibility to businesses in Nigeria. Excerpts: BarFinderNaija App was recently launched in Lagos. What is it all about and what specific challenge does it seek to address?

The app is a discovery app and it is also a location based service app, called BarFinderNaija.

It helps to explore the environment and people’s vicinity around the city. It uses the Geographical Positioning System (GPS) technology, such that with the longitude and latitude poles, the app is able to get and provide information about a particular location of interest. It can give information on the location of the app user and the listing of bars and relaxation centres around the location for easy access. Apart from the fact that it is an online directory where businesses could be listed online, BarFinderNaija is designed to increase business exposure, and it is a very effective way to directly target potential customers. BarFinderNaija makes it easy for online users to find and discover something they want when they wanted it.

Business owners should consider listing their businesses, using the app, because it enhances better returns on investment.

How long did it take you to develop the app?

I started developing the app 13 months ago, beginning with a survey. I sampled about 200 people, and the research was focused on how people determine where they go to relax either in a bar or restaurant around certain locations.

In developed countries, there are yellow pages that help people find their routes and locations, but we do not have such in Nigeria, except for some technology platforms that allow people to find locations, through listing of places, without giving details of the locations.

But the BarFinderNaija app will in addition to listing of places, also give details of the location like the facilities in a particular location of relaxation, the kind of food that is served there, the parking space and the level of security in the location. So from the comfort of people’s home, they could know everything about the location, using the BarFinderNaija app, which is able to congregate a lot of information that could be downloaded as either mobile app for mobile devices, or as web app. The BarFinderNaija app is available in Google Playstore, BlackBerryWorld and can be accessed through the web application www.barfindernaija.com.

To download from the Play Store, all that the user need do is to go to Play Store and type in BarFinderNaija, and the apps comes up and ready for download.

How accessible is the app?

For easy accessibility, we have categorised the outlets that people can go for relaxation into Exclusive, Endorsed and General outlets. The Exclusive has rich media content like multimedia, including video content in the outlet and it gives details of what the outlet is all about.

A user can be in Abuja and other cities and he or she is planning a visit to Lagos, and with the help of the app, the user can source various relaxation centres and make an informed decision on where to go for relaxation in Lagos.

The Exclusive outlets also have a backend log in, such that if a user downloads the app and likes the content on the outlet and follow it, the user can get notifications from the Exclusive outlet.

This, of course, gives the business owners the opportunity to access new customers and send them notifications on something new that would interest them.

For the Endorsed outlet, what we did is to put up the business location, opening our contact details and other details like taxi park.

ATM, petrol station and the type of in-house music, the type of menu, without having to view them through multimedia like video, because it is endorsed.

service, which the BarFinderNaija app provides.

Technology is driving global businesses and Nigerian businesses, including SMEs, must live up to the task in today’s digital age, by deploying location based service app, which the BarFinderNaija app provides.

A lot of SMEs are not online because they do not have the knowledge, and for them to remain in business, they must embrace and deploy technology solutions that will help boost their business. If businesses, including SMEs contact us, we will take them through basic training process that will help them grow their businesses.

Olumodimu

What is the economic value of the app?

Before now, what most business owners normally do is to advertise their business, using posters and distribution of fliers and some hire the services of a brand ambassador to do the marketing for them, but with BarFinderNaija app, business owners can really get millions of people to know about their businesses though the app.

It adds value to their businesses because more people who browse the net in search of relaxation spots, will easily access their businesses online, thereby increasing customer patronage. Again, business owners can now reach out to people through many outlets with their mobile phones.

So we are using technology to drive businesses, and this has great economic value for Nigeria.

What inspired you into developing the app, and what do you want to achieve with it?

My inspiration was drawn from the women entrepreneurship programme here in Nigeria, called Women in Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Africa programme (WELA), organised by China -Europe International Business School, and it was a six months intensive programme. After the programme, and based on by background and my digital marketing work experience, I was able to conceive the idea of an app that will address the needs of people who choose to go to locations of choice for relaxation. It was after the idea was conceived that I decided to develop it, having a strong feeling that it will address the social needs of people. What I want to achieve with the app, is to use it solve the challenges of millions of people within and outside Nigeria who have social needs like getting a relaxation spot when they feel like leaving their home to some different environment or when they travel outside their states of residence to Lagos. So the app helps such people to make informed decision on where they want to go and what they want to do with their time. Again, I am passionate about customer service. I spent the greater part of my life abroad, where I had my degrees and I am particularly concerned about customer relationship. So the focus is on how I could help people communicate effectively from brand perspective and help them get the social exposure that they desire to get.

Most locally developed apps are difficult to navigate through because they are not visually appealing to the user. Did you consider these when the idea of developing the app was conceived?

Yes, all these were the things that first came to my mind. For me, I am looking at a situation where my app is user friendly, while trying to address immediate challenges. When developing an app, what quickly comes to mind is the user experience. If an app is difficult to navigate, then it becomes useless to the user, because it is meant to solve challenges and not to add to existing challenges. So a good app must not be complex and must be visually appealing to the user. Above all, it must be able to solve the challenge it is designed to solve. So the BarFinderNaija app comes with achievement, and it is highly engaging and interactive.

There are existing apps that does similar things like the BarfinderNaija App. Do you see your app in competition with those other apps?

Yes, there are several other apps that may look similar to BarFinderNaija App, but do not address the same challenge. Our app is unique and it is designed to solve unique challenges, with focus on recreational and social needs of people.

While other similar apps will do only listing of locations, the BarFinderNaija App goes beyond that, by going further to provide detail contents of the location like the type of food they have, the security system, the in-house musician, and a video clip of the environment. So we are not in competition with others because our product is unique, even though competition is a welcome development in any business.

How can BarfinderNaija App add value to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) business in Nigeria?

It can add value to SME business in several ways because it will expose the business to millions of people who are online, searching for how to address their social needs. It will help them get new customers. SMEs must shift from the traditional method of business advertising through the use of fliers and billboards, or through the use of person-to-person communication, to the use of location based

Local software developers in Nigeria have the challenge of low patronage, because most Nigerians still believe more in foreign developed software than the locally developed ones. Do you see this trend affecting the BarFinderNaija App? It is true that most Nigerians patronise foreign software more than they patronise the locally developed software but this has to do with quality and standardisation of the product in question. Those local software developers that have quality products that meet international standards, are getting patronage, just the same way the majority of foreign software are getting patronage. So when a product is good, with strong security features, the developer do no need to be afraid of low patronage because businesses that are growing with technology advancement, are looking for technology solutions that will address their immediate challenge and that is exactly what we had in mind when we were developing BarFinderNaija App. So our focus is to showcase businesses that have good products that will attract customers to their sites.

How can tourists from within and outside Nigeria benefit from the app?

The app is developed to solve the social and recreational needs of people, and tourists from within and outside Nigeria can find the app very useful because it will help them to know places of attraction, based on their needs and interests and they can find this by using their mobile phones to download the app, or better still, use the web browser to connect to www. barfindernaija.com The federal government is concerned about local content development. What amount of local content is involved in the development of the app?

The app was developed with complete local content initiative. The idea was conceived by me, developed by Nigerians, and financed by me, without having foreign input or partner.

The app is developed, putting the Nigerian factor and challenges, based on the survey we conducted, prior to developing the app, and the app seeks to address Nigerian social needs.

Even the logo was conceptualised in Nigeria, using the Nigerian factor, and the contents, which actually make up the app, are developed within Nigeria to address challenges in Nigeria.

Your app looks appealing and ready to solve government challenges, aside individual challenges. Would you accept to partner government in databasing most government facilities, and be willing to handover the app to government should government indicates interest to buy it off you?

I am very willing to partner government on this and use the app to database most government facilities like hospitals, bus-stops, schools, post offices among others, but I will not be willing to sell it out rightly to government because it is my intellectual property and I have a dream to accomplish with it, which government may not be able to accomplish, if sold out to government.

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E-BUSINESS

Wholesale E-commerce Spectranet Seeks Partnership with Lagos Govt to Boost Transaction Debuts with Internet Penetration Discount Pricing Model In order to deepen internet the Chief Technical Officer, LASIMRA, Bebajide Odekunle, assured from our initial Stories by Emma Okonji Shopsmart, a new entrant into the offline and online retail space in Nigeria, has announced the launch of its discountwholesale pricing platform on www.shopsmartdiscount.com.

Being the first-of-its-kind in Nigeria, the Shopsmart online platform offers discountwholesale pricing model for bulk buyers and end-users of fast moving consumer good brands, electronic and fashion accessories, among other product categories, across Nigeria.

Speaking at the media launch of shopsmartdiscount.com in Lagos recently, the Chief Channel Officer, Shopsmart, Mr. John Ekwueme, said the e-commerce platform would deliver the promise of discountwholesale and value-pricing to bulk buyers and consumers across the country.

“Shopsmart is an online and offline discount-wholesale enterprise; with a Business-toBusiness (B2B) and Businessto-Consumer (B2C) model designed to provide a discountwholesale pricing regime in the retail space for value-pricing benefits to both bulk buyers and end-users of FMCG brands, electronics and fashion accessories. To deliver on the promise of discount-wholesale pricing, we have invested in corporate distributorship rela-

tionships with manufacturers such as Dufil, May & Baker, Promasidor, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, among others,” Ekwueme said.

The strategic partnerships, according to him, would strengthen Shopsmart’s positioning and boosts its capacity to provide deep discounts to all categories of customers. Our objective is to continuously deliver value pricing as a means to sustainable customer satisfaction.

Ekwueme said the e-commerce platform will showcase 90 per cent made-in-Nigeria products and offer a unique discount-wholesale pricing as well as B2B and B2C business model He explained that cooperative societies have been earmarked for special membership cards that will enable them receive group benefits such as: Credit sale (Buy now and Pay Later); Discounts on select hotels and airlines and additional membership discounts.

The General Manager, Foods Division, May & Baker, Valentine Okelu said: “When the Shopsmart value proposition was presented to us, we were excited by its compelling nature.

It is new and innovative, and we want to be part of that story.

As such the decision to partner with Shopsmart was an easy decision for us at May & Baker.”

TECNO Tablet Unveils Latest Droipad 7C Pro The TECNO Tablet Division has launched its latest Droipad 7C Pro that will consolidate stronger push for the top spot in Nigeria tablet and mini PCs market.

The release of Droipad 7C Pro Pad device is an upgrade of the Droipad 7C that was released last year.

The elegant hybrid Pad fuses the computing ability of high-end tablets with topof-the-line Android experience of smart phones to give end users a two-in-one Pad + Phone experience. Speaking alongside key retail partners at a media briefing in Lagos recently, the Marketing Lead, TECNO Tablet Business Unit, Gbenga Oguntade, revealed that the launch of the Droipad 7C Pro was in response to a growing demand by end users for high performance products in the tablet and pad segment.

According to him, “We see a huge opportunity in the tablet and pads segment of the market; it is a largely unattended market with few players pegging product price within the reach of end users who need them the most. In the years ahead, TECNO hopes to control significant market share in the tablet segment of the market, by giving users best quality product at prices they can afford.” Highlighting the key offerings of latest TECNO Droipad 7C Pro, TECNO pad, the Channel Manager, TECNO Tablet Division, Mr. Peter Shi, said the new device will boost MediaTek high performance

MT8321 cortex A7 chipset, Quad-core 1.3GHz CPU plus impressive Mali-400 GPU, “This Pad + Phone matches premium feel with top-of-theline performance,” Shi, said.

The TECNO Channel boss said new TECNO Droipad 7C Pro comes with features that gives it an edge over predecessor Droipad 7C some of which is upgraded internal memory; 16GB ROM up from 8GB and Quad-core processor gives the Droipad 7C Pro twice more processor speed than its Dual core forerunner, the Droipad 7C. TECNO pad Marketing Lead, Gbenga Oguntade, said: “Droipad 7 C Pro comes with powerful in-built antenna technology, what this means you don’t need a headset to enjoy radio programs from your favorite dial. All you need do is just tune in and Droipad 7C Pro will do the rest.”

Also speaking at the launch, TECNO e-commerce partner, JUMIA, reiterated its commitment to delivering satisfaction to a growing customer base by bridging the gap between stock of quality products and the customers surfing the web in search of them.

Brand manager, JUMIA, Fisayo Taiwo, said: “As the largest online retailer in Nigeria, JUMIA is very excited to collaborate with TECNO on the launch of the Droipad 7C Pro. We believe that this product will be another addition to TECNO’s stellar innovations and will appeal greatly to our customers.”

Spectranet 4GLTE, Arun Panda said the presence of LASIMRA would further boost the company’s commitment to promoting best management relationship between it and regulators at both state and federal levels, designed at achieving government’s desire to improve internet penetration in the state and beyond.

The visit, according to Panda, came at a time when Spectranet is planning to start investing in fibre optics cable in the state.

The General Manager,

penetration in Lagos and beyond, Spectranet 4G LTE, an internet service provider, is seeking partnership with the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) towards improving communication and internet penetration in the state.

The partnership is part of the company’s goal to boost internet penetration in the country.

Speaking during the visit of members of the LASIMRA team to Spectranet 4G LTE office in Lagos recently,

said: “Lagos State government is happy with the effort of Spectranet to improve internet penetration in the state, hence the need to visit as well as inspect the Spectranet 4G LTE plans, based on the state’s goal of ensuring that all organisation complies with its rules and regulations.

According to him, the responsibility of LASIMRA among many others is to ensure compliance in the area of infrastructural development.

“Therefore by visiting Spectranet, we have been

communications that they are law abiding.

Odekunle said the visit was also to solidify the relationship between the organisations and to ensure that values are properly exchanged for the benefits of both parties including the consumers and Lagosians.

Spectranet 4G LTE plans to commence the laying of fibre optic cables across the state in specific areas identified and approved by LASIMRA, as part of its goal of improving internet penetration in the state.

COURTESY VISIT

R-L: Members of Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) Mr. Mba Udonsi; Mr. Umar Garba; Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed-Fari’ the Financial Secretary, RIMAN, Mrs. Tayo Adeola; the President of RIMAN, Mr. Jude Monye; Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammad Sanusi II; Member, RIMAN Mr. Ahmad Isa-Dutse; Member, RIMAN, Mrs. Salman Isa, Head Marketing RIMAN, Mrs. Toyin Shittu and the Executive Secretary, RIMAN Victor Olannye, during courtesy visit by RIMAN to the Emir in Kano … recently

Focus Softnet Launches ERP Technology Solution for Organisations Focus Softnet Services Limited, an information technology solution services provider in Nigeria, has unveiled its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) information technology solution services in the country.

ERP is a system that integrates all resources of an organization and provides a link to each department for smooth flow of data, information and knowledge, resulting in increased productivity and efficient processes.

Speaking at a meeting of the company’s management team in Lagos recently, the company’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Emeakpo Moses Uvomata, noted that Softnet was poised to render quality ERP solution to its clients at a cost-efficient and effective manner.

He added that the company would not render any service short of standard quality irrespective of any prevailing unfriendly business environment and harsh economic situation that may be observed at any point in time.

Uvomata said, “As an IT solution provider with over 20 years of experience and multi-domain expertise, Focus Softnet Consulting Services and skillsets are backed by a vast knowledge-base and a keen

understanding of what it takes to run and grow a business.”

“By re-engineering business processes and optimising resources, developing and deploying user-friendly, flexible and cost-efficient industry specific solutions, we back our clients with complete and disciplined strategies for managing their work force globally through our HR services, ranging from sourcing, assessing and providing training and development needs of an organisation’s workforce. Focus Softnet has helped over 30, 000 clients across the globe to increase productivity and efficiency, and run better,” he added. Focus Softnet Services Limited, a baby company of Focus Softnet Group, a multinational organisation with 25 offices across 19 countries, including Nigeria, has been in operation in Nigeria since 2014, having come a long way I international scene, and now with a focus on Nigeria and the West African region.

The company was established with the same focus as its parent company, and has described itself as a supermarket of software with solutions for several sectors of the economy, such as education, healthcare, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, among others.

Smile Communications Expands Network to Kaduna, Onitsha, Asaba Committed to its network expansion to cover all cities by the end of the year, Smile Communications has extended its network to three other cities, designed to avail more Nigerians of its superfast and super reliable 4G LTE internet services.

The cities are Kaduna, Onitsha and Asaba.

With this expansion, Smile has ensured the availability of true 4th Generation Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) broadband service for the inhabitants of these three vital and strategic cities.

Deploying the 4G LTE which is the latest, most advanced and most flexible global technological standard for wireless data communications, and represents a big change when compared to older technologies such as 3G, Smile’s network coverage has remained a great delight to its customers.

Announcing the network expansion, the Chief Marketing Officer, Smile Communications, Alero Ladipo, said: “The network expansion that saw us in three major Nigerian cities almost at a go, reaffirms our belief in Nigeria and our determination to serve Nigerians. Our goal is to provide Nigerian

broadband internet users with speed, quality, reliability and simplicity. Our vision of becoming the broadband internet provider of choice in Nigeria has guided us in everything from selecting our people and partners to choosing the best technologies and creating innovative and relevant products and services.”

Ladipo assured Smile customers in Kaduna, Onitsha and Asaba of unmatched services, saying, “We will continue to share the promise of digital citizenship with millions of Nigerians.”

She disclosed that Smile’s customers in the three cities are already experiencing world-beating speed and quality.

Having launched Africa’s first 4G LTE network in Tanzania in 2012 and operating another successful network in Uganda, Smile started in Nigeria in 2012 with its Ibadan network rollout. Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin City followed in quick succession.

Among other innovations, Smile’s network is designed to be ‘plug and play’, allowing Smile to respond to changing demand patterns by installing fully operational base stations in a matter of days.

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CONSUMER

Salako:Anti-CompetitionPracticesStiflingtheEconomy President of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola Salako, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, argues that anti-competition practices in key sectors of the economy like the telecoms sector as well as the recent increase in prices of goods and services, are signs that Nigerian consumers are getting the short end of the stick. Excerpts: Tell us about the Competition Bill? What does it entail and how far have you gone to ensure it becomes an Act of Parliament?

In a capitalist economy, the driving motivation for participation is profit. So, investors in a capitalist economy have only one goal, which is to make profit. Now, they make profit at whatever cost, they don’t care whose ox is gored. The role of government in a capitalist economy is to put structures in place to ensure some level of orderliness and compliance. Some business advantages are questionable, they are not just fair and the government has a role to play in a free economy to balance the market in such a way that it protects consumer rights.

When government regulates a sector, government is expected to have put checks and balances within that sector to prevent investors, stakeholders or other players in that sector from taking undue advantage of whatever weaknesses or vulnerability there might be in the market place. That is why you find that in economies that are strong and well-coordinated, free economies where people are allowed to play as they want; there are structures that set limits as to how far you can go. And that’s where Competition Bill comes in.

What advantage does such policy conferred on brand owners and government?

The policy is to prevent investors or players in the market from taking undue advantage of that market to benefit themselves alone.

Government has come to realise that when one person owns too much of the market, it stifles growth and other businesses cannot thrive within that same sector; the monopolist takes control of everything and dictates what happens.

If he sneezes, everybody catches a cold. The whole sector is dependent on one business or one player’s activity or action. That frustrates smaller players from coming into the market place. And when those players don’t come into the marketplace, you get a distorted perception of what that market really is. You don’t get to understand how that market can balance because there is no competition. Because nobody is competing with him, he can decide that he wants to make 40% profit and he sets the price to achieve that. And since people don’t have a choice, he is the main guy there. The other guys now take a cue from him because they are trying to survive.

In what way can this encourage business growth?

A country that has a Competition Bill will present the structures to prevent those kinds of activities so that the market is free enough and open for smaller players. For instance, in the telcoms sector, I can decide to operate in Ikeja and be the telecom supplier for that area – there are such telcos all over. I just came back from Houston, and there you have some brands that are localised to Houston or Texas and you don’t hear about them in other areas but they ride on the back of the big players and there is room for them to play. So when there is room for them to participate, they get to employ more people, they are local to the environment, they can provide better and cheaper services because they don’t have overheads that will kill them. All the overhead costs have been borne by the big players and all they do is to latch on to the big players and ride on their network, but you’ve given them room to play. But when the big ones are the ones who own everything, where is the opportunity for the small players? That is what we lack in Nigeria.

President Ibrahim Babangida enacted the Consumer Protection Bill in 1992 but it did not come to effect until 1999 or so and it was a very porous and scanty bill. It wasn’t

a whole lot of people to get behind it, it needs a lot of education for consumers to understand why, and we need this Competition Bill.

It is in the interest of this government to realise that despite all its efforts to make the economy grow, if you don’t have those checks and balances, the efforts might be in vain.

Salako

robust enough. When we began the process of privatisation, government realised that they couldn’t keep running businesses well, they needed to divest from running businesses and focus on their roles as regulators and government.

The first thing we should have done, which (President Olusegun) Obasanjo, didn’t do, was to put in a Competition Bill or law that will protect the whole privatisation process. The government went ahead with the eagerness of the privatisation and now we don’t have Competition Bill.

When (Nasir) el-Rufai was at the BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises) and Oby Ezekwesili (then Head of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit in the Presidency) realised their error and began to backtrack, the Bill started coming up, but this time a lot of people that had invested in this market, started lobbying and working against the Competition Bill.

We have also divested in other areas such as electricity. They have cut that one up such that you can stay in this area, region and so on but it does change the fact that these people can gang up together.

It is generally believed that anti competition practices promote monopoly and which becomes burden for consumers, what is your take?

What the Competition Bill does is that it prevents price fixing, it prevents monopolistic tendencies, and it stops it if you get to start doing acts that can be considered to be monopolistic in nature. The Bill has provisions and guidelines that prevent you from doing that. The government can step in and say no, you can’t do this, if it will hurt the market or the consumer. In the developed world, where two entities want to merge, the government may say ‘no you can’t merge because once you merge, you have the capacity to control the market in a way that will be detrimental to competition, and if that happens smaller players in that sector may be forced out of business because they cannot compete.’ We have to sustain and maintain the marketplace, and we have to keep giving consumers choices.

Now, MTN is buying Visafone. We all know that CDMA is a dying technology. It may be ok to scrap CDMA and deploy 4G LTE but the point is let the process be done in a way that all interested parties have access to the 800MHz spectrum which Visafone had been operating

with so that the spectrum is not offered to only one person whether by way of sale or acquisition. This way competition can be sustained since there will other players providing similar service with the same technology. There can be competition in that case but now, where only one operator has access to Visafone’s spectrum simply because it acquired the company, the market cannot be competitive.

It is also happening in the food industry where Coca-Cola is acquiring Chivita. That is a big error. It looks like good business because the Chivita people are going away with a lot of money but to the market, what does it portray?

It means the soft drink market is shrinking because Coca-Cola has a finger in practically everything. Whatever Coca-Cola wants, they can do. The NGOs pushing the Competition Bill have done a lot of work, consulting and lobbying and we have gotten practically all stakeholders, even the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association who shouldn’t be because they are part of the other people who are causing the competition lacuna. But they see that in the long term interest of the market, it doesn’t pay to encourage monopoly. So they have gotten on board. We have worked on the document, it has been edited, people have made huge input; the draft is beautiful. What we are also looking at is putting forward a Bill that will also help to strengthen consumer protection. The Bill that we have for consumer protection now is very weak.

Competition and consumer protection are much related. So we were looking at government to set up a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Then under the commission, you will have the unit that is competition, the unit that is consumer protection because the end result of competition is consumer protection.

At a point, that Bill had five variants. People have interests and they are fighting the Bill left right and centre.

We have also made contact with the 8th National Assembly, particularly the Speaker who incidentally once sponsored a private member Bill on competition. We got back to him to say now that you are Speaker, leverage this for us.

But he is distracted by so many people. Of course we are not oblivious of those who are benefitting from this no competition, who are lobbying seriously against it. It is a fight that we will keep fighting until we get it. It needs

Are you saying that before MTN acquired Visafone, there should have been an open bidding process?

The issue here is that the acquisition of Visafone in itself is not faulty. What is faulty is the transfer of the spectrum which was treated as a simple asset transfer like shares or property. Spectrum is a critical and scarce national asset and under the Competition Regulations, NCC has an obligation to review transactions that can affect competition, such as this one. That being the case, the spectrum should not have been transferred to MTN under a simple acquisition rather, it should have been retrieved and reallocated or offered to interested operators via a bidding process knowing what the implication will be on competition.

All this is happening this way because there is no law. That is why they will do everything they can to prevent the law from being enacted.

The only way we can get that law passed is if we get pressure on the National Assembly, maybe organise a seminar, educate them on the reasons why you need to treat this law this way and reasons why you need to pass this law.

What are the implications to the subscriber as regards the acquisition of Visafone by MTN Nigeria?

Clearly the acquisition of Visafone would stifle competition such that prices can be dictated; poor quality of service cannot be challenged because there is no choice. Currently there is healthy competition in the data services market with all sorts of offers on data bundles and consumers are benefitting from this because the competition has led to significant drop in the price of data being offered. So if only one out of the four big players has now acquired spectrum that allows it to provide faster and better services, then it means that operator, in this case, MTN can take over the market and those who cannot compete will eventually close shop. What then happens when they leave?

Innovation goes down the drain, you don’t need to come up with enticing bundles and packages anymore because the consumer’s choice is limited. Customer service will no longer be a priority because consumers don’t have that much of a choice, just like in the days of Nitel.

You accept whatever service at whatever price because only NITEL was available. What is important here is that access to spectrum should be for all players because the ultimate beneficiary is the consumer when there is competition.

So, first implication is that the consumers will face the problem of no choice. Remember when NCC was bold enough to begin the Number Portability issue, it actually freed a lot of consumers a bit because, before then you were locked in with a network and you couldn’t move anywhere, no matter how bad their services are because to do so you have to start changing your number which has become part of your identity. If the regulators allow this acquisition to remain, competition would be stifled and before you know it, the consumer who wants the best value for services as a result of the options before him will be disadvantaged because the other players have themselves been disadvantaged by the regulator who has placed them in a position where they cannot compete.

We may then experience migration towards the only available option, which poses a threat to thousands of jobs, frustration for the people and investments will go down the drain.

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BUSINESSWORLD Dubic Celebrates Brand Ambassador, Pete Edochie High-level delegations of fisheries ministries from more than 50 countries are gathering in Agadir for a summit with industry players to discuss emerging governance needs in a sector that provides the world with 17 per cent of its animal protein and developing countries with xpectedly high, reflecting industry interest in complying with sustainability goals. Central to the effort is FAO’s Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing which has now been ratified by 21 nations and is on course to have the 25 national Lager Beer brand, Dubic ‘Nke Anyi’ has celebrated its brand ambassador Pete Edochie, on the anniversary of his 60 year birthday.

To celebrate him, the veteran in the Nigerian movie industry was said to have been presented with special birthday gifts at a colorful celebration at his home in Enugu.

Speaking at the occasion, the Senior Brand Manager, Lager, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Sina Ajiboye, stated that the leading beer manufacturer “is happy to share the joyous occasion with the Nollywood icon.”

He added: “This special occasion gives us and millions

of Dubic ‘Nke Anyi’ consumers the privilege and opportunity of celebrating you on your birthday, it is indeed an honour to celebrate an icon such as yourself today. Your talent and wisdom has paved the way for so many and generations to come will forever be grateful.

We are proud to be associated with you and wish you many more years in good health and prosperity.”

Ajiboye revealed that the celebration underlines the company’s commitment to the partnership between the Dubic ‘Nke Anyi’ brand and the veteran actor. He noted that the brand ambassador has not only demonstrated his commitment to the achievement of the brand’s objectives but is also supporting its vision of becoming the most desired beer brand in the region.

“We recognise and appreciate your contributions to the success and growth of Dubic Nke Anyi in the Eastern region and this is our little way of showing appreciation to an exemplary and dedicated ambassador”, he added. “He said the company will strive to maintain these cordial relations with his ambassador even as it continues to provide quality products to its consumers and also get involved in activities that will delight them”.

CONSUMER ‘More Investment in Facilities will Strengthen Made in Nigeria Goods’ Stories by Raheem Akingbolu Made in Nigeria products will soon become the most preferred goods for consumers, the cting Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, has said. The Director General has also affirmed that the practice of taking Nigeria products to another country and label them another country’s name is over.

Speaking in Lagos on the effort being made to improve locally produced goods, Angya said the organisation vision was to get closer to the people so that their goods and farm

products would be elevated to global standard.

“To ease our work and improve quality of goods and products in Nigeria, we are working to improve expansion of SON facilities across the country so that people in Sokoto, for instance, will not travel to Maiduguri to text their products.”

He said the agency is doing its best to strengthen its laboratories system to ensure that Nigeria products are not rejected in oversea.

“What many of our farmers does before they can take their products to abroad is to first take it to Ghana laboratory for text, once the goods pass

through text in Ghana the products will send to abroad in the name of Ghana and Ghana government will take the glory.”

Meanwhile, the DG has said that henceforth any dealer of fake tyre caught, shall be charged with murder. He said the agency would go extra miles to put an end to importation of used and sub-standard tyre into the country.

Angya said SON mandate is known to everybody who is aware of standardisation but as acting director general he would enforced serious sanction on culpable.

He stated that, SON is going to play along with Federal

Government change mantra, which does not give room for corruption.

He noted that 8,986 accidents were recorded in 2015, while 4,100 were killed and 732 people died as a result of tyre bust.

He urged the tyre dealers to corporate with the organisation by put an end to importation of sub-standard tyre into the country.

“We are ready to eliminate importation of sub-standard products into Nigeria, because of this we have reached out to other government agencies to ensure that we work together and stop the smuggler of fake products into the country, he said.

Stakeholders Seek Implementation of Speed Limiters to Curb Accidents Petroleum Tankers’ Drivers (PTD) association, a subsidiary association of National Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas (NUPENG) has called for implementation of speed limiter installation for vehicles in Nigeria to curtail road accidents.

The association made the appeal after its emergency executive meeting where it reviewed the state of the nation’s roads and the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

The Chairman of PTDNUPENG, Mr. Salimonu Oladiti called on the member

of House of Representatives to reconsider their position to stall the implementation of the safety speed limiters on Nigerian highways scheduled for enforcement take off by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from April 1, 2016.

Oladiti said: “If you consider that the rate of road accidents which has now doubled over the last three years, is largely occasioned by bad speed alone, then it is necessary for something drastic to be done. That is why FRSC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Society of Engineers

(NSE), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) formerly National Automotive Council (NAC) and key stakeholders in the transportation industry embarked on a wide study, and eventually concluded on the suitability of speed limiter installation for our vehicles.

“We want the Honourable House members to show compassion for the carnage of human lives on our roads, and see to allowing this novel initiative work. Our members are breadwinners of their various homes and we have

lost one too many, but some of them who have fitted the devices have been relaying their positive experiences in recent times.”

In the same vein, the President of the Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Ibrahim Kassim Batiya and the leadership of Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have all made unanimous call backing the FRSC speed limiter initiative.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Enhancing Legislative Engagement with SDGs across Africa Abimbola Akosile captures the various vital outcomes of the All African Parliamentary Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which was hosted in Abuja recently by the National Assembly of Nigeria, the ECOWAS Parliament, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign and the African Network of Parliamentarians on the SDGs

T

he All African Parliamentary Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) brought together about 150 participants and around 75 parliamentarians from across national and regional parliamentary institutions in Africa, and took place in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The National Assembly, the ECOWAS Parliament in partnership with the United Nations SDG Action Campaign and the African Network of Parliamentarians on the SDGs hosted the regional parliamentary conference on the SDGs. The Chairman, Committee on the SDGs, House of Representatives, Nigeria and Chairman, Conference Organising Committee, Hon Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, and the Acting Regional Coordinator, Africa UN Millennium Campaign/UN SDG Action Campaign, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna played key roles to facilitate the event, which drew participants from across Southern, West and East Africa.

At the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, which took place at the UN headquarters in New York, USA, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after its expiration on December 31, 2015.

The Abuja forum was based on the belief that effective domestication of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets at national and sub-national levels will depend largely on concrete parliamentary ownership and actions towards enabling legislations, appropriation, oversight and monitoring of the SDGs. The conference was the first gathering of African parliamentarians convened for the sole purpose of discussing parliamentary engagement with the SDGs since the latter were adopted.

It aimed to promote solidarity, cooperation and learning amongst African parliaments to build capacity, promote partnerships and foster parliamentary engagement with the SDGs and to contribute to the process of domestication, institutionalisation, implementation and monitoring of the SDGs at regional, national and sub-national levels in Africa.

Also, the forum was attended by representatives from regional and national parliamentary bodies in Africa, including the Pan African Parliament, the East African Legislative Assembly and the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

Countries that were represented at the conference included Benin Republic, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Kenya, Niger, Uganda, Zambia, Togo, Gambia, Chad, Central African Republic and Swaziland.

African Parliamentarians At the conference, the participants acknowledged that parliaments across Africa have been instrumental in shaping and advancing democratic governance and people-centred development on the continent; They recognised the vital role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in enhancing planning, implementation, monitoring and accountability of interventions in development through legislation and resource allocation as well as through oversight and parliamentary scrutiny of the work of the executive, promoting democratic norms, people-centred governance and development in Africa.

They recalled that one of the main outcomes of the Rio+20 conference of 2012 was the agreement by member States to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which would build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and converge with the post 2015 development agenda.

Participants at the Abuja SDGs conference To the participants, it is imperative that in order to maximise impact of the SDGs post-2015 Agenda, parliamentarians should be actively engaged at the very beginning to ensure familiarity with and support for the agenda as well as coordination of activities of the numerous parliamentary committees and caucuses dealing with issues relevant to the SDGs. They recalled the meeting of African Parliamentarians which convened in Abuja in 2010 resolving to turn the network leading to the launch of African Network of Parliamentarians on MDGs under the theme ‘No Excuses to 2015’ Participants further recalled the resolutions of Abuja conference which took place in Abuja in March 2015 that transformed the African Network of Parliamentarians on MDGs to African Network of Parliamentarians on sustainable development; and that the SDGs will become signposts for advancing and measuring commitments to human, social and economic development.

They noted that the attainment of the targets of the SDGs would advance the focus on achievement in reducing poverty, hunger, inequality and diseases, and noted the need for greater parliamentary cooperation and engagement in framework and agenda setting for the achievement of SDGs. Vital Resolutions As African Parliaments and Parliamentarians, the participants affirmed the mandate given to them by the people of Africa and majority poor citizens to represent them and be their voices in local, national, regional and global affairs.

They further affirmed that as parliamentarians, they have a role to play in ensuring the achievement of the SDGs and prioritising relevant policies and legislations in their respective parliaments.

They resolved to champion the fight against corruption and ensure that there is accountability and transparency in the utilisation of resources allocated, and to facilitate the emergence of legislative and policy frameworks for implementation of the SDGs and ensure national parliamentary briefings and parliamentary motions on SDGs. The participants also resolved to build parliamentary knowledge on SDGs and provide tools for parliamentary engagement; and also to strengthen alliances and create synergies between continental, regional and national parliaments

Abimbola Akosile in SDGs programmes.

Socio-Economic Inequalities On the issue of socio-economic inequalities, the participants affirmed that human rights, human dignity and equity remain at the core of social and economic development in Africa, with the need to ensure strategies and actions to tackle inequality in Africa and the role of stakeholders, parliaments, civil society and private sector.

The participants urged African governments to ensure the incorporation of social inclusion, welfare, economic and social rights in economic development planning and in measuring the impact of economic policies.

They also sought the inclusion of more women in their work and to better address the work on SDGs, with adequate capacity building for parliamentarians on the new development agenda.

The participants also recognised that gender equality ha a catalytic effect on the achievement of inclusive and progressive human development and good governance, and that there is need to harness between gender equality and sustainable development.

Governance and Accountability The participants called on governments in collaboration with their parliaments, both at national and regional levels, to urgently pursue acceleration policies and programmes and strategies in order to ensure that lessons learnt on MDGs can build to achievement on SDGS in Africa.

They expressed belief that the plight of the poor, marginalised and vulnerable should be the basis and remain the centrality of any emerging development framework for the achievement of the SDGs. The participants expressed conviction that institutionalising good and accountable governance remains a major requirement for people-centred development and must be embraced in all development initiatives; and stressed the need for parliamentarians to champion the fight against corruption in various institutions.

Peace, Justice and Inclusivity The participants called upon governments and parliamentarians to link development and peace initiatives as a pre-requisite for peace, and they urged governments and parliaments to develop strategies to ensure good governance that will

promote functioning democracies.

They called upon political leaders to engage in activities that would enhance peace and reduce political and ethnic tensions. They also expressed belief in prioritising and addressing the issue of marginalisation and exclusion of people; that fighting terrorism and violent extremism should be an agenda for all to focus on. They also expressed belief in justice for all, access to justice and independence of the judiciary.

Governance Architecture On the issue of governance architecture, the participants called upon parliaments and governments to create an enabling environment for citizen engagement including advocacy with governments to embrace participation.

They expressed belief in citizen empowerment, building capacity and confidence of citizens to engage in various development initiatives and decision-making processes; and also in supporting citizen feedback mechanism both on and offline to contribute to monitoring and accountability of various programmes to ensure achievements.

Crucial Commitments The participants expressed commitment to urgently work together with their respective parliaments to increase their roles in advocacy, law-making, resource allocation and oversight on the SDGs; and to enhance their role on oversight and representation and bind the executive on their responsibility through quality debate and motions in parliament.

The parliamentarians also committed themselves to urgently prioritise policy and budget support for the implementation of the SDGs and other global and regional bodies on poverty eradication, education, gender equality, health and environment; and to work within their parliaments and their governments to engage effectively in developing programmes and setting the agenda for the implementation of the SDGs. They pledged to combat the challenges on corruption in most countries in Africa and resolved to work with other key stakeholders and development frameworks of engagement with different groups for achievements of the SDGs. The committed to the resolve that parliament should have capacity to generate and analyse their own data; and that parliamentarians should be leaders by example and set the pace for transformative leadership.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT/ISSUESINBOX

Are commercial motorcycles necessary evils?

Will Ban on Commercial Motorcycles Increase or Reduce Crime?

Although commercial motorcycles popularly known as ‘okada’ were banned from major routes in Lagos State and some states recently, the cyclists are returning to these prohibited routes, with resultant effects on crime in the urban centres. This has prompted Lagos to consider a total ban on commercial motorcycles in the state. While some believe the motorcycles provide a viable means of employment or supplementary income for citizens, others insist they aid and abet criminals to rob members of the public. To you, will a ban on the commercial motorcycles help reduce or increase crime?

Abimbola Akosile * The current idea being mooted by Lagos State to outrightly ban motor cycles is a welcome development. Motorcycles have been linked to all the evil things that have been happening in Nigeria from reconnaissance of people’s homes for armed robbery to kidnapping. The worst is the attitude of the majority of illiterate motorcyclists who don’t understand the road signs and continuously ride against traffic, constituting themselves into nuisances. Let them be banned and relegated to rural areas.

- Prof. Kate Nwufo, mni, Abuja * The risk far outweighs the benefits both for the commercial motorcycle riders and citizens.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos * In most cities of Nigeria as at 1990, motorcycle was not known as means of transportation. Okada may have aided crime and road accidents, but it has also brought food to the table of some. While I am not against the ban on motorcycle as a means of transportation, it is my opinion that the government must create an alternative transport system and business /enterprise engagement for those currently into okada transport business, to nip crime in the bud.

- Mr. Okechukwu Ikonne, Ogbor, OkeOvoro Mbaise, Imo State * It is a tricky question.

- Mr. Elue Chibututu, Lagos * The use of commercial motorcycles has increased the crime rate in many parts of the country. Their smooth maneuverability through vehicular traffic, as well as their suitability for use in many bad roads, make them good tools for the swift execution of crimes. The use of this means of conveyance should, therefore, be banned in all urban centres, but be restricted to 6.30 am 6.30pm in rural areas.

- Mr. Neville Kikpoye-Jonathan, President, Abua National Associates, Amalem-Abua, Rivers State

THE FEEDBACK It will increase crime:

5

No, it will reduce crime:

3

Others: 9

9

Radical tip:

Develop rail!

Total no of respondents: 17 Male:

13

Female:

4

Highest location:

Lagos (7)

a ban on ‘Okada’. It is however debatable.

I sincerely see Okada transportation as a connotation of poverty and we should do away with everything that connotes poverty.

Beyond crime, there’s no doubt about the fact that with Okadas off our roads lives have been saved and injuries averted.

- Mr. Leslie Magnus-Lawson, Lagos State * As we all know that this class of people aid crime in our nation, banning them would indeed add to more crime, instead of reducing it. Crime is mostly caused by poverty. The motorcycle commercial operators use their trade to earn a living.

Banning them would add to the millions of unemployed and we would have more criminals.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna State * Yes, a total ban on commercial motorcycles, especially in major cities, will very drastically reduce crime generally. They are directly and indirectly or remotely involved and responsible for kidnappings, robberies, assassinations, pipeline vandalism, murders and ritual, various accidents, reprisal attacks, drugs addiction and breach of public peace e.t.c. They monitor the citizenry and furnish criminals with information that keep them ahead of security. Let them go as they are a big threat or drawback.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State

* I believe the security agencies must do their work.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, OgwashiUkwu, Delta State

* Commercial motorcycles, if totally banned, will increase crime. Let them be banned from major routes.

- Mr. Agada Friday, Engineer, Ikorodu, Lagos State

* I doubt that we’ve ever had a way of measuring crime rate in this country, so we may not be able to strongly point at the fact that crime might be increased or reduced by

* Ban on commercial motorcycles will escalate crime to higher than expected dimension. Throwing those cyclists out of jobs will lead to social economic crises

unnecessarily. Many of our deplorable roads can only be accessed and plied by motorcycles e.t.c. A pocket of manageable incidences here and there are not enough to throw away the baby and the bath water.

After all, we have the laws and security personnel to maintain law and order. Street urchins must be arrested aptly before they turn violent unjustly. Government must retain and update our securities on how to tackle evolving security challenges.

- Ms. Saiki Tina Ometere, Gboko, Benue State * I candidly do not believe a blanket ban on the okada is the way to go. There are people involved in importing these machines. What happens to them? The ban won’t necessarily reduce crime. Please let us seek advice from Mr. Fashola, he solved Lagos State’s molue drivers’ issue.

- Mr. Ekwenjo Iheanyi Chukwudi, BAR, Apo, Abuja * Ban on commercial motorcycles will reduce crime tremendously. They are actively involved in robbery accidents, kidnapping, violent public demonstrations, dangerous overtaking, plying against traffic or one way e.t.c. resulting in loss of lives and consent, police stations e.t.c. and Igbobi orthopeadic hospital abound with evidence of their recklessness.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * I believe before Lagos State government should ban okada riding totally, let them provide the riders with soft landing of jobs creation before riders turn Lagos state into something else. Let the government have a rethink on the ban despite the incidences of robbery and other ungodly acts by the commercial motorcycle riders. Government should give them period of grace to look for other things to do.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Ban on commercial motorcycles will definitely increase crime. When all the operators are thrown out of business and their source of livelihood, they will not just fold their hands. Remember that crimes are also done with cars, legs and hands; must we cut them off to take away something from okada riders? Give them something to hold; create something for them and the problem will not be too much.

- Rev. Eme Charles Dennis, Divine Love Ministries, Agbor, Delta State

* It does check crime, its means of livelihood but there are alternatives. It is not also an ideal mode of commercial transport for becoming a modern nation we are aspiring to be. We must go back to rail simply because of its potential of creating thousands of jobs and possibly hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs. Intercity as well as interstate rail transport is ideal.

Our laws regarding rail should be changed in order to accommodate private sector investment and infrastructure.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Commercial motorcycles should not be banned but their movement and conduct should be strictly monitored and severe sanctions applied on defaulters which will reduce crime. The era of mobile traffic courts in Lagos should be used to curb the excesses of any wayward cyclist. They remain useful to save time and to access unmotorable areas.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: Can Jailing an ExGov Help Curb Corruption in Nigeria?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has for years been prosecuting some former governors who no longer enjoy immunity under the Constitution.

However, not one conviction and sentencing has been secured till date. Some people believe that if just one of these ex-governors is successfully prosecuted and jailed, then it would serve as a huge deterrent to looters and potential corrupt public officials. Do you agree with this assertion or corruption can never end in Nigeria? Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (March 17 & Monday (March 21) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola. akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/ or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, March 24

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

The shame of Apapa, Lagos, caused by oil tankers and trailers

ETOP UKUTT

W’Bank Report: Nigeria’s Booming Population Requires More, Better Jobs Abimbola Akosile Three World Bank reports have revealed that with over 170 million people and a high rate of population growth, Nigeria needs to create 40 to 50 million additional jobs between 2010 and 2030.

The reports, which were unveiled Tuesday in Abuja noted that to reduce poverty and promote more inclusive growth, these jobs need to be more productive and provide higher incomes than the country’s jobs today. The new World Bank reports focus on this challenging agenda.

The first report ‘More, and More Productive, Jobs for Nigeria’ provides a detailed overview of jobs, workers, and employment opportunities, while the second report ‘Understanding and Driving Private Sector Growth in Nigeria’ studies constraints and drivers of firm-level growth and implications for employment.

The third report ‘Skills for Competitiveness and Employability’ examines the demand in priority economic and job growth sectors and how to ensure that Nigerians have the right skills.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Rachid Benmessaoud, said “Understanding where people work, constraints to firm growth, and the skills needed is fundamental for formulating

appropriate policies. The solid, detailed diagnostics in these reports are critical inputs to developing education and jobs strategies for Nigeria.”

The reports show that “two Nigerias” seem to be emerging: one in which high and diversified growth provides more job and income opportunities, and one in which workers are trapped in traditional subsistence activities. The reports also show a geographic divide, with northern Nigeria having low levels of education access and high youth underemployment than the South. Although skills required in Nigeria remain mostly manual, the South is experiencing more demand for the cognitive skills required by the new knowledge economy, the reports noted.

According to the studies, the majority of adult Nigerians are employed but locked into lowproductivity and low-income work, with no job or income security. The studies find that half of working Nigerians are in small-holder farming and another 30 per cent working as self-employed in small or micro household enterprises in the non-agricultural sector.

Their work is not enough to escape poverty, or attain middle class status for their households.

The reports call for attention to key areas for the country’s education, competitiveness, and jobs agenda. Among the

solutions they offer: First, a transition into more productive employment requires more skills. Nigeria needs to improve basic skills levels.

Some 30 per cent of youth have not completed more than primary education.

“Beyond basic skills, better policies and programs would improve access and market relevance of technical vocational education and training. Better job market information and facilitation would strengthen job accreditation and certification and expand opportunities for school-to-work transition. At the same time, informal short programs could help existing workers upgrade skills and become more employable”, a World Bank release noted.

Second, the private sector generates employment but firm growth is too small to absorb a large number of Nigerians. About 4 million microenterprises are capable of generating wage jobs, indicating that the informal sector should not be overlooked in development strategies, it noted.

“The formal sector appears to have an even greater potential to grow and generate employment but is limited by low productivity especially in northern Nigeria. The biggest gains to productivity would come from reducing crime, improving access to credit, reducing losses due to power

outages, and increasing use of the Internet”, the reports added.

“Third, a focus on agriculture is critical, as it will remain the largest employer for the foreseeable future. But there is a dis-connect. Agriculture contributed 22 per cent to GDP in 2012, but employed half of the working population.

“Raising agricultural productivity – incorporating small farmers in value chains,

increasing access to markets, inputs, and technology would both help raise income opportunities for small holder farmers and simultaneously tap into the significant potential for domestic agriculture and agribusinesses in Nigeria.

“Fourth, the reports advocate programs that reduce income volatility over the short term. Safety nets are needed to prevent people from falling into poverty and to protect

economic development over the longer term. A coherent framework and institutional set-up for social safety nets is needed.

“Finally, efforts to identify appropriate employment policies must be based on reliable data and rigorous analysis.

Insufficient and poor quality data is still a constraint in monitoring jobs in Africa’s most populous country”, the release added.

‘Nigeria’s Suffering from Food Insecurity’ Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Professor of Small Ruminant Breeding, Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ayetoro, Ogun state, Prof. Babatunde Taiwo has asserted that among the many challenges confronting Nigeria is the problem of food security.

Taiwo made the remark as guest lecturer at the recent first memorial lecture in honour of Prof. Samson Adedoyin, pioneer Vice Chancellor, Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo state which also featured discourse on Esan development and scholarship award of excellence to deserving students of the institution.

He disclosed that the number of child deaths per year due

to vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria was 82,000 while maternal death was 11,000 beside the enormous loss in productivity by adults.

According to Taiwo whose lecture was titled: ‘Animal Agriculture: A Panacea to Food Insufficiency in Nigeria’, said findings of the Nigeria Food Consumption and Nutrition survey recently showed severe food insecurity in 40 per cent of all households surveyed in all the zones.

The university don explained that when a nation lacks enough food to live on, it means that the nation lacks food security and nutritional security since Nigeria in 2010 alone spent N1.3trillion importing wheat, sugar, rice and fish.

To curb the shortfall in food availability however, the pro chancellor of Samuel Adeg-

boyega university, Elder Bisi Ogunjobi advised that policy makers should refocus the national economy policy from a linear based to a robust agrobased sustainable economy.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ben Aigbokhan in a welcome address stressed that the memorial lecture in honour of late Prof. S.F Adedoyin (19522012) was apt, and that given the swing in the economic pendulum of Nigeria against the continued dwindling crude oil price, the country cannot sustain being a micro-earner for it to cut down on food insecurity.

Aigbokhan said Nigeria can survive acute food insecurity through massive investment in agricultural business and encouragement of SMEs in the agro business chain.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We want to remove all ambiguities and paddings with a view to producing a budget that is in line with constitutional provisions. During the budget defence, a lot of issues based on the padding of the budget, arising from over-bloated overheads and in some instances, cases of over-bloated personnel cost were exposed” - CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATION, SENATOR DANJUMA GOJE, SPEAKING IN ABUJA

House Fret over Increasing Number of Babies, Children in Prisons

2013 report cites 600,000 children Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment Holds First Meeting at UN Abimbola Akosile The High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment has held its inaugural meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is underway this month.

Addressing a room of prominent leaders from government, business, academia and civil society, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the group can collectively lead the charge for women’s economic empowerment.

“Women and girls deserve the same access to quality education, economic resources and political participation as men and boys,” Ban said, noting this is both the global agenda and his own personal philosophy.

Women and girls “must also enjoy the same employment, legal rights, leadership and decision-making opportunities,” he added.

Launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, the Panel is expected to provide recommendations linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on how to improve economic outcomes for women and promote their leadership in driving sustainable and inclusive, environmentally sensitive economic growth, according to UN Women.

The Panel, which is co-chaired by Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis and Simona Scarpaleggia, the CEO of IKEA Switzerland, will produce the first report this September, followed by a final report in March 2017.

According to Ban, the Panel is strategically positions to demonstrate high-level leadership and commitment to realising women’s economic empowerment; to set priorities for accelerating women’s economic empowerment, and to demonstrate how they are already being successfully carried out; and to serve as examples of how government, business, civil society and development partners can join forces for women’s economic empowerment.

Empowerment process for women

The Panel is backed by the UN Women, the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, with support for its work provided by the UK Department of International Development.

Tuesday’s meeting took place on the second

The House of Representatives has expressed worry at the increasing number of babies and children living in prisons and detention centres across the country along with their imprisoned mothers.

The members of the lower House lamented that the sight of toddlers have become a common sight in prisons, as some women go to prison pregnant or take along their children who are too young to be left alone, or they have no one willing to take the children under their care while the mothers serve their sentences.

The House called on the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure that provisions are made for the feeding and welfare of babies born in prison and toddlers living with their incarcerated mothers.

It also called on the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to help ensure the speedy trial of pregnant women and nursing mothers who are in jail awaiting trial.

The resolutions of the House followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion (Edo PDP) who noted that the situation can be emotionally stressful for the mothers and the children.

Omosede cited the 2013 Report of the African Union on the Rights and Welfare of the Nigerian Child which noted that 600,000 children were in Nigerian prisons. Some of the mothers went to jail while pregnant, and gave birth, she noted.

Many children in such circumstances have died in jail for lack of adequate care, she said. “The sight of unkempt looking babies in our prisons shames our sense of decency and strips us of our dignity as a nation,” Igbinedion added.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba (Kaduna APC) said it is necessary to investigate reports of female convicts getting pregnant while in prison.

“It is an indication that some serious activities are taking place within the prison environment, or what else can be the explanation? We have to look in that direction,” he said.

Presiding, Speaker Yakubu Dogara directed the Committees of Interior and Women Affairs to monitor compliance with the resolutions and report back for further legislative action.

www.un.org

day of the CSW, the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The priority theme for the 60th session is women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development.

Kids need adequate care

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UN MILLENNIUM CAMPAIGN / UN SDG ACTION CAMPAIGN

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Acting Features Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Tackling Diabetes Head On With over 12 million Nigerians said to be diabetic, and several others suffering from complications arising from the disease, Martins Ifijeh writes on the need for stakeholders and government to scale up efforts against the scourge, while the citizens adopt a healthy lifestyle

I

t is no longer news that Nigeria has the highest number of diabetics in sub-Sahara Africa, with over 12 million persons estimated to be suffering from the non-communicable disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Diabetes and Diabetes Association of Nigeria.

But what seems to be the news is that over 80 per cent of those diabetic in the country are either not aware they are suffering from the disease or they are unable to treat themselves and be free from the disease.

This is evident in the steady rise of diabetes, diabetes-related complications or deaths recorded in the country, living most sufferers at the mercy of the disease, since they are neither aware of the disease or are unable to receive treatment.

Over the past 30 years, the prevalence rate of the disease was said to be 0.4 per cent among the Nigerian population; in 1992, it rose to 1.6 per cent; in 2004 it was 3.1 per cent, and just recently, it has risen above 4.5 per cent, according to a survey conducted

by Osuntokun et al.

In 2015 alone, about 120,000 Nigerians were said to have lost their lives to the disease; which may, if recent predictions are relied on, become the number one cause of deaths in the country among other non-communicable diseases, thereby topping the chart, as against cardiovascular diseases currently leading the causes of deaths occasioned by NCD. But experts are of the opinion that the steady rise of the disease in the country is associated with lifestyle changes; overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, dietary changes and cigarette smoking- factors that are potentially modifiable, adding that if nothing was done both on the part of the citizens and the stakeholders, the disease may spiral into a national health emergency that would take more lives out of their prime; a disease they have noted was partly preventable.

Diabetes, the most common disorder of the body’s hormonal system, occurs when blood sugar levels consistently stay above normal, thereby unable to let the body cells receive glucose due to lack of insulin to drive the glucose into the body cells or lack of the cell receptors to recognise insulin, and then utilise its function. Glucose is an essential source of energy for the brain and the body. Insulin is one of the main hormones that regulates blood sugar levels and allows the body to use sugar (called glucose) for energy.

An Endocrinologist and Medical Director of Royal Rose Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr. Temitope Fatade, said though there were two major types of diabetes; the Type 1 and the Type 2 diabetes, one of them was 100 per cent preventable with healthy lifestyle, including, exercise, good nutrition, weight management plan, among others, while the Type 1 diabetes was caused by the body’s auto-immune system, destroying the insulinmaking cells of the body.

He said the Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly in adulthood, as it is progressive and can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise, but more often may require anti-diabetic medicine and/or insulin injections.

“The Type 2 diabetes is preventable with healthy diets, exercise, weight management, cigarette smoking factors, obesity, alcohol consumption, among others,” Fadade said, noting that, it occurs mostly around or above 40 years of age.

According to him, the Type 1 diabetes occurs majorly at childhood, or adolescence, but could still occur at any stage of life. “People with this type of diabetes will be required to take insulin all through their lives, since their bodies does not produce insulin at all.

He explained that majority of diabetic Nigerians were dying from the scourge because

Blood sugar monitor

they were either ignorant about the disease, or were unable to receive proper treatment and management plan, which could reverse the disease, in cases of Type 2 diabetes, and then help in managing a Type 1 diabetic person all through lifetime, thereby aiding in saving lives of diabetic persons in the country.

He called on stakeholders and the government to put measures in place to educate Nigerians on the need to be aware of their sugar level status, as this would be a major step in managing the disease, if they eventually have it.

Fatade explained that the best way government can scale up efforts against the scourge was to subsidise the cost of insulin injections, which he noted that poor diabetic Nigerians would be unable to afford, thereby contributing to the high mortality rate of the disease among Nigerians.

“The cost of treating diabetes in the country

Insulin injection is about N15,000 for a single dose, and a diabetic person needs three doses a week, which is N45,000. One then wonders how the country expects the low and medium income earners in the society to afford insulin injection?

is very high. “Insulin injection is about N15,000 for a single dose, and a diabetic person needs three doses a week, which is N45,000. One then wonders how the country expects the low and medium income earners in the society to afford insulin injection? The truth is, more than 80 per cent of diabetic Nigerians will not be able to afford the cost of treatment,” he added.

Also lending her voice to the fight against diabetes in Nigeria, the Medical Advisor, Novartis Pharm Services, Dr. Chinwe Adebiyi, explained that on the average, there were about 105,091 deaths per year in Nigeria due to diabetes, adding that a diabetic person spends about $137 monthly on treatment of diabetes. (That is about N43,000).

While stating that the country has about two million people with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, she called on Nigerians to imbibe the culture of medical check-up at regular basis, as that could help in minimising the prevalence of other diseases apart from diabetes.

Adebiyi, added that there were three main treatment options for the management of the disease. “Healthy lifestyle plan, which is one of the treatments, is a double-edged solution because it is not just for the treatment of diabetes alone, it can also serve the preventive purpose. A person who exercises, eat healthy foods, does not smoke or drink, and have a normal body weight will most likely not be at risk of the disease.

Other treatment options, according to her include oral hyperglycemic drugs (biquanides, sulfunylure23, thiazolidinedione, Di-peptidylpeptidase) and then insulin administration, which is usually given to people whose body does not produce insulin.

According to the initiator of Diabetes Help and Enlightenment Campaign, Mrs. Aisha Bukar Alli, in an earlier interview with the media, said everybody must be concerned about the disease because it seems everyone has someone in their families who is diabetic.

Alli, who was diagnosed of diabetes several years ago, and has been living with it since then, explained that what has been helping her was the fact that she accepted the disease and has been managing it well through lifestyle modifications, healthy living,

exercise, among others.

She advised diabetic people to accept and admit, as this would form the first step for them to manage it.

“Be the doctor of yourself in the sense that you have to listen to your body. When your sugar is shooting high, you must know the sign. Find out what you have eaten that has made your sugar to go high. Also, I will advise that you have your meter and strips that will help you check your blood sugar level every morning or before you sleep,” she explained.

Like other advocates against the scourge, she called on the government to support people with diabetes, as the disease was difficult and expensive to maintain.

“In this country, the rate at which people are becoming diabetic is alarming. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), every few second, a patient dies of diabetes. If it is that alarming, there is need for government to pay some attention to it. The diabetic patient needs a lot of governmental support the same way HIV patients have gotten attention.

The medication of a diabetic patient is very expensive. A diabetic patient needs a very regular medical attention for him or her to live healthy in the society,” Alli stressed.

She also called on the government to dedicate a ward or unit in every public hospital to diabetes management. “This is how it is in Cameroon and South Africa.

They have a National Diabetic Centre which is well equipped to take care of diabetic patients.

There, they see patients on time and detect the risk early. So, we need the government to provide these kinds of centres in public hospitals or even the National Hospital or anywhere in the country for diabetic patients.

“Apart from that, we wish the government could subsidise drugs for diabetic patients like they do for HIV patients. They HIV patients have drugs which, is almost free but is not the same for diabetic patients and it is equally dangerous and fatal. So, we are expecting the government to prioritise the issue of diabetes management and care, and subsidise the drugs and insulin, and make meters and strips available to people at the grassroot,” she said.

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HEALTH MATTERS

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

HEALTH&LIFESTYLE NEWS goketakinrogunde@gmail.com

I

HEALTH NEWS

By Goke T. Akinrogunde 07036777348; 07029126776

Giving Measles Vaccination a Priority

had an interesting conversation with a colleague, who works on the top with one of the bilateral health-related organisation in Nigeria on his take on the recent epidemic of an unknown febrile illness which broke out in a location in urban Lagos, claiming the lives of many children within few days. It remain scandalised that this sudden outbreak of an illness later confirmed to be Measles can occur in the most urban state in the country. This is especially so in a state which prides itself as having the highest penetration of routine immunization (against measles and its likes) in the country.

My friend, a public health physician by training, with wide knowledge base on childhood health conditions is a blunt but hidden talker (by reason of his engagement by the bilateral organisation and the diplomatic essence of a ‘careless talk but truthful observation’ on health).

So for obvious reason, he requested that he can be heard but not be known.

I asked: what’s is your take on the killer fever disease, later confirmed to be Measles? I am referring to the Lagos incident His reply: “I am embarrassed. Normally, Measles has a case definition and should have been top on their list. Fever with rash plus/minus conjunctivitis in a child should be considered measles in Nigeria until proven otherwise.

“But the real challenge is the poor herd immunity such an outbreak signifies in a state that prides itself as the center of excellence”.

And I should add that this is quite worrisome especially for those of us parents whose children abode in Lagos.

In view of the aforementioned, we take another look at Measles; that troubling harsh rashes in children. Among all childhood illnesses, Measles is one highly infectious illness caused by a virus (the measles virus) that is commonly encountered every now and then. Viruses are very small microbes that are much smaller than bacteria and not affected by antibiotics.

The measles infection is spread by droplets from upper respiratory tract of infected patient 2-4 days before and 2-5 days after the rash first appears. The infection has a 1-2 week incubation period i.e. the period between the time of infection and the manifestation of the disease in an infected child.

Measles usually begins like a bad cold, the child then develops fever and a rash. The child always feels miserable and may be unwell for a week or so with a bad cough and a high temperature. Complications occur in some cases.

Worldwide measles is responsible for > 1 million deaths often due to complications arising from pneumonia and other chest infections as secondary bacterial infections.

Measles is much more serious than many people think. In fact, of all childhood infections, it is the one most likely to cause a serious complication called encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, sometimes resulting in brain damage.

It can also cause convulsions, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to

A child with measles

long-term lung troubles. Each year a number of children die from measles. In developing countries, including Nigeria, it is a major cause of childhood death, particularly in the previously unvaccinated children.

Symptoms of Measles The outcome of the disease varies from mild (usually the case in the well-fed child) to severe (usually in the malnourished or immunosuppressed patient). However, severe measles can occasionally present in a previously healthy child and particularly in young adults who have not been vaccinated or exposed to the virus naturally.

Prodrome This is the disease course before the appearance of the rash, it last 2-4 days with persistent fever, runny nose, redness of the eyes (mild conjunctivitis), Koplik’s spots and diarrhoea.

Koplik’s spots appear on the child’s mouth as small, red spots each with a white speck in the centre.

The summary of how the disease evolve and the symptoms of the illness is as follows: Unremitting fever (high body temperature), sore eyes (conjunctivitis), and runny nose usually occur first.

Small white spots usually develop inside the mouth a day or so later.

A harsh dry cough is usual.

Poor appetite - going off food, tiredness, and aches and pains are usual.

Diarrhoea is common.

Vomiting is not unusual A red blotchy rash normally develops about 3-4 days after the first symptoms.

The rash has the characteristic of both flat-

tened – skin decolorizing and small pimples-like, what is medically referred to as maculopapulary rash. It usually starts on the head and neck, and spreads down the body. It takes 2-3 days to cover most of the body. The rash often turns a brownish colour and gradually fades over a few days. The rash may be accompanied with itching.

Affected children are usually quite unwell and miserable for 3-5 days.

After this, the fever tends to ease, and then the rash fades. The other symptoms gradually ease and go.

Most children are better within 7-10 days. An irritating cough may persist for several days after other symptoms have gone.

Some people mistake rashes caused by other viruses for measles. Measles is not just a mild red rash that soon goes. The measles virus causes an unpleasant, and sometimes serious, illness. The rash is just one part of this illness.

The child’s immune system makes antibodies during the infection. These fight off the virus and then provide lifelong immunity. It is therefore very rare to have more than one attack of measles in the lifetime of an individual.

Complications Of measles The ‘usual’ and expected course of a measles attack enumerated above in terms of symptoms and signs may not be resolved after the estimated 7-10 days in a smaller percentage of children.

Other super-imposed infections like bacteria and fungi sometimes complicate the viral infection.

This can results in much more serious and lifethreatening illness. Some of these complications are mentioned below.

Otitis media – this is ear infection (of the so-called middle ear) that causes severe earache,

it can come as a complication in measles. If otitis media is poorly treated, it can become a focus of infection for tetanus, which is a potential killer disease.

Febrile convulsion (fit) occurs in about 1 in 200 cases of measles, this can be alarming but full recovery is usual.

Infections of the airways such as bronchitis and croup are common. These are distressing but are not usually serious.

Pneumonia (lung infection) is a serious complication that sometimes develops. Typical symptoms include fast or difficult breathing, chest pains, and generally becoming more ill.

Brain inflammation (encephalitis) is a rare but very serious complication of measles. It occurs in about 1 in 5000 cases.

It is believed to be a neuroallergic process, which is saying that it is a kind of allergic reaction in the brain. It carries a 10-15% mortality rate with 25% children having permanent brain damage. It typically causes drowsiness, headache, and vomiting which starts about 7-10 days after the onset of the rash. Encephalitis may cause brain damage. Some children die from this complication.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis – occurs in 0.1-1.4/million children infected. It occurs 5-10 years after apparently normal measles, although it can occur at an early age, with disturbance in intellect and personality, behavioural disorders and worsening school work. This is followed by seizures, signs of Parkinson-like disease and finally decerebrate rigidity and death.

This condition is untreatable..

Squint : this is a condition where the two eyes are not aligned; the condition is thought to be more common than usual in children who have had measles. This is thought to be due to the virus affectation of the nerve or muscles to the eye.

Complications are, however, more likely in children who are yet to get the measles vaccine, those with a poor immune system (such as those with leukaemia or HIV/AIDS), and in those who are malnourished. This is one reason why measles is still a major problem in poorer countries.

Treating Measles Treatment is mainly supportive since the commonly available antibiotics do not kill the measles virus. Treatment is aimed towards easing the symptoms until the body’s immune system clears the infection.

This is achieved by following the protocol below: Keep the child cool. Cold wet cloth wipe and cold showers help with keeping down the temperature.

The child is encouraged to drink a lots. Ice lollies/creams are a useful way of giving extra fluid and keeping cool.

Give Paracetamol liquid or suppositories (PANAGREEN) regularly to ease fever and aches and pains. Ibuprofen syrup is an alternative.

Cough remedies have little benefit on the cough.

Antibiotics do not kill the measles virus, and

One-on-One Can I Reach Menopause at 39 Years Old? Re: Signs and Symptoms of Menopause I read through your article in THISDAY Newspaper on the above subject and I will like to share my concern with you.

I’m 39yrs old and have got 3 children aged13,9 and 4; my menstrual cycle (if I can recall) has ever been irregular, I never had a predetermined cycle, short menstrual days and low blood flow are the norms for me. I never got the hang of ovulation etc.

I have not had any menstrual period in 4yrs, maybe occassional bleeding once in a while.

I would like an explanation to this and to know if its early menopause.

Thank you.

Regards

Solape Dear Solape, You case sounds very interesting and understandably worrying in respect of your reported irregular menstrual cycles.

On the other hand, I think it is rather comforting that there is no accompanying complaint of inability to conceive associated with this long-standing regularly irregular menstrual cycle.

The opposite seems to be the case with you as your ‘well-spaced’ 13, 9 & 4 respective ages of your kids show; this is because the medical import of most similar complaints

is commonly related to cases of infertility.

Generally speaking, it is not common for women of 39 years old to be post-menopause, but it can happen depending on when your first flow occurred.

You are correct to have noted that where this is ascertained to be so, it is medically referred to as ‘premature menopause’.

It is premature menopause to the extent that the woman’s last menstrual flow has occurred more than 12 month ago in a woman less than 40-45years old, depending on the relevant medical history. The true status can actually be confirmed with the benefit of appropriate blood test in women less than 45 years of

age, who have not seen their menses for more than one year.

A typical profile is noted with fertility hormonal test in such woman.

In your case, however, your menstrual flow would have to ceased completely for one year, without any minor break whatsoever, before you start getting yourself worry in the first instance that you are post-menopause.

My candid advice is for you to opt to see your doctor to counsel appropriately on the aforementioned tests and other clinical investigations as necessary.

Best wishes.

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THURSDAY MARCH 17, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump, Clinton Win Big as Rubio Drops out

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won pivotal primaries yesterday, while Governor John Kasich’s long-awaited debut victory in his home state of Ohio raised the chances of a historic GOP convention fight. A humiliating loss on home ground in Florida, meanwhile, ended the White House dreams of Sen. Marco Rubio, who was once hailed as a Republican Party savior.

Clinton took big strides toward the Democratic nomination by winning Florida and North Carolina.

And in crucial victories, she stopped Bernie Sanders in his tracks in the industrial Midwest by taking Ohio and Illinois.

The Republican Party, meanwhile, veered closer to a contested convention after Kasich held his own state and deprived Trump of its 66 delegates. That makes it more difficult for the billionaire to reach the 1,237 delegates he needs to capture the GOP prize.

Trump did, however, prevail in the biggest contest of the night, taking all of Florida’s 99 delegates.

That resounding win helped force Rubio out of the race after failing to win his

own state and unite the Republican establishment against Trump. The real estate tycoon also won primaries in Illinois and North Carolina.

The drama is still unfolding in other key races.

Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are locked in a tight battle for Missouri. And Clinton is still hoping for a sweep, with votes still being counted in the close race with Sanders in Missouri.

Vote counting was completed for the night in Missouri with both Clinton and Trump clinging to tight leads of less than half a percentage point, but CNN will not project a winner in either contest as the margin of victory in each case is less than 1 percentage point.

Trump was already looking forward to the general election as he urged party unity amid growing speculation about the potential for a convention fight. “We have to bring our party together,” he said. “We have to bring it together.”

Still, GOP leaders may now look to Kasich as their final chance to unite behind a candidate who could challenge Trump in

the event of a contested convention. “We are all very, very happy,” Kasich told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in a telephone interview.

According to CNN estimates, Trump needs to win about 60% of the remaining delegates available in the GOP race -- a goal complicated by the fact that some states award delegates on a proportional basis, rather than doling out their entire hauls to the winner, as is the case

in Ohio and Florida.

But it’s unclear how Kasich, a contender who has won only one state and who has been labouring in obscurity for much of the race, can overtake Trump, who has now won 18 states and is far ahead in the delegate race.

The billionaire, who has harnessed the anger of grass-roots Republicans against party elites, is responsible for destroying the campaigns of

some of the GOP’s most imposing personalities -- all of whom were once considered strong White House contenders, including Rubio, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie.

On the Democratic side, Clinton has won the Illinois, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio primaries -- crucial victories that bolster Clinton’s claim that she is her party’s only candidate who can win diverse states that will

be pivotal in the November general election.

Her win in North Carolina completed her sweep of Southern states, where she has enjoyed strong support from African-American voters.

“We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Pa r t y n o m i n a t i o n a n d winning this election i n N ov e m b e r,” C l i n t o n said in a victory speech i n We s t Pa l m B e a c h , Florida.

Belgium Names Deceased Gunman, Arrests Two Suspects Belgian authorities have identified the gunman killed in a raid targeting suspects in the Paris attacks as a 35-year-old Algerian, saying police had detained two others while finding an Islamic State flag at the scene.

Investigators believe much of the planning and preparation for the November 13 shooting and bombing rampage in Paris that killed 130 people was conducted in Brussels by young French and Belgian nationals, some of whom fought as militants in Syria.

On Tuesday, six Belgian and French police officers arrived to search a flat in a Brussels suburb and came under a barrage of automatic weapons fire through a door from at least two people barricaded inside, injuring four officers.

A special forces sniper shot dead gunman Mohamed Belkaid when he tried to fire at police from a window, prosecutors said. They said a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a book on Salafism, a radical branch of Islam, were lying next to Belkaid’s body, and that

he had been living illegally in Belgium though was known to police only for a case of theft in 2014.

The apartment in southern Brussels also contained a large cache of ammunition and an Islamic State flag, investigating prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said.

Investigators were holding a man admitted to hospital near Brussels with a broken leg that required surgery. The person who brought him to hospital fled as local police arrived. Another suspect was

detained for questioning after a further house search near the scene of the shooting.

Prime Minister Charles Michel summoned security and intelligence chiefs for an emergency sitting of Belgium’s national security council on Wednesday to review the country’s level of alertness and possible extra measures. “The threat remains,” Michel told RTL radio, adding that for now Belgium would be on the second highest alert level of three.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Experts Provide Recipe for Nigeria’s Economic Growth Obinna Chima The Chief Executive Officer, TGI Group of Companies, Christian Wessel, has advised the federal government to increase its focus on the education sector in its bid to drive local production.

According to Wessel, if Nigeria actually believes that supporting local production is the way to go, governments at all levels must drive education.

He said this at the Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria’s (RMB) yearly economic breakfast meeting held in Lagos on Monday.

Wessel further pointed that encouraging the local manufacturers all over the world goes along with renewed efforts to develop the education sectors.

“Nigeria has over the last years collapsed actually in the Ease of Doing Business. But i was pleased that the Minister of Trade and Investment recently said improving the Ease of Doing Business is one of his priorities.

I don’t believe that it is only foreign exchange scarcity that is Nigeria’s problem.

“I also believe the cost and time that it takes to establish and run a business has negative impacts on domestic production.

There are smaller countries in Africa that have improved Ease of Doing Business. In Nigeria, both public and private sectors also need to increase efficiency.

Everything here seems to be difficult, things are time are time consuming and resource allocation is so inconsistent,” Wessel added.

In his contribution, the Chief Executive Officer and Regional Head, West Africa, RMB, Mr. Michael Larbie, urged government to develop a roadmap that would help address infrastructure challenges across all sectors in the country.

“We need structural changes in our institutions and ministries.

It is important that performance scorecard is established for

various ministries. It is also important that feedback or monitoring mechanism is implemented.

“For instance, the works department is responsible for registering companies, and there should be a target or quota like how many companies they supposed to register within a period of time.

“If somebody submits documentation for registration, how long should you turn it around?

We need to give ourselves standard. We need to set targets and ensure we meet up to the target. If it’s two weeks and if after two weeks, it has not being done, there should be a good explanation,” Larbie added.

Also, the Managing Director, Grame Blaque Advisory, Zeal Akaraiwe called for a long-term economic plan to help address Nigeria’s challenges, even as he cited the challenges posed by foreign exchange scarcity in the country.

NEPC Targets $100m Non-oil Sector Revenue The Executive Director/ CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, yesterday said Nigeria’s non -oil sector is expected to generate about $100billion export earnings in the next 12 years.

The NEPC boss said this at the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar titled: “Exporting for Growth: Opportunities in Non-oil Export,” that took place in Lagos yesterday.

He disclosed that the federal government has a ‘Zero Oil Plan’ whose aim is to systematically replace oil as the major national foreign exchange earner from

$8 billion in 2019, $25billion in 2025, and eventually between $70-100 billion in the next 12 years.

According tohim, as part of strategy to boost the non-oil revenue, NEPC has implemented rigorous screening criteria to map out the most promising non oil export sectors for Nigeria which would be reviewed periodically.

According to him, sectors to replace Nigeria’s crude oil exports must be carefully selected, to ensure that sufficient income can be earned to replace lost national revenues within a reasonable investment cycle.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank, Mr. Peter Amangbo expressed the commitment of the bank to build non-oil export service excellence in the trade and investment sectors, as a means to enhance the performance of the economy as it seeks recovery, stability and growth.

He stated that Nigeria was facing urgent task of improving its Balance of Trade (BoT) by focusing on the non-oil exports following the sharp drop in oil prices. But Amangbo stated that increasing the country’s non-oil exports will help the Nigerian economy out of it present challenge.

Emefiele, Enelamah Discuss Dollar Supply Nume Ekeghe with agency report The Nigerian Trade and Investment Minister Okechukwu Enelamah and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele are discussing ways to ensure supplies of foreign exchange to manufacturers in the West African nation as the plunge in oil prices constricts dollar inflows.

“My minister is engaging with the central bank governor and other key stakeholders to ensure that the interests of manufacturers are taken care of” in the provision of foreign exchange, director of trade at the ministry of industry, trade

and investment, Omotara Awobokun, was quoted by Bloomberg to have said in an interview.

“I am sure a lot of suggestions and initiatives are on the table,” she said in the commercial capital, Lagos.

She declined to specify what options are being considered before the government completes its proposals.

The Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria proposed to the central bank in February that it sell dollars directly to the industry group’s members at weekly auctions, bypassing commercial lenders.

The plan is an attempt to counter a shortage of foreign

exchange and to save jobs, vice president of the association, Ali Madugu had said in an interview.

Nigeria derives about twothirds of government revenue from oil, which slumped to a 12-year-low this year.

Authorities have rationed dollars and brought interbank foreign-exchange trading to a halt since February last year in a bid to prevent the naira falling. The measures have all but pegged the currency at N197-N199 per dollar. As dollars have become more scarce; the black-market exchange rate has plummeted, reaching N324 per dollar on Tuesday, according to Lagos-based Everdon Bureau de Change.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2014 Broad Money (M2)

16,696,663.77

-- Narrow Money (M1)

6,678,249.30

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,231,005.96

---- Demand Deposits

5,447,243.34

-- Quasi Money

10,018,414.47

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,183,427.14

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

9,513,236.63

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

16,353,454.75

---- Credit to Government (Net)

-1,755,121.92

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

419,550.98

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,174,672.91

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,108,576.68

--Other Assets Net

-6,840,218.12

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,068,556.90

--Currency in Circulation

1,577,889.36

--Banks Reserves

3,490,667.54 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.1141

N13.5095

GTB, MoneyGram Unveil New Product

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.9978

N297.7112

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.6462

N23.3290

Nume Ekeghe

ARM Money Market Fund

The Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) and MoneyGram yesterday announced the launch of a new fund receive service across the network of the commercial bank.

This service will be available through MoneyGram’s cash to account service. With the new service, customers in Nigeria can now receive money from friends and family in 200 countries and territories directly into their

personal GTBank accounts within minutes. These funds can be accessed as customers would normally do on all deposits into their accounts either in person, online or through an ATM. MoneyGram CEO, Alex Holmes and GTBank’s Executive Director, Wale Oyedeji, made the announcement during a signing ceremony in Lagos.

“Remittances are crucial to Nigeria’s economy. Nigerians living abroad sent more than

$21 billion back into the country in 2015,” Holmes said.

He added: “MoneyGram’s account deposit service makes it easy and convenient for both the sender and the receiver to transfer and receive funds. We are pleased to work with GT Bank and we are proud to be connected to almost 1.5 billion bank accounts in five of the world’s largest remittance receive markets — Nigeria, China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.”

13.1161 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 16 MARCH 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $33.69 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $34.74 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Murban (UAE), Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

47

T H I S D AY • thurSDAY, mArch 17, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

16-Mar-16 15-Mar-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

162.00

164.00

-1.22%

2,760,562,199,610.00

10.91

11.40

5.53

5.63%

3.38

02 Nigerian Brew. Plc.

96.05

93.00

3.28%

761,590,140,292.40

5.37

17.72

2.73

4.73%

4.42

03 Nestle Nigeria Plc.

680.00

690.00

-1.45%

539,006,251,360.00

24.20

29.04

4.10

3.91%

11.94

04 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

16.40

16.20

1.23%

482,671,339,273.60

3.67

4.33

1.90

9.12%

1.17

05 Zenith Bank Plc

12.35

12.83

-3.74%

387,746,698,257.10

3.34

3.88

1.12

13.47%

0.71

06 Lafarge Africa Plc.

84.05

85.50

-1.70%

382,839,497,130.50

8.64

9.26

1.77

4.13%

1.85

293.23

293.23

0.00%

381,926,533,832.69

5.18

59.85

2.96

1.29%

8.78

15.45

16.26

-4.98%

283,500,566,271.75

1.39

11.12

0.55

4.00%

0.76

09 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd.

351.00

350.00

0.29%

194,211,919,863.00

94.70

2.49

0.96

6.78%

0.63

10 Guinness Nig Plc

109.50

112.79

-2.92%

164,894,756,586.00

6.24

19.60

1.64

0.00%

3.78

15.50

15.30

1.31%

155,000,000,000.00

2.65

5.29

1.18

0.71%

1.25

12 FBN Holdings Plc

3.67

3.73

-1.61%

131,735,724,546.64

2.39

1.66

0.36

25.19%

0.25

13 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.60

3.74

-3.74%

130,606,294,759.20

1.44

1.94

0.37

17.86%

0.31

28.05

28.06

-0.04%

106,121,459,812.50

0.93

32.52

1.93

4.12%

15.86

4.51

4.58

-1.53%

103,201,964,275.08

1.97

2.08

0.44

8.54%

0.27

16 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

25.00

24.70

1.21%

99,261,926,125.00

1.10

19.09

1.15

6.21%

1.98

17 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

151.59

154.00

-1.56%

97,107,093,127.17

11.12

15.97

1.46

1.24%

4.74

18 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

6.31

6.01

4.99%

75,720,000,000.00

1.11

5.30

0.70

8.46%

1.44

19 International Breweries Plc.

18.50

19.05

-2.89%

60,943,611,680.00

0.64

30.59

3.48

1.28%

5.34

159.95

159.95

0.00%

57,677,212,156.90

11.22

12.52

0.62

4.27%

3.42

41.50

41.50

0.00%

54,780,000,000.00

6.00

7.25

0.26

6.21%

2.25

4.36

4.82

-9.54%

52,470,938,377.84

0.50

7.80

0.08

19.23%

0.30

19.24

19.29

-0.26%

50,490,323,477.88

1.84

10.77

0.16

10.09%

0.51

142.95

142.95

0.00%

48,534,646,599.15

12.41

11.48

0.21

6.32%

3.92

25 Sterling Bank Plc.

1.62

1.70

-4.71%

46,640,477,364.12

0.26

6.80

0.52

14.04%

0.07

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

1.09

1.14

-4.39%

42,205,887,193.25

0.02

51.43

1.18

4.07%

0.51

27 U A C N Plc.

20.02

20.95

-4.44%

38,455,705,027.74

3.62

5.25

0.46

9.21%

0.52

28 Presco Plc

34.25

34.25

0.00%

34,250,000,000.00

3.28

10.37

2.99

0.29%

1.52

29 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.18

1.20

-1.67%

34,190,260,487.14

0.23

5.43

0.29

11.20%

0.20

30 Diamond Bank Plc

1.40

1.35

3.70%

32,424,544,555.20

1.05

1.68

0.21

17.05%

0.18

31 Wema Bank Plc.

0.82

0.83

-1.20%

32,380,466,034.66

0.00

24.86

0.63

0.00%

0.85

32 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

17.20

17.20

0.00%

32,305,075,088.00

3.21

5.92

1.06

6.84%

3.45

33 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

31.50

31.50

0.00%

30,048,165,000.00

2.25

13.58

3.28

3.28%

1.18

34 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

24.98

24.98

0.00%

29,872,994,670.24

2.05

11.90

0.97

5.33%

2.29

35 Cap Plc

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

1.66

22.37

3.91

2.69%

14.82

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.14

2.20

-2.73%

22,470,000,000.00

0.18

12.24

1.53

1.83%

1.24

37 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.81

3.80

0.26%

22,409,902,582.95

0.70

5.52

0.90

2.84%

0.88

38 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

7.87

7.50

4.93%

20,851,080,034.86

0.97

7.23

1.73

12.86%

3.31

39 FCMB Group Plc.

0.82

0.86

-4.65%

16,238,222,818.28

0.82

1.08

0.13

33.71%

0.11

40 Skye Bank Plc

0.99

0.98

1.02%

13,741,498,395.90

0.90

1.22

0.11

27.27%

0.11

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.62

1.64

-1.22%

12,846,920,205.96

0.14

10.34

0.24

10.96%

0.54

42 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.88

8.88

0.00%

11,159,298,562.08

1.13

8.08

0.70

7.68%

1.07

43 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.91

0.92

-1.09%

9,439,197,323.92

0.16

6.09

0.63

10.31%

0.66

44 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

5.10

5.10

0.00%

8,765,624,974.50

1.81

2.96

0.82

13.08%

0.28

45 Unity Bank Plc

0.67

0.64

4.69%

7,831,856,421.14

0.54

1.22

0.12

0.00%

0.09

46 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.03

17.47

1.78

0.00%

0.45

47 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

4.04

4.10

-1.46%

6,561,843,750.00

0.45

8.10

0.72

8.24%

0.97

48 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

49 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.81

0.81

0.00%

5,613,465,628.80

0.18

5.08

0.23

0.00%

0.47

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.70

2.75

-1.82%

4,050,000,000.00

0.63

4.26

0.18

15.56%

0.63

07 Forte Oil Plc. 08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

11 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc. 15 Access Bank Plc.

20 Mobil Oil Nig Plc. 21 Julius Berger Nig. Plc. 22 Oando Plc 23 Flour Mills Nig. Plc. 24 Total Nigeria Plc.

TOTAL

8,116,659,818,859.14

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,825,696,601,788.13

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

91.97%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion) Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

O5pen 15-Mar-16

Close 16-Mar-16

Change %

25,745.13 8.86

25,657.48 8.83

-0.34% -0.34%

105.14 8.19

104.24 8.12

-0.86% -0.86%

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

O5pen Close Change % 15-Mar-16 16-Mar-16

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc National Salt Co. Nig. Plc Unity Bank Plc Diamond Bank Plc Nigerian Brew. Plc.

6.01 7.50 0.64 1.35 93.00

6.31 7.87 0.67 1.40 96.05

4.99% 4.93% 4.69% 3.70% 3.28%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

O5pen Close Change % 15-Mar-16 16-Mar-16

Oando Plc Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Sterling Bank Plc. FCMB Group Plc. U A C N Plc.

4.82 16.26

4.36 15.45

-9.54% -4.98%

1.70 0.86 20.95

1.62 0.82 20.02

-4.71% -4.65% -4.44%

Bearish activities in the market leads to 0.34% decline Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today- Tuesday March 16th, 2016, was bearish due intense sell pressure and profit taking. This was further highlighted by negative performance from NSE Sub sectors; Insurance and Consumer Goods (Save Banking and Oil & Gas). Trading activities increased in volume as 4.35 billion shares worth N4.68 billion in 4,125 deals exchanged hands today.

This is an increase from the 310.65 million shares worth N2.06 billion in 3,010deals carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms was Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and FCMB Group Plc, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with a 0.34% (-87.65) decrease to 25,657.48 from 25,745.13 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.83 trillion from N8.86 trillion of prior trading day. The Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with 0.86% decrease to close at 104.24 from 104.24 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.12 trillion from N8.19 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 9 stocks gained on the bourse today while 23 stocks declined, leaving 65 stocks unchanged. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 4.99% to close at N6.31 per share. It was followed NASCON Plc with a gain of 4.93% to close at N7.87 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Unity Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc while on the decliners’ list; Oando Plc led with a loss of 9.54% to close at N4.36 per share. It was followed by ETI Plc with a loss of 4.98% to close at N15.45 per share.

Others on the losers list include; Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and U A C N Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

48

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Nestle Records N24bn Profit, Declares N19 Final Dividend Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun Nestle Nigeria Plc yesterday reported improved performance for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 despite the challenging operating environment. The company posted a revenue of N151.272 billion, compared to N143.329 billion in 2014. Gross profit stood at

N67.346 billion, up from N61.22 billion. Marketing and distribution expenses followed the same upward trend, rising from N24.7 billion to N25.9 billion, while administrative expenses rose from N7.34 billion to N7.693 billion.

However, finance cost fell from N5.305 billion to N4.868 billion. The drop in finance cost bolstered the bottom-line of Nestle Nigeria, which ended

T H E MAIN BOARD Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

No. of Deals 1 17 8 26 No. of Deals 10 10 36

Current Price 0.5 30 34.25

No. of Deals 3 64 25 92 92

the year with a profit before tax of N29.322 billion, up from N24.445 billion. Profit after tax grew from N22.236 billion to N23.736 billion.

The company announced a final dividend of N19.00 per share, bringing the total dividend to N29.00. Shareholders had earlier received an interim dividend of N10.00 per share.

Commenting on the fourth

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Quantity Traded 2,000 66,928 33,328 102,256 Quantity Traded 259,279 259,279 361,535

Value Traded 1,000.00 2,039,839.70 1,170,507.48 3,211,347.18 Value Traded 307,482.01 307,482.01 3,518,829.19

Current Price 0.8 1.1 20.1

Quantity Traded 7,000 9,430,955 107,274 9,545,229 9,545,229

Value Traded 5,330.00 10,455,623.92 2,152,344.14 12,613,298.06 12,613,298.06

No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 13 13 No. of Deals 4 4 19

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 1,700 1,700 Quantity Traded 22,620 22,620 Quantity Traded 412,500 412,500 436,820

Value Traded 850 850 Value Traded 995,681.60 995,681.60 Value Traded 2,104,290.00 2,104,290.00 3,100,821.60

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 9 41 2 199 251 No. of Deals 10 10 No. of Deals 31 63 18 9 1 14 136 No. of Deals 17 55 72 No. of Deals 2 1 3 No. of Deals 25 40 65 538

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000 Quantity Traded 39,427 212,512 390,200 1,303,331 1,945,470 Quantity Traded 2,310 2,310 Quantity Traded 1,602,723 688,598 494,613 371,000 2,454 534,712 3,694,100 Quantity Traded 91,974 43,857 135,831 Quantity Traded 246,000 30,000 276,000 Quantity Traded 530,117 235,055 765,172 6,823,883

Value Traded 2,500.00 2,500.00 Value Traded 106,058.63 23,149,949.62 7,378,408.00 133,755,399.25 164,389,815.50 Value Traded 374,926.45 374,926.45 Value Traded 8,755,734.49 11,872,981.94 667,277.55 2,612,895.25 15,951.00 881,374.46 24,806,214.69 Value Traded 1,580,509.44 31,880,957.93 33,461,467.37 Value Traded 1,072,560.00 25,800.00 1,098,360.00 Value Traded 12,346,891.12 6,333,374.07 18,680,265.19 242,813,549.20

No. of Deals 116 26 35 49 366 37 22 276 14 35 68 1,044 No. of Deals 6 3 1 1 4 9 1 1 3 29 No. of Deals 20 20 No. of Deals 46 6 83 1 53 194 383 1,476

Current Price 4.16 1.4 18.01 1.13 16 1 1.7 2.98 5.3 0.61 0.9

Quantity Traded 9,763,562 5,976,588 1,983,235 3,907,023 23,579,544 2,079,622 5,163,351 40,412,956 236,215 2,015,243 12,919,127 108,036,466 Quantity Traded 89,100 76,050 3,645,937 1,000 280,217 13,591,264 1,000 111,000 7,506,028 25,301,596 Quantity Traded 2,473,013 2,473,013 Quantity Traded 5,446,268 162,257 26,666,905 1,000 4,206,541 40,127,438 76,610,409 212,421,484

Value Traded 40,579,926.09 8,370,253.84 35,689,629.18 4,380,120.26 379,071,210.78 2,041,135.73 8,968,056.25 120,244,348.26 1,255,494.30 1,240,880.06 11,627,826.30 613,468,881.05 Value Traded 72,109.00 70,727.50 1,822,968.50 500 522,092.31 10,185,446.00 500 55,500.00 3,753,014.00 16,482,857.31 Value Traded 2,641,958.23 2,641,958.23 Value Traded 14,676,945.48 636,810.56 19,838,163.45 500 60,636,019.71 55,850,085.53 151,638,524.73 784,232,221.32

Current Price 1.2

Current Price 41.5 Current Price 5.1

Current Price 2.83 113 18.53 102 Current Price 170 Current Price 5.49 17.22 1.35 7.02 6.65 1.65 Current Price 17.2 715 Current Price 4.36 0.9 Current Price 23 27

Current Price 0.81 0.93 0.5 0.5 1.88 0.75 0.5 0.5 0.5 Current Price 1.07 Current Price 2.71 3.9 0.74 0.5 14.15 1.45

quarter(Q4) results, analysts at FBN Capital Limited said .

Nestle’s topline recovery which began in Q2 2015 has been sustained for three consecutive quarters.

“According to management statements, sales were driven by an eight per cent year-onyear (y/y ) growth in the foods business. We believe this is helped by continued product

STO C K

reformulation, an improved sales distribution network and relatively higher switching costs for the food category.

Our channel checks continue to reveal flattish y/y pricing for key Nestle products. As such, we believe unit volumes of around 10 per cent were the primary driver for the top-line trend. In addition to topline growth, a gross margin expansion of 305

basis point (bps) y/y to 44.7 per cent and an 80 per cent y/y decline in net finance charges boosted PBT growth which was up 99 per cent y/y. We note that the strong PBT growth is helped by easy comparables given an unusually weak Q4 2014. We note that Nestle’s low reliance on imported raw materials continues to keep gross margin at healthy levels,” they said.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics C & I LEASING PLC. Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) STANBIC IBTC ETF 30 VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

No. of Deals 16 3 5 24 24

Current Price 2.32 24.98 1

Quantity Traded 1,303,000 11,509 163,404 1,477,913 1,477,913

Value Traded 3,023,405.00 283,296.90 164,404.00 3,471,105.90 3,471,105.90

No. of Deals 11 9 7 14 42 83 No. of Deals 3 4 7 90

Current Price 24 9.3 35.78 8.53 82

Quantity Traded 151,732 5,785 25,598 53,358 1,095,805 1,332,278 Quantity Traded 10,200 29,350 39,550 1,371,828

Value Traded 3,641,568.00 52,706.60 946,219.40 463,268.03 90,125,305.69 95,229,067.72 Value Traded 484,500.00 283,125.00 767,625.00 95,996,692.72

No. of Deals 1 1 1

Current Price 3.95

Quantity Traded 400 400 400

Value Traded 1,656.00 1,656.00 1,656.00

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 155 155 No. of Deals 4 14 90 3 18 129 No. of Deals 9 9 294

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 1,000,000 1,000,000 Quantity Traded 4,298,007 4,298,007 Quantity Traded 13,503 605,007 147,454 132 29,018 795,114 Quantity Traded 3,942 3,942 6,097,063

Value Traded 500,000.00 500,000.00 Value Traded 13,984,032.67 13,984,032.67 Value Traded 234,682.14 1,099,237.49 43,802,859.97 20,136.00 4,079,897.50 49,236,813.10 Value Traded 1,381,774.92 1,381,774.92 65,102,620.69

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 2 1 3 No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 1 2 3 No. of Deals 1 10 11 No. of Deals 2 2 23 2,593

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 400 400 Quantity Traded 101,858 101,858 Quantity Traded 1,490 100 1,590 Quantity Traded 99,000 99,000 Quantity Traded 8,000 50,000 58,000 Quantity Traded 1,000 82,300 83,300 Quantity Traded 14,000 14,000 358,148 238,894,303

Value Traded 200 200 Value Traded 388,078.98 388,078.98 Value Traded 4,297.70 524 4,821.70 Value Traded 49,500.00 49,500.00 Value Traded 6,880.00 271,000.00 277,880.00 Value Traded 2,290.00 334,326.67 336,616.67 Value Traded 7,000.00 7,000.00 1,064,097.35 1,211,914,892.03

No. of Deals 407 407 No. of Deals 189 189 596

Current Price 11.63

Quantity Traded 28,440,889 28,440,889 Quantity Traded 7,328,331 7,328,331 35,769,220

Value Traded 330,173,282.17 330,173,282.17 Value Traded 27,747,501.17 27,747,501.17 357,920,783.34

No. of Deals 155 155 155 751 3,344

Current Price 160

Quantity Traded 424,061 424,061 424,061 36,193,281 275,087,584

Value Traded 68,210,948.66 68,210,948.66 68,210,948.66 426,131,732.00 1,638,046,624.03

No. of Deals 1 1 4 1 1 5 1 14 14 14

Current Price 8.36 2,358.00 72 2.36 6.05 11.4 19.55

Quantity Traded 500 50 15,000 10 75 20,010 10 35,655 35,655 35,655

Value Traded 4,180.00 117,900.00 1,080,000.00 23.6 453.75 212,414.00 195.5 1,415,166.85 1,415,166.85 1,415,166.85

Current Price 50 9.83

Current Price 3.37 Current Price 16.56 1.9 293.23 159.95 137.75 Current Price 352.3

Current Price 3.81 Current Price 2.87 5.51 Current Price 0.5 Current Price 0.9 5.7 Current Price 2.29 4 Current Price 0.5

Current Price 3.65

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SON to Begin Nationwide Clampdown on Fake Tyre Dealers To prosecute culprits for murder Crusoe Osagie Worried about the loss of lives and property as a result of the usage of substandard tyres in the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has given the dealers of the product, manufacturers and importers 24 hours to clean up their stores, as a reconstituted task force is set to search for and impound fake and substandard tyres across markets in the country.

According to the Acting Director General SON, Mr. Paul Angya, the statistics from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) indicated that a high of number people are killed in the country due to incidents from substandard tyres.

Angya, during a stakeholders’ meeting with tyre dealers, manufacturers and importers, stated: “The statistics is gruelling, in 2015, the total annual road traffic crashes was about 8,986

road accidents, killing about 4,910 people, out of which over 722 of those road crashes resulted from burst tyres.

“This is what we have been suffering in Nigeria. We have invited you here to tell you that enough is enough and those dealing in substandard tyres, when we catch you, we will treat you as a murderer. We are not going to charge for dealing with fake and substandard tyres but charge you for killing innocent people,” he said.

The Acting SON boss during the meeting said: “You have 24 hours to clean up your stores if you have substandard tyres in your store. Please make sure that they disappear within 24 hours and make sure that they disappear within 24 hours and make sure we do not find you with those tyres. Within 24 hours, our team is coming and now we have a law that authorises us to close you down for as long as we want without going to court and

we will use it.”

He added, “We have a law to shut you down for three months without taking you to court and we also have a law that prescribes punishment of up to 10 years for dealing in fake and substandard products, so even if we cannot pin a murder charge on you, a letter charging you for dealing with fake and substandard products will land you in jail for 10 years.

“We are also constituting a taskforce on tyres comprising of your members to show you that we are dealing transparently and this taskforce is not going to sleep until we can confirm that road accidents cannot be traced to fake and substandard tyres.” ”He stated that the agency’s record show that seized, expired or bad tyres constitute almost the biggest seizure in the agency’s

warehouses where confiscated products are subjected to laboratory tests and analysis before public destruction, saying that SON has confiscated and destroyed fake tyres worth over N20 billion within the last three years.

“Our analysis equally shows that the bulk of sub-standard tyres we have in Nigeria are imported ones.

Apart from tyres, imports have

continued to deal a deadly blow not only to our economy but to all of us.

“I am therefore using this occasion to warn motor tyres importers to henceforth desist from bringing any consignment of sub-standard tyres into the country. If they do and are caught, they will be treated and paraded as “public enemies” and therefore be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

NUPENG: Fuel Scarcity will Persist Without Forex The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to source foreign exchange for oil marketers to end the ongoing fuel scarcity.

Tokunbo Korodo, the Southwest chairman of the union, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said NNPC, as a sole importer of petrol, could not distribute the product nationwide.

According to Korodo, most oil marketers cannot import petrol into the country because they could not access foreign exchange. He said that most oil depots in the country depend on what NNPC pumps into their depots for distribution to tanker drivers.

Korodo said this system led to concentration of petroleum tankers in private depots and

resulted to gridlocks.

According to him, the gridlock at the depots results in the drivers spending close to 10 days before getting the product.

“The only solution to the present scarcity of fuel is for the CBN to assist the oil marketers in accessing forex to commence importation of petrol,” he said.

“NNPC, which at present is the sole importer, cannot distribute nationwide but private depots, through their depots, can do it better. Getting the Forex for oil marketers will go a long way to maintain steady supply.”

Korodo said that the nation would need regular supply of petrol to filling stations to eliminate the present fuel scarcity.

He urged the NNPC to urgently source foreign exchange for the oil marketers so that they could commence steady importation of petrol.

POOR POWER SUPPLY IS AFFECTING US

A cross-section of members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) protesting the poor electricity supply nationwide in Lagos ... yesterday Kola Olasupo

Witness: How Badeh Looted Air Force Funds The trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (rtd), began yesterday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presenting its first witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (rtd), before Justice Okon E. Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Yushau, a former Director of Finance and Account (DFA), Nigerian Air Force between October 2010 and December 2013, told the court how Badeh allegedly took money to the tune of N3billion from the coffers of the Nigerian Air Force to acquire property in different parts of Abuja and Yola for himself and his family.

Led in evidence by the counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Yushau told the court that the accounts of the air force maintained under three main vote heads: capital, overhead and personnel emoluments.

The PW1 stated how personnel emoluments were released and when asked what the balance is used for, he told the court that a balance of over N1billion is usually left depending on the programmes executed within the month.

According to him, of the N1billion, the sum of N558,200,000 is usually the amount earmarked for general administration for the Office of the Chief of Air Staff.

Yushau told the court that the said amount is usually under the control of Chief of Air Staff.

He added: “The amount in most

cases was usually converted into US dollars by the Finance Officer at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja. Thereafter, it is brought to the Director of Finance who in turn takes it to the Air House which is the official residence of Chief of Air Staff at the Niger Barracks.”

According to him, “No acknowledgement is given for such amounts, but he usually tells the finance officer to meet him at the residence of the Chief of Air Staff so that he can see when it is being handed over.”

When asked about a property situated at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, Yushau told the court that sometime in 2013, Badeh requested him to get someone to buy him a good house in Maitama where he could retire to.

The witness stated that he subsequently contacted a lawyer, named Usaini Umar who said he had three properties for inspection.

Eventually, he expressed preference for the property at Ogun Street valued at N1.1billion.

He added that, Badeh directed that payment should be made for the house in dollar.

He also told the court that Badeh directed that the document of the property be prepared in the name of the second defendant, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

Yushau who dwelt extensively on a number of properties linked to Badeh, stated that the former Chief

of Air Staff abused his office by converting to personal use monies removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

The matter was adjourned to March 23, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Justice Abang had earlier refused the application of Badeh’s counsel, Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and validity of the charge saying that the application would be heard at the end of the

proceeding.

Badeh, was accused of using the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion situated at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Methodist Church Hold Annual Synod All is now set for the 10th Annual Synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos West.

The four-day event coming up at Methodist Church Nigeria, Opebi, Lagos will kick start on Thursday, March 17, with the ministerial and lay sessions. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, is expected to declare the synod open during the opening ceremony on Friday March 18, while the Synod programme would be rounded off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, 20 March at the same venue at the 4p.m.

The theme for this year’s Synod, ‘Chosen to bear fruit,’ has been prayerfully selected to reassure the citizenry on a great turn around spritually that God will do concerning

this nation, Nigeria. According to the Chief Host of the Synod, the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Oluyemisi Ogunlere, he said: “The promise of God to us as a nation and the whole world in general is to bring a total stoppage to all the calamities in our land, all natural disasters and self destructions around us and ultimately turn all our challenges to opportunities if we allow the holy spirit to take control of our lives as his beloved children .

As Methodist, we’ve challenged ourselves to take a position on how best we can move forward with the holy spirit by adding value to our immediate societies by bringing it to the front burner at this year’s Synod of the Diocese and pray for peace and togetherness among nations all over the world”

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER

Egypt is Beatable Home and Away, Eagles Boast Duro Ikhazuagbe After staging a comeback to the Super Eagles due to the injury that denied him a place in Super Eagles’ 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FSV Mainz of Germany defender, Leon Balogun believes Egypt will fall in the two-legged 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clashes.

Both teams are to face off in Group G of the qualifying race, at the Ahmadu Bello, Kaduna on March 25 and at the Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria four days later.

“We would be targeting to win both matches. If we get the six points, that would ease our path to the Africa Cup finals. Winning will be the principle driving us in both matches,” stressed Balogun yesterday ahead of the big games.

He admitted that Egypt with seven AFCON titles under their belts are a big football playing

nation.

“Egypt is a big football-playing nation, but Nigeria is also very, very big. There is no complex going into both matches and we have the men to give us victory in Kaduna and away in Egypt,” the Mainz defender boasted.

Balogun won his first cap for the Eagles in the international friendly against Mexico at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in March 2014, but his hope of a Mundial appearance with Nigeria crashed with the injury he coped in that game.

Most recently, Balogun proved his stuff against Chad at the start of the AFCON 2017 qualifiers in June 2015, and in friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroun in Belgium in October 2015.

Like Balogun, Nigerian forward, Aaron Samuel, has assured Nigerians that getting the goals would not be a problem for the Eagles when they confront the

Pharaohs.

The big striker, who plays for CSKA Moscow FC in Russia’s elite division alongside Captain Ahmed Musa, is one of the 21 overseas-based professionals called by Coach Samson Siasia for the double dose against the

Pharaohs.

“Goals will not be a problem when we take to the pitch in Kaduna. We have more and bigger stars that the Egyptians.

“There is nothing to fret about.

I have heard what the Egyptians are saying, that we would not be

goals for the Super Eagles in the 2015 Cup of Nations qualifying race – against Sudan in Abuja and against Congo in Pointe Noir.

“Our objective would be to be precise, to convert the chances that we create. We will win and win well,” he concluded.

able to score in Kaduna. That is mere wishful thinking on their part. They are trying to play a psychological game. The goals will surely flow from our boots into their net,”Aaron said yesterday.

Samuel, who previously played in China, scored two brilliant

Salah, Elneny Headline Pharaohs’ 23-man Squad Femi Solaja with agency report

AS Roma’s Mohammed Salah and Arsenal’s Mohammed Elneny headlined the 23-man team announced yesterday by Egypt coach, Hector Cuper, for the two-legged games against Nigeria in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group G qualifier in Kaduna next week Friday. The return leg holds four days later in Alexandria.

Expectedly, players from Zamalek and Al Ahly dominated the Pharaohs who are aiming to do a double over the Super Eagles enroute qualifying for the continental football fiesta in Gabon next year.

Veteran goalkeeper Mohammed El Hadary who was recalled to the Pharaohs made the cut which is a reward for his stellar performances in the Egyptian top flight this season.

First choice goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy has shaken off a knock and will be available for the game against the Super Eagles.

According to reports in the Egyptian media yesterday, the Egyptians will jet into Kaduna via a chartered flight

on March 23rd for the March 25th clash with Eagles.

The Pharaohs, who last won the tournament in 2010, still top the Group G on six points from two games while Eagles are next, two points behind the leaders.

THE SQUAD GOALKEEPERS: Essam El Hadary (Wadi Degla); Ahmed El Shenawy (Zamalek) , Mohamed El Shenawy (Petrojet).

DEFENDERS: Hazem Emam (Zamalek); Ahmed Dwedar (Zamalek) , Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ahly) , Omar Gaber (Zamalek) , Rami Raiea (Al Ahly) , Sbary Rahil _Al Ahly) , Aly Gabr (Zamalek) , Hamada Tolba (Zamalek).

MIDFIELDERS: Hossam Ghaly (Ahly); Abdullah Al Saied (Al Ahly) , Ibrahim Salah (Smouha) , Mohamed Elneny _Arsenal) , Mohamed Salah (Roma) , Mahmoud Hassan Terezguet (Anderlechet), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Ramadan Sobhy (Al Ahly), Moastafa Fathy (Zamalek), Aymen Hefny (Zamalek), Amr Warda (Penaliokos) STRIKERS: Marwan Mohsen (Ismaily); Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ (SC Braga) , Amr Gamal (Al Ahly).

Neymar and Messi (right) celebrating the 3-1 (5-1 aggregate) victory over Arsenal ... last night

House of Reps, Oliseh Parley to Hold after Easter Recess Ogba kicks against the invitation of the former coach

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Contrary to belief that the proposed parley between the House of Representatives Committee on Sports and Sunday Oliseh has been called off, a member of the committee, Hon. Damburam Abubakar Nuhu has said that the talk will actually take place when the House returns from Easter recess.

Oliseh and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) acrimoniously parted ways when the Super Eagles coach resigned last month, accusing his former employer of breach of trust

He was originally due to appear before the committee today to shed light on the circumstances of his fall out with NFF but Damburam clarified that the meeting was shelved to allow the national team and NFF be focused on the pressing Africa Cup of Nations engagements against Egypt next week.

Oliseh and NFF have been exchanging diatribe in the public space with the ex-international midfielder, who infamously called Nigerians and his former national team mates as insane, adding a dimension to the feud, by refuting claims by NFF that

32 Players Begin Hostilities at Lagos Int’l Squash Classics The best 32 players across the country are taking part in the Lagos International Squash Classics holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The tournament which is listed as a world-ranking event by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) is a national closed satellite championship.

With a prize money of $4,000 (N1.2m) expected to be shared among the top players in the competition, the men will get $2,500

(N750,000) as total prize money while the women will take home $1,500 ( N450,000).

According to the organisers, Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), the top seeds are Wale Amao and Yemisi Olatunji.

Top 16 players in the men and women categories have been drawn against one another respectively.

To encourage younger players, top 16 players will also compete in the boys’ U-19 event.

As a PSA sanctioned event, the players are expected to use the tournament to garner world ranking points while it would also help them to shape for international tournaments.

According to the Chairman of LSSA, Sanya Akindele, the event is to replace the 2015 International Classic which could not hold due to logistics reason.

“We could not hold the 2015 edition of the championship due

NPFL: Akwa Utd Whips Ikorodu Utd 3-0 Akwa United trounced Ikorodu United 3-0 in a rescheduled Nigeria league match in Uyo yesterday.

Man-of-the-Match, Ubong Ekpai, headed home team Akwa United in front after 10 minutes.

Akwa United doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after

51 minutes after Harrison Ibukun converted when Friday Ubong was brought down inside the box.

On the hour mark, Cyril Olisemah scored Akwa United’s third goal against his former club.

Akwa United’s Emeka Isaac was sent off three minutes from

the interval after he got his second booking.

There was a huge roar from the spectators when former Orlando Pirates of South Africa striker Ezenwa Otorogu was brought in as a substitute for Akwa United.

to the general elections and change in government. For us we have decided to replace it with this closed satellite tournament in order to help improve the world ranking of our players and to keep our place in the PSA calendar. However, the International Classics will be back late this year with a $40,000 prize money which will attract all the top international players across the globe,”Akindele said.

The winner and runner’s in the men category up will get $850 and $450 respectively, while semifinalists and quarterfinalists will get $200 and $100 respectively.

Winner and runner up in the ladies event will get $450 and $250 respectively while semifinalists and quarterfinalists will get $120 and $60 each. The tournament director is Boye Oyerinde with Bola Mogaji as chief referee.

he was paid N20 million outstanding salaries, days before he resigned.

Hon Danburam told reporters last night that his meeting with NFF leadership was to ensure that the matches against Egypt in Kaduna and Alexandria on March 25 and 29 respectively take place without hitches.

He also allayed concern that Oliseh would shun the parley after the Egypt matches. He said he was in contact with Oliseh on Monday morning when the former player was informed the parley had been postponed when he was set to leave his Belgium base on Wednesday morning.

“We will hold the parley in mid- April depending on our resumption day. We are going on recess next week and we are to come back after Easter. We are looking at first week of April, otherwise if do not come back because of other issues, we shall meet Oliseh in the second week,’’ Damburam said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Sports Committee Senator Obinna Ogba, has expressed his reservation at the proposed House Sports Committee parley with Oliseh.

Ogba, a former member of the NFF board, questioned the House committee’s soft spot for Oliseh whom he accused of showing no respect for the country. ‘’Our colleagues in the House have invited Oliseh but I don’t see any reason why they want to invite him. You don’t place value on nothing. He (Oliseh) does not have any respect for the country,’’ fumed Ogba.

Fixtures EUROPA (Today) Man Utd v Liverpool Tottenham v Dortmund Leverkusen v Villarreal Valencia v Athletic Club Lazio v Sparta Prague Anderlecht v Shakhtar Sevilla v Basel S’ Braga v Fenerbahce

Champions League: Barca Dumps Arsenal to Book Q’final Ticket Holders Barcelona last night eased into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 second-leg victory over Arsenal at the Nou Camp.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Lionel Messi forced David Ospina into a stunning save from close

range, before Neymar slotted home a low finish.

Mohamed Elneny lashed in for Arsenal in the second half but Luis Suarez struck a stunning volley for Barcelona. Danny Welbeck hit the woodwork before Messi chipped in a sublime third.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

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MISSILE Sunday Oliseh to NFF Leadership “It is useless joining issues with people who are bent on deceiving Nigerians and diverting attention from reality. And the reality is that I decided to resign because certain vested interest in the NFF put their interest first before the interest of the nation” --Former Super Eagles’ coach, Mr. Sunday Oliseh, on why he resigned his appointment.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Judicial Black Market: Anambra as Case Study

I

have told the story before on this page of my experience on 14th June 1993, when the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) suspended the release of the results of the presidential election held two days earlier, in deference to a court injunction obtained by the Chief Arthur Nzeribe-led Association for Better Nigeria (ABN). Following the development, there was a meeting at the then NICON-NOGA Hilton (now Transcorp) hotel where no fewer than six governors of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) were gathered to deliberate on the next line of action.

Right in my presence, three of the Governors, (two from South and another from the North) made calls to their respective states. While I had no idea about the people at the other end of the telephone lines, the instructions were very clear: they should go and meet Justice so, so and so to be granted order ex-parte to compel NEC to release the presidential election result.

Looking back today, the real issue was not that the Governors wanted and got the court orders they requested but rather that each was specific as to which Judge whoever they were sending should go to. What that implies is that it is not all judges that are susceptible to such manipulation and corruption. However, the danger, as I pointed out in the past, is that in a society where you have a preponderance of Judges who can give out any court order (and definitely not for free), the system is in jeopardy. Sadly, the general feeling in our country today is that in most of our courts, justice is for sale and to the highest bidders.

Before I go further, I need to stress that I am a defender of our judiciary, essentially because we live in a country where people peddle a lot of rumours and where most politicians judge others by their own standards. Yet, even at that, I also do not believe it is in our collective interest to gloss over what has become a serious problem. In fact, if I had any doubts about the magnitude of the rot within the judiciary, they were cleared by the several mails and calls I received, including from very prominent citizens, after my recent column on “The Assault on Supreme Court”.

The conclusion I could draw from some of the well-meaning interventions was that it is not only elections that are rigged in Nigeria, many judgements, especially on election petition matters, are now also traded.

However, it is comforting that the authorities are aware that the integrity of the judiciary is gradually being eroded by some of these judgements. That, I guess, is the basis for the ongoing ‘National Conference on Election Petition Tribunals’ in Abuja organized by the Court of Appeal in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES). While the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa should be commended for the idea, I am of the opinion that Justices of the Supreme Court should also begin to do that kind of self-examination.

However, if there is any issue that illustrates the problem of our democracy vis-a-vis the

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed judiciary, it is in the peculiar politics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State. While elections are fought in some other places with violence, PDP politicians in Anambra are more civilized in that they always ensure elections in the state are never settled by ballot (or bullets like in Rivers) but rather by the courts. But if you look at the cases, and the interventions of the judiciary on them, you get a sense that there is something untidy, especially since it would seem almost every politician in the state has his/her own court while judgements in most of the cases are almost always subject to interpretations and interpolations. And if examinations were set as to who was a Governor, Senator or House of Representatives member from/ in Anambra State at a specific period, the likelihood is that students would fail!

At a point, Mr Peter Obi, who replaced Dr Chris Ngige (whose election was nullified after three years in office), was himself replaced by his deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba, following a kangaroo impeachment. Obi went to court and was returned to office after which an election was held at a time he was again in court to argue that his tenure had not expired. Of course Dr. Andy Uba won and was sworn in before he was removed 14 days later by the Supreme Court on grounds that Obi had not completed his tenure. That in itself elicited several court cases with injunctions upon injunctions. But all those were in the past.

Today, Anambra politics is back in the news and so is the judiciary as its “ambush tool”.

For those who may wonder why I know so much about Anambra, it is because early in 2007, I decided to write a book on politics

in the state since I found it rather fascinating.

But as it would happen, a few weeks after I started gathering materials, I got the Aso Rock appointment that put paid to the plan. I may return to the idea one day, in the light of all the current drama, including the musical chairs in the National Assembly.

Senator Uche Ekwunife recently lost her seat at the Court of Appeal on the strength of intra-party crisis and efforts to conduct a fresh election have been marred by several court cases. Between 2007 and 2011,Ikechukwu Abana was sacked by the court and replaced

by Annie Okonkwo while Joy Emordi was also removed by the court and replaced by Alphonsus Igbeke, all in the Senate. Incidentally, the same Emordi had also replaced Emma Anosike in the previous Senate based on a judgment of the Court of Appeal before Margery Okadigbo also replaced John Emeka in the senate. The number of times House of Representatives seats had changed membership in several constituencies within the state at different times is beyond ridiculous.

Meanwhile, the drama is not about to abate.

To conduct a replacement for Ekwunife in the Senate has become a subject of several litigations. The All Progressive Congress (APC) wants to replace the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige who ran the election last year with Mrs Sharon Ikeazor while the PDP is plotting to present a fresh candidate in former Governor Obi who didn’t contest last year. I understand someone has already secured a court order from a Judge who, rather than go with the Supreme Court ruling on an already settled matter, relied on the dictionary meaning of the word “fresh” to rule that anybody can participate in a process called fresh election! Meanwhile, Chief Chris Uba, Chief Annie Okonkwo and Chief John Emeka are laying claims to the three senatorial seats.

While the logjam continues and INEC is in a bind, the Ejike Oguebego-led executive of the PDP in Anambra, recognized by Supreme Court ruling last month as the authentic leadership of the party in the state, is seeking other judicial reliefs. Ordinarily, by holding that the Oguebego executive remained the authentic leadership of the party in Anambra, the apex court was giving validity to the list submitted for election last year by this faction of the party. The implication of the ruling, which formed the kernel of media interpretation, was that Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah, as well as no fewer than

while the PDP leaders from Anambra would need to reflect on the nature of their politics which has become very disruptive to the peace and progress of the state and our country, it is also important for our judicial officers to understand that they are fast losing credibility by offering themselves as willing tools for desperate politicians

nine House of Representatives members had lost their seats. But in refusing to make any declarative pronouncement following its verdict, Supreme Court has taken with its left hand what it gave with the right because Uba and Oduah cannot now be dislodged from the Senate and with that, Anambra politicians have again descended on the courts shopping for all manner of reliefs.

What the foregoing says clearly is that there is an interesting intersection between politics and the court in Anambra State but it did not start today. For instance, on 22 July 2003, Justice Samson Egbo-Egbo, at the instance of Hon. Eucharia Azodo, granted an ex-parte injunction asking Dr. Ngige to stop parading himself as Governor and hand over to his then deputy, Dr. Okey Udeh. Following the public outcry that greeted the said order, the Judge, a week later, “set the record straight” by denying making such order, putting the blame at the doorstep of the court registrar: “The order I made was not the one drawn up by the senior registrar. One would have expected him to lift the five orders I made.”

However, the then Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Akin Olujimi, was convinced that Egbo-Egbo did make the order and he told the judge so clearly in court: “You have clarified the issue, but there would have been no need to ask the applicant to sign an indemnity if you have not granted an injunction”. Eventually, Egbo-Egbo was eased out of the bench but the judiciary is still replete with many judges like him.

However, like I stated earlier, I have always found Anambra politics interesting, right from 1998 when 17 aspirants jostled for the PDP gubernatorial ticket in the state. At the end of the deadline for payment of a scandalous non-refundable screening fee of N2.1 million imposed on each aspirant, only ten remained.

When the primaries held, Prof. ABC Nwosu, who was then the party’s secretary in the state, was declared winner. The other nine aspirants, including a former Daily Times editor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, cried foul, alleging that the then state chairman of the party, Chief J. A. Okonkwo, had already made up his mind as to whom he wanted to impose.

With that, the aspirants jointly petitioned the PDP National Exco which subsequently dissolved the State Exco, a request that was granted and a 24-man panel was sent from Abuja to conduct fresh gubernatorial primaries. But Okonkwo refused to give them the party’s register so as to frustrate the exercise which eventually produced Mbadinuju, who then enjoyed the support of two wealthy businessmen from the state, Sir Emeka Offor and Dr ABC Orjiakor.

Meanwhile, this was happening at a time the submission of candidates’ lists to INEC had lapsed. Not surprisingly, that has been the story of Anambra State PDP at every election cycle since then with different factions always submitting different lists to INEC… NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition at www.thisdaylive.com

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