Friday 25th March 2016

Russian Oil Exports Threaten OPEC’s Output Freeze Deal Independent marketers offer to partner NNPC on importation Ejiofor Alike with agency reports and Chineme Okafor in Abuja Russia is set to export more crude oil to Europe in April than it had exported in any month since 2013, thus threatening a global agreement

between the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and nonOPEC members on freezing production in a bid to lift the price of crude oil.

This development, Reuters has reported, illustrates how hard it would be to enforce the forthcoming agreement that is due to be finalised on April 17 in Qatar.

It also shows the potential for countries to use loopholes to keep exporting crude, and erode the intended impact on prices.

This is coming as the price

of Brent crude oil slumped by 2.3 per cent on Thursday and West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark price for crude oil, lost by 2.7 per cent.

Crude oil prices are down

Boko Haram Abducts 14 Women, 2 Girls in Adamawa... Page 8

nearly five per cent from Monday for one of their worst weeks of the year.

Moscow said the agreement on freeze between OPEC and non-OPEC covered only production and not sales Continued on page 6

Friday 25 March, 2016 Vol 21. No 7638. Price: N150

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I have Three Years More, Buhari Replies Critics Defends Frequent Foreign Trips

Onyebuchi Ezogbo in Abuja Critics carpeting President Muhammadu Buhari for his perceived slow performance in his 10-month presidency got a reply yesterday with the President responding that the criticisms were too early and hasty since he has three more years to prove his mettle.

“I know you are being harassed since the election that they haven’t seen anything on the ground. Well, if you have any explanation that could be accepted, it is that you have three more years to go,” he said at the opening of the meeting of the National Continued on page 6

I am Ready For Trial, Says Saraki Tribunal insists on jurisdiction

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja Faced by the insistence of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja that it has jurisdiction to try him for alleged falsification of assets charges brought against him by the Federal Government, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said yesterday that he was ready to take the

opportunity of the trial to clear his name.

The tribunal for the second time yesterday held that it has jurisdiction to try Saraki for the alleged falsification of assets.

The tribunal's Chairman, Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, while ruling on the preliminary objections filed by Saraki Continued on page 6

Presidential Committee Indicts 300 ONSA Contractors, Recovers N7bn… Page 10

WE FEEL VERY PAINED

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (right), and state Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali, during the governor’s condolence visit to the state NYSC headquarters over the death of a corps member, Samuel Okonta, killed during Rivers rerun elections in Port Harcourt... yesterday

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PAGE SIX I HAVE THREE YEARS MORE, BUHARI REPLIES CRITICS Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

Buhari, who briefed his party leaders on the progress made so far by his administration, also seized the opportunity provided by the occasion to respond to critics of his frequent travels abroad, saying the trips were necessary to present the nation’s case for foreign assistance.

According to Buhari, “Sometimes, you need to present your case on a personal basis to your economic colleagues and neighbours.

Nothing is better than personal touch and I believe that we are learning a lot and eventually, the nation will realize so.”

He told his party leaders that his administration appeared slow because it had used the last 10 months to restructure the government, explaining that it had to prune the 42 ministries that the Peoples Democratic Party-led government left behind to 24 for greater efficiency and to save cost.

Buhari further explained that he had to conduct the restructuring along with the demands of producing a national budget, saying that

the task were enormous. But he assured that with the 2016 budget in place, the coast was clear for him to fire from all cylinders.

On the economy, Buhari blamed the sliding price of crude oil which he said had continued to keep the economy in bad shape, noting that about 27 states had been unable to pay staff salaries regularly.

But he gave assurances that with a better and a more transparent management structure he was putting in place, better days were ahead.

The President assured that with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, over N3trillion had been mopped up by the federal government, adding that details of monies recovered from indicted former government officials and others facing corruption charges, would soon be made public.

He said public disclosure of the recoveries would demonstrate that his administration’s fight against corruption was not a fluke.

Buhari said regardless of the present challenges, nobody could contradict the fact that his administration’s fight against corruption was

critical to the development and overall well- being of the people.

The President said, "We insist that we have to know what comes in and what goes out for us to make a comprehensive amendment to the economy. If you go and see the Central Bank Governor, he will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue?"

He also spoke about corruption in the petroleum sector of the economy and said the federal government will soon begin the prosecution of all persons indicted by the reports of the various investigative panels he had set up.

Buhari, however hinted of the frustration the administration was having in securing relevant evidence to prosecute corruption suspects, assuring his party leaders that the challenges notwithstanding, more work was being done to ensure that those indicted were duly and properly prosecuted.

According to him, "We have tried to make sure that NNPC is reorganized, so that we know how much of our

crude is taken, how much it is sold and to which account the money is going. But I tell you that up to the time we came, if anybody told you that he knew how much of crude exchanged hands either on the high sea or reaching their destination and the accounts the money went into, that person would not be telling you the truth.

"We are getting the cooperation of countries that have received this crude. But we have to be sure of the facts in our hands before we start prosecution so that Nigerians will believe what we have been telling them.”

In what seemed like a new policy direction, the President hinted that the FG will have to prune down the number of parastatals to conform with the cut in the number of ministries which have been reduced from 42 to 24.

He said that an order rescinding the sack of all boards has been given especially as it affects the university boards, adding that the government realised that "according to their laws, they cannot choose their Vice Chancellors unless the boards are in place".

On electoral violence, the President described the incidents recorded during the just concluded re-run election in Rivers State as very shameful.

"I am afraid I did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers. I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state. At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election," he said.

In his opening speech, the national Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun said notwithstanding some notable progress made by the APC administration, there is need for the leaders to have some introspection and reflections on the best way forward.

Oyegun who later spoke to journalists on the decisions reached at the NEC meeting said that the body has approved the down-sizing of the BoT membership before its formal inauguration.

He said the NEC has given the leadership the nod to organise congresses to fill vacant seats in the NWC.

On the Rivers State election re-run, Oyegun said the party condemns the barbaric acts that were perpetrated during the poll, warning that the culprits would be fished out and punished. “People must not get away with the dastardly acts and such should not be allowed to repeat itself or spread to other states," he said.

The Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, also expressed dismay over the violence during the Rivers State election, describing it as unpardonable.

President Buhari arrived at exactly 11 am for the NEC meeting along with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

Oyegun and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had arrived 15 minutes earlier along with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume. But the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, missed out on the meeting, obviously due to the date he had to keep at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

that crude stockpiles rose 9.4 million barrels last week.

Oil prices have rallied about 50 per cent over the past two months. While declining U.S. oil output and strong gasoline demand drove some of the gains, the bulk was powered

by OPEC and other major producers' plans to freeze production at January's highs.

Kachikwu was confident crude prices would stabilize after the producers group agrees to a supply freeze in Doha next month.

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has offered to partner the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to import petrol.

The partnership decision followed Wednesday’s declaration by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Kachikwu that the protracted scarcity of the product across the country could continue for a very long

time because the burden of importation was weighing heavily on the corporation.

The National Secretary of IPMAN, Danladi Pasali, told THISDAY yesterday that the association was capable of ending the scarcity within two weeks if the NNPC was willing to engage with the association and its plans.

Pasali noted that IPMAN, with its large membership base could help ease the scarcity if the government curbs the unhealthy bureaucracy in the management of the downstream sector.

He said the association had presented its position to the government but the government had remained adamant on it.

“IPMAN controls almost 80 per cent of the stations in the country, stakeholders should be consulted and meetings held. They should allow people to bring in products. We have partners

that are willing to come in with products and the government must be willing to open up, there is no way we will continue to wait for this.

I want to believe the minister didn’t mean that we will wait for this long. The whole issue is that the government tried to do direct-sale-direct-purchase programme, we have partners across the world that need Nigeria’s crude and they are contacting us all the time, now, we are asking the minister to wipe out all these bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow people with the capacity to bring in refined products, and we don’t need CBN forex in this situation because it is going to be direct-purchase-directsales,” Pasali explained.

“We will review the situation even though we have presented our position to the minister earlier. NNPC is importing 100 per cent but we are insisting that we can correct this issue within two

weeks. There is no issue in it because we know the problem” Pasali added.

former Lagos State governor by the Tribunal some years ago, simply because the CCB failed to fulfil the condition precedent, we had since realised that we acted in error in discharging him on that ground and we have since departed from that error.

"In essence, the provision of section 3 (a) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 constitution which has no provision for fulfilment of any condition precedent by the CCB is now the guiding force for the tribunal."

On the filing of the charges 13 years after Saraki had left office, the CCT boss said that there was no statute of limitation on criminal matters and that it was not out of place for government to charge him the way it did, even though he left office a long time ago.

Meanwhile, the commencement of the trial has been fixed for April 5, 2016.

But reacting to the ruling through his lawyer, Chief

Kanu Agabi, who was also a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Saraki said that he was ready for trial to prove his innocence.

Saraki said although he would have wished that due process of law was followed by government before putting him on trial, nonetheless, he said that he was ready to engage his accuser at the tribunal.

“We are the one being suspected of wrong doing and we are ready to establish the fact that we are innocent of the charges even though we are convinced that the right thing has not been done as far as the charges is concerned,” Agabi said.

The Senate President had challenged the competence of the false assets declaration criminal charges brought against him by the federal government, insisting that the charge was politically motivated and in bad faith.

In his objection filed by Agabi, Saraki said that the

charges could not be sustained in law since due process of law was not observed before it was initiated.

He asked the tribunal to quash or strike out the charges contained in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/2015 filed last September against him.

He also asked the tribunal to discharge him from the charges on the ground that the charges were not competent and lawful in the eyes of the law.

His grounds of objection to the trial were among others, that the tribunal headed by Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar had no jurisdiction to entertain the charge because a condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction had not been fulfilled.

Besides, he also anchored his objection on the fact that the charge was brought in bad faith, brought not in the interest of the public and justice and that the charge constituted a gross abuse of legal process.

The charge, having been

allegedly brought in violation of due process and in violation of his right to fair hearing, Saraki said, cannot lie at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS THREATEN OPEC’S OUTPUT FREEZE DEAL abroad, hence the country can raise exports while keeping production flat by re-routing some crude oil away from refineries and into exports.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday that the deal may be meaningless, while Iran and Libya have said they will not participate, at least for now, and they also plan to raise production.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the country expected oil exporters to agree a supply freeze in Doha next month but that the country also plans to boost its own output.

The increase in Russian exports is mainly because of planned maintenance at refineries that reduced their capacity to process crude oil.

Reports that members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as non-OPEC producers were

discussing an output freeze have helped lift world oil prices from glut-induced 12-year lows hit in January.

Asked what would be covered by the agreement, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters: "The discussion is only about freezing production. And not exports."

The high level of Russian oil exports next month was confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday by export pipeline monopoly Transneft.

According to the company, Russia is set to export 7 million tonnes from Baltic Sea ports in April, the largest volume since October 2013.

That marks a nine per cent increase on the 6.41 million tonnes planned for export in March.

Oil prices tumbled by over two per cent per cent on Wednesday, with the US’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) saying

Another downstream operator, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, said the government had from the onset shot itself on the foot by tightening importation of petrol by marketers.

He said by doing that against the policy of the last government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan which liberalised importation and reportedly failed to exert some good controls, the present government had already lost some marginal advantage it would have gained in products availability.

He noted that the marketers were abiding by the forex rules of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and only importing products according to what Continued on page 8

I AM READY FOR TRIAL, SAYS SARAKI challenging his trial, dismissed the application by Saraki who is querying the legality of the charges proffered against him.

He held that the failure of the Code of Conduct Bureau to meet certain conditions precedents before putting Saraki on trial was not weighty enough to discharge him and strike out the trial.

He said section 3(b) of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, which made it a requirement for any defendant to be invited for confirmation or denial of discrepancies in the Assets form had been overtaken by the proviso of section 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution, which according to him, was the supreme law.

He said that section 3(e) of the 1999 constitution had rendered the condition precedent contained in the CCB Act unconstitutional, null and void because the CCB Act provisions were inconsistent with the constitution.

The tribunal further said that the failure of the CCB to invite the defendant in the

instant case had not ousted the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

However, on the failure of the CCB to obtain a written admission of Saraki on the alleged discrepancies in his assets form, the tribunal chairman said that the issue was crucial but could be raised in the substantive matter, adding that it was premature at the preliminary stage because the charge against the defendant bothered on alleged corruption.

"On this issue of failure of the CCB to obtain a written admission of discrepancies in the address forms of the defendant before referring him to this tribunal, we hold that this is crucial but can be raised in the substantive matter as doing so now at the preliminary stage is premature, more so, when the charge bothers on alleged corruption. For us therefore, it will be out of place to give legal weight to that failure for now without hearing the substantive matter.

"On the discharge of the

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Boko Haram Abducts 14 Women, 2 Girls in Adamawa Army vows to clear remnants of insurgents

Daji Sani in Yola and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja It was yet another tale of sorrow yesterday as suspected members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, abducted about 14 women and two girls in Sabongari village, Madagali Local Government of Adamawa State.

The incident occurred as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, disclosed that plans were being mapped out for the final onslaught to regain total control of the North East, particularly Bornu State where the insurgents had inflicted maximum casualty on the populace.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Adamawa State Command, DSP Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the abduction of the women, said that on learning about the development, the command sent a detachment of police officers to the affected area, adding that his men were working round the clock to track down the abductors.

Also confirming the incident, the member representing Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency, Mr. Adamu Kamale, said "I just received the shocking news that about 16 women have been abducted by Boko Haram.

"We have been witnessing pockets of attacks contrary to the belief that security has been fully restored in the area. As a member of National Assembly, I have been calling for the deployment of security personnel but to no avail, as the government seems to have relegated our concerns to the background."

A security source told THISDAY yesterday that the women were abducted on Wednesday by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram, in a forest near Sabongari while they were fetching fire woods.

The source said the women abducted were said to be in company of two local vigilante operatives who were overwhelmed by the insurgents.

Another source, who simply identified himself as Mallam Ahmadu, said that two out of the women abducted managed to escape from their abductors.

He said the insurgents had a field day carting away the women when their escorts ran away for fear of their lives.

The source said, "The two local vigilante men took to their heels when they sighted the gunmen who were armed to the teeth.

"They left the women to their fate as the gunmen were left unchallenged to abduct the said women," Meanwhile, facts have emerged on why the Nigerian military has not been able to clear the remnants of Boko Haram from their stronghold, Sambisa-Allargano forest axis, with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, disclosing that plans are being mapped out for the final onslaught to regain total control of the area.

THISDAY investigations revealed that despite confining the terrorists to the forest and few other enclaves close to the contiguous borders with Chad and Niger Republic, the Nigerian military has found it difficult to take total control of the area.

Buratai has, however, said that the large size of the forest and difficult terrain requires cautious planning and intelligence to clear

Burata out the terror sts from the area The Army Ch ef wh e fie d ng quest ons from ourna sts at the 82 D v s on N ger an Army Headquarters Enugu ast week adm tted that the m tary were deep ns de the forest but that the dep oyments to recapture the area were be ng done n phases He sa d "We are ns de Samb sa r ght now but the terra n s such that t requ res us to p an our movements ns de the area we cannot conduct ourse ves d sorder y "We need nte gence and carefu p ann ng to conduct that phase of our operat on ns de Samb sa t s not ust force we are be ng carefu and so we need more of nte gence and carefu p ann ng But we are work ng carefu y and mak ng progress n co aborat on w th other s ster agenc es " The Samb sa and A argano Forest wh ch s a forest encompass ng more than four Loca Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State northeast N ger a espec a y the mounta nous reg on of Gwoza near the Cameroon border has been used as both she ter og st c Command and Contro centre of the Boko Haram terror sts The nfamous forest wh ch s n the southwestern part of Chad Bas n Nat ona Park about 60 k ometres southeast of Ma dugur w th an area of 60 000 square k ometres has been under constant m tary ra ds and bombardment to dr ve away the terror sts s nce 2015 However desp te much success the m tary are yet to r d the area of the terror sts because of the vast and mass m nes and nadequate equ pment "Do you know how arge Samb sa forest s? It s as b g as Enugu State and b gger than some two states ( n the South) comb ned So when you hear about Samb sa forest t shou d be w th th s understand ng A ready we are ns de the forest and very soon the rema n ng terror sts wou d be c eared " Burata noted In the same ve n nte gence and m tary sources who spoke to THISDAY noted that the who e areas are heav y m ned and the ava ab e m ne-sweepers are not enough to c ear the operat ona area for the ground troops to move n Invest gat on revea ed that the aer a bombardment are not usua y compemented by ground troops advancement because of the cha enges of the terra n dead y and m nes and Improv sed Exp os ve

Dev ces (IEDs) In add t on a sen or m tary source a so noted the ack of adequate surve ance equ pment a rcraft and coord nat on between the a r and ground forces "The ssue s that desp te the aer a ons aught by the N ger an A r Force (NAF) the ground forces cannot mmed ate y fo ow up because of the d fficu t and heav y m ned terra n " a sen or NAF personne sa d "The cha enge a so has to do w th nadequate surve ance from the A r Force because the area s so arge But the ma or ssue s that andm nes st const tute a ma or prob em for our troops espec a y to comb Samb sa forest for effect ve mop up and take out Boko Haram However the pos t ve news s that ser ous efforts are be ng made to address the ssue as qu ck y as poss b e " another m tary source sa d A so these cha enges were corroborated by a so d er n the batt efie d ns de the Samb sa-A argano forest say ng that and m nes IEDs and weather cond t on const tute a maor prob em for the r m ss on to qu ck y comp ete the ob The so d er gave account of how the troops are r sk ng the r ves to ensure that the area s comp ete y berated but are somehow m ted by the Boko Haram and-m nes and IEDs death-traps Speak ng further the m tary source a so revea ed that the troops have made tremendous nroads and successes captur ng severa bases from the terror sts deep ns de the forests "My brother t s not a sma ob Even the m ne sweepers they brought cou d on y do as much because as am ta k ng to you there are a ot of m nes The m nes IEDs are much and s ow ng the process What these terror sts p anted there was so much and the m tary dont have enough equ pment ke the m ne sweepers to c ear them So those of us operat ng here are do ng t at great r sk In a re ated deve opment the N ger an m tary has aga nst the backdrop of recent v deo purported y re eased by the eccentr c eader of Boko Haram terror sts vowed not to spare any terror sts remnants from the ongo ng ons aught aga nst the r safe havens n the North East The D rector of Defence Informat on (DDI) Br g-Gen Rabe Abubakar n a statement yesterday sa d that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) not ced "the on ne v deo c ps purported y re eased by the Boko Haram Terror sts Leader Abubakar Shekau or h s rep ca n Arab c and Hausa anguages show ng remorse and ask ng for forg veness" He added "The DHQ w shes to state emphat ca y that not m nd ng the contents of the v deo c ps the Armed Forces of N ger a wou d cont nue to fight n order to conso date the successes recorded so far and assur ng N ger ans that no nch of the N ger an terr tory wou d be a owed to be bastard zed by any force of darkness aga n " Abubakar assured the members of the pub c "that a capt ves under the cover of the Boko Haram terror sts wou d rega n the r freedom w th the ongo ng m tary s fina offens ve aga nst the terror sts"

RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS THREATEN OPEC S OUTPUT FREEZE DEAL amount of forex was prov ded to them by the CBN Accord ng to h m Kach kwu by h s Wednesday dec arat on has on y showed the country s vu nerab ty n secur ty of petro supp y “What he has done s to put out the hazard t s a hazardous warn ng of what t cou d be for a ong t me ” he added S m ar y an o and gas expert Mr Dan Kun e stated that g ven the country s poor show ng w th ts refiner es products mportat on and scarc ty cou d nger beyond the m n ster s pro ect on Kun e exp a ned that w th a focused team and budget t wou d take Kach kwu

at east 18 months to repa r the country s three refiner es n Kaduna Port Harcourt and Warr and produce maybe 70 per cent of the r capac ty He noted that un ess ho st c repa r works on the refiner es are done the reported un t-by-un t repa rs w not br ng them to work we add ng that as ong as mportat on pers sts and NNPC s unab e to fix ts d str but on og st cs there wou d be nstances of products shortage “L ke our own s tuat on where t s a tota mess you w need to have to budget two years of d agnost c study parts procurement from Or g na

Equ pment Manufacturers (OEM) and then work Th s s the m n mum t me t w take to repa r those refiner es and get some eve of n-country supp es ” sa d Kun e Kach kwu had on Wednesday adm tted the enormous cha enges the NNPC s fac ng n mport ng petro eum products nto the country aga nst the backdrop of do ar shortages mor bund refiner es and the m sa ocat on of fue mports by the Petro eum Products Pr c ng Regu atory Agency (PPPRA) for the first quarter of 2016 The m n ster sa d there was no qu ck fix to the perenn a prob em

STARTERS

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Presidential Committee Indicts 300

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NEWS

ONSA Contractors, Recovers N7bn A committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) from 2011 to 2015 has recovered N7bn as well as indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens, including serving and retired officers of the armed forces. Page 10

FRIDAY MARCH

Presidential Co mmittee Indicts Contractors, Re covers N7bn 300 ONSA Email davidso

News Editor

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Davidson Iriekpe

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It said: “Several contractors were A committee apparently former Principal set contracts awarded up to probe were given over paid, while others General Staff full upfront payments Officer at the ONSA by the Office Systems Nigeria of the National contrary to and still a Limited - RC serving military 947255., Amp 620979, NigerLink (ONSA) from Security Adviser agreementstheir contract terms and Umar Sani, Dr officer), Alhaji Solar Services, Africa Holdings and 2011 to 2015 BOG in force. recovered N7bn has Yakubu Sanky, Apple Drops Nigeria Musaco Investment) RC (Under RC 93793, Protech “There Baba Bala, Ambassado as 834592, Iban Limited Global (Under more than 300 well as indicted payments was also evidence of 301426, Summit Consultant RC Musaco Layiwola Lasseinde r Clement Limited RC 1102219,. Apt Security companies and to individuals prominent citizens, - RC 165189, Autoforms Musaco Investment Investment), RC 304671, Publications Limited and in the companies by (a Director Telios Developme ONSA without ONSA), An architect Integrated including Mystrose Limited (Bank Charges), Limited serving and retired any Baitil Atiq nt from 1234829, Enterprises Limited - RC RC 468351, Urban officers of the contractual agreement or evidence Travels Holding CompanyRC 475579, NAF Nigeria armed forces.

Axis Consulting of jobs executed.

Limited RC 651613,Abode Shuaibu Salisu and Tours, Alhaji Limited (The - RC 1151145, BelshaServices Tree Communic Limited, Peach Networks A statement issued RCN “The of Finance and former Director Limited, ations Limited Nigeria 410115, RC InternationLimited RC 439720, Sail the Senior Special yesterday by discovered committee further Community Defence Administration Perception BDC at Foundation al Limited that some companies the ONSA), Colonel Law Pioneer RC President on MediaAssistant to the failed to - RC/IT No Bello Fadile Ventures RC 69776, 740741, Suburban Broadway RC 97863, meet (rtd) 56854, up (Special Adviser Complus Mr Garba Shehu, and Publicity, for contracts their tax obligations to Lt Col Limited, International Service Nigerian Limited - RC Proptex 469689, Geronimo Limited - RC Sambo Dasuki; executed.”

116801, and Middle East Prosedec Interglobal Cosse Limited Billion has been said over N7 The statement Africa, - RC 316214, Mr Otunla Jonah former NSA), Daar Investment 619845, Real PropertyLimited RC Romgat Julius Berger RC 6852, from the indictedrecovered so far also revealed said the committee Niyi, Otunba and Morgan Nigeria Adelakun, Holdings companies Investment Limited, Alhaji Limited RC and were awarded that 15 companies individuals.

Limited RC 902020, Dr Tunji Olagunju, Bashir Yaguda, Limited Dalhatu Investment contracts Communications294761, Sinash RC 178627.Stallion Motors Limited - RC 404535, Miss Oluwatoyin The committee, further investigation that require Oluwagbay Destra 333134, Limited RC Investment which to ascertain the i, Lt different from Skytick International The statement (rtd) {The former Col MS Dasuki Strategies Limited, Development the committee is status of their contracts.

Limited awarded said contracts RC 798693, that value of is investigating NSA}, Honourable International The total Maipata to the following the the 361191, DFX/Whit Limited - RC RC 74991, Soject Nigeria Limited Mohammed companies and Equipment Defence Arms this category contracts awarded in should be Abubakar, StellaVera e Zebu Mohammed was N11,726,571 Procurement, discovered that Suleiman. From – RC787658/RC1049919 BDC Company Limited Development 2020 Nigeria further investigated: , Duchy Teracon there was a total $202,136,890 and €4,114,752.9 ,161, Musaco investment Limited RC Concepts disregard of salient 6.

AG SWISS BASED, 713258, Acacia Holdings RC 1090292, It listed the Ibrahim Abdullahi and properties, Security Limited RC392281, Fara provisions of Wehsec Limited Farms companies Limited RC 694607, the Public Procuremen investigated investment and also from Musaco Gilt Nigeria Fimex Cable Limited RC 713258, African 940978, Africair Incorporate RC award of contracts t Act in the as: Abrahams by the committee properties, Alhaji Limited RC 143150, d US Television Limited Company, Augusta Telecommunication Aliyu Usman,18 other First RC 1113903, Aralac Global Westland The statement by ONSA. Limited, Almond Limited RC939512, BCN Nigeria Limited Limited and Value officers that Fix-HYL Global Project Limited, Trust Investment served in the ONSA. Brains and Hammers RC 509693, Bam Project Billion would said another N41 Limited Investment be refunded by RC It said the following and Properties, RC 655673, RC1129654, Good Concept Options indicted companies, the Bilal Turnkey1050628 and RC133792, Bob companies Ultimate Limited Oshodin Organisation Contractors Limited outrightly failed to execute while further Limited RC116882, year Properties RC 604167, investigation by Limited RC 790662, RC 616389, Circular Image Merchant Elizade Nigeria contracts or executed them the Coral Builders Automobil Financial Crimes Economic and Limited partially, and Promotions Limited RC 416703, RC 11544, Emerging Limited Limited RC 397748, RC 953549, Continentae have therefore Commission Interglobal Limited Dan Clington Limited RC 922205, Platforms Nigeria (EFCC) has been Project asked l RC refund various been Associates Limited Limited RC to Jos Peace determine whether ordered to 1201210, sums with Dialogue Forum189188, Nigeria Limited RC EMI System Law Partners 940978, RC follows:A 248986, Hadassa CAC/ Investment and Associates and Hatman are as IT/No75434, Kakatar Billion should another N75 Solutions Da’voice Network BN/UY/0 and Security RC Limited Abuja Consulting Limited, 443321, Limited RC be recovered 709085, 5 ventures 04566, Magnificient Leaderette Nigeria/No RC Kala Consulting from some of 658879, Foretech Limited, Afro-Arab the companies Solutions Limited Investment Limited Limited rden Global RC unexecuted or for 422129/RC1119925, RC 98562, Pioneer Ventures, MPS Global ServicesBN/2299463, RC A AdeshinaInvestment, Agbede partially executed 759046., Forts and Sheild Limited, One Nan Bizcom Nigeria and Co., Aleppo London Advertising Limited contracts.

Limited RC 1148793, Limited RC 680708, plus Holdings Nigeria UK Nerres BASED, Mithra GDP Associated Limited RC The statement said 695999, Limited RC Limited Oil Limited RC Quadsix Nigeria RC 1138835, the committee 830715, Hakimco Plectrum Consulting had succeeded Limited RC 1177968, Automobile in Reliance Reference Limited Hospitals of the funds from recovering some Properties s - RC 904389, Hamada and organisation these individuals RC 635720,and Investment Limited N3,537,549,223.04,s amounting to ManagemeInternational Resources nt Company $8,000,000 and houses worth R 22865, Investment Options N512,000,000 Limited - RC from 133484, 32 companies.

Jakadiya Picture Company The committee Limited RC that some individualsalso established Investment270972, JBE Multimedia Limited RC received monies and companies Kamala 48875, of contractual without evidence 845545, Motors Limited RC agreements or Key Information jobs Limited done. The amount Services individuals was received by these CommunicRC 297516, Leeman N7,104,925,000 ations Limited The statement said: “In a similar 499781, MCAF Associates RC RC vein, the committee 734745, Moortown Global Investment RC that some companies revealed 968416, Syntec Nigeria Limited RC to execute contracts that failed 220165, Trafiga Limited or did so RC 1098961, partially were Trim Communic to ations Limited The total amount make refunds. 261180, Securicor Emergency RC is N19,896,539,125.20,to be refunded Safety RC and and two houses $43,771,433.73 Services 431246, Sologic Integrated Limited N260,000,000.00.” in Abuja worth Autos Limited RC 744982, Wada RC The statement said Nigeria Limited 1082513, Zukhruf RC 306244, further established the committee Nigeria Limited RC 1090292, 2020 that one of the indicted A and companies, Societe B Associates Limited RC 279980.

D’Equipment The statement International said the following was overpaid to the tune of 7.9million individuals received payments: Euros and $7.09 R-L: President Million respectively Honourable Bello Matawalle, Muhammadu . General AS House of Represen Buhari; National Mormoni-Bashir (the the party’s tatives, Hon. Chairman, All

RECONCILIATOR Y MEETING

EDITORIAL Impunity and the 2014 AudIt Report

FG to Repatri ate Nigeria’s Buha

Progressi National Executive Yakubu Dogara; and Deputy Nationalves Congress (APC), Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja...ye Chairman (North), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; APC, Senator Speaker, sterday Lawal Shuiabu, during Godwin Omoigui

ri to visit Chin a in April Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

Looted Funds Stashed in UA E

Assistance Agreement The federal governmen s signed Muhamma

by UAE and other countries t yesterday said it was poised to disclosed du Buhari, Onyeama to repatriating facilitate dealing with stolen a significant amount funds. quick that Buhari could achieve stabilise the downward slide UAE is one of wins and a lot oil prices. of but this the areas we looted funds stashed of Nigeria’s clearly of support ministry are and cooperation looking at in in the United He stressed any agreement has not signed of EXIM Arab Emirates terms of repatriating Nigeria’s to presidents when from his fellow had articulatedthat the president (UAE).

Bank and the Onyeama added.be part of them,” governmen resources, them Chinese It said though he meets with but how t had one-on-one. administration the vision of his specific on the it could not be at? We much are we looking Meanwhile, various developmeembarked on built on security, figure of the looted don’t have any According to the ntal projects funds stashed in figure in Buhari the minister, economy, governance and tackling Ambassador to Nigeria, Chinese in Nigeria respect of that, the including airport corruption, Gu Xiaojie, had but hopefully, that the amount UAE, but noted would construction it South Africa, strategically visited represents noting that: “Buhari who spoke with journalists be significant could be on the to bridge at a separate occasion, Kenya, Egypt because we high side. the really need it, oil and and his the brand Nigeria has said Buhari infrastructure gap. prices being where Equatorial Guinea, Iran would persona has The Minister of “The total trade among others to push attracted state be in China on his first Foreign Affairs, they are, we really need between Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama, his foreign policy goodwill to the country.” to get visit in April, and China is $14.92billion much of our he said. stolen funds as and shore up support made the On the speculations disclosure while According to 2016. last year back and Africa. for Nigeria as possible” the that the envoy, the on account of falling commodity Nigeria responding has joined the minister averred. questions at prices, but Nigeria Islamic countries president’s visit to China According a press briefing to He said all is still the third would be to expand Abuja. the multilateral alliance against terrorism, in governmen to him, the federal meetings the cooperation largest trading partner t had been engaging minister said the between attended by of China.

He told journalists his many Nigeria “Trading Buhari ministry countries were and aimed at pushing that the federal relations between China. not sign any agreement did to repatriate the government’s He African and efforts at recovering stolen funds, saying all Nigerian interests with the China promised that Nigeria and the two countries are significant the countries looted funds to the forefront Islamic countries. and growing, were willing would was ongoing. of the world. to assist Nigeria.

“Nigeria is facing implement the work closely to destination and Nigeria is the “Yes, there are On an the outcomes existential Onyeama noted shuttle Mutual Legal threat and there of the developmeof Chinese contractual Sino-Africa that frequent foreign diplomacy and visits to is nt projects.

Saudi Arabia Buhari’s global coalition to a need to join a in South summit which was held trips by President and Qatar, Africa in December, “China among others, so we support combat terrorism, 2015. capacities, is in a position to share Xiaojie added that were meant to Islamic alliancethe objectives of the dire experience and Nigeria deploy need of infrastructu was in finance to assist against terrorism, in the developmen re, saying Chinese firms t with the backing of African countries,” the envoy noted.

Discrepancies of about N3.3 trillion the remittance of funds by tr on inntherem ttanceoffundsby various ministries, departments and var ousm n str es departmentsand agencies as well as fore foreign agenc es (MDAs) MDAs aswe gn missions are some of the revelations m ss onsaresomeofthereve at ons contained the 2014 Annual Audit conta ned innthe2014Annua Aud t Report recently presented to the National Assembly by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation. Page 15 I

ED TOR AL

M

D

F

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POLITICS Nwifuru: A Speaker Par Excellence

A Path so Familiar POLITICS The hurriedly organised National Economic Council retreat, chaired A Pa h so Fa m ar byVice-PresidentYemi Osinbajo T and held in theVilla, Abuja on Monday, may have been President Muhammadu Buhari’s fire contingent measure to saturate the suffocating pressure on him and arrest the fast worsening economic situation in the country... Page 16 16

T H I S D AY

• FRIDAY, MARCH

25, 2016

Group Politic s Editor Olawa le Olaleye Email wale.o laleye@thisda ylive.com 0811675981 9 SMS ONLY

PERSON

ALITY F OCUS

The National Economic Coun nothing more cil retreat conv , writes Iyob ened may turn osa Uwugiar out to be a talken shop

and

WEEKENDFILE WEEKEND When Little Drops Count F It was the fourth and final For many expert economic confers, an ence that compr ises stakeholders diverse and ex

ILE

command performances of Little Drops, a brilliant stage play by the Niger Delta playwright, Professor AhmedYerima.

Page 23

WHEN L TT LE DROPS CO UNT

BUSINESS Capital Flight from Foreign Airlines

T H I S D AY

Hits $4bn Annually Revenues from ticket sales by foreign airlines, salary emoluments from expatriate pilots and engineers, and cost of aircraft maintenance overseas have risen to over $4 billion annually,THISDAY checks have revealed. Page 19

CITYSTRINGS Raising a New Generation

of Entrepreneurs One of the landmark decisions by the current government, in recent times, was its decision to delist 40 items from the list of imported items through which the country's hard earned foreign exchange was depleted. Page 38

• FRIDAY, MARCH 25,

2016

BUSINESSW

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Quick Takes

FAAN Set forEaste

2016 BUDG ET PASSED

L-R: Chairman, Abdulmumuni House Committee on Media Jibrin; Chairman, and Publicity Senator Senate Committee Publicity, Hon Namdas Sabi Abdullahi Abdulrazak; Chairman, on Appropriat during a joint House press conference ion, Senator Danjuma Goje and Chairman,Committee on Appropriat on the approval ion, Hon of 2016 budget Senate Committee in Abuja...rece on Media and ntly JULIUS ATOI

Capital Flight $4bn Annua from Foreign Airlines Hit lly s

Chinedu Eze

rSurge The manageme (FAAN) has assurednt of the Federal Airports sary operationa air travellers and airline Authority of Nigeria operators that l and security at all our airports necesmeasures have been put in place and cargo during to ensure hitch-free passage of passenger According to this Easter holidays. s has beenenhan the FAAN, passenger facilitation conveyor belts cedbytheinstallationofmoremoat all its airports and dernandbigger “The expansion metal walk-through detectors . the country now and modernisation of all provide better ambience the airport terminals in and commerci for passenger facilitation take advantageal offerings. Passenger s are time and avoid of online portals to book hereby advised to their carrying flights unauthorised Television Cameras ahead of items. is to aid the joint (CCTV) mounted around The Close Circuit FAAN added security efforts,” it said. the airport vicinity that travellers early on their are encourage travel dates facilities in good in order to completed to leave home time. their boarding

Lawmaker Backs Fayose

The plan by Ekiti on state governor Airport Construction state has been to construct foresight in applauded by an Ekiti lawmaker an airport in the a bid Hon. Titilayo to transform the economy for the governor’s Owolabi Akerele of in the Ekiti State representing the state.

House of Assembly, Ikole ll constituen while fielding cy who commende questions from said the proposed d Fayose aviation correspon airport, when dents in Lagos, economy of completed, the state. would boost Akerele, who the having an airportis an aviator, said there was nothing in Ekiti to facilitate state has the wrong in movement financial backing, the state. stressing that of people if the it would transform “If there is financial backing to build wrong in having the airport there between Ondo an airport in Ekiti. If you look is nothing at and The lawmaker, Ekiti, the roads are bad. the road connection ” who was a two nautical Informatio time National President of n Service of the governmen AeroNigeria (AISAN), t was airport but building not thinking of constructin explained that g an internation one that would aircraft. al accommodate small body “To me as an I am not trying aviator, I don’t see anything to be sentiment wrong with that al,” he said. and

AVIATI ON and largely Revenues from have foreign cockpit crew, ticket sales said a Nigerian by foreign as many of Checks pilot, who emoluments airlines, salary Airports from the Federal have foreign registratio them flies for one of n. from expatriate Authority According to major airline, the country’s pilots and engineers, NANTA, (FAAN) revealed of Nigeria airlines who would record the foreign want his name not of aircraft maintenan and cost in an increase highest passenger in print. ce overseas movements, foreign exchange remittance Industry have risen particularl to over $4 s Belujane analyst and CEO of billion notwithstay overseas travels, out of Nigeria, after oil annually, THISDAY Konsult, Chris and gas said Aligbe checks economy. nding the sliding and mobile phone companies have revealed.

Nigeria loses about It is It .

The National that overseas was confirmed continue feared that would lion through ticket sales$3 bilAssociatio travel money expended and as of Nigerian Travel Agenciesn rising steadily as morehas been have continuedNigerian airlines maintenan on aircraft (NANTA) to underperfo airlines and increase their ce; training, technical Airbus Unveils disclosed that rm and engineering government frequencie much as $2.3 New Cabin Brand as has continued s to to approve European planemake crew billion was gener- Nigerian destination ated by Nigerian multi-designation money out of the takes huge s. r Airbus, on Wednesda cabin brand Apart on Aligbe said as country.

2014 from ticket travel agents in services, from ticket sales and of foreign carriers, including more passengerdesigned to help cost-consc y unveiled a new long as Nigeria cannot train s on long-haul ious airlines airlines and sales for foreign industry the Nigerian aviation increase in frequencies. discomfort. indigenous personflights while carry tour services. is highly dependen “Majority nel that could avoiding additional this amount, Of on foreign The move reflects t in Nigeria of pilots operating personnel these essential be carrying out generated from$1.4 billion was aircraft are foreigners the rivalry between jazz up interiors for services in the , the aviation major planemake and give airlines Besides travel ticket sales alone. parts maintenance, aircraft same with aircraft engineers, industry, expatriate the industry rs to acquisition and they agents, foreign more struggles to airlines sell tickets s services. partsare paid in dollars. Aircraft would continue to be capture more flexibility on cabins as passengers. employed through the Major technical personnel traffic without are paid for banks, airports from pilots of angering in dollars, and huge resources taken Airbus said the “Airspace of country as out which generate and city offices, includingmodern aircraft fleet, simulator training for its

by Airbus” brand salaries upgraded pilots emolumen and other A330, amount with almost the same are over business jets, which are done overseas and are would debut late 2017, before the A330neo, which the travel agents. for in dollars; paid remittance ts in addition to on 140 in the country is so after oil, majorly maintaine s from ticket are industry Airlines will still the new designs are rolleddue in service from the sales. makes the “How can Nigeria be able to choose out to other d overseas but with jets. highest demand on what cabin layout the new cut down foreign exchange,” seats compared designs an A330neo they will on average want with the existing Continued up to 300 passenger gain 10 A330 model, on page 20 which can take Airbus and rival s.

Boeing are vying their jets more to add passengers economically attractive for more seats to make will not feel the airlines groups say cabins difference, though while claiming Stakeholders The trend has feel increasingly crowded. many consumer gas sector are in the oil38 and ing wars in recentproduced increasingly bitter industry that the Eginain high hopes years, with each MARIT IME planemakers brandLADOL, of oil the accusing and world’s Mr. project would gas the other two largest Airbus said by promised thattheLadi Jadesimi of seeing rearranging galleyof sacrificing comfort. implemented be successfully project would the country seats would On completion as the constructio and lavatory leap into be , the platform, be completed soon. her quest of of the $3.8 space, the n width and still added to the A330neo with otherwise bilThe stakeholde with eight seats by the year being in the G30 no reduction extra production storagelion floating is expected called Egina project 2020.’’ in across each T H expressed delight rs, who to provide direct row.I S D AY •seat Kida, who ing (FPSO) platformand offload- indirect FRIDAY, MARCH at the extent and of the described the employme is nearing 25, 2016 completion. ties for hundreds nt opportuni- ecutivework included the Ex- project as the first of its kind in Africa said Secretary of of Nigerians The constructio and facilitate his company Acting Featur maritime activities, Daziba Obah and NCDMB, proud to was started in 2013 n of the facility sources be associated Deputy es Editor Charle with the award General Manager familiar with it.

He the contract to of told THISDAY with the deal Email charle Korea engineering s Ajunwa Kida, representa of Total Musa sup- explained that Total’s on giant, Samsung port and confidence s.ajunwa@this tives of other “It is good politics The governme Wednesday. internation in nt (SHI). The SHIHeavy Industry and al oil companies bringing the but bad daylive.com economics to some stakeholde agencies (IOCs)- ENI, project was awarded sign the contract rs recently Chevron, Agip, country was influenced to the embarked on Service Agreeme Bilateral Air for Shell, and an assessment by the Nigerian Local of a world class the building of the ExxonMobilnt tour (BASA) Content initiative, with countries platform, while oil production extent project to ascertain the top managers of Gulf and which was passed and their airlines Trade the of work.

Bank (GTB). into law as will be operating Offshore Logisticsthe Lagos Deep Nigerian Content Speaking at Base (LADOL) The oil industry while your own into Nigeria, the project site “Our visit today Act 2010. was its local in stakeholde Tarkwa content partner. do not operate told THISDAY is Bay, into theirs” that the FPSO r portant. We are here very imthe Executive Apapa, Lagos, indeed to appraise ’’is work on a Chairman our noble support of nation’s game changer for the Former Director economy and for General, Nigerian capable Aviation Civil

Construction Completion of $3.8bn Egina FPSO Nea rs

CITYSTRING S

Raising a N of Entrepre ew Generation neurs Continued

Authority

(NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren

At its Glob al answers on Student Entrepreneurs how to shap Awards, the write Adedayo e the entre preneurial Entrepreneurs’ Orga Adejobi nisat skills of youn g Nigerians ion provided to create jobs,

L-R: GSEA Chair, Entreprene Molokwu, at the 2016 Globalur Organisation, Nigeria, Mr. Lere Baale; Student Entreprene Chief Executive ur Awards Officer, EO in Lagos…rec Global Mr. ently Vijay

O

on page 20

Tirathrai;

ne of the landmark CEO, Hoursspen t, Blessing decisions by the current Ijoma, (Winner) “The interestin and President, recent times, government, in combined g part is EO Lagos, that we Mr. Vincent revenue of to delist 40 was its decision to Brown all members have a Therefore about items from list of imported , entrepren coming the economie$600billion. This eurship playing a positive items through s of Nigeria, is bigger than the 2 country’s earned foreign which 4 the role in the is more about who Portugal.

Malaysia, job creation economy through exchange were millionair hard employedAgain, about 2.5 Ireland, this policy Global, Mr. and about solving million es and many was depleted. Through saddening by a need”, EO Vijay Tirathrai others, the seeks ways was the fact years back and more job and wealthour members. Thinkpeople are The Lagos government no longer to conserve explained about creation by chapter president exchange existed, but that their businesse . the country’s the effect our members the Brown Molokwu and give wings s died with it has on “To create foreign , Mr. Vincent against powerful and Managing lives and , who is to the Naira entrepreneurssuccessful businesses them. the economy. also the Group to currencies Director, NiGSA This move in Nigeria, in the world.fly led other key change their and people generally Energy speakers, inspire the by government is mindsets.FRIDAY need to guests, and EO members,Nigeria, entrepren intended population Instead MARCH embrace the to look inwards to 25, 2016 • T host to Mr. student entrepreneurs special “political eurship”, “tenderpr of “necessity principle of H I S D AY and eneurship Through this, entrepren to play backward 2016 edition Tirathrai during the ” or building enterprise eurship”, let’s integration Nigerians chapter’s of its annual create jobs . focus are Entrepren encourag s on rather than he advised. that will Global Student eurs not exist. outlive us”, This move look for jobs ed to way provides Awards (GSEA), According that do which in Creating jobs to Molokwu a authoritie ment’s efforts answers to the current is intendedby government , despite eigndesk as governme s to encourage email:for wanted, however, at bringing governefforts nt its current Nigeria, it the country entrepreneurship by@thisdaylive.com economic has its own would have From a lack is yet population to inspire the out of of quagmire.

The Lagos in challenges. some obviousto get off the ground mentorship of sound business because missing links. president, practices to and embra to look inwards entrepreneurs chapter “If we have describing ment policieschallenges, Belgian in Nigeria, funding and necessity ce the princi these youthful to change mindsets, have all pose challengespolice governbeen hunting entrepreneurs”, said “I call them greatest number of for a thirdthat it’s and backw ple from of “I need requestedard tender ages to inculcate manstare filmed of Nigeria’s the adjournmen to put bread with the mindset thewith two that we need and would-be in the younger Islamic State table”. Expatiatin entrepren t, ation.

Abdeslam was integr idea that said and generatio ‘the business bombersThrou gh this, no longer opposed on Thursdaywhere EO is the entrepren eurs in thesuicideeurs g, he decriedbutter on the is Brussels to discuss at to being airport as not a destinatio of entrepren n the people face. the matter. the situation extradited toNiger Opposition lawmakers entrepreneurs, world’s up evidence piled are doing ians are largest eurship a veteran n’. entrepren encou France. network Hence, that be more Belgian “Salah a the Abdeslam demanded with continuou of ‘necessity raged business should Islamist fighter ofnetwork in 150 cities over 12,000same jihadist explanation innesses eurship’, has an rather s journey asked meto Syria than creating in create founder parliament. or chapters,was involved members to inform the biggest such that thatBelgium’s will outlive suspected of making explosive goes,ofanother that he rather in the deadly jobsyou interior and justice when the across 50 countries. the three,person beltsthem.

Gauging than to leavelook exploded attacks Paris as quickly wishes According for November’s busifor France for later as bomb ministers the entrepren last November. takes low jobs to him, to resign on Thursday over”.

Paris attacks, in Nigeria, offered disposal that as possible,” the missing “we were in eurial are ignoring experts and cheeks, a tiny goatee beard With pressure mounting Mary told 130 people landscape reporters atdo not exist over athe chapterwhich clearingthe isthick failure were killed by to track militants. disappoin that black theSMEs (Small link the courthouse, president Enterprise on Europe his Brussels-bas to improve eyebrows. U.S. expressed no s) which arearea, causing andDefense Interiortment saying Jan ed militants.

Medium client“wants to Ministerthat many people cooperation blood ofcasualties.

Jamboncould Secretary Ash no more explain against The third suspect terrorism, EU the economy”supposed to be said Prime that one Carter said Public Mary said Abdeslam himself”. Charles the names Ministerhearairport live interior and justice bloodshed lot of informal broadcaste . In Nigeria, thethe captured on Michel in the capital of people ministers were said investigato businessers. RTBF we have a European to hold emergency aware of the plan to attack was not stay on.“In time had asked him to baggagesecurity cameras pushing can If the governme Union, not far from of the now believed a adedicate talks on a joint somers more trolley into the second bomber nt NATO response to Tuesday’s Turkey’s president criticized Brussels. leave the field,” of war, you cannot hall attentionheadquarters departures was involved through , showed Washington bombings in alongside Jambon the metro Belgium in for failing

INTERNATIONAL Belgium Hunts for Suspect Caught on Film Belgian police have been hunting for a third man filmed with two Islamic State suicide bombers at Brussels airport as evidence piled up that the same jihadist network was involved in the deadly Paris attacks last November. Page 42

SPORTS Captain Mikel Leads Eagles in Battle

INTERNATIONA L Be lgium Hunts for

Suspect Caught on

Film

told VTM Brahim Brussels, which European allies Laachraoui and attack close to television. Justice to track Brahim killed at a convicted should do more ’s European fight least 31 people El Bakraoui, and injured hundreds. to Geens would also Minister Koen target El Bakraoui is now the Commission headquarte Islamic State alongside armed robber rs. The French Prime of a police man was spotted stay on, a ministry whom American it expelled manhunt.

He has not on security efforts in the Middle East.

Valls led calls for Minister Manuel himself last year and who blew spokesperson said. cameras been named.

Democratic a Security sources The but his carrying a heavy bag, response”, but “strong European Tuesday up at Brussels airport on told Belgian bespectacled man wearing candidate Hillary U.S. presidential identity was officials say many an hour before media the other a cream jacket and a black unknown Clinton criticized states, including his brother lack of cooperation the hat ran out of and it was not clear if the airport was suicide bomber at the terminal, France, withhold Khalid, a fellow convict, their most cherished among European he had countries, Najim Laachraoui, died or escaped.

20 people at Maelbeek killed about federal prosecutors data despite saying the EU said, and a third a mantra of metro station A computer-g in the city center. lacked a system for willingness to suitcase bomb, share intelligence. showed a young enerated image data or exchanging air passenger A Turkish government a joint intelligence man with holThe chief surviving official said Brahim center to share information the Paris and Brussels suspect linking twice El Bakraoui was deported . from Turkey in attacks, July French national Salah and August after Abdeslam, 26, arrested initial re-entering the country. His in the Belgian capital last week, deportation was remanded in based on custody until was police suspicion, conveyed April with two other to the suspects. The public7 Belgian and Dutch authorities, prosecutor said he was a foreign that Abdeslam, who militant in detention in a prison in Brugesis another official said. Since fighter, in western Belgium, he did not appear committed no offense in Turkeyhad in person. was deported to the country he His lawyer, Sven of his choice, the Netherlands Mary, who . Belgium’s inner security cabinet was meeting

Congo’s Presid ent Wins Reelection

Congo Republic Sassou Nguesso, President, Denis and it also banned has won a new five-year term vehicles nationwidethe use of motor with 60.39 percent during the vote the vote, the interior of itself. on Thursday, extendingminister said Sassou over the oil-producin his long rule in 1979 Nguesso came to power and governed g nation that first began in until 1992, when he lost 1979. an election. In Interior Minister 1997, he regained power after Zephyrin Mboulou Raymond war and a civil then announced the result on 2002 and 2009won elections in L-r: Belgian state television at which there said opposition and were allegations Prime Minister chief, Federica , Charles Michel, Parfait Kolelas, leader Guy-Brice Mogherini, paying He campaignedof fraud.

European Commissi who is popular this time on a tribute to the the south of the in promise on President victims of a to develop the won 15 percent capital Brazzaville, infrastructu blast in the metro , Jean Claude Juncker, country’s re and commit station of Maalbeek and EU foreign while retired in Sunday’s vote, quarter policy a general Jean-Marie of the state in Brussels…

Mokoko won budget yesterday education to to 14 percent. tackle high youth Opposition unemploym alleged election candidates have 4.5 million. ent in the nation of China has launched an unusual charm offensive said it was an Wednesday thatfraud and said on to explain its fi “unusual”move The rst the normally by including show Sassou their own results through 72-year-old pushed overseas naval base in Djibouti, secretive Chinese Nguesso Bangladesh, Myanmar defeat.The government headed for tion in changes to the constitu- seeking to assuage global concerns government to try and Sri Lanka. meeting of parliament a referendum about military has imposed degree of transparencyand bring a a blackout on last expansioni October Indian military . to alter the term and internet and mobile There are several to its plans. officials told age limits that portraying the move as sm by “China does not phone communicati African ports which China Beijing’s want to be seen Reuters that China’s contribution ons since Sunday, would have barred him from and Chinese to regional security as a threat,” the diplomat naval are helping presence in Djibouti standing and for another five-year firms development. said. to build and develop. would add In a lengthy mandate. another Commercia The message l in nature, they Reuters, China’s statement to military dimension to India’s could Defence Ministry contingency all to Beijing’s moreis in stark contrast confirmed planning, one berth Chinese naval ships so far confi bellicose stance it had communica day. One Chinese on the South its intentions ted air operationsned to land and China diplomatic about Djibouti source, speaking claims on a vital Sea, where its “relevant to a decades-ol stemming from on condition trade waterway countries of have raised hackles tional organisatio and interna- with China d border dispute anonymity, said the idea for the across Asia ns”, reiterating across the Himalayas. Djibouti facility came and the United the facility Morocco said up last year Together was mostly when China’s yesterday has repeatedly States. China resupply for ment in with China’s involvedismantled a suspected that it had said it does purposes for Hundreds of fighters foreigners from navy evacuated Pakistan’s seek a U.S.-style not anti-piracy, militant cell Yemen. linked to Islamic another potential Gwadar port, and other Maghreb from Morocco by extending “hegemony” humanitarian and peacekeepi The Chinese military operations. states like Tunisia ng the role Libya and that State’s affiliate in and Algeria its of China’s navy base, had to give mostfrigate involved some of the nine including throughmilitary reach, have joined “What needs men arrested were onboard supbases abroad. to be stressed be greatly enhanced and would plies to those evacuated, planning attacks militant forces in Syria’s Islamist Now is that China in the North African posed it with a threat civil war. doing that it appears it may Some are threatening leaving upholds a path be the problem of Indian to the Indian navy, new It was the latest kingdom. of finding create new jihadist to return and ment precisely that, the govern- peaceful development ... army supplies. brigadier in and a has never series of home has Singh Unlike the United wings been radical Islamist engaged in an said in a paper Mandip States, China countries, security in their on its rationale quietly briefing or arms race has no permanent military expansion. says it has brokengroups Morocco for the resupply experts say. government-funded for the Djibouti Nearby This will bases. never change.” ministry statement up. An interior draw for Libya has become a major base and using state media Djibouti, which for Defence Studies and Institute “It’s a supply jihadists address fears said the cell was Analyses. operating in the of China’s aims.to already hosts military facility “Djibouti also and sub-Saharanfrom North Africa city facilities for “China is explaining enables China and simple,” the source pure the United States Africa as coastal town of of Marrakesh, the State has to base its long-range it as part said.

With Beijing and Sidi Bennour and taken advantage Islamic the ‘one road, keen not naval air Djibouti Smara, which is one belt’ strategy, of echoed Beijing’s line France, has assets there. in security of the in And these are a military base, to call territory of Westernthe neighbouring base, chaos there to build a help link Ethiopia to the sea,” to will be used for that the base of maintainin capable run staterefuelling and operate one Western media has said other g diplomat reined back It said the nine Sahara. logistical support the Arabian Sea surveillance over using and take over training camps been the as to briefed by Chinesewho has piracy and the city of Sirte. were inspired by group members protect trade fight island territories well as India’s The Globalterm to describe it.

The offi another militant off the Western routes. coast,” Times, But it Sidi Bennour who from believesMoroccan government on the Djibouti base, referringcials he wrote. tabloid, quoted an influential 1,500 Moroccan China’s New to should also says the West Libyan capital Tripoliwas killed in5the Silk 4 als are not be worried nationThe Western shortly after Chinese experts That involves Road strategy. seeks “military diplomat if China Wang spoke attacked a prison when militants factions fighting with militant opening outposts”, given on the Chinese plans briefed saying China as was not building added: “If a in a attempt to in September 2015 220 havein Syria and Iraq. About corridors across continents trade that Western nations I were Indian I would that will them military base free inmates there. help bolster the returned home in be very a for years around have had worried Morocco’s Central Chinese been jailed, and and supply facility. Djibouti, only 286 have been and connect it with economy Construction began the world. up to about what China is Judicial Investigation Bureau of killed the rest of in Djibouti.”

Djibouti’s governmen in battle. the world. A in February (BCIJ), the A U.S. State in the country judicial part of the $4 Departmen billion t, meanMorocco, while, is keen of fewer railway million t spokesman will connect an ally of to develop intelligence service,Moroccan domestic against people, striving than a late last year: FRIDAY said cooperation military MARCH 25, Islamist militancy, the West Addis Ababa Ethiopia’s capital internation “We to be an to alleged militants has actively tracked militant 2016 • T H I S has suffered to Djibouti’s gaining greater look forward already well with China.“China is al shipping new D AY clarity as prepared Djibouti’s location hub. seized large partssince Islamic State recently attacks in the past, most Chinese-invested port, where the roles and Djibouti, increase to support in 2011 in military of Syria and Iraq purposes of to Group a on in 2014-15.

SportsitsEditor this capabilitieto an explosion tore Marrakesh when accordingfacility will be located, northwestern edge of the the new facility, and note military Indian s and guarantee through a cafe Ocean has fuelled that Duro Ikhazu to Chinese AFCO killed and N152017 security,” Email its worries in India participates in internationa China people, mostly A second diplomat, media. agbe duro.ik Chinese that it will become QUAL l counter Minister foreigners.IFIER piracy actions Defence hazuag also been China’s briefed by China in another of the Gulf of Aden.”

Chang Wanquan be@th isdayli “string of More on the plans, ve.com alliances and pearls”of military Chinese bases may be on the way, during a visit to Djiboutisaid assets ringing in India, Yi hinted Foreign Minister Wang 2014, in comments carried on the at this month’s annual embassywebsite of Djibouti’s in Beijing.

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China Launches Offensive for First Overseas Nava l Base

Morocco Arres ts 9 Suspected Militants

against Pharaohs John Mikel Obi emerged as the captain of the national team following the sensational demotion of Ahmed Musa to the vicecaptainship position 24 hours before Nigeria takes on Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna today. Page 54

FRIDAYSPOR TS

Captain M ikel Battle again Leads Eagles in st Pharaohs

Olawale Ajimotoka n in Kaduna

protested that he was side tracked John Mikel for another Obi emerged the captain as still active player when he was of with the team following the national Austin Eguavoennational team. the sensational demotion of Ahmed first capped Mikel against Musa to the Libya in a friendly vice-captainship match 2006, while Musa before Nigeria position 24 hours his made first the Africa Cup takes on Egypt in Madagasca appearance against of r in Calabar in Kaduna today.Nations qualifier 2010 in an Africa Cup in August At a pre-match of Nations qualifier. media parley at the Siasia described Ahmadu Bello Stadium, yesterday, Eagles best player, Mikel as the Musa, the saying CSKA Moscow striker, insisted him to still be playing for that for the decision to Chelsea for six years is step not a joke. was at his instance down for Mikel Mikel is Nigeria’s biggestHe said the most senior to pave way for now brand and deserves player to become to the captain. be respected.

He said Musa will be the next Musa said he person band as a way conceded the respect in the line as vice captain in of the principle of righting the error made of hierarchy of seniority in by the team. who ignored Sunday Oliseh, Chelsea midfielder, the before appointing seniority order however, praised Musa Mikel, as the captain. a junior player a wonderful for being professional, “I stepped down saying it takes is someone ahead because there he did. a man to react in the way normal to follow of me and is “I commend him (Musa) is my senior that order. Mikel I know and what is expected a lot.

So, Mikel is the a big brother. as a of me leader. I won’t Musa said in captain, not me,” down let the team a measured as THISDAY however, cadence. the best I promise to lead to scooped them of my ability and guide from team sources that to Musa game greater height. The Egypt was downgrade that because Siasia d to a lesser role is a game will be difficult and it be guaranteed said he could not because we know we can win in an attacking a starting a role in our of the quality of players team, role ‘’ Mikel said. is intense competitiowhere there Siasia doused n. concern The captain’s issue was a subject depleted central defence about the of heated dispute following the injuries and Vincent between Oliseh Kenneth to Leon Balogun and Mikel (centre) is new Super Eagles Enyeama, who Omeruoh. He captain said has cover up defenders that he turn the match around. can Similarly, he said that medical who have trying to team would assess adapt to the weather. possession of of winger Aaron the availability the ball and “The boys have Samuel, who took a knock been trying to move forward as quick have yesterday evening, to get used during training as we Eagles can,” Siasia moment after Wednesday on will make to the weather. We said. had their own evening. workout at sure Egypt, He also said the the heat; we we play smart in Kaduna who arrived in the same venue.

Lazio midfielder don’t have to The players heat would not searing Kaduna when on Wednesd run night serve out his Ogenyi Onazi will it is unnecessary affect the Eagles ay At Pyramid who are lodged at three-match ban aboard a ; we should also play smart; missing today’s Hotel are however charter shielded 2017 Africa Cupby we must keep flight, trained from the media Nations (AFCON) at the of Ahmadu and have been issued qualifier against Bello Stadium Egypt at the Ahmadu order not to grant interview.

Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Netherlands footballing Onazi was great Johan sent off against Cruyff has died Chad in an AFCON of cancer aged 68 years. qualifier in June and has so Cruyff, who made official matches, far missed two his name as a City-bound manager forward with 2018 World Cupthe two legs of the Ajax and Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, who played under was European Swaziland last qualifier against footballer of the year. said his former Cruyff at Barca, three times. year The energetic the chapel and manager “painted midfielder will He won three available for selection Barcelona be consecutive coaches since have European Cups fixture on Tuesday for the reverse Onazi merely restored with Ajax from improved it”.

1971, ... to return or Officials have in Alexandria. to action first coached Barcelona to their David Beckham European Cup the Eagles will also disclosed triumph called Cruyff in 1992 a “true hero” and helped the preparations for round up their who was “not TODAY Friday’s showdown one of the best just 1974 World Cup Dutch reach the against Egypt Swaziland v history of the footballers in the lost 2-1 to West final, where they Zimbabwe training at the with an hour’s game Germany.

Gabon v S’Leone match venue. the greatest men but also one of The Dutch FA The Eagles will Nigeria v Egypt you could meet”.and nicest person train from 3.30pm hardly be found said: “Words can Cruyff…s local time. for uccumbs to Cote d’ Ivoire ex-Barcelona player,Gary Lineker, an It added that this huge loss.” cancer at last v Egypt, who jetted Mauritania v Sudan has lost a man added: “Football “greatest Dutch Cruyff was the World Gambia Wednesday night, into Nigeria who did more Cup final.

Tunisia v Togo make the beautiful time and one footballer of all to feel of the Ahmaduwill have a first Cruyff of game beautiful Guinea v Malawi than anyone ever” and wishedthe world’s best surgery had double heart bypass hard-fought battle with pitch from 5pm. Bello Stadium in history.” cancer”, according to everyone in 1991 Mali v E’ Guinea “a and of Friday’s BBC lot strength in this a statement on gave up official football commentato smoking match will kick off 5pm his Davies Algeria v Ethiopia website. local time.

Cruyff scored difficult time”. operation, immediately after the said Cruyff deservedr Barry 293 goals in 521 King Willem-Ale swapping cigarettes GROUP G STANDIN appearances xander of the in the top three footballers to be for lollipops. for G Netherlands said time, along of all clubs - including five different GROUP G the country had He “lost Argentina’s with Brazil’s Pele and STANDING while winning 204 in 276 games health even featured in a Catalan a unique and brilliant sportsman” Diego Maradona.

Pos 18 department advert, He spells for Ajax. trophies in two the public: “He was so warning He added: “He was a Dutch icon..

Team “Football has belonged to us so full of ideas,”exciting to watch, P He first showcased given me W D Davies told BBC L Holland’s friendlyall.” the ‘Cruyff everything in life, tobacco GF GA GD Radio 5 live. turn’ at the 1974 almost on took it all away.”

Egypt Pts Friday will stop against France match against World Cup in a Manchester City 2 2 0 after 14 Barcelona won Sweden and scored and Belgium 0 8 four consecutive for a minute-long silence minutes captain Vincent 33 goals in 48 1 La Liga titles 7 Nigeria in tribute internationals.

Kompany called 6 to Cruyff, 1991 to 1994 2 With his precision 1 1 under a player. who wore number 14 as Cruyff “true football 0 passes, speed, Cruyff, who remained influential royalty”, 2 adding: “I don’t technique and 0 2 Tanzania at goalscoring ability, the club after his sacking 4 Barcelona FC ever influenced think anyone has Cruyff set new 3 in expressed 1 1 1995.

Cruyff the game standards as “pain and sorrow” their as he 1 1 player. a lung cancerwas diagnosed with 3 has done. Football as much -2 Chad 4 his death, adding: at the news of him, in 3 He helped end but we will never will miss “We 0 0 in February saidOctober 2015 but love 3 you, Johan. Rest will always 1 he was defensive football,an era of dour against World Cup-winni forget.”

8 -7 in peace.”

0 his illness and “2-0 up” ng Germany inspiring the Pele, regarded Dutch team in was “sure by many as the captain Lothar Matthaus I will end up their best footballer said Cruyff winning”. was “a offensive that took ‘Total Football’ of all He “died peacefully them to the 1974 “was a great player time, said Cruyff football”,great man who transformed in Barcelona, while Manchester and coach” who surrounded by leaves a U h

Onazi to Serv e out Threematch Ban in Kaduna

Tributes Pour in

as Johan Cruy ff Dies of Can cer

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016

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NEWS

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

Presidential Committee Indicts 300 ONSA Contractors, Recovers N7bn

Tobi SoniyiinAbuja A committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) from 2011 to 2015 has recovered N7bn as well as indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens, including serving and retired officers of the armed forces.

A statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said over N7 Billion has been recovered so far from the indicted companies and individuals.

The committee, which is different from the committee that is investigating the Defence Arms and Equipment Procurement, discovered that there was a total disregard of salient provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by ONSA. The statement said another N41 Billion would be refunded by the indicted companies, while further investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered to determine whether another N75 Billion should be recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially executed contracts.

The statement said the committee had succeeded in recovering some of the funds from these individuals and organisations amounting to N3,537,549,223.04, $8,000,000 and houses worth N512,000,000 from 32 companies.

The committee also established that some individuals and companies received monies without evidence of contractual agreements or jobs done. The amount received by these individuals was N7,104,925,000 The statement said: “In a similar vein, the committee revealed that some companies that failed to execute contracts or did so partially were to make refunds.

The total amount to be refunded is N19,896,539,125.20, $43,771,433.73 and two houses in Abuja worth N260,000,000.00.”

The statement said the committee further established that one of the indicted companies, Societe D’Equipment International was overpaid to the tune of 7.9million Euros and $7.09 Million respectively.

It said: “Several contractors were apparently over paid, while others were given full upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in force.

“There was also evidence of payments to individuals and companies by ONSA without any contractual agreement or evidence of jobs executed.

“The committee further discovered that some companies failed to meet up their tax obligations for contracts executed.”

The statement said the committee also revealed that 15 companies were awarded contracts that require further investigation to ascertain the status of their contracts. The total value of the contracts awarded in this category was N11,726,571,161, $202,136,890 and €4,114,752.96.

It listed the companies investigated by the committee as: Abrahams Telecommunication Limited and Value Trust Investment Limited RC 1050628 and RC133792, Bilal Turnkey Contractors Limited RC 616389, Circular Automobile Limited RC 953549, Continental Project Associates Limited RC 1201210, Da’voice Network Solutions Limited RC 658879, Foretech Investment Limited RC 759046., Forts and Sheild Limited RC 1148793, GDP Associated Limited RC 830715, Hakimco Automobiles - RC 904389, Hamada Properties and Investment Limited RC 635720, International Resources Management Company R 22865, Investment Options Limited - RC 133484, Jakadiya Picture Company Limited RC 270972, JBE Multimedia Investment Limited RC 48875, Kamala Motors Limited RC 845545, Key Information Services Limited RC 297516, Leeman Communications Limited RC 499781, MCAF Associates RC 734745, Moortown Global Investment RC 968416, Syntec Nigeria Limited RC 220165, Trafiga Limited RC 1098961, Trim Communications Limited RC 261180, Securicor Emergency and Safety RC 431246, Sologic Integrated Services Limited RC 744982, Wada Autos Limited RC 1082513, Zukhruf Nigeria Limited RC 306244, 2020 Nigeria Limited RC 1090292, A and B Associates Limited RC 279980.

The statement said the following individuals received payments: Honourable Bello Matawalle, General AS Mormoni-Bashir (the

former Principal General Staff Officer at the ONSA and still a serving military officer), Alhaji Umar Sani, Dr Yakubu Sanky, Baba Bala, Ambassador Clement Layiwola Lasseinde (a Director in the ONSA), An architect from Baitil Atiq Travels and Tours, Alhaji Shuaibu Salisu (The former Director of Finance and Administration at the ONSA), Colonel Bello Fadile (rtd) (Special Adviser to Lt Col Sambo Dasuki; former NSA), Mr Otunla Jonah Niyi, Otunba Adelakun, Alhaji Bashir Yaguda, Dr Tunji Olagunju, Miss Oluwatoyin Oluwagbayi, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) {The former NSA}, Honourable Maipata Mohammed Abubakar, Mohammed Suleiman. From Musaco investment and properties, Ibrahim Abdullahi also from Musaco investment and properties, Alhaji Aliyu Usman,18 other officers that served in the ONSA. It said the following companies outrightly failed to execute contracts or executed them partially, and have therefore been asked to refund various sums with are as follows:A and Hatman Limited, Abuja Consulting Limited, Afro-Arab Investment, Agbede A Adeshina and Co., Aleppo

Systems Nigeria Limited - RC 947255., Amp Africa Holdings and Solar Services, Apple Drops Nigeria Limited - RC 1102219,. Apt Security Limited - RC 165189, Autoforms Integrated Enterprises Limited - RC 1234829, Axis Consulting Services Limited - RC 1151145, Belsha Nigeria Limited, Community Defence Law Foundation - RC/IT No 56854, Complus International Service Limited, Cosse Limited - RC 316214, Daar Investment and Holdings Limited, Dalhatu Investment Limited - RC 404535, Destra Investment Limited, Development Strategies International Limited - RC 361191, DFX/White Zebu BDC – RC787658/RC1049919, Duchy Concepts Limited RC392281, Fara Security Limited RC 694607, Fimex Gilt Nigeria Limited RC 143150, First Aralac Global Limited RC939512, Fix-HYL Global Investment RC1129654, Good year Properties Limited RC116882, Image Merchant Promotions Limited RC 416703, Interglobal Limited RC 189188, Jos Peace Dialogue Forum CAC/ IT/No75434, Kakatar Limited RC 443321, Leaderette Nigeria/Norden Global RC 422129/RC1119925, London Advertising Limited UK BASED, Mithra Oil Limited RC

620979, NigerLink BOG (Under Musaco Investment) RC 834592, Iban Global (Under Musaco Investment), Musaco Investment (Bank Charges), Mystrose Limited RC 475579, NAF Holding Company Limited, Peach Tree Communications Limited RC 410115, Perception BDC RC 740741, Pioneer Ventures RC 69776, Proptex Nigerian Limited - RC 116801, Prosedec Interglobal Limited RC 619845, Real Property Investment Limited RC 294761, Sinash Communications Limited RC 333134, Skytick International Limited RC 798693, Soject Nigeria Limited RC 74991, StellaVera Development Company Limited RC 713258, Teracon AG SWISS BASED, Wehsec Farms Limited RC 713258, African Cable Television Limited RC 1113903, BCN Nigeria Limited RC 509693, Brains and Hammers RC 655673, Concept Options Ultimate Limited RC 604167, Elizade Nigeria Limited RC 11544, Emerging Platforms Limited RC 922205, EMI System Nigeria Limited RC 248986, Hadassa Investment and Security RC 709085, Kala Consulting Solutions Limited RC 98562, Pioneer Ventures, Nan Bizcom Nigeria Limited RC 680708, Nerres Limited RC 1138835, Plectrum Consulting Limited

RC 93793, Protech Consultant RC 301426, Summit Publications Limited RC 304671, Telios Development Limited RC 468351, Urban Abode Nigeria Limited RC 651613, RCN Networks Limited RC 439720, Sail International Limited RC 97863, Suburban Broadway Limited - RC 469689, Geronimo Middle East and Africa, Julius Berger RC 6852, Romgat Morgan Nigeria Limited RC 902020, Stallion Motors Limited RC 178627.

The statement said contracts awarded to the following companies should be further investigated: 2020 Nigeria Limited RC 1090292, Acacia Holdings Limited RC 940978, Africair Incorporated US Company, Augusta Westland Limited, Almond Project Limited, Bam Project and Properties, Bob Oshodin Organisation Limited RC 790662, Coral Builders Limited RC 397748, Dan Clington Nigeria Limited RC 940978, Law Partners and Associates BN/UY/004566, Magnificient 5 ventures Limited BN/2299463, MPS Global Services Limited, One plus Holdings Nigeria Limited RC 695999, Quadsix Nigeria Limited RC 1177968, Reliance Reference Hospitals

RECONCILIATORY MEETING

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and Deputy National Chairman (North), APC, Senator Lawal Shuiabu, during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja...yesterday Godwin Omoigui

FG to Repatriate Nigeria’s Looted Funds Stashed in UAE Buhari to visit China in April Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it was poised to repatriating a significant amount of Nigeria’s looted funds stashed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It said though it could not be specific on the figure of the looted funds stashed in the UAE, but noted that the amount could be on the high side.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made the disclosure while responding to questions at a press briefing in Abuja.

He told journalists that the federal government’s efforts at recovering looted funds was ongoing.

“Yes, there are Mutual Legal

Assistance Agreements signed

by UAE and other countries to facilitate dealing with stolen funds.

UAE is one of the areas we are clearly looking at in terms of repatriating Nigeria’s resources, but how much are we looking at? We don’t have any figure in respect of that, but hopefully, it would be significant because we really need it, oil prices being where they are, we really need to get as much of our stolen funds back as possible” the minister averred.

According to him, the federal government had been engaging many countries to repatriate the stolen funds, saying all the countries were willing to assist Nigeria.

On the shuttle diplomacy and frequent foreign trips by President

Muhammadu Buhari, Onyeama disclosed that Buhari could achieve quick wins and a lot of support and cooperation from his fellow presidents when he meets with them one-on-one.

According to the minister, Buhari had strategically visited South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea, Iran among others to push his foreign policy and shore up support for Nigeria and Africa.

He said all the multilateral meetings attended by Buhari were aimed at pushing African and Nigerian interests to the forefront of the world.

Onyeama noted that Buhari’s visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, among others, were meant to

stabilise the downward slide of oil prices.

He stressed that the president had articulated the vision of his administration built on security, economy, governance and tackling corruption, noting that: “Buhari represents the brand Nigeria has and his persona has attracted goodwill to the country.” he said.

On the speculations that Nigeria has joined the Islamic countries alliance against terrorism, the minister said his ministry did not sign any agreement with the Islamic countries.

“Nigeria is facing an existential threat and there is a need to join a global coalition to combat terrorism, so we support the objectives of the Islamic alliance against terrorism,

but this ministry has not signed any agreement to be part of them,” Onyeama added.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, who spoke with journalists at a separate occasion, said Buhari would be in China on his first state visit in April, 2016.

According to the envoy, the president’s visit to China would be to expand the cooperation between Nigeria and China.

He promised that Nigeria and China would work closely to implement the outcomes of the Sino-Africa summit which was held in South Africa in December, 2015.

Xiaojie added that Nigeria was in dire need of infrastructure, saying Chinese firms with the backing

of EXIM Bank and the Chinese government had embarked on various developmental projects in Nigeria including airport construction to bridge the infrastructure gap.

“The total trade between Nigeria and China is $14.92billion last year on account of falling commodity prices, but Nigeria is still the third largest trading partner of China.

“Trading relations between the two countries are significant and growing, and Nigeria is the destination of Chinese contractual development projects.

“China is in a position to share capacities, experience and deploy finance to assist in the development of African countries,” the envoy noted.

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COMMENT

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

SHOW OF SHAME IN RIVERS

T

The inefficiency of the electoral commission is largely to blame for the violence in the rerun elections, argues Ducor Handel

he outcome of the March 19 elections in Rivers State has brought into a sharper focus the contest of supremacy between former governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike. Before now, both have been embroiled in a battle of wills. During the 2015 general elections, Rivers was one of the few states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that did not fall to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential elections of that year.

The then governor, Amaechi, was up in arms against Wike who was flying the flag of the PDP at the elections. Amaechi had a lot of issues to worry about at that time. He was the incumbent governor who needed to do everything possible to instal his successor. For him therefore, a Wike who was the candidate of a rival political party was not an option. That was not all. Amaechi was so neck-deep into the succession battle because he had defected from the ruling PDP to the opposition APC. As an incumbent governor, Amaechi needed to prove to his new friends in APC that he has electoral value in Rivers State. The only way he could demonstrate that was to ensure that the APC won the elections in the state. Much more was even expected of him when the APC named him the Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. It became a matter of to whom much is given, much is expected. This was how things stood until the elections came. But Amaechi was disappointed. His new party lost all the elections in Rivers State. Wike emerged victorious. This was how the battle of supremacy began.

Having lost at the polls, Amaechi’s next option was to try the courts. He and his party got the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal to annul Wike’s election. But the governor was lucky with the Supreme Court. The apex court affirmed him as the validly elected governor of Rivers State. Amaechi’s loss was Wike’s gain. But the battle had to continue. It had to move to another level.

It is at that level that we are at moment.

What is the issue at stake? Following the mass cancellation of the results of the legislative elections that held in Rivers State last year by the tribunal and the court of appeal, re-run elections were scheduled to fill the spaces created by the court judgment. That was what we had on March 19. Who was to carry the day?

Going by the results announced so far, Wike’s PDP is on top of the situation. Amaechi and his APC have lost. But the outcome came at a grave cost. There was wanton destruction of life and property.

This is in spite of the fact that soldiers were deployed to ensure that law and order do not break down.

From all available evidence, it can be taken for granted that PDP is the party to beat in Rivers State. The party is the choice of the people. They have demonstrated it time and time again. But Amaechi and his supporters do not seem to understand this. They do not seem to acknowledge that they do not have the grassroots support needed to win elections in the state. That is why they are applying all manner of subterfuge to win at the polls. It is this plot to win by all means that has pitted Amaechi against the people of Rivers State. It is such an evil plot to subvert the will of the people

THE INEC HAS NOT DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES RESPONSIBLY. IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE BECAUSE IT FAILED TO PRODUCE UNIFORM BALLOT BOXES. WHILE SOME HAD THE COAT OF ARMS IN THEM, OTHERS DID NOT HAVE. SUCH A DISCREPANCY WAS A RECIPE FOR RIGGING AND MANIPULATION

that led to the deployment of fake ballot papers. It is also the reason that the military were deployed to harass and intimidate voters.

Under normal circumstances, the military personnel who were sent to Rivers State were supposed to protect voters and ward off hoodlums. They were supposed to prevent ballot box snatching and other undemocratic acts. But their attention was somewhere else.

That is why the election was marred by widespread violence in spite of their presence.

Amaechi and Wike may have their personal scores to settle. The people of Rivers State have since left that to them. But what is of interest to one and all is the integrity of the electoral process through which the representatives of the people emerge.

So far, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not discharged its duties responsibly. It was instrumental to the breakdown of law and order in some parts of the state because it failed to produce uniform ballot boxes. While some had the coat of arms in them, others did not have. Such a discrepancy was a recipe for rigging and manipulation. The detection and rejection of this anomaly by the vigilant electorate led to the fisticuffs and violence that ensued. INEC is therefore to blame for this show of shame.

As if this infraction is not enough, INEC is holding on to results of elections where the process has been completed. Here we are talking about results that were collated and announced at the polling units down to the wards and to local government areas which the commission has refused to announce. The action of INEC in this matter beats the imagination. Nobody can understand why INEC is arrogating to itself such enormous powers of withholding the results of elections that have been concluded. Someone needs to call INEC to order.

In all of this, the APC for whom Amaechi is fomenting all the trouble needs to call the minister to order. He is giving the party a bad name. Amaechi was appointed the minister of the federal Republic. He has a lot of work to do in repositioning the transport sector. But he does not appear to know this. The supremacy contest he is involved in with Wike has diverted his attention. The party for whom he is shooting randomly should tell him to redirect his energy to serious matters of state. Chasing shadows as Amaechi is doing is clearly unhelpful.

Since the PDP has demonstrated that it is the preferred party in Rivers State, what the APC should do is to go back to the drawing board. It must begin to reach out to the grassroots and present them with its own agenda. In the Rivers State of today, the APC appears to be non-existent because its leaders have not appreciated the fact that the people matter. The party’s modus operandi at moment appears to be its resort to the use of federal might. The government of Muhammadu Buhari should shun this brigandage. It should, instead, roll out programmes that will appeal to the people. If the PDP is believed to have fallen short of expectation in 16 years, the APC should be able to make a difference. If it fails to do this, it will continue to have problems across the states such as the one it is having in Rivers State at moment.

Handel is of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

TROUBLE IN THE MIDDLE

I

Theophilus Zigwai writes on the need to take the power reforms to its logical conclusion

was having a discussion with a friend about the power sector reforms and predictably, we came very quickly to the issue of the tariff review. It took me a very long while to lay out for him facts about the industry that disproved his assumption that the electricity distributing companies (Discos) “which were already making so much money, were asking customers to pay more”.

Besides, he asked of the investments the new owners have made since their takeover. Those were his lines of argument.

I had to for instance, start explaining to him that from the implemented MYTO 2.2, Discos receive only 25 per cent of the monthly collection from electricity bills. The other 75 per cent is distributed among the generating companies (Gencos), the regulator and other service providers in the value chain to keep the sector moving. It is from this 25% that Discos eke out funds to cover their infrastructural and operational obligations.

There is a pervasive paucity of information about the sector. What has happened over time is that the negative perception held about the industry has led customers to conveniently reach wrong assumptions and hold these tightly, in areas where they needed information but did not get. This did not happen overnight. It grew over decades and until recently, not much was done to enlighten the public.

Even the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, took his time to explain why the tariff review had to be implemented, and despite presentations to different stakeholders, including members of the legislature, many Nigerians remained sceptical.

The truth remains that it is practically impossible

to sell a product below its cost of production and expect whichever industry it is not to collapse. A good number of Nigerians are still unaware that for decades, the government was meeting most of the funding deficits of NEPA and the burden on the nation’s budget was part of the reason why the sector had to be privatised.

Now the general expectation is that the unrealistic subsidised prices should be maintained without a critical look at how this will eventually bring us to the total collapse of the sector. Someone even mentioned once that the worst that could happen was darkness…and that we were already used to that. He forgot to consider the fact that the efforts being made presently are designed to ensure that we never go back to live in darkness.

The improved revenue flow from the appropriately priced electricity will help the Discos significantly reduce their aggregate technical, commercial and collection (ATC&C) losses in 2016 alone, a core basis for success of the power sector privatisation.

The reduction of these losses, power experts have shown, will ensure that more electricity is supplied to genuine customers.

Also, electricity usually lost through energy theft and other network defects will now be available for the customers, due to the capital-intensive investments the Discos have been committed to in the year and beyond. As projected for this year in the reviewed tariff order, Eko Disco will reduce its losses from 28.32% to 20.66% in 2016, and by 2024, it will be as low as 10.32%.

The Ikeja Disco had 32.15%, but it is reducing it by about 9% this year. Only 9.1% loss will be left in its network by 2024, it assured. For Abuja Disco, its ATC&C was at 49.22% but it’s being reduced to 33.79% and will go down to 18.05% by 2024. Kano

Disco had 45.0% losses in 2015 but it is cleansing its networks to reduce loss by 7% and will go down to 14.67% by 2024.

As for new investments by the owners, I had to inform him that the 11 Discos have already begun the implementation of their capital expenditure (CAPEX). Eko Disco in its tariff plan requires about $1.1billion in addition to the N5 billion that has been spent in acquiring the EKEDC Head office.

They will be spending N18.05 billion annually which is in excess of the N141.9 billion approved for EKEDC in present MYTO 2.2. The Disco earlier earmarked N445 million to expand its network technology, procure and install prepaid meters.

The Ikeja Disco on its part is spending N60 billion in the first five years but the entire plan assumes a total of N92.8 billion which tallies with the MYTO assumption of N92.2 billion CAPEX by 2024. The Disco has installed about 4,560 prepaid meters since it took over.

Abuja Disco has spent N2.3 billion since it took over in November 2013; it is forecasting spending N73.3 billion by 2024. It has installed 140 transformers for over N200 million, to replace faulty ones. It is providing additional 200 distribution transformers with a combined capacity of 80MVA for about N260 million. It has started the installation of meters with similar assurance of 100,000 installed units annually.

Kano Disco has injected over N500 million revamping its network and proposes N4.769 billion yearly spending which will be over N47 billion by 2024. It has begun the installation of meters and would have installed about 100,000 by year end, while recruiting additional 350 staff.

The story is also progressive for Jos Disco. It has invested N210 million to address its infrastructure,

meter and billing challenges in the coverage area.

Most of the Discos this year are committed to rolling out 100,000 meters annually for the next five years (2019) as provided for and agreed in their contracts with the Bureau of Public Enterprises at the point of sale. This figure will see the closure of the five million metering gap accumulated over decades under the NEPA/PHCN era in just five years of the 10-year tariff plan. In effect, by 2020, all old electricity customers would have been metered and new entrants must be metered before they are connected as directed in the new tariff order.

The order enacted and now strictly monitored by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) insists the 11 Discos after exhausting the installation of 500,000 meters each in 2019 must complete metering for all remaining customers within one year (in 2020).

There are brighter days ahead for the power sector in Nigeria and a lot of foreign interest is focused on the sector. The recently signed Electrify Africa Act by the USA targets not less than $40 billion to be pumped into the electricity sector in Africa. Nigeria remains the biggest potential consumer of electricity on the continent and leads in terms of electricity shortage. There is no doubt that a considerable amount of those funds will end up within our shores. The world is interested in having an energy-sufficient Nigeria. The question is, are Nigerians aware of this and the efforts to make this a reality or are they still being misled by other unpatriotic interest groups who are taking advantage of our anger at the power sector’s past and trying to transform that into anger against the attempts to revive it?

Zigwai, a certified energy analyst, wrote from Abuja

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

EDITORIAL IMPUNITY AND THE 2014 AUDIT REPORT

D

It is scandalous that the National Assembly is once again indicted for unwholesome practices

iscrepancies of about N3.3 trillion in the remittance of funds by various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as foreign missions are some of the revelations contained in the 2014 Annual Audit Report recently presented to the National Assembly by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation. Although the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disputed the claims that it did not remit N3.2 trillion to the Federation Account Allocation Committee in 2014, the allegations against the corporation are not just weighty, they are mostly the same charges that have been levelled against NNPC in recent years.

Not suprisingly, most of the other agencies and departments of the federal government did not fare better either. For instance, the report also alleged, among other things, that N36.4 billion was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser, then under the headship of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for the rehabilitation and construction of dams. Besides, the report stated that N2.9 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY billion was spent on HAS BEEN FOUND procurement of hand TO COMPROMISE ITS sanitisers for schools TIME-HONOURED DUTY and critical public OF ENSURING THAT places to tackle the PROPRIETY BECOMES THE Ebola epidemic. Of ORDER OF THE DAY IN THE course, as it happens ART OF GOVERNANCE every year, there will be several denials from many of the agencies indicted by the audit report after which there will be silence. But we believe that President Muhammadu Buhari should take interest in the issue.

However, what we find most irritating is the fact that the National Assembly was indicted in the report.

What we find particularly disturbing is that it is now almost an annual ritual that the National Assembly, which ordinarily should exercise oversight functions in matters like this, would be involved in unwholesome

Letters to the Editor

I

practices on a yearly basis. According to the latest audit report, the management of the National Assembly, headed by the Clerk, made payments of N9.5 billion without raising vouchers!

Legislative oversight, we dare say, implies scrutinising and authorising revenues and expenditures so as to ensure that the national budget is properly implemented for the wellbeing of the populace. The essence of what is glibly described as the “legislative power of the purse” is for the lawmakers to expand their democratic leverage on behalf of citizens by serving as watchdogs in the way and manner in which national resources are utilised.

But this function can only be properly undertaken by a transparent and accountable legislative institution which unfortunately our National Assembly has not been.

F 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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE KOMOlAFE, ISRAEl IWEGBU, EMMANUEl EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OlUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDElIS ElEMA, MBAYIlAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOlA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOlUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

iscal irresponsibility begets more irresponsibility and where a body that is constitutionally empowered to have its eyes at every sector of our national life is in itself deeply involved in unwholesome practices, then we have a serious problem. The National Assembly has indeed been found to compromise its timehonoured duty of ensuring that propriety becomes the order of the day in the art of governance. It has been found wanting to the extent that it seeks to place itself above measures that would enthrone accountability, all in the name of separation of powers. This is clearly unacceptable.

Since the National Assembly is expected to be the custodian of the treasury, that imposes a responsibility to live above board. But a National Assembly whose members are busy chasing contract papers or begging for sponsors for international conferences as well as compromising its elevated standing in the hierarchy of governance, will sooner or later lose the moral authority that surrounds its constitutional power. That exactly is what is happening today.

We are therefore constrained to ask our lawmakers to begin to take their integrity much more seriously as they exercise their constitutionally guaranteed powers of oversight over the nation’s finance. For them to earn the respect of the populace, they have to take their oversight responsibility much more seriously.

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.

BUHARI: WE ARE NOT FEELING THE CHANGE

was prompted to write this letter to you after reading the one written to you by my brother and friend Japhet Omojuwa. It was the inimitable Professor Chinua Achebe that said that if you do not agree with what someone else has written, then you should write your own. Japhet did not comprehensively speak for me in his letter so I have decided to write my own letter to you.

I will spare you the accolades and commendations. I have a feeling that you are getting a bit too much of them which is why we are where we are. I am going to be as candid as I can be while striving to remain deferential and respectful in accordance with the high office you occupy.

That been said, permit me to go straight to the subject matter of this missive.

Mr. President, I am afraid that you have got to power and have been so swept up in the cocoon and bubble at the Villa that you have forgotten the people that put you there in the first place. Your appeal has always be the fact that there are people willing to unconditionally stake all they have on the line for you but your attitude since you assumed office has been to display an almost disdainful neglect of your primary constituency. You have come across in recent times as aloof, irritable and impatient with your people. You do not bother to talk to us and when you do, preferably to a foreign news

medium during one of your numerous trips abroad, it is always with an air of someone far removed from the daily realities of the people he is governing.

Mr. President, what was that full ceremonial welcome at the Abuja airport complete with a colourful Scottish guard of honour and red carpet all about? In the midst of all the troubles we are daily facing, someone around you thought that that was okay and you basked in it all without a trace of embarrassment? I wager that the old Muhammadu Buhari who was in touch with his loyal faithful would not have condoned that charade for whatever it was worth but this new one is so far removed from us that he believed it was okay. Sad. We are watching.

Mr. President, permit me to quote American President Barack Obama during his trip to Ghana: “Africa does not need strong men, it needs strong institutions.” Sadly, Mr. President, you have displayed all the trappings of an African strong man who wants to be held over and above the institutions in his country. So far, this presidency has been all about you. Why have you been issuing directives to institutions of state to carry out their statutory functions? Why are you directing EFCC to arrest some people? Why do you insist at every interview that central bank will not devalue the naira? Would it not be better to strengthen these institutions

and encourage them to carry out their statutory functions without executive interference? Is there no organic process for these bodies to carry out their functions without the need for a presidential directive? Mr. President, do us a favour, step back and allow these organs of government perform their functions.

Mr. President, you have not left anyone in doubt about your desire to fight corruption. Indeed, this has been your strongest badge of honour till date. You are indeed fighting corruption but the method leaves a lot to be desired. We are back to the days of elaborate media trials and all noise and zero substance. Mr. President, we have seen this before. It usually does not lead to convictions. After the media cacophony, because time was not devoted to diligent investigation and prosecution, there is usually not enough evidence to convict the accused and they end up walking or the trial takes forever. Would it not be better to gather all the facts and put together a water-tight case before approaching the courts rather than this current tactics of leaking tidbits of on-going investigations to the press and creating a media storm that may not hold water at the end of the day? The other day, it was your official twitter handle tweeting allegations against Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). How did it get to that level?

Sam Hart, hartng@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

A Path so Familiar

The National Economic Council retreat convened may turn out to be a talk-shop and nothing more, writes Iyobosa Uwugiaren

T

he hurriedly organised National Economic Council retreat, chaired

by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and held in the Villa, Abuja on Monday, may have been President Muhammadu Buhari’s fire contingent measure to saturate the suffocating pressure on him and arrest the fast worsening economic situation in the country in the last 10 months that he had assumed office.

To be sure, as outlined in the Retreat Concept Notes, it was designed to generate immediate, medium and long-term viable policy solutions to the economic challenges facing the country at both the federal and state levels.

However, economic and industrial sector experts say the retreat might turn out to be just another talk-show going by those invited for the retreat – a statutory body that comprises only state governors, some selected ministers and presidential aides – with little or no technical known-how on how best possible means to fix the deteriorating economy.

A sound Professor of law but an economics illiterate Vice-President Osibanjo heads the council.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech at the retreat, which set the tone of the discussion at the retreat was like a rehearsal of our campaign promises during the 2015 presidential campaign; a mere grandiloquence; the speech was not inspiring; nothing new in it,” an aggrieved chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who pleaded anonymity told THISDAY in Abuja.

Declaring the two-day retreat open, Buhari acknowledged five strategic sectors, which the country must focus on to bring around the economy. They are agriculture, power, manufacturing, housing and healthcare sectors.

The president expressed regret that in spite of huge oil revenues, the nation’s health sector remained undeveloped forcing Nigerians to spend $ 1 billion annually to get medical treatment abroad. He grieved the state of the health sector and said drastic measures must be put in place to improve health facilities in the country.

“In attacking the challenges of this sector, we could start with more funding for health centres to improve service delivery. The World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) could be persuaded to increase their assistance,” he added.

Buhari, who noted that insufficient power supply weakened the country’s capacity to develop in all sectors, said his government would generate 10,000 megawatts in the next three years. “In 2016 alone, we intend to add two thousand megawatts to the national grid,” he added.

While expressing worry at the inability of manufacturers to access foreign exchanges, the president ordered a fresh campaign to patronize Made-in-Nigeria goods. In this regard, he said all uniforms in government-sponsored institutions should be sourced from local factories.

The president said: “From information at my disposal, if we aggregate public views from the grassroots, city dwellers, the economic managers, consumer groups, the Unions and other stakeholders of the economy, there is near unanimity about the ills of our economy.

But naturally, there are divergent views about solutions. I am going to throw at this gathering some random policy options filtered from across the spectrum of our stakeholders on four (4) selected sectors of our economy.

“These are Agriculture, Power, Manufacturing and Housing. (The president eventually added healthcare as the fifth.) I have not touched Education, Science and Technology pointedly because these related subjects require a whole retreat by themselves. ” On agriculture, Buhari said both the peasants and the mechanised farmers agreed with

Buhari and Osinbajo at the retreat...waiting for the results

the general public that food production and self-sufficiency required urgent government action. However, he noted that, “for too long, government policies on agriculture have been half-hearted, suffering from inconsistencies and discontinuities.”

According to him, the country’s real wealth is in farming, livestock, hatcheries, fishery, horticulture and forestry. But, contrary to the retreat, especially the composition of the invitees, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, recently asked the federal government to convene an emergency economic conference to save the nation from its current economic troubles.

According to him, “The economic condition of the nation or the people does not deteriorate overnight; something came before that deterioration. A certain prolonged and unchecked process of attrition which was neglected in the past is now knocking on the door,” he said.

The Nobel Laureate observed that Nigeria’s current economic challenge was the product of bad leadership over the years, stressing the need for an emergency economic conference, where experts would brainstorm on the solutions.

“The consequences of past misgovernance, in other words, are what we are undergoing right now, but at the same time, we must rely on our objective economic exploits to tell the government when it is going wrong.

“I agree with those who say the economy is

For many experts, an economic conference that comprises diverse stakeholders and experts from different sectors would have been the way to go if Buhari was really serious about fixing the economy. But day after day, the resentment against President Buhari is swelling. Nigerians, including his cult-like fans and followers, are fast running out of patience with the President

bad (it is obvious) and I think that the President should call an emergency economic conference in which experts will be invited (such as) consumers, producers, labour union, university experts, professors and others. I think we need a rescue operation, bringing as many heads together and plotting the way forward,” he said.

For many experts, an economic conference that comprises diverse stakeholders and experts from different sectors would have been the way to go if Buhari was really serious about fixing the economy. But day after day, the resentment against President Buhari is swelling. Nigerians, including his cult-like fans and followers, are fast running out of patience with the President.

For instance, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), a pro-northern group, which Buhari belongs to and had played a noticeable role before he was elected president, is not left out in the bottled up anger.

Professor Ango Abdullahi, spokesman of the forum, stated recently in an interview with a national daily that the north was not happy with Buhari over the current sorry state of socio-political and economic happenings in the country.

Professor Abdullahi asked: “Has Buhari got the complement or the right people to handle the public trust? He (Buhari) requires a strong vibrant team to handle the multifaceted challenges of the country. In my view, the team has not been put in place; but I hope he will do that as soon as possible.”

Similarly, the umbrella of Nigerian workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, stated recently that the nation’s economy had stopped running. They said the state of the economy had not been as debauched as the prevalent development since the civil war and demanded speedy way out of the current economic challenges.

“We are in the worst in terms of economic experiences. We are not in good terms in terms of our economy at all. It had never been this bad except during the civil war. So, we hope that the government would take steps to remedy the situation,” the organised labour groups had stated.

To be sure, the 2016 report of the federal government’s agency, the National Bureau of Statistics, shows that the unemployment rate in Nigeria has increased to 10.40 per cent in the last 10 months from 9.90 per cent in the previous period.

According to the report, the number of

unemployed persons also went up by 518, 000 to eight million and labour force population rose by 1 million to 76.95 million. In the last 10 months or so, the report also shows that the underemployment rate grew to 18.7 per cent (14.4 million), compared to 17.4 per cent (13.2 million) in the previous year.

It is a bad news all through the report. The inflation rate in Nigeria was put at 11.40 per cent in February of 2016. While consumer prices in Nigeria has jumped to 11.4 per cent year-on-year in February of 2016, following a 9.6 per cent increase in the previous month and way above market expectations of a 10 per cent rise. It is the highest reading since December 2012, as a falling naira keeps pushing import prices up, mainly food.

Still on the report, compared to February of 2015, food cost increased 11.3 per cent up from 10.64 per cent in January while annual core inflation rate increased to 11 per cent from 8.8 per cent in the last month.

Apart from the wretched state of the nation, there is also heaping claims of human rights violations by the Buhari-led administration, which many experts say had compounded the lack of confidence in the nation’s economy, especially in the thinking of foreign investors.

In the name of fighting corruption, human rights lawyers said many suspects in corruption cases are being detained in various cells for months without trial, in spite of court orders granting the suspects different bail conditions.

Many observers believe Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court recently summarised the seemingly unlawful actions of the security agencies, when he berated both the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army over the detention of Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to the ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), describing both organisations as acting as if Nigeria was still under military dictatorship.

Justice Haliru, who stated this while ruling on a fundamental human rights suit filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on the behalf of Col. Ashinze, who has been in detention since December 23, 2015, when he was arrested by the operatives of the EFCC for alleged link with $2.1bn arms deal during the tenure of Dasuki, said the court would not allow the EFCC and the army to act as in the instant case as if they are above the law.

He added that the era of overzealous officers arresting and detaining citizens without arraignment on alleged offence is over. “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 judge said.

Continuing, he said, “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 judge, who was shocked by the lawlessness of the anti-graft agency and the army said, “the respondents (EFCC and the army), have behaved like “illiterates”.

Justice Haliru noted that although the EFCC and the Nigerian Army, who is the employer of Col. Ashinze are creations of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, they are to operate within the confines of the laws that established them.

“The detention of Col. Ashinze for three months without arraignment before a competent court or an administrative bail is unfortunate. It is illegal, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

17

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

POLITICS

ONTHEWATCH

APC BoT: The Titans in the Ring

Although there is a tactical silence on their interest in the job, the duo of former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu have set their eyes on the chairmanship of APC’s Board of Trustees, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

P

olitical intrigues, tussle for supremacy and crisis of confidence have continued to bedevil the leadership hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has ensured that the formal inauguration of the party’s Board of Trustees is kept in abeyance five months after its composition.

Although the popular merger that signaled the union of the various political entities in the then opposition camp was formally cemented in August 2013, the different tendencies as represented by the defunct political parties have remained sharply divided as far as the issue of who holds power or the control of leadership of the new platform is concerned.

And despite the pretences, membership loyalty has continued to be based on which side of the former political bloc one belongs.

For instance, the parties that formed the APC: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progress Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and other groups from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) as well as the groups from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) merely accepted to collapse their physical structures without really dropping their loyalty to their former parties.

It is therefore not surprising to see that two years after the party came into being, the leadership of the APC has continued to be drawn into contest of intrigues and the fight for the soul of the party by forces representing these otherwise forgone political entities.

Regarding the underground power tussle and crisis of confidence that have affected the take-off of the BoT, it is a well-known fact that one of the key factors holding it down is the controversy over the choice of its chairmanship.

As in other political parties, the BoT of APC is seen as the conscience of the party and as such, many party members expect that it would be led by credible, committed and courageous men, who can steer the party to its original course, which endeared it to Nigerians as well as speak truth to power.

The constitution of the party states that the BoT should not just be an embodiment of the conscience, soul and sanctity of the party, but the mirror of the highest standard of morality in the party and intervenes in all disputes and crisis in the party to ensure its stability at all times.

The BoT is to act as mediator and arbitrator in disputes and ensures the enforcement of discipline in accordance with the constitution of the party.

Speculations were however rife that top notch party members such as a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, an ex-Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje are interested in the BoT position. But recent

developments have portrayed a slightly different picture in the power tussle.

But recent findings have revealed that a former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and erstwhile interim national chairman of the APC is fronting for Tinubu as the man, who is to be trusted and protect his interest in the BoT. Since emerging as the national chairman of the ACN, Akande has always stood where Tinubu’s interests are situated and had never left anyone in doubt where his loyalty is.

His closeness to Tinubu will, no doubt, is expected to give Akande an advantage and access Tinubu’s support base across the country.

The argument for Akande as a choice candidate for the job is based on the need for the balancing of power sharing by those who represent the ACN interest in the APC. According to sources, since the CPC has the biggest office, which is the presidency, the ANPP, which is the party chairmanship and the PDP which has seized the two leaderships of the National Assembly, then the ACN, which though has the vice-presidency must get the BoT chairmanship to make up for its role and stake, being one of the main parties that initially formed the APC merger, outside of the other fringe parties.

It is against this calculus that the choice of Akande as against Tinubu is being mooted for the office. But Akande’s total loyalty which recently saw him attempting to champion the cause of the South-west may be his undoing in the contest.

References have been made to his outbursts from the outset of the leadership crisis at the National Assembly, when he tried to square up with those he claimed were pushing for

dominance of the north in the present APC administration.

On his part, Atiku has also decided to withdraw from the contest for the chairmanship of the BoT on principle. It was learnt that the Adamawa-born politician and tactician may have adopted a strategic approach to the matter by choosing to wait and save his energy for the ‘big dance’ in 2019.

According his political associates, the ex-vice president has made it clear that he would not contest for the position, but might consider the offer if it genuinely comes from the party and its leaders without prejudice rather than step into a contest for the post.

“Our leader has made it clear that he will not be contesting for the chairmanship of the BoT and this position has been communicated to the party. However, if the leadership of the party in its wisdom feels that Atiku can positively impact on its affairs by holding such position, then of course as a man, who is a democrat and who has the interest of the party at heart, he may soft-pedal and take up the offer. But aside from that, he would not want to present himself for any election for the BoT chairmanship,” an associate of the Turaki Adamawa said.

Although the APC has announced the composition of its BoT, formal sitting of the body had remained on hold due to anticipated leadership squabbles.

Another position that is up for grab is the secretary of the BoT. Olisaemeka Akamukali, who was the first National Auditor of APC, has shown interest in the post alongside a former national chairman of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Sam Nkire. Akamukali was a former national chairman of a faction

of the DPP that merged with others to form the APC. He had also served as the first Assistant National Secretary of the APP and the 1999 and 2003 senatorial candidate for Delta North.

Akamukali was the Director-General of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Campaign for President, who came second to PMB. He was also a member of the APC Presidential Campaign. The only obstacle in his way is the fact that the current national chairman is from the South-south but his supporters say that the party constitution only bars him from contesting for the BoT Chairmanship and not office of the Secretary of the BoT. According to the list approved by the party, membership of the BoT comprises of past and serving presidents and vice-presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who are members of the party; past and serving senate presidents and deputy senate presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who are members of the party; past and serving speakers and deputy speakers of the House of Representative, who are members of the Party.

Others are past and serving governors, who are members of the party, past national chairmen and chairmen of BoT of political parties, who have produced a past president, senator(s), member(s) of House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, governor(s) of State(s) of the Federation or member(s) of House(s) of Assembly of State(s) of the Federation and are members of the party, subject to approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC), past and serving national chairman produced by the Party.

The BoT will also comprise of serving national secretary of the party, two serving senators from each geopolitical zone, who are members of the party to be nominated by the senators from such zone, one member nominated by each State/ Federal Capital Territory Executive Committee for consideration, and subsequent recommendation by the National Working Committee to the National Executive Committee for approval.

There is also one woman from each geopolitical zone of the country nominated by the zonal committee for consideration, and subsequent recommendation by the National Working Committee to the National Executive Committee for approval.

Apart the recent re-run election in Rivers State, issues relating to the contest for chairmanship of the BoT as well as other leadership disputes also dominated the party’s national caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday night.

Before then, series of secret meetings were held between the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal and Oyegun, within the week over issues believed to be related to the crucial meetings of the NEC and the BoT and the filling of the vacant seats of the National Working Committee.

prevailing circumstances.

Executive Director, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo, in his posting on social media recently said, it was ironic that those who were patient with former President Goodluck Jonathan even after six years of “cluelessness” now want to throw President Buhari under the bus after 10 months.

“I have no illusions that PMB (Buhari) will solve all of Nigeria’s problems or even most of them. But at the time of the elections, I was convinced that the single biggest challenge Nigeria faced was corruption, interlaced impunity. I remain convinced that this is the case.

“I believe that any leader who can help us address these challenges can turn Nigeria around and set the country on the path of recovery.

Given the choices available to us at the time of the elections, I was convinced that PMB gave us the best hope of that particular challenge being

addressed in any major way,” the pro-media rights activist said.

He claimed that since Buhari assumed office, Nigerians have all seen the scale and magnitude of the problem, adding that it was even worse than many could ever have imagined, with the facts and information coming out.

“Given how widespread the problem is, given the fact that it cuts across all political parties, ethnic groups, religions, etc., and given PMB’s efforts so far despite the tremendous pressure, he must be under pressure to relent. I am more convinced than ever before that for those of us for whom the issue is corruption, we made the right choice.

“I recognize that for other people, they may have other more important issues but this is the issue that worries me the most. Given the primitive looting of our resources under Goodluck Jonathan and perhaps even before

then, it is irrational for anyone to think that anybody can turn Nigeria around within 10 months, no matter what anyone promised you.”

For Ojo, he is encouraged by the steps being taken in this regard and he remains hopeful that with the support of ordinary Nigerians, who bear the brunt of the consequences of corruption, the problem can be checked or at least rolled back a bit.

However, many who responded to Mr. Ojo’s posting said Nigerians have every right to be upset about Buhari’s snail movement on matters of economic policies, especially as he gave time lines on how intended to achieve many of his programmes during his campaign.

A Harvard University trained lawyer, Dr. Sam Amadi, who perhaps not happy with Buhari’s approach, said, what is needed in the current fight against corruption is a process and rigour to cleanse the Augean stable.

Tinubu and Atiku embrace...are they for real

A PATH SO FAMILIAR unlawful and a violation of his fundamental human rights to have detained him for more than 48 hours without a charge,” he ruled.

The case of Col. Ashinze is one out of many suspects, who are currently facing similar experience in various cells across the nation. Take for instance, an Ekiti State lawmaker, Hon. Afolabi Akanni and the leader of Shiites, Sheikh Zakzaky, who had been in the Department of State Security’s cell for months without trail. They are also good examples of the dictatorial policies of the Buhari-led government in the last few months.

A victim, who recently regained his freedom after spending over four months in the EFCC cells, told THISDAY that there are hundreds of suspects languishing in the anti-graft agency’s cell for about six months without being charged to court. Despite the swelling criticism against Buhari, many of his fans said what the President was doing at present was the way to go in the

18

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

POLITICS

OFF-THE-TURF

Seibarugu Doesn’t Joke with His Draught Board Former Bayelsa State deputy governor, Chief Werinonpre Seibarugu relaxes by playing the board game of draught, writes Segun James

A

sk anybody in Bayelsa State about who is the greatest draught player on the block and they all will almost unanimously point at the immediate former deputy governor of the state, Chief Werinonpre Seibarugu. In the state, the debate is: who is the greatest draught player in the state?

Or put more succinctly, who is that player that is strong enough to beat Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, let such person come out for a game?

For Seibarugu, who was the last deputy to Chief Timipre Sylva after the impeachment of Peremobowei Ebebi, the board game is his own way of relaxing. But that is not all.

Seibarugu likens politics to draught, where plots are built, traps set for opponents and opposition overwhelmed with crafty moves that leave the uninitiated stupefied.

Just as it is with draught, so it has been with the political moves of the light complexioned Yenagoa native. As a first timer in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Seibarugu beat all odds and left more experienced lawmakers in the house mesmerised as he emerged the

Speaker after former President Goodluck Jonathan as governor of the state had picked Peremobowei Ebebi as deputy following

For Seibarugu, who was the last deputy to Chief Timipre Sylva after the impeachment of Peremobowei Ebebi, the board game is his own way of relaxing. But that is not all. Seibarugu likens politics to draught, where plots are built, traps set for opponents and opposition overwhelmed with crafty moves that leave the uninitiated stupefied

the impeachment of the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha in 2005.

Seibarugu plotted his way to the heart of Governor Timipre Sylva even though he was a political godson of President Jonathan.

Sylva trusted him so much that when the governor’s first election was nullified and a political stalemate ensued as to who should be the acting governor, he became the compromise candidate.

Yet, like his draught board game, Seibarugu continued to plot his politics. When Sylva and Ebebi became estranged and the Deputy Governor was impeached, again, like the deft draught player that he was, Seibarugu plotted his way to the position of deputy governor for another two years.

After the Supreme Court judgment that saw to the removal of Sylva and Seibarugu from office in January 2012, and the refusal of Governor Seriake Dickson to have anything to do with political associates of Sylva, the former deputy governor went back to his board game and started plotting and making moves.

And true to his theatrics, he emerged Bayelsa State Chairman of Transformation

Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), the political machine of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. He and his group soon became a torn in the flesh of Governor Dickson until Jonathan lost the presidential election in 2015.

Once again, the great draft player instinct in him came to fore as he plotted his way back to his former boss, Chief Sylva and into the All Progressives Congress (APC) which lost the last governorship election in the state.

Seibarugu was a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2005.

He later became the Speaker from 2005 to 2008 and subsequently 2008 to 2010. After the Appeal Court nullified Sylva’s election on April 15th, 2008, Seibarugu was ordered to be sworn-in by the Appeal Court as acting Governor of Bayelsa State. He later became the deputy governor of Bayelsa State from July 2010 to January 2012.

Today, Seibarugu is a big time fish farmer in his Gbarain community country home in Yenagoa. Any visitor to his farm will find him seated with his friends plotting his way around the draught board even as he makes his next political moves.

19

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

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Quick Takes FAAN Set forEasterSurge

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured air travellers and airline operators that necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all our airports to ensure hitch-free passage of passengers and cargo during this Easter holidays.

According to the FAAN, passenger facilitation at all its airports has beenenhancedbytheinstallationofmoremodernandbigger conveyor belts and metal walk-through detectors.

“The expansion and modernisation of all the airport terminals in the country now provide better ambience for passenger facilitation and commercial offerings. Passengers are hereby advised to take advantage of online portals to book their flights ahead of time and avoid carrying unauthorised items. The Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) mounted around the airport vicinity is to aid the joint security efforts,” it said.

FAAN added that travellers are encouraged to leave home early on their travel dates in order to complete their boarding facilities in good time.

Lawmaker Backs Fayose on Airport Construction

2016 BUDGET PASSED

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon Namdas Abdulrazak; Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin; Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje and Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity Senator Sabi Abdullahi during a joint press conference on the approval of 2016 budget in Abuja...recently JULIUS ATOI

Capital Flight from Foreign Airlines Hits $4bn Annually Chinedu Eze Revenues from ticket sales by foreign airlines, salary emoluments from expatriate pilots and engineers, and cost of aircraft maintenance overseas have risen to over $4 billion annually, THISDAY checks have revealed.

The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) disclosed that as much as $2.3 billion was generated by Nigerian travel agents in 2014 from ticket sales for foreign airlines and tour services. Of this amount, $1.4 billion was generated from ticket sales alone.

Besides travel agents, foreign airlines sell tickets through the banks, airports and city offices, which generate almost the same amount with the travel agents.

AVIATION Checks from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) revealed an increase in passenger movements, particularly overseas travels, notwithstanding the sliding economy. It was confirmed that overseas travel has been rising steadily as more airlines increase their frequencies to Nigerian destinations.

Apart from ticket sales and services, the Nigerian aviation industry is highly dependent on foreign personnel for aircraft maintenance, aircraft parts acquisition and services.

Major technical personnel from pilots of modern aircraft fleet, including business jets, which are over 140 in the country are majorly maintained overseas

and largely have foreign cockpit crew, as many of them have foreign registration.

According to NANTA, foreign airlines record the highest foreign exchange remittances out of Nigeria, after oil and gas and mobile phone companies.

It is feared that would continue as Nigerian airlines have continued to underperform and government has continued to approve multi-designation of foreign carriers, including increase in frequencies.

“Majority of pilots operating in Nigeria are foreigners, the same with aircraft engineers, they are paid in dollars. Aircraft parts are paid for in dollars, simulator training for pilots are done overseas and are paid for in dollars; so after oil, the industry makes the highest demand on foreign exchange,”

said a Nigerian pilot, who flies for one of the country’s major airline, who would not want his name in print.

Industry analyst and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe said Nigeria loses about $3 billion through ticket sales and money expended on aircraft maintenance; training, technical and engineering crew takes huge money out of the country.

Aligbe said as long as Nigeria cannot train indigenous personnel that could be carrying out these essential services in the aviation industry, expatriates would continue to be employed and huge resources taken out of country as salaries and other emoluments in addition to remittances from ticket sales.

“How can Nigeria cut down Continued on page 20

Construction of $3.8bn Egina FPSO Nears Completion Stakeholders in the oil and gas sector are in high hopes that the Egina oil and gas project would be successfully implemented as the construction of the $3.8 bil- lion floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform is nearing completion.

The construction of the facility started in 2013 with the award of the contract to Korea engineering giant, Samsung Heavy Industry (SHI). The SHI was awarded the contract for the building of a world class oil production platform, while the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) was its local content partner.

MARITIME On completion, the platform, otherwise called Egina project is expected to provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for hundreds of Nigerians and facilitate maritime activities, sources familiar with the deal told THISDAY on Wednesday.

The government agencies and some stakeholders recently embarked on an assessment tour of the project to ascertain the extent of work.

Speaking at the project site in Tarkwa Bay, Apapa, Lagos, the Executive Chairman of

LADOL, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi promised thatthe project would be completed soon.

The stakeholders, who expressed delight at the extent of the work included the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Daziba Obah and Deputy General Manager of Total Musa Kida, representatives of other international oil companies (IOCs)- ENI, Chevron, Agip, Shell, and ExxonMobil- and top managers of Gulf Trade Bank (GTB).

The oil industry stakeholder told THISDAY that the FPSO ’’is indeed a game changer for the nation’s economy and capable

of seeing the country leap into her quest of being in the G30 by the year 2020.’’

Kida, who described the project as the first of its kind in Africa said his company was proud to be associated with it.

He explained that Total’s sup- port and confidence in bringing the project to the country was influenced by the Nigerian Local Content initiative, which was passed into law as the Nigerian Content Act 2010.

“Our visit today is very important. We are here to appraise work on our noble support for Continued on page 20

The plan by Ekiti state governor to construct an airport in the state has been applauded by an Ekiti lawmaker for the governor’s foresight in a bid to transform the economy of the state.

Hon. Titilayo Owolabi Akerele representing Ikole ll constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, who commended Fayose while fielding questions from aviation correspondents in Lagos, said the proposed airport, when completed, would boost the economy of the state.

Akerele, who is an aviator, said there was nothing wrong in having an airport in Ekiti to facilitate movement of people if the state has the financial backing, stressing that it would transform the state.

“If there is financial backing to build the airport there is nothing wrong in having an airport in Ekiti. If you look at the road connection between Ondo and Ekiti, the roads are bad.”

The lawmaker, who was a two time National President of Aeronautical Information Service of Nigeria (AISAN), explained that the government was not thinking of constructing an international airport but building one that would accommodate small body aircraft.

“To me as an aviator, I don’t see anything wrong with that and I am not trying to be sentimental,” he said.

Airbus Unveils New Cabin Brand

European planemaker Airbus, on Wednesday unveiled a new cabin brand on designed to help cost-conscious airlines carry more passengers on long-haul flights while avoiding additional discomfort.

The move reflects the rivalry between major planemakers to jazz up interiors and give airlines more flexibility on cabins as the industry struggles to capture more traffic without angering passengers.

Airbus said the “Airspace by Airbus” brand would debut on its upgraded A330, the A330neo, which is due in service from late 2017, before the new designs are rolled out to other jets.

Airlines will still be able to choose what cabin layout they want but with the new designs an A330neo will on average gain 10 seats compared with the existing A330 model, which can take up to 300 passengers.

Airbus and rival Boeing are vying to add more seats to make their jets more economically attractive for airlines while claiming passengers will not feel the difference, though many consumer groups say cabins feel increasingly crowded.

The trend has produced increasingly bitter industry branding wars in recent years, with each of the world’s two largest planemakers accusing the other of sacrificing comfort.

Airbus said by rearranging galley and lavatory space, the extra seats would be added to the A330neo with no reduction in seat width and still with eight seats across each row.

“It is good politics but bad economics to sign Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with countries and their airlines will be operating into Nigeria, while your own do not operate into theirs” Former Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),

Dr Harold Demuren

20

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD CAPITAL FLIGHT FROM FOREIGN AIRLINES HITS $4BN ANNUALLY on the huge resources that are taken overseas in terms of remittances from ticket sales, salaries and costs of maintenance and aircraft parts?

Maintenance facilities, training and even route development are done by national airlines or airlines or airlines designated as such by nations.

Many indigenous pilots and engineers that we have now are those trained by the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL). Now that we don’t have a national carrier the capital flight has increased and will continue to increase, unless indigenous airlines are empowered or govern- ment establishes a national airline.

For example, Akwa Ibom government is build- ing a maintenance facility, the project could be a waste without a national carrier; it is only a national carrier that can utilise the facility there,” Aligbe added.

CONSTRUCTION OF $3.8BN EGINA FPSO NEARS COMPLETION ...we have participated actively and supported fully the facility that you are seeing today. This is a clear demonstration that Total supports the law and the nation’s economy. This project is first of its kind in Africa, since none like this has ever been built in Nigeria or elsewhere in the region before.

“For Total, this represents not only our commitment to Nigeria...not just the cost, but it does represents a lot of money invested and this money is also a symbol of the fact that Total strongly believes the Nigerian Content is here to stay. It was a huge technical struggle in taking the risk to believe that this integration can indeed take place here or anywhere in Nigeria. Now it has remained our pride for taking this step, andweremaincommittedtoit.”

He enjoined the federal government and other IOCs not to make the Egina fabrication “a one-off project” that will seize to attract other projects.

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 (AgriBusiness)

NEWS

FG Urged to Safe-guard Regional Waterways Nosa Alekhuogie The federal government has been urged to secure regional water ways as this would make Nigeria the focal point of maritime trade in Africa.

The Chief of Multinational Coordination Centre Zone D, Captain Sylvestre Mbah, who made the call during a teleconference, which held at the United States Depart- ment of State Africa Regional Media Hub, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi to ensure that West and Central African countries worked together to combat piracy, illicit trafficking and illegal fishing, among others.

The government was also implored to improve its maritime capabilities, expertise and also, collaborate with other membercountries of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African State (ECCAS) to boost security on the waterways.

Mbah also spoke to journalists on the 2016 Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express, which began last week in Dakar, Senegal.

This year ’s exercise focuses on training on search and rescue operations, and advanced medical training. It also included a wide variety

of training for all participating forces including at-sea ship boarding and queries, air operations, communication drills, and regional information sharing.

Mbah noted that Nigeria, Cameroon and other African countries have benefited from Obangame in terms of capac- ity building and information sharing, urging the 32 partici- pating countries

to have the political will and good legal framework to protect local and international waters.

The US Naval Officer in charge of the exercise, Navy Captain Heidi Agle, noted that the collaboration is aimed at strengthening ties in transportation, shipping, tourism, and also, improve participating countries’ economies.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that oil companies and other related financialinstitutionsoperating in Nigeria will not go bankrupt following the current volatility in the prices of crude oil in the international market.

Kachikwu explained that the resilient character of these firms will keep them up through the oil prices slide, that they would survive the price plunge despite its continued impact on their bottom lines.

The minister spoke at the closing ceremony of the Sixth African Petroleum Producers Association Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VI) in Abuja recently.

He however warned that only companies that would embrace new technologies and adopt innovative approaches to their business in the face of the price slump would survive the ensuing difficult operating environment which the low oil price has thrown up.

Kachikwu also stated in this regard that the federal government is driving oil companies operating inthecountrybacktofulltime work as parts of strategies to overcome the situation.

He said the government is also looking at alternative funding sources for some of its oil projects as well as strategic partnershipsthatcouldhelpit deliver planned

time security in the Gulf of Guinea has improved due to our collective efforts. It takes strength, co-operation, and commitment to combat the criminals who operate at sea. We have seen ECOWAS and ECCAS nations possess the will, the capability, and the capacity to successfully conduct operations to enhance maritime security.”

PRODUCT LAUNCH

L-R: Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Paul Lee; Head, Product Marketing, lnformation, Technology and Mobile, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu, and Director, lnformation Technology and Mobile, Samsung, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas at the launch of the sleekSamsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

Nigerian Oil Companies, Banks Still in Good Shape, Says Kachikwu Chineme Okafor in Abuja

She said: “The overall objective of the exercise is to encourage the regional countries to work together to increase their capacity to cure what I call “sea blindness,” which is to increase their maritime domain awareness.

Regional security is vital to us all, and mutual understand- ing makes us a stronger, faster team.

She further added: “Mari-

projects in the industry.

“I think anybody who wants to survive in this climate today would need to put on the hat of thinking.

It is not business as usual, but people are going to survive.

“The nice thing about adversity is that you get to make huge successes also.

Companies that are ready to embrace new technologies and strategies and new ways of doing things are going to survive,” said Kachikwu.

He then explained: “It is not going to be for too long.

Nigeria for example, has put its strategies around getting the oil companies back to full time work, and we are still looking at alternative funding sources, we are still looking at diverging more into our gas products to complement our oil production.

“New idea on how to survive and how to multiply the sort of income that is available to you is key to survive. I think Nigerian companies are very resilient, they will survive.”

Speaking on his observation of a new attitude to oil revenues in oil rich countries and companies, Kachikwu stated that they have come to the sudden realisation of not only the need to cut cost, butalsoinensuringtheefficient management of proceeds from crude oil production and sale.

He advocated that African countries should open up their economic space to drive investment in the continent, especially in critical sectors like the petroleum sector and

help buoy production.

“There is a sudden realisation that not only do we need to come together to cut our cost to see how to survive in this unhealthy petroleum climate but also that countries would needtodoawholelotmorein terms of how they utilise the proceeds of production going forward.

“The unity is fine, the coming together is fine, I think what you will find is opening of the space so that investments will also come to Africa and its territories. Obviously people are concerned about how much you put in the value chain, to ensure you get the very best out of the very tight situation,” Kachikwu noted.

He also spoke on the unend- ing fuel crisis in Nigeria, saying that the government was already considering the possibility of deploying information tech- nology to monitor the fuel supply chain, perhaps because of reported cases of products diversion.

He said in this regard that the government plans to comput- erise the supply process from export of the product down to the sale of the product to motorists.

According to him, computerisation is one of the key initiatives that are being considered in tackling the fuel shortages, especially as it would enable the tracking of products discharged from oil vessels and tankerstodepotsandthenwhat was loaded from the depots by trucks.

Ogbeh Inaugurates 10-man Committee on Fertilizer Distributions, Sales Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Tuesday inaugurateda10-mantechni- cal committee to implement a regulatory system, oversee regular capture, report comprehensive activities of quality control of fertilizers sales and distribution in the country.

The committee, according to the minister was set up to serve as an instrument to curb all negative activities that are not in the interest of the Nigerian farmers.

According to him, the body was first set up in 1985 with the mandate to advise the government on technical and related matters.

Ogbeh said the committee has been afloat with irregular meetings, which were last held in 2007, adding that the NFTC among other functions collates the results of fertilizer trials and use the data to advice on the rate, types and methods of application.

He said: “I am particularly delighted that this forum has accorded me the opportunity to meet with some of the Agricultural research institutes, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and other stakeholders in the fertilizer production and distribution chain.

“In line with the present administration’sagenda,the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

was poised to generate employ- ment, ensure food security, reduce poverty and sustain livelihood in the country.

“One of the bold steps taken by the Ministry in this direction is the resusci- tation of the near moribund National Fertilizer Technical Committee for which we are here to Inaugurate. The membership of the committee includes scientists from some Agricultural research institutes, SON, Fertilizer Industries and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

The minister stressed the need for specifications for various forms of fertilizer given the changes that have taken place in fertilizer use, adding that the procedures and laboratories for sampling and analysis of fertilizers, packaging standards, labeling, handling and storage.

He said: “You may recall that in 2006, the National Fertilizer Policy for Nigeria was articulated and approved by the Federal Executive Council.

The fertilizer subsector was envisioned as a competitive private input market to develop and disseminate adequate quantity and quality of fertilizer products that are available timely, affordable and accessible to the teeming farming population of Nigeria operating under a supportive public sector and without compromising the environment.”

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Aero’s Future under AMCON After several months of anxiety about the future of one of Nigeria’s major airlines, Aero Contractors, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, which acquired a substantial stake in the company, has fully taken over the operations of the airline.

Chinedu Eze writes on the airline’s chances of weathering the turbulence and regaining its prime position in the Industry Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest scheduled commercial airline may be on its way back to leadership position in the aviation industry. The worst fears are over as the airline is basking in new management following its full take-over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The airline was almost moribund last year when aviation labour unions raised the alarm for an immediate intervention by concerned authorities or it would collapse.

This prompted an intervention by AMCON. Subsequently, the corporation announced the appointment of Captain Fola Akinkuotu, an experienced industry guru, who has put over 35 years in the sector as a pilot and airline manager, to manage its affairs.

The airline used to be a beckon of hope in the days of yore. Before the birth of Arik Air, its major competitor entered the market, Aero used to have the longest queues at its check-in desks. Even years after Arik Air entered the industry, Aero still was controlling over 35 per cent of the domestic passenger market.

But the problem of the airline started years ago when the company took critical decisions that undermined its future. That was when it acquired six Boeing 737-500 at inflated costs, which many in the industry described as ill-advised acquisition. THISDAY learnt then that Aero became a victim of a sour deal, which some interest group padded their pockets at the expense of the company. The deal was funded then by the defunct Oceanic Bank, through its subsidiary, Oceanic Capital. Seven aircrafts were earmarked to be purchased, but six were eventually purchased without a refund.

Desperate to earn operational cash, the airline sold one-hour flight ticket for N9,000. Passengers descended on the airline’s website like bees on honey and they booked and over booked. Such excesses were desperate move by the airline to survive at the expense of passengers because the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was too weak to check excesses of the airline despite avalanche of complaints.

The airline instead of serving snacks on-board decided to sell them. With huge clientele that believed so much in Aero, many passengers never complained.

Prior to an earlier intervention by the corporation, the Ibru family held majority stake in the airline.

Based on its exposure to AMCON, the corporation decided to convert part of the debt into equity and that gave AMCON 60 per cent stake in the airline. However, there was another N18 billion outstanding, which was allowed as debt. AMCON also provided additional working capital to make sure that the airline continued to fly.

Under the previ- ous arrangement with the legacy shareholders, AMCON produced the chairperson for the airline, while the legacy shareholders provided the managing director and four non-executive directors. Then,

Akinkuotu

the management of the airline still rested technically with the legacy shareholders as they were given the responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business.

Nonetheless, experts noted that the intervention by AMCON has brightened the hope of Aero’s survival. But they stressed that the quality of decisions to be taken by the new management would determine the fate of the airline.

Aero has about nine aircraft in its fleet, but only four are operational, while the rest are grounded.

Three out of the lot are on major maintenance checks overseas.

The airline industry in Nigeria is precarious and worldwide it has very little profit margin. High charges from government agencies,

multiple taxes and arbitrarily high cost of aviation fuel make it almost impossible for Nigerian airlines to make profits. This was the major challenge Aero had been facing along with other Nigerian carriers.

However, sources told THISDAY recently that the future of the airline is bright. The sources admitted that generally, Aero’s debt profile was large, noting that if well managed, the airline could be generating about N10 billion monthly.

“I believe the debt profile look high, but Aero has become a global business and one of the key things about the airline is its reputation.

Aero is known to be a safe airline, so if it has good management which does its business well, the airline will survive,” the source said.

According to top official of the airline, before Aero entered scheduled commercial operations it serviced the oil and gas sector where it does not need to market itself.

“But since it started commercial service, it has to woo its customers but with good reputation, proper management and good corporate governance, the airline will surely bounce back,” a source said.

Analysts pointed out that one of the strategies to put Aero back on winning ways is to acquire new aircraft in order for the airline to compete and sustain its operations.

Furthermore, inside Aero source said the airline targets to acquire a total of 20 new aircrafts.

Presently the airline has old aircrafts with average age of 21 years. Although the aircrafts are said to be well maintained, its current fleet cannot take the airline into the future, the source maintained.

Aero also has 1,453 employees made up of highly technical personnel who may lose their jobs if the airline was allowed to go down.

“If we succeed, we will hire more people, but if the airline goes down, these people will lose their jobs,” the inside source told THISDAY. According to AMCON, when it took control of the company in 2010 it then invested about N14 billion in the airline. The corporation said the reason why it took over the airline was for the public interest and to save the airline.

AMCON said then it decided to fully takeover the company to sustain and maintain the brand heritage, excellent safety record and its excellent customer service.

The CEO of AMCON, Mr. Ahmed Kuru explained that the recent decision to take over the airline was because the earlier arrangement didn’t work out as planned.

It didn’t work out the way we expected it so we reviewed our strategy. Airline is a business that must depend on safety. It is not

like producing textbooks, telephone, etc, we must ensure that the aircrafts, before they take off, the meet all the best standards. If you know Aero, it has the best brand in the aviation industry.

“Most of the oil companies patronise aero more than any airline and that is why up till now, we still support Aero in spite of the fact that we cannot see a proper, clear exit strategy around it. But because airline business in Nigeria is also a security matter, AMCON continues to find ways and means to support the airline to continue to operate.

“But given what has happened in the last couple of months, we are reviewing our strategy. We are sending forensic auditors to go and audit the company to tell us what has happened in the last couple of years.”’

He added: “If AMCON decide to stay aloof, the airline would come to a halt. We have to also understand that the aviation industry in Nigeria generally is a troubled industry.

It is an industry that has a lot of challenges.

“How you know an industry is troubled is when you look at the sustainability. How many airlines have gone under in the last 10 years?

Which of the airline has more than 15 years? That tells you that there are some fundamental structural issues that need to be addressed.

“In fairness to this government, they are very keen in addressing most of those things they feel are hampering the growth of the aviation industry. None of the airlines in Nigeria has lasted up to 20 years today and that tells you that is a very serious problem.”

Industry analyst however said Aero would survive based on two factors. Firstly, would be if AMCON would continue to support the airline financially from the next six months to one year to meet its immediate needs, which include funding the airline to sustain its leases, getting back its aircraft on maintenance overseas, paying off some of its debts and providing the airline working capital.

The second factor would be if AMCON decide not to support the airline in terms of finance, then it would have no other option other than to reduce its workforce. According to an analyst, the airline has aircraft to staff ratio of one airplane to 300 staff or more; while the industry standard is one aircraft to 50 staff. But downsizing it workforce might invoke the ire of the workers unions which would engulf the airline in labour crisis that would eventually lead to the end of its existence.

It is believed by many industry observers that the company would bounce back because of its invaluable reputation and the fact that since it started operation it has not recorded any major mishap. Air travellers have implicit trust in the airline and in terms of safety, it has never disappointed them.

22

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Will Limit Climate Change Stories by Chinedu Eze Nigeria yesterday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Meteorological Day (WMD), with the Director General (DG) of NiMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, stating that limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

March 23 of every year, has been set aside by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), its 185 member states and six territories to celebrate the WMD to commemorate the entry into force on March 23, 1950 of the Convention creating the WMO as the successor to the International Meteorological Organisation established in 1873.”

This year ’s theme was, “Hotter, Drier, Wetter, Face the Future”.

Each year, the WMO chooses a theme for the celebration to focus on a topical meteorological issue affecting the society and the environment.

The NiMET said in a state-

ment signed by its DG that: “This theme was selected to draw the attention of govern- ments and the world commu- nity on the impact of climate change on natural resources, humans and environment. It has been unequivocally demonstrated that, human influence has been responsible for warming of the atmosphere and the ocean, changes in the global water cycle, reductions in snow and ice, global mean sea level rise, and changes in some climate extremes.”

Anuforom added: “There has been growing evidence since the industrial revolution periods that human activities have led to these changes. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has also established that emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as one of the major contributors to global warming and the climate change being experienced all over the globe.

The emission of greenhouse gases has continued to increase

to unprecedented levels since the industrial times leading to increase in air and ocean temperature.

“The global average air temperature of the earth is already 1°C hotter than it was at the start of the twentieth century.

The continued emis- sions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.”

He also said the international community has unanimously agreed that there is need for bold action towards the reduction of the emissions as demonstrated during COP-21 meeting in Paris in December 2015. At that meeting, govern- ments adopted the Paris Agree- ment to “hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre- industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.”

Air Traffic Engineers Laud NAMA’s Training Programme The President of National As- sociation of Air Traffic Engineers (NAEE), Ebenezer Makanjuola has commended the manage- ment of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for its doggedness and determination to building capacity of critical personnel within the agency.

Makanjuola made the commendation at this year’s NAEE Day celebration held at NAMA headquarters in Lagos.

He expressed happiness that NAMA might be counted number among the aviation agencies in terms of manpower training, pointing out that in 2015 alone, over 100 of its members benefited from various professional trainings in areas such as Air Traffic Safety Engineering Services (ATSES) Course, Linux Appreciation Course and Microwave Link.

The NAEE president said

another 70 Air Traffic Engineers from various zones in the country also attended workshops and seminars organised by the agency within the same year.

Makanjuola also canvassed for more training of his members across the country in Thales/ Navaids Manufacturer Equipment Course to meet the standard requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The NAEE boss also expressed satisfaction with the report of the recent calibration exercise prior to the ICAO audit, which certified the nation’s Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Localizers and other navigational aids as highly serviceable, noting that “such a favourable report shows that NAMA Air Traffic Engineers could stand their own anywhere in the world.

He however enjoined members

to be selfless and dedicated to their duties, even as he tasked them to maintain high professional standards and etiquette in line with the noble tradition of the organization.

Earlier in his remarks, the acting Managing Director of NAMA, Emma Anasi, who was represented on the occasion by the Ag. Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (Navaids) Mrs. Mojisola Dokun, noted that the role of air traffic engineers remains critical in ensuring that navigational aids perform optimally at all times.

Anasi congratulated the organisation on its 34 years of existence, maintaining that the agency would continue to give priority to training and retraining of critical personnel in line with its mandate to continuously enhance safety of air navigation in Nigeria.

Ethiopian Charter Operators Urge Government to Curtail Foreign Competitors Ethiopian private charter operators are demanding that the country’s government introduce restrictions on foreign competitors, which are unfairly taking the market from them.

At a recent meeting organised by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), representatives of the country’s 13 local operators complained that foreign competitors are enjoying free access to operate within Ethiopia, even though Ethiopian operators are blocked from these companies’ home markets.

“For instance, we cannot operate charter flights in Kenya and they charge us exorbitant fees to fly to Kenya,” said Frehiwot Tessema, general manager of Aquarius Aviation.

“Kenyan authorities try their level best to protect local operators. While our aircraft are parked at the

tarmac of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, foreign operators should not be allowed to operate here”, he added.

But Ethiopian authorities pointed to the somewhat limited fleets of local operators as an obstacle to winning charter bookings.

According to AIN online, ECAA director general Wossenyeleh Hunegnaw insisted that the authority always prioritises local operators in charters for governmentbacked projects.

He explained that while government departments have been advised to insist that foreign companies use local operators, sometimes these operators cannot meet their transportation needs.

“We do not want to create impediments to national flagship projects,” said Hunegnaw.

According to the ECAA director general, this issue is particularly critical when it comes to air ambulance flights, for which it is difficult to insist on using local operators. “[When] a person is in critical condition and a foreign air ambulance asks for clearance to take the patient, it is difficult to tell them that they should use a local operator at that critical moment,” he said.

“I advise you [local operators] to upgrade your capability.

In the meantime, we do our best to give you market protection. You need to meet the international standards that foreign customers demand”, he added.

However, the Ethiopian operators also complained that the ECAA does not apply its ban on passenger aircraft older than 22 years to foreign charter operators.

AIR WATCH The National Carrier Imbroglio

P

enultimate week, President Muhammadu Buhari emphatically stated that his administration has kept the plan to establish a national carrier in abeyance.

He said that there are other competing and critical priorities, which have made the establishment of a national carrier a luxury. He said that there are other compet- ing and critical priorities, which have made the establishment of a national carrier a luxury. Buhari stated that setting up a national carrier was not in government’s list of priorities at the moment because his main focus was to reducethe level of poverty in the country.

The president’s pronouncement must have caught pro-national carrier Nigerians unawares, however, analysts, who said he was only being realistic, reasoned that his decision to defer the establishment of a national carrier was a wise one.

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko, who was among those canvassing for a national carrier, had in a recent interview with THISDAY, enumerated the benefits of a national carrier. According to him, to take advantage of the teeming population of Nigeria’s international travellers, Nigeria ought to establish a national carrier. He argued that the government having a stake in such airline would earn it respect in the comity of nations.

Uko said: “Nigeria is the most connected country in Africa and now it is the number one economy in Africa. And you could see that these economies that are well connected by air are also places where the economies are fast growing. Now look at Nigeria, all the connections from Nigeria are not Nigerian carriers. So if we say that we should keep out other carriers and rely only on Nigerian carriers, Nigerian carriers do not fly to more than 15 destinations globally.”

Reacting to the president’s comment on national carrier, Uko said: “I appreciate the fact that it is right for Buhari’s government to decide not to spend money to establish a national carrier, but there are other options. I don’t think that Arik, Medview and others are asking for money.

“There are other ways government can help the Nigerian carriers to compete through policies, waivers and other kinds of support. They should not be paying the same thing foreign airlines pay in their international operations. We should protect our own. Buhari cannot suspend the plan on national carrier and do nothing; he should help Nigerian airlines”, he said.

The major reason why many people oppose the establishment of national carrier is that from the hindsight, aviators and other industry observers are convinced that a national carrier cannot work in Nigeria, as long as government has stakes in it. They believe that the Nigerian system and Nigerians do not have the discipline not to interfere in an entity that is partly, if not fully owned by government.

Buhari might have taken a cue from the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, who recently warned that government should not embark on the project of establishing a national carrier; unless it would be able to ensure corporate governance and insulate it from undue interferences from government agencies and other concerned interests.

“I want to say this; you know there is a topic going on in Nigeria about the establishment of a national airline, we have gone through that many

times and there are people who have tried to do it also. I just want to say one word, it is not that it is impossible but there is one point, if you know you won’t do it right, don’t do it. There is need for good corporate governance. If you don’t have good a corporate governance, don’t even do it.

You can take all your money, go to the toilet and flush it away; you have lost nothing.

“It is not impossible, it is not an impossible task, we can make it work but if you want to do that you must also have a maintenance facility, first class, you must have flight training with simulator, because that is what takes your money away. And you must have a good technical partner who will bring his expertise, knowledge, system and also fund into the system. If you do that you can make it”, Demuren said.

However, industry analyst and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, who was also among those clamouring for the establishment of a national carrier, noted that Nigeria has so many issues to contend with include the rising inflation rate, foreign exchange volatility and Boko Haram insurgency, pointing out that establishing a national carrier may not be a top priority.

“So many people may be giving the President the impression that government will have to pump money into the national carrier project, so with the challenges we have in the country, establishing a national carrier may not be a top priority. But if the understanding of the President is that government will not fund the project but will have sweat equity; it is still something we could do,” Aligbe said.

He said only that foreign airlines airlift most of the passengers from Nigeria but it was high time the country stopped the huge amount of money that is being repatriated from Nigeria through ticket sales, overseas aircraft checks, foreign skilled manpower like pilots and engineers, adding that it is only a national carrier that can guarantee manpower development and even the establishment of maintenance facility.

“Sooner than later those skilled personnel at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) will retire because they are already geriatric and how are you going to train their replacement?

“If you research, you will fin out that all the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities that have been built anywhere were built by airlines.

Government on its own does not build MRO facilities; it is airlines that build them. Without a national carrier, Nigeria will continue to maintain its aircraft overseas, so we will not cut back the money our airlines spend overseas, which otherwise would reduce foreign exchange,” Aligbe said.

On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, who has never believed in the national carrier project, told THISDAY that he totally agreed with the president that a national carrier is not the priority of his government but ‘’how to save lives, wipe out poverty from the country and create employment.’’

“Improving the lots of the people should be the priority; then government will have to encourage existing airlines to make them grow and become profitable,” he said.

With the president’s pronouncement, all the controversies trailing the establishing of a national carrier have been laid to rest.

WEEKEND WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

ERAVE | P28

COLLAGE | P32

THISLIFE | P33

FILE

WHEN LITTLE DROPS COUNT

ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

24/COVER

25.03.2016

A scene from the play

When Little Drops Count

A lot of times, on the way to achieving success, women stand in the way of other women, tearing one another apart. But one of the lessons learned from ‘Little Drops’, a play written

by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, staged recently in Calabar in commemoration of International Women’s Day, is that women need to collaborate and support one another in order to a eradicate gender inequality in the country, writes Mary Ekah It was the fourth and final command performances of Little Drops, a brilliant stage play by the Niger Delta playwright, Professor Ahmed Yerima. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in commemoration of the 2016 International Women’s Day had launched a series of performances of the stage play. The series was launched first in Abuja and later it continued in Port Harcourt and eventually rounded off with an excellent performance at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. Cross River State.

The International Women’s Day originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is usually celebrated wearing purple ribbons.

The official theme for this year, is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. This birthed the more commonly used #PledgeForParity.

It was therefore a step in the right direction for NDDC when it decided to portray this theme with the play Little Drops, which is basically about the conflict in the Niger Delta with a focus on the anguish of women and

children. It a story rooted in the Niger-Delta crises, which gives a fascinating account of four women who met in the oddest of

Our mandate for women development is an aspect that is given huge priority.

As a result, we have continually highlighted the salient issues which the long years of neglect, the regional development challenges and the consequent agitation bring to fore

circumstances, each telling her unique story.

The play takes a look at the Niger Delta from the perspective of women – the neglected innocent victims of the war of contradictions in the oil-rich region. They bear the burdens and live with the collateral damages of the war caused and fought by men.

The event graced by the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Linda Ayade, wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Omotunde Ivara Esu and the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross River, Mrs. Stella Orem Odey, with other dignitaries was held on March 14.

Little Drops, according to the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, was staged first, “to celebrate the International Women’s Day whose campaign, “Pledge for Parity” has already gathered millions of signatories around the world and secondly, to bring, once more, to national and international consciousness, the dire and abject circumstances in which this great region, sadly, continues to wallow.”

The play was very well put together with exceptional talent on stage, so it was not a

surprise that the NDDC put up a good show in terms of acting. “Technical quality was top-of-the-game, but again, you are dealing with the best in the trade so you can’t have that quality and not enjoy it. So, it was very enjoyable. In terms of interpretation, I think that the actors and actresses interpreted their roles quite succinctly and as you listened to the audience, you find that the audience was able to relate to, and interact with the play. So, generally speaking, I think we had a good show”, the NDDC boss said of the stage performance in Calabar.

Semenitari, who explained that NDDC is focused on facilitating the sustainable development of the Niger Delta and improve the living conditions of the people, added, “Our mandate for women development is an aspect that is given huge priority. As a result, we have continually highlighted the salient issues which the long years of neglect, the regional development challenges and the consequent agitation bring to fore.”

She explained further that the play, ‘Little Drops’, focuses on aspects of this agitation,

25/COVER

25.03.2016

Managing Director_Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari

A cross section of Catholic Women during the stage play in Calabar

Little Drops re-echoed the long years of neglect, underdevelopment and aftermath of ill-conceived agitation. Particularly, the play takes a critical look at the Niger Delta from the perspective of women- the neglected innocent victims of the war of contradictions in the region

especially its impact on women and children, the innocent, neglected victims who bear burden of conflict in the society and yet are neither considered nor consulted in the unfortunate scheme of things, in circumstances often occasioned or instigated by men.

“Women deserve equal opportunities as their male counterparts. They are the special jewels that make the world a more splendorous ornament and a brighter place”, she stressed.

The NDDC boss said further that over the years, women have not played enough definitive and defining roles in the affairs of the society, noting that, “Over the years, women have been neglected to mostly sub-par roles in the global show of life.”

She said therefore that as another International Women’s Day is marked this year, there was no better time to #PledgeForParity between both genders, adding that the special showing, ‘Little Drops’ was one of the activities the commission has slated to inspire and celebrate the courage, determination and achievements by the ordinary women facing extraordinary circumstances every day.

The play, ‘Little Drops’ is the story of four women, connected through their dangerous experience in the Niger Delta crises. Written by award-winning playwright, theatre director and scholar, Prof. Ahmed Yerima and directed by an established director and screenwriter with over 30 years experience, Fiji Ajani, the play, ‘Little Drops’, calls attention to the wanton destruction of life and property in the region and the attendant physical problems.

Overall, it echoes the need for caution and appeals for peaceful resolution to these issues.

Little Drops re-echoed the long years of neglect, underdevelopment and aftermath of ill-conceived agitation. Particularly, the play takes a critical look at the Niger Delta from the perspective of women-the neglected innocent victims of the war of contradictions in the region.

The cast for the stage play included: Veteran actress and producer fondly dubbed the ‘silver lining’ of the Nigerian film and entertainment

Mrs. Ayade with Semenitari at the show

Semenitari pledging parity

industry, Ms. Joke Silva; multi-talented artiste of many years standing, writer, director, voice over artiste and singer, Tosan Edremoda–Ugbeye; versatile actor, dancer, choreographer and director, Najite Dede and a multi-talented actor, dancer, voiceover artiste and a movement and dance instructor at Lufodo Academy Performing Arts (LAPA), Zara Udofia-Ejoh.

Others are trained performer and theatre maker, Toritseju Akiya Ejoh and actor and

Ayade pledging parity

budding writer, Abiodun Kassim.

NDDC was established in 2000 as a federal government agency with the mission to fast track the even, sustainable development of the Niger Delta region and ensure its economic prosperity, social stability, ecology regeneration and political peace. The leadership is rotated among the states of the region and Mrs. Ibim Semenitari is the current Acting MD/CEO. The commission is fixated on the all-round

development of the area: the education, training and empowerment of the people – men, women, youths and children. Women, especially are a major part of its focus and over the years, NDDC has pursued several programmes to this effect, partnering oil companies and other development agencies to address issues of unemployment, and poverty to help participants divert their energies to meaningful ventures.

26/ NEWS

25.03.2016

50 Young Aspiring Ladies Get Training on Digitisation

Young aspiring ladies at the digitalisation training with resource persons

Mary Ekah As a way of empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors, 50 young aspiring ladies drawn from different fields of life were selected to participate in a special digital training on web application development.

The training is believed to be essential to building stronger economics globally, and achieving internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability.

Sponsored by the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria and Access Bank with technical partnership from Hacey Health Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation, the training, which will start on April 2, will run for 12 consecutive weeks in Lagos.

The project tagged “Code for Impact Initiative”; the Head, Sustainability Corporate Communications of Access Bank, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said would ensure the trainees “develop value-adding applications that will help contribute solutions to addressing social and environmental challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The bank, she said, is committed to economic empowerment of females to

reduce cases of trafficking, sex trade and exploitation of ladies.

Access Bank has been a key partner in efforts to advance gender equality and empower women by providing practical guidance to female stakeholders both in the Bank’s workforce and local communities. As part of its strategies to impact positively on women in local communities, the Bank partners with various credible organisations on intervention programmes for women and girls. This is as a result of the growing rate in the amount of girls trafficked both within and outside the country; those forced into commercial sex work; those unable to attend school and also those financially exploited by their colleagues, family and friends.

The initiatives implemented on the platform of the Bank’s partnerships have helped to provide escape routes for these vulnerable women and others through the trainings/skills acquisition and empowerment initiatives that give them the opportunity to be productive and self-sufficient individuals. It is in line with this that Access Bank is again partnering Hacey Health Initiative, United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria and other technical partners on the Code for

Impact initiative.

The Code for Impact initiative is an experiential learning programme that builds digital literacy, especially coding and analytical skills in females aged 18 – 30 years to create community impact solutions around the newly launched Sustainable Development Goals.

The beneficiaries of this programme have been selected from a pool of 1,518 applicants after a rigorous process wherein stringent criteria were applied. The lucky 50 participants that will be trained will be grouped in clusters of 10 with 5 girls in each group. These groups will form the functional identities through the course of the training for collaboration on assignments and the projects at the end of the training. Each group will be assigned tutors and mentor developers who will help guide the beneficiaries on their projects. The training participants will acquire skills developing web applications, mobile applications, games application and utilization of micro-electronic platforms. They will be tasked to develop value-adding applications that will help contribute solutions to addressing social and environmental challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Top Nigerian Comedians to Thrill at Owerri Nite of a Thousand Laugh Yankee entertainment boss, Mallam Yankee, has announced the Owerri edition of the Nite of a Thousand Laugh. The popular Comedy show, which has been scheduled to hold on March 26, 2016, will be holding inside the Imo International Conference Centre, Owerri, will be spiced up with music of different genres.

According to Mallam Yankee, the Owerri edition of Nite of a Thousand Laugh brings forth "special, dynamics and unique music and comedy nicely packaged for live audience."

He said while Owerri residents will have their ribs cracked with comedy from Helen Paul, Accapella, Funny Bone, Osama, Chuks D' General, Yellow Mouth and MC Cacino, Harrysong of the E-money will give the show the desired musical touch that will take the audience through a memorable night trip.

Top Nigerian comedians

He equally divulged that popular Warri boy, Gordons has been considered as

the host of the show.

To be part of the show, patrons are expected to obtain their tickets with only N2000 for regular stand, 5000 for VIP, N10, 000 for VVIP, while a table of eight goes for N300, 000. It would be recalled that Mallam Yankee has continually reechoed his effort towards transforming nightlife across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He has partnered and organised several shows to include, Koko Concert, Iyanya Album Launch, many of 2Face's shows, Charlyboy showlive, Owerri must laugh, Nite of a Thousand Laugh, and others numerous to mention. The showbiz impresario said his target is to help revive nightlife across the country, so other states outside Lagos and Abuja can compete favourably. The Owerri edition of Nite of a Thousand Laugh will start ushering in patrons as from 6pm.

Orji to Empower Constituents at Easter Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central senatorial district at the National Assembly, is set to empower those who voted for him in his constituency this Easter through the distribution of some empowerment items.

The empowerment items include 20 units of 2.5 megawatts generator, 20 units of home grinding machines, 20 units of sewing machines, 100 bags of fertilizer, 14 units of motorcycles, 10

units of tricycles, 15 units of wheelchairs, amongst other things.

“Now that we are going home for Easter, I am going to empower my constituents who voted for me,” Orji told THISDAY. “I want to emphasise that only those that voted for me will receive these items and anywhere it stops, we continue until the items get to those that cast their votes for me.”

Also, the senator’s wife, Mrs. Mercy Orji,

will, through her foundation, Hannah-May, conduct a medical retreat. The foundation has, in stock, glasses and drugs for different types of sicknesses, and will bring in doctors who will move from one zone to the other, attending to people.

According to the Senator, the medical retreat will “extend outside my senatorial district, for people to have a feeling that we are here and that we remembered them.”

Nigerians Laud Astymin as Winners Emerge in the 'Get Alert' Promo As more winners continue to emerge every day in the Astymin Get Alert Promo, ceaseless accolades have begun to trail the Astymin brand from many Nigerians, including winners who emerged and are being rewarded by the brand.

The promo, which commenced on the first of February to reward Nigerians for their loyalty and support, as part of the celebration of its 15 years of existence in the country, has seen many Nigerians smiling to the bank courtesy of the promo.

Many of the winners believe that Astymin is not only delivering positively on their health and well-being through its essential amino-acid and multivitamins, it is also putting smiles on their faces by subtly touching their lives where it matters.

One of the lucky winners, Inuolaji Bukola Ajara shared her experience on the Astymin Get Alert Promo and how she intends to improve her business with her prize reward. She said she has been using Astymin with her family after trying it the first time, following doctor’s recommendation. Since then, Astymin had been their regular daily multivitamin for her entire household.

Apparently excited by the reward, another winner, Pastor Mrs. Esther Fekumo from Igbalu area of Ikorodu, Lagos, said she got to know about Astymin over a year ago.

According to her, the brand has consistently delivered on its promise of quality amino acid-enriched multivitamin that boosts the body immune system and enhances general well-being for her family.Mr. Isaac Ewuba Edafe from Benin-City, who is also a winner, corroborated Bukola and Fekumo’s claims, saying that apart from the on-going Promo which is an additional reward to its customers, Astymin has remained a top-notch multivitamin for his family. The Astymin Get Alert Promo, which has been doling out N100, 000 to lucky winners every day since the commencement of the promo, is an engaging brand experience that will deliver both health and financial value to Nigerians. It is the brand’s way of rewarding consumers with total well-being for their bodies, money in their pockets and smiles on their faces. The promo is a year-long campaign that allows interested participants to win instant cash prizes by simply buying Astymin from any nearby pharmacy and checking the body of the bottle pack for the Astymin Get Alert seal with a scratch box.

Lord Chosen Hosts God Has Power To Do This Or That All is set for a special Holy Ghost inspired two-day power-packed Easter programme titled, “God Has Power To Do This Or That” being organised by the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries between Saturday March 26-Sunday 27.

The programme, which holds at the Chosen Revival Ground, Along Oshodi- Apapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop, Lagos State at 8am daily, is in commemoration of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The programme according a press release signed by the Church’s Public Relations Officer, Pastor Louis Chidi, is designed to produce a spiritual rebirth that will bring about restoration in the lives of participants through which they shall experience a total transformation salvation and Holy Ghost baptism.

“It is a common knowledge that the world is going through its worst political and economic hard time which has given rise to despondency in the mind of the citizenry.

But amidst the insecurity and depression that have pervaded the mind of the citizenry, God inspired this programme to draw our attention to the fact that our success does not lie on our ability but on what God can do, for He alone can do this or that vis-à-vis our supplication”, it stated.

This programme, the release stated further, will help the participants to see in the resurrection power of God. “God has decided through this programme to prove to man that He is still available and has the power to restore hope to that uncertain situation. The economy may be bad and the future looks bleak but God is not caught off guard. He has the power to do this or that depending on what we want. If mankind particularly Nigerians can call upon Him and recognise that He alone has the power to deliver, it shall be well with them.”

It revealed further that the programme would be presided over by the father of revival evangelism Pastor Lazarus Muoka. “There shall be salvation, deliverances from spiritual limitations, and paralyses of all kinds, diseases, sicknesses, economic and political challenges, demonic affliction, barrenness of the womb, intellectual and financial barrenness”, it noted. Free transport arrangement has been made by the ministry to convey participants to the venue from any location in Lagos States. And most importantly provision has been made for a digitalised security measure that will checkmate any breach of order.

27/LIVING

25.03.2016

ITAM Features at International Millinery Exhibition

Oloso Bags a Doctoral Degree

Prof.Oloso (middle) flanked by Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi and his wife, Folake

Ademola Babalola in Ibadan

Award-winning Nigerian Milliner, ITAM by Kings’ Signature has been invited to participate at the 15th International Millinery Exhibition, set to be the most stylish hat event yet. Taking place between 16th and 25th March 2016; the annual pop-up exhibition has become a must-visit on any stylish race-goer’s fashion calendar ahead of the Dubai World Cup. The largest event of its kind in the MENA Region, this year’s exhibition will feature over 500 hats, headpieces and fascinators from some of the world’s most celebrated milliners alongside ITAM, the only Nigerian and African milliner invited. Whether you want to make a show-stopping statement at the World Cup Style Stakes or opt for a subtler accompaniment to your race attire, ITAM will showcase something for every luxury style and budget. Other Milliners invited include: Liza Georgia Millinery, Marilena Romeo, Designs

by Christiane and Rebekah. Although ITAM

by King’s Signature is known for bold florals, bright colours and bohemian glamour; the couture milliner has plans to make his 4th appearance unforgettable. Till date, ITAM is the only milliner to have been invited back consecutively each year since the debut appearance in 2013. According to the Creative Director, Kingsley Asim – Ita, “I am pleased to be invited again to BurJuman. I do not take my consistent and consecutive appearance for granted. 2016 will be an Easter holiday like never before as we launch our new collection ahead of the summer holidays and boldest design artistry till date”. Other activities at the weeklong festival include: Spring ‘Spend and Win’ offer, which runs from March 16th to April 25th; Dubai World Cup on March 26th and lots of discounts and raffle draws

for BurJuman shoppers.

In its 15th year, the 2016 exhibition will once again bring together award-winning milliners from across the world, many of whom have proved their ability to turn heads at royal weddings, social galas, top global racing fixtures such as the Melbourne Cup and Royal Ascot as well as the city’s very own Dubai World Cup. Ladies looking to put together a complete World Cup look will be spoiled for choice when choosing the perfect dresses, accessories and footwear from BurJuman’s fashion-forward portfolio of high street brands and designer stores. Shoppers at the International Millinery Exhibition are also to simply spend a minimum of AED200 at any BurJuman store on the same day and redeem receipts for a chance to enter a raffle draw to win BurJuman Gift Cards up to a value of AED20, 000.

New Light Revival International Assembly Celebrates Women at Easter Mary Ekah In the spirit of the Ester celebration, a three-day power-packed programme tagged, “Women with their Homes”, will be held in Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State. Put together by the New Light Revival International Assembly in conjunction with the Women of Change, the women wing of the church, the programme, scheduled to hold from today, Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27, will focus mainly on celebrating the essence of the womenfolk.

Aside from celebrating the women in commemoration of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the event will also feature revival service, empowerment programme and a thanksgiving service.

Speaking on why the theme for the programme revolves around women, the Senior Pastor of the Church, Prophet Michael Ojo said, “As a commission, our women day annual celebration hold at this period and because the date coincidentally fall at this Easter period. We decided to tag the programme ‘Women with their Homes.’”

According to Prophet Ojo, “It is obvious that women are change agents in our society. It could be positive or negative but women are the major influences of change either by God or devil. But as Christians and as a commission, we believe that our women are agents of positive change in our society. It is very true that the most of the nuisance we have on the street and in our society today is as a result of poor home and broken marriages. Therefore, if our women are thought biblical principles on how to manage their homes and marriage, it will influence it positively and our society at large will be affected positively.”

Ojo believes that the transformation that a woman receives will definitely affect the family where she comes from and the people who she

An Islamic scholar, Professor Kamil Koyejo Oloso, has reminisced on his academic journey in the Premier University of Ibadan since 1984 when he bagged his doctoral degree from the institution. Oloso who recently bagged his professorial award from the institution, recalled how he was persecuted and denied the honour for decades.

Speaking at the professorial reception held in his honour by Senator Soji Akanbi and his wife, Folake, in Ibadan recently, Oloso said very many of his students had bagged professorial awards and the development made many universities within and outside Nigeria to beckon on him for the award, as a mark of honour to him.

Justifying why he turned down the institutions like Crescent University, a varsity in Saudi Arabia among others for such honour, Oloso said his belief in his alma matter, UI as the first and the best in Nigeria made him to become resolute, unyielding and highly focused that one day, he would be so honoured because he deservedly merit the award going by his academic records of excellence and managerial acumen spanning decades of meritorious teaching and learning in the institution and beyond. Oloso who lauded the new Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka for taking the bull by the horns in correcting the alleged injustice meted to him over the years, also said that he would continue to do his best to uplift the department of Arabic and Islamic Studies for greater academic excellence which it has been renowned for.

Studio 24 to Empower 50 Women, Creates 1000 Jobs Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Prophet Ojo

interacts with, adding, “Every woman carries the power to influence things, and if she is positively transformed, she will positively influence lives and we would have a better society to live in.

“What changes a man is revealed truth towards the discovery of his true identity. Because when a man discovers his real identity, the first thing that changes in him is his mindset. According to psalm 119:130, the bible says the entrance of thy world gives life and understanding unto the simple. The word of God being the instruct of change, we believe that the Holy Spirit will infuse light into the heart of the hearers during this programme as the word of God will be preached, and the society and the nations at large will experience the impact through God’s people”, he said.

The Prophet was quick to warn that Easter period is not a season to retreat from work in order to refresh ourselves but rather, it is a period to reflect “our heart to the cross of

Calvary towards the death of Christ Jesus for the world as a result of his mercies and unfailing love for mankind.” He advised Nigerians further to, “stop the religious alarms and crisis that have turn us into murderers instead of the moral set of people we claim to profess.

Child of God, use this opportunity of Easter to win souls to God by preaching to them the unfailing love of Christ.”

He also seized the opportunity to invite the public to join in the programme, which will culminate in the celebration of the birthday of the General Overseer of New Light Revival International Assembly, Rev. Dr. E. O Uranda.

God’s handmaiden Prophetess Gifty Kwatia –Kwayisi, a UK-based Ghanaian and God’s servant, Prophet Michael Ayodele Ojo, the Senior Pastor of New Light Revival International Assembly, will anchor the programme, which will take place at 2, Sanusi Street, Agbado Road, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

A photography firm, Studio 24 is seeking to empower 50 women across the country between the ages of 25 and 60, as part of its expansion plans through its new franchise programme. The firm, which is the fastest growing commercial photography company in West Africa, had also announced franchise plans in Nigeria, including developing new outlets nationwide.

Studio 24 Team Leader, Mr. Ifeanyi Oputa disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, where he stressed the company's readiness to support the potential franchises with access to finance, and other tools.

“The idea is to create a novel 1000 job opportunities in creative arts industry, reduce poverty, empower and support the business woman who understands franchising, intellectual property and wants to grow her personal business”, he said.

“We have spent the last twenty-five years carefully developing a successful and reputable photography company with our high-target locations, partnerships, quality products, delivery, top-notch photographic services and we are now ready to begin expanding the business and the brand”, he added.

He revealed further that the company was putting finishing touches to the biggest retail photographic studio in Africa, which would be located Ikeja Lagos. The company, Oputa said, currently has 15 outlets in 7 states in Nigeria including; Lagos, Abuja, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

25.03.2016

28/ENTERTAINMENTRAVE

eraveonline@gmail.com

@eraveng

www.eraveng.com

Top Nigerian Celebrities Mourn Nomoreloss The Nigerian Entertainment industry was thrown into another deep mourning on Monday, March 21, 2016, following the demise of popular songwriter cum singer, Olumuyiwa Osinuga better known as Nomoreloss.

The ‘Iyawo Asiko’ crooner reportedly passed away following his battle with an undisclosed ailment in a private hospital in Lagos State.

Prior to his demise, Nomoreloss’ released chart topping singles such as ‘Iyawo Asiko’, ‘Ololufe’, ‘You Are The One’ among others in a career that featured him writing and shooting videos for popular Nigerian music acts. He also wrote the monstrous single, ‘This Year’ for music star, Jaywon in 2012.

Popular Nigerian celebrities, friends, and other close relatives of Nomoreloss have since taken to their social media pages to mourn the demise of the ‘Ori’ crooner since news of his death filtered into the media space.

One of the celebrities and a close friend of Nomoreloss who is currently mourning the passing of the singer is popular female emcee, Weird MC. The ‘Ijoya’ singer shared an emotional tribute via her Facebook page.

“Muyiwa words fail me I’m reeling in disbelief I’m in pain I’m trying so hard not to cry, but the tears are just flowing freely. We spoke just a few days ago you said “mama don’t worry I’d be out and about by the weekend” we even traded text messages,” she wrote.

Popular rapper, Ruggedman, while mourning the singer shared a heartwarming tribute via his social media page saying, “I appreciate every contribution you made to my career.”

“Those who demanded for money before playing your music or showing your videos will now play it because after your death, it is now good material for their shows. God sees all,” he added.

Davido

Nomoreloss

Okoye Brothers Reconcile After Weeks of Drama Following the age long war of words between award-winning music group, P’Square and the brother-manager, Jude Okoye, the brothers have since reconciled.

The first indication that the brothers have buried the hatchet surfaced on their social media accounts which showed that the once elusive peace may have return to the music group.

The Okoye brothers announced the end of their rift with a post via photo sharing app, Instagram, where they apologised to their fans for their actions in the last few weeks. The post was accompanied with an image of a dove which signifies peace.

Paul Okoye was the first to share the statement, “That it took our stupidity to realize that FAMILY comes first, We are VERY SORRY.@peterpsquare @judeengees#dembeonenobetwo” before his twin, Peter Okoye shared same thing, “That it took our stupidity to realize that FAMILY comes first, We are VERY SORRY. @rudeboypsquare@judeengees #dembeonenobetwo#PSquareForever”.

Jude Okoye on his part shared the same image with the same caption which further dispelled any form of rancour

Music Festival Lagos 2016

PSquare and Jude

between the trio.

Few minutes later, Paul Okoye confirmed what may be P’Square’s first performance in recent times. He posted, “We are there live!!!! Rotterdam Netherlands on da 26th March @palmundofestival.”

Since the issue between the Okoye brothers came into public knowledge,

Peter Okoye wanted Jude Okoye to step aside as manager of the music group.

He has also announced a new manager in Olatunde Michaels after he openly declared Jude Okoye to have been fired from being his manager. It is however not sure if Jude Okoye will remain as manager of P’Square or the brothers will now be under different management.

Airtel Sponsors Julius Agwu’s Laff For Christ Sake Four City Tour Laff For Christ Sake, an evening of gospel rhythms and jokes is a premium comedy brand created over 10 years ago by one of Nigeria’s biggest comedy exports, Julius Agwu as and it normally takes place during the Easter celebrations and other festive periods.

As part of the plans to celebrate this year’s Easter period, this season’s Laff 4 Christ Sake tour will hold in four different cities back to back and is fully sponsored by leading telecommunications company, Airtel.

The show will kick off in Calabar on March 25th and the train will move to Uyo onMarch 26th. It will then be the turn of Port-Harcourt to experience rib cracking jokes on March 27th and the final stop for the tour is Bonny Island on March 28th, 2016. The event will feature performances from top entertainers such as Buchi, Dan D Humorous, Acapella, Afy Douglas, MC Abbey, Imem Bishop,

Pop sensation, Davido has revealed how he narrowly escaped arrest in the US following his flamboyant lifestyle which the law enforcement agency suspected as being fraudulent.

The multiple-award winning singer who recently advised his followers to desist from following his lifestyle on Snapchat to avoid ‘depression’ revealed via a tweet how he was saved from the American Police on different occasions.

“Mehn my YouTube views has saved me from police in America so many times … Make dey leave me,” the ‘Fans Mi’ crooner wrote on microblogging site, Twitter.

Reports have it that Davido was recently accosted by American Police Officers who suspected his flamboyant lifestyle. The singer reportedly showed them his videos with millions of views on YouTube before the law enforcement agency apologised to him.

Airtel TRACE

Agwu

Funny Bone and many others.

The popular show which started in 2004 has featured on stage some of Nigeria’s best comedy acts which include Basketmouth, Bovi, Gordons, Buchi, Dan D Humorous,

Senator, Funny Bone, Buchi, Okey Bakassi, Ali Baba, Koffi and many others. The event has also featured top music stars such as Sammie Okposo, Onyeka Onwenu, Yinka Ayefele, Mike Aremu, Midnight Crew, KSB, Frank Edwards, Eben, Onos, Tim Godfrey and other popular music artistes.

This show has gone down in history as one of the best comedy shows ever organised during the festive revels as the turnout has always been unprecedented across many cities it has been hosted which include Lagos, Abuja, London, Port-Harcourt and other cities.

Put together by Reel Laif Limited, an event marketing organization run by Julius Agwu, the company is also the organizers of other series of comedy shows such Crack Ya Ribs, Humour Combat and the love themed comedy event, Festival of Love which holds every February to commemorate the Valentine celebrations.

Penultimate Friday, top Nigerian music stars such as D’banj, Sound Sultan, Wande Coal among others treated guests and other fun seekers to a night of great music at the 2016 edition of the annual Music Festival which held in Festac, Lagos.

In its 4th edition, the event, put together by Five Star Music in collaboration with Golden Tulip Hotel also featured performances from music stars such as Kcee, Harrysong, Iyanya, Majek Fashek, Oritsefemi, Ycee, Humblesmith, Koker, Viktoh, and Terry G. Guests and other attendees were treated to rib cracking jokes from comic acts such as AY, Seyi Law, Pencil, Patrick, and several others who took turns to delight everyone present.

Snapped

Popular Nigerian actors such as Kemi Lala Akindoju, Adeolu Adefarasin and more have starred in a new Snapchat movie with a distinctly Nigerian flavour.

First of its kind in Nigeria, the film was written by award-winning writer, Bola Agbaje, and was produced by award-winning Nigerian actor cum producer, Kemi Lala Akindoju.

The movie also features faces such as Nkem Marchie, Sylvya Oluchy, Amarachuks Onoh, Olumide Adisa, Gbolabo and many others.

Directed by Kewa Obi, ‘Snapped’ Nigeria is scheduled to launch on Snapchat at the end of March 2016 on 2Far Media’s socialmovies Snapchat account.

29/ TRAVEL, LEISURE & TOURISM

25.03.2016

Uko Calls for Constitution of Presidential Committee on Tourism to Rescue Sector The organiser of the Akwaaba Africa Travel Market, Mr. Ikechi Uko, has called for the constitution of a Presidential Committee on Tourism to rescue the country’s tourism sector, which he said was facing many challenges.

He made the call at the 2016 annual general meeting of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA) which took place at the Premier Hotel Ibadan, Oyo State.

Uko, who was the keynote speaker at the three-day AGM, said there was urgent need for the federal government to re-engineer a tourism master-plan with complementary sustainable tourism policy, adding that there some peculiar challenges with the coordination and driving of Nigerian tourism as all the various arms are scattered in six different ministries.

“Tourism is scattered in many ministries namely: Immigration is in Internal Affairs; Aviation is under Transport; National Park is in Environment; Waterways is in Transport; Culture is under Information, while the River Basin Authorities is under Water Resources.

“PCT is to bring all together for inter dependency meetings.

UNWTO says culture can survive without tourism but tourism cannot survive without tourism. In my discussion with Alabbar of Emaar, he said downtown Dubai has no soul so he has to add culture to it. So culture is key to the sustenance of tourism, but tourism is businesses.”

Uko, who is a revered tourism expert, said in the Africa Tourism Monitor, Nigeria was not in the top three destinations in 2014 with the highest number of tourists in Africa.

“Two North African countries top the list of most-visited countries in Africa. Egypt experienced the strongest growth in the sector in 2014, with 454,000 more international arrivals than in 2013, an increase of five per cent in just one year. Second on the list is Morocco, which once again recorded more than 10 million incoming international tourists in 2014, an increase of 236,000 when compared with the previous year. In third place is Cote d’Ivoire, in West Africa. The country is experiencing a strong economic recovery.”

According to him, the UK’s World Travel and Tourism Council

Uko delivering lecture at the 2016 NANTA AGM in Ibadan, Oyo State... recently

(WTTC), the international tourism sector now accounts for 8.1 per cent of Africa’s total Gross Domestic Product.

He explained that tourism employs over 20 million people in Africa, raking 7.1 per cent of all jobs on the continent; but that the economic impact of tourism is more than job creation.

Uko, while analysing the various frameworks several governments in Nigeria adopted in their various effort to transform tourism, their policies and the success and failures of some, said Obasanjo’s government was the best in all the efforts it made to transform tourism in Nigeria.

He said former President Obasanjo’s government took a major step to improve the sector including placing the sector as one of

Travel Agents Vote Ethiopian Airlines as Best in Nigeria

the centre-piece for economic development. “This is in line with global trend where most countries have turned to culture and tourism as part of their development agenda. It is in realisation of this that that government took steps to review existing policy documents. That included the review of the existing culture policy document of 1988 and the introduction of a National Tourism Policy.

“The policy sought the establishment of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT) which was chaired by the President; establishment of National Committee on Oral and Intangible Culture Heritage, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Culture and Tourism, and the introduction of stakeholders’ forum on National Council on Culture and Tourism.

“The creation of that Council resulted in the introduction and hosting of the Abuja Carnival which started in 2005, formulation of a National Policy on Tourism, production of the Tourism Development Master Plan, formulation of a National Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), a review of the 1988 Culture Policy for Nigeria, the enlistment of Sukur World Heritage site at Adamawa and Osun Osogbo Sacred Groove into the World Heritage List (WHL), and the sustained efforts of some states in using tourism for wealth creation.

“Tourism became the flagship for development and poverty reduction in Cross River, Kebbi, Osun and Kano which led to increased revenue generation and employment opportunity in those states.

“The National Tourism Development Master-plan has poverty alleviation as its primary focus. The main objective of the Abuja Carnival is centered on promoting and marketing the rich and robust cultural heritage of Nigeria and her artistic expressions.

The carnival is held annually to serve as essential tourism product.

“In addition to those, that government went on to strengthen the nation’s foothold on the ecotourism sub-sector, resulting in the enactment of the laws for Endangered Species Act Cap 108LFN 1990; National Park Services Act 46 of 1999; Federal Environmental Protection Agency Act Cap 131LFN1990, and the ratification of the 1999 global code of ethics and similar culture and tourism related convention by government.”

TBI Unveils Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Office in Lagos

- Targets Nigerians, expatriates, Others

LR CEO Cruises Int'l, George Argyropoulos, MD Tour Brokers Int'l, Mrs. Uloma Egbuna and Chairman TBI, Mr. Olufemi Adefope, at the opening of the company’s new office in Lagos…recently

GM Ethiopian Airlines, Solomon Begashaw (R), receiving the certificate of Award from the President of NANTA, Alhaji Aminu Agoha, at the 2016 AGM in Ibadan…recently

Africa's Leading Airline, Ethiopian Airlines was chosen by the largest travel association in West Africa, the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) with over 1500 members, as the best Airline in Nigeria.

The award was presented to the GM Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Begashaw by the immediate past President of the Association, Alhaji Aminu Agoha, at its 40th Annual General Meeting which took place at Premier Hotel Ibadan on the 17th of March.

Mr. Begashaw while thanking the agents and the travelers that made the award possible promised to further improve on the values that made the airline stand out. He announced that now travelers to Ethiopia can now get their Tourist Visas easily through the help of registered tour operators and travel agents in Nigeria. This was a reiteration of the message he shared in Kano while addressing Kano-based travel agents at the annual Agency Seminar.

Before now all travelers have to visit the Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja to procure a Tourist visa. As the headquarters of African Union Ethiopia is joining the move by AU to simplify travel within Africa by Africans, the new arrangement will see selected tour operators and travel agents assist their passengers in approaching the embassy for Tourist Visa.

This new arrangement will take away one of the obstacles for tourists to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia the land of Queen of Sheba is home to the largest number of UNESCO heritage sites in Africa. Ethiopian Airlines started its flight to Kano in 2014 but has been flying to Nigeria since 1960. Today ET flies to Lagos Abuja and Enugu. Founded in December 21, 1945 but started operation on April 08, 1946. It operates its Major Hub at Addis Ababa a Second Hub in Togo, Lome and a Third Hub at Lilongwe, Malawi. The Ownership is by Government of Ethiopia and the Chief Executive Officer is Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam.

The Tour Brokers International Nigeria (TBI), the largest tour operator in the country, has unveiled its branded Royal Caribbean Cruise Line office in Lagos.

TBI’s Managing Director, Uloma Egbuna, who unveiled the new office in upscale Lekki Phase 1, said Nigerians, visitors and expatriates no longer need to book their cruises via United States of America nor United Kingdom as they now have a secured place where they can discuss their requirements in the comfort.

Egbuna, who disclosed that the opening of the office was as a result of the firm’s excellent relationship with Cruises International and Royal Caribbean, said the firm which has been operational since 2002, is the largest professional tour operator in Nigeria. Apart from having offices in Abuja and Port Harcourt, she said that their clients include Nigerian business and leisure travellers and expatriates residing in Nigeria.

“This is testimony to our excellent relationship with and support from Cruises International and Royal Caribbean’s faith in our company. TBI is blessed with a robust pedigree in customer management and satisfaction.’

“We are delighted that clients will now have a one-stop cruise shop in Lagos, where our Cruise team, under the able direction of Funmi Olusola-Sanni, assures guests of a tailormade cruise at the most competitive prices.

“Directors and senior travel professionals who share a passion for international travel and have responded to the increased uptake of a cruising vacation by establishing a special Cruise Division. Clients benefit from TBI’s knowledge and purchase power offering a seamless experience at the best possible value.”

30/ETIQUETTE

25.03.2016

THE ETIQUETTE FORUM ADEKANMI OTEDOLA-OLUSANYA

email mretiquetteonline@yahoo.com

tel. 08112661635, 0809285 4855

How Not to Talk like Donald Trump I keep insisting that if people knew how to say things politely and gracefully we would have happier marriages and fewer divorces, better businesses and better staff, better clients and better services. By and large, we would have a better society. Donald trump is our case study for he has a predilection for making scathing statements and one of the recent statements he made led a host of TV stations to cancel their plans to work with the Miss USA and Miss universe pageants (both owned by Trump).

The beauty of saying things with a graceful touch is what it can accomplish and the unpleasant circumstances it can save us from. I remember trying to sell a newsletter on etiquette to a teacher several years ago when I started my etiquette company and he said the only reason he was going to purchase it was because of my approach.

Most often we can get people’s attention, favour, acceptance and respect if we say things in the right way. Conversely, we can ruin business relationships, intimate friendships

and productive unions by saying this poorly.

While I am not in any way advocating that financial gain should take preeminence in the statements we make. I am saying that if we can be graceful and effective why then be distasteful and ineffective? I have been a victim of distasteful statements in the past and I have been made to pay for those statements. And I think just as I learnt my lessons we all should do the same too.

WHEN YOU WANT TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT A MEAL PREPARED

BY YOUR WIFE Rather than say, “This meal is tasteless why didn’t you add enough salt to this meal now” You could say, “Thank you so much for this meal I really appreciate the effort however I think it would taste better if you added more salt” WHEN TRYING TO GET A SUBORDINATE TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON TIME

Rather than say, “I am tired of the late submissions of your reports next time you do it I will…”

You could say, “You are very punctual at work and I really respect you for that I’ll just like to add that you’ll make an excellent work if you submitted your reports on time.”

WHEN TRYING TO GET YOUR SUPERIORS ATTENTION ON A TASK YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING Rather than say, “Sir last time I checked on my appointment letter my job description did not include writing comments on reports.”

You could say, “Sir I have been thinking of telling you that I think I would be much more effective to this organisation as a marketer than as a reporter I am not so happy I am not giving my best in that area because my skills are rather suited to marketing.”

WHEN TRYING TO ASK A CLIENT TO BE PATIENT “Not now. I am busy.”

You could say, “Please make yourself comfortable and I’ll be with you in five minutes. Thank you.”

WHEN TRYING TO COMMENT ON A PERSONS LOOKS Rather than say, “You look rather awkward in that jacket.”

You could say, “This jacket would look so nice on you if you paired it with a dark shirt” or you could say, “Wearing your fitted navy blue suit would make you look more impeccable.”

You could purchase a copy of my book on etiquette titled PROPER MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE IN ANYTHING AT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE at the price of N3,500 at our corporate head office at 340 - 344 Ikorodu Road, by Idi-Iroko Bus Stop, Maryland, Lagos.

Or call 0802 312 6010 or 0811 266 1635 to have a copy sent to you.

In the words of Donald Trump, “Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people (in office).” Abusive statements are most often not effective

"My IQ is one of the highest — and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure; it's not your fault," Trump said. Boastful statements like this engender bitter emotions

On exporting goods to China Trumps said "Listen you m-----f------, we're going to tax you 25 per cent!" Expletive statements have always been and would continue to be ridiculous

Trump said, "If I were running 'The View,' I'd fire Rosie (O'Donnell). I mean, I'd look her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I'd say, 'Rosie, you're fired.'"Abusive statements towards the opposite sex are demeaning and sexist

31/XTRA

25.03.2016

Cleric Assists Suleja Prison Inmates to Regain their Freedom Mary Ekah In line with the Easter mood and its accompanied celebration which coincides with her birthday, the president of the Nigerian Women in Clergy, Nonnie Roberson, paid an unscheduled visit to the Suleja prison and assisted some prisoners she considered as forgotten victims to regain their freedom.

The prophetess with no religious or ethnic bias randomly chose the prisoners.

Speaking with journalists after the humanitarian effort, Roberson who is also the Overseer of the New Wine Ministries World Wide said it struck her on the eve of her birthday that some captives were held in different prisons across the country, some of whom might have committed petty crimes, and were thrown into the prison after failing to meet their bail conditions or pay the fine set aside for their release. She said her effort was equally in line with the dominant message of the season, which urges men of goodwill to try to “set the captives free.”

Roberson said that in the midst of every other problem across the country, prisoners were to her, individuals who have received little or no attention from the public or the government. She has therefore carefully chosen Suleja prison because it is dominated by the less privileged and those who have no means to secure their own release. She also lamented the incarceration of eight months old baby whom she said was in prison because her mother had committed a crime, which ordinarily wouldn’t have taken her to prison.

She further lamented that she was moved to tears seeing the condition this woman and her child were subjected to in prison. She lamented the imprisonment of other children, saying they were in prison not because of their own crime but a crime their parents committed. She asked why children should be incarcerated as well as their parents.

“There is an eight months old baby in this prison. I asked myself why? What was the crime? The mother is incarcerated. And you know what it means for a child to grow up in prison environment where there is no good food, no clothing, no baby food, and no good medical care. Is a child who grows up in that kind of environment not condemned for life?” she asked rhetorically.

Roberson further lamented the prison system in Nigeria, saying she had worked with American prisons and had been to many other prisons around the world but that the operations were different from what she has seen so far in Nigeria. She said the condition the prisoners were subjected to was horrible and dehumanising.

Responding to why she decided to visit the prison she said, “I always like to do things differently. I heard about what I could describe as ‘forgotten’ victims in Nigerian prisons, though I didn’t take it seriously because the spirit did not lead me. I prayed over it and few days to my birthday, God asked me to visit prisons. The first prison that came to my mind was Kuje prison, because ignorantly, I thought that was the only prison around.

But we later went to Suleja prison and we met different prison inmates whose cases were poverty driven crimes. Some are there serving jail terms with the options of N5, 000 to N15, 000 fines but they can’t afford it and nobody to help. This is why I call them the forgotten victims. We have people that have looted billions of naira in this country, yet they have their freedom and sailing around the world. This is funny,” she added.

According to her, Nigerians should all live with the consciousness of putting smile on the faces of one another, especially in a season like Easter. She said that it is all vanity heaping wealth for oneself while others are dying and suffering.

“I like to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to imbibe the culture of touching the lives of the less privileged Nigerians positively.

Like I did, there are still other prison inmates that as well need help. Instead of lavishing money on birthday parties and other social

Released Suleja Prison inamates being adressed by Prophetess Roberson

Suleja Prison

events, we can invest those monies in our brothers and sisters in different situations around us. We have plans to visit prisons across the country monthly. We need those who want to be part of this course to contact us on our website so we can collaborate to set the captives free.

She noted that she was fully aware of the need to rehabilitate them, adding, “I have talked to the Women in Clergy and I am also calling on NGOs, well-meaning Nigerians, religious bodies and other private and corporate bodies to invest in these ones.

We can collaborate and build a rehabilitation centre for Nigeria prisons. We can invest in human capital. It should not be properties always. We have empty houses in Asokoro, Maitama and elsewhere without anyone living

in them, yet our brothers and sisters are suffering out there. We must be proactive on the need to rehabilitate those we set free. What happens after these people are released and there is no proper rehabilitation?

They will go back to the society and become nuisance again, so we need the support of well-meaning Nigerians to do this job. The process of rehabilitation is as serious as the process of the actual trial before imprisonment. We need to show these people love and care. I cannot do this alone. We need people’s support.”

She said her ultimate goal is to do the work she was sent by God to do, affirming her apolitical disposition. She was, however, quick to state that should the government call her to assist in any area, she will consider such for

the good of the nation. She further reiterated that God must direct her in every decision she makes. “I live by divine instruction from God and that is what makes the difference.

Unless I inquire from God on a particular issue and He asks me to go ahead, I will not respond,’’ she said.

Speaking with some of the inmates whose identity we cannot disclose for security reasons, they thanked the prophetess for her gesture, saying they were not aware that they were to be released until that very moment. It would be recalled that Roberson has been very consistent in her remembrance of the forgotten victims, especially at a time like this. In 2015, she single-handedly rescued a woman who lost her only child in the Nyanya bomb blast.

32/COLLAGE

25.03.2016

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu flanked on the immediate left by Most Rev. Ikechi Nwosu, Archbishop of Aba Ecclesiastical Province, Bishop of Umuahia Anglican Communion and on the immediate right by the deputy Governor, Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, when Nwosu paid courtesy call on the governor

Students of Shalom Schools, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos during a visit to the Little Saints Orphanage where they presented items to the home

The Traditional Wedding between the former Miss Bolanle Monsurat Ajayi and Mr. Idris Olatunde Lameed, held at Apapa Road, Ebute- Meta, Lagos, recently

Chief Lanre Razak (3rd left); his wife Mrs Olajunmoke Razak; with their Children Cutting the Birthday cake,during the 70th Birthday celebration of Chief Lanre Razak in Lagos recently

Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Fountain of Life, Parish, Pastor Joe Gidson- Jofortan, outgoing pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) N. E. Alpheaus and Pastor Eunice Joe Gidson- Jofortan during sent forth ceremony for Pastor Alphaeus in Lagos‌recently.

L-R: Ace Artiste / MTN Ambassador, Sound Sultan; Lagos Polo Club President, Adetokunbo Laoye; Lagos Polo Club Captain, Ayo Olashoju; and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, Dola Bamgboye, at the special cocktail for participants of the Lagos Polo Club Presidents Cup held at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, Lagos recently

L-R:The Graduants, David Olorunleke; Rebecca Ejifoma; Shaka Braimah; and the Publisher of Nigeria Oil & Gas, Mr. Razaq Ogunfunyi, during their convocation from the School of Media and Communication (Pan Atlantic University) held at the Lagos Business School, Lagos recently

L- R; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba S.K. Adetona; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga;Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga;and Wife of the Governor, Ogun State, Mrs, Folusho Amosun, during the cake cutting to mark the formal opening of City of Knowledge Academy (CKA), in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, recently

33/THISLIFE

25.03.2016

Murray-Bruce

Murray-Bruce: The Common Sense Advocate Perhaps the most outspoken Nigerian politician in the Senate, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, at 60, is a conspicuous figure that is currently shaping the form of national thought, writes Solomon Elusoji Senator Ben Murray-Bruce clocked 60 in February, and it was a turn-up of the crème de la crème of the Nigerian society at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Those who attended were top politicians and personalities, including serving and current senators, ex-governors, and many more There was also a lot of music with the presence of a plethora of heavyweight Nigerian music stars, including 2face Idibia, Timaya, D’banj,Timi Dakolo, Vector, YCEE, Sound Sultan, MI, Jesse Jagz, Wizkid, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks and Dr Sid of Mavin and veteran Fuji musician, Adewale Ayuba, who entertained the guests to some of their popular songs, while Bovi almost sent them rolling on the floor with his jokes.

Murray-Bruce born in Lagos to an Ijaw parents Mullighan and Margaret Murray-Bruce who hail from Akassa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

He attended Our Lady of Apostles, Yaba, Lagos, where he completed his primary education and St Gregory College, Obalende, where he obtained the West African School Certificate before he proceeded to the University of South Carolina in the United States, where he received a bachelor's degree in Marketing in 1979.

Murray-Bruce has served in various public positions. He served as Director General of Nigerian Television Authority from 1999 to 2003. Prior to starting Silverbird Group, he promoted the Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant in 1983, Miss Intercontinental Pageant, from 1986-1994 and to date, he promotes the an-

nual Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant which he began in 1986. He is currently a Member of the Board of National Arts Theatre, Nigerian Film Corporation, Federal Films Censors Board, National Film Distribution Company and Nigerian Anti- Piracy Action Committee.

For Murray-Bruce, growing up was not a tea-party, although his father was a public servant who worked with the UAC. With an initial dream to become a professor of history, Murray-Bruce found out that his real passion lay in entertainment and show business. When he decided to follow his dreams, his parents were not initially supportive. But they would soon come around, as the entrepreneurial

Senator Murray-Bruce has become one of the fiercest voices in the nation. His Common Sense campaign consistently delves into current and burning national issues, carefully dissecting them and proffering simple, well thought out solutions

Murray-Bruce proved his mettle.

“I was at home one day in Los Angeles, USA, and somebody knocked on my door and I said ‘who do you want?’ He said he was looking for somebody and I said ‘you are in the wrong house’,” Ben has said, recounting how he kick-started his entertainment dream.

“We got talking and I said ‘what is your name?’

He told me. And I said ‘what do you do’, he said, ‘I’m a teacher’. He was very friendly and so I asked him in. As we talked, I said, ‘if you are a teacher, who do you teach?’ He said Janet Jackson, and I said ‘who else?’ He said ‘Todd Bridges, Garry Coleman’. And I said ‘you mean you are really a teacher?’

He said ‘yes’. Then he asked ‘what do you do?’ I said, ‘I’m a student of the University of Southern Carolina’.

The man then told him he was working on a set at the time and invited him over.

That was where he met Redd Fox of the Sandford and Sons’ fame, the Jeffersons and others. He ended up meeting a lot of actors and actresses. One day, his friend proposed ‘hey, let’s do a show in Nigeria’. They did, and the rest is history.

Silverbird Productions, Murray-Bruce’s then start-up, started in 1980 with a borrowed capital of N20,000, a desk in a small corner of the Domino administrative office, six staff and only two business activities, pageant and programme syndication. Today, with hundreds of staff, the company has turned into a conglomerate with radio and television stations in several states across Nigeria, the

Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria franchise; several Silverbird Cinemas across the country, and several Silverbird Malls, too.

Murray-Bruce’s entry into the pageantry business came at a time when the Miss Nigeria franchise was beginning to lose its glamour, the interest of Nigerians and its sponsor. His brainchild, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant eventually took over the market leadership from the Miss Nigeria, owned and operated by the Daily Times of Nigeria. MBGN produced the likes of Omasan Buwa, Bianca Onoh and Agbani Darego, who would go on to become the first black woman to win the Miss World Pageantry.

In 2011, Murray-Bruce ran for the governorship of Bayelsa State, but was unsuccessful.

On 27 October 2014, he declared his intention to represent Bayelsa East Senatorial District at the National Assembly under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He went on to win 2015.

Today, Senator Murray-Bruce has become one of the fiercest voices in the nation. His Common Sense campaign consistently delves into current and burning national issues, carefully dissecting them and proffering simple, well thought out solutions. His oratorical skills, which are phenomenal, have also endeared him to the general public. Perhaps the most outspoken Nigerian politician in the Senate, it is true that Ben Murray-Bruce, at 60, is a conspicuous figure that is currently shaping the form of national thought and discussion.

34/OPINION

25.03.2016

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

The Message from NBS is Inequality, Deal with It

I

t’s Easter and that’s something to cheer us. To boot, the Senate has given us a rare Easter gift by passing the budget on Wednesday, after three months into the year.

The debate over the years has been how we can hit the New Year as a country and start the implementation of our budget rather than wasting valuable time discussing what is wrong with the budget.

Of course, I had thought that the new government will achieve that since the ruling party has more people at the National Assembly, but I was dead wrong.

The elementary issue of missing budget and the secondary issue of budget padding kept everything in indeterminate state until three days ago.

But since the budget for 2016 is now ready for implementation and the National Bureau of Statistics data for the last quarter is nothing to smile about, there’s already something for the government to look back into, before it springs forward the way they do the American time during spring season.

From the NBS figure, we certainly need a desperate solution, but it will be important to understand why unemployment is growing in the country and why corruption fetters.

Let’s look at the statistics: Nigeria’s working population grew from 104.3 million in Q3 2015 to 105.02 million in Q4 2015, with 28.1 million economically active persons unwilling to work.

According to the NBS, “the labour force population (i.e those within the working 09age population willing, able and actively looking for work) increased to 76.96 million from 75.94 million in Q3 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari

“During the same period, the number of unemployed in the labour force, increased by 518,102 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 10.4% in Q4 2015 from 9.9% in Q3 2015 and from 8.2% in Q2 2015”.

We’ve all crunched the figure. With 1,454,620 in unemployment cadre from July 1 to September 30, 2015, and 518,102 from October to December 2015; no fewer than 1,972,722 citizens were unemployed in the first six months of this administration. That’s if NBS data actually captured all the people, which I doubt.

If we do not go by graph only and actually undertake the census, head to head, the figure will balloon. We will then have more than the NBS figure of total figure of unemployment and underemployment during the current cycle.

Income inequality and social economic deprivation are the issues that continue to show up in

the figure, if we care to look beyond the surface.

These two—income inequality and social deprivation— are the elephants that the government must deal with, while ensuring that the kind of jobs that are provided are able to lift people out of poverty and breed wealth.

As inequality mounts and the policies entrenching it remain, there’s going to be a continued bleak future for the country.

Corruption and crime will not die out of our life as a people, because one of the main drivers of corruption and crime is inequality.

I always cite the examples of bad policies from state governments that have underdeveloped our young people.

When young, skillful, just-out-of-school graduates are employed to serve in areas different from their orientation, we’re doing more damage to the future.

The sad side of the story comes from those states that engage skillful graduates as cleaners or traffic controllers and pay them pittance. The income inequality will grow and as it grows, the people concerned will determine their future within the system.

The common phrase on our streets these days known as “we’re surviving,” comes from that reality.

Conversely, one man whose income is proportionally higher will reach out to the extremely low-income individual for a “deal” in the same department, whether private or public.

The “deal” of course will perhaps change the fortune of the low-income individual albeit in illegal way, but in his/her mind he’s surviving.

And that’s the phrase you hear everywhere across the country. “We’re surviving!”

Yes, with illegal deals going on everywhere, some individuals may be surviving; the country

will eventually cave in. That’s what we have seen in many of the high profile corruption cases currently under trial.

There will always be those abetting corruption and crime and they often come from the group experiencing income inequality.

So before the government creates its much touted one million jobs for 2016, there’s need to pause.

According to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the government will create job opportunities for 500,000 graduate youths, to be engaged as teachers and another estimated 500,000 nongraduate unemployed people to be trained as artisans. Will these jobs leapfrog our economy?

Will the jobs check income inequality?

These are the two questions the government needs to answer before it continues.

Already, there have been issues around engaging people to teach just to create jobs without looking at the impact on our sinking educational system. That is another meat.

Now, we hope those jobs for the graduates have not been created in government agencies using the Central Bank method of targeted recruitment that has now left the reputation of the leadership of the CBN in shambles with the CBN’s spokesperson, Isaac Okoroafor, struggling to do scam management kind of public relations in recent weeks.

There’s need to pause and think about income inequality and its side effects.

We cannot ignore the main issue for too long that wealth distribution in the country is something we need to address with urgency.

Inequality is just one factor that could compromise Nigeria’s prospects for sustainable development, even with all the reforms.

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

L

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

ike many Nigerians, I'm saddened by the continuing chaos, bloodletting and violent disruptions in Rivers State. Just when one begins to think that the situation is getting better, it gets even worse.

Just when one begins to assume that the estranged political siblings who are at the centre of the unabated social unrest ostensibly over the commonwealth of a state, which is not an estate bequeathed by their forebears, will sheath their daggers and get cuddly with peace, that is when they start to beat the drum of discord loudly to the hearing of their pathetically impressionable followers, who cut across all ages and gender, getting them incited to take sides in festivals of blood.

Reports have it that there have been over 200 killings in Rivers State which are evidently linked to political conflicts and elections into political offices. While supporters on the side of the immediate past governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, would claim that most of the killings are fuelled by political aggressions from the ruling party in the state – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - which is headed by the current governor, Mr. NyesomWike, the loyalists on the side of the governor are always quick to blame the disturbing killings and political unrest on the activities of cultists and complicity by the members of the opposition – All Progressives Congress (APC) - led by Wike's former boss and predecessor, Amaechi.

What these two political leaders and gods of Rivers, Amaechi and Wike, fail to realise, perhaps deliberately being Nigerian politicians who take pleasure in impunity, is that either the killings were politically motivated or were as

Tel 07058069255 (sms only)

Rivers at Its Lowest Ebb

Governor Wike

a result of the recklessness and insanity of the bloodthirsty cultists, the ugly situation leaves a deep dent on the leadership they both proclaim.

That's because there is nothing inspiring and worth emulating in political leaders who consistently employ the most appalling terms to address issues and speak disparagingly at each other. Leaders whose unguarded spoken and body languages often move people to violence and public disturbance.

Therefore in total disagreement with some public commentators who are trying to exonerate, and cast aspersions on one political leader against another of irresponsibility over the prevailing crises in Rivers, I submit that the tin gods of Rivers politics, the protagonists in the longdrawn political feud that continues to shake the root of a leading and economically viable

state in Nigeria, should be severely blamed for the terrible loss of precious lives, destruction of properties and the paranoia and horror that have so far displaced peaceful co-existence and socio-economic life in the state.

Ascribing the culpability of all this mess to just one side will not produce any sustainable peace. The onus should be on both Amaechi and Wike to allay the fears that have taken over Rivers. After all, they were until recently members of the same political family and strong allies.

At a point Wike was to Amaechi what Alistair Campbell, the super spin-doctor, was to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Like Alistair, Wike has the ears and can effectively beat the eardrums of his former boss, Amaechi,to create mutually beneficial political exigencies and sounds.

I therefore believe that they both have the wherewithal and influence to stop the carnage that has unfortunately come to define the very promising Rivers State, and its hitherto enchanting Capital, that is reputable as the Garden City, Port Harcourt.

The gripping tale emanating from the state is that everyone now walks looking over his or her shoulders at every second because no one knows who the next victim of coldblooded murder will be.

I suppose the political leaders in the state are aware that a tension-soaked society is never attractive to business and investments. Little wonder that since the beginning of the unending battle and blood-fest in the state, multi-billion dollar oil investments and intending capital inflow have been reported to have taken a clever detour perhaps until there is a convincing indication of a peaceful and healthy atmosphere for business to thrive.

Isn’t it a shame and monumental anomaly

that a state globally known as the ultimate warehouse of massive hydrocarbon assets, both onshore and offshore, in Nigeria is still filled with gory images of poverty and deprivation? However one needs not to wonder for so long on the whereabouts of the special fiscal allocation from the federal government to the state as an oil producing state and the huge revenue derived by the state from many big international and indigenous oil companies that are domiciled in Rivers State. It is perhaps safe to assert that the bulk of the humongous funds have been deployed to further deepen political division, sponsor political violence and used for self-aggrandizement as evidenced in the allegations of official profligacy against most top politicians in Rivers, everyday killings of political followers as well as the innocent and hapless citizens of the state.

Beyond the horrid situations serving as an arduous burden just on the state, it has presented a greater challenge to Nigeria as a whole, which is indeed needless at this moment of economic hardship and insecurity in the land. The deployment of over 5,000 police officers, not to talk of the number of the military men on ground, from the grossly inadequate security personnel that are supposed to serve the security needs of the entire country to the violence-marred and yet-to-be concluded State and National Assembly re-run elections to forestall total breakdown of law and order in Rivers, is very unfortunate for the entire nation.

So we should therefore candidly speak to the leaders on both sides to drop their egos and selfish interest in favour of peace and for Rivers to continue to flow with great opportunities and service to all.

35

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

As Nigeria Takes Port State Control to New Heights With the lessons learnt from the just concluded workshop on port state control, which had in attendance participants from other countries, Nigeria is poised to tackle the industry challenges head on, write John Iwori and Nosa Alekhuogie Port State Control (PSC) is vital to efficient port operations worldwide. It is the inspection of foreign ships in other national ports by PSC of- ficers or inspectors. The purpose of the inspection is to verify the competency of the master and officers on board, and the condition of the ship and its equipment to ensure they comply with the requirements of international conventions.

To ensure that there is unity of purpose, several memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed across the globe in different regions. The signatories to each MoU constitute the members of each bloc. This is the basis for the Paris MoU, Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU, and Mediterranean MoU. Others are Acuerdo Latino MoU, Caribbean MoU, Abuja MoU, Black Sea MoU and Riyadh MoU. This explains why the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ensures that member nations comply, no matter what it takes. The United Nations (UN) specialised agency has devised several ways and means to ensure that member nations do the right thing. There are guidelines, conventions and treaties that must be followed by these member nations.

Same Practices Worldwide These guidelines, conventions and treaties are not localised.

They were meant to be observed and followed by member nations worldwide. They are key components of international standards and practices. It is one of the reasons why PSC is aggressively pursued by IMO so that member nations can be on the same page on all the pertinent issues at stake.

It is part of the UN specialised agency mandate to ensure safety standards in the shipping world.

Safety is key in the shipping world because it is one of the key principal determinants of whether a ship will call or not call at a particular port IMO always embark on periodic peer review among member nations to assess how member nations are faring in the implementation of the various guidelines and conventions, among other regulations.

It also carries out regular periodic training and re-training of PSC officials in order to make keep them abreast of latest trends and developments.

Similarly, IMO as- sesses how the various regulations are implemented by member nations. It carries these functions through regular international workshops, conferences and seminars. Apparently aware that it cannot successfully carry out these roles and responsibilities without the support and

co-operation of national and regional organisations, IMO has been collaborating without them. The collaboration and synergy between IMO and the national and regional international organisations is geared towards ensuring that PSC functions do not suffer any setback in member nations.

This is due to the fact the consequences of a drawback in the discharge of these roles and responsibilities are too grave to be contemplated.

It may lead to ship owners, shipping lines and other port users to shunning such ports or terminals. Where it becomes imperative to go to such ports or terminals, the ship owner or shipping line may impose extra charges that may make the cost of goods and services to be astronomical when they get to the final consumers.

Participants’ Agenda The agenda of the recent regional workshop in Nigeria was in line with the goal of the organisers which include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, IMO and Abuja MoU. The participants include top officials of IMO, Federal Ministry of Transporta- tion led by the Minister, Right Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and the parasatals under its supervision.

Initial apprehensions that the minister would not attend were erased when Amaechi and his entourage entered the expansive venue of the regional workshop.

In his keynote address, Amaechi reiterated the federal government’s commitment to safety and security in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Giving an insight into the federal government’s position, the minister said PSC was vital because merchant ships often trade outside the areas that under the jurisdiction of the flag state, maritime agencies cannot therefore guarantee that all ships under their flag are in full compliance with safety requirements.

He explained that IMO mandates maritime administrations to periodi- cally carryout PSC in compliance with the instruments to which the flag state is a party.

Amaechi said that the high level of maritime activities in the waters impose enormous challenges on coastal countries in the West and Central Africa in terms of building a “robust and effective” maritime safety regime.

According to him, the need to therefore continually update the knowledge of vessel inspectors and surveyors cannot be overstated especially against the backdrop of rapid changes at both the industry and operating environment levels.

He reiterated the commitment

of the federal government to reposition the maritime sector for effectiveness and efficiency.

He also assured mem- ber states of Nigeria’s co-operation for a better PSC implementation in Africa, especially the area under the jurisdiction of Abuja MOU in the months ahead.

The Secretary General of Abuja MOU, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, assured member states of her or- ganisation resolve to ensure effective implementation of PSC functions.

Usoro stated that Abuja MoU remained committed to its statutory roles and responsibilities to member nations through continuous engagement of key stakeholders in the maritime industry and beyond.

She expressed the desire of Abuja MoU to make human capacity devel- opment and exposure of surveyors and inspectors a continuous exercise, even as she added that this was geared towards the development of the sector and the nation at large. She commended the federal government, especially the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the parasatals under its purview, and IMO for the support and co-operation they have given her organisation in the discharge of her functions over the years.

According to her, Abuja MoU would not relent in its drive to embark on training and re-training of PSC officials.

As an indication of their readiness to meet set goals and objectives, there was a high attendance of participants from member states in the training workshop. In attendance were representatives from the 19 member states of the Abuja MoU. Resource persons drawn from IMO and elsewhere were also present to handle different segments of the workshop.

Continuity There is no doubt that the training and re-training of PSC monitors, inspectors, surveyors and other key officials is germane to Nigeria’s quest to have port facilities that at par with the ones situated in the developed world. The idea to make Nigeria a hub in port opera- tions cannot be removed from an effective PSC in the country and other member states. Though there are no fewer than 19 countries in Abuja MoU, Nigeria needs to up her game in the implementation of PSC programmes and activities, given her leading role in Africa, especially in the West and Central Africa Sub-Regions.

Moreover, Nigeria is not only taking a lion share of the cost of run- ning Abuja MoU with the provision of key personnel of its secretariat in the country, but is also her citizen is its

Secretary General. Therefore, Nigeria cannot be seen lagging behind in the delivery of Abuja MoU mandate. The organisation needs all the support of every stakeholder, particularly that of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to succeed in its mandate. The need to give the organisation support is necessary at this time that a lot is expected from it to deliver. It is pertinent to support it due to

the fact that it would amount to a misnomer if Nigeria, which hosts the secretariat of Abuja MoU is not seen to be ahead in the execution of its policies and programmes. One of the ways to ensure that this is achieved is for Nigeria not to rest on her oars with the conclusion of the workshop in the country. The country should start implementing the key decisions reached at the

workshop by ensuring that her PSC monitors and inspectors live up to expectations no matter what it takes. NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other relevant government agencies should buckle up in this regard in the months and years ahead. In particular, this is an area that the new Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Adolphus Dakuku Peterside should pay attention to.

36

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Customs Re-imposes Restriction on Rice Importation Sandra Ukele The Nigeria Customs Service has re-introduced the restriction order on importation of rice through land borders across the country. Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) gave the approval for the reversal of an earlier policy, which allowed rice imports through the land borders, once appropriate duty and charges were paid.

At a review session held with Comptrollers of Border Commands and Federal Operation Units in Abuja, the Service, noted that dwindling revenue from rice imports

through the land borders do not match the volume rice landed in neighboring Ports. Rather, reports from Border commands indicated an upsurge in the tempo of rice smuggling.

Implementation of the restriction order got off to a smooth start, with a high level of compliance in October 2015. However, revenue started dwindling from January 2016, with importers blaming access to foreign exchange as the major impediment. During the Five-month period when importation was allowed, a total of 24.992 metric tonnes of rice valued at N 2.335 billion was imported through the land

borders.

During the period, totalrevenue generated amounted to N1.685 billion, a figure considered lower than the revenue projected to be generated with the removal of import restrictions.

However, an upsurge in the number of the seizures has been reported across the land borders since January 2016. In the first two months of the 2016, a total of 9,238 bags were seized with Duty Paid Value of N64.666 million was made by the Customs anti-smuggling patrol teams of federal operations and border commands.

Ali said: “My officers and

men cannot be totally exonerated from the abuse associated with the implementation of the order on rice, as this office has been inundated with reports of collusion between customs officers and rice importers.”

The CG has therefore directed investigation into the reports, insisting that indicted personnel will be sanctioned.

While directing a zero-tolerance to rice imports through the land borders irrespective of volume with immediate effect, Ali stated that “importers who have already initiated import processes will have a grace period ending Friday 25th March 2016 to clear their consignments.”

LUCKY WINNER

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Lagos Deploys CCTVs to Bus Terminals, Markets Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government has developed a holistic strategy aimed at fighting terrorism in the state through information and communication technology.

The state government also revealed that it had already established a waterway traffic management authority like Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) with the sole purpose of checkmating excesses of boat operators on the state waterways.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Ekundayo Mobereola disclosed these at a stakeholders’ meeting where he spoke on the proposed transformation of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) bus station into a world-class terminus.

Mobereola addressed the forum alongside the Special Adviser on Transportation, Hon. Olarenwaju Elegushi, Permanent Secretary in the

Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Tajudeen Agbede.

According to him, the strategy of the state government to containing terrorism “is holistic and all-encompassing. It does not focus on one specific area or public installations.”

He further explained that part of the government’s approach was to install CCTVs in all strategic places across the state.

“We will focus on bus terminals, markets, parks and public places. The core agenda of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is to protect all residents including passengers and the transporters) during the rainy and hot seasons. The CCTVs will be installed in a way Lagos State can be monitored Lagos Security Command and Control Centre.

So, our approach is holistic. By this strategy, we will ensure we

monitor Lagos closely and not just Tafawa Balewa Square,” the commissioner said.

He explained that CCTV would be deployed “to detect anyone who may intend to commit crime within the axis. Everyone will have its own section: commercial bus operation, bus rapid transit (BRT) and taxi operators, so that passengers are not confused where to go.”

He noted that what the state government “is doing is for the benefits of all residents.

When it is completed, it will be enforced.”

On the safety of its waterways, the commissioner said the state government through the Lagos State WaterwaysAuthority(LASWA) “has identified 14 routes on the waterways that will be dredged and channelised to avert future boat mishaps in the state.”

He said it had set up the waterway arm of the LASTMA,

noting that the arm “will be doing what the traffic agency is on over 9, 000 roads in the state. More ferry terminus will be constructed and completed terminus will be opened for public use before the end of the year.”

Mobereola explained that the aim of the state governor was “to strengthen the intermodal transport system, in order to commute the over 17 million residents of Lagos with ease and to operate a 24-hour transport system. This was part of the reasons we decided to transform the TBS Bus Terminal to attract more tourists to the edifice.”

He said the TBS stands for Lagos, noting “it has become a rallying point for the residents of Lagos. It is a venue for change of government in Lagos. We are just going to make the place an ultra-modern terminal for the BRT buses, taxi opera- tors and passengers. This project will be completed by December 2016.

Navy Opens up Dockyard for Utmost Utilisation Nosa Alekhuogie with Agency Reports The Nigerian Navy has indicated its interest to opening up its dockyard for use by stakeholders in the maritime.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, made this announcement recently.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he explained that there are certain things the dockyard has that are yet to be utilised by the Nigerian public, saying, the capacity of the dockyard is beyond the Navy itself.

Ezekobe said: “We have a galvanising plant, the foundry plant and various precision workshops within the naval dockyard. We also have a carpentry workshop, hence the dockyard is a big concept.

It is good that our founding fathers thought about it but we must engage beyond the navy as well as other maritime stakeholders to key into the dockyard so that it can be fully utilised.”

According to him, the dockyard has built a seaward defence boat, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Andoni, while the second seaward defence boat, a 39-metre boat, is under construction. “ Various levels of repairs are ongoing at the dockyard including NNS Yola and NNS Brass, which are being

refited,” he added.

Speaking further, Ezekobesaid that the dockyard was contributing its quota to enhancing the Navy’s op- erational efficiency and has the capacity to create jobs for young Nigerians as well as generate revenue.

“The only thing is that the capacity of the dockyard itself is under-utilised because the it a state-of-the-art dockyard,” he said.

He also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a naval command post in the Lake Chad region in a bid to strengthen the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.

“There is a presidential directive to set up a command post in the Lake Chad Region and that is ongoing,” he said.

He further explained that the naval personnel for the command post are currently undergoing training in the North east and will be deployed once it becomes operational.

Ezekobe said that the navy had three categories of forces working in the North east, acquired 30 repellent boats and was expecting fifty more by the end of May to enhance security in the Niger Delta Region.

According to him, this will make it difficult for the criminals to operate in that domain.

‘Lack of Conformity to Standard Hinders Benefits of World Trade’ George Okoh in Makurdi The acting Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Paul Angya has stated that the lack of conformity to standards remained a very big hindrance to trade amongst members of the world trade organisation (WTO).

He also stated that the attempt by SON in recent times to promote voluntary use of standards in the industrial sector of the economy so as to enhance product quality was repeatedly met with brick walls as a result of the misunderstanding of the benefits of standards and quality.

Angya gave the hint in Makurdi during the sensitisation programme and flag off of subsidy on the sale of standards to MSMEs. He said, in order to change this attitude, it has become imperative for the SON to sensitise the MSMEs in order to engender the development and production of quality goods and services as a means of tapping from the gains expected to accrue from the non-oil diversification initiative of the current

government.

On Benue State, he said his organisation will assist the state in achieving standardisation in the farming sector.

“The choice of Benue after Nasarawa State in hosting this event is pursuant to our decision to promote the development and use of standard through this outreach programme to producers and consumers, particularly of agricultural produce in the state” He called on MSMEs to take advantage of the SON office in Benue state to improve the quality of their products so as to protect lives and properties.

He added that ignorance and gullibility have been the bane of people who consume fake and substandard products.

In his opening remark at the occasion, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said standardisation of product and services was the best practice that will help the country compete favorably with other nations of the world in international trade.

He called on investors and producers to take advantage of the awareness, being created

by SON to boost businesses in the country.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Obiano on Multinationals and Business Standards Joseph Onukogu While on an inspection of the Shoprite complex in Onitsha, Anambra State, which is scheduled for commissioning on April 14, 2016, Governor Willie Obiano made a statement of tremendous significance which was apparently lost on most of the journalists who were covering the event and hence the little coverage it received.

The governor said that the Onitsha complex of the South African retail chain would provide fun and entertainment to the people, provide quality services and products at competitive prices and, most of all, raise the standards of doing business in the environment.

There is an ongoing debate among researchers in international business over the impact of productivity spillovers by multinational companies on host country firms. Western scholars question the impact, often citing the establishment of a $147 million manufacturing plant in Kentucky in the late 1980s by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan to employ some 3,000 persons and the building of plant in Alabama in the early 1990s by Mercedes of Germany following a $230m incentive package by the state government so that it could hire 1,500 individuals. But researchers from emerg- ing economies hold a contrary view. When a multinational enterprise moves from a developed economy to another, the productive spillovers may not be significant because the two countries have about the same level of develop- ment. But the same thing may not be said when a western multinational co-locates in a developing market.

The restaurant business in Nigeria experienced a revolution only when the United African Country (UAC), a British multinational enterprise, started Mr Biggs business in 1986. In other words, Governor Obiano of Anambra State, an accountant and erstwhile banking executive, seems to share the view of such leading international business researchers from

Obiano

emerging markets as Aysa Ipek Erdogen of Okan University in Istanbul, Turkey, that inward foreign investment boosts the productivity of domestic firms. Mr Biggs’ phenomenal success spurred Nigerian entrepreneurs to start a new generation of fast food restaurants which meet international standards, hence the emergence of Sweet Sensation, Mega Chicken, Chicken Republic, Tasty Fried Chicken, etc.

Not only do the indigenous restaurants meet the standards set by McDonald’s of this world as regards hygiene, quick service and ambience, they have added an unmistakable Nigerian touch. For instance, they serve rice, which is not available in American fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). In fact, they serve jollof rice, a popular rice delicacy peculiar to West Africa, in addition to yam and other local delicacies. Nigeria’s fast food restaurants are, therefore, a good example of what contemporary international manage- ment scholars call glocalism, which is a

neologism derived from a combination of “globalism” and “localism”. Successful international businesses are those which marry the best international elements and the best in the local environment.

Nigerians in search of evidence of the enormous positive impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) productive spillovers on domestic firms should consider the spectacular growth in recent years of Chisco Motors following its partnership with the Nigerian Breweries plc, the local subsidiary of the Dutch multinational Heineken. For Chisco to meet the standards of businesses which partner with Heineken Group and its subsidiaries around the world, it practically reinvented itself, bringing into its fold such highly trained persons as Chika Mbonu, a former bank chief executive who holds a first class honours degree in engineering and now works as its operations director.

The result is that Chisco Motors is today a modern business by any standard, a radical departure from the days when it was a typical local, one-man business.

The transformation has been extended to the entire Chisco Group. And some other local businesses have been inspired by the Chisco Group example in their modernization efforts.

Obiano is encouraging Shoprite of South Africa to invest in Anambra State because of the obvious productivity spillovers on domestic firms, among other critical factors. The Onitsha Main Market, which was West Africa’s largest open market when it was built in the 1960s, was ap- propriate for that era. It is a market well known for the traditional form of buying and selling.

But the world has come a long way from that era. We are now in an era of globalisation where there is hypercompetition, as Professor John Child, formerly of the University of Cambridge, put it in one of his magnificent books.

The current hypercompetition is driven by a high speed of unprecedented changes unleashed by technology and the collapse

of barriers to international trade.

Shoprite will receive a lot of supplies from local businesses in Anambra State and environs. And for them to do so, the local businesses will have to move at least a notch up in their operations. The enhanced business practices of suppliers and other Shoprite partners will go a long way to prepare the people and businesses in Anambra and environs for the challenges of contemporary commerce. Fortunately, the people of Anambra State are naturally business savvy. They are among the most successful groups of businesspeople in Africa whom, Amy Chua, the eminent law professor at Yale University, calls market dominant in her excellent book, World on Fire. They will learn easily and adjust in no time.

Obiano is one of the few people in government in the country who have convincingly demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of foreign direct investment in national development.

FDI is critical to technology transfer, innovation, superior marketing and managerial skills as well as capital importation, employment generation and creation of business opportunities, as domestic businesses learn from multinationals.

This deep understanding accounts for the massive flow of direct investment worth some $2.4 billion into Anambra State in the last two years. It is not just foreigners who are now investing in Anambra State but also Nigerian business executives like Engineer Emeka Okwuosa, a leading name in African petroleum development, and Mr. Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Group. They are investing massively in agriculture.

Governor Obiano’s comment on the productive spillovers of multinational enterprises on domestic organisations is founded on empirical evidence. Researchers of international management will find it illuminating.

Dr. Onukogu is executive director of a management consulting firm in Lagos.

NEPC to Engage Nigerians in Promosalons, LCCI Plan Trade Diasporas to Drive Non-oil Export, Fair to Boost Agric Industry Economic Diversification Stories by Crusoe Osagie The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced plans to engage Nigerians in Diaspora to boost the nation’s non-oil export products, noting that this move was part of its contribution to the nation’s quest of economic diversification.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, ex- plained that with the dwindling revenues from oil as a result of the sharp drop in oil prices and alternative sources of energy no thanks to the discovery of shale oil in the United States, has more than ever before, created an urgent need for accelerating the country’s economic diversification efforts.

Awolowo, who was represented by the South West, Regional Coordinator, NEPC, Mr. Babatunde Faleke, during a one-day stakeholders’ forum on Nigerian Diaspora Export progranne (NDEX), stated that the NDEX is one of the agency’s flagship programmes to contribute to the diversifica- tion of the Nigerian economy.

He added that to maintain the crucial role Nigerians in Diaspora are expected to play in achieving the aim of the programme, is due to that fact that about 15 million Nigerians who reside abroad reveals that about $21 billion was remitted by Nigerians living in these countries according to a World Bank report in 2013.

“Obviously, Nigeria trade has been largely driven by export of petroleum products which contributes about 17 per cent to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which represents about 90 per cent of total merchandise exports and more than 80 per cent of government revenue. Therefore, this programme aims to leverage on the presence of Nigerians in Diaspora using their advantage of living in these countries to advance the promotion of Nigeria’s non-oil exports given that the Nigerian Diaspora has created a strong external market demand pull for indigenous foods, fashion and other products,” he said.

According to the NEPC, this demand pull which has necessitated a commensurate export supply push from Nigeria for

such goods, representing non-oil exports prompted the council to initiate the programme based on three key areas which include the Nigerian Heritage City (NHC), the Nigerian Cuisine Beyond Borders (NCBB) and the Diaspora Export of Non-oil Products (DENOP).

He noted that the NDEX will help to increase participation in non-oil export trade by the large numbers of Nigerians in Diaspora, lead to multiplier effect in direct investment and tourism, increase the relevance of Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) among other financial service providers in providing financial support to Diaspora and other key stakeholders in the industry.

Furthermore, he said that the NHC emerges as a flag- ship Nigerian concept that will project the country’s image and cultural heritage with support from critical stakeholders and increase the visibility, accept- ability and income generation for restaurant owners, Nigerian food importers, exporters and Nigerian farmers will be at- tained through NCBB.

In a bid to achieve self- reliance in meeting the coun- try’s food and agricultural products needs, Promosalons Nigeria and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry (LCCI), are planning a trade delegation compris- ing of Nigerian companies to this year ’s agricultural and food sector trade show scheduled to hold on April 18 to 21, 2016 in Algiers, Algeria.

The Managing Director, Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroun and Gabon, Mr. Akin Akinbola, explained that the fair, which is Africa’s number one global food market place for the food industry, will help to reposi- tion the fast pace sector on how best to improve their products and services to meet international standards.

Akinbola said in a statement to THISDAY that the Nigerian food industry is growing at a high pace, where players in the sector are coming up with ideas and innovations on how best to improve their products and services, saying that the fair tagged Djazagro 2016, is very important and provides the perfect

opportunity for the ongoing food transformation process in the Nigerian Agro-Allied industry potentials to be fully realised.

He said the fair will showcase players in the agro-food sector and also the melting point for major players in the continent’s food sector who wish to improve their products’ quality and services delivery to international standards.

He added that about 21,000 professional visitors and 700 exhibitors from around the world will participate in the food show, stating that in 2015, the food expo was the biggest agro-food show in Algeria, with about 93 per cent of visitors coming from the country.

According to him, the number of exhibitors in 2015 recorded about 637 exhibitors with 43 per cent first timers and 76 per cent internationals, representing 78 per cent of the exhibition’s total surface area.

As a result of growing demand, the 2016 edition will strengthen its communications across the North Africa region, whilst opening up to Sub-Saharan Africa. The

show will be spread across 4 halls allowing the catering sector to have a more prominent position, as it separates from the bakery section,” he said.

He said the sectors represented at the trade show will include equipment and machines for processing and packaging food; fragrances and ingredients ; bakery and pastry-making; finished food products and beverages and catering.

“For this reason, we would be partnering with the foremost Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organise a delegation for key players in the Nigerian agriculture and food Industry to meet and interact with professionals, and exhibitors from more than 200 countries, have one-on-one business meetings upon request and provide opportunities for participants to have an overview of the agribusiness industry, food trends and innovations worldwide. We hope to establish long lasting relations, sharing expertise and experience, present new projects and lay foundations for fruitful collaborations,” he added.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

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

Raising a New Generation of Entrepreneurs At its Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards, the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation provided answers on how to shape the entrepreneurial skills of young Nigerians to create jobs, write Adedayo Adejobi

L-R: GSEA Chair, Entrepreneur Organisation, Nigeria, Mr. Lere Baale; Chief Executive Officer, EO Global Mr. Vijay Tirathrai; CEO, Hoursspent, Blessing Ijoma, (Winner) and President, EO Lagos, Mr. Vincent Brown Molokwu, at the 2016 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in Lagos…recently

O

ne of the landmark decisions by the current government, in recent times, was its decision to delist 40 items from the list of imported items through which the country’s hard earned foreign exchange was depleted. Through this policy and many others, the government seeks ways to conserve the country’s foreign exchange and give wings to the Naira to fly against powerful currencies in the world.

This move by government is intended to inspire the population to look inwards and embrace the principle of backward integration.

Through this, Nigerians are encouraged to create jobs rather than look for jobs that do not exist.

Creating jobs as government would have wanted, however, has its own challenges.

From a lack of sound business practices to mentorship challenges, funding and government policies all pose challenges that stare the greatest number of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs in the face.

EO is the world’s largest network of entrepreneurs, with over 12,000 members in 150 cities or chapters, across 50 countries.

“The interesting part is that we have a combined revenue of all members coming to about $600billion. This is bigger than the economies of Nigeria, Malaysia, Ireland, Portugal. Again, about 2.5 million people are employed by our members. Think about the job and wealth creation by our members and the effect it has on lives and the economy.

This move by government is intended to inspire the population to look inwards and embrace the principle of backward integration.

Through this, Nigerians are encouraged to create jobs rather than look for jobs that do not exist

Therefore, entrepreneurship is more about playing a positive role in the economy through job creation and about solving a need”, EO Global, Mr. Vijay Tirathrai explained.

The Lagos chapter president, Mr. Vincent Brown Molokwu, who is also the Group Managing Director, NiGSA Energy Nigeria, led other key speakers, EO members, special guests, and student entrepreneurs to play host to Mr. Tirathrai during the chapter’s 2016 edition of its annual Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA), which in a way provides answers to the current government’s efforts at bringing the country out of its current economic quagmire.

The Lagos chapter president, describing entrepreneurs in Nigeria, said “I call them necessity entrepreneurs”, with the mindset of “I need to put bread and butter on the table”. Expatiating, he decried the situation where people are doing more of ‘necessity entrepreneurship’, rather than creating businesses that will outlive them.

Gauging the entrepreneurial landscape in Nigeria, the chapter president expressed disappointment that many people that one could no more hear the names of people

who were millionaires years back and more saddening was the fact that their businesses no longer existed, but died with them.

“To create successful businesses in Nigeria, entrepreneurs and people generally need to change their mindsets. Instead of “necessity entrepreneurship”, “tenderpreneurship” or “political entrepreneurship”, let’s focus on building enterprises that will outlive us”, he advised.

According to Molokwu, despite efforts by authorities to encourage entrepreneurship in Nigeria, it is yet to get off the ground because of some obvious missing links.

“If we have to change mindsets, it’s from these youthful and tender ages that we need to inculcate in the younger generation the idea that ‘the business of entrepreneurship is not a destination’. Hence, business should be a continuous journey such that when the founder goes, another person takes over”.

According to him, the missing link is that “we are ignoring the SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) which are supposed to be the live blood of the economy”. In Nigeria, we have a lot of informal businesses. If the government can dedicate some more attention through

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CITYSTRINGS

L-R: President, EO, Abuja, Mr. Olasode Martins_ President Elect EO, Lagos, Mrs. Funmi Babington-Ashaye_ Chief Executive Officer, EO Global Mr. Vijay Tirathrai, and Mr. Vincent Brown Molokwu, at the event in Lagos

policies to make the informal to be formally recognised in the system (you have the record, you keep data) then the government will be able to say how many people have been employed in a year, or what the turnover is and other critical economic questions can be answered. These build and make the system works. Currently, the SMEs are ignored as there are no policies that actually look at how to improve the informal sector by supporting them,” he explained.

Speaking in the same vein, the chair, GSEA, Mr. Lere Baale, who is also the CEO of the Business School of the Netherlands (BSN) said that Nigeria, like any other nation, is filled with great opportunities.

According to the GSEA chair, the gaps that people complain about are great opportunities for people with entrepreneurial mindsets. To further buttress this position, he explained that the “poor telephone system of 20 years was an opportunity which produced billionaires of today”.

Confirming that every challenge provides opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses, Mr. Baale submitted that current complaints about power will produce billionaires in the short to medium term. Likewise, as long as technology, education, energy and food among others are in continuous high demand in a growing population of almost 200 million people, these are some obvious opportunities entrepreneurs can latch on to.

In spite of these huge opportunities in the country, unemployment could become a massive time bomb, Mr. Baale warned, adding that over fifty million Nigerians are underemployed or unemployed. For him, therefore, all hands must be on deck

as government alone cannot guarantee full employment for all, while pointing out that the crucial role for the government is to create enabling environment for the full employment of all citizens.

“EO believes that every nation has huge potentials and that every man has something to offer as an entrepreneur. The GSEA is one of our ways of promoting the culture of entrepreneurship, but it is targeted at youths by catching them at their young age, through provision of tools, attitude, skills, abilities, knowledge and action that could produce the much needed results from which they can learn from, accelerate their business growth, create gainful employment opportunities for many and transform the nation’s social and economic environment”.

According to him, EO’s mission is not about creating businesses, but helping the entrepreneur to learn and grow. Education

This tested and working process encourages other young people to go into their own businesses.

In terms of impact, we reduced unemployment in the country. The EO is really adding value in this country

is the core ideal of what we do at EO. The GSEA programme has been a part of the learning programmes to support and mentor budding entrepreneurs to learn skills on how to be better owners of businesses. Through that education process, you become more successful and enlightened about how to have a growing business,” he added.

Mr. Tiratharai, who was impressed with the presentations of six GSEA finalists, said the body is proud being a source of influence to younger entrepreneurs and the contestants should be proud to have been mentored by EO members.

He advised the crop of Nigerian youngster entrepreneurs to build trust in people on their way up. “This is necessary, because they might need the people someday in their careers as business people”, the global CEO, declared.

Other necessary ingredients for success, according the EO boss, include networking, which should always feature asking and answering probing questions such as why an entrepreneur started his business and what were his biggest challenges? He also reminded the audience that “there is nothing as profession; progress is what is important”, hence he advised them to “boldly go” and “be the change they want to see”.

In her contributions, Mrs. Funmi BabingtonAshaye, President –elect, Lagos chapter and whose term is slated to take off in June, explained that one of the objectives of the EO is to impact on society. One of such ways is by organising the annual GSEA and sponsoring creative students who are already doing business whilst in school. The benefits come in the form of international exposure, leadership training and, most importantly,

according to her “we get them mentors who will support them all the way. We also try and get for them, people that will help scale their businesses up in terms of getting finance.

“This tested and working process encourages other young people to go into their own businesses. In terms of impact, we reduced unemployment in the country. The EO is really adding value in this country”, added the president- elect.

Still on benefits to spur on Nigeria’s community of budding entrepreneurs, the GSEA chair re-emphasised that winners enjoy a long list of benefits. For instance, this year’s winners will receive support from EO member companies and Special Guests in the areas of finance, training, as well as mentorship.

The GSEA chair revealed that this year’s overall winner, Miss Blessing Ijoma, a 300 level student of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, will enjoy cash support of about N1.4m; an all-expenses paid trip to Bangkok, Thailand to represent Nigeria in the GSEA global competition.

Ambassador Radio’s host, Joshua Oyeniyi, of University of Lagos, winner of the 2015 edition enjoyed a similar trip to Washington, United States, last year. “The top six winners will be given training and developmental opportunities to the tune of N3.6m at the prestigious Business School Netherlands, building on their knowledge base and skills to help them scale up their businesses, while mentorship from various members of EO will help shape their entrepreneurial future.

The EO is keen on producing more entrepreneurs in the world to accelerate economic growth and transform the wellbeing of people globally”, added the global chair.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016

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FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Belgium Hunts for Suspect Caught on Film Belgian police have been hunting for a third man filmed with two Islamic State suicide bombers at Brussels airport as evidence piled up that the same jihadist network was involved in the deadly Paris attacks last November.

With pressure mounting on Europe to improve cooperation against terrorism, EU interior and justice ministers were to hold emergency talks on a joint response to Tuesday’s bombings in Brussels, which killed at least 31 people and injured hundreds.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls led calls for a“strong European response”, but officials say many states, including France, withhold their most cherished data despite a mantra of willingness to share intelligence.

The chief surviving suspect linking the Paris and Brussels attacks, French national Salah Abdeslam, 26, arrested in the Belgian capital last week, was remanded in custody until April 7 with two other suspects. The public prosecutor said Abdeslam, who is in detention in a prison in Bruges in western Belgium, did not appear in person.

His lawyer, Sven Mary, who

requested the adjournment, said Abdeslam was no longer opposed to being extradited to France.“Salah Abdeslam has asked me to inform you that he wishes to leave for France as quickly as possible,” Mary told reporters at the courthouse, saying his client“wants to explain himself”.

Mary said Abdeslam was not aware of the plan to attack Brussels.

Turkey’s president criticized Belgium for failing to track Brahim El Bakraoui, a convicted armed robber whom it expelled last year and who blew himself up at Brussels airport on Tuesday an hour before his brother Khalid, a fellow convict, killed about 20 people at Maelbeek metro station in the city center.

A Turkish government official said Brahim El Bakraoui was deported twice from Turkey in July and August after re-entering the country. His initial deportation was based on police suspicion, conveyed to the Belgian and Dutch authorities, that he was a foreign militant fighter, another official said. Since he had committed no offense in Turkey he was deported to the country of his choice, the Netherlands. Belgium’s inner security cabinet was meeting

on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Opposition lawmakers demanded an explanation in parliament. Belgium’s interior and justice ministers offered to resign on Thursday over a failure to track militants. Interior Minister Jan Jambon said Prime Minister Charles Michel had asked him to stay on.“In time of war, you cannot leave the field,” Jambon told VTM television. Justice Minister Koen Geens would also stay on, a ministry spokesperson said.

Security sources told Belgian media the other suicide bomber at the airport was Najim Laachraoui,

a veteran Belgian Islamist fighter in Syria suspected of making explosive belts for November’s Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed by Brussels-based militants.

The third suspect captured on airport security cameras pushing a baggage trolley into the departures hall alongside Laachraoui and Brahim El Bakraoui is now the target of a police manhunt.

He has not been named. The bespectacled man wearing a cream jacket and a black hat ran out of the terminal, federal prosecutors said, and a third suitcase bomb,

the biggest of the three, exploded later as bomb disposal experts were clearing the area, causing no casualties.

Public broadcaster RTBF said investigators now believed a second bomber was involved in the metro attack close to European Commission headquarters. The man was spotted on security cameras carrying a heavy bag, but his identity was unknown and it was not clear if he had died or escaped.

A computer-generated image showed a young man with hol-

low cheeks, a tiny goatee beard and thick black eyebrows. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the bloodshed in the capital of the European Union, not far from NATO headquarters, showed Washington’s European allies should do more to fight Islamic State alongside American efforts in the Middle East.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized the lack of cooperation among European countries, saying the EU lacked a system for exchanging air passenger data or a joint intelligence center to share information.

Congo’s President Wins Reelection Congo Republic President, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has won a new five-year term with 60.39 percent of the vote, the interior minister said on Thursday, extending his long rule over the oil-producing nation that first began in 1979.

Interior Minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced the result on state television and said opposition leader Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who is popular in the south of the capital Brazzaville, won 15 percent in Sunday’s vote, while retired general Jean-Marie Mokoko won 14 percent.

Opposition candidates have alleged election fraud and said on Wednesday that their own results show Sassou Nguesso headed for defeat.The government has imposed a blackout on internet and mobile phone communications since Sunday,

and it also banned the use of motor vehicles nationwide during the vote itself.

Sassou Nguesso came to power in 1979 and governed until 1992, when he lost an election. In 1997, he regained power after a civil war and then won elections in 2002 and 2009 at which there were allegations of fraud.

He campaigned this time on a promise to develop the country’s infrastructure and commit a quarter of the state budget to education to tackle high youth unemployment in the nation of 4.5 million.

The 72-year-old pushed through changes to the constitution in a referendum last October to alter the term and age limits that would have barred him from standing for another five-year mandate.

Morocco Arrests 9 Suspected Militants Morocco said yesterday that it had dismantled a suspected militant cell linked to Islamic State’s affiliate in Libya and that some of the nine men arrested were planning attacks in the North African kingdom.

It was the latest in a series of radical Islamist groups Morocco says it has broken up. An interior ministry statement said the cell was operating in the city of Marrakesh, the coastal town of Sidi Bennour and in Smara, which is in the neighbouring territory of Western Sahara.

It said the nine group members were inspired by another militant from Sidi Bennour who was killed in the Libyan capital Tripoli when militants attacked a prison in September 2015 in a attempt to free inmates there.

Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), the judicial part of the Moroccan domestic intelligence service, has actively tracked alleged militants since Islamic State seized large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014-15.

Hundreds of fighters from Morocco and other Maghreb states like Tunisia and Algeria have joined Islamist militant forces in Syria’s civil war.

Some are threatening to return and create new jihadist wings in their home countries, security experts say.

Nearby Libya has become a major draw for jihadists from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa as Islamic State has taken advantage of the security chaos there to build a base, operate training camps and take over the city of Sirte.

The Moroccan government believes 1,500 Moroccan nationals are fighting with militant factions in Syria and Iraq. About 220 have returned home and been jailed, and 286 have been killed in battle.

Morocco, an ally of the West against Islamist militancy, has suffered militant attacks in the past, most recently in 2011 in Marrakesh when an explosion tore through a cafe and killed 15 people, mostly foreigners.

ACCEPT OUR CONDOLENCE

L-r: Belgian Prime Minister , Charles Michel, European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker, and EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, paying tribute to the victims of a blast in the metro station of Maalbeek in Brussels…yesterday

China Launches Offensive for First Overseas Naval Base China has launched an unusual charm offensive to explain its first overseas naval base in Djibouti, seeking to assuage global concerns about military expansionism by portraying the move as Beijing’s contribution to regional security and development.

The message is in stark contrast to Beijing’s more bellicose stance on the South China Sea, where its claims on a vital trade waterway have raised hackles across Asia and the United States. China has repeatedly said it does not seek a U.S.-style “hegemony” by extending its military reach, including through bases abroad.

Now that it appears it may be doing precisely that, the government has been quietly briefing on its rationale for the Djibouti base and using state media to address fears of China’s aims.

“China is explaining it as part of the ‘one road, one belt’ strategy, to help link Ethiopia to the sea,”said one Western diplomat who has been briefed by Chinese officials on the Djibouti base, referring to China’s New Silk Road strategy.

That involves opening trade corridors across continents that will help bolster the Chinese economy and connect it with the rest of the world. A $4 billion railway will connect Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa to Djibouti’s new Chinese-invested port, where a military facility will be located, according to Chinese media.

A second diplomat, also been briefed by China on the plans,

said it was an“unusual”move by the normally secretive Chinese government to try and bring a degree of transparency to its plans.

“China does not want to be seen as a threat,” the diplomat said.

In a lengthy statement to Reuters, China’s Defence Ministry confirmed it had communicated its intentions about Djibouti to “relevant countries and international organisations”, reiterating the facility was mostly for resupply purposes for anti-piracy, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

“What needs to be stressed is that China upholds a path of peaceful development ... and has never engaged in an arms race or military expansion. This will never change.” Djibouti, which already hosts military facilities for the United States and France, has echoed Beijing’s line that the base will be used for refuelling and other logistical support to fight piracy and protect trade routes.

But it also says the West should not be worried if China seeks “military outposts”, given that Western nations have had them for years around the world.

Construction began in February in the country of fewer than a million people, striving to be an international shipping hub.

Djibouti’s location on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean has fuelled worries in India that it will become another of China’s“string of pearls”of military alliances and assets ringing India,

including Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Indian military officials told Reuters that China’s naval presence in Djibouti would add another dimension to India’s military contingency planning, so far confined to land and air operations stemming from a decades-old border dispute with China across the Himalayas.

Together with China’s involvement in Pakistan’s Gwadar port, another potential military base, the role of China’s navy would be greatly enhanced and posed a threat to the Indian navy, Indian army brigadier Mandip Singh said in a paper for the government-funded Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

“Djibouti also enables China to base its long-range naval air assets there. And these are capable of maintaining surveillance over the Arabian Sea as well as India’s island territories off the Western coast,” he wrote.

The Western diplomat briefed on the Chinese plans added: “If I were Indian I would be very worried about what China is up to in Djibouti.” A U.S. State Department spokesman said late last year: “We look forward to gaining greater clarity as to the roles and purposes of this new facility, and note that China participates in international counter piracy actions in the Gulf of Aden.”

More bases may be on the way, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hinted at this month’s annual

meeting of parliament.

There are several African ports which China and Chinese firms are helping to build and develop.

Commercial in nature, they all could berth Chinese naval ships one day. One Chinese diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the idea for the Djibouti facility came up last year when China’s navy evacuated foreigners from Yemen.

The Chinese frigate involved had to give most onboard supplies to those evacuated, leaving it with the problem of finding new supplies. Unlike the United States, China has no permanent resupply bases.

“It’s a supply facility pure and simple,” the source said.

With Beijing keen not to call Djibouti a military base, staterun media has reined back using the term to describe it.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid, quoted Chinese experts shortly after Wang spoke as saying China was not building a military base in Djibouti, only a supply facility.

Djibouti’s government, meanwhile, is keen to develop military cooperation with China.“China is already well prepared to support Djibouti, to increase its military capabilities and guarantee its security,” Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan said during a visit to Djibouti in 2014, in comments carried on the website of Djibouti’s embassy in Beijing.

43

FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Belgium Hunts for Suspect Caught on Film Belgian police have been hunting for a third man filmed with two Islamic State suicide bombers at Brussels airport as evidence piled up that the same jihadist network was involved in the deadly Paris attacks last November.

With pressure mounting on Europe to improve cooperation against terrorism, EU interior and justice ministers were to hold emergency talks on a joint response to Tuesday’s bombings in Brussels, which killed at

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I formerly known and addressed as ODUMUYIWA EFE , now wish to be known and addressed as OKPOSO EFE OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as YINUSA SAHEED, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI AGBORODUN. All former documents remain valid.

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least 31 people and injured hundreds.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls led calls for a“strong European response”, but officials say many states, including France, withhold their most cherished data despite a mantra of willingness to share intelligence.

The chief surviving suspect linking the Paris and Brussels attacks, French national Salah Abdeslam, 26, arrested in the Belgian capital last week, was remanded in custody until April 7

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I formerly known and addressed as MRS OJENIYI ADEOTI BOSEDE JAIYEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OJENIYI BOSE DEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME AJOSE LUKUMON FEMI, and AJOSE LUKUMON BELLO are one and the same person.

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I ROTIMI KAMILU whose name appeared wrongly on some of my document as ROTIMI KAMIL, wishes to correct the spelling and also be known and addressed as ROTIMI KAMILU. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

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with two other suspects. The public prosecutor said Abdeslam, who is in detention in a prison in Bruges in western Belgium, did not appear in person.

His lawyer, Sven Mary, who requested theadjournment,saidAbdeslam wasnolongeropposedtobeingextradited to France.“SalahAbdeslam has asked me to inform you that he wishes to leave for France as quickly as possible,”Mary told reporters at the courthouse, saying his client“wants to explain himself”.

Mary said Abdeslam was not aware of the plan to attack Brussels. Turkey’s president criticized Belgium for failing to track Brahim El Bakraoui, a convicted armed robber whom it expelled last year and who blew himself up at Brussels airport on Tuesday an hour before his brother Khalid, a fellow convict.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Speaking Against Terrorism Aslam Abdullah/IslamiCity

I

n terrorists attacks innocent lives are lost without any gain for those who perpetrate these unforgiving crimes against humanity and above all against God. Laws of God dictate that every human life deserves a dignified existence and protection from all acts of violence, yet the attackers invoking the name of God seem to be determined to take innocent lives at will and show their sickening happiness at every drop of blood they shed in the name of their so called ideology.

As a Muslim who believes in the absolute power and wisdom of the divine for giving His guidance to humanity, I am horrified when I read that people who confess to be Muslim by name are involved in terrorist attacks. Surely such people do not understand what it means to submit to God to attain peace.

I feel outraged when I read that the killers used the name of Allah, the sustainer of the universe, the most gracious and the most merciful for their nefarious acts. I feel enraged at their audacity to justify the killing for the injustices caused by others to their folks.

I would have felt the same rage and shame if the perpetrators were members of other religious communities. After all, sufferings of human beings cannot be divided on the basis of their religious identities and tears cannot be selectively shed only for those who belong to my faith or my ethnicity. I cannot fulfill my covenant with God if I cry only for those who are like me and turn my face the other way when the victims are Jewish, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, atheists or any other faith.

I often wonder what I as an individual must do to stop these insane criminals from committing these acts. I have no way to communicate with them. Even if I get an opportunity to speak with them, I know they would not listen to me because they have not listened to even God, who demands that life must be protected from all harm. They do not realize the basics of their professed faith that says, God is the creator of all life, He is the sustainer of each and every human, He does not discriminate among people in His mercy on the basis of their faith, He does not deny nourishment even to those who reject him and He describes the taking of the life one person as a crime against all humanity.

I speak against terrorism in the places of worship when I am invited to give the Friday sermons. I write extensively against terrorists and I constantly remind my fellow Muslims that we must be in the forefront of our jihad against violence and terror and stand up for peace and justice. This is commanded by God when he says in the Quran: “O You who have attained to faith!

Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk.

Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God’s claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth], behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do!” (Quran 4:135) I know that the people I speak with are absolutely against all forms of terrorism.

I have not come across a single Muslim in my adult life who justifies violence because of the injustices perpetrated against Muslims anywhere in the world.

But, I also realize that governments and political parties and leaders use acts of terrorism to serve their political interests.

They too have an agenda that is often determined by their religion, ethnicity or political goals. They may claim that

they care for human life, but when it is time to act decisively they often show their blindness to the reality and demands of justice.

If we all had cared for human life and dignity, we would have not allowed millions of Jews to suffer during the second world war, millions of Muslims in Central Asia to die as a result of brutal communist policies, thousands of Bosnian men and women to be killed and raped, millions of Rwandans to be slaughtered mercilessly, thousands of Darfurians to be brutalized, millions of Palestinians to live in refugees camps, and millions of people in Iraq, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places to live in miserable conditions.

We would have come together to show our determination to protect human life and human dignity. We would not have allowed hundreds of wars that have been waged during the last century in the name of ethnicity, nationalism and cultural and economic superiority. We would not have extolled the virtues of our nation to put down others. We would not have adopted a policy of economic and cultural imperialism to subjugate people.

Don’t forget the fact that the rulers of Muslim countries are not absolved from this prevailing insensitivity to human dignity. In fact, their brutality can match anyone else in the world.

They have killed at will anyone who appears to challenge them. They have destroyed their own people because they were afraid of losing power. They have pitched one against another to serve their own corrupt agenda.

I realize all this and often wonder what can be done to stop this menace and insanity. Speak, I will, write, I must, confront those who advocate violence, I shall and use every opportunity to challenge terrorists, I do. But in a world where leaders and parties often use their self serving agenda to define terrorism and the nature of fight against violence and terror and injustice, I am left bewildered.

I know I am not alone. Almost everyone within the Muslim community think the same way as I do, except those faceless and nameless, secret groups and individuals who have refused to listen to the divine call for respecting all human life. Yet, we all find ourselves incapable of stopping this insanity. There are forces that are out there that we do not know and there are groups and individuals who are constantly plotting to hurt fellow humans. There are people who are waiting to pour more fuel to add to the fire and there are countries that are keen to see wars and destruction.

The Muslim community needs partners in the fight against terror in defense of human dignity and human life. We need people who are willing to stand up for the protection of every human life regardless of its cultural, ethnic nationalistic and religious origin. There are many who say that they care for humanity as a whole. But where are they? Why do they speak only when someone like them is hurt? Where are their voices when human beings other than their own lose their dignity and life?

God describes himself as the guarantor of world peace to His creation. His guidance speaks to this clearly. But people acting on his behalf have done everything possible to destroy it. Can we Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and everyone else come together to stand for each of us and fight the menace jointly rather than using religious or nationalistic labels to vent our anger and serve the political agenda of the power elite?

The Muslim community is waiting to hear a call of unity in action in defense of all human life and dignity in any part of the world.

44

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

PTAD Assures Pensioners of Payment of Arrears, Other Benefits Obinna Chima The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has assured pensioners of the payment of 33 per cent arrears and the benefits to next of kin (NOKs) of deceased pensioners.

According to a statement, the agency gave the assurance during a meeting between the management of PTAD and representatives of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), the National Association of Retired Paramilitary Officers (NARPO),

Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON) and the Association of Public Service Retirees recently.

The statement added that details of the 33 per cent arrears payment are to be agreed with the various pension groups before payment.

“The acting DG also reassured the unions’ representatives that the federal government recognises its obligation to pensioners. He apologised for any delays pensioners may experience in the course

of complaint resolution,” the statement.

It explained that the process was for things to be done correctly to enable PTAD pay the right persons.

The management re-iterated that PTAD was working hard to resolve all complaints and other issues affecting their members.

“Our doors are always open for the resolution of complaints and communication between PTAD and our pensioners and other stakeholders,” PTAD added.

Coronation Merchant Bank Posts Impressive Results Inspired by its legacy of accomplishments as a Discount House, Coronation Merchant Bank (CMB) has sustained the tradition with impressive first year results.

The bank’s results reflected accountability, transparency and a culture of responsibility.

A review of the results showed an overall exceptional performance and underscored the efficiency of the bank’s operations.

According to the results, Coronation Merchant Bank posted a profit before tax of N2.33 billion, which represented an increase of 43.7 per cent over last year’s figure of N1.62 billion. Also, its profit after tax (PAT) also rose from N1.61 billion to N3.22 billion,

which was 100 per cent growth over the previous year’s figure.

Aside from its strong earning capacity, Coronation Merchant Bank also witnessed improvement in its revenue generation capacity as a result of increased efficiency in its funding mix.

The bank’s net-interest income rose from N2.21 billion in 2014 to N3.07 billion in 2015, just as non-interest income increased by 83.3 per cent, from N.70 billion in 2014 to N1.29 billion in 2015, to illustrate the effectiveness of its business strategy and operational model.

The results further showed that recent realignments in the bank’s operational model significantly improved the institution’s fortunes. In one year, its total assets rose to N78.24 billion from N74.64 billion in

2014, and shareholders fund increased to N20.24 billion from N16.53 billion, which was a testament to the competitiveness of the bank’s operations and its adaptability to market realities.

An emerging merchant banking franchise with 77.3 per cent capital adequacy ratio above the regulatory minimum, Coronation Merchant Bank is driven by the vision of becoming Africa’s premier investment Bank. Consequently, its expertise in corporate banking, investment banking, private banking, assets management and securities trading have been efficiently strengthened with the appointment of credible individuals with vast international and local experience to deliver exceptional benefits to clients and other stakeholders.

Fidelity Bank Supports FG’s Move to Bridge Housing Deficit Peter Uzoho Fidelity Bank Plc has said that its ongoing Save-4-Shelter saving promo was designed to help support the federal government’s desire the bridge the country’s huge housing deficit.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, stated this on the occasion of the fifth prize presentation of the Save-4-Shelter savings promo that was held in Lagos recently.

Nigeria’s housing shortfall has been put between 16 million units and 17 million units.

It is important to note that Nigeria with a population of about 170 million people is currently facing a national housing deficit of about 17 million units, and requires a minimum of

additional one million housing units per annum to reduce the national deficit in order to avert a housing crisis.

To this end, the Fidelity Bank boss said: “It is against this backdrop that my colleagues and I on the Board of Fidelity Bank Plc introduced a special package to reward members of the public who open savings accounts with us within the promo period or add money to their existing accounts with the bank. “In addition to bridging the housing shortfall in the country, the promo also encourages customers and members of the public to imbibe the savings culture, thus deepening financial inclusion in the country. It is imperative to point out that there is a

correlation between savings and economic development.

“Savings serve as a veritable instrument for capital mobilisation to finance aggregate investment required for economic growth. As an active participant in the Nigerian economy, we are supporting the federal government by making savings available for critical infrastructure deployments that would aid socio-economic development.”

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Lagos and South-west, Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali Nwosu, said so far, the bank has given out N29 million cash in the on-going promo, adding that a couple of million would be spent more at the grand finale which holds in Lagos soon.

Experts Harp on Agricultural Sector Devt Nigeria’s Agri-business sector received a boost recently, when renowned wealth and financial expert, Omilola Oshikoya organised a workshop tagged: ‘Agribusiness, The Next Frontier.’

According to Oshikoya, the Nigerian Agricultural sector was in past decades, the biggest sector in the economy.

She expressed displeasure that the sector now contributes only about 23 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She explained that the workshop was organised, with the aim of inspiring business minded individuals who out of fear, lacked the will and conviction to pursue their

entrepreneurial dreams.

“I believe that with the country facing increasing economic uncertainties, developing the SME segment is vital to reducing the country’s rampant unemployment, thereby enhancing diversification from petro dollars and driving economic growth.

“The conference aims to push the young and unemployed population from being job seekers to being job providers, with the ultimate goal being to reduce youth unemployment which was estimated at 80 per cent as at 2014. The agribusiness workshop was designed to increase technical capacity and provide support for both potential and current business

entrepreneurs in agribusiness.”

In his contribution, the Regional Head, Bank of Industry, Obaro Osah, said agribusiness entrepreneurs can access up to N50 million depending on the scale of operations.

He added that BOI has launched a N10 billion fund specifically geared towards sector.

“The bank is also committed to offering free financial advisory services for current and potential entrepreneurs in the Agriculture business.

The funding is available and the requirements are being simplified to take advantage of the opportunity to fund businesses at a single interest rate,” he added.

Broad street

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

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WED 23 MARCH 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $36.19 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $36.67 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), 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), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

45

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

24-Mar-16 23-Mar-16

01 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

151.59

151.59

0.00%

97,107,093,127.17

11.12

13.63

1.25

1.45%

4.05

02 Access Bank Plc.

3.99

3.95

1.01%

115,422,606,807.69

2.28

1.75

0.56

13.78%

0.31

03 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.80

0.83

-3.61%

5,544,163,584.00

0.18

4.56

0.21

0.00%

0.42

04 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

14.77

15.53

-4.89%

27,741,044,130.80

3.21

4.61

0.82

8.80%

2.68

05 Cap Plc

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

1.66

23.16

4.05

2.60%

15.33

06 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.60

8.60

0.00%

10,807,428,787.60

1.13

7.63

0.66

8.14%

1.01

07 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.91

0.89

2.25%

9,439,197,323.92

0.16

5.71

0.60

10.99%

0.62

08 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.82

3.86

-1.04%

22,468,721,224.90

0.80

4.78

0.89

2.88%

0.87

164.00

164.00

0.00%

2,794,643,214,420.00

10.64

15.41

5.68

4.88%

4.33

10 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.70

5.95

-4.20%

68,400,000,000.00

0.96

5.93

0.68

8.77%

1.18

11 Diamond Bank Plc

1.30

1.30

0.00%

30,108,505,658.40

0.92

1.42

0.16

23.08%

0.13

14.74

14.25

3.44%

270,472,384,909.10

1.39

10.58

0.52

4.21%

0.72

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.33

3.51

-5.13%

119,531,324,997.36

2.16

1.54

0.30

30.03%

0.21

14 FCMB Group Plc.

0.80

0.76

5.26%

15,842,168,603.20

0.49

1.62

0.12

37.50%

0.10

15 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.37

1.40

-2.14%

39,695,471,921.51

0.48

2.84

0.31

10.22%

0.22

16 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.53

2.53

0.00%

3,795,000,000.00

0.63

3.99

0.17

16.60%

0.59

19.00

19.00

0.00%

49,860,506,553.00

1.84

10.32

0.15

10.53%

0.49

293.23

293.23

0.00%

381,926,533,832.69

4.45

65.92

3.06

1.18%

8.25

19 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

24.98

24.98

0.00%

29,872,994,670.24

0.81

30.95

0.98

1.20%

2.27

20 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

16.00

16.00

0.00%

470,898,867,584.00

3.38

4.74

2.05

11.06%

1.14

108.93

108.93

0.00%

164,036,400,318.84

0.78

139.96

3.29

0.00%

3.67

1.44

1.44

0.00%

11,419,484,627.52

0.14

10.19

0.23

11.11%

0.53

23 International Breweries Plc.

18.08

17.06

5.98%

59,560,026,982.40

0.64

28.29

3.22

1.38%

4.94

24 Julius Berger Nig. Plc.

41.50

41.50

0.00%

54,780,000,000.00

6.00

6.92

0.25

6.51%

2.15

25 Lafarge Africa Plc.

80.95

81.19

-0.30%

368,719,301,519.50

5.93

13.66

1.38

3.71%

2.09

1.95

1.95

0.00%

20,475,000,000.00

0.16

12.32

1.24

2.56%

1.04

156.00

154.91

0.70%

56,252,860,872.00

11.22

13.90

0.69

3.85%

3.80

6.52

6.86

-4.96%

17,274,338,224.56

0.97

6.73

1.61

13.80%

3.08

700.00

700.55

-0.08%

554,859,376,400.00

29.95

23.38

3.67

4.14%

14.60

3.99

3.99

0.00%

6,480,632,812.50

0.45

8.87

0.79

7.52%

1.07

117.70

113.61

3.60%

933,255,174,517.60

5.37

21.92

3.38

3.06%

5.48

4.00

4.00

0.00%

48,138,475,576.00

0.50

8.00

0.08

18.75%

0.31

33 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

31.42

31.42

0.00%

29,971,852,200.00

2.25

13.99

3.38

3.18%

1.22

34 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

22.79

21.71

4.97%

90,487,171,855.55

1.10

20.77

1.25

5.70%

2.15

35 Presco Plc

34.25

34.25

0.00%

34,250,000,000.00

3.28

10.45

3.02

0.29%

1.53

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

300.00

308.00

-2.60%

165,993,093,900.00

94.70

3.17

1.22

5.33%

0.80

0.99

0.96

3.13%

13,741,498,395.90

0.85

1.16

0.10

30.30%

0.10

15.05

15.05

0.00%

150,500,000,000.00

2.04

7.39

1.27

0.66%

1.34

1.70

1.66

2.41%

48,943,710,814.20

0.36

4.76

0.44

5.29%

0.51

140.01

142.46

-1.72%

47,536,452,398.37

12.41

11.28

0.20

6.43%

3.86

1.19

1.15

3.48%

46,077,986,935.75

0.02

49.76

1.14

4.20%

0.49

20.48

20.48

0.00%

39,339,302,645.76

3.62

5.66

0.49

8.54%

0.56

4.61

4.61

0.00%

7,923,437,476.95

1.81

2.55

0.71

15.18%

0.24

30.92

30.92

0.00%

116,979,520,050.00

0.93

98.11

1.98

4.04%

14.62

46 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.78

3.60

5.00%

137,136,609,497.16

1.64

2.30

0.44

15.87%

0.41

47 Unity Bank Plc

0.70

0.67

4.48%

8,182,536,559.40

0.54

1.29

0.13

0.00%

0.10

48 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

49 Wema Bank Plc.

0.76

0.76

0.00%

30,011,163,641.88

0.06

12.90

0.65

0.00%

0.67

50 Zenith Bank Plc

13.00

12.54

3.67%

408,154,419,218.00

3.37

3.86

0.94

13.85%

0.69

09 Dangote Cement Plc

12 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

17 Flour Mills Nig. Plc. 18 Forte Oil Plc.

21 Guinness Nig Plc 22 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

26 Mansard Insurance Plc 27 Mobil Oil Nig Plc. 28 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc 29 Nestle Nigeria Plc. 30 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc 31 Nigerian Brew. Plc. 32 Oando Plc

36 Resort Savings & Loans Plc 37 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd. 38 Skye Bank Plc 39 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc 40 Sterling Bank Plc. 41 Total Nigeria Plc. 42 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 43 U A C N Plc. 44 UACN Property Development Co. Limited 45 Unilever Nigeria Plc.

TOTAL

8,273,363,290,901.42

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,909,087,777,118.53

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

92.86%

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)

Open 23-Mar-16

Close Change % 24-Mar-16

25,736.92 8.85

25,899.91 8.91

0.63 0.63

105.53 8.22

106.26 8.27

0.69 0.69

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open Close Change 23-Mar-16 24-Mar-16 %

International Breweries Plc. FCMB Group Plc. United Bank for Africa Plc P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc. Unity Bank Plc

17.06 0.76 3.60 21.71 0.67

18.08 0.80 3.78 22.79 0.70

5.98 5.26 5.00 4.97 4.48

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 23-Mar-16 24-Mar-16 %

FBN Holdings Plc National Salt Co. Nig. Plc Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc AIICO Insurance Plc.

3.51 6.86 15.53 5.95 0.83

3.33 6.52 14.77 5.70 0.80

-5.13 -4.96 -4.89 -4.20 -3.61

Market Index appreciates by 0.63% as banking stocks dominate gainers Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today - Thursday, March 24th, 2016, was positive as the market closed green due to 2015 full year earnings announcement by company’s coupled with dividend declaration much to the delight of investors. This was further highlighted by positive performance from the NSE Sub sectors; Banking, Insurance, and Consumer Goods (Save Oil & Gas).

Trading activities increased in volume as 397.05 million shares worth N3.28 billion in 3,742 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 398.28 million shares worth N2.647 billion in 3,581 deals carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms was Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank 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 positive with a 0.63% (-162.99) increase to 25,899.91 from 25,736.92 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization appreciated in tandem to N8.91 trillion from N8.85 trillion of prior trading day. The Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with 0.69% increase to close at 106.26 from 105.53 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at 8.27 trillion from N8.22 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 17 stocks gained on the bourse today while 18 stocks declined, leaving 154 stocks unchanged. International Breweries Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 5.98% to close at N18.08 per share. It was followed FCMB Group Plc with a gain of 5.26% to close at N0.80 per share. Others on the gainers list include: United Bank for Africa Plc, P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc and Unity Bank Plc, while on the decliners’ list; FBN Holdings Plc led with a loss of 5.13% to close at N3.33 per share. It was followed by National Salt Co. Nig. Plc with a loss of 4.96% to close at N6.52 per share. Others on the losers list include; Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and AIICO Insurance 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

46

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Transcorp Hotels Posts N5.3bn Profit, to Pay 40k Dividend Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun Transcop Hotel Plc has announced a profit before tax of N5.378 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015, showing an increase of 23 per above the N4.340 billion recorded in 2014. Profit after tax stood at N3.497 billion compared with N3.221 billion in 2014.

The profit growth was recorded despite lower revenue for the year. Transcorp Hotel posted a revenue of N13.979 billion, down by 7.5 per cent from N15.105 billion recorded in 2014.

However, administrative expenses went down by 20 per cent to N5.943 billion, as against N7.47 billion in 2014.

This boosted the operating profit from N4.262 billion to

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

N4.783 billion. Also, Transcorp Hotel recorded a jump of 115 per cent in net finance income from N277 million to N595 million.

The company witnessed a big jump in total assets, which climbed from N69.623 billion to N91.341 billion, showing a growth of 31 per cent.

The directors recommended a dividend of 40.85 kobo per share, up from 37 kobo per

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production 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 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 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. 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. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE 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. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

share.

Transcorp Hotels raised N19.75 billion bond under a N30 billion Medium-Term Bond Programme in the last quarter of 2015. The bonds were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange last January.

Speaking during the listing of the bond on the two platforms, the Managing

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

19 19 31

1.25

1,078,511 1,078,511 1,102,780

1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30 2,154,839.65

5 68 13 86 86

0.77 1.13 20.47

33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918 6,839,918

25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11 9,004,949.11

13 13

41.50

31,970 31,970

1,409,214.78 1,409,214.78

5 5 18

5.20

28,901 28,901 60,871

154,716.48 154,716.48 1,563,931.26

6 24 7 98 135

2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

9 9

168.50

166,476 166,476

28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

54 38 6 12 1 29 140

5.61 19.00 1.37 6.86 6.65 1.27

2,120,306 314,421 40,000 119,863 433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00 842,442.48 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

11 54 65

17.86 700.00

18,825 98,360 117,185

329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

11 11

4.46

99,050 99,050

420,455.00 420,455.00

13 21 34 394

21.90 28.00

36,887 133,117 170,004 3,289,575,498

820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67 4,244,727,629.11

82 51 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

4.10 1.49 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

3,962,506 2,163,396 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

14 8 2 3 7 10 1 1 46

0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06 0.76 0.50 0.50

200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

1 1

1.08

4,760 4,760

4,950.40 4,950.40

31 7 105 7 20 170 893

2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915 108,317,977

2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75 195,681,762.26

27

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo, expressed his excitement over the successful completion of the company’s Series 1 & 2 bonds.

According to him, Series 1 was oversubscribed by 30 per cent while Series 2 was 98 per cent subscribed a testimony of undeniable investors’ confidence to the achievements and leadership

of the company.

“By successfully raising these funds, we now have sufficient funding for our immediate priority projects especially the upgrade and expansion of the multi –award winning and iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja. “By this listing, we have kept our promise to deliver value to all stakeholders and we will continue to do so,” he said.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS 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 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM 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

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32 4 6 69 69

25.33 0.94 0.69

551,998 16,020 597,000 1,779,083 1,779,083

13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00 15,902,796.63 15,902,796.63

1 1 1

1.69

500 500 500

805.00 805.00 805.00

16 9 4 6 10 31 76

24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

6 6

1.51

134,500 134,500

204,240.00 204,240.00

5 5 87

50.00

24,529 24,529 15,152,108

1,165,135.50 1,165,135.50 1,164,682,243.92

2 2

0.50

24,262 24,262

12,131.00 12,131.00

90 90

3.47

3,827,573 3,827,573

13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

21 7 8 21 7 64

18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

33 33 189

318.00

389,934 389,934 4,473,488

124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56 149,977,475.67

1 1

0.50

941 941

470.50 470.50

5 5

3.80

32,870 32,870

127,756.40 127,756.40

13 13

0.89

624,500 624,500

538,430.00 538,430.00

1 22 23

2.29 4.00

4,588 251,094 255,682

10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

1 1 43 1,811

1.68

10,000 10,000 923,993 3,428,226,216

16,000.00 16,000.00 1,694,242.54 5,785,390,675.15

2 2 2 2

1.21

270,464 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

306 306

11.45

13,929,679 13,929,679

159,605,439.23 159,605,439.23

278 278 584

3.74

10,438,552 10,438,552 24,368,231

39,515,087.18 39,515,087.18 199,120,526.41

35 35 35 619 2,432

139.83

38,770 38,770 38,770 24,407,001 3,452,903,681

5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 204,425,192.41 5,990,143,129.00

2 2 2 2 2 10 10 10

2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

3,000 20 20 20 15 3,075 3,075 3,075

6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 270.65 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016

47

48

FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Senate PDP Caucus Asks INEC to Release Results of Rivers Rerun Urges Buhari to constitute commission of inquiry on violence APC apologises over corps members death, pledges support to family

Omololu Ogunmade andAdebiyi

Adedapo inAbuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate yesterday demanded for the release of the results last Saturday’s rerun elections in River State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Rising from a meeting held in Abuja, the caucus asked the electoral commission to release all the results collated in polling units, wards and local government areas of the state at the weekend.

According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, the caucus resolved to visit the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the families of those who lost their lives in the rerun polls. It also condemned the violence which marred the conduct of the polls.

The caucus called on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the constitution of a commission of inquiry to investigate the violence which accompanied the rerun elections in the state with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice.

The communique which said the meeting was attended by the National Chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, also asked INEC to conduct the rerun election ordered in Imo North senatorial district, noting that the 90 days ordered by the court for the conduct of the election has expired.

It also advised the commission to re-schedule the rerun election in Kogi East senatorial district just as it

passed vote of confidence on Sheriff whom it said briefed the caucus on the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party as scheduled.

The communique read: “The caucus noted the reports from the just concluded rerun elections in the state particularly the declaration of results in units, wards and local government area collation centres and resolved accordingly: That lNEC should as a matter of urgency release the outstanding results in the state re run elections particularly results that were collated from all polling units/wards/ local government areas in their possession with immediate effect.

“The caucus reviewed the decision of NEC of our party, PDP, and agreed that the timetable of the party congresses and national convention remains sacrosanct. This was reiterated by the national chairman of the party, who attended the caucus and briefed members accordingly.

“The caucus agreed to send a delegation to visit Rivers State with a view to congratulating Wike on the electoral victories, and also to commiserate with the wounded and families of people who lost their loved ones in the re run elections in the state particularly the youth corps member who was slain in the imbroglio.

The caucus called on lNEC to as a matter of urgency, reschedule the lmo North re-run senatorial election without further delay as the 90 days ordered by the court had since lapsed.

“It also called on lNEC to

reschedule similar rerun elections in Anambra Central and Kogi East senatorial districts. The caucus condemns in its totality the acts of violence perpetrated by enemies of democracy during the rerun elections in the state. A vote of confidence was passed on the national chairman of the party as well as the leadership of the eight Senate PDP caucus of the National Assembly.

“The caucus called on President Buhari to support the ongoing commission of enquiry investigating the killings in the Rivers State rerun elections with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the violence/killings to justice. The caucus urged the political class to exhibit tolerance for multi-party democracy in the nation to discourage political impunity in all ramifications.”

However. the Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologised to the management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for

the death of a corps member, Samuel Dumebi Okonta.

The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2015 general election, Dakuku Peterside, rendered the apology yesterday in Abuja while leading other party leaders on a condolence visit to the national secretariat of NYSC. Dakuku said it was unfortunate that the state had been in the news for negative reasons, adding that it was worst of that a youth corps member was killed during an election in the state.

Okont, who hailed from Illah community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Delta State, was killed during last Saturday’s rerun elections in the state.

The deceased served as an Assistant Presiding Officer (APO II) at Ukpeliede Town Hall, Ward 6, Unit 5 in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“We have come as a delegation of APC Rivers State chapter to pay our condolence to NYSC on the loss of a patriotic young man who offered to serve his fatherland, instead of being rewarded, he has been sent to early grave.

He died in the course of national assignment in the state, I am not sure he bargained for early death.

“We are here to pay our condolence that the death of a young man who had a great dream, who was promising, who spent the best part of his life acquiring education hoping to contribute his own quota to the development of our country, instead of being given that opportunity, today he has been killed at the course of national assignment. We are saddened that it happened in our state,” Dakuku lamented.

He noted that Nigeria owes the families of corps members who had died in the course of conducting election in the country.

“We think that Nigeria owes Okonta a lot and all those who were injured in the course of election in state. Rivers is not only the state in the country, we don’t know why our own case will be peculiar, we feel very bad, we feel saddened, and on behalf of all our people, we want to say sorry to the entire family of the NYSC. “We appreciate that you lost one of your own but first he is a citizen of Nigeria before enrolling in the youth service corps and so it is not your loss alone, it is our collective loss,” the NIMASA DG said.

He, however, pledged that the party would support the family of slain corps member in all ways.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, who was represented

by Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mrs. Rhoda Kwaki, noted that Okonta’s death was a huge loss but prayed against any re-occurrence.

House Opens Investigations into Oil Prospecting, Mining Licenses Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the processes of the award of Oil Prospecting Licences (OPL) and Oil Mining Licences (OML) to all its beneficiaries.

The House said the investigation is necessary as the processes were discovered to be flawed, thereby shortchanging the country.

The House Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, while speaking when he inaugurated the committee yesterday, said the House was committed to its demand for accountability of national resources.

The committee is chaired by Hon. Gideon Gwani (Kaduna APC).

Dogara, who was represented by the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, added that it was necessary to determine whether due process was followed in the award of the OPL and OML. “Our duty as a House is to make sure that the right is done always. It is the responsibility of this committee to find out how many companies follow due process as well as find out the modalities for the award,” Ogor said.

The committee’s terms of reference include to ascertain the total number of OPLs and OMLs granted; ascertain their expiry dates,

in addition to ascertaining whether due process and guidelines for the acquisition of oil and gas assets were complied with.

Gwani, in his address, expressed regret that the oil and gas sector continues to fall short of expectations despite efforts by successive governments to ensure its revitalisation.

“Some unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements within the country with the active connivance of some desperate expatriates are undermining such efforts by flouting the due process and guidelines for acquisition of OPLs and OMLs. This unhealthy development is a tragedy that must be stopped and perpetrators brought to book if we are to make the very sector attractive so as to compete favourably with the rest of the world,” he said.

Gwani added that the legislature cannot afford to fold its arms, especially with the dwindle in the price of crude oil and its attendant consequences on the country’s economy.

“One of the measures is to get the accurate records and data of all the companies or individuals that have been granted OPLs or OMLs for exploration, with a view of ascertaining if they are operating within the ambit of the law and set guidelines,” he said.

TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY

L-R: Chairman of Phillips Consulting, Folusho Phillips; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu; Founder, Group Partners, John Caswell; Country Director, Synergos and Tiffany Hazel of Group Partners, Adewale Ajadi, at the launch of the State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) in Abuja...yesterday

Lagos to Issue White Paper on Lekki Free Zone Disturbance Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Lagos State Government has disclosed its plan to issue a white paper on the social unrest that culminated in the death of the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Mr. Tajudeen Disu.

The state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday disclosed the plan to issue white paper on the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) while inaugurating a N600 million power project that connected 67 communities in Ibeju-Lekki to the national grid.

Disu was killed along with other individuals during a clash between Ibeju-Lekki villagers and mobile police officers in Okunraiye, a community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area precisely on October 15, 2015.

But at the inauguration

yesterday, the state governor expressed social unrest that led to the death of Disu and its effect on influx of investors, warning that any further disturbances would not be accepted.

According to him, the disturbances we had at the Lekki Free Trade Zone is not acceptable. We must cooperate with the government to bring development to the state. A government white-paper on the disturbances that occurred recently would be released He thus urged the residents to cooperate with the government “to bring development to the state. Very soon, we will release a white-paper on the disturbances that occurred recently which led to the death of the company’s boss.”

On the power project, the governor disclosed that 34 communities in Badagry Local

Government Areahad been in complete blackout for several years.

He noted that the Eko Electricity Distribution Company had commenced metering exercise of 10,000 houses daily aimed at ensuring that residents pays for power supply used.

Ambode stated that the issues of total darkness in the state were peculiar to the border communities in the state, saying: “As we inaugurate this project, we have discovered that the issue of total darkness is not peculiar to Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area alone.

“We have discovered that 34 communities in Badagry axis of the state, are without power supply.

The issues of power supply with these communities are currently the being addressed. And I can assure you that before September, we would connect them to the

National grid.”

Speaking on the reason for the state intervention on the power supply challenges in the 67 communities, the governor lamented that blackout had crippled the socio-economic activities in the axis.

He said the attention of the state government was drawn “to the challenges of the residents of the 68 communities last year.

And from our investigation, we discovered that they had been in darkness for over five years due to the vandalisation of certain infrastructures in the communities.”

Ambode stated that in order to address the issue, the state commenced work on the project last October. In order to restore power supply to the communities, 33 KV high-tension lines were laid from the Ajah Sub-station to the Eleko junction.

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Senate C’ttee Accuses PPPRA of Robbing FERMA N634bn, Orders Payment Summons petroleum, works ministers, accountant-general

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Senate Committee on Works yesterday accused Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) of failing to remit NN634 billion revenue belonging to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) since 2007.

Consequently, the committee ordered the agency to immediately pay the agency the money.

This revelation was made during a meeting of the committee with PPPRA and FERMA at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The Act establishing FERMA empowers the agency to receive from PPPRA five percent of users’ pump price.

However, PPPRA has since 2007 operated in violation of the provision.

But acting Managing Director of FERMA, Mr. Peter Odey, and the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Richard Clark, drew the attention of the committee to the provision, pointing out that PPPRA has since 2007 failed to remit any amount to the agency. He said the trend had hampered the smooth operation of the agency.

In his reaction, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said PPPRA was owing FERMA twice the budget of the Ministry of Works this year.

“From the rough calculation, FERMA is requesting PPPRA to refund N634.8billion. This amount is twice Ministry of Works budget for this year. So, it should be mandatory for PPPRA to refund the money or we will get a consultant to give us the exact figure because I know the figure will be more than this,” he said.

Queried on why the agency had been violating the Act, PPPRA’s Director of Operations, Mr. Victor Shidoh, said the provision was not implementable. According to him, implementing the provision in FERMA Act would automatically lead to a hike in pump price of fuel.

He said initial moves to

implement the five per cent charge by the agency was eventually aborted following the public protests which accompanied it in 2007.

“The implementation of this five per cent will lead to increase in pump price. Because the pump price is not a revenue. It is a cost element meant for specific activities in a template. We are looking at the pump price as if it is a revenue; it’s not a revenue.

“The template is a proposal of PPPRA. The implication of implementing all those elements listed is that there will be more financial exposure to government as long as we are under regulation.

Because any element that you add a value to, it will automatically increase the pump price which Nigerians must pay.

“It’s not that the PPPRA on its own refused to implement the FERMA Act. The PPPRA in the past made an attempt to make a collection which was a special levy for road maintenance. That was in 2007. But because of the public protest against that Act, the PPPRA was advised to stop that collection,” he stated.

But Gaya and other members of the committee accused PPPRA of misunderstanding the Act, saying the charge had already been included in the current fuel pump price of N86.50 per litre and so must not be a fresh charge.

Gaya said: “You don’t understand the Act. That is why you add that five per cent again to the price. And that is why you have the problem of people protesting against it. What you should have done is from the figure you put, the consumers should not be involved. Already, you have taxed the consumers.

As you are deducting the 15kobo from consumers for the personal use of your staff, then you could have taken the money for the maintenance of the roads from the same money you are making.

You are not going to add it to the consumers. That is what the

IGVisits Agatu, Deploys More Policemen,Vehicles Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja Following the recent killings of nine persons in Agatu Local Government Areas of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, has visited the area to assess the extent of damage and the impact on the people of the state.

Based on his assessment and logistical requirement, according to a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, the IG immediately deployed two units of riot policemen to the area to reinforce the unit on the ground, while additional police operational vehicles were also sent to the state police command to aid operational support.

The police boss reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force, working in conjunction with the state government, would do everything within its powers to fish out and bring to book all those involved in such and other similar killings, stressing that an end must be put

to the endless circle of impunity.

Arase, while describing as regrettable, unprovoked and brutal the killings of two policemen who were on legitimate assignment in the troubled area of the state by the people of the area, warned that any person found to be involved in the killing would be made to bear the full wrath of the law.

The IG noted that the police and other security agents had relentlessly worked round the clock with significant success to stave off such attacks on the people of the area and the entire country at large, and therefore reassured Nigerians that security agencies would do everything possible to further strengthen the security within and beyond the state.

While commiserating with the families of the affected victims, Arase appealed for support and cooperation to enable the police and other security agencies unmask the perpetrators and sponsors of the crime.

law says,” In his reaction, a member of the committee, Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-west), expressed shock over PPPRA’s failure to pay FERMA its statutory 5 percent of pump price of petrol. He described the action as unjustifiable, observing that whereas PPPRA had paid subsidy on contracts that were not executed, it chose to violate the Act establishing FERMA. “Why

should PPPRA pay billions in subsidy but fail to pay a legal fee to FERMA?” He queried.

In its verdict, the committee asked PPPRA to immediately remit N643 billion to FERMA to enable it fix a number of collapsed Nigerian roads. It also directed the agency to provide the template for price regulation from 2007 till date.

Gaya expressed concern over high rate of carnage on Nigerian

roads which he said was caused by failed portions of such roads, and urged FERMA to rise up to its responsibility of making Nigerian roads motorable.

He listed some of the bad roads that need urgent attention to include Kano-Abuja expressway, Oyo-Ogbomoso road, Enugu-Onitsha road, Gombe-Numa road, among others.

The Chairman of the committee

also tasked PPPRA to pay FERMA its statutory fees, saying doing so would enable it to fix major Nigerian roads.

The committee also summoned Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Ahmed Farouk; Minister of State for Works; Accountant General of the Federation to appear before the committee date on April 12 to explain all they know about the matter.

INVESTITURE OF FELLOWS

L-R; Fellow, Ben Nwabueze Centre for Studies in Constitutional Law and Related Subjects, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); former Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice George Oguntade; Constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze; and former Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Samson Odemwingie Uwaifo, at the Investiture of Fellows of Ben Nwabueze Centre for Studies in Constitutional Law and Related Subjects, held at NIIA, Lagos, yesterday Sunday Adigun

Witness Reveals How Badeh Converted Air Force Funds into Personal Use Tobi Soniyi in Abuja A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday revealed how a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), authorised the transfer of funds from the Nigeria Air Force account and later allegedly diverted the money for his personal use.

The witness, a former Director of Finance, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Abdullahi Yushau, during cross examination by Badeh’s lawyer, Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), before a Federal High Court in Abuja, said: “No money goes out of the accounts of Nigerian Air Force without the authorisation of the Chief of Air Staff.

“When documents of transactions are sent to the Chief of Air Staff, he usually authorised them.”

He further told the court: “The balance of the salaries and allowances of personnel of the Nigerian Air Force was used for the servicing of the office of the Chief of Air Staff.”

The retired director of finance had earlier told the court that money meant for personnel allowances and salaries was converted into dollars and that he

personally delivered the money to Badeh in his then official residence at Niger Barracks.

“What is remaining is usually about N1.6billion and N1.7billion, out of which the sum of N558,200,000 was usually taken to Badeh’s official residence at the Niger Barracks in Abuja,” he alleged.

The witness also stated that the N558,200,000 was under the “control of Badeh which he usually gives approval for, so it could be exchanged into United States dollars and taken to his official residence.”

Badeh and his company were accused by the EFCC of removing from the accounts of the NAF N650 million to purchase a commercial land at plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral zone Ao7 Wuse ll Abuja.

The offence, the EFCC said, was contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. But under rigorous cross examination by Olujimi, Yushau told the court that earmarking N558 million for the office of the Chief of Air Staff, was a usual monthly practice in the Nigerian Air Force.

He also told the court that the

practice had been in existence even before Badeh became the Chief of Air Staff.

Yushau confirmed that he used to set aside the same amount to Badeh’s predecessor Air Marshall Umar.

He said similar amount of money was readily made available at the end of the month to Air Marshal MD Umar long before Badeh was appointed Chief of Air Staff The principal witness also confirmed that Badeh was not a signatory to the Air Force account, neither could he produce any written authorisation from the defendant requesting for money to be transferred or paid to anybody.

He also confirmed he informed Badeh of the usual practice.

The EFCC witness said: “I gave the chief the complete brief of the financial position of the Nigerian Air Force which included the usual practice.”

He said the sum of N4 billion was released to the force as statutory monthly allocation for personnel salaries and allowances between September 2012 and December 2013.

Yushau, however, disclosed that out of the amount, only N2.3 billion was actually used for the emoluments.

Earlier, the trial judge berated the EFCC for not complying with the court’s directives with regard to Badeh’s bail condition.

Olujimi had brought to the judge’s attention of the fact that the defendant had earlier met the bail conditions (after initially asking for variation) but that the EFCC had failed to do its part with regard to independently ascertaining the value of such properties and getting back to the court within 24 hours as to whether they met the conditions.

The judge ruled that he was compelled to vary the part of the condition that required EFCC to ascertain the value of those properties and get back to the court within 24 hours Justice Abng ruled that the EFCC could not continue to hold the court to ransom while the defendant’s bail application was left to surfer while waiting for the commission to carry out a duty required of it by the law.

He said if the documents submitted by the sureties to the court registrar were verified that he would have no other choice but to order the release of the defendant from prison custody.

The matter was adjourned to April 8, 2016

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Mixed Reactions Trail FG’s Proposed Increased Spending in 2016 Budget Ndubuisi Francis inAbujaand Obinna Chima in Lagos Following the successful passage of the 2016 budget by the National Assembly on Wednesday, mixed reactions of optimism and pessimism from stakeholders are already trailing the passage with some analysts positing that financing the federal government’s proposed increased spending and dealing with its deficit would be the major challenges with the budget’s implementation.

Speaking with THISDAY yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, explained that with the concerns around the federal government’s rigid foreign exchange policy, its cost of borrowing from the Eurobond market would be higher.

“What this means is that while others are borrowing at about three or four per cent interest rate, Nigeria would borrow at about 11 or 12 per cent. The risk would be priced into the rate of borrowing. But this is the beginning of the economic process. Once you approve a budget and you try to raise money, then the conditions for raising money would be put before you.

“Then you have to make up your mind whether to go ahead or not. Now the real game has started, the real economic game has just started. In another week or more, you will see the pressure to borrow, the pressure on the exchange rate. Mind you, contractors would be paid in the next five days, they would go to the forex exchange market and put additional pressure,” Rewane said in a telephone chat.

However, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, BGL Capital, Mr. Femi Ademola, expressed optimism that with the accretion in the price of crude oil as well as the aggressiveness displayed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), financing the proposed increased spending would not be a challenge.

“Hope is not lost yet. The other balance of $3.5 billion has been gotten from the multilateral agencies. I think they are covered if they stick to what they have planned to do. Again, budget is a guide of action, it is not compulsory that the entire projections would be met. So, they should try and work to ensure that their revenue come in as planned,” Ademola said.

The Head of Research at SCM Capital Limited (formerly Sterling

Capital), Mr. Sewa Wusu, pointed out that having a budget deficit does not mean the budget cannot be financed.

“What it means is that you have to look for ways and means to finance the budget. But it is always better to borrow to fund projects that are capable of stimulating economic activities and create jobs. What I think this budget has come to do is to reflate the economy.

“Nigeria is not the only country going through this budget financing challenges. Most African countries are going through similar challenges.

For instance, Ghana had to borrow from the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he added.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of APT Securities and Funds Limited, Alhaji Kasimu Kurfi, lauded the federal government for taking such a bold economic step assuring that the budget would impact positively on the capital market.

“It is a welcome development, the capital market will response positively by moving northwards.

The immediate release of the capital expenditure as promised by the Minister of Finance during the economic conference that over N300 billion will be released into the economy is a good development.

We hope that will lead to rebound in market especially as many companies surprised us with good dividend yield. The immediate release of funds will help the economy from GDP growth of 2.0 per cent to double,” he said.

But analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited pointed out that: “Financing the increased spending and dealing with a deficit will be a challenge.”

According to them, “it is not clear where the rest of the funds needed would come from. Foreign investors, however, might take a dim view of Nigerian eurobond issuance given concerns over the authorities’ currency policy.”

The lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Mr. Eze Onyekpere, said the passage of the Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly (NASS) paves the way for presidential assent to the Appropriation Bill.

“What is available to Nigerians is the lump sum of the overall budget and its division into sub-heads of expenditure into recurrent non debt, capital, statutory transfers, debt service, etc. But the mischief is always in the details and we shall appropriately react when the details are available.

“From the provisions of our laws, the harmonised 2016 Federal

Lassa Fever Claims 14 Lives in Taraba Lassa fever has claimed 14 lives in Taraba State from January to date, an official has said.

Dr Aisha Sani, the Chairperson, Lassa Fever Committee in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Jalingo.

According to her, of the 49 suspected cases of the disease reported in the hospital, 21 persons were treated and discharged.

However, she disclosed that seven suspected Lassa fever patients on admission in the hospital had fled the facility.

“Seven persons had absconded.

We are making frantic efforts to arrest and bring them back to the hospital before they infect others with the disease.

“We have our internal securities here, but the truth is that we need more to secure the Lassa fever unit,” Sani said.

The doctor said laboratory test had so far confirmed four cases of the disease, while four suspected cases were referred to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, Edo. “The four patients had already developed kidney failure and you know we don’t have dialysis section here.

Appropriation Bill should have been assented to by the President on or before the clock strikes 11.59pm on December 31, 2015. This is to pave way for the full commencement of the financial year on January 1, 2016 in accordance with the Financial Year Act. “But this was not the case as we have lost three months and no one is sure whether the President will not have some misgivings to delay the signing and thereby return the Bill to the NASS for further re-touching,”Onyekpere said.

According to him, “there are lessons to be learnt from this exercise and principally, it is the need to start the budgeting process on time at the executive level as this ensures that the legislative end is also concluded on time to get the budget ready before the end of the year.”

The president, he said, delayed the budget presentation until December 22, 2015, adding that the National Assembly merely

waited for his presentation before proceeding on the Christmas and New Year legislative break.

“We hope he has learnt his lessons and his learning should manifest in the 2017 budgeting cycle. The fact that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) 2016-2018 was not approved by National Assembly until the final consideration of the budget is a cause for worry. The MTEF undergirds the budget and should have preceded the presentation of the budget.

“Thus, an approved MTEF is a condition precedent to the commencement of budget preparation and should have guided its parameters. However, the budget and the MTEF have been approved at the same time and day. This is wrong in law and in fact.

“Nigerians expect the President to immediately assent to the bill and move the executive to expeditiously start the implementation of the

budget. The budget should be implemented to the letter and we are expectant of improvements in livelihoods, infrastructure, social services, employment, economic growth and raising the dignity of Nigerians. The time for apologies is over,” Onyekpere whose CSJ has been in the vanguard of maintaining sound budgetary practice, said.

“There is also the expectation that the Federal government should expeditiously devise a coherent and strategic framework to guide future budgeting and governance, so that the policy direction and road map can be clear for citizens and the private sector to make rational economic decisions. Someone needs to tell the President that he has just two years to govern and to the end of his tenure, not three as he presupposes. The last year will be out to politicking and with the first year almost ending, just two are remaining,” the CSJ Lead Director noted.

Also reacting to the passage of

the budget, a financial and economic Analyst, Odilim Enwegbara said for the first time since the return of democratic rule, the 2016 Budget hallmarked the only time the executive arm of government asked for more and got less from the parliament.

He stated that padding by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was eliminated because the lawmakers did not insist on injecting Constituency Projects to avoid running into murky waters.

On how to ensure a successful budget implementation, he advocated the setting up of a special federal budget monitoring and evaluation task force.

“Government needs to have a special Federal Budget Monitoring and Evaluation Task-force comprising representatives from the ministries. They should quarterly brief Nigerians about budget implementation,” he said.

RAPT ATTENTION

R-L: Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidar; Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, at the All Progressives Congress NEC meeting in Abuja....yesterday Godwin Omoigui

Africa CEO Forum Names Dangote Group Company of the Year Crusoe Osagie Dangote Group has emerged “African Company of the Year” at the just-concluded Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

To clinch the General Electric (GE)- sponsored award, Dangote Group emerged top among eight other international companies nominated through a special process that took several factors into consideration.

Also, the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, was honoured with award of the African CEO of the Year award at the event.

According to the organisers, the Africa CEO Forum’s awards are given to companies and investors whose strategies show their determination to take part in Africa’s dynamic growth.

“Because their achievements encourage the emergence of competitive African companies, the nominees are selected for their

commitment and results in four areas,” the organisers said.

The areas are listed as promotion of Africa’s private sector; strengthening regional integration; development of intra-African trade and social and environmental responsibility.

Receiving the award on behalf of the President of company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, expressed his company’s appreciation for the award and the forum in general, saying it was a veritable platform for African decision makers to discuss common problems of African nations and proffer solutions.

The Dangote Group according to him would continue to make wise investments in sectors that are critical to the economy of Africa.

He said: “On behalf of my boss, Aliko Dangote, who was here during the opening session, we would like to say a big thank you to the organisers of this event, Jeune

Afrique. Also, we thank you for your recognition, for the honour of bringing this event home to Africa for the first time.

“I am sure this is the right residence for this conference, thank you for that. We want to say thank you to all African heads of state and government, the ministers, who have in one way or the other, helped us to achieve our dream as the best company in Africa.

“We thank you so much and we continue to do Africa proud.”

In his own acceptance remark, Otudeko thanked the forum for the award, saying: “I see the award as recognition of commitment and indeed confidence, that the future of Africa resides strongly in the patriotic African person.

“Our future is bright. We should not allow our challenges to diminish our confidence. Africa would prosper in cooperation with all our friends, who are within Africa and outside Africa.”

Other nominees for the company

of the year award were Seplat Petroleum, Safaricom, Sanlam, NASPERS, Maroc Telecom, Sanlam, Ascendis and iSON. Young CEO of the year award went Sebastien Kadio-Morokro, managing director of Petrol Ivoire, who beat Nigeria’s Jason Njoku, CEO and co-founder of Iroko Partners.

A Gabonese bank, BGFI was named the Bank of the Year beating leading banks such as Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, and Standard Bank.

The award for the International Corporation of the Year was given to Heineken, while ECP Private Equity was named the private equity investor of the year.

The forum introduced a new award - the Young CEO of the Year award which was won

by Sebastien Kadio-Morokro, Managing Director of Petrol Ivoire, who beat Nigeria’s Jason Njoku, the CEO and co-founder of Iroko Partners.

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Ekiti: Arrest will Reinforce My Loyalty to Fayose, Akanni Says Governor urges Nigerians not to vote for ex-military leader again

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon

Afolabi Afolabi Akanni , who was recently arrested by men of the Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday arrived

Arik London Flight Declares Emergency at Heathrow Airport Chinedu Eze Arik Air Flight W3101 to London from Lagos yesterday declared an emergency and landed safely later, 30 minutes behind schedule.

According to mailonline.com, the flight that was operated by Airbus A330-200 aircraft was scheduled to land at Heathrow in London at 18:30 but touched down at 18:57.

Official statement from the airline explained that the Airbus A330-200 developed technical problem while on ground at the Heathrow Airport and was therefore declared AOG (Aircraft on Ground), which means it was no more airworthy until the technical problem was corrected.

This has prompted the airline to reschedule its flight from London to Lagos that ought to

leave London on March 24 night, to Lagos, so it would now leave on Friday morning.

However, Arik said the incident would not affect the airline’s Lagos to London flight on Friday, March 25 that was already schedule to operate by 12:45p.m.

THISDAY gathered that the flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for a six hours, 45 minutes flight to London and landed at Terminal 4, Heathrow.

Arik Air, the largest Nigerian carrier, has operated for 10 years without any major incident both in its domestic, regional and international flights and in September 18, 2012 it airlifted its 10 millionth passenger on a flight between Johannesburg and Lagos.

in the state, promising that his incarceration would further reinforce his loyalty to the state Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Akanni who represents Efon constituency, was arrested on March 4 by DSS detained in Abuja until he was released last Tuesday after spending 18 days in custody.

Another state official and ex-special assistant on revenue to the governor, Mr. Ropo Ogunjobi, who was also arrested was also in the state with the governor.

Fayose, came in company of the two ex-detainees aboard an helicopter marked 5N-BRL at about 3.38p.m. and landed at Christ’s School playing grounding in Ado Ekiti, where they were welcomed by mammoth crowd, comprising members of the state assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole.

Akanni, while addressing the crowd, said his arrest and

detention had further intensified his loyalty to Fayose, describing the governor as a reliable leader.

“What manner of democracy are we practising? How can DSS invade a state House of Assembly and arrest a lawmaker with the intention to impeach a governor? They even came without a warrant of arrest. Is this democracy?

“Is it an offence to be loyal or honest to a governor? Fayose is our leader and I can’t betray him. Ekiti people must stand by him. My governor, I am assuring you that I will always stand by you,” the lawmaker assured Fayose.

Ogunjobi revealed that the DSS, during interrogation, accused him of laundering the sum of N22 billion being amount paid on federal roads to the state by the federal government into Fayose’s accounts, which he described

as a blatant lie.

“They even said I helped Fayose to launder another N1.3 billion out of the N2.5 billion ecological fund released to the state. I said all these were lies.

I can’t lie against my governor,” he stated.

Fayose regretted how past military dictators were endangering Nigerian democracy, urging Nigerians not to vote for them into any sensitive position again in order to preserve Nigerian democratic values.

“Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo are not democrats.

They have no respect for the constitution and the rule of law.

But no matter what they do, we won’t succumb to intimidation.

“Today, I am excited, because we have won the battle again.

They took. Akanni to Abuja as a captive, but he is back now as a hero, so shame onto DSS,

shame onto our oppressors!

“Our economy is bad, people are losing their jobs on daily basis, but what the All Progressives Congress (APC) knows how to do best is to lie to the people.

They have no answer to this bad economic situation. When Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in government, a dollar was N200, but today, it is almost N400, shame onto them.

“We thank God that we have a House of Assembly that refused to join forces with them to remove the governor. That was why I told them that they had engaged a wrong customer.

They should forget about impeachment, because this is not 2006.

“President Buhari should face Nigeria’s financial problems.

Although they cannot perform because they took Nigerians’ votes by tricks,” Fayose said.

Court Acquits Tejuosho Market Director of Forgery Charge

Says no prima facie case against accused person A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere has quashed a forgery case brought against Mr. Olaide Omotola, a Director of Stormberg Engineering Company Limited and the developer of Tejuosho Ultramodern Market.

The court presided over by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, declared in its ruling that the Lagos State Government could not establish a prima facie case against the accused person.

The judge also declared that the accused person was not served with the charge or notified of the trial, indicating that there was nothing again the prosecution could prove to move the matter further.

In the ruling, the judge identified discrepancies in the legal advice, which formed the basis of the prosecution, noting that the statement of the petitioner was written March 2, 2012, while the petition itself was written on March 5 and approved March 7, 2012.

The judge noted that the petitioner had finished writing his statement “before his petition was approved,” thereby describing the entire process as a premeditated prosecution.

Omotola, a partner in the development of Tejuosho Ultramodern Market and leading equity contributor for the market, had been accused of forging signature to become a director in Stormberg Engineering Company Limited.

He said he was accused of forgery when he discovered some discrepancies in the redevelopment of the market, which he said, compelled him to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC) to look into it his capacity as a director of the company.

Omotola added that when the EFCC was investigating the petition on the alleged discrepancies, his partner, Mr. Dolapo Atimo and some other people decided “to petition to Special Fraud Unit (SFU), claiming that he forged a signature “to become the director of the company.”

He explained that the bid was “to negate the petition that was already at EFCC so that it would have no stand.” On March 22, 2012, the SFU people came to his house and took him to SFU on the charge of forgery and that he stole N20 million from the account.

“After they investigated, they could not establish any prima facie case against me in the matter. My passport was seized and later returned back to me.

In the course, we petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that SFU was taking a biased position and the matter was transferred away from SFU.” “But unknown to us, they had hurriedly gone to court on the matter which was unknown.

When Mr. Dolapo Atimo died, as it was obvious that I had the controlling share of the company, they also wrote another petition to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The CAC called my attention to the request. I told them to write a letter so that we can see the petition and what the issues are. This was when we now knew that there was a secret trial going on at a Lagos High Court, Igbosere without our attention being called to it.”

PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Daughter of Mr. President, Halima Buhari Sheriff; and Governor’s wife, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, during the health screening initiative by the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, at the Owu African Church Central School, Akin Olugbade in Abeokuta...yesterday

Court to Hear Metuh’s Request for Judge to Disqualify Self April 8 Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed April 8 for hearing of the application filed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, asking Justice Okon Abang to disqualify himself on the grounds that he would not get justice from him.

Yesterday, Justice Abang adjourned the case but warned that it would be the last time he would grant adjournment on the case.

According to him, Section 396 (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act stipulates that hearing of cases should be on a daily basis.

Metuh had filed an application dated March 22, asking the judge

to disqualify himself and return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

The second application also asked the court to stay proceedings pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Metuh, through one of his counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), had on March 16 petitioned the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, urging him to transfer the case to another judge for fear that he might not get justice from Justice Abang’s court.

Metuh was expected to open defence but the issue of the petition and the fact that his lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, (SAN), was not on ground, made the court to adjourn the case till Wednesday.

The counsel, including Ikpeazu, were however in court on

Wednesday but were told by the court registrars that all the cases scheduled for the day had been adjourned till yesterday as the judges were attending a seminar.

At the resumed hearing, Etiaba asked the court for an adjournment to enable the lead counsel, Ikpeazu, recover fully.

He further told the court that Ikpeazu was in court on Wednesday with heavy and black eyes resulting from the surgery he underwent at the First Eye Clinic in Abuja.

Etiaba added that the issue of the surgery had previously been discussed with the prosecutor.

According to him, Ikpeazu had to remove his sunshade for a full view of the state of his two eyes by the prosecution.

“This court did not sit yesterday

(Wednesday) and pursuant to evaluation of the eyes, he was constrained to write a letter to the court on the reason he was unable to appear today (Thursday),” he said.

He also wrote that the other counsel in the matter would be proceeding on Easter vacation.

“This morning, I received calls directing me to proceed to attend this court session as a matter of respect for the court, knowing that the letter he wrote was not received by the court,” Etiaba said.

But Abang stated that if there be any need to apply for adjournment, the person has to come to court and table same when the case is called. The judge said he would not receive such letter of adjournment in chambers.

52

FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

EASTER MESSAGES

Saraki, Mimiko, Bello Call for Prayers at Easter Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his Kogi State counterpart, Alhaji Yahay Bello, yesterday called on Christians across the country to employ this period of Easter celebration to pray for sustainable peace and economic growth of the country.

Saraki in his goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by Christians across the world, said it was imperative for all Nigerians to borrow a leaf from the humility and sacrifice exhibited by Jesus Christ when He yielded His life for the redemption of mankind.

He commended the Christian community for their fast and prayers during the Lenten season and urged them to sustain the tempo for the continued peace and unity of the nation.

He reminded the Christian faithful of the need to remain steadfast and always promote religious harmony between and among various groups as a panacea for developing the nation.

He also commended the federal government for the significant increase in the level of security across the country in recent times, and called on the security agencies to redouble their efforts to once again ensure a smooth and hitch-free Easter celebration.

On his part, Mimiko called for sustained prayers, sacrifice, cooperation and understanding from the governed to enable government serve them better even in the face of the current economic reality.

Congratulating Christians as they celebrate, Mimiko, in his Easter message, said the occasion should not be seen as a period of winning and dinning alone, adding that it is a period for sober reflection, he thus challenged the people to be more prayerful than ever before and implored them to assist the government more by making more sacrifice.

The governor said: “Jesus’ life exemplified sacrifice.

He lived and died for humanity. No sacrifice could be greater than this. As we celebrate Easter, we can engage in winning and drinking. But it is also a period to emulate Christ and reflect on what sacrifice we can make to move the society forward.”

Calling for more sacrifice, Mimiko pleaded with the people of the state to ensure up to date payment of their taxes to enable government continue to make available for them the dividend of democracy.

Insisting that the success of government depend largely on the cooperation and understanding of the people, Mimiko said no doubt the times demand prayers, understanding and maximum cooperation of the people to enable the state maintain its enviable position in the country.

The governor noted that his administration has worked tirelessly to transform Ondo State since he assumed office, adding that he wouldn’t have been able to achieve the unprecedented achievements recorded by his government without the cooperation of the people of the state.

For Bello, he charged the people of Kogi State to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice which is the hallmark of the Easter celebration, saying the season calls for sober reflection, sacrifice, tolerance and unity. The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, called on the people of the state to key into unity and togetherness of the state, urging them to emulate the selfless spirit of Jesus Christ. “In this season, I call on all Kogites to live a life of love, sacrifice and brotherliness. We are stronger in unity and perseverance as we must all be prepared to contribute our quota to the development of the state.

“We are at a critical juncture where heroes and heroines must emerge to lead our state forward. The season must glue us to our destiny as a people and focus our minds to the need to love one another, which was the impetus that led Jesus to die for the salvation of man”.

Governor Bello urged Christians around the world to promote love and unity, saying the world must be united against every form of hate, strife and terrorism.

He charged the church to emulate the sacrifice of Christ by contributing to the upliftment of the poor and the less privileged in the society.”

He called on the citizens of the state to keep supporting his administration as he is poised to deliver on his promise of leading the state through a new direction to a new destination of opportunities and prosperity.

IG Orders AIGs, CPs to Beef up Security

As part of efforts to ensure a peaceful and incident-free Easter celebration, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and state command

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

L-R: Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; receiving the 21st anniversary flag of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Faith Society (NASFAT), from the National President, Alhaji Kamil Yomi Bolarinwa, when the group visited the Senate President in Abuja...yesterday. With them is the Chairman, Planning Committee of the 21st anniversary celebration, Mr. Remi Bello Commissioners of Police to take all necessary measures in ensuring the provision of adequate security for worshippers, travellers, picnickers and all citizens across the country before, during and after the festive season.

In a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, Assistant Commissioner of Police, command Commissioners of Police are to personally ensure that all key and vulnerable points within their jurisdictions, including places of worship, recreation centres, motor parks, highways, financial institutions and all places of public resort are adequately and effectively protected.

While urging Nigerians to emulate and adopt the selfless lifestyle of Christ, the IG enjoined them to be open-minded to issues of forgiveness, peace and harmonious co-existence, in consonance with the principles and teachings of Christ, especially, in this trying moment in the history of our dear country.

He equally urged worshippers at church services to make conscious effort to know fellow members of their congregation, as this would make it easier to know who is a stranger in their midst.

He reiterated the need for worshippers to be security-conscious and report all suspicious characters and observations to the police.

The IG advised operators of motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres to work very closely with the police and other security agencies as they strive to strengthen general security in their respective facilities.

While commending Nigerians for their patience, understanding and cooperation with the police in the fight against crime and criminality, Arase enjoined them to continue to support the force with useful information that will effectively assist the police in tracking down undesirable elements in the society.

He sued for peace from all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, political and socio-cultural leaning.

FCT Minister Urges Residents to Promote Unity, Harmony

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been called upon to promote greater unity and harmony irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made the call in a goodwill message to the entire Christian community in the territory on the occasion of the Easter celebration.

In the message signed by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Abubakar Sani, Bello, observed that the Easter celebration was an opportunity for Christians and indeed all citizens of the FCT to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and the need to follow his teachings of peace and harmony.

The minister who urged them to use the Easter period to appreciate God for His abundant blessings,

charged all to use the occasion to intensify prayers and devotion for God’s blessings to the efforts by the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari to better the life of Nigerians.

While wishing all Nigerians in the FCT a happy Easter celebration, the minister further urged the Christian faithful to use the period to reach out to followers of other religions in order to engender love and harmonious co-existence.

Time for Sober Reflection, Says Glo Telecommunications operator, Globacom, has called on all Nigerians to remain steadfast and hopeful as the Christian faithful celebrate Easter.

In a goodwill message released in Lagos yesterday, the company said the Easter celebration which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a time for sober reflection, especially at this period of socio-economic challenges.

Globacom underscored the need to be faithful during affliction, and the power of the gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the midst of adversity which is only transient. The company particularly encouraged Christians to remain faithful and live a life of humility and sacrifice as shown by Jesus Christ at his crucifixion and have love for one another.

“The Easter period reminds us to further reflect deeply on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross, and engage in acts of sacrifice, peace and love for one another during this season and beyond,” it stated. The statement called for prayers for Nigeria to overcome its current economic, political and security challenges. “We should also use this season to pray for peace in every region currently facing insecurity and for the Almighty to help our leaders to steer the country to the path of economic growth,” the statement added.

Greed, Hatred, Wickedness Continue to Permeate Nigeria, Says CAN As the world celebrates Good Friday today, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday said excessive greed, hatred and wickedness have continued to permeate every area of the Nigerian society.

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a goodwill message to Christians and Nigerians, explained that Christians must continue to keep faith in love and self-sacrifice for the growth of the country.

Oritsejafor said: “As we join other faithful across the world to commemorate the crucifixion of our Lord

Jesus Christ on Good Friday, I enjoin all Christians to reflect on the lessons of the solemn celebration especially as it affects their lives.

“At a time when Christians in parts of the country are plagued by insurgency, I call for steadfastness and unwavering faith in God, the maker of all things.

“This solemn ceremony marks Christians’ commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday and as such all activities of the church must be seen to reflect the virtues of sacrifice and love, which Christ himself exhibited through his death on the cross,” he said.

According to the CAN president, “Evil won’t have the last word, but love, mercy and pardon will. Nigerians must always be guided by this lesson. The message of the cross must be truly put into practice in all its ramifications.

“As Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for mankind on Good Friday, Nigerians must also learn to sacrifice for their fellow being in any way they can. Sacrifices many not necessarily one exemplified by dying for others, it could be demonstrated by giving alms, helping the needy and carrying out other works of mercy in the society.

“So as you reflect on this solemn celebration, may we all be reminded of God’s plan for mankind which was fulfilled by Christ against all odds. The message of sacrifice, love and humility which is the focus of Good Friday must permeate through our society especially as greed, hatred and wickedness continue to dominate the affairs of some in our midst.”

The CAN president urged Nigerians to “reject those promoting the message of division and violence in our society, for good will ultimately prevail over evil. This should be the watch word for all Christians in this season of sacrifice and forgiveness.”

Meanwhile, the national leadership of CAN has expressed shock and disbelief on the kidnap of church leader and the current head of the TEKAN/ ECWA Church group, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Dziggau, alongside his deputy, Rev. Iliya Anto and Rev. Yakubu Dzarma (Rtd).

According to CAN’s Secretary General, Rev. Musa Asake, “They were kidnapped in the afternoon on March 21, 2016 along the Kaduna-Abuja Road while going to supervise the construction of an Easter ground in preparation for the Easter retreat for his church.

“The news of the abduction of Dziggau and his colleagues obviously came to us as a rude shock knowing that as a minister of the gospel who has serve humanity in various capacities preaching the message of love, peace and service to God and humanity must be a thing of shock and surprise why he should be a target of the kidnappers’ weapon.

Asake explained that “the national leadership of CAN and the entire body of Christ, we hereby register our grief over this very sad development and also register our solidarity with the families of our abducted brothers. Our hearts go out in prayer for their quick and unconditional release by their captors unharmed.

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MONDAY MARCH 21, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PERSPECTIVE

The Smell of Trivia Garba Shehu

ideology of those willing and able to help our country to defeat terror.

A good number of the reactions to Nigerians were simply united with President Muhammadu Buhari’s their President in a determination announcement that Nigeria has to bring Boko Haram to an end joined the Islamic Coalition Against so that our brothers and sisters Terrorism, show quite clearly that in the northeast can resume their many Nigerians do not fully normal lives.

It is on account of these people understand the president’s motives for this decision. With the rise of and their desperate situation, and the Boko Haram terrorist group of on the basis of national interest the past few years, Nigeria faces a only, that President Buhari accepted threat such as no other in its entire the offer, with both hands, of history and existence. Desperate assistance from G7 countries times require desperate, unusual, at the commencement of his administration. Religion was not measures.

The girls in Gwoza who were a consideration then. It is also not raped by militants do not care a consideration now that he has where the help comes from as far made the decision to embrace help as they will eventually be able to in fighting terror from the Middlemove about freely without fear East. The safety of Nigerians and of being kidnapped and used as the total annihilation of Boko sex slaves. The mothers in Bama Haram is of more importance whose sons were slaughtered than the unfounded worries of before their eyes do not worry Nigeria’s so-called Islamisation.

Those efforts by President whether Boko Haram is defeated by a Christian or Muslim coalition. Buhari led to several gains, The hundreds of thousands in including the technical defeat IDP camps are concerned simply of Boko Haram by the end of about when they can safely return 2015 as he had promised during to their homes and resume their the election campaigns. Once normal lives. For these ones most again, our Commander-in-Chief hard hit by the Boko Haram has sought help where he believes terrorists, whether the help they our country will benefit and the so desperately need comes from religious affiliation or ideology of the United States of America or our benefactors should not be the from Saudi Arabia does not matter. paramount consideration. It is One of the main thrusts of simply one of those cases where President Buhari’s campaign was the enemies of our enemy has the war on terror. He promised become our enemy. The enemy that his administration would bring of terrorists all around the globe an end to Boko Haram, and set is our friend.

The fears that our country’s about doing just that as soon as he was elected, travelling to different membership in this coalition countries and meeting with various will draw Islamic State, ISIS’s heads of state to discuss the way attention to Nigeria are too late. forward on the issue. At the time, As the president has repeatedly no Nigerian worried that President maintained, it is Boko Haram Buhari was seeking help from the that proclaimed allegiance to West. No one worried about the ISIS, thereby dragging us into

Buhari the global terrorism network.

By pledging allegiance to ISIS, the terrorists already drew the international terror group’s attention to this part of the world.

ISIS proudly and openly accepted this proclamation of allegiance.

They have their sights set on us already.

Terrorism is heathen and knows no religion. It can only be defeated by the unity of entire humanity.

Criticism of the membership of this alliance only shows our disarray and a lack of unity

against terror and will only make the terrorists happy. The fears of so-called Islamisation are strange and unfounded, and meant only to feed the fear and suspicions existing among Nigerians.

With a precedent as shown above, it will be unkind and uncharitable of anyone to accuse President Buhari of executing deception. In an unusually harsh commentary, this country's most respected newspaper The Punch on Sunday succeeded in exactly doing this. Read this:

"The presidency’s doublespeak on Nigeria’s membership of the Saudi Arabia-led anti-terror Islamic coalition is unfortunate in the extreme. In the beginning, an aide to the president on media and publicity issued a statement to the effect that the president had declined Nigeria’s membership of the coalition and therefore did not attend its meeting while on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia.

But barely two weeks after, President Muhammadu Buhari himself confirmed Nigeria’s membership of the coalition in an interview with a foreign television station, Al- Jazeera.

Buhari, who never tabled such a sensitive matter before the National Assembly, said there are terrorists in Nigeria who have claimed to be Muslims. So, according to the him, “We are part of it because we have got terrorists in Nigeria who claim that they are Islamic.

So, if there is an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it because we are casualties of Islamic terrorism.

"This explanation is simplistic, to say the least and does not do any good to expected political astuteness of President Buhari.

In the main, membership of any such coalition is unacceptable for it offends the sensibilities of Nigerians in their diverse inclinations and should be reversed."

Sensibilities offended? Can anyone face the more than two million unhoused, mostly Muslim refugees displaced by terror now being fed, almost exclusively

by Christian charities that it is offensive to them, or that it matters to them who, between Christians and Muslims is supplying the next meal? The one who raised a tent over their heads?

Let me say that the presidential aide in question is no other than myself. Although I write statements emanating from the Presidency, I don't choose what headline writers will use to caption those stories.

To that extent, it is untrue of anyone to say the President had ab initio rejected a membership of the coalition against terror.

What the President said, to paraphrase him, was that "we may not be with you, but we will support you in every possible way we can." This does not presuppose rejection. Even if it was one, nothing says that a government cannot move or adjust its position based on new, superior facts as we individuals do in our daily lives.

That some of the criticism against the President is coming from opposition Senators is even more absurd, showing a lack of judgement and discriminationor even worse.

It holds up a mirror to the PDP cluelessness and total absence of strategy to defeat Boko Haram terrorism. The party's projection of itself as better than the APC in this regard is hobbled by their own record of indecision and serial abdication on Chibok girls as disclosed by Ambassador Packock and greed, corruption and a general incapacity to drive the anti terror war.

A set of politicians who failed to confront or attack terrorism while in power have no right to challenge President Buhari's hounding of them. To global acclaim. Trivia smells. There is a need for a new fragrance in the air.

• Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

NEWSEXTRA God’s Children Great Talent Season 6 Enters Quarter Finals Port-Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos recently played hosts to the sixth edition of Africa’sleading gospel talent hunt programme – God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT).

GCGT is a social development project of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Apapa family, which has distinguished itself this year by extending to other cities in Nigeria.

The gospel talent hunt is focused on discovering, grooming and producing young talents and stars in various fields of artistic expressions across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America.

This year, Season 6 opened its doors beyond the Apapa family to

children and young people aged five to 20 years with auditions recently held in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. Over 2,000 contestants registered online for free at www.gcgt.org for a chance to participate in the competition.

In each of these cities, leading gospel performing and non-performing Artistes judged performances in order to pass them to the next level.

Dayo Benjamin-Laniyun, Wale Rubber, Enitan Adaba, Zuriel Oduwole, and many others guided the competition to its next stage. Freke, the dynamic gospel artiste and Ayo Thompson Cool TV presenter both anchored the auditions

Rivers Election: Groups Caution Vlisco Rewards Loyal Buhari against State of Emergency Consumers in Style

Zacheaus Somorin

of several unemployed youths which constitute about 60 President Muhammadu Buhari per cent of the population; has been cautioned against saying ‘apart from the fact declaring a state of emergency that if a state of emergency is declared, the only thing that in Rivers State.

In a joint press statement made would change is the dismantling available to THISDAY yesterday, of the political structures - like Vote for Service Initiative, the removal of the governor and Concerned Human Rights, members of the state assembly’ Arewa Youth Alliance stated that and that such would not improve as a fall-out of the recent re-run on the security situation in the elections in Rivers State, which state, but worsen it.

“Politically, it would be suicidal were characterised by violence, some state actors have been for the present government to calling on Buhari to declare a embark on such a move while state of emergency in Rivers the nation is still battling with the Boko Haram insurgency.

State. “‘We, however, call for We don’t know how the caution and circumspection in government would justify such this regard, as this issue is not as a move while over 500 Agatu simplistic as that. We urge Mr. people in Benue State have been President not succumb to such massacred without any state of a self-serving calls as declaring emergency being declared,” the a state of emergency in that statement added.

The organisation therefore state is an open invitation for the return of militancy,’’ the stated that while they appreciate the deployment of statement said.

While further cautioning the soldiers in the state during the federal government, the groups’ election, ostensibly to maintain Coordinators, Samuel Adeola peace, however, some of them Ilori, Declan Ihiekiare, Abubakar went beyond their brief in Mohammed Kudu, pointed out what seemed to be a targeted that the South-south region was arrest and clampdown on some highly militarised, with several opposition politicians during illegal arms in the possession the election.

As part of the activities designed to celebrate the 2016 annual International Women’s Day (IWD), leading fabric designers and makers, Vlisco Nigeria has rewarded its loyal consumers with gift items and prizes at Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.

Vlisco Group has been integrated into the African fashion world for over a century by continually creating, inspiring and connecting with Africa’s creative spirit and talent.

Over the years, the company has built an integrated business model and a sustainable relationship with clients and consumers.

The relationship has grown over time, entwining the brand into the cultural diversity of West and Central Africa, which allows them to be at the forefront of promoting

African print design and fashion both in Africa and the world at large.

“This reward is part of Vlisco drive to delight consumers and appreciate them for their continuous support and patronage of the Vlisco brand here in Ikeja City Mall. As a company that cares, Vlisco is dedicated to rewarding consumers with greater value, and we will continue to do this with attractive rewards and campaigns throughout the year. As the world’s leading fabric maker, we believe in giving back to our society, and this reward is certainly a true reflection of our principles.

“We came here to thank our customers and encourage them to continue in the patronage of our brands and we promise that loyal and commitment consumers would have the opportunity to travel on the Dana Airline,” a statement from the company said.

GKS Holds Lay Members’ Conference The 40th annual Lay Members Conference of God’s Kingdom Society, The Church of the Living God, will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Salem City headquarters of the church in Warri, Delta State. The

conference which will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the GKS Cathedral in Warri on Sunday, March 27, has as its theme” ‘Unity: An Effective Tool for Development and Growth in New Jerusalem.’

54

FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER

Captain Mikel Leads Eagles in Battle against Pharaohs Olawale Ajimotokan in Kaduna

protested that he was side tracked for another player when he was still active with the national team.

Austin Eguavoen first capped Mikel against Libya in a friendly match 2006, while Musa made his first appearance against Madagascar in Calabar in August 2010 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Siasia described Mikel as the Eagles best player, saying that for him to still be playing for Chelsea for six years is not a joke. He said Mikel is Nigeria’s biggest brand now and deserves to be respected.

He said Musa will be the next person in the line as vice captain in respect of the principle of hierarchy of seniority in the team.

Chelsea midfielder, Mikel, however, praised Musa for being a wonderful professional, saying it takes a man to react in the way he did.

“I commend him (Musa) a lot.

I know what is expected of me as a leader. I won’t let the team down as I promise to lead to the best of my ability and guide them to greater height. The Egypt game that will be difficult and it is a game we know we can win because of the quality of players in our team, ‘’ Mikel said.

Siasia doused concern about the depleted central defence following the injuries to Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruoh. He said he has cover up defenders that can

John Mikel Obi emerged as the captain of the national team following the sensational demotion of Ahmed Musa to the vice-captainship position 24 hours before Nigeria takes on Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna today.

At a pre-match media parley at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, yesterday, Musa, the CSKA Moscow striker, insisted the decision to step down for Mikel was at his instance to pave way for the most senior player to become the captain.

Musa said he conceded the band as a way of righting the error made by Sunday Oliseh, who ignored the seniority order before appointing a junior player as the captain.

“I stepped down because there is someone ahead of me and is normal to follow that order. Mikel is my senior and a big brother.

So, Mikel is the captain, not me,” Musa said in a measured cadence.

THISDAY however, scooped from team sources that Musa was downgraded to a lesser role because Siasia said he could not be guaranteed a starting a role in an attacking role where there is intense competition.

The captain’s issue was a subject of heated dispute between Oliseh and Vincent Enyeama, who

Onazi to Serve out Threematch Ban in Kaduna Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi will serve out his three-match ban by missing today’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Onazi was sent off against Chad in an AFCON qualifier in June and has so far missed two official matches, the two legs of the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Swaziland last year.

The energetic midfielder will be available for selection for the reverse fixture on Tuesday in Alexandria.

Officials have also disclosed the Eagles will round up their preparations for Friday’s showdown against Egypt with an hour’s training at the match venue.

The Eagles will train from 3.30pm local time.

Egypt, who jetted into Nigeria Wednesday night, will have a first feel of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium pitch from 5pm. Friday’s match will kick off 5pm local time.

turn the match around.

Similarly, he said that medical team would assess the availability of winger Aaron Samuel, who took a knock during training on Wednesday evening.

He also said the searing Kaduna heat would not affect the Eagles

who have trying to adapt to the weather.

“The boys have been trying to get used to the weather. We will make sure we play smart in the heat; we don’t have to run when it is unnecessary; we should also play smart; we must keep

possession of the ball and have to move forward as quick as we can,” Siasia said.

Egypt, who arrived in Kaduna on Wednesday night aboard a charter flight, trained at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium

yesterday evening, moment after Eagles had their own workout at the same venue.

The players who are lodged at At Pyramid Hotel are however shielded from the media and have been issued order not to grant interview.

Tributes Pour in as Johan Cruyff Dies of Cancer

Onazi ... to return to action TODAY Swaziland v Zimbabwe Gabon v S’Leone Nigeria v Egypt Cote d’ Ivoire v Sudan Mauritania v Gambia Tunisia v Togo Guinea v Malawi Mali v E’ Guinea Algeria v Ethiopia GROUP G STANDING

GROUP G STANDING Pos

Mikel (centre) is new Super Eagles captain

Team

P

W D

L

GF

GA GD

Pts

Egypt

2

2

0

0

8

1

7

6

Nigeria

2

1

1

0

2

0

2

4

Tanzania

3

1

1

1

1

3

-2

4

Chad

3

0

0

3

1

8

-7

0

Netherlands footballing great Johan Cruyff has died of cancer aged 68 years.

Cruyff, who made his name as a forward with Ajax and Barcelona, was European footballer of the year three times.

He won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax from 1971, coached Barcelona to their first European Cup triumph in 1992 and helped the Dutch reach the 1974 World Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to West Germany.

The Dutch FA said: “Words can hardly be found for this huge loss.”

It added that Cruyff was the “greatest Dutch footballer of all time and one of the world’s best ever” and wished everyone “a lot of strength in this difficult time”.

Cruyff scored 293 goals in 521 appearances for five different clubs - including 204 in 276 games while winning 18 trophies in two spells for Ajax.

He first showcased the ‘Cruyff turn’ at the 1974 World Cup in a match against Sweden and scored 33 goals in 48 internationals.

With his precision passes, speed, technique and goalscoring ability, Cruyff set new standards as a player.

He helped end an era of dour defensive football, inspiring the Dutch team in their ‘Total Football’ offensive that took them to the 1974

Cruyff…succumbs to cancer at last World Cup final.

Cruyff had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 and gave up smoking immediately after the operation, swapping cigarettes for lollipops.

He even featured in a Catalan health department advert, warning the public: “Football has given me everything in life, tobacco almost took it all away.”

Barcelona won four consecutive La Liga titles - 1991 to 1994 - under Cruyff, who remained influential at the club after his sacking in 1995.

Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2015 but in February said he was “2-0 up” against his illness and was “sure I will end up winning”.

He “died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a

hard-fought battle with cancer”, according to a statement on his official website.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands said the country had “lost a unique and brilliant sportsman”.

He added: “He was a Dutch icon.

He belonged to us all.”

Holland’s friendly against France on Friday will stop after 14 minutes for a minute-long silence in tribute to Cruyff, who wore number 14 as a player.

Barcelona FC expressed their “pain and sorrow” at the news of his death, adding: “We will always love you, Johan. Rest in peace.”

Pele, regarded by many as the best footballer of all time, said Cruyff “was a great player and coach” who leaves a “very important legacy”.

Bayern Munich’s Manchester

City-bound manager Pep Guardiola, who played under Cruyff at Barca, said his former manager “painted the chapel and Barcelona coaches since have merely restored or improved it”.

David Beckham called Cruyff a “true hero” who was “not just one of the best footballers in the history of the game but also one of the greatest men and nicest person you could meet”. Gary Lineker, an ex-Barcelona player, added: “Football has lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history.”

BBC football commentator Barry Davies said Cruyff deserved to be in the top three footballers of all time, along with Brazil’s Pele and Argentina’s Diego Maradona.

“He was so exciting to watch, so full of ideas,” Davies told BBC Radio 5 live.

Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany called Cruyff “true football royalty”, adding: “I don’t think anyone has ever influenced the game as much as he has done. Football will miss him, but we will never forget.”

World Cup-winning Germany captain Lothar Matthaus said Cruyff was “a great man who transformed football”, while Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal called his fellow Dutchman “one of the true legends of the game”.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2016

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MISSILE Oshiomhole to Emefiele’s Detractors “If a governor is doing fine, his hiring and firing is not a matter that should be discussed by faceless Facebook manipulators, and by the time you unmask the people behind it, you will discover that they are palm wine drinkers” – Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole condemning the calls for CBN Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele’s sack.

DAVIDEDEVBIE Stabilizing the Naira GUEST COLUMNIST

O

ur economy did well in the last decade with the average GDP growth rate between 2005 and 2015 reaching an impressive 5.9%.

Notwithstanding, the economy is still in the doldrums as it struggles to cope with a myriad of economic challenges. Lately, global oil revenues have declined due to a fall in prices, which plunged below US$30 per barrel in early 2016 for the first time in 12 years. As the petroleum sector contributes approximately 11% to our economy and oil exports currently constitutes about 90% of our export revenues, the effect on our nation’s income has been devastating. Revenue available to governments at all levels has plummeted with most state and local governments unable to pay the salaries of public servants at the moment.

As a result of the decline in international oil prices and the attendant effect on our foreign exchange earnings, the pressure to devalue our currency is mounting daily.

However, we are not alone in this quagmire. On March 14, 2016, the Central Bank of Egypt further devalued the Egyptian Pound by 13 per cent against the US Dollar. This announcement followed similar devaluations of national currencies by Russia, Venezuela, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in response to the severe economic pressures that these countries were facing. Several other Gulf States are also experiencing intense pressure on their currencies. However unlike Nigeria, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain have significant foreign reserves which may help them stabilize their currencies without undue strain in the short term.

According to CBN, our external reserves have fallen to about $27.88 billion as at March 2016. This represents approximately a 65% decline in reserves from about $42.8 billion in 2014. At the moment our foreign reserves is equivalent to just five months import cover.

A key reason for the depletion of our external reserves over time is the high rate of domestic demand for foreign exchange which has steadily risen over the years, severely straining the capacity of the Central Bank to meet it. Domestic demand is fueled by importation of petroleum products; auction sales to BDCs, banks and other government agencies to fund foreign exchange requests for imports, foreign school fees, personal travel allowance (PTA), business travel allowance (BTA), medical tourism and international card transactions; Joint venture cash call payments; Public sector uses and infrastructural development.

As demand exceeds the supply of foreign exchange and the CBN continues to maintain a narrow fixed exchange rate band for the Naira to US dollar of between N197-N199, it has had to use its external reserves to meet the excess demand and defend the value of the naira. Suffice to note here that several countries have either experimented with fixed rate regimes or have tried at one time or the other to exert artificial influence over the exchange rates of their national currencies and failed. Japan and Switzerland are classic examples.

These failures are also a clear indication that adjusting monetary policy only without corresponding action on fiscal policy is unlikely to produce the desired effect of exchange rate stabilization. Indeed, fiscal policy must be adjusted to shift the fundamentals of the economy in the intended direction.

The Central Bank announced a number of measures in June 2015 in a bid to introduce stability in the nation’s currency in response to the effects of dwindling foreign exchange earnings. Several administrative controls were put in place. One of these was the removal of 41 imported items from the list of commodities for which foreign exchange could be obtained from the CBN for the purpose of importation. February 2015 saw the stoppage of foreign exchange sales to BDCs by the apex bank and the closure of the Wholesale and Retail Dutch Auction System (WDAS and RDAS) windows in a bid to curtail arbitraging or the

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele so-called round tripping and speculative activity. These measures have failed spectacularly as the excess demand has poured into the parallel market, widening the exchange rate differential by as much as 100% at some point and thus expanding the incentive for arbitraging.

Many experts believe that the Naira should be devalued while others argue that the time has come for the CBN to abandon the fixed rate currency regime and allow the Naira to find its equilibrium levels which is believed will be somewhere between N250 to N260 as policy coherence replaces current uncertainties and enables the return of private sector foreign exchange, foreign direct investment and portfolio inflows to the official market. However, President Buhari has clearly stated that this is not an option for his APC government with its “change” mantra.

I sympathize with the CBN Governor and the President because they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. While the current official exchange rate is largely artificial does not reflect economic realities and the true value of the Naira, a sudden devaluation in the short term is likely to lead to even higher inflation, greater unemployment, more hardship for Nigerians and a significant risk of political unrest. The opposition would argue that this is not the sort of ‘change’ Nigerians voted for. In any case, devaluation is only a temporary measure which does not fix the fundamentals. There are several fundamental factors that have contributed to the downward pressure on the Naira, and are still exerting a massive influence on the currency. Nigeria is undeniably an import-dependent economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s import bill in 1984 was N167.88m, but in just the 2nd quarter of 2015, Nigeria spent N1.493trillion on imports. CNBC Africa also reported in an opinion write-up on its website on January 20, 2016, that Nigeria spends N1.3trillion importing food annually! Nigeria’s food import bill is said to be rising at a rate of 11% annually, according to data on the website of Doreo Partners. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that the Federal Government spent about N1.82 trillion on importation of petroleum products between January and September 2015. Petroleum product imports accounts for 45% of the consumption of foreign exchange earned by the CBN, according to a recent interview granted to Silverbird TV by Comrade Peter Esele, former President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Some experts believe that the true figure is much higher. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Senator Binta Masi, stated in January during the commissioning of a project at the Federal University Lafia that Nigeria spends over $2 billion annually on foreign education.

It is obvious that as long as Nigeria continues to spend colossal amounts of its foreign exchange earnings

on consumption of foreign goods and services, there will always be a massive excess demand for foreign exchange to settle these transactions. Therefore, while devaluation of the Naira may eventually reduce the pressures on the external reserves held by the CBN and reduce round tripping by narrowing the exchange rate arbitrage gap; it will not solve the demand issue in the long term.

The CBN should work hard to encourage harmonization of its monetary policy with the Federal Government’s fiscal policies to encourage a shift in the nation’s status as an importing nation to that of an export-oriented country.

No economy can operate on independent monetary or fiscal policies alone. There has to be a synergy of both monetary and fiscal policies for the Nigerian economic fundamentals to shift towards true, inclusive growth. For effective harmonization, there should be a more cordial relationship between the CBN and Ministry of Finance.

The relationship should emphasize information sharing, cooperation and coordination of policies and more crucially, eliminate uncertainties that adversely affect investments.

With regard to monetary policy, economists are aware, there is an intricate link between interest rate, exchange rate and the general price level and the challenge is to establish optimum levels of these consistent with internal and external balances. Policy choices must be made as the three variables cannot be controlled simultaneously as it appears that CBN is attempting to do at the moment.

There are several broad measures the CBN and the FGN can put in place immediately to stabilize the currency, boost the economy and diversify the economy. Firstly, in the short term, the CBN would have to conserve the country’s foreign reserves by allowing the Naira to find its appropriate value through a free or at least managed float. Though crude oil prices have recovered somewhat to just above $40 a barrel, this does appear to be a temporary situation. The fundamentals in the crude oil global market have changed for the foreseeable future. The US has ended its 40-year moratorium on crude oil exports and is now pushing 9 million barrels of oil into the market daily, thanks to its shale exploration technology. Iran is also back into the market and understandably, has distanced itself from the production cuts now being pursued by OPEC. Saudi Arabia has a history of flouting OPEC production cuts and cannot be relied on to cooperate fully with the new initiative to reign in production anyway.

On the domestic front, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft are still challenges that are preventing Nigeria from achieving its full production quota of 2.4million barrels per day. Nigeria is a long way from earning as much as it did from crude in 2011/2012 when the war in Libya was raging. Whatever meagre margins are being added to the foreign reserves cannot be expended trying to stabilize the local currency. Russia spent $76bn and €5bn trying to stabilize the Rouble in 2014 and was largely unsuccessful.

Nigeria has no such luxury and therefore decisive action has to be taken now to allow the Naira to float or at least be devalued.

Devaluing the Naira now will automatically close the current ridiculous rate differential between the official exchange and the parallel market and eventually create a uniform exchange rate for the country. It will however have the negative effect of driving up inflation in the short term since it will cost more to purchase foreign goods and raw materials. However, this will also begin to spur some level of readjustment in terms of priorities of what we consume as a nation. While Nigeria will still have to import petroleum products and raw materials for certain industries for some time to come, there are other goods which are being produced in Nigeria and which can be used as import substitutes.

Secondly, we should no longer pay lip service to import substitution. This will however take time and the reality

is that there are no short cuts. However, there has to be a conscious move to curtail the importation of items that are presently draining the country’s foreign exchange by promoting the local production of these items. The experience with the import bans on stockfish and wheat have shown that the way to go about curtailing imports is not outright prohibition, but more towards implementing monetary and fiscal policies which will enhance the capacity of local firms to produce these items in quantities that will serve local demand. Higher tariffs may have to be imposed on imports of certain items which will make them more expensive, potentially boost government revenue and provide a phased approach in the transition from the imported varieties of these items to local substitutes of equal or better quality.

Thirdly, a critical look needs to be taken on the importation of petroleum products. Presently, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is constructing a $16bn petroleum refinery in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos State which, when completed, will have the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and make Nigeria self-sufficient in terms of production of petroleum products. The Central Bank of Nigeria has already promised to ensure that the project receives foreign exchange needed to import critical components at the official exchange rate. Though laudable, the CBN needs to expand this policy to encourage other local manufacturers of products presently being imported into Nigeria and to export-oriented industries with large employment absorptive capacities. The policy of providing forex at the official exchange rate to manufacturers who are willing to step up local production of items presently being imported while seemingly attractive, would be unnecessary when there is a convergence of official and unofficial rates. This would also eliminate a discretionary policy which if unchecked, could provide some with unfair advantages.

Finally, diversification of Nigeria’s economy is now a necessity. Diversification should not be viewed in terms of only expansion into mining and sale of solid minerals.

The same collapse in oil prices hit the commodity markets even harder. Diversification should therefore be directed towards manufacturing, agriculture, technology and human capital development. Nigeria could look to a country like Norway in this regard. Both countries are oil producing countries and both have vibrant agricultural potentials. The difference is that while Norway saves almost all its crude oil earnings in a sovereign wealth fund and sells its agricultural, fishing and manufactured products to the world, Nigeria has been spending all its crude oil earnings on imports and has allowed its manufacturing and agricultural sectors to wilt. Today, Norway boasts of foreign reserves of just under $58bn and a sovereign wealth fund worth $882bn.

CNBC has identified Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global as the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

It is now painfully obvious that the PDP-led government of the last six years or so failed to plan for the long term development of the Nigerian economy, or at least failed to faithfully implement whatever plans it had. On the other hand, it is equally obvious that despite the rhetoric during the political campaigns, the current APC Federal Government had no discernible, coherent economic development plan before coming into office and still does not appear to have one almost a year after winning the elections. Unless this cluelessness changes, some may argues that they are planning to fail.

The path to growth of our economy is going to be arduous and will take time and quite frankly, there are no real short cuts. We must all share the pain. Devaluation alone is not the solution to our economic challenges. What is required now is a well articulated, holistic economic development plan which will then need to be sold to Nigerians to justify the obvious sacrifices that they will have to make to achieve the progress we seek and inculcate a unity of purpose.

•Edevbie is the Commissioner for Finance Delta State

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