Friday 15th April 2016

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

NEWS

Nigeria’s New Start is in Danger of Derailing Nigeria’s journey from bankrupt, pariah state to Africa’s largest economy helped to fuel a surge in optimism about the continent over the past 15 years. Now there is a danger that its latest troubles will trigger a bout of despair. As one seasoned investor puts it: “Nigeria, with help from South Africa, is killing the African story.”

Part of that story was hyperbole — notably the broad-based nature of the continent’s revival. While there was a boom in services, investment flows and an expansion of the middle class, growth in many states was largely jobless, and underpinned by soaring world prices for commodity exports. This was especially true in Nigeria, which still depends on crude oil for more than 90 per cent of hard currency earnings and typically around two-thirds of state revenues.

Since the fall in oil prices, the cracks in Nigeria’s economy have quickly

VIEW FROM ABROAD reappeared. Starved of fuel, electricity and foreign exchange the economy is grinding to a halt. Businesses are laying off staff in droves.

In turn, confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari, elected a year ago on a wave of hope, is evaporating. There are no easy answers to the dilemmas his government faces. Many were in the making long before he won elections, promising to crush corruption, invest in infrastructure and create jobs.

The challenge is exemplified by the fuel crisis — the worst in living memory. Because state-owned refineries have been mismanaged for so long, Nigeria relies on imports of fuel. This is one reason Mr. Buhari is so reluctant to devalue the naira currency — fixed at an unrealistic level against the dollar, which does not fluctuate with Nigeria’s changing fortunes. The resulting

distortions have eroded the commercial case for importing fuel and created a gaping spread between parallel and official exchange rates that encourages the very corruption Mr. Buhari has vowed to stop.

Devaluation would be no panacea. It wousld hasten the depletion of foreign reserves and push up the pump price of petrol, unless government resumes paying subsidies it can ill-afford. The elimination of the subsidy might, on the other hand, trigger riots.

It is a tough choice and an even tougher political environment to make it in.

Nigerians are impatient for the gains they voted for and have little appetite for further pain. Mr. Buhari squandered an opportunity to act early on when he enjoyed the goodwill of the public. But the painful measures required to set Nigeria’s economy on a sustainable growth path become no more palatable the longer he delays.

Without investment, Nigeria will neither continue

growing nor diversify from its crippling dependency on oil. Yet no investor will put money into an economy at one exchange rate, knowing that to take it out again might require losing a third of its dollar value.

This week, China has offered help with a currency swap, and the promise of $6 billion in infrastructure loans. The terms of these deals are not yet clear. But they could go some way towards plugging an $11bn budget deficit. The danger is that, together with the modest recent rise in oil prices, China’s help will encourage Mr. Buhari to defer the tough decisions once again.

The president wants to eliminate the wasteful patronage on which venal elites have thrived and create an economy more dynamic in creating jobs for the masses. These are laudable long-term aims for which his government has yet to articulate a convincing strategy. In the

Buhari meantime, however, the short term is pressing. No economy can survive without fuel, electricity or foreign

exchange.

government delegation, senators and other senior officials in Chibok to pray with the people underscored the sensitivity of the presidency to the Chibok issue.

The Minister of Environment also announced the donation of a truckload of food items and clothing for the mothers of the missing girls. They were also given cash gifts.

The Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Abba Lawan thanked the federal government delegation and the state government, as well as the initiator of BBOG group, Ms. Bala Usman, who was present at the commemorative event.

Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Mr. Gordon Brown, in a statement yesterday expressed concern that the 219 Chibok girls were still desperate but powerless after 730 days in captivity.

In the statement sent exclusively to THISDAY, he said that the girls were still relying on a miracle, adding that they and their families deserved better.

“As we mark the second anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of 276 teenagers from a north eastern town in Nigeria, we have all done far too little to secure their release.

“The girls, all studying hard at school before their mass kidnapping, are now a symbol of our apparent weakness to protect young lives.

“The exact whereabouts of the schoolgirls - most of whom are believed to be between the ages of 16 and 18 - remains unclear.

In January 2016, the Nigerian military were reported to have freed 1,000 women held captive

by Boko Haram, yet none of them were girls from Chibok.

“It has been claimed that some were sold into slavery for N2,000 (about $10) each; others had been forcibly married to militants.

“It has also been reported that Boko Haram has secretly issued a massive ransom demand of N10 billion (around $50 million).

“There had previously been talks about a prisoner exchange overseen at one stage by the Red Cross - but that deal floundered after the Nigerian government said it did not hold any of the jailed commanders on a list given to them by Boko Haram,” he said.

He expressed sadness that any news about the girls of Chibok has now become rumour, hearsay

or theory and the harsh reality is that the group, most with dreams of university and careers, have vanished from the face of the earth as the world idly waits.

“Two years on and still their parents wake up each morning not knowing whether their daughters are alive or dead, married or single or violated as slaves. They surely deserve more than a forlorn hope.

“The treatment of the Chibok girls is among the worst of the horrors inflicted daily on children in conflict zones in a rising number of civil wars which are now at their highest level in 40 years.

“Not since the ending of World War II have so many - 30 million girls and boys - become displaced from their homes. Never outside the context of world wars have so many children - 10 million become refugees.

“There is no period in history when so many schools in so many countries been subject to so many barbaric terror attacks,” he added.

He was of the view, however, that the UN Security Council could intervene and encourage the Nigeria - with the support of the Americans, the French, the Chinese and the British - to undertake enhanced air surveillance and potential action on the ground to secure the sighting and release of the girls. “And we could and should do far more to protect children from attacks and abductions when in school.

“To show the kidnappers will be punished, the Security Council should adopt a resolution, under which the act of abductions of children will in future trigger an action making these terrorists ‘listed’ by the United Nations Secretary General so that full weight of international pressure is brought to bear.

“All Governments should now support a Declaration on Safe Schools, stating, as Norway has done, that attacks on schools, colleges and universities are crimes against humanity.

“And the international community should ensure the funds for guards, for cameras and simple gates to protect schools in conflict zones.

“This means we must work, at the World Humanitarian Summit, towards increasing education’s emergency aid funding, which is still only one per cent of the humanitarian budget,” he said.

•Culled from the Financial Times

BOKO HARAM OFFERING DIFFERENT GROUPS OF CHIBOK GIRLS FOR RANSOM stopped a few metres from the first pilot gate of the Villa by the police who expressed concerns about “the security implication of allowing the procession into the Villa”.

A mild argument immediately ensued as Ezekwesili engaged Grace Longe, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who led the operations, demanding to know why in spite of the peaceful nature of the procession, it was being denied access to the seat of government.

“The authority is not denying you access per se but we have to stop you here because of the security implication of having the march proceed into the Villa,” Longe, who is also the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Asokoro, said, arguing: “Since this place is within the precinct of the Villa, you might as well have your press conference here.”

Ezekwesili appealed to members of the BBOG group for calm but quickly seized the opportunity to rebuke the federal government. “It is totally inappropriate that this has happened. We are a civil movement; we mean no trouble; we mean no harm; we simply wanted to exercise our right of access to the seat of power that is accountable to us.

“I assure you that the citizens of this country will not allow government to operate as though we are still under military rule.

We are not,” she said.

Saying the group was a law abiding organisation, the former minister prevailed on her members not to proceed beyond the human barricade formed by policewomen, some of them in anti-riot gear, but insisted that the planned press conference would hold in front of the barricade.

Thereafter in a statement read by one of the group’s leaders, Aisha Yesufu, the group expressed disappointment in the failure of the government to find and rescue the girls, 731 days after they were abducted by the terrorists.

“The truth must be told: Nigeria has disappointingly failed those 219 schoolgirls for too long.

Two years is unacceptably a long time for young women to be left as captives of terrorists. Not only Nigeria, but the world has failed our girls. We all as humanity have failed our girls in not doing all we can to ensure their rescue these past 731 days,” it said.

It said its members and

the parents of the girls were devastated by the feedback received from Buhari, seven months into his administration, which indicated that the government had no clue about the place of captivity of the girls.

“We are still puzzled at the fact that the president in our meeting of January 2016 inferred that the Chibok girls were not yet rescued because the government ‘lacked credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the girls’,” BBOG said.

But in spite of its disappointment with the government’s efforts, the group said it believed there was still hope that the girls would be found and rescued alive, citing a resent video released by the terrorist Boko Haram organisation, which was aired by CNN showing 15 of the girls being interviewed alive by the terrorists.

“Yet, hope endures. That hope has been cautiously renewed by the recent release of a proof of life video of some of the abducted girls identified by some of their parents,” BBOG said.

The group, which had been agitating for more government commitment to the rescue of the girls for 716 of the 731 days of their abduction, called on the federal government to redouble its rescue efforts, even as it appealed to the international community to place at Nigeria’s disposal all the intelligence arsenal that could help in finding and bringing the girls back home.

“Our movement shall not stop reminding our president and the federal government of their constitutional mandate and his personal pledge to rescue our Chibok girls. For 716 days, we have advocated relentlessly and shall continue until our girls are rescued,” it said.

Yesterday’s march started at the Unity Fountain in the Central Area sit-out of the group with six-year-old Christabel Audu, a Chibok girl, leading the procession that included some members of the Chibok community in Abuja and some of the parents and relations of the abducted girls.

Many of them said they were at a loss as to why the federal government had been unable to rescue the girls.

“The government said it had defeated Boko Haram, yet none of our girls has been rescued. What kind of victory is that?” asked

Nkeki Mutah, a Chibok man who said two of the abducted girls were his nieces.

The Boko Haram terrorists abducted 276 girls from their school, Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014. At various times, 57 of them managed to escape and returned home, leaving 219 of them in captivity.

Following the perceived lackadaisical attitude of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration towards the rescue of the girls, the BBOG group was formed to agitate for a responsive action from government.

Hoping that with the advent of a new government led by Buhari, there would be more concerted efforts at finding the girls, the group met with the president twice, first in July 2015 and later in January 2016.

But it said yesterday that it was disappointed that the administration had not done enough in almost a year in office to find and rescue the girls, vowing that it would not relent in its advocacy to attract a more responsible approach to the issue from the government.

Similarly, the parents of the schoolgirls told a federal government delegation who had been sent to Chibok in remembrance of the second anniversary of their kidnapping, that they had been living in pain ever since their daughters were taken away by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The parents, who pleaded with the federal government delegation led by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and her Works, Power and Housing counterpart, Mr. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said only the release of the girls and their subsequent reunion with them could relieve them of pain.

The leader of the parents of the abducted girls, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki said the grief and sorrow over their missing daughters was still boldly written on their faces.

In what sound like a poem to the missing girls, Nkeki said: “We cannot fathom your definite location and the condition you are in right now. Are you alive or dead? Are you pregnant, put to bed or empty. Have you eaten the food of your choice or forced

to eat something against your will? Have you taken your bath today? How do you take care of yourself during your menstrual flow?”

He lamented that nobody could answer some of the posers except the abductors of their daughters, urging the government to step up efforts at freeing the girls.

Nkeki stated that the federal government was not doing enough to free the girls, even as he appealed to the Borno State government to rebuild their destroyed school.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who accompanied the ministers to Chibok, said former President Jonathan should be blamed for the woes of the Chibok parents.

He argued that the schoolgirls would have been freed a few days after the abduction had the president acted.

He said: “The president didn’t even believe the adduction took place. Perhaps that was why he and his wife never visited Chibok even once.”

Commenting on the recent statement by his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayo Fayose, Shettima said: “One noisy governor even recently said the abduction of our daughters was false. This clearly shows their mentality.”

He however appealed to the parents and the entire nation to pray for the return of the schoolgirls and peace in the country.

He challenged the people to submit lists of indigenous contractors of Chibok extraction to the government for consideration for the award of contracts for the building of new schools and a hospital in Chibok.

Also in attendance were Senators Ali Ndume (Borno Central) and Binta Garba (Adamawa North), who joined others at Government Secondary School, Chibok, to pray for the return of the teenagers kidnapped two years ago.

Senators Ndume and Binta in their separate remarks appealed to the parents and families of the girls to be united in prayers.

“President Buhari is committed to securing the release of the girls but we need to be focused and support the government. It is not time for blame,” he said, a position supported by Senator Binta.

She said the presence of

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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

PH Refinery Injects 28m Litres of Petrol into Domestic Market Ejiofor Alike

Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited has announced that 28 million litres of petrol have been pumped into the domestic market to help address the current product scarcity that had crippled the economy.

This is coming as fuel supply has drastically improved in Abuja and its environs, following the increase in truck out by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 186 to 240 trucks daily.

The Managing Director of the company, Dr Bafred

Buhari, Osinbajo on Half Salaries VP launches Aisha Buhari’s book

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that himself and President Mohammadu Buhari are on half salaries.

Osinabjo disclosed this at the launching of a book, “The Essential of Beauty Therapy,” written by the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja yesterday.

Osinbajo said Buhari was not given to frivolity and extravagancy, saying he was very strict on financial matters.

The public presentation of the book came on the day when the nation was observing the two years anniversary of the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

Authorities said proceeds made from the sale of the books would be donated for the wellbeing of the parents and guardians of the school children who were yet to be rescued.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Osinbajo who also represented the president, told the audience not to expect so much from him, emphasising that he and his

principal were on half salary.

He however hailed the intellectual disposition of the wife of president which he said made the book possible.

He said that the book would also serve as an instructional manual and technical material to beauticians and people in the beauty world.

Osinbajo highlighted the importance of girl-child education in the country.

He said: “The President and I are on half salaries and President is very strict on money matters. As representative of the President, he knows his wife is beautiful but he does not like others saying his wife is beautiful.

“This is an important occasion, I have the privilege of looking at the book which is about 300 pages, it is an instructional manual not just an ordinary book.

“She has decided to dedicate the proceeds of the launching of the book to victims of the insurgency in the North-east and particularly the families of the Chibkok girls and the boys abducted and slaughtered at Government Secondary School, Gombe in February 2014.

States’ IGR Decreased

by N25.18bn in 2015 James Emejo in Abuja All the 36 states of the federation altogether raked in a total of N682.67 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2015, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

But the amount represented a decline of 3.69 per cent or N25.18 billion when compared with the N707.85 billion which they recorded 2014.

According to the states’ IGR update for 2015 which was released by the agency, Lagos State was the top revenue earner with N268.22 billion, although this was N2.96 per cent lower than the N276.16 billion realised the previous year.

Rivers State was the second highest on IGR with N82.10 billion in 2015, representing a drop of 8.54 per cent compared to the N89.11 billion it posted the previous year.

The figures further showed Imo State IGR fell by as much as 48.30 per cent to N5.47 billion from N8.11 billion in 2014.

But Ogun State’s IGR

improved dramatically by 49.42 per cent to N34.59 billion from N17.49 billion the previous year.

In Osun State, IGR dropped 5.45 per cent to N8.07 billion from N8.51 billion while Abia State had its revenue improved by 7.33 per cent to N13.39 billion from N12.37 billion.

Furthermore, Kaduna State IGR in the period under review fell 10.80 per cent to N11.53 billion from N12.78 billion while that of Edo also increased by 10.95 per cent to N19.11 billion from N17.02 billion.

In Delta, the IGR dropped 4.93 per cent to N40.80 billion compared to N42.81 billion in 2014 while that of Akwa Ibom also declined by 5.99 per cent to N14.79 billion from 15.67 billion the previous year.

Kano State IGR declined minimally by 0.37 per cent as it stood at N13.61 billion from N13.66 billion in 2014 while Yobe saw its internal receipts drop by 36.53 per cent to N2.25 billion from N3.07 billion the previous year.

Audu Enjugu, said in a statement yesterday that the rapid response was the product of a fast-track strategy aimed at optimising available capacity at the plant in an effort to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians groaning, under the biting fuel scarcity in the country.

Enjugu said the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCC) of the refinery had been running, while some products from the primary processing units had been blended to generate over 10.28 million litres of petrol.

He said 1.7 million litres were released to the depot last Friday, while another 4.5 million litres were transferred to the depot for distribution on Saturday and additional 4.08 million litres last Tuesday.

According to him, the refinery commenced a

process of blending Crack C5 and Naphtha on Sunday leading to the generation of 17.3 million litres for immediate distribution.

Enjugu assured Nigerians that the premier refinery is available to sustain its production and contribute to the nation’s petroleum products pool.

This, he hopes, will contribute in reducing the pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange demand through import substitution.

He applauded the efforts of the workforce of the refinery in the sustenance of operations at the refinery.

Meanwhile, fuel supply has drastically improved in Abuja and its environs following the increase truck out from 186 to 240 trucks.

NNPC said 12 cargoes of petrol discharged in Lagos, Calabar and Port-Harcourt.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the NNPC, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria MOMAN and the Independent Petroleum Marketing Association of Nigeria IPMAN are all trucking out petrol from their various marine and inland depots to stabilise the situation.

“The NNPC/NPMC is collaborating with the various relevant stakeholders in the hydrocarbon value chain to wet the nation with Petrol.

This is in line with the resolve and mandate of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to restore normalcy to the filling stations across the states of the federation,”Muhammad said.

He stated that more trucks were also being sent to Nassarawa, Kaduna and Niger States to reduce the demand in Abuja.

The NNPC Manager said 12 petrol other vessels laden with PMS have been lined up to ensure a seamless flow of petrol to all NNPC inland depots and other strategic reserves across the country.

“We wish to empathise with motorists across the country over the several hours spent on fuel queues in the past few weeks. We also want to reassure them that we are working tirelessly to ensure that fuel supply and distribution return back to normalcy. As the vessels discharge petrol, we will ensure that the products are trucked out immediately to forestall any form of fuel scarcity going forward,” he said

BOOSTING NIGERIA-CHINA RELATIONS

President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd left) receiving a present from Director of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Mr. Liu Fangzhou.

With them are Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, during President, Buhari’s visit to Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China Limited in Shanghai ...yesterday

NLC Carpets Governors, Senators, Ministers over Double Salaries Tasks state assemblies to repeal law

Paul Obi in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday lambasted governors, senators and ministers, who are still under the payroll of the states where they had served previously before their new appointments and elections.

NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the drawing of salaries by former political appointees and elected officials was disingenuous to the nation, given the current economic hardship in the country.

He said the salaries, emoluments and pensions run into billions of naira and that it was a disservice to states who cannot even pay salaries of workers.

“We are saddened by the recent revelations that not less

than 21 former governors and deputy governors are Senators or Ministers still drawing billions of Naira in pension payment and salaries (at the same time) while millions of wage earners go without salaries for months on end.

“Our revulsion stems from the fact that most, if not all of these ex-governors coerced or seduced their various Houses of Assembly into approving for them these bogus and illegitimate pension rates and property (as cars and houses) in contravention of the extant laws and regulations by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission,” Wabba stated.

He said: “Similarly, they are mindlessly drawing these allowances (that they do not need) from our commonwealth

when the states are in serious financial difficulty and poverty is rife in the land. They get paid regularly whether the state can afford it nor not.

“We hold the view that State laws are subordinated to Federal laws and when there is a conflict they should give way to the Federal laws.

“We similarly hold the view that it offends the principle of universal justice, equity and good conscience when laws are specifically or premeditatively made for or against an individual or a group of individuals in order to exact an undue advantage or revenge.”

The NLC president explained that “in view of the above we demand that these offensive State laws be repealed forthwith, and the ex-governors and their

ex-deputies be made to refund what they have taken because it is illegal and immoral to collect double pay from the same public coffers.

“We demand that all citizens be treated equally in furtherance of their fundamental rights.

“We also demand that the federal government in the spirit of its fight against corruption, should not only ensure these ill-gotten payments are refunded forthwith, it should also ensure no governor ever create for themselves such criminal advantages. Nobody is above the law.

“We have no doubt that these illegal ‘severance’ payments running into billions of Naira, if released into the system, will significantly uplift the quality of life of the citizenry,” Wabba maintained.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Lagos to Sign MoU on 4th Mainland Bridge before May 29 Says light rail is 85% completed

Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed a plan to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of fourth Mainland Bridge before May 29.

The state government has also stated that the Lagos Light Rail (Blue Line) project is 85 per cent completed, thus indicating that the project might be completed before the end of 2016 fiscal year.

The state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, provided details about the two strategic projects while presenting his account of stewardship at the third quarterly town hall meeting held at Ikorodu part of the state.

The town hall meeting was attended by many residents, including members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers from federal and state legislative assemblies, traditional rulers, community leaders and political actors among others.

At the meeting, Ambode disclosed that many investors

“have shown interest in the actualisation of our dream for the 4th Mainland Bridge, which will run from Ajah to Ikorodu.”

He added that the bridge, which was conceived during the administration of Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would berth at Ojodu, Ikeja back to the Ibadan expressway.

He explained that the state government “will sign the MoU on the bridge before May 29. And once the MOU was signed next month, works will commence on the bridge, and its development will boost the economy of Lagos East senatorial district.”

The governor also gave an update on the ongoing construction of Lagos Light Rail (Blue Line), noting that the first phase of the project “has already reached 85 per cent completion rate.”

He further provided insight into what the state government had been able to do to ensure sustained security in Lagos

metropolis, noting that since the launch of the N4.78 billion security equipment, the state had won several battles against crimes.

Ambode said the quick response in the rescue of the kidnapped girls in Ikorodu and the quelling of the Mile 12 riot were testimonies of the effectiveness of the security system in Lagos.

He said many criminals had

been arrested since the launch of the security equipment, thus disclosing his intention “to pay for information that will lead to the arrest of hardened criminals.

“I am ready to pay monetary compensation for information on hardened criminals as we proceed to make Lagos crimefree. We are happy to report that crime rate has also reduced in the last three months.”

On commercial motorcyclists

Okada riders on Ikorodu road, Ambode ordered the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to enforce the law on the route and ensure that the motorcyclists do not carry passengers from Mile 12 to Ikorodu on the expressway.

“As much as motor bikes are dangerous to our safety and security; as government, we must create alternative. But I am happy all our leaders are

here. With what we have done, I do not think anybody will want to ride on bike again, it will fizzle out before I take my final action.

“The truth is about safety.

We have banned bikes on that axis, the Commissioner of Police, Rapid Response (RRS) and other security agencies should enforce the law. Anyone you take, you send them out of business. You have to confiscate the motor bike and prosecute the people.”

Hearing on Kogi Assembly Crisis Commences Monday Alex Enumah in Abuja The hearing of a suit filed against five members of the Kogi State House of Assembly opposed to the leadership of the Speaker, Hon. Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, is expected to commence on Monday, April 18, 2016, at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

This is sequel to an order by the court granting the embattled speaker and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leave to serve the five lawmakers and security agencies involved in the case through newspaper publications, which the plaintiffs have since complied with.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had on March 23, 2016, granted the application by the Plaintiffs for substituted service on the defendants but ordered that rather than serve by courier as prayed by the plaintiffs, the plaintiff must serve by Newspaper publication to ensure that the Defendants get adequate notice of the case against them.

Consequently, the five members and of the house and other accused persons are therefore expected to appear before the court when the matter opens for hearing on Monday.

The defendants are Hon Umar Imam, Hon. Friday Sani, Hon. Lawi AT Ahmed, Hon. Bello Abdullahi and Hon. John Abah. Others include, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, Director General of

Department of State Services (DSS) and Commandant, National Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Also, the court abridged the time for appearance and filing of defence to seven days, excluding public holidays and vacation period.

When the case was called up on March 23, counsel for the plaintiffs, Emeka Etiaba, who led two other counsel, informed the court that they had two Ex-Parte Motions.

According to him, one was for order for substituted services, which he argued was necessary since the 1st to 5th defendants were evading service, while the second he noted, sought an abridgement of the time within which the Defendants will file appearance and their defence to the Suit.

On February 16, 2016, the 1st to 5th Defendants, under the protection of law enforcement agents, purportedly impeached the Speaker and other principal members of the Kogi State House of Assembly and since then, the five legislators have carried on with the business of the assembly.

It will be further recalled that all attempts of the National Assembly to take over the legislative duties of the Kogi State House of Assembly on constitutional grounds have been rebuffed by the five-man group.

By the reliefs sought in this suit, the court is urged to reverse th e c h a n g e of leadership of the a s s e m b l y.

PROMOTING INDUSTRIALISATION

L-R: Representative of FCT Minister, Mr. Salisu Abubakar; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Babayunusa; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Waters, Mr. Marco Settembri, and Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dharmesh Gordhon, during the inauguration of Nestle Waters factory at Abaji...yesterday

Obiano Inaugurates N6bn Mall in Onitsha Charles Onyekamuo in Awka

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on Thursday inaugurated a shopping mall, which was built at a cost of N6 billion in Onitsha, the commercial hub of the State.

The Shopping complex sitting on a land area of about 12,000 square meters was initiated by the immediate past administration of Mr. Peter Obi, which did about 40 per cent of the construction job before the end of his second tenure in office.

The mall, which has 12,000 shops to let, 70 line stores and 500 parking slots, is a product of a joint venture between Anambra State Government and Capital Alliance Nigeria.

The mall already has such known business names like Dr. Yinka Lesi’s Sensodyne, SWAN, UAC, SLOT, and Shoprite among others announcing

their presence.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Managing Director of capital Alliance Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okonkwo noted that Anambra State is investment and investorfriendly and a place for any serious investor.

The company also urged Anambra people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the mall, adding that it will provide about 1,000 jobs to Nigerians.

In his speech, Obiano said that on assumption of office he met the project already done at 40 per cent, adding that his administration invested the remaining 60 per cent to complete it.

The Governor said he decided to refer the project to Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) when it was stalled to find a way of bringing life to it.

According to him, it took his administration 24 months excluding the six months of work under Obi to complete the project.

Nigeria Gets £400m in UK Aid Yearly The visiting British Minister for International Development, Mr Nick Hurd, yesterday in Lagos, said that his government supported Nigeria’s development programmes with 400 million pounds yearly.

Hurd said the fund was meant to support the provision of basic services that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a very important partner to the people and government of the United Kingdom. We annually invest about 400 million pounds in supporting the development of Nigeria, as well as improving the quality of life of the Nigerian people.

“We have been delivering basic education and health services that would help Nigerian children educationally, as well as helping Nigerians to have access to quality medical care,’’ he said.

The British official said he was visiting to see for himself how UK‘s development support for Nigeria was working on the ground, as well as assess Nigeria’s current progress.

The Minister, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, also announced his government’s

interest in making sure that Nigeria was a good place to do business.

Hurd said that his government was committed to making Nigeria a business destination and an investment country, which would create job opportunities for young Nigerians.

“We are currently working with the Nigerian Governments and many private organisations in doing programmes, and providing advice, looking at Nigeria’s laws and regulations.

“This is with a view to making Nigeria a better place for foreigners and Nigerians to do business.

“We are also looking at the possibilities of making sure that Nigeria has a good government, more transparency, accountability and less corruption,’’ he said.

The Minister also restated his government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in her effort at ending the activities of Boko Haram in the North-east, through training of the Nigeria military.

He said his government was aware that without peace and security, there would not be prosperity and development anywhere.

12

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Fayose Asks Chinese Govt to Cancel Loan to Nigeria Alex Enumah inAbuja The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has written to the Chinese government, asking it to cancel the loan being sought by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In the letter dated April 12, 2016, with reference number EK/GOV/28/10, addressed to President Xi Jinping of China,Fayose told the Chinese leader that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the federal government’s annual budget.”

In the letter, which was delivered by Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie in Abuja yesterday, Fayose said some of the projects for which the loan was being sought were not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent.

Anisulowo, who was accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Segun Adewumi, Chairman House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan, Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Samuel Omotosho and Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Fayose, who was in China would also deliver a copy of the letter directly to the Chinese President.

The letter reads “I write as one of the major stakeholders in the project Nigeria, and a governor of one of the federating units making up Nigeria, to draw

your attention to report that the Federal Government of Nigeria is on the verge of obtaining a $2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

“This $2 billion loan is part of the N1.84 trillion the Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed to borrow to finance the 2016 budget, which is yet to be signed by the President, Mohammadu Buhari owing to unending controversies between the Executive and Legislative arms of government. According to reports, Nigeria desires to raise about $5 billion abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit. This is projected to hit N3 trillion ($15 billion) due to heavy infrastructure spending at a time when the slump in global oil prices has slashed the country’s export revenues.

“While conceding that all nations, especially developing ones need support to be able to grow because no nation is an island, I am constrained to inform you that if the future of Nigeria must be protected, the country does not need any loan at this time.

“The government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.

“It will interest the government of China to know that some of the projects for which the loan is being sought are not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. For instance, the Lagos – Calabar Rail project was not included in the budget proposal the President presented to the National Assembly and it was not included in the Appropriation Bill passed

by the National Assembly.

“Most importantly, Nigeria is presently servicing debt with about 25 per cent of its annual budget and what will happen to the economy in 2017, when the country will begin to service the additional debt to be incurred this year is better imagined than experienced.

“The Chinese government must also be aware that some western nations approached by the Federal Government for loan diplomatically and cleverly declined.

“This must have been informed by the suspicion in the present government’s capacity to salvage the nation’s economy as well as the sincerity in the fight against corruption. More so that Nigeria’s Foreign Reserve, which is the only guarantee for foreign loan has declined to a very uncomfortable level.

“For instance, the UK Telegraph Newspaper reported today that hundreds of millions of pounds of British foreign aid given to Nigeria to help combat Boko

Haram terrorists is instead being used to fund a witch-hunt against opposition politicians.

“Therefore, like the foreign aid that is reportedly being mismanaged, whatever loan that is granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Chinese Government may be mismanaged too.

“In my opinion, Nigeria needs the collaboration of the Government of China in the area of technology transfer, rather than granting loan that will be

mismanaged under the guise of building infrastructure.

“It is also important for the Government of China to note that the Federal Government of Nigeria claimed to have recovered and still recovering trillions of Naira allegedly looted from the treasury. For instance, over $200 billion is expected to be recovered from Dubai, the United Arab Emirate while N3 trillion was said to have been saved from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

FOR A SECURED LAGOS

R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, discussing with Chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi; Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria Communication Limited, Amina Oyagbola, and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, during the donation of 10 patrol vehicles by the Foundation to the state government at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday

PDP Perfected Rigging against Fayemi a Week before Saraki’s Ordeal: Senators Election, Aluko Insists Cautioned on Who Might Take Denies dismissal as university lecturer over Next Senate Presidency He alleged that INEC ballot the threat of the state Attorney that I should not talk when I Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti Sunday Okobi

Coalition of Civil Society and Media Executives for Policy Stability (COCMEP) has cautioned the National Assembly over the permutation on which political party should produce the next Senate President in case Dr. Bukola Saraki, who presently occupies that position exits the post.

The organisation recommended that for the general interests of all and stability of the Senate and Nigeria,All Progressives Congress (APC) should continue to occupy the position of the Senatepresidencywhiletheopposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should shelve the idea of taking over the Senate.

“Because, It is a dangerous presumption to conceive the downfall of Saraki when the judgment has not been given

by Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) but in the event of Saraki exit from the position, APC should continue to hold the position for the peace, progress and stability of the Senate and the country and to avoid worsening the political crisis that has engulfed the Senate since the beginning of this administration.

“An APC member has been

the Senate President and hell almost visited the county; let alone when the opposition assumes the powerful No three seat in the country. The Senators will be living in fear, tension and suspicion among themselves and will be throwing political missiles at one another which is antithetical to thecountrydemocracy,”thegroupsaid.

AccordingtoCOCMEPinastatement made available to THISDAYyesterday by its National President and National Secretary,InnocentEbirimOkadigboand EvelynOgbogurespectively,theongoing trialofSarakiattheCCThasgeneratedalot of issues in Nigerian polity, “therefore, for peace to continue to reign, PDP should please shelve the idea for the interest of all.”

Thepro-democracyandcivilsociety group cautioned that: “For the sake of equity, justice and fairness, PDP Senators should allow their APC counterparts to continue to preside over the affairs of the Senate, because when PDP was the ruling and majority party for 16 years, there was no interference in the leadership of the Senate from the opposition. If PDP enjoyed such privilege from the opposition, APC should equally enjoy such privilege now.

The embattled former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti State chapter, Dr. Tope Aluko, has again thrown more lights on the alleged rigging of the June 21, 2014, governorship election, revealing that the electoral malfeasance was perfected a week before the poll.

The current state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of the PDP defeated the then incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in the hotly contested election.

The embattled PDP scribe insisted that sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) like ballot papers and result sheets were delivered to PDP chieftains to allow for the manipulation of the poll long before the first ballot was cast.

Appearing on a special interview programme yesterday evening on Adaba 88. 9 FM monitored by journalists in Ado Ekiti, Aluko claimed that the electoral materials were delivered through Akure Airport and taken to a hotel owned by Fayose’s political ally, now top government official of his cabinet.

papers were thumb printed and result sheets filled by PDP members which gave their party the edge long before the electorate went to the polls.

Aluko explained that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) led by a female officer stormed the hotel and arrested the PDP members perfecting the rigging but they were released within three hours following the intervention of the federal government.

“Ask him (Fayose) why did former Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, run away? Commissioner for Finance, Toyin Ojo told his interrogators about the finances of the state including the N5.2 billion refunded on the Ado-Ifaki road project carried out by Fayemi.

“You will recall that Fayose had earlier denied receipt of the N5.2 billion refund but the revelation

by Ojo while in custody now made him (Fayose) to divert the money for flyover construction because Ojo told them that Oso was in a better position to explain on the refund collected for road,” Aluko said.

Responding to questions on

General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, that state government would prosecute him (Aluko) for alleged perjury, Aluko said Ajayi too is liable for prosecution for his alleged role in an attack on the court to prevent the delivery of a ruling on a perjury case involving Fayose.

Speaking on the purported reconciliation meeting with Fayose recently at a Lagos hotel, Aluko said he never went to meet Fayose as believed in some quarters but it was the governor and former state House of Assembly factional Speaker, Dele Olugbemi, who barged into a meeting he was holding with some PDP leaders.

He said: “Olugbemi and Fayose barged into the meeting venue.

Olugbemi is a pathological liar.

He had lied against Fayose, he lied against the APC, he lied against the PDP and he is just working for the money and appointment he had just received from Fayose.

“I did not create a scene at the venue of the meeting because able-bodied men had been stationed around and my wife was afraid of what could happen. Fayose held my clothes

wanted to say something.”

The PDP secretary contended that his disagreement with the governor started with his (Fayose’s) alleged derailment from the plan and blueprint for the development of the state and not because he was not made his Chief of Staff.

Aluko urged Nigerians to pray for him because of alleged plans to assassinate him, saying: “I need the prayer of Nigerians so that I will not fall prey to the evil machine of those planning to kill me by all means because of the truth I told Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, the estrange PDP scribe showed up for the ongoing verification of pensioners at the Ekiti State University thereby dispelling the insinuation that he was dismissed from the university for various academic misdemeanour.

The former Head of Department of Business Administration in the university displayed his EKSU 2016 Pensioner’s Verification Certificate to journalists and others present.

Aluko’s pensioner’s number is 158 with his year of retirement being 2010.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

A

NEWS

Absence of Tribunal Chairman Stalls Orubebe’s Trial The absence of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Umar Danladi, yesterday stalled trial of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, the Head, Press and Public Relations of the tribunal, Ibraheem Alhassan, said the judge’s absence

followed the death of his aunty last Monday.

It stated that the tribunal chairman, who travelled yesterday, however, fixed April 20 as the new date for continuation of trial.

Orubebe was arraigned by the federal government on a one-count charge of false asset declaration, which he pleaded not guilty.

At the last sitting, the

Appeal Court Reinstates Jokolo as Emir of Gwandu Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Sokoto, yesterday reaffirmed the decision of the Kebbi State High Court to reinstate the deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo.

The Appellate court, also ordered that all his salaries and entitlements for the 10 years that he had been deposed be paid to him as ordered by the high court.

The present Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar, had filed an appeal challenging the judgment of the lower court and joined the deposed Emir, the state government and 12 others as respondents.

In their judgment, the three judges of the court led

by Justice Tunde Awotoye, held that the deposition of the Emir by the former Governor of the state, Senator Adamu Aliero, contravened section 6 and 7 of the Chief Appointment and Deposition Law of the state.

They maintained that

the former state governor neither made an inquiry into the allegation against the deposed Emir nor consulted the state Council of Chiefs before arriving at his decision.

The judges averred that his action contradicted section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as the deposed Emir was not given a fair hearing before he was dethroned and as such, the decision was null and void.

They, however, ordered for the reinstatement of the former Emir and the payment of his 10-year salaries and entitlements.

Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the present Emir, Mr. Hassan Zakariyya, said they were not satisfied with the judgment and that they would obtain its copy, study it and advise their client on what should be their next action.

But in a remark, counsel to the Jokolo, Mr. Ahmadu Zumaru, applauded the judgment, saying justice has been done.

Group Warns against Distracting Emefiele Shola Oyeyipo A Kano-based political pressure group, Coalition for Excellence in Governance (CEG), has described those calling for the sack of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, as “detractors” who are behind the campaign of calumny against the apex bank boss.

The group said in a statement yesterday that Emefiele was doing a very good job for the country at the moment and should be allowed to sustain the tempo in the interest of the country.

The National Coordinator of the group, Usman Abu Seriki Nu’ma, said the body was compelled to intervene in the matter due to the activities of some persons, who he said were sponsoring the campaign of calumny against the CBN governor.

He said lies being orchestrated against the CBN boss by the unseen hands were capable of distracting Emefiele, who he said was committed to assisting President Muhammadu Buhari to see Nigeria through its current economic crisis.

“They said Emefiele hired a

private jet to travel home for the burial of his dear mother. The allegation came out to be false.

Despite the fact that he could afford it, the humble man, in line with the mood of the nation, went low profile to travel like a common man to his mother’s burial. How many other lies would these detractors cook up again to bring this good man down?” Seriki Nu’ma asked.

He said it was his good qualities that the President saw before retaining him in office, and called on well-meaning Nigerians to give the CBN Governor necessary support that would enable him continue with the good job he is doing for Nigeria.

The group gave kudos to President Buhari for allowing Emefiele to be part of his administration, stressing that: “Emefiele’s job is a tenured one that should not be cut short before its expiration.”

He pointed to the February 14, 2014, launch of a centralised biometric identification system Bank Verification Number (BVN) as another Emefiele initiative that has helped the country in combating corruption in line with the aspiration of the government.

first prosecution witness, Samuel Madojemu, led in evidence by Mohammed Diri, said Orubebe did not declare Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja, as minister between 2007 and 2011.

NAN reported that the witness said he coordinates the Code of Conduct Bureau’s (CCB) intelligence on observed breaches of the code and asset tracing investigation.

He said between 2007 and 2011, Orubebe served as a minister when he submitted five asset declaration forms to the bureau.

“My Lord, he submitted the five forms to the CCB first as Minister of Special Duties in the administration of the late President Umar Yar ’Adua, and later as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs up till 2011 in the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,” he said.

Madojemu said the

Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the property obtained from the land registry of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) showed that it was issued to Orubebe on April 10, 2011.

He, however, said the former minister failed to declare the asset as at the time of leaving office on May 29, 2011.

Madojemu alleged that Orubebe refused to honour invitation by the bureau during the investigation of an intelligence report obtained concerning his asset.

“I was instructed to invite him for the purpose of obtaining his statement on the allegations and intelligence report that was being handled by the bureau concerning him.

“I invited him, he promised to respond by sending his legal team. He also promised that he might

decide to come in person but he did not come.

“My Lord, the bureau issued him with Form CCB 1 which is the bureau’s asset declaration form and he made his declaration between 2007 and 2011 – the period under investigation.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau issued the defendant the Form CCB 1 five times, we received the form and we examined the form as part of our procedures to ascertain if there was over-declaration or under-declaration.

“We conducted intelligence assessment on the declaration made by the defendant and we discovered that there were some other properties that were traced to Orubebe which he failed to declare,” he said.

Orubebe’s counsel, Selekowei Larry, according to NAN, did not oppose the admissibility of the documents sought to be tendered by the prosecution.

Larry, however, opposed

the admissibility of the C of O, the Right of Occupancy and the letter of authority referred to by the witness.

He contended that the letter, along with the documents attached to it, was inadmissible under Section 83(3) of the Evidence Act. Larry said this was because it was authored by CCB “a person interested,” while the case against his client was already pending in court.

The letter dated February 18, 2016, was authored by Funke Audu, an Assistant State Counsel of the Lands Administration of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Umar Danladi, overruled him and upheld the argument of the prosecution.

The prosecution had argued that Audu who was an employee of the FCTA could never be an interested party.

FOR THE LOVE OF BEER

L-R: Co-founder, African Media and Production Network, Arjan Pomper; Olisa Adibua, Dami Elebe, Corporate Media and Brand Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Edem Vindah; Gbenga Adeyinka and Brand Manager, Heineken Nigeria, Obabiyi Fagade, at Heineken House Lagos...recently

INEC Declares APC, APGA Winners of FCT Elections

FG to Promote Free Trade, Export Processing Zones

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) have emerged winners of last Wednesday’s rerun elections in four area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The rerun elections were held in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Kuje, Abaji and Gwagwalada saw APC clinching five of the six area council elections, while APGA won in Gwagwalada.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the elections inconclusive as a result of violence, over voting and nonuse of Smart Card Readers or accreditation of voters, and ordered a rerun in 39 polling units in 20 Registration Areas.

But in the result released yesterday, INEC declared the APC candidate, Ibrahim Adamu Candido winner of AMAC with 27, 482 votes.

Also in Kuje Area Council,

Abdullahi Galadima of APC won with 15, 175 votes while Joseph Shazih of APC won in Kwali Area Council with 15, 309 votes.

The party’s candidates also won in Bwari and Abaji Area Councils.

However, APGA’s candidate, Adamu Mustapha, was declared chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area council with 15, 950 votes. The candidate of APC, Abubakar Jubril, got 14569 votes.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won five Area Councils in 2013, could not win any chairmanship position this year.

Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, who is representing FCT in the Senate on the platform of PDP, alleged sabotage against the party.

“We know that there are a lot of sabotages that are being put in place so that there are delay in and where we have strongholds we might not have the opportunity and all that,”

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Shanghai said his administration would give priority to the building and development of resilient and viable cities comparable with other developed cities across the globe.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said Buhari, at separate meetings with the Mayor of the Chinese city of Shanghai, Mr. Yang Xiong, and the Director of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Liu Fangzhou, said the federal government would give full support to Free Trade and Export Processing Zones in the country to spur rapid economic development.

The president, who visited the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, said Nigeria was prepared to learn how to make our cities more viable from those that had achieved development.

“We have already

identified the development of infrastructure which will bring industries that create jobs and help us to diversify the economy.

“We are going to work hard to achieve these within the period we have in office.

Nigerians will see progress and feel the impact,” the president said.

Commending the hardwork and incredible success story of the city of Shanghai, Buhari said the virtues of hard work were central to every human achievement and development.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Shanghai expressed the willingness of several Chinese businesses to key into the vision of the Chinese President Xi Jinping for Africa by investing in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Director of the Free Trade Zone commended the effort of the Nigerian government towards the diversification of the economy and encouraged the country to focus on a favorable policy environment to encourage foreign investors.

B

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

BRING BACK OUR GIRLS... BRING BACK OUR GIRLS... BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

Senate Summons NSA, Service Chiefs, Hails BBOG Group House wants more efforts deployed towards Girls’ Search

OmololuOgunmadeandDamilola OyedeleinAbuja The Senate yesterday lamented over the two years of the Chibok girls being held in captivity by terrorists and consequently summoned service chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, to explain to it the efforts they have so far made to rescue the girls.

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the abduction of 276 girls writing their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

However, 57 of the girls escaped, leaving 219 of them in Boko Haram’s custody.

Also, the House of Representatives called on the federal government to intensify efforts towards the search for the 219 abducted Chibok school girls.

The Senate in a statement to commemorate unfortunate incident, commended the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group for what they described

as its doggedness and consistency in the campaign for the release of the girls.

The upper chamber, which said it empathised with parents of the girls, also charged security agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure the girls are rescued. It equally just as it urged the Borno State Government to rebuild Chibok Secondary School in the interest of students in the community.

Moving a motion on the prolonged hostage of the girls, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), said the Senate was saddened by continued captivity of the girls 730 days after their abduction.

He said whereas hope was raised on October 17, 2014 that the girls would be rescued following an announcement by the NigerianArmy of a truce between the insurgents and government agents, the hope was dashed as nothing came out of it.

Melaye regretted that beyond the videos released by the terrorists, none of the girls had been seen since April 14, adding that their families

had continuously been traumatised by their long absence.

Noting that the abduction had taken toll on Chibok community, he observed that 18 of the girls’ parents and four members of BBOG group had died since the abduction.

Melaye, who further said the incident had had a negative effect on “us as a people,”added that the situation had attracted international condemnation and outrage as a result of government’s slow reaction to the menace.

He also said it was disheartening to note that the girls were still at the mercy of their cruel abductors as he lamented the psychological trauma the parents go through everyday.

He also lamented that the dreams and aspirations of the girls have been turned into nightmares as he insisted that the only option available

to security agencies is the rescue of the girls.

In her reaction, Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), said the federal government had failed the nation as she recalled how President Muhammadu Buhari promised to rescue the girls three months after capturing power.

According to her, two years is a long period for women in view of several changes they naturally experience, describing the situation as painful.

She challenged the federal government to rescue the girls immediately and present them to the nation within few months.

In his submission, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), said he had useful information on the whereabouts of the girls.

Submitting that anytime the federal

government is ready, it should call on him for his help. Senates Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, took him on, saying he did not need to be called upon before he could be helpful in a matter like this.

Akpabio also castigated members of theAll Progressives Congress (APC) whom he said only exploited the plights of the girls to win elections in 2015 and thereafter do nothing.

He did not mince words to describe Melaye as one of such politicians.

Meanwhile, the House had been announced the constitution of a delegation to meet with the parents of the girls.

Principal officers of the House put on red Bring Back Our Girls BBOG-branded caps while members put on red chest emblems.

The lawmakers observed a minute of silence in memory of the girls who

had been killed and the parents who had died due to the trauma of their missing children.

Hon. Asabe Vilita from whose constituency the girls were abducted, lamented that despite the efforts of search and rescue, the girls are yet to be found and released.

“Two years is too long a period for them to remain in the custody of terrorists, considering the risks of untold hardship, slavery, molestation, abuse, rape, pregnancy and forced marriage in the hands of their abductors, “she said.

Vilita however commended the efforts of the military in persecuting the fight against Boko Haram.

She urged the government to assist the parents of the abducted girls who have not been able to engage in any sustainable venture but to search for their children.

Lagos Lawmakers Ask FG Not to Relent in Rescue of Chibok Girls Femi Durojaiye Two years after members of terrorists group, Boko Haram, abducted 276 girls from their hostels in Chibok, Borno State, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday called on the federal government to ensure their release without delay.

The assembly made the call in a motion by Hon. Sola Giwa from Lagos Island constituency I under matter of urgent public importance, saying the federal government should be reminded of the need “to rescue the girls from the kidnappers.”

While moving the motion, the lawmaker asked President Muhammadu Buhari “to direct operatives of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) to take necessary steps to locate the girls to give confidence to the people.”

At the plenary, the Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Mudashiru

Obasa, sympathised with the parents, guardians and families, school and the state government of the Chibok girls.

The speaker emphasised that the assembly appreciated those who have identified with Nigeria on the issue, especially the British Parliament that spoke on the matter recently.

He said: “We want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to help find the girls. We read that Boko Haram members once demanded a huge amount of money to free the girls.

“The girls are our future leaders, so the federal government should search for them to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the system,” he said.

He however, faulted the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan, who he said did not do much to get the girls freed from the kidnappers, adding that if they had done the needful the present government would not have inherited the problem.

IN SUPPORT OF CHIBOK PARENTS

L-R: Wife of the President , Mrs. Aisha Buhari, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during Mrs. Buhari’s book launch in support of Chibok girls parents in Abuja...yesterday

Amnesty Re-echoes Call for Rescue of Chibok Girls

Syria Supports Nigeria on Chibok Schoolgirls, Says Terrorism Anti-Islam

Charges FG to stop extra-judicial killings, human rights violations

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

Chiemelie Ezeobi As the nation commemorates the second years anniversary of the 219 missing Chibok girls, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Salil Shetty, yesterday called for the federal government to find and rescue the missing girls.

In a statement, Shetty said the onus was on President Buhari not just to find and return the girls but to ensure there is no repeat of extra-judicial killings and human rights violations.

The statement which was made avaliable to THISDAY, said: “In September 2014, a 19-year-old woman whom I will call Aisha was celebrating a friend’s wedding in a small village in north-eastern Nigeria when Boko Haram attacked. The fighters killed the groom and many of the male guests. They abducted Aisha, along with other women, including her sister and the bride.

“They were taken to a Boko Haram camp in Gulak, Adamawa State, home to about 100 other abducted girls. Over the three

months she was held captive, Aisha was raped repeatedly, sometimes by groups of up to six fighters.

“She was taught to use firearms, detonate bombs and attack villages.

She was sent on “operations”, including an attack on her own village. She says she did not kill anyone herself — but she met women and girls who told her that they had.

“Stories like Aisha’s do not make for easy reading. Her story is just one of many told to Amnesty International researchers in the two years since more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in the town of Chibok, Borno State.

“The fate of the schoolgirls made headlines around the world. But those girls, still missing, are sadly only a small proportion of those abducted by Boko Haram in recent years.

“Thousands of women and girls have been abducted by the armed group. Men and boys have also been taken at gunpoint and systematically executed or forced to join the fighters.

Syrian Charge d’ Affaires/Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr, Shafik Daiyob, yesterday conveyed to Nigerians, especially the relatives of the abducted Chibok Schoolgirls, the support and sympathy of Syria to Nigerians and the kidnapped girls.

He equally said terrorism that had been hitting Syria and Nigeria and other countries of the world was not Islamic According to him, it is the hope of Syria that these girls will be released in the shortest time to enable them reunite with their families.

“We in Syria are living and have been living in these situations and these pain so, we comprehend it completely.

“It is painful whereby terrorist are killing, beheading, kidnapping innocent people and for that we hope that they (Chibok girls) will be released as soon as possible and we hope that Nigeria will successfuly defeat terrorism in the shortest time and we hope the friendly people of Nigeria will return

to enjoying peace and stability and have more progress and prosperity.

“I want to assure you that terrorism that has been hitting Syrias and Nigeria and other countries of the world is not Islamic, it is anti-Islamic and it has no relationship with Islam and it tarnishes the image of Islam and Muslims and most of the victims are Muslims,” he said.

Daiyob noted that so much destruction is happening in Islamic countries as well and described terrorism as the result of ideology based on extremism which is far from Islam.

“Although some of these terrorism organisations hide behind the name of Islam or label themselves with Islam but Islam is completely the opposite, Islam completely denounces their activities,” he stressed Daiyob said: “There should be efforts from different fronts.

From the media, diplomatic, social and through all ways in enlightening people and creating awareness.”

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FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Killing of Fulani Herdsmen: Okorocha Meets with Hausa Community Leaders in S’East FG vows to deal with perpetrators

Amby Uneze in Owerri Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has met with the leaders of the Hausa community in the South-east zone over the deaths of Fulani herdsmen believed to have been killed by criminals, as he reassured them of their safety while appealing to them to remain calm and peaceful.

The meeting which took place yesterday at the Government House, Owerri, also saw the family members of the dead Fulani herdsmen in attendance, with the governor also informing that two of those who masterminded the killings had been arrested, assuring that they would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Also, the federal government stepped into the incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, with a vow to deal decisively with perpetrators.

Minister of Interior, Gen.

Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) stated this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on Pastoralists-Sedentary Farmers’ conflict in Nigeria.

At the meeting with the Hausa community, Okorocha said those who carried out the killings “did not target the Fulani men only.

They also killed two Igbo men whose corpses were also exhumed with the bodies of the Fulanis.

Criminals carried out the killings and those arrested will be treated as criminals.

“You should not see the incident as a targeted attack on the Fulanis because evidence from the exhumed bodies indicate that two Igbos were in the number of the exhumed bodies. Two of the culprits have been apprehended and will be made to face the consequences of their action. There will be no hiding place for the rest of the hoodlums,” he said.

Okorocha who praised the Hausa community for not taking

retaliatory action, urged them to join hands with the government in fighting the criminals to standstill.

He reassured them that their safety was of paramount importance to the governors of the South-east zone.

His words: “I commiserate with all of you over the recent murder of five Fulani herdsmen within the Imo/Abia border. Few days ago, I was in Abia State to meet with the governor of that state who is my brother, and we have agreed to put resources together to ensure that such ugly incident

does not happen again. We have decided to check the activities of criminals in the border areas.”

“The governor said that though he remains an Igbo man, but he was born and brought up in the North and empowered by the West and could not therefore afford to be a tribalised Nigerian, reiterating that every Nigerian can do business in any part of the country because the country is one.”

Also speaking at the meeting the Brigade Commander of 34 FAB Obinze, Owerri, Brigadier-General

Kay Isiyaku, who came with the leaders of the Hausa community, commended the governor for the steps he had taken to ensure that the ugly development did not escalate beyond measure and urged the governor to sustain the peace already existing.

Earlier in his address, the leader of the Hausa community in the Southeast zone, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, also commended the governor for his peace initiatives and also asked that the governor should ensure steady peace between them the stressed their host communities, stressing that though

they might have different cultural backgrounds, the fact remained that Nigerians are one.

Siddiki said the actions of the governor since the incident happened had helped a lot, adding that if not the governor’s early intervention the problem would have gone out of hand.

Meanwhile, Dambazau, while insisting that there was the need to resolve the persistent crisis between farmers and herders, he stressed that apart from the insurgents, there were other opportunistic criminal angles to the conflict.

Two Police Officers,Vigilantes, Others Killed in Fatal Accident in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Two Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, two vigilante, a suspected kidnapper and one other person were said to have been killed on Wednesday in a ghastly motor accident.

The accident was said to have occurred at Dabe Village along Bauchi-Darazo road in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Although the cause of the accident was not immediately known, the statement said the driver of the vehicle was conveying two Police Officers, two vigilante, two kidnap suspects and one other person from Soro Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Bauchi State Police Headquarters when the unfortunate incident occurred.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the accident in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday.

Mohammed said: “On the 13/4/2016 (Wednesday) at about 1300hrs (1:00pm), there was a lone fatal motor vehicle accident involving a green Vectra with registration number GJW 446 XA driven by one Audu Garba, male of Soro Town.

“The accident occurred at Dabe Village, along Bauchi Darazo road in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State, while they were conveying two kidnap suspects from Soro Division to State CIID Bauchi. As a result, eight victims sustained various degrees of injuries,” he stated.

The scene, was visited and the victims were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching hospital, Bauchi by a combined team of Police and FRSC officials.

“Six victims, including two Police officers, two vigilante members, one complainant and one suspect were certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor while the driver and one suspect are responding to treatment.”

Military Places Ban on Herdsmen, Cattle in Bauchi, Plateau

Seriki Adinoyi inJos

Military task force deployed to restore peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi State has placed ban on the movement of cattle and herdsmen after 7 p.m in all its areas of operation as part of efforts to restore peace in the states.

Commander of the task force, Major General Tagbo Ude, yesterday issued the ban after a town hall meeting between various community leaders, village heads and Ardos of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Mangu Local Government Areas in the state.

Ude also emphasised the need to live together peacefully, calling on all parties involved to consolidate

on the hard earned peace the area has been enjoiyed in the resident timed. He also appealed to them to embrace peace that has returned to the communities.

He noted that he was not unaware that some internally displaced persons returned to their homes to meet that their lands had been sold off or were being illegally occupied.

“Due to the security challenges, a lot of people had left their homes but many returned to meet that their lands were either sold or were being occupied illegally.

“We are however happy that displaced persons in Lomak and Baka in Riyom have returned to meet their homes and lands intact,” he said.

SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY

L-R: Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 8, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), John Meheux; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; Sector Commander, Sunday Maku, and Zonal Head of Operation, Banke Daniel, during a courtesy call to the Kwara Government in Ilorin... yesterday

Shiites, Army Clash: Rights Groups Caution AI against Making Prejudicial Statements

N190m Fraud: Oronsaye Concealed Bank Account, Witness Tells Court

Senator Iroegbu inAbuja

The former Secretary, Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, PCFATF, Jalal Arabi, on April 14, 2016 told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that Stephen Oronsaye concealed the identity of the Access Bank account he opened in the name of the committee.

Oronsaye, a former Chairman of the PCFATF is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on abuse of office and obtaining by false pretence before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck.

The former Head of Service, HoS, is alleged to have used the account to receive N190 million, part of a N240million grant for the committee, received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and converted same for personal use.

Arabi, who testified as the third prosecution witness, told the court that the only legitimate account of the committee was domiciled in Zenith Bank.

The rights groups in Nigeria have cautioned the Amnesty International (AI) to be careful in its remarks and statements concerning the December 12, 2015, deadly clash between the Nigerian Army and Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Zaria, Kaduna State, until the Commission of Inquiry looking into the case concludes their findings.

The two civil society groups -Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and Association of African Writers on Human and Peoples Right (AFRIRIGHT)-at a joint press conference in Abuja yesterday, faulted the AI’s demand for probe of the number of casualties of the incident.

They also accused the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nassir El Rufai, of “stoking the embers of hatred and incitement of gullible Nigerians against the Nigerian army by juggling and bandying unsubstantiated and politically inflated number of casualties of

the Shiites/army clash without any shred of scientifically provable evidence to back up such sensationally high number.”

The groups through their National Coordinator and Country Director, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Ms. Zainab Yusuf, urged AI and El-Rufai to allow the wheel of investigative justice activated within the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) probe panel and the Kaduna State judicial panel to run their full courses.

“We suspect that the jostling for who runs for presidency in 2019 general election may be the ultimate reason for this sensationalism from the officials affiliated to the office of the state governor who may have issued that figure before the state judicial probe panel to rubbish any human rights record the President may flaunt or advertise whether now or in the nearest future within and outside of our shores. The target is President Muhammadu Buhari,” they alleged.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket, he added that the beneficiaries of a total sum of N63 million in the Access Bank account, were not members of the committee neither did they perform any task for the committee or on its behalf.

“The committee opened an account with Zenith Bank, and there are two signatories, myself as the secretary, and Oronsaye as the chairman,” he said. “Since 2009 till date, the committee only maintained the Zenith Bank account and we had only three inflows into it.”

He further told the court that he only got to know about the existence of the Access Bank account in July 2015 when he was summoned by the EFCC to answer questions concerning it.

Earlier during the court proceeding, Olubunmi Ojoko, the second prosecution witness, and a staff of Access Bank told the court that Orosanye issued cheques to various beneficiaries to withdraw from the said Access Bank account.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, APRIL 12 2016

COMMENT

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

FUEL SCARCITY AND A CULTURE OF SCAPEGOATING

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Ikeogu Oke challenges critics of the government to offer suggestions on how to end fuel shortages

eading some of the public commentaries – and other forms of reactions – on the current fuel crisis and associated issues, I was reminded of why I opposed the controversial call to kill the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) made last year by a prominent Nigerian politician.

The politician reportedly summed up his justification for the call with the words: “If you don’t kill the NNPC, it will kill Nigeria.”

Clearly, those words should incline all patriotic Nigerians to see the country’s survival and theirs as dependant on their killing NNPC at a time when, due to various factors, its popularity was arguably at its nadir.

Prominent among those factors were allegations of massive corruption and chronic mismanagement. And since we would naturally like to survive together with our country, and be rid of things that pose a fatal threat to our joint existence (as the call implies about NNPC), I believe the politician in question expected us to accept the kill-or-be-killed scenario he created and act like people who understand that self-preservation is the first law of nature. An instance of the instigation or blackmail to kill for supposed self-preservation couldn’t have been more subtle or effective to the discerning mind.

Now, one of such public commentaries is Moses E. Ochonu’s “Dr. Kachikwu’s Blunders” – published recently in Sahara Reporters and Premium Times – which more or less sums up the predicament of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in managing the current fuel scarcity in the country thus: “Whatever he is doing is not working. In fact it is clearly making things worse. Insulting Nigerians with glib comments about not being a magician only compounds his predicament…

Kachikwu has no one but himself to blame. The man thrives on deception and propaganda… He deserves whatever opprobrium is heaped on him.”

Let me say en passant that this sort of criticism is too harsh and demoralising. The function of the responsible social critic is to build hope while identifying problems, and not to demoralise. Ochonu’s criticism demoralises by its unjustified total condemnation of its target and his efforts, and by spreading despair.

And by other forms of reactions, I refer to such call made by the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the Network News of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on April 11, 2016, asking for the minister’s resignation.

Well, I argued in my response to the call to kill NNPC that, whatever the problem with NNPC, our interest as a nation is better served by reforming rather than killing it.

In fact, I was convinced that killing NNPC would amount to turning the organisation into a corporate scapegoat, sacrificing the life of one institution to “atone” for perennial sins plaguing our entire nation like corruption, short-termism and poor maintenance culture.

And I do not see how such scapegoating can solve any of the problems to which it has become a habitual reaction with some of us. Rather, it has always seemed to me like slaughtering a sacrificial victim to appease some fetish of activist hypocrisy that would rather not take cognisance of the complexity and resilience of such problems because it serves some vested interests while pretending not to do so.

And I see the call for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s resignation by Chief Bola Tinubu, which serves as a background for Ochonu’s unsparing criticism of the former – and the similar call by the ASUU leadership – as fresh instigations to lead yet another sacrificial victim, a human scapegoat rather than corporate one like NNPC, to the altar of the same fetish. And I wonder if Ochonu and the ASUU executive recognise how long the problems leading to the current fuel scarcity have lasted with our tolerance as a people, like a pustule growing under the skin of a negligent person who

I WAS CONVINCED THAT KILLING NNPC WOULD AMOUNT TO TURNING THE ORGANISATION INTO A CORPORATE SCAPEGOAT, SACRIFICING THE LIFE OF ONE INSTITUTION TO “ATONE” FOR PERENNIAL SINS PLAGUING OUR ENTIRE NATION LIKE CORRUPTION, SHORT-TERMISM AND POOR MAINTENANCE CULTURE

only begins to take note and complain after it has grown into a big boil and ruptured, causing them serious discomfort. After which they blame the physician who may well be doing his best to bring them relief or cure that he is “making things worse” and not acting fast enough.

For instance, in the past 16 years before Dr. Kachikwu assumed office as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, billions were spent on the “turn around maintenance” of our refineries by successive governments.

Specifically, $1.6 billion (about N251 billion) was reportedly voted for the turnaround maintenance of the four refineries across the country by the end of 2014. Yet, nothing seemed to have been achieved by way of truly turning the refineries around to refine enough fuel for our local consumption. Hence we have remained stuck with the shame of fuel importation – for our shores are practically awash with the natural resource from which fuel is refined. And we have continued to expend huge sums to subsidise the product, while putting up with allegations of corruption by entities involved in fuel importation, some of which border on economic sabotage.

Indeed, if anyone were to succeed in resolving this situation that has defied previous governments for nearly two decades in the roughly seven months Dr. Kachikwu has been in office, I would perhaps consider that person not as a magician – which Dr. Kachikwu rightly but tactlessly said he is not, and for which he has apologised – but as a miracle worker or superhuman. And I am at a loss as to why some of us fail to appreciate that the current difficulties in turning our fuel situation around are worse than before, considering the harsh economic realities due to the drastic fall in oil prices, and the proportionate decline in forex earnings to support fuel importation or finance the maintenance of our refineries even in their current states. The solution, especially if it must be long-term, lies in thinking creatively and taking radical measures which I believe the current government is doing despite serious handicaps. To adapt that famous quote by Albert Einstein, it would be madness to expect to be doing the same thing about our fuel situation and not remain in the same dissatisfactory position.

The current situation requires supportive action, understanding, patience and sacrifice from the generality of Nigerians, as one would expect from good members of a family whose breadwinner suddenly lost their job or had their wages reduced drastically; and who, not of their own making, lacks the savings to cushion the resultant hardship for the family. Since the NNPC, our entire oil sector and the way business is done in it are undergoing reform, we must understand that the fruits of reform, like every other fruit, can taste sour until it ripens with the possibility of tasting sweet.

The real question should be: What should responsible and patriotic citizens do at a time like this – “a time that tries men’s souls,” to quote Thomas Paine?

I think the least should be to offer suggestions as to how the problems can be solved for the general good. And I do not see how calling for the resignation of Dr. Kachikwu without guaranteeing that the problems will suddenly disappear with his resignation and replacement or criticising the government without suggesting better steps than those being taken by it qualifies as a solution to the problems.

Curiously, some of these calls are coming even after Dr. Kachikwu has unveiled a holistic blueprint for reversing the current situation and working towards a lasting solution, as in the story entitled “My Story,

by Kachikwu,” published on page 6 of Daily Sun of April 2, 2018, which he should be supported to implement rather than harassed with excessive censure.

Oke, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja

NEW LIFE TO RSUST

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Governor Nyesom Wike breathes life into the ailing state university, writes Simeon Nwakaudu

rom the very day he was sworn in as Governor of Rivers State on May 29, 2015, Governor Nyesom Wike ensured that the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) received a breadth of new life. Governor Wike in his inauguration address took proactive steps to right the wrongs done to some academic staff of the institution by the immediate past administration.

In his inauguration address on May 29, 2015, Wike said: “As a government we shall not violate or tolerate the violation of the democratic and constitutional rights of Rivers State workers by any authority, be it public or private. In consequence therefore and in exercise of the powers vested in me as Visitor, I hereby direct the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology to immediately recall and reinstate to their duty posts with all their rights and privileges restored, all the academic staff of the university, who were purportedly disengaged from service on account of their membership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and participating in a legitimate strike called by the union”.

True to his pledge, all the RSUST lecturers who were illegally sacked by the immediate past administration were reinstated with full benefits.

The administration expended N713.3m to settle their outstanding allowances and salaries. The governor’s action restored academic harmony in the

Institution.

One of the first projects that Governor Wike embarked upon was the completion of the abandoned RSUST Faculty of Law Complex. That facility was left to rot for several years.

The state-of-the-art facility considered the best in the country has a standard auditorium, moot courts, digital library, traditional library, standard classrooms and offices.

Despite being in existence for over three decades, RSUST has no College of Medical Sciences.

Successive administrations in the state toyed with the idea of establishing a College of Medical Sciences for RSUST, but none succeeded. However, on April 9, 2016, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike took concrete steps to actualise the vision of training medical doctors at the RSUST. He laid the foundation stone for the RSUST College of Medical Sciences. The governor backed up the foundation laying ceremony with the release of funds for the take-off of the required infrastructural facilities of the College. He also released funds for the admission of students into the college, beginning in the next academic session.

The proposed College of Medical Sciences edifice at RSUST will contain administrative block, lecture rooms, Bio-Chemistry, Physiology, Anatomy and Haematology laboratories and an auditorium.

To lift the academic standards of the University, Governor Wike released funds for the accreditation exercises by the National Universities Commission

(NUC) for 17 programmes in the Institution. He has directed the university to ensure full accreditation of courses with interim accreditation.

Speaking during the 28th convocation ceremony of the school, he said: “Although I am pleased with the steady progress of the university, it is unacceptable for any of its programmes to be denied accreditation. Accordingly, I hereby direct the acting Vice- Chancellor to correct the deficiencies outlined by the Nigerian Universities Commission and ensure that the law programme and, indeed, all other programmes, move from interim to full accreditation status without any delay.”

The building projects of the Faculty of Management Sciences and that of Environmental Sciences abandoned by previous administrations will now be completed by the Wike administration. The governor announced the release of N1billion for the completion of these projects which will provide lecture rooms, offices and academic facilities to staff and students of the school.

In an address during the convocation ceremony, Justice Iche Ndu (rtd), Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the 12th Governing Council of the university stressed: “The council, management, and entire staff and students of the university declare unequivocally that: ‘Here is an Education Friendly Governor ‘.

Here is a governor that has passion for academic advancement and has a sense of purpose, and is prepared to take the university to greater heights in the pursuit of ‘excellence and creativity ‘.

The acting vice- chancellor of RSUST, Prof Blessing Didia expressed gratitude to the governor for the improved funding of academic activities in the institution, prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements of staff and the priority given to tertiary education by his administration. For the governor, RSUST will continue to enjoy the priority attention of his administration despite the prevailing economic downturn. He said: “I want to assure you that we shall not fail in our commitment to support the university to maintain and grow its facilities, attract and retain quality faculty, and provide a world-class educational experience for our students.”

Most importantly, Governor Wike appointed a seasoned academic, Professor Blessing Didia as acting vice -chancellor to bring his managerial experience to bear on the needs of the institution. Closely related is the appointment of a properly selected 12th Governing Council under the chairmanship of a retired Chief Judge of the State, Justice Iche Ndu to guide the school to the next level.

Like every other sector in Rivers State, RSUST is enjoying a new lease of life. The infrastructure and academic programmes of the school have been revived in the overall interest of the state.

The rousing welcome Governor Wike received all through the 28th convocation ceremony was indicative of the fact that the students appreciate his positive investments in the school.

Nwakaudu wrote from Port Harcourt

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

EDITORIAL THE CHALLENGE OF REBUILDING THE NORTH-EAST

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Rebuilding the devastated areas requires the commitment of all the critical stakeholders

ven though some villages and towns in the North-east, especially in the troubled Borno State, are still under the control of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, the presidency recently disclosed that a huge sum of about $9 billion would be needed for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of broken infrastructure in the six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

The figure was a product of the recent pre-financing assessment jointly carried out by the federal and states governments alongside the global partners the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union - at a workshop in Abuja. Incidentally, the figure was more or less the same with that of the Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiatives (PCNI), Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.) who recently gave N2 trillion as an estimate for rebuilding the devasted areas of the country.

Hopefully, the global partners, whose members have signed an agreement to smoothen the valuation, will support the WE URGE THOSE WHO efforts toward the MADE PLEDGES TO reconstruction of THE AFFECTED STATES the affected states in AND COMMUNITIES addition to the offer TO MAKE GOOD THEIR of $800 million by the COMMITMENT TO World Bank.

REBUILDING THE NORTHHowever, comEAST mendable as these ongoing efforts might appear, the magnitude of devastation of public and private property, infrastructure, businesses and, by extension, the general day- to- day life of the people in the affected areas is huge. Therefore, we strongly believe that the task of rebuilding the damaged areas will require a strong commitment by the critical stakeholders, including the highly politically active Borno Elders Group, if anything worthwhile is to be achieved.

After almost a decade of a reign of violence in the North-east geo-political zone, virtually all public and

Letters to the Editor

private institutions like schools, hospitals, markets, police stations, local government secretariat buildings, roads, bridges, culverts and even electricity poles supplying electricity had been laid waste.The worst hit state is Borno where even privately owned infrastructure like palaces of traditional rulers, mosques, churches, etc., were all destroyed by the terrorists. So bad was the situation that at a point, the state government had to halt academic activities in public/private primary and secondary schools in the state capital, and sent all the students back home not only for their safety but also to accommodate families displaced by the insurgents from different parts of the state.

N T H I S DAY

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NIGERIA: A WORSENING SITUATION

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ur dead freedom fighters and nationalists are poltergeists, now. They are turning in their graves over the parlous state of our economy and arrested industrial and technological development. Today’s Nigeria is not what they envisaged, envisioned, and dreamed about during the early years of our political independence.

Their dreams about Nigeria were not misplaced as Nigeria is immensely blessed with both human and material resources.

Are countries like Japan and Malaysia, which are far less endowed with natural resources than Nigeria, not technologically and economically advanced? Nigeria’s problems stem from the fact that great political ideologues with probity have not led our country since it attained political sovereignty in 1960. Let us reflect on the Singaporean developmental model, and the great role played by its national leader.

Sadly, here, political sages like late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe didn’t occupy the presidential seat during their earthly sojourns. The British imperialists laid the foundation of the imposition of leaders on the populace and political godfatherism when they helped Alhaji Tafawa Balewa to become the prime minister in 1960. Since then, ill-prepared politicians without lofty visions and pragmatic ideas have been holding sway in Nigeria. Their colourless and inept political leaderships interspersed with brutal, fascist, and dictatorial military regimes caused our underdevelopment and stalled democratic growth.

ow that the situation seems to be normalising, we urge those who made pledges to the affected states and communities to make good their commitment to rebuilding the North-east. By that they will be sending a very strong message to the Boko Haram insurgents that they have not achieved their nefarious agenda. Apart from developing the infrastructure, human development must also not be neglected. The federal and Borno State governments as well as other stakeholders involved in the reconstruction must give adequate attention to how they can give the children the requisite education that would help them excel in life.

Unless drastic steps are taken to fix the affected areas, many people in Borno may be forced to leave the state. That can only make the terrorists to claim victory. Yet as an official of the United Nations said recently, if we build industries and employ those who decide to go to school, the young ones who may still habour inclinations to terrorism would start envying the ones who go to school. That is the best way to defeat terrorism.

Therefore, it is heart warming that the United Nations has promised to increase its presence in Borno and other North-eastern states devastated by Boko Haram. Well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and other humanitarian groups should support the effort generously.

Since 1999, Nigeria has had unbroken civilian leadership.

The PDP, which lays claims to being the largest political party in Africa, ruled the country for 16 uninterrupted years. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who ruled the country at different times on the platform of PDP, frittered away the opportunities offered to them to better the lot of Nigerians, and transform the country. The late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who ruled Nigeria on the platform of PDP, evinced tendencies of an able leader; however, death abridged and abbreviated his stay in office.

APC, which is a coalition of some political parties, wrested political power from PDP since millions of Nigeria were disenchanted with Dr. Jonathan’s bumbling leadership, tardiness, and visionlessness. And APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, rode on the crest of his incorruptibility to win the last presidential poll. Millions of Nigerians bought into his change agenda and slogan. During his reign as the military head of state of Nigeria, his glowering and stern look, and inflexible draconian laws instilled fears into the minds of the populace. Until now, he was regarded as the political messiah that will right the wrongs in our country, and fix its multifarious problems.

But now, sadly, we are witnessing Buhari’s unravelling, which has surprised and amazed millions of Nigerians. The country under his watch is drifting into chaotic situation and troubled waters. Are members of the APC top echelon aware that being a political party in power is different from playing

BUHARI AND THE NORTH-EAST

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he majority of the people in the North-east have confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari’s political will to win the war against Boko Haram, and they are very happy with the level of successes recorded by the military so far. The people of the Northeast are experiencing the difference between the sloppy handling of the war by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and the doggedness and commitment being shown by the Buhari government.

President Buhari is getting a massive approval from the northeast because people can now see that the military is in the offensive mode- taking the war to Boko Haram, not waiting for Boko Haram to come. Now Boko Haram insurgents are being chased out of villages and their camps in bushes, unlike before when they were capturing big towns and annexing local government areas and renaming them.

Anyone who comes to the northeast now will see the obvious resolve of

the present government to win the war- real-time pictures of success by the military; confidence on the faces of the soldiers on ground; the number of war planes and their activities in skies especially from Yola airport will certainly tell any doubting Thomases that Buhari is matching his words with action. When the 2015 presidential election was postponed, a foreign journalist told Buhari that the election was postponed because of Boko Haram.

Buhari answered, “What is Boko Haram?” A commonsense definition of that statement by Buhari is that Boko Haram does not have the capacity to dictate to Nigeria.

The people of the northeast are with Buhari, because they now see the Nigerian soldiers are very confident; fully kitted; well-armed and tackling Boko Haram head-on. Buhari is winning the Boko Haram war; the people of the northeast are happy and have strong confidence in the commander-in-chief.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Anuforom: Accurate Weather Reports Prevent Air Disasters The Director General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, says improved and accurate weather reports have prevented air crashes in Nigeria, adding that the agro-allied industry and other sectors also depend hugely on weather reports. He spoke to Chinedu Eze. Excerpts with them but not NIMET. But I am happy that they do confess that we gave them the weather report. I am also happy that you started by saying many if they were not respecting or maybe they were not respecting. There is no basis for that for not respecting our weather forecast because NIMET is ISO 9001 certified for aeronautical services and after the certification in 2013. We have done two maintenance audit exercise and we scaled through.

We are about to start the third one because every year they must come to sort of recertify you. So we are ISO 9001 certified and of course the ISO 9001 certification was initiated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and WMO. In fact, I think it was ICAO that said by November this year, any country that doesn’t have the ISO 9001 certification the airlines are not obliged to use their weather report. But we have gotten it since three years now. We are about to do the third maintenance audit.

In fact, the auditors are expected to arrive by next week. So if you are ISO 9001 certified, there is no other standard to aspire to that is the highest standard. And, of course, at the time we did it we were the 5th African country to get that certification, so it is not an easy thing. Although now more countries in Africa have gotten it, like South Africa, Egypt, Cape Verde and others.

Sometime in February this year after the Harmattan season there was prolonged low visibility that led to the cancellation of flights to many airports in the country.

What could have been responsible for this?

Thank you so much. It is the same dust, what really happened is that the source region from where this dust comes is located in Niger, Chad, even the Sahara desert. So it remained active in the sense that dust will still be emitted and of course the direction of the wind remained North-easterly, which means that the same condition that existed at the peak of the Harmatarn still existed. In other words, dust was still being raised in the source region in the Sahara desert, and then the wind was still blowing it from the North-easterly direction into Nigeria. So much of that dust must have accumulated and remained in our atmosphere for some time. That was exactly why we still had reduced visibility as if it was, of course you can say it is still Hamattarn, because it is that condition that makes it Harmattan.

During that time was there a warning to the airlines about the bad weather?

Yes, of course. Our duty is to monitor, but actually in particular we use our satellite image receiver because there is usually a time lag between the dust being emitted into the atmosphere at the source region and the time it gets down to us here in Nigeria. This is so because it started from the north-eastern part of the country, the northern most part of the country though get it first and that is Maiduguri and there it comes down to us here.

So using our satellite image receiver we can detect when the source region is active and we are issuing weather alerts for those who are on our mailing list.

There seem to be a lot of collaboration between NIMET and other countries in the West African sub-region. How were you able to do this?

Now the beginning of the story is actually the outbreak of Ebola. You all know what happened during that Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, there were international medical volunteers and other agencies who wanted to come to Sierra Leone to help in containing the Ebola outbreak. But before they came they said they needed weather forecast everyday to enable them plan their relief activities. Now Sierra Leone didn’t have the capacity to do that, so they approached World Maritime Organisation (WMO) and then WMO approached us and wanted to know whether we have the capacity and are willing to help them. We said of course we could help them. So from that time we started giving them daily whether forecast recorded in our weather studio here till even today.

The Sierra Leone media showed their daily weather forecast produced by us, so that is how it is. So when there was also flooding it was the same thing. Now coming to whether it is commercial, you know that in WMO, we are all member states of WMO. Sierra Leone is a member state, Nigeria is a member and of course you know we are about 191members and territories of WMO. So there is what is calledVoluntary Corporation Programme(VCP), where members bringing their capabilities for the benefit of all, much as they did not pay, at WMO end, we have argued that it should be credited to us. They can evaluate how much it really costs and it will be credited to Nigeria as contribution we are making to the organisation.

In a direct sense of you pay and take the service or I give you the service and you pay me, in that direct sense of making that money, no, but in the sense that it is been credited to us in the

Anuforom

world body is a big plus for the country and we are happy it is happening. You know all those things give the country political mileage. For instance, you know at United Nations even if your country population is 500, 000 your vote is as much as the vote of China even if you are the most backward country, your vote is equal to the vote of United States. So for us to give such assistance, it gives us political mileage.

With that there is nowhere Sierra Leone will vote against Nigeria anywhere. So this is how international corporation works. Indeed, it is a lot of gain for us and we are capable. All it takes us is to assemble our forecasters, they stream the TV broadcast everyday via Internet.

Do you charge the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency for the weather report you make available to them?

The answer is no. Why? The reason is that if you look at the NIMET Act we do get some monies through NAMA and NAMA shares some fees for over flight charges, so NIMET gets 10 per cent of that. What NAMA pays is for cost recovery, because it is not really commercial. I have argued that, that 10 per cent revenue NIMET is getting is not representative of the value we are bringing to the table but the law is the law. So if I have opportunity to amend it, I have told people that look we should get anything not less than 20 per cent to 25 per cent then it will be bit more nearer to the actual value of the service NIMET is giving to the system.

Is it not possible to amend the Act? I am aware that there is a process of reviewing the Act of aviation agencies. But again you know how things are, even that one we are getting, I am sorry to say, but if you give some of our sister parastatals, they will say that NIMET shouldn’t get anything because my legal department that participated in it. They came back and said that some people from our

sister agencies are kicking. I don’t know what they are kicking for. So we are used to it, it has been like that even right from the creation of NIMET. Once the creation of NIMET during Kema Chikwe (former Aviation Minister), I was her special assistant. We went to Council three times before it came, at some point when everything was okay, the President then said minister go and tell me how you will fund this your new agency. So she came back and then created a small committee of the heads of NAMA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at that time, NIMET was not in existence, it was still a department. So, she told them that you people should go and work out how this our new agency would work. It took a very long time because there was some level of foot dragging, until she compelled them to give her some figures, so that was how the 10 per cent came about. The director of NIMET then told her that the 10 per cent cannot be the representative of what NIMET is doing, that we should get higher than that. So she said why don’t we start with 10 per cent.

That was how it all started.

We have observed that many foreign pilots that operate into the country do not always adhere to weather reports until recently and this has caused major incidents, one involving Air France flight on its way to Port Harcourt from Lagos and KLM flight that wanted to land at Kano Airport to pick passengers. Is there any punishment for not abiding by weather reports?

You know that the system is structured in a particular way. There is division of labour, ours is to give this report, we have no authority whatsoever to control how it is used, it is not our duty. That is all I will say, it is outside the jurisdiction of NIMET to compel pilot or to punish pilot. Of course if a pilot commits an offence, I think it is the job of the NCAA to deal

How do you test-run your equipment to ensure they are working and efficient?

We have the instrument calibration laboratory that is ready and functional because we are already using it to calibrate our own equipment.

I think we even did one calibration job for Ghana Met agency. We talked to ourselves and said we must move things ahead, you must aspire to go higher, and higher all the time, so the management said okay this workshop, we want to make sure that we are doing things at international standard and the purpose of that is part of our commercialisation where we render services that can earn us money. We now brought in a consultant, and they told us that if we want ISO 9001, this your building has to be reconfigured, so we needed to do some design changes, that is what is going on now. So when we finish that, we now invite the auditors to come and audit us, that one is called ISO 17025 calibration.

Don’t you think there should be a legislation that would make it compulsory that there should weather report before some structures are established?

I am not a legislator, neither am I a lawyer but I believe that. In fact, that is our desire. By the time I had made that move that even in buildings, before you can put up a building of a certain magnitude, there must be some sort of certification, a seal to show that yes this person has obtained authentic weather climate report to enable proper design. In fact, if you listened to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, did you see that he is beginning to work in that direction.

That is one success I think we are taking away from this exercise today.

If something drastic happens, God forbid, say questions should be asked, you all are in aviation, anytime there is incident or accident, the first question people will ask is, how was the weather.

If you remember the Sosoliso, Dana, crash the first question people asked was how was the weather? Even all these helicopter crashes we had in recent times, as soon as I hear it, I called my people to give me the weather report in order to arm myself because I know that the powers that be will soon call me to ask what was the weather report?

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15.04.2016

‘Romantic Scenes Are Difficult to Do’ Popular Nollywood actor, Okechukwu Ukeje, better known as OC Ukeje, who recently featured in a movie titled ‘Remember Me’, a film produced by talented Nollywood actress, Uru Eke, in this interview with Mary Ekah, talks about his role in the movie and the challenges that come with being an actor, among others I have to commend how far we have come but I also think that there are elements that need work.

There are more trained practitioners getting involved in every level but there are also more famous people posing as actors. There are glossier pictures but there are still sound issues. There are still proper scripting issues, we are still battling with the distribution problem games. A lot needs to be in place. When it isn't a proper (closed) set, there are tons of people in the room anticipating the kiss and trying to judge if you're a good kisser or not. So you just want it done and over with. You are also being conscious that it has to be a good screen kiss. So that it is tasteful. You have to worry about hygiene when you want to do those scenes. So much as it seems like some level of enjoyment, it has its sides that are tricky.

You have been on the front of the screen for quite some time now. Are you ever going to feature behind the scenes as a producer or director?

I intend to produce at some point. I think it is necessary to ask the right questions about it though. And I'm trying to do that now.

So, yes, in due time.

How is life as a responsible married man?

It is a tall order to stay responsible especially when you do the kind of work that involves all sorts. But I think that God has helped me so far. I think that I have also tried my best.

OC Ukeje

Why did you partake in the production of the movie ‘Remember Me’?

Let me start by saying that I liked the fact that the script was written with a lot of dialogue. And it was good as well. On top of that a personal friend was producing her first film. So I was going to oblige Uru Eke, who happened to be the producer of the movie ‘Remember Me’. It was cemented by the fact that Izu Ojukwu was directing which would be the second production with him since 2007.

Let’s talk about money and figures, what is the least and most amount you ever got for your job as a thespian?

What you get paid varies. It depends on a bunch of things; time, location, relationships, mileage and sometimes you do some jobs at no cost. So sometimes I have no lower limit. As far as upper limit goes.

Was it easy deciding you were going to be an entertainer? What were your parents’ thoughts about such?

I thought I'd be a medical doctor. But I knew that singing was something I knew how to do and I did it to the point that it opened the doors to acting and other avenues. So, I didn't have a choice per say. And my mum has been supportive from day one actually.

She let me do all I wanted to do.

You played the role of Michael in the movie, is there any similar qualities you share with the character?

I honestly don't think we are similar in any way. I think I used more external influences than anything from my personality.

Are there any of your past jobs in any way like ‘Remember Me’?

I think some of the works I have done have their own unique messages. The themes are generally different. So I can't say there's any film like ‘Remember Me’. However, I think that the weight I feel this film has, is also the sort of weight I have seen in films like White Waters and Confusion Na Wa to mention a few.

You have been part of recent blockbuster hits in Nigeria. Do you think we are finally getting it right?

I have to commend how far we have come but I also think that there are elements that need work. There are more trained practitioners getting involved in every level but there are also more famous people posing

How fulfilled are you thus far?

I’m very contented with what I do. That's the highest level of fulfillment. I'm at peace with what I do now. And I have gone past wondering if it is what I'm supposed to be doing. The other things that tie to money and influence are very subjective.

OC Ukeje

as actors. There are glossier pictures but there are still sound issues. There are still proper scripting issues, we are still battling with the distribution problem. Nonetheless we have been tremendously helped by the social media age especially because our work seems to travel well. It may not always account for Naira and kobo but it is helping. So we are still on the journey.

At the past Headies Awards, you presented a category with Lilian Osoro and you made a joke about 'not having to kiss her again in movies, since she got married'. Was that just a line for the acts or do you really enjoy the kissing drafted in your movies?

What people do not know is that romantic scenes are difficult to do. It isn't fun and

How many scripts do you get in a year or per week?

Oh my days! It is nonstop. I don't take note of how many. I just know the feeling based on the fact that I have to read them to know if it is work I want to do. So, I'm pretty blessed to be getting a lot of potential work.

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‘Kingdom Anthem is My Message’ A gospel music artiste and member of the Tehila Crew, Nkiruka Ogboruche, popularly known as Enkay, recently released her first solo album, “The Kingdom Anthem”, which she says is her personal message to the world and an expression of her commitment to exalt God for the opportunity to minister to millions all over the world. She spoke with Mary Ekah on the inspiration behind her album, among others In fact, the whole of the songs on the album culminate into one message which is after all said and done, in every aspect of our lives, whatever our journeys are, whether good or bad, we should not lose focus of the fact that the Kingdom of God is where we ought to be at the end of the day and that is why it is titled, ‘The Kingdom Anthem’.

It is generally believed that gospel music does not bring money like the secular music, so why did you decide to settle for that in the first place?

The truth is that it is a ministry, it is a call and it is something that I have been told to do by God and I cannot do any other thing other than this. It is my message to the world in songs. It is like being a preacher but doing it in songs. So whether it pays or not, I am doing what I am called to do.

Tell us a bit about your journey into gospel music?

I grew up in family where music was an integral part. I could remember vividly recording songs on a cassette recorder with my father. He had a bottle and a spoon that he was hitting as instruments and he made us sing three songs in three different Nigerian languages and we kept repeating that recording as long as we wanted. So that kind of sowed a seed in my heart concerning music and when I got to the university, it was harnessed as well because I had the opportunity of being part of one of the best choirs at that time in Abia State University and on that platform, I kind of got a good definition of what I was called for. Different choirs in different churches gave me that opportunity and as we left school, I discovered my own sound ultimately. So that has been the metamorphosis of my journey into music.

Besides music, what else do you do?

I run my own business. I was working with a multinational company for some time and after which I left the company to focus on my music. I was a manager with Guinness Nigeria for 10 years.

So why did you abandon such a lucrative job for a venture you were not so sure of?

Well, it was not abandonment, it was just a decision to turn a page and take a step away from the norm and start something new and concentrate more because I didn’t have enough time for other things in my life. So, I needed to change my focus and concentrate more on things that I considered important.

That must have been hard decision for you.

Right?

Yes, it took me many months to finally take that decision.

You have been fully into music ministration for a while now. Will you say you are happy you took that decision?

There is a fulfillment and joy that comes from obedience – doing what you know you have been called to do at a point in your life. You feel restless when you don’t take the right step at the right time. So I am happy irrespective of whatever circumstance that I find myself today. I may not earn much or have all the connections that I desire but I know that I am happy that I obeyed God and all of those things will fall into place at the right time.

When did you start music professionally?

I started music professionally in 2010 with the Tehila Crew.

Is anyone in your family a singer too?

Yes, two of my siblings are very good singers but they are not singing for a living. They have other things doing even though they still sing very well and are both based abroad and they are blessed with good voices.

Enkay

How do you manage your voice?

Recently, I started taking lessons so I have a vocal coach that I work with regularly and I also have exercises that I do. I am also still in the process of learning because music is a wide, wide filed and you want to be good both theoretically and in practice so I am trying to learn the theory of music and to play instruments as well because if I’m able to play instruments, that makes me a better singer.

Now can we talk about what you are doing presently?

I just concluded work on my debut solo album called ‘The Kingdom Anthem’, a 10-track album that features the likes of Sammie Okposo and I just put up a video for one of the tracks, “Yes You are the Lord”. It was shot in London and directed by multiple-award winning director and filmmaker, Uvi Orogun of Mediamind Universal and it is out already in the town.

Subsequently, there are other videos that are going to be done from this album and I am also working on a few more songs, so there is quite a number of things lined up for me.

Which of your sings do you like most?

That’s a very hard question. You know sometimes when I listen to one of my songs I am like that is my best song but when I listen to anther again, I am like I prefer this to the other. So I don’t really have a favourite in any of my songs, I love all my songs because each of them is born out of a story and I cherish all of them.

Have you always sung gospel?

Yes, I have always sung gospel music and I will continue with it no matter what.

Can you talk briefly about the group you belonged before now and why did you take the decision to break free?

The group is known as Tehila Crew. Tehila is a Hebrew word for praise and we are signed on to Tehila Record and I am still a part of the Tehila Crew, I have not broken off from the group. But this is my own sound, my own expression, and a message that is given to me that I want to express outside of Tehila Crew.

This is just my message, my own individual message different from that of the group. So if you listen to Tehila Crew sound and listen to mine too, the two are completely different because Tehila Crew focuses on Afro and traditional African sounds while mine is a fusion of alternative rock, R&B, hip hop and soul, meeting the deep spiritual needs of the diverse audience.

personal thing, won’t it distract your focus on the group?

Not at all, it is a matter of prioritising and knowing what to do at every given time. The two ministries are important to me and I put in as much effort into the group as I put in my personal thing. So it is something that I am solidly behind even as my own message is also very important. And also there are a lot of people in the group and so I don’t necessarily have to be there always. There are capable hands that can carry on the message and vision of the group.

Now that you have come up with your

How long has the group existed?

Tehila group was born in 2010. And I am putting out my personal album just this year, so I have been with the crew for like six years before I decided to come out with my personal message.

What inspires your songs?

God does. That is just the nutshell. He manifests in different aspects. There is a bit about the family and the need for us to have God in our families. God also reflects in my personal work with Him, so there are songs that sang specifically to Him in praise and showing dependent on God. My song, “I need you”, shows that you are nothing without God.

You are a wife, mother, businesswoman and then a music artiste. How do you manage with all these?

Wow! It has been God’s grace all along because there are periods I will leave the house, my kids gone to school and by the time I come back they are already asleep all because I had a recording to do somewhere or had to minster somewhere and all that and then got home very late. Joggling all these has really not been easy but I thank God for a supportive husband; somebody that actually understands what I am called to do and then allows one or two lapses and we are able to complement each other to make it work. And that is one of the reasons that I decided to quit my regular job so that I can have enough time to regulate the things in my life.

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13th Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition Heralds TREM’s Bishop 71st Birthday Mary Ekah Preparations for the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria are in top gear as more and more participants are showing interest for it. The competition, which entries opened since March 28 as part of activities lined up to mark the 71st birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, is still very open.

The topic for this year’s competition, which entries ends on May 27, is “The State of the Nigerian Nation: Redefining Our Values”.

The competition, orgainsers say aimed at contributing to the educational sector in the country and also to encourage young Nigerians to excel in their world by developing the ability to think through issues and make a change in their world even at their tender age. Over the years the competition has been very successful in helping these youths to develop analytical and problem-solving skills.

Like in previous years, the star winner school gets three Internet ready desktop computers and a printer, while the student goes home with a trophy, Laptop, N100, 000.00 cash and a plaque. The first runner up school gets two Internet ready desktop computers and a printer and the student goes home with a cash prize of N75, 000.00 with a plaque.

The second runner up school gets an Internet ready computer, while the student gets N50, 000.00 cash prize and a plaque.

For participation in the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students, the entry requirements include: Essay of maximum of 2000 words, a passport photograph of the student, full name, address, contact telephone number, class, school and name and telephone contact of the principal. Essay could be submitted through email to essay@trem.org or by post to The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/ Anthony Oke Bus Lagos.

The prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to the winners at the 17th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the Muson Centre (Shell Hall) by 10.00 am prompt.

Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) a.k.a. Power in the Word with over 200 branches in Nigeria and across the globe. He is an

Okonkwo presenting a trophy to the winner of last year's essay competition, Emeto Chisom

Apostle to this generation, whose life has impacted millions around the world. A father to many, and a pastor to pastors across the globe, Okonkwo is also a dynamic conference speaker, crusade evangelist, a national spokesman for Nigeria, and an advocate of balanced Christianity.

As the host of ‘Power in the Word’ a life-transforming television broadcast series, Okonkwo’s Holy Spirit inspired insight into the Word of God is remarkably outstanding and empowers millions in Nigeria and across the globe. He is also the host of 'Power for the Wise' a daily devotional programme on radio that is transforming lives on a daily basis. He is also an author whose books have been life-transforming tools in the hands of those who have been privileged to come in

contact with them.

Convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International (CCMI) and a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Okonkwo is a man driven by the passion to show the love of God to humanity in every way the Lord enables him. This passion gave birth to the Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to alleviating the plight of the less-privileged in the society through donations to hospitals, establishment of free vocational training centres, running free preparatory schools for students in the secondary schools, and facilitating regular public enlightenment campaigns on health issues amongst others. He also pioneers a

scholarship fund for talented students.

To contribute his quota to national development he started the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in 2000 and the lecture has grown to become a major contributor to government policies as it brings together seasoned men and women to discuss burning national issues. Also to encourage the writing skills of children in secondary school and also to help them become solution providers to the nation, the Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition was born.

In 2012, he was honour with a National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) by the Federal Government. Okonkwo is married to Bishop Peace Okonkwo and they are blessed with a daughter, Uche.

‘Increase in Shopping Malls will Boost Nigerian Economy’ Against the backdrop of an increase in the number of shopping malls in the country in recent times, one of Nigeria’s foremost real estate companies and Manager of the Lagos City Mall, Ibukun Efuntayo & Co has said the increase was good for the Nigerian economy.

Since the beginning of this year, more than five upscale shopping malls have opened shops in the country while some existing ones are expanding their outlets across the length and breadth of the country.

For instance, Shoprite, a leading South Africa mass retail supermarket, has been opening more outlets in the country, following its successful debut in Lekki, Lagos in 2005 while Spar, another hypermarket, which also begun operations in the country in the 2000s has also recently opened a new outlet in the Ilupeju area of Lagos to enhance shopping experience of Nigerians among others.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer, Ibukun Efuntayo & Co, Mr. Emmanuel Efuntayo said the coming of the new malls signposts positive investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy. He stated that as much as the malls provided convenient shopping experience to shoppers, it would also provide job opportunities for Nigerians and boost government tax revenues.

Lagos City Mall

He attributed the rise in number of shopping malls in the country to changing lifestyle

as more people find it more convenient to purchase all their needs in one shop than

go from shop to shop.

“The coming of these malls is good for our economy. It goes on to show that our economy is developing and that we have the population that can support these malls. Shopping malls provide that convenience where shoppers can buy all that they want under the same roof while being entertained at the same time, so it’s good especially for those upwardly mobile people. Beside all these benefits, the malls provide direct employment to thousands of Nigerians and that is a good development,” Efuntayo said.

The Chief Executive Officer also hinted that the Lagos City Mall was poised to continue to offer quality shopping experience to visitors at the mall. He described the Lagos City Mall as a one-stop shopping and entertainment centre where friends and families can visit to unwind. Apart from the quality experience offered by the mall, he said the mall was strategically located for shopping comfort.

He urged visitors and residents of Lagos to patronise the mall for their lifestyle shopping and entertainment. He said the mall would create more fun and social hub for the upscale south west of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Island.

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Tinubu

Tinubu: The Political Wizard Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at 64, is a paradoxical puzzle to his detractors and a centrepiece of brilliance, to those who know where he is coming from, writes Solomon Elusoji On a bright, sunny day in January 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) took its presidential campaign tour to the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, a key state in that year’s presidential elections. There was the usual mammoth crowd and speeches, but one man was the galvaniser – the national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His admirers call him Jagaban (Leader of warriors).

Tinubu, who had co-spearheaded the coalition of the Action Congress (AC) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to form a bigger party capable of matching the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls, was the chief magician that masterminded Nigeria’s most important democratic ‘coups’, till date.

“God in His wisdom placed me in the position to recognise the change that was needed and to help effectuate that change,” Tinubu would later say in 2016. “What was accomplished in 2015 was not a singular effort.

It was done through the collective love and labour of millions of Nigerians.”

Born on March 29, 1952 in the city of Lagos, Tinubu attended St. John's Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children's Home School in Ibadan. He went to the United States in 1975, where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois and then at Chicago State University. While at Chicago, he contested for the President of the Accounting Society in his final year and won. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Tinubu went on to work for American

companies Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells, and GTE Services Corporation, before returning to Nigeria in 1983, where he obtained work with Mobil Oil Nigeria, rising to become an executive of the company.

His Nigerian political career began in 1992, when he was elected to the Nigerian Senate representing the Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic, via the now defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), of which he was one of the founding members. After the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections were annulled, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy group- National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which mobilised support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of the June 12 results. After several assaults,

In politics, you have been a formidable force, helping to put together a great political party that won power at the centre in Nigeria.You have proved to be a true hero of democracy, a light that cannot be concealed

harassments and detentions, he was forced to flee the country in 1994 and only returned in 1998 after the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule.

In the run-up to the 1999 elections, Bola Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo. He won the AD primaries for the Lagos State gubernatorial elections in competition with Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu, a former Minister of Works and Housing. In April 1999, he stood for the position of Executive Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected.

While in office, he made huge investment on education, rehabilitated roads and constructed new ones, in order to meet the challenges of the fast growing Lagos. He won several awards for himself for his excellent performance as Governor, in a tenure that lasted for eight years (1999- 2007).

On the March 29 this year, Tinubu celebrated his 64th birthday and the national community was agog with high praise for a man who has paid his dues. President Muhammadu Buhari sent him a birthday wish, praising his doggedness, forthrightness, generosity and diligence, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

The statement read: “The president assures the national leader that his patriotism and commitment to democracy and good governance, and his generous spirit will always be remembered and appreciated by generations

of Nigerians.

“He prays that the Almighty God will grant the Asiwaju long life, good health, wisdom and prosperity as he steadfastly supports efforts to promote the development of Nigeria.”

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, expressed his birthday wishes to Tinubu, describing him as a formidable political force who has brought changes to the political landscape of Nigeria, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan.

“On this joyous occasion of your birthday, we in the House of Representatives salute you, great leader, for the milestones you have attained in Nigeria,” the statement read. “Your feats are bold and exceptional; from business to governance and politics. As a governor, you made sweeping reforms that till date, your successors are still building on and making Lagos State proud.

“In politics, you have been a formidable force, helping to put together a great political party that won power at the centre in Nigeria. You have proved to be a true hero of democracy, a light that cannot be concealed! As you mark yet another year, my prayer for you is that God will continue to consolidate your efforts and crown them all with success.”

Today, despite all efforts to rubbish Tinubu’s monumental political legacy, he continues to soar, persisting in being a paradoxical puzzle to his detractors and a centrepiece of brilliance, to those who know where he is coming from.

Tinubu is simply a political wizard!

33/ENTREPRENEUR

15.04.2016

‘Reading Will Enhance Development’ Founder, Ignite Africa Leadership Foundation, Kolawole Oyeyemi, in this interview with Mary Ekah, talks about his reawakening drive to make reading a habit in Nigeria particularly in the younger generation and his conviction that this will help the nation achieve its developmental goals in Lagos but they were not interested until the new government made library periods compulsory in schools. We were then reinvited by the schools wherein we have our book clubs today. Our book clubs are not like most clubs in schools with focus on entertainment and music. Most of the initial schools we approached were not interested initially before we had the breakthrough. In Rivers State, it was the passion of one of our volunteers who went on his National Youth Service Corps mandatory service that helped in activating the book clubs in that state.

We were thinking of bringing him back to Lagos but he said, “look, the need for book clubs in some rural areas in Rivers State is higher than that of Lagos” and he would prefer to work in establishing book clubs in Rivers. That’s how we started in Rivers.

How was growing up like?

I grew up in a family that had a father who was a reader, who loved books so much and I learnt reading from him at a very tender age. I wasn’t opportune to attend any Montessori or private school.

I attended public schools all the way till I graduated. However, my intelligence level was, to the glory of God, different from what you’d call the public school environment standard and it was purely because I got into books very early. I read the famous African Writer’s Series before I knew what they were even writing about because the books were there and so I had to read. It improved my vocabulary, helped my diction, enhanced my level of understanding and gave me a fantastic global exposure into the world of the various writers whose works I read. By the time I got into secondary school, people thought I was this fantastic dude with an international school background.

Little did they know that I was just a local boy who had golden access to books. This tells me the power that the right knowledge can deliver to you. Not all knowledge gives power, only the right knowledge.

What strategies have you put in place to guarantee the continuity of this project and the Foundation?

Sustainability is important, I agree with you.

The first thing I can tell you is that as long as God gives me breathe, this vision will not die. Secondly, as long as I have people who are as passionate as I am, this programme will not die. The third point is that some other people who have tried to do these things have either tried to do it on their own or tried to do it for profit generation. This venture is strictly a not for profit initiative and is supported by my Church; The Chapel of Uncommon Grace. On the back of this, we are also open to partnerships from both corporate organisations and individuals. We have put strategies in place to pursue this.

If we have a good number of people who think the way we think, love God the way we do, love Nigeria and Nigerians the way we do, then we would not have any problem with sustainability.

What do you do presently?

I am General Manager, Business Development, S&D, MTN Nigeria, an author of five books; the latest of which is the first marketing book of its kind by any African; “Kill Or Get Killed; The Marketing Killer Instinct”; I am the Founder of Ignite Africa Leadership Foundation. The foundation is focused on raising a new ‘Can Do’ generation of Nigerians. My vision is to cause a revival of the progressive and timeless values of diligence, integrity, passion, and love for God, self, neighbour and nation in young Nigerians. This group will also be taught on the critical nature of the God factor in the pursuit of vision. My focus is on young people who want to be the best at whatever they choose to do; people who may have been born here but have a global mindset.

That is the desire I have and it was borne out of the way I was brought up.

How would your foundation help to achieve this desire of yours?

The final secondary school leaving certificate examinations in the last six years in Nigeria has yielded an average of 80 per cent failure rate. The vocabulary has changed from Pass Rate to Failure rates! This is a national tragedy! In Nigeria today, we have a lot of people who proudly carry around certificates they cannot defend. How do you explain a university graduate with supposedly good grades who cannot string together correct grammar? This is tragically amazing and totally different from what obtained when I was growing up. As a professional, I have had cause to interview candidates from different universities. Sadly, I found many totally unemployable. I then decided to investigate the source of this challenge and discovered it was foundational. To deal with it then was going to require that we tackle it from the source. When I was growing up, we had libraries in schools. We had library periods and teachers who encouraged us to read; there were public libraries with lots of books and we had bookshops to buy books from. The Publishing industry was also a thriving one with Longman, Macmillan, African University Press and lots of other publishing companies that ensured consistent availability of books to the reading publics. Today however, we no longer have the libraries. The bookshops are now very few and scantily stocked. Teachers are no longer reading and so are least interested in encouraging their students to read. Reading has lost its pride of place in the myriad of conflicting demands on the human time.

Oyeyemi

Then came technology and it looked like there was going to be a solution. However, we discovered that people would rather read the wrong stuff than read what would build their intellectual capacity to favourably compete in the knowledge economy. At Ignite Africa, we are focused at reversing this unwholesome trend and reviving the reading culture; getting people to read the right books again so that we can get Nigeria back to the era when other countries came to poach our intellectuals. We want to bring back what made us attractive enough to the whole world that triggered the ‘Brain Drain’. This is the essence of what we are trying to do at Ignite Africa.

We started with developing book clubs in schools in Rivers and Lagos states. We currently run over 60 book clubs across the two states and we have brought in over 4,000 books for these clubs. We had to buy and bring in these books from abroad because they were not available here; even books of our own local authors were not available in the quantity that we needed.

We followed this up with an online library www.igniteafricalibrary.org; a best in class library of global standard and just recently, we formally opened the physical version in Oregun, Lagos as well opened the office of the Foundation. Members of the public can register to borrow books from the library.

We have an electronic system to monitor

how the books go in and out of the library.

This is our contribution to making Nigerians get back to reading and hopefully we will begin to raise extremely intelligent young people we can all be very proud of.

There are many other issues bedeviling the growth and development of the country, so why did you choose to focus on education?

Let me put it this way: I am a Christian and my Holy Bible tells me my people perish not because of politics. They don’t perish because they could not afford cars and they even don’t perish because of poverty or sicknesses but people perish for lack of knowledge. If you understand the place of knowledge you would know that whether it is poverty, insurrection, health problems or whatever problem you can think of, the basic foundation is always ignorance. If we can solve the issue of ignorance, the problem is 50 per cent solved and the next thing would be to get people with the right knowledge to come into such situations. When you have the right knowledge, executing solutions to problems becomes very easy. The right knowledge is the foundation of everything when tackling problems especially ignorance.

What are some of the criteria for selecting the book clubs?

We knock on doors and our focus is on public schools. We went to several schools

Funding is important to any business or organisation. How do you to run this organisation?

First, we are saying very loud and clear we need help. I have carried this burden on my shoulders to a point where my accounts went red. My project director did the same and hers went red as well. It’s been a passionate disbursement of our little resources that has kept us going. We had some people supporting us by giving us books but we want more people. We need to bring in about 65,000 books. An international organisation has made us a free offer. What is delaying delivery is the fund to bring them in. If I have those books today, I can put a library in every local government area in Nigeria if the leadership of such local governments will agree to collaborate. I therefore use this opportunity to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians who love to see our nation rise again to join us to make this a reality. Nothing is too small. We need all the support we can get but more importantly, if we can get two or three or four to five people who would say, yes, I want to be part of this, the little funds they will bring in will certainly make a big difference. Apart from this, we have a resource centre that is meant to generate some income but it can only generate so much, just to ensure that this place runs. We require real capital to run this organisation and we need people to support us. Personally, I have dedicated my resources to this and when I am old my children will continue from wherever I stop.

My Church; The Chapel of Uncommon Grace will forever support this cause too. That is a guarantee.My appeal is for Nigerians to support us; get their children to join book clubs; encourage their children to read books and even give gifts of books to people so that we all can start reading and once again have a nation with brilliant people.

35/THISLIFE

15.04.2016

A Shining Light Flickers Out Shehu Othman I was going to post my birthday wishes to Rufa'i Ibrahim on his Facebook page earlier in the day on 2nd April, then procrastinated for no particular or apparent reason. I soon settled down to a specially prepared health porridge portion, which recipe I was anxious to share with him in view of his health challenges.

Dr. Kabiru Chafe, the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) historian, then phoned from Kaduna, and we got absorbed in our usually deep exploration of Nigeria's current dilemmas, something that I also usually engage in with Rufa'i on almost nightly basis until penultimate Thursday, 24th March.

Then his niece Faridah Mohammed interjected with a call, whose tidings I was not prepared for. In her typically diplomatic manner, she calmly announced that Uncle Rufa'i died a moment ago — exactly on his 66th birthday. I was instantly devastated and speechless, and still cannot recall how we ended the call.

I had known the previous night that he would go into hospital for therapy the next day, and although I had noticed he had become a bit withdrawn in the days since we last spoke on 24th March, nothing had indicated that this shining light was about to flicker out for good.

Tearfully, I also announced to our mutual friend Dr. Chafe the tragic news, and we briefly prayed for Rufa'i Ibrahim's departed soul. Dr. Chafe soon left me to privately grieve the sudden and sad passing of a brother who in decades past would come to be a mentor, friend and among my closest confidants. In between bursts of tears, I managed to alert relatives and friends.

He had been diagnosed with a very rare form of skin cancer (Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia Mycoma Fungerids/ Sezary) in October 2014; and after careful research I arranged for him to receive treatment in one of only half-a-dozen dedicated global specialist centres at the University of Frankfurt Teaching Hospital in Germany. The ailment appeared to have been contained, but he then relapsed and made a second visit in December 2015.

We all felt he was on the mend, only to relapse again soon after, and died of resulting complications at the Gwagwalada Hospital on Saturday, 2nd April, following brief therapeutic interventions, where he had taken himself.

Up until that moment, he had carried on bravely; he was never really bed-ridden.

If you phoned him and he didn’t say it, one couldn’t tell he was in any discomfort.

His early education was at Kobi Primary School, Bauchi (1957–60), and Dunama Primary School, Lafia (1961–63). He then attended Government Secondary School, Abuja (now Suleja), where he obtained Grade One in his WASC/ GCE exams in 1968, and proceeded to Boy’s High School in Gindiri, Plateau State, for his Higher School Certificate (1969–1970).

At Abuja, Rufa’i won the School’s annual table tennis championship four times (from Form 2-5) and the Final Year History Prize (1968), in addition to being the Table Tennis Captain from 1966-68 and the Food Prefect in 1968. Two years on, he would win the same table tennis and history prizes at Gindiri Boy’s High School as well. All these were beside his other leading roles in student politics, sports, and clubs snd societies, along with his hobbies of travelling and swimming, which he carried on to university.

An alumnus of the University of Ibadan (1971–74), where he graduated among the top in his set, and latterly Jos (1987–90), Rufa'i was a bright political scientist and lawyer, but better known as a leading radical journalist on the Nigerian Left — easily among the best of his generation. He went into journalism, first briefly at the NTA Jos and then the New Nigerian, after his oneyear NYSC in Oron in the then South–East State in July 1975.

Politically, he belonged to the leftist community that was centred and active around the now deceased historian Dr. Bala Usman of ABU, Zaria, where Rufa’i was a Graduate

Late Ibrahim

Assistant from October 1975 to May 1976.

Many came to refer to Rufa'i simply as Malam, following his passionate involvement as an ideologue and activist in the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)-era politics of the now late Malam Aminu Kano and its splinter grouping around Governors Abubakar Rimi (now also deceased) and Balarabe Musa of Kano and Kaduna States respectively during the Second Republic (1979-83).

In 1984, he was jailed for nine months without trial, or even the courtesy of a single interrogation, by the Buhari military junta for merely daring to pen a satirical column about the regime. For his sin, the Nigerian Gestapo once hurled him down into a pitchdark dungeon where he instantly fainted, but mercifully recovered hours later.

In the period before and after General Ibrahim Babangida's political transition that ended in fiasco in 1992, Rufa'i joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and sought vainly to be its national spokesman. Ethno-religious politics trumped competence and principles.

Having returned to the Daily Times from 1990-92 as Editorial Consultant, and qualified as a barrister during that time, he turned his energies to private legal practice and media consultancy to governments and non-state entities, notably, the Nasarawa State Government, the National Population Commission, and the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Commission) until June 2007.

After President Olusegun Obasanjo was succeeded by Umaru 'Yar Adua in 2007, the latter earmarked Rufa'i to initiate and chair a proposed innovation in policy-making in the form of a policy and strategic think-tank for the President. Alas, this was not to be, thanks to the machinations of a youthful insider who very probably saw all this as threatening his planned power grab and ambitions.

In 2010-11, Rufa’i led a small band of Nasarawa State citizens in a “Think-Tank”, including yours truly, to provide ideas, coherence and inspiration to what many

initially saw as a joke gubernatorial pursuit

by Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

Working largely quietly behind the scenes every weekday, and armed only with bubbling ideas and passion for change, they helped achieve what many felt was well-nigh impossible then — the defeat of an incumbent State Governor by someone on a 10-months old party platform barely known in the State — Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

In the event, this was the only governorship contest the CPC won in the 2011 General Elections. It was testament to the thesis by the famed American anthropologist, Margaret Mead (1901-1978), about the dynamic of change when she famously wrote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

This was Rufa’i Ibrahim’s credo, too.

Wherever he went before or thereafter, whether at the New Nigerian (Kaduna), Daily Times (Lagos), The Triumph (Kano), The Guardian on Sunday (Lagos), the Nigerian Standard (Jos), The Analyst magazine (Jos), the Nasarawa Publishing Company Limited, or the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, he left behind him indelible footprints of professionalism, integrity, personal honour, service and passionate commitment to the best Nigerian ideals.

His boldest journalistic exploits were when he was at the Daily Times, first as Political Correspondent, then Political Analyst, and finally Chief Leader Writer and Editorial Board Chairman; and as successive founder Editor of Sunday Triumph, The Triumph, The Guardian on Sunday, and The Analyst, where he immersed himself in utterly fearless investigative journalism and commentary.

Rufa'i Ibrahim was born into power and privilege in both the traditional and modern spheres, yet no one who ever had any dealings with him could fail to be disarmed by his humility, simplicity, integrity, patriotism, and unwavering empathy for, and commitment to, the poor and voiceless. His weekly column

on Peoples Daily, the national newspaper he co-founded in 2008 and of which he was until his demise its Director and Editor-in-Chief, was aptly titled "For the Masses".

Originally a Kanuri from Lafia but born in Bauchi, where he spent his formative years before going several places with his high-flyer civil servant father, Rufa'i was a formidably good man, who I’ve never ever known to raise his voice against anyone and yet was fiercely committed to his high principles and convictions — personal and political. I trusted him more than I ever trusted myself.

Professor Sani Ugya, the American-educated scientist and currently Special Adviser to Governor Al-Makura of Nasarawa State said thus of Rufa'i: "Such a gentle, simple, honest human being. We have known each other for 52 years, since we met in Form One [in] Secondary School".

It's trite to say Rufa'i Ibrahim took his final bow at a time our country so desperately needs people of his intellectual, moral and political calibre, and that his void would be hard to fill. Which was all the more sad that President M Buhari never got round to finding him a fitting role in his presidency.

For here was a uniquely talented and selfless individual whose love of common folks and fidelity to the ethics of community and country as well as internationalism never wavered however the temptation. He lived and died a worthy and pious life, never asking for what the people and country can do for him, but what he could do for them.

It was one of Rufa’i Ibrahim’s remarkable virtues that he never held grudges against anyone. Not once was he ever bitter against Buhari, his one-time military jailer. Indeed, Rufa’i later became his ardent advocate, and vigorously leaned on Al-Makura to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Buhari’s nascent CPC in the 2011 elections.

Rufa’i was also utterly loyal to his friends, with deep and enduring bonds across ethnicity, culture and religion — as with his Abuja classmate and Nupe friend, Dr Yahaya Ndanusa; Mohammed Haruna, also Nupe from their New Nigerian days; and Professor Mvendaga Jibo, his Tiv friend from their university days.

Up until his demise, Rufa’i and Mvendaga spoke almost daily (with the standard opening chatline from one or the other asking, ‘What are we going to argue about today, Malam Jibo/ Rufa’i?’).

Their families, living in different towns, also unfailingly spent Christmas and annual Muslim Sallah festivities together. So it was very touching and not at all surprising that Mvendaga, a Christian, witnessed the Muslim funeral rites of his friend Rufa’i every inch of the way to the grave.

Rufa'i Ibrahim was buried amid tears on Sunday, 3rd April, in his native Lafia after funeral prayers at the Emir's Palace square, an honour reserved only for the most deserving by the avuncular Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I. It speaks volumes about the two men that a custodian of traditionalism should so thoughtfully honour a patrician radical in this way.

There was also another irony to all this.

The Emir's Palace square was the venue from which Rufa’i and others from the old Lafia Division gathered to be conveyed to their secondary schools in various towns at the end of each vacation. My brother Yusuf Shehu and I, who Rufa’i gave extra English tuition, usually saw him off to the square, carrying his suitcases atop our heads. It was from this same spot that Rufa’i would start his last journey back to his Maker.

Rufa'i leaves behind a wife Aisha Ibrahim and a young son Ada-ullah (A gift from Allah), as well as numerous relatives.

On their behalf, I thank hugely the numerous individuals that have extended their condolences and prayers in our dark moment.

May Allah reward you all abundantly, and rest and forgive Rufa'i Ibrahim's gentle soul, and make Aljannah firdausi his final abode, amen.

Othman who is a political economist, wrote in from Oxford, England

37

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Omonibeke: Nigeria Has Gained from Port Reforms The Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigeria Ports Authority, David Omonibeke spoke to journalists on what Nigeria has gained from the reforms in the nation’s seaports, adding however that the country is also losing due to certain provisions in the concession agreements. John Iwori presents the excerpts Port Concession Programme in Nigeria In any business or scenario, you have advantages and disadvantages. What you do is to compare at every level and then, take a decision. If we are to look at the port prior to 2006 and where we are now, in terms of the advantages, we have removed some inefficiency especially when it comes to cargo handling which government was doing. And, that is the concession. We concessioned cargo handling which also has to do with stevedoring.

Government, prior the concession, was having challenges. It was responsible for the machinery and equipment. A typical example was cargo handling equipment. There were so many people within the ports. There were wharf rats. You could import a car and when you come, you will not see the car or you will see the car but its vital components have been removed. Also, the government officials then too, you will see a crane that they say had been fixed but for it to handle a container, it will get stuck and that is, after releasing so much money. You also had scenarios where the tug boats took so much diesel and at the end, it will move only one vessel in and they will say there is no more diesel again. So, you had longer waiting time for vessels. Also, to mobilise pilots, you had challenges of the pilot quarters and your tug boats.

So, when government, in its wisdom, looked at the concession and did it in 2006, it brought in terminal operators to help in terms of cargo handling and stevedoring services, expecting the concessionaires to pay lease fees and throughput which is a percentage of what we were collecting when we handled the goods ourselves. This was enshrined in the agreement. Where you are collecting $6.5 for example, you give the authority $1.1.

Some concessionaires decided to specialise in goods going to the oil field, wet or dry cargo and so on. They did that in the bidding room with Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). Every concessionaire was allowed to bring out their projections, the kind of cargo they wanted to handle, the kind of business they wanted to do. They were also allowed to tell government how much they could pay for the lease area. It was based on this that some other people were denied the concession. We also have what is called guaranteed minimum tonnage (GMT).

It is reviewed every two years and for all the concessionaires except one, it is tied on the throughput fees, that is, the cargo movement.

Moves and Lease Fee It is only in one agreement that you have what they call ‘moves’ which is strange to the port operations. This is because you are talking of the container ‘moves’. It means when they move the container from ship down and move it again and again. And they have a clause that says that once they do not meet certain targets, they penalise government. If they do not achieve their ‘moves’, what they do is that they make deductions directly from the lease fee. And the lease fee is fixed and is not supposed to be tampered with.

The provision of the clause says that if you want to touch the lease fees, it should be on technical grounds or the place is encumbered and you do not have access to it. We have related with the concessionaires to ensure they do not pay for areas they do not have access to. But by that agreement, that terminal has power to deduct money from the lease fee and government has suffered loss based on that agreement.

Loss from Deductions The federal government is losing huge money especially now that import volume has dropped.

That is exactly what I am saying. Because of the ‘moves’ clause in the agreement, they just do their deductions. Since the concession in 2006 till date, government has suffered deduction from the lease fee over $200 million. That is

and improve on the trade. These other ones are river ports and the only best way to have it is to have the channel management companies.

Ibom Port The Honourable Minister of Transportation had asked the former and current Transaction Advisers to settle their differences out of court but no one is meditating. As a federal government, I cannot discuss this since it is a matter in the court. The Minister has said they should settle outside the court. We have a committee where NPA is a member. Akwa Ibom State Government is really interested in the matter and that is why it has given us (NPA) the certificate of occupancy (CoO). The Akwa Ibom Governor is really interested and he is working towards resolving the matter. So, I cannot give you an affirmative answer as I am not the one directly handling.

Omonibeke

why NPA, representing the Federal Government of Nigeria has been making attempts to call that terminal operator to a roundtable for us to discuss and adjust that ‘moves’ to ‘throughput’ as it is in other concession agreements. But you see, the beauty of the concession is that it is the two parties that must come together and agree but they have been very evasive.

And we have taken a stand too because in previous times we had given considerations for one or two challenges they met like empty containers for export. They were supposed to pay the same with containers that were coming in, but we had meetings then, and government had consideration and brought it down. But when it comes to their own side of the bargain, and they know that it is skewed against government, they do not want to come to the table. That is why presently, they are having challenges with dollar payments and we said no, if we must discuss that, we must all come back to the table and this ‘move’ issue must also be addressed.

Concession Programme Benefits There are enormous benefits in the port concession programme of executed by the federal government. For instance, at the ports now, there are no more wharf rats. The vessel turn-around time has also improved tremendously although it is not where we want it to be. What government has in mind is 48 hours clearance of cargo.

So, we are working towards that. Government will keep improving on its policies. And the concessionaires, we also expect that they get the cargo handling equipment. Yes, some of them have got some, but some have not.

As the landlord and as a government, there are certain things we have to do as well in terms of the draft channel. When we were handing over, agreement was reached as to what draft we are supposed to have. For some of the areas in the ports, government was unable to achieve the draft that was agreed. This is because we do not have channel management companies in those areas.

Draft and Channel Management Like you are aware, we have six ports and in Lagos, we have the Lagos Pilotage District where

we have the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port. The Lagos Channel Management Company Limited is responsible for the draft in Lagos District. And prior to the concession, the maximum we could have in some of those berths is maybe nine meters but now, we are achieving 13.5 meters and we are having bigger vessels coming. With the terminal operators, we are also discussing and carrying out simulations to see how they can bring vessels of length overall 300 meters which will also bring in more cargoes.

In the East, we have the Bonny Channel Management Limited (BCC) that dredge and maintain the draft for the Rivers Port Complex and Onne Ports Complex and then Bonny, the Liquefied Natural Gas Channel. There, we also have tremendous improvement in terms draft.

Government has also established the Calabar Channel Management Limited (CCM). However, we presently have some challenges that are being investigated. I believe when the issues are resolved, that area will be taken care of.

Government is also working on Delta Port Complex. We have already given consultancy services but some of the challenges there is that you have a lot of pipes. The West African Gas pipeline passed through there and they are in a certain depth that consideration has to be given to know which one can be removed or reduced for us to have a very deep channel. I think the consultants will come up with all those alternatives before government will finally set up the channel management company.

Presently, there is a lot of challenge there because at the Escravos bar, vessels face a lot of restrictions. They have to work with the tide to see how they can bring in ships.

On port development, we are investing in deep sea ports as well. We have the Lekki one which will soon start. That is where you have the Dangote refinery and the Free Trade Zone.

It will have about 15 meters draft with big vessels coming in. The essence of that is that when you have a deep sea port you do not need channel management. So, it will reduce the cost of maintaining the draft and then bigger ships come in and this will impact in ship dues

Nigerian Ports and Top 50 World Container Ports When we came on board (that is this management) in 2012, we were fifth on the list of ports in Africa. Our goal is to be the leading port in Africa. Now, we are number three. Before, we were not including crude export in the throughput.

Now, we have included them in the data and it has shown the volume, the ports in Nigeria are handling. In terms of effectiveness, like I said earlier, in 2006, we concessioned the ports. Now, we have less people in the ports. The port is not an area where you should have too many people. Once you have the system automated, a truck can just go when it is expected.

The ports should be like a graveyard. But in Nigeria here, the clearing agents, everybody wants to be in the port but government maintains just seven agencies.

Just recently, I read in the papers that the Minister of State for Agriculture said Quarantine should immediately move into the port because of disease outbreak. I do not know how that will be done. Some agencies come into the ports at the invitation of Customs not that they have offices in the ports. We will look at all that and see how people can work outside and come into the ports only when the need arises.

That is why when our sister agency, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) was asking to come into the ports too, we had to make it understand that it could have suggestion boxes in the ports but not offices. Therefore, if there are any complaints, people can reach them. If it needs to meet them, they go to their offices located outside the terminals not inside the ports. We should not take two steps forward and four steps backward.

Collaboration with Other Stakeholders We are working towards efficient service delivery to see how the world will look at our ports and rank us as one of the world’s effective ports. This will happen when we start to reduce human traffic in our ports and have a single window in terms of payment.

We are working with other stakeholders such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NSC, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure that we are on the same page on the key issues that will drive port efficiency. We are also have a synergy with other major agencies so that we can work together to attain set goals and objectives For instance, if someone applies and payment is simple, easy and seamless, it will improve the status and rating of our ports. So, it is not just Nigeria Ports Authority. It has to be a synergy of relevant agencies in the ports to ensure that we provide these services.

Also, security in the waterways will eliminate or reduce drastically pirates’ attacks. Those are the indices. If the Gulf of Guinea is safer and we do not get reports of hijacks once in a while then, it will also improve the high rates insurance firms across the globe charge our marine insurance.

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

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

Ludovic du Plessis

The Luxury of Time

One of the world’s most sought after cognacs is Remy Martin’s trademark, Louis XIII, and what makes it special is the number of years and the generation of cellar masters it takes to make just one bottle, writes Solomon Elusoji

I

t is true that everybody loves a good drink, whether it is a bottle of water or a glass of wine. But why would someone walk into a shop and decide to buy a drink that sells for around two to four thousand dollars per bottle?

That’s the question that comes to mind on a first meeting with Remy Martin’s cognac, Louis XIII, which is popularly referred to as one of the world’s most sought after cognacs.

To be clear, Cognac is a type of brandy that is derived from wine. But it is not just a drink. It is also a town in South-western France. The interesting part is that, by French law, the Cognac drink can only be made in Cognac and its surrounding regions. All of the grapes that eventually end up in a bottle of Cognac must come from the region’s six zones, or it isn’t Cognac. The French take these laws very seriously. It has been said that making Cognac is more tightly regulated

than building a nuclear reactor or using the internet in North Korea.

Like all wine, Cognac starts with grapes,

One sip of this drink, it has been said, produces a layer of complex, century-aged flavours: smoky oak wood, ripened figs, Cuban cigars, dried apricot, sweet vanilla — each sip transporting the sipper through 100 years of French history and a culinary tour of Cognac’s Grande Champagne

and nearly the entire Cognac region is planted with the Ugni Blanc or Trebbiano grape.

Each of the Cognac’s six zones produces grapes with differing qualities, and the wine from which the Remy Martin Cognac is made comes only from the top two areas of the Cognac region, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. The grapes are pressed, the resulting juice fermented into wine, and that’s then distilled to make clear, raw brandy — what the French call eau de vie, or “water of life.”

This is where it gets more interesting.

Louis XIII is blended from around 1,200 different eaux-de-vie (gotten from the Grande Champagne) that’s been matured in French oak barrels for years, ranging from 40 years to 100 years. Since every eaux-de-vie has to be independently analysed for quality assurance at different stages of the production, that’s 1,200 taste tests, re-barreling, re-cellaring,

testing, blending, and doing it all again, for around four generations, by people who have been termed the “best in the business” in the only place in the world it can be done, for over 100 years.

Raw scallops and unripe pear represent Louis XIII’s first year of production, where its deep, amber colour actually begins with a grossly tart white grape—often the ugni blanc variety—which is double-distilled in oak barrels to create an eaux-de-vie. As the years progress, different eaux-de-vie brandies are added to the barrel, complicating flavours as depicted in the courses: veal tongue and butternut squash for age 20; walnut-milk soaked pork with raw button mushrooms for age 60. It is only after 1,200 eaux-de-vie notes are blended together over a century, before Louis XIII is poured into its container, a regal Baccarat crystal decanter. This decanter is handmade by the finest crystal makers, with

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

Ludovic du Plessis

L-R: International Brand Manager, Louis XIII, Emma Paillard, Global Executive Director, Ludovic du Plessis and Marketing Manager EMEA, Thibault Robert, at the press briefing in Lagos...recently

a gold neck, making it not only an exquisite cognac but a collector’s item as well.

One sip of this drink, it has been said, produces a layer of complex, century-aged flavours: smoky oak wood, ripened figs, Cuban cigars, dried apricot, sweet vanilla — each sip transporting the sipper through 100 years of French history and a culinary tour of Cognac’s Grande Champagne.

“This is why we say that it is ‘one century in a bottle’,” Global Executive Director of Louis XIII, Ludovic du Plessis, told THISDAY, during an exclusive interview in Lagos. “We say that because each decanter takes four generation of cellar masters over 100 years to craft.”

Ludovic is a six-footer with a charming personality. Described as “a solid marketing professional with an unmatched business acumen and a strong sense of luxury and style”, he started his career as a sales intern at Louis Vuitton, in 1999, before moving to Dom Perignon and Moet Chandon, where he rose to become the Head of Global PR Development. In October 2014, he was appointed as the Global Executive Director of Louis XIII. When discussing the Louis XIII, Ludovic wears an animated look, speaking excitedly with a deep, delightful French accent. He calls the drink, “the ultimate luxury spirit of the

world”, because that was the original motivation for the drink’s creation in 1874, by the Remy Martin Family. And they called it Louis XIII, because when the family established themselves in the region of Cognac, it was under the reign of the King of France, Louis XIII. “What is amazing is that each decanter takes four generation of cellar masters, 100 years to craft,” Ludovic said. “This is amazing.

Today, I do not know any luxury brand in the world that can say they are working

What is amazing is that each decanter takes four generation of cellar masters, 100 years to craft...This is amazing.

Today, I do not know any luxury brand in the world that can say they are working today for people that are not born yet. This is true luxury

today for people that are not born yet. This is true luxury. The real luxury is time.

“I like to say that Louis XIII is the ultimate luxury today, in the world of the wine experience. I do not have any competitors when you think about it. I would say my competitors are Chanel, Hermes bag, but they are in another world, not in the world of wine experience.”

One amazing way that Louis XIII is stressing its “Real Luxury is Time” message is by creating a movie with John Malkovich, called “100 Years”. The movie was produced in Texas and was directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, From Dusk Till Dawn, Machete).

In November 2015, the movie’s trailer was premiered in Los Angeles, but would not be released to the public until 2115, 100 years later.

“We took the only copy of the film and placed it in a safe for the next 100 years,” Ludovic said. “No one can open the safe.

When we closed the door, it started a countdown, and in 100 years, it will open by itself. I probably won’t be alive, but my kids would be there.”

The movie’s trailer has a tagline that reads “The Movie You Will Never See” and the whole point is to drive home the number of years and generation of expertise it takes to

produce one decanter of Louis XIII. “I have gotten a lot of requests from people who want to pay me money to see the movie,” Ludovic said. “One of my biggest clients told me ‘Ludo, you know how many decanters I buy every year, I will give you one million euros, I want to see the movie’.

I told him no.”

But what really are the big challenges in creating and maintaining a steady line of Louis XIIIs. Ludovic says they are just two: finance and knowledge transfer.

“To do something like this,” he said, “the drink has to belong to a company that is very strong, in a financial sense, because you need to support production that you are not going to sell this year or the next.

So you need to invest a lot.

“Then the other one is how you are going to transmit the production know-how? So you need to make sure that the present cellar masters find the next excellent cellar masters, and share the secrets.”

This drink, Ludovic says, is for everybody who enjoys life on earth, because it is very smooth. “There are 250 flavours in one drop,” he said. “So when you place it on your palette and you crack it under the teeth, then you have a wave of emotions coming back, coming back, coming back.”

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FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

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FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

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H

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

MARKET NEWS

SEC Makes Fresh Moves to Handle Unclaimed Dividends Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in collaboration with other market stakeholders in the capital market are making fresh moves to tackle the issue of unclaimed dividends. In this regard, a market-wide committee is to be set up to come up with the

best solution that will benefit investors and encourage more participation in the market.

Unclaimed dividends in the market stood at over N80 billion and various efforts are being made to reduce the volume.

However, speaking at the commission’s 2016 first quarter post-Capital Market Committee (CMC) media briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Director-General

of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo said a committee comprising market operators, shareholders and regulators, would be set up.

According to him, the 12 years statute barred provision in the Companies Allied Matters Act (CAMA) will be looked into by the committee and recommend a way forward that would enable shareholders have access to their dividends

beyond the 12 years as currently provided by the law. He said the decision to set up the committee was part of the the outcome of the CMC meeting.

Meanwhile, SEC is extending the deadline for free e-Dividend registration in the country by 150 days. Gwarzo said the commission would bear the cost of registration on behalf of any investor who

registered within the 150 days grace period, noting however that at the expiration of the grace period, subsequent registration of an investor would attract a fee of N100.

He noted that the e-dividend management system which was launched last year by the Commission in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Interbank

Settlement System (NIBSS) to enable investors have direct access to their dividends has enjoyed high level of compliance from the investing public.

According to him, within three months the public enlightenment programme began, the commission has achieved over 4000 per cent growth in the number of investors that registered to have access to their dividends.

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT Prices for Securities Traded as of 14/04/2016

Printed 14/04/2016 16:02:34.034

PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES

Price List (Equities)

T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K 121

FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1

BANKING ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

351,640.73

11.20

1.82

267

10,610,426

267

10,610,426

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

120,967.14

3.37

-0.88

207

7,533,910

BANKING S/N 2

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

207

7,533,910

FINANCIAL SERVICES

474

18,144,336

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,730,741.31

160.25

0.16

39

1,782,401

BUILDING MATERIALS

39

1,782,401

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

39

1,782,401

513

19,926,737

3

BUILDING MATERIALS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES

S/N

CROP PRODUCTION

4

FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC

5

OKOMU OIL PALM PLC.

6

PRESCO PLC FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING

8

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

TRADES

VOLUME

1,100.00

0.50

-

1

200,000

31,545.80

PRICE 33.07

10.09

17

295,474

%CHANGE

35,010.00

35.01

-

4 22

502,324

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,840.00

0.92

-

AGRICULTURE

S/N

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC.

591,334 1,093,658

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,117.83

0.80

-

2

6,000

61

7,349,227

TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC

41,063.62

1.01

3.06

14

U A C N PLC.

35,401.53

18.43

-5.00

27

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES

90

17

BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/OTHER G CAPPA PLC

18

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC.

20

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS

25

CHAMPION BREW. PLC.

26

GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC.

27

GUINNESS NIG PLC

28

INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

163,390 90

7,518,617 7,518,617 VOLUME

0

0

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

30

NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

32

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. FOOD PRODUCTS

57,426 309,750

20

309,750

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

36

367,181

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,386.33

0.50

-

1

495,000

1

495,000 VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

24,271.44

3.10

-

5

242.22

0.89

-4.30

1

50,000

150,438.23

99.90

-0.09

69

341,307

65,884.99

20.00

-

1

1,000

8,955

852,140.47

107.47

0.45

62 138

733,419

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

332,157

94,166.78

147.00

-

6

1,768

6

1,768

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

63,120.00

5.26

1.15

71

10,010,945

7.41

-5.00

32

8,651,700

2.39

4.82

42

1,568,916

-

1

114

223

21,023,567

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

27,741.04

14.77

-

26

74,960

511,263.28

645.00

-

PRICE

%CHANGE

76

104,370

102

179,330

TRADES

VOLUME

5,326.78

5.42

-

1 1

150

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

93,306.21

23.50

-

16

105,459

110,661.42

29.25

1.04

28

275,395

44

380,854

515

22,814,088

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS

150

FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

109,637.01

3.79

2.16

195

22,096,801

28,718.88

1.24

-0.80

44

18,340,026

254,508.28

13.87

-0.22

34

495,818

39,695.47

1.37

-0.73

79

12,503,265

447,353.92

15.20

2.49

390

29,680,022

50

ACCESS BANK PLC.

51

DIAMOND BANK PLC

52

ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED

53

FIDELITY BANK PLC

54

GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC.

55

SKYE BANK PLC

13,186.29

0.95

2.15

24

893,110

56

STERLING BANK PLC.

42,897.72

1.49

-4.49

47

619,224

57

UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

77,227.28

4.56

-0.22

36

858,157

58

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

117,545.67

3.24

2.86

110

30,607,586

59

UNITY BANK PLC

7,948.75

0.68

-2.86

60

WEMA BANK PLC.

27,387.87

0.71

1.43

BANKING

9

493,773

13

2,758,100

981

119,345,882

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,851.14

0.70

-2.78

23

1,925,750

21,420.00

2.04

4.62

7

277,401

10,372.74

1.00

-2.91

16

1,207,294

7,364.75

0.50

-

2

400

3,661.72

0.50

-

1

500

LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC.

2,199.89

0.64

-8.57

9

47,555,600

75

LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC

4,000.00

0.50

-

1

500

76

MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC.

4,000.00

0.50

-

3

1,200

77

N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC.

4,013.18

0.76

-3.95

51

19,546,028

79

PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC.

2,759.15

0.50

-

1

3,000

81

SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC

4,170.41

0.50

-

2

1,000

82

STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC.

5,996.59

0.50

-

1

50,000

83

STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC

3,070.54

0.50

-

1

1,000

CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC.

73

LASACO ASSURANCE PLC.

74

87

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

6,691.37

0.50

-

7

846,390

125

71,416,063

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,652.50

1.16

-

5

43,500

5

43,500

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 89

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS S/N

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 95 96 98

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,820.00

2.41

-7.66

70

2,578,468

CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC

22,939.27

3.90

2.36

10

1,555,759

FCMB GROUP PLC.

17,822.44

0.90

1.11

81

7,433,779

2,572.69

0.50

-

1

1,000

130,000.00

13.00

-

18

179,813

9,000.00

1.50

-1.32

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC

100

ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC.

102

STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC

103

UNITED CAPITAL PLC

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES

85

6,478,500

265

18,227,319

1,376

209,032,764

HEALTHCARE S/N

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

104

EKOCORP PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,765.05

3.54

-4.84

1

227,864

1

227,864 VOLUME

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS S/N

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

MEDICAL SUPPLIES S/N 107

PHARMACEUTICALS EVANS MEDICAL PLC.

108

FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

109

GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC.

1

500

3,000.00

2.00

-

8

103,639

29,861.04

366.17

24.97

0.50

-

14

33,316 442,230

-

901.60

0.92

4.55

13

1,035.90

0.66

-

2

1,096

444.48

2.05

-

3

86,138

PHARMACEUTICALS

41

666,919

HEALTHCARE

42

894,783 VOLUME

110

MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC.

111

NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

113

PHARMA-DEKO PLC.

ICT S/N

COMPUTER BASED SYSTEMS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

COMPUTER BASED SYSTEMS S/N

COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS

COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS S/N

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES S/N

IT SERVICES

118

NCR (NIGERIA) PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

1,130.76

10.47

-

IT SERVICES S/N

PROCESSING SYSTEMS

64,802

26,950.00

38.50

-

9

31,607

8,834.44

7.03

-

5

227.50

0.70

-

1

500

346,172.54

76.00

1.32

66

476,663

1,152.00

2.88

-

1 111

636,158

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

5,136

200

1,224.12

1.39

2.96

2 2

440,701

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

21,613.79

43.23

-

2

9,700

393.57

9.23

-

1

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

440,701

60

3

9,760

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

116

1,086,619 VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

1,565.08

3.76

-

2

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

1

10

1

10

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

2,000

2

2,000

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

VOLUME

VOLUME

11.25

66

57,250

15

0

20

3,075.06

65

VOLUME

14

-

2,000

15

19,632.34

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

TRADES

-

8.52

2

TRADES

11,950.00

AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC

%CHANGE

19.56

2,469.30

OIL AND GAS

5.00

UNION DICON SALT PLC.

AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

PRICE

43,803.70

NATURAL RESOURCES

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

468,060

0

3.99

TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC

63

PAPER/FOREST PRODUCTS

PRICE

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

50

10

PAPER/FOREST PRODUCTS

6,857.81

NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC

62

MINING SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

42

S/N

S/N

57,426

FOOD PRODUCTS

1

MARKET CAP(Nm)

MINING SERVICES

15

40

BANKING

METALS

-

38

S/N

CHEMICALS B.O.C. GASES PLC.

43.00

219,420

UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

S/N 142

56,760.00

572,472

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.

TOOLS AND MACHINERY

ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

16

49

BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC

61

48

138 139

S/N

-

VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

PACKAGING/CONTAINERS

147

-

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

CUTIX PLC.

5

1.39

46

136

5

20.00

S/N

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

VOLUME

52,484.74

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

S/N

1

11,022.97

S/N

PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC

1

HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

133

TRADES

FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC.

44

LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

-

35

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

131

%CHANGE

34

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.

DN MEYER PLC.

14.46

DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC

43

128

PRICE

33

S/N

CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC

1,807.50

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC S/N

127

MARKET CAP(Nm)

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N

50

METALS

PRICE

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N

CAP PLC

S/N

CONSUMER GOODS 24

1

CHEMICALS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N

126

S/N

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

468,000

NATURAL RESOURCES

TRADES

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N

-

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

%CHANGE

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N

0.50

TOOLS AND MACHINERY

PRICE

BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/OTHER S/N

ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC

S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm)

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N

2,446.80

PACKAGING/CONTAINERS

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

BUILDING MATERIALS

124 125

S/N

591,334

9 31 MARKET CAP(Nm)

13

S/N

468,000 VOLUME

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

CONGLOMERATES 9

8 8 TRADES

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

6,850

9

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES

S/N

10.00 %CHANGE

BUILDING MATERIALS

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N

4.29 PRICE

ICT

Price List (Equities)

CROP PRODUCTION S/N

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

122 MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

AGRICULTURE S/N

18,018.00 MARKET CAP(Nm)

PROCESSING SYSTEMS

INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N

E XC H A N G E

E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

3,131.35

0.50

-

2 2

1,000

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES S/N

INTEGRATED OIL AND GAS SERVICES

148

OANDO PLC

55,359.25

4.60

1.77

122

4,916,027

122

4,916,027

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

13,948.44

20.10

-

4

7,406 1,775,973

INTEGRATED OIL AND GAS SERVICES S/N 150

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS CONOIL PLC

1,000

2,021.42

1.55

4.73

22

381,926.53

293.23

-

11

8,591

MOBIL OIL NIG PLC.

53,800.81

149.20

-0.53

27

222,238

MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC.

11,983.19

47.18

-

3

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC.

54,323.49

160.00

-0.31

15

35,445

82

2,049,833

151

ETERNA PLC.

152

FORTE OIL PLC.

153 154 155

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS S/N

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

156

SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

174,836.85

310.30

-

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OIL AND GAS

TRADES 3

180

VOLUME 2,600

3

2,600

209

6,969,460 VOLUME

SERVICES S/N

ADVERTISING

157

AFROMEDIA PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

2,219.52

0.50

-

1

ADVERTISING S/N

APPAREL RETAILERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

APPAREL RETAILERS S/N

AUTOMOBILE/AUTO PART RETAILERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

AUTOMOBILE/AUTO PART RETAILERS S/N

COURIER/FREIGHT/DELIVERY

160

RED STAR EXPRESS PLC

161

TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. HOSPITALITY

S/N

HOTELS/LODGING IKEJA HOTEL PLC

165

TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC.

166

TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

3.80

-

4

19,500

196.83

0.99

-

2 6

25,000

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,427.84

2.13

-

1

400 400

7,885.00

3.51

-

2

34,885.85

4.59

-

1

HOTELS/LODGING S/N

VOLUME

2,240.09

HOSPITALITY 164

500

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

COURIER/FREIGHT/DELIVERY S/N

500

1

80

4

880 VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT

5,500

0

0

S/N

PRINTING/PUBLISHING

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

168

ACADEMY PRESS PLC.

405.22

0.67

-

3

26,555

169

LEARN AFRICA PLC

3,631

171

UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC.

532.30

0.69

-

2

2,459.03

5.70

-

1 6

30,286

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

PRINTING/PUBLISHING S/N

ROAD TRANSPORTATION

172

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC

828.85

0.50

-

2 2

424,800

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

ROAD TRANSPORTATION S/N

SPECIALTY

SPECIALTY S/N

TRANSPORT-RELATED SERVICES

175

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC

176

NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS

178

CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

0

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,268.00

2.00

-

1

40,000

6,318.21

3.89

-

10 11

59,450

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,528.34

1.65

0.61

6

252,200

SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS

6

SERVICES MAIN BOARD TOTALS PRICES FOR ASEM SECURITIES

424,800

MARKET CAP(Nm)

TRANSPORT-RELATED SERVICES S/N

100

19,450

252,200

36

793,116

2,463

251,040,346

Price List (Equities)

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE TRADES

VOLUME

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

0

0

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

S/N

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

CONSUMER GOODS S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS

180

MCNICHOLS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

380.16

1.28

4.92

10 10

289,500

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

FOOD PRODUCTS S/N

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS

289,500

0

0

10

289,500

FINANCIAL SERVICES TRADES

VOLUME

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

0

0

FINANCIAL SERVICES

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

PHARMACEUTICALS

0

0

HEALTHCARE

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

0

0

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

0

0

S/N

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

HEALTHCARE S/N

PHARMACEUTICALS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

OIL AND GAS S/N 186

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS CAPITAL OIL PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,928.77

0.50

-

2

400,100

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS

2

400,100

OIL AND GAS

2

400,100

TRADES

VOLUME

SERVICES S/N

FOOD/DRUG RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

FOOD/DRUG RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS

0

SERVICES

0

0

12

689,600

2,988

271,656,683

ASEM TOTALS EQUITIES TOTALS

PRICES FOR ETP SECURITIES

0

Price List (ETP) %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1

LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

500.34

8.07

-

1

100

2

NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

355.50

2,370.00

-0.63

1

3

STANBIC IBTC ETF 30

824.18

72.00

-

0

0

4

VETIVA BANKING ETF

78.61

2.15

0.47

2

105

5

VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF

69.46

5.98

0.17

2

105

6

VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF

1,693.50

11.26

0.45

1

7

VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF

82.94

18.93

0.48

2

55

9

420

9

420

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

0

0

S/N

COMPANY

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

ETP TOTALS

PRICES FOR DEBT SECURITIES S/N

COMPANY

BONDS TOTALS

50

5

Price List (BONDS) MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

45

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Peace and Justice in Islam

By Zaid Shakir/IslamiCity

Peace

I

n the Arabic language, the word peace is derived from the radicals S-L-M. The scholars of language mention four closely related terms that can be derived from this origin: Salam, Salamah, Silm, and Salm. Raghib al-Isfahani says in his lexicon of Qur’anic terms, “As-Salm and as-Salamah mean freedom from any external or internal ruination.” Based on that, he mentions that true peace will only exist in Paradise, for only there will there be perpetuity with no end, complete satisfaction with no need, perfect honor with no humiliation, and perfect health with no disease. In this regard, God is known as As-Salam, because He alone is described as being totally free from any defects or flaws. This understanding of true peace being a reality associated with a transformed world is also understood in both Jewish and Christian theology.

At the level of interstate relations, if we ponder the above definition, we can consider peaceful relations between nations as a condition where violence, a state inevitably involving both internal and external ruination, is absent. In this sense, war can be viewed as an aberrational state. The aberrational nature of war is made clearer if we consider that murder, the ultimate consequence of war, is considered an innovation that destroyed the peace formerly existing among the human family. It is stated in a prophetic tradition, “No soul is killed unjustly, except that the elder son of Adam (Cain) shares in the stain of the crime. That is because he was the first to innovate murder [in the human family].”

At the individual level, peace can be viewed as an absence of the ruinations of the heart. One free from such ruinations will succeed, God-willing, when he/she meets his/her Lord. Therefore, he/ she will enter safely into the Abode of Peace (Dar as-Salam). God says in that regard, [On] the day no amount of wealth or children will be of any benefit. [The only one benefited] will be one who comes before God with a sound (salim) heart.

[Quran 26:89] If one reflects on these meanings, it should be clear that the wars that Muslims have been involved in throughout our long history do not nullify the validity of the statement, “Islam is the religion of peace.” what is meant by that expression, and God knows best, is that Islam provides a path for the human being to enter Paradise (Dar as-Salam), and there he/she will know true peace.

Peace has meanings wider than those mentioned above. One of the loftier objectives of our religion is to introduce into the world an ethos that facilitates the spreading of peace at every level. Our personal relations with our fellow Muslims should begin with the implementation of the Prophetic order “Spread peace between you all.” This order is so pressing that the Beloved Prophet – advised its indiscriminate implementation. He said at the end of a tradition in which he described one of the best forms of Islam, “Extend the greeting of peace, to those you know and those you know not.” This is a very weighty matter that calls for our deeper reflection. Its weightiness is illustrated by the fact that it is mentioned as being one of the things that completes our faith. The Prophet said in that regard, “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I indicate to you something that will surely lead to your mutual love? Spread the greeting and spirit of peace between yourselves.”8 Our relations with our spouses should also be characterized by peace. God admonishes us concerning those relations, ”And peace is best.”

[Quran 4:128] Similarly, in our relations with other nations, God commands us, “If they (the enemy) incline towards peace, then you should similarly incline, and place your trust in God.” [Quran 8:61] As mentioned above, peace is the original state that prevailed in relations between individuals and societies. This opinion is based, among other narrations, on the saying of the Prophet that Jesus “will return the world to a state of peace” (Yurji’ as-Salim) after his appearance at the end of time.

Justice

Our lexicographers define justice, variously, as “to rule based on that contained in the Book of God and the tradition (Sunna) of His Messenger and refraining from ruling based on empty opinion.”

It is also defined as “extending inherent rights [to their possessors] equitably.” This latter definition emphasizes the importance of equity as an essential aspect of distributive justice.

The concept of justice is one of the essential pillars in the maintenance of both the natural and social orders. God, be He Exalted, has said, He has established the scale, therefore, do not transgress in the scale [of justice]. Undertake the

measuring with justice and do not cheat concerning the scale.

[55:7-8] Justice, as many of our scholars point out, is one of the underpinnings of the order that has been established by God. This reality is also a foundation of a healthy social order. God says in that regard, O, You who believe! Be upright for God, witnesses to justice; and do not let your hatred of a people move you to a position where you are unjust. Be just, that is closer to piety. Be mindful of God! Verily God is well informed concerning all that you do. [Quran 4:135] This social aspect of justice has been beautifully summarized by Imam al-Qurtubi. He says, discussing the relationship between two words that are usually translated as justice (al-‘Adl), and distributive justice (al-Qist), “Justice is the basis of all human relations and a foundation of Islamic rule.” This saying is illustrative of the meaning conveyed by the saying of God, Verily, we have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and we have revealed unto them the Scripture and the Balance in order that they lead people with justice… [Quran 57:25] Imam al-Mawardi has summarized the social implications of distributive justice in the following way: One of the things that reforms worldly affairs is the principle of distributive justice. It facilitates amicable relations between people, engenders obedience to the Divine Law, and brings about the prosperity of countries. It is the basis of a thriving economy, strong families, and stable government. Nothing devastates the land nor corrupts the mind as quickly as tyranny. That is because there are no acceptable limits [to regulate tyranny].

For this reason, Ibn Taymiyya sees the responsibilities of Islamic government emanating from a single verse in the Qur’an, God enjoins that you deliver the Trusts to their rightful possessors.

And when you rule over [or judge between] people, that you do so with justice… [Quran 4:58] The Noble Prophet has said in this context, “Surely the most beloved of people with God and the closest to Him on the Day of Resurrection will be a just leader. And the most hated of people and the furthest removed from Him will be a tyrannical leader.”

Clearing himself from even an inadvertent association with oppressive, unjust acts, our beloved Prophet is reported to have said: You bring your disputes to me for adjudication; perhaps one of you is less eloquent than another, and I rule against the wronged party on the basis of what I have heard. Therefore, if I inadvertently grant one of you something owed to his brother do not take it, for I am granting him something that constitutes a piece of Hellfire.

Our impeccably just Khalifa ‘Umar b. al-Khattab uttered the following penetrating words: Verily, God sets forth parables for you, and He directs admonition towards you in order that hearts will be quickened. Surely, the hearts are dead until God quickens them. Justice has signs and portents. As for its signs, they are shyness, generosity, humility, and gentleness. As for its portents, they are embodied in mercy. He has [likewise] made for every affair a gate, and He has made that gate accessible by providing a key. The gate of justice is a deep consideration of consequences, and its key is otherworldliness. Consideration of consequences ultimately involves remembering death and preparing for it by freely parting from one’s wealth. Otherworldliness involves dealing justly with everyone and being satisfied with what suffices. If one is not satisfied with what suffices him, no abundance will every enrich him.

Much of this discussion has focused on distributive justice. However, the Qur’an also places great emphasis on commutative justice. God commands us, “Do not be moved by partiality to discriminate in meting out divinely legislated punishments.”

[Quran 24:2] The Prophet Muhammad mentioned that one of the reasons behind the ruination of a nation is a lack of commutative justice. In this context, he mentioned that if his very daughter were to steal, he would not hesitate to punish her to the full extent of the law.

In summary, this brief discussion should make it clear to any Muslim that peace and justice are comprehensive concepts with deep implications and we have to be people committed to peace and justice. We must clearly illustrate to the world that our religion is indeed the religion of peace.

However, our striving for peace must never allow us to be unjust, nor should it allow us to passively accept injustices. We must take a stand for justice, as we are ordered in the Qur’an, “Be you upright supporters of justice…” [4:135] However, that stand must go far beyond slogans, such as the one mentioned at the beginning of this article, and move into the realm of positive action; action inspired by the Qur’an and the words and deeds of our illustrious Prophet.

46

FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

47

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Brazil’s President Asks Court to Stop Impeachment Brazil’s President, Dilma Rousseff, resorted to the Supreme Court on Thursday in a last ditch attempt to avert a critical impeachment vote in Congress that could lead to her removal from office.

Rousseff’s attorney general, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, asked the top court for an injunction to suspend Sunday’s lower house vote until the full court can rule on what he called procedural flaws in the impeachment process.

The Supreme Court has called an extraordinary meeting for 5:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) to discuss a complaint by a party allied to Rousseff over the impeachment procedure.

Rousseff, an unpopular leader already struggling with Brazil’s worst economic crisis in decades and a historic corruption scandal, has lost support within her governing coalition. She faces the growing likelihood of defeat in the lower house vote, which would send her

impeachment to the Senate for trial on charges of breaking budget laws.

If the Senate accepts her impeachment, Rousseff would be suspended and replaced by Vice President Michel Temer as soon as early May pending a trial that could last six months.

Rousseff, a former leftist guerrilla, had not been expected to resort to the Supreme Court until after Sunday’s vote. Cardozo’s request to the court was seen as a sign her government now expects defeat.

Rousseff’s opponents are just nine votes short of victory in the lower house, with 333 lawmakers backing impeachment, 124 opposed and 56 undecided or declining to respond, according to a survey by the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

An injunction by the Supreme Court suspending Sunday’s vote is possible but unlikely, because several of its justices have recently said they do not think the

court should interfere with the legislature’s jurisdiction in the impeachment battle.

The injunction request will be decided by Justice Edson Fachin. He is the most recent appointee to the court by Rousseff, though his rulings have not always favored her government.

Brazil’s largest political party, Rousseff’s main coalition partner until it broke away two weeks ago, said most of its members in the lower house will back deposing her.

Leonardo Picciani, the lower chamber leader for the party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, or PMDB, told reporters that 90 percent of the 68 members of his caucus would vote for impeachment.

The move could push Brazil from political paralysis into a chaotic power vacuum by ending the 13-year rule of Rousseff’s leftist Workers’ Party, which has lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty and is

overwhelmingly supported by the country’s poor.

Rousseff is not a being investigated in the massive graft scandal surrounding state-run oil company Petrobras that has reached into her inner circle. She denies she broke budget laws, but opponents allege that accounting tricks helped her win re-election in 2014 by boosting public spending.

Temer, who would serve out Rousseff’s term until 2018 if she is ousted by the Senate, has little popular support. He would face a daunting task restoring confidence in a country where dozens of political leaders, including close associates of his, are under investigation for corruption.

Vowing to fight to the end, Rousseff met with her political advisers as her government scrambled for votes to block impeachment, but defections by several centrist allies in her crumbling coalition

have seriously compromised that effort.

Cardozo, Rousseff’s former justice minister and the government’s main legal adviser, has said previously that the impeachment process was unconstitutional. In his appeal to the Supreme Court on Thursday, he asked it to annul the report to the lower house

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as ADELEKE OLUWABUNMI ALICE, now wish to be known and addressed as KAREEM OLUWABUNMI ALICE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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The general public should please take note.

US Military Hits IS Militants in Afghanistan Reports indicate that US military hit strike Islamic State in Afghanistan under narrow circumstances.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said the air strikes had decreased the capacity of the group in Afghanistan, where fighters loyal to Islamic State have emerged to challenge the larger Afghan Taliban in pockets of the country.

Cleveland said about 70 to 80 percent of the air strikes between January and the end of March were in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

“The capacity of Daesh, we believe has been lessened

and their overall footprint in Nangarhar, we do believe, has been lessened as well,” Cleveland said. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

The U.S. military has previously said there are between 1,000 and 3,000 Islamic State members in Afghanistan.

Cleveland said that number was now probably closer to the lower estimate.

He said the group controlled about six to eight districts a few months ago, but that number was now closer to two to three districts.

“We do think that they still pose a potential real threat and again just based on their

past performance, they have got the ability to catch fire very quickly,” Cleveland said.

He also said that the southern province of Helmand was not on the verge of falling into the hands of the Taliban, but it was a “difficult, contested area.”

In February, Afghan forces pulled out of some parts of the province after months of heavy fighting with Taliban insurgents.

Helmand, a mainly desert region bordering Pakistan, is of strategic and symbolic importance as a heartland of the Taliban. The province sits along major smuggling routes for drugs and weapons.

It accounts for the biggest share of opium cultivation, a principal source of revenue for the Taliban.

American troops have fought in Afghanistan since a U.S. invasion in 2001 that toppled the Taliban government that harbored the al Qaeda network responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States that killed about 3,000 people.

Cleveland added that there were still between 100 and 300 al Qaeda members in Afghanistan.

In October, the United States conducted more than 60 air strikes on an al Qaeda training camp and another site near Kandahar, the pres-

Strong Quake Hits Japan An earthquake of magnitude 6 hit southwestern Japan yesterday, bringing down some buildings, killing at least two people and injuring hundreds, local media said, but the nuclear regulator reported no problems at power plants.

The initial tremor struck 11 km (7 miles) east of the city of Kumamoto, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It said the magnitude was 6.2 but later revised it down.

There was no tsunami

warning, but one person was killed after being crushed by a collapsing building, and the other by a fire that broke out after the quake, with at least 400 people being treated at local hospitals, public broadcaster NHK said.

NHK showed footage of firefighters tackling a blaze in a building in Mashiki, a town of about 34,000 people near the epicenter of the quake.

“We will do our utmost and carry on with life-saving and rescue operations throughout

the night,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters.

Japanese media showed residents, some of them wrapped in blankets, huddling in parking lots and other open space for fear of further building collapses.

“The apartment building I live in is now tilting.

Everything fell down inside.

It’s a mess,” a male resident in Mashiki said on NHK. About 16,500 households in and around Mashiki were without electricity as of 2

a.m. (1700 GMT), according to Kyushu Electric Power Co Inc (9508.T).

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no irregularities at three nuclear plants on the southern major island of Kyushu and nearby Shikoku.

In March 2011, a quake of magnitude 9 struck offshore north of Tokyo, causing tsunami waves along the coast that killed nearly 20,000 people and triggered a nuclear power plant meltdown

Putin Blasts Panama Papers ‘Provocation’ Vladimir Putin yesterday dismissed media reports that billions of dollars in Panama offshore accounts might be linked to him as a U.S.-backed “provocation”, as he told ordinary Russians that the country’s economic crisis will ease next year.

The leak of confidential documents from a Panamanian

law firm earlier this month has angered the Kremlin, forcing it to field questions about offshore accounts allegedly belonging to one of Putin’s best friends.

Speaking during a televised national phone-in, Putin dismissed the leak and subsequent media reports as part of a shadowy U.S.-backed

plot designed to discredit Russian politicians ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.

“They must understand that the issue is not about specific people, individuals, no matter what position they hold in Russia,” said Putin, after lashing out at U.S. officials and U.S. bank Goldman Sachs.

“The issue is about the country, which cannot be manipulated.”

Putin delivered a spirited defense of his friend Sergei Roldugin, who, according to reports based on the Panama Papers, has a business empire involved in offshore transactions that might be linked to Putin.

by a congressional committee that recommended impeachment on Monday.

He told a news conference Rousseff’s defense had been obstructed in the committee and that testimony from a former of the president, Senator Delcidio Amaral, was obtained as part of a plea bargain deal and should have been considered inadmissible.

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Univerity of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and UKBA and the general public take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEBISI VICTORY OLAITAN, now wish to be known as MRS ADEBISI VICTORY OKERE. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that MICHAEL FAVOUR ADA and AKOR MICHAEL ACHAYA are the same person. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as USMAN KAMOLIDEEN OLANREWAJU, now wish to be known and addressed as USMAN KAMOLI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SAIBU KERIM, now wish to be known and addressed as SAIBU KEREEM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MODUPE RUTH ARIJENUGA, now wish to be known and addressed as MODUPE RUTH OYINLOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LAWAL ADEKUNLE DEMILADE, now wish to be known and addressed as NINIOLA ADEKUNLE AHMED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LAWAL ADEKUNLE DEMILADE, now wish to be known and addressed as NINIOLA ADEKUNLE AHMED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. HAPPINESS AKPOSE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DORANTY BOB EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AZEEZ KABIRU ARIYO,now wish to be known and addressed as LASISI KABIRU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

STATUTORY DECLARATION OF AGE I, LASISI KABIRU, I was reliably informed by my parents, which I verify believed to be true and correct that I was born on the 14th day of December, 1972 in Lagos State of Nigeria. All former documents remain valid The general public should please take note.

50

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

A sPecIAL RePORT

STILL MISSING…

Mariama Yahaya

Maryam Abubakar

Maryam Yakubu

Mwa Daniel

Naomi Bitrus

Patience Jacob

Rahila Yohanna

Rebecca Joseph

Rhoda Peter

Ruth Kolo

Ruth Lawan

Sarah Nkeki

Saraya Amos

Tabitha Thomas

Yangana Joseph

Yana Bukar

Yana Pogu

Rejoice Sanki

Rifkatu Galang

Lugwa Abuga

Naomi Zakariya

Mary Amos

Kwazuku Haman

Pinbar Nuhu

Patience Jacob

Gloria Mainta

Maryamu Musa

Kauna Lalai

Maimuna Usman

Hauwa Peter

Hauwa Abdu

Hauwa M. Maina

Filo Dauda

Naomi Zakariya

Maryamu Lawan

Moda Baba

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

14

DORCAS YAKUBU

494

15

SARATU DAUDA

132

GOVT/PHY. 3

16

YAGANA JOSHUA

249

GOVT/PHY. 3

466

GOVT/PHY. 3

17

HAUWA BALTAI

77

GOVT/PHY. 3

NAOMI ADAMU

30

GOVT

18

GLORYYAGA

471

GOVT/PHY. 3

RHODA PETER

387

PRAcT. PHY.

19

AWA ABUBA

25

GOVT/PHY. 3

20

AMINA POGU

392

GOVT/PHY. 3

1

AZARE GONI

167

GOVT

8

SARAYA STOVER

429

2

FIBI HARUNA

178

GOVT/PHY. 3

9

MAGRET YAMA

508

3

AISHA LAWAL ZANIA

530

9

HAUWA ABDU

9

4

HAUWA MUTAH

348

11

MARYAMU WAVI

5

MONICA ENOCK

148

12

6

COMFORT BULLUS

106

7

HAUWA NTAKAI

366

13

GOVT

NAME

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

51

STILL MISSING…

A sPECIAL REPORT

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

21

AMINA BULLMA

100

22

MODA BABA

23

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

81

BLESSING ABANA

2

75

82

MARYAMU MUSA

KWAZUKU HAMMAN

176

83

24

GLORY AJI

32

25

LADI PAUL

377

26

MARY PAUL

380

27

KAUNA LUKA

285

28

RUTH LAWAN

282

29

KABU MALLUM

300

30

LARABA MALLUM

307

31

HAUWA MAINA

32

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

141

RIKATU YAKUBU

502

GOVT/PHY. 3

332

142

NAOMI FILIMON

156

GOVT/PHY. 3

VICTORIA DAUDA

135

143

SERAH SAMUEL

406

PRACT. PHY.

84

COMFORT HABILA

167

144

SUZANNA YAKUBU

504

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

85

HADIZA YAKUBU

496

145

MARY SULE

430

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

86

LUGWA ABUGA

26

GOVT/PHY. 3

146

DEBORAH PETER

385

GOVT/PHY. 3

87

GLORY DAMA

116

GOVT/PHY. 3

147

JUMAH PAUL

376

GOVT/PHY. 3

88

ESTHER USMAN

448

GOVT/PHY. 3

148

SARATU TNAUJI GURAH

437

89

JABI POGU

399

GOVT/PHY. 3

149

MARY DAUDA

128

90

SOLOMI TITUS

442

GOVT/PHY. 3

150

AGNES GAPANI

161

295

91

RHODA JOHN

239

GOVT/PHY. 3

151

SARATTU THAUJI HIKAMA 438

LYDIA SIMON

424

92

LARABA JOHN

237

GOVT/PHY. 3

33

HELIN MUSA

330

93

MARYAMU LAWAN

278

GOVT/PHY. 3

152

SARATU ILIYA

198

34

AISHATU MUSA

323

94

SARAYA PAUL

382

GOVT/PHY. 3

153

SARATU MARKUS

310

35

SARAH NKEKI

363

95

ELI IBRAHIM

183

154

MARYAMU DANIEL

120

GOVT/PHY. 3

36

YANA BUKAR

99

96

ASABE LAWAL

274

155

TABITHA HYYGLAMA

181

GOVT/PHY. 3

37

CHRISTIANAH ALI

40

97

RUTH ISHAKU

207

156

LADI WADAI

457

GOVT/PHY. 3

38

MWA DANIEL

121

98

RUTH WAVI

467

157

RAKIYA GHALI

159

GOVT/PHY. 3

39

RIFKATU SOLOMON

427

GOVT/PHY. 3

99

RAHILA YOHANNA

523

GOVT/PHY. 3

158

MARY DAMA

117

GOVT/PHY. 3

40

HAUWA TELLA

435

GOVT/PHY. 3

100

MARY ALI

46

GOVT/PHY. 3

159

REBECCA IBRAHIM

189

GOVT/PHY. 3

41

HAUWA PETER

386

101

REBECCA JOSEPH

245

GOVT/PHY. 3

160

HALIMA GAMBO

160

GOVT/PHY. 3

42

LUGWA MUTAH

351

102

ESTHER AYUBA

71

GOVT/PHY. 3

161

RUTH NGILADAR

354

GOVT/PHY. 3

43

MARY YAKUBU

498

103

DEBORAH SOLOMOM

426

GOVT

162

ABIGEL BUKAR KAIGAMA 254

GOVT/PHY. 3

44

SOLOMI POGU

398

104

RAHAB IBRAHIM

182

GOVT

163

DEBORAH JAFARU

217

GOVT/PHY. 3

45

AWA YERIMA

515

GOVT/PHY. 3

105

SARAYA SAMUEL

407

GOVT/PHY. 3

164

REBECCA KABU

251

GOVT/PHY. 3

46

PATIENCE JACOB

316

GOVT/PHY. 3

106

ESTHER JOSHUA

247

165

RAKIYA KWAMTA

269

GOVT/PHY. 3

47

RIFKATU GALLANG

158

PRACT. PHY.

108

GODIYA BITRUS

85

GOVT/PHY. 3

166

CHRISTIANA YUSUF

526

GOVT/PHY. 3

48

RACHEAL NKEKI

362

GOVT/PHY. 3

109

LYDIA HABILA

172

GOVT/PHY. 3

167

HAUWA KADARA CHIROMA 253

49

FILO DAUDA

123

110

ZARA ISHAKU

209

GOVT/PHY. 3

168

LARABA YIKABA

50

RUTH KOLLO

261

GOVT/PHY. 3

111

NO’AMI BITRUS

90

GOVT/PHY. 3

169

AISHA MOHAMMED ISHA 317

52

MAIRAMA YAHAYA

487

GOVT/PHY. 3

112

REJOICE MUSA

336

GOVT/PHY. 3

170

JUMMAI ABOKU

19

GOVT/PHY. 3

53

LADI JOEL

226

GOVT/PHY. 3

113

DEBORAH ABARE

6

GOVT/PHY. 3

171

RAHILA BITRUS

91

GOVT/PHY. 3

54

REJOICE SANKI

413

GOVT/PHY. 3

114

COMFORT AMOS

55

GOVT/PHY. 3

172

LUGWA SANDA

408

GOVT/PHY. 3

55

KAUNA LALAI

271

GOVT/PHY. 3

115

LUGINA SAMUEL

406

GOVT/PHY. 3

173

MARY DAUDA MAGOTA

129

GOVT/PHY. 3

56

ROSE DANIEL

122

GOVT/PHY. 3

116

SHITA ABDU

12

GOVT/PHY. 3

174

ELIZABETH JOSEPH

241

GOVT/PHY. 3

57

HANNATU ISHAKU

204

GOVT/PHY. 3

117

MARYAMA YAKUBU

499

GOVT/PHY. 3

175

SARATU EMMANUEL

147

GOVT/PHY. 3

58

MARY AMOS

56

118

SARAYA AMOS

62

GOVT/PHY. 3

176

NAOMI YOHANNA

521

GOVT/PHY. 3

59

MAGRET SHEITIMA

417

119

NAOMI LUKA

286

GOVT/PHY. 3

177

HASSANA ADAMU

29

GOVT/PHY. 3

60

AISHA GREMA

168

120

MARYAMA LAWAN

278

GOVT/PHY. 3

178

KWANTA SIMON

423

GOVT/PHY. 3

61

MAIRAMA BASHIR

80

121

ESTHER JOHN

232

GOVT/PHY. 3

179

HALIMA ALI

41

62

JIMKHAI YAMA

507

122

TABITHA SILAS

421

GOVT/PHY. 3

180

MARYAM ALI MAIYANGA

47

63

YANA POGU

400

123

LYDIA EMMAR

146

GOVT/PHY. 3

181

DEBORAH YARAMA

513

64

HAUWA JOSEPH

242

124

MAGRET WATSAI

464

182

YAYI ABANA

5

65

PATIMA TARJI

431

GOVT/PHY. 3

125

HARARA ISA

202

183

HAU ISHAYA

212

GOVT

66

SAFIYA ABDU

11

GOVT/PHY. 3

126

RUTH BITRUS

92

184

RHODA HARUNA

179

GEO.

67

YANKE SHEITIMA

420

GOVT/PHY. 3

127

GLORY MAINTA

299

GOVT/PHY. 3

185

DEBORAH ABBAS

7

68

JUMMAI JOHN

235

GOVT/PHY. 3

128

ASABE MANU

308

GOVT/PHY. 3

186

YANA YIDAU

517

GOVT

69

VICTORIA WILLIAM

468

GOVT/PHY. 3

129

LYDIA JOSHUA

234

187

REBECCA MALUM

306

GOVT/PHY. 3

70

HAUWA NKEKI

356

130

MARYAMA ABABUKAR

24

188

GRACE AMADU

53

GOVT/PHY. 3

71

AMINA ALI

35

131

MAIMUNA USMAN

452

189

HAUWA KWAKWI

268

72

GRACE PAUL

374

132

HANATU NUHU

368

190

IHYI ABDU

10

73

HANATU MUSA

326

133

JULIANA YAKUBU

497

GOVT/PHY. 3

191

MARTHA JAMES

220

74

SARAYA MUSA

340

134

NAOMI ZAKARIYA

528

GOVT/PHY. 3

192

HANNATU

184

75

PALMATA MUSA NKEKI

335

135

NGUBA BURA

110

GOVT/PHY. 3

193

ZAINAB YAGA

76

PINDAH NUHU

367

136

RIFKATU AMOS

57

GOVT/PHY. 3

194

AWA ALI

42

77

HAUWA K. MUSA

327

137

FALTA LAWAN

276

195

MARYAM BULAM

104

78

JUMMAI MUTAH SAKWA

349

GOVT/PHY. 3

138

HANATU STEPHEN

428

GOVT/PHY. 3

196

SARAYA YANGA

511

79

SARATU AYUBA

74

PRACT. PHY.

139

ESTHER MARKUS

309

GOVT/PHY. 3

197

LADI AUDU TANGWA

169

80

ASARE ALI

32

140

LAYATU HABILA

171

GOVT/PHY. 3

198

AWA BITRUS

84

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3 GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

518

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

53

T H I S D AY •FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

FRIDAYSPORTS PA R I S M A R AT H O N …

Schneider Electric Nigeria, Others Honour Sharubutu, Yohanna Encomiums were yesterday showered on the two athletes, Philibus Sharubutu and Dinatu Yohanna, sponsored

by Schneider Electric Nigeria to this year’s Paris Marathon which held on April 3.

Speaking at a welcome

reception for the athletes which held at the Lagos office of Schneider Electric, the Country President of

the company, Walid Sheta, said: “It is amazing Nigeria’s representatives made it at the record time. Their

performance is a mark of champions. Schneider Electric will continue to support Nigerian governments at all levels to encourage home grown talents.

Sharubutu made Nigeria proud by finishing in the top 40 out of over 50,000 runners at the annual race. He clocked 2 hours 32 seconds, just 25 minutes behind the eventual winner, Cyprian Kotut of Kenya.

Both Sharubutu and his female counterpart, Yohanna, were sponsored to the 40th edition of the Paris Marathon

by Schneider Electric Nigeria for being the first male and female Nigerian athletes to breast the tape at the first edition of the Lagos City Marathon held on February 6, 2016.

Expressing their gratitude, the marathoners appreciated Schneider Electric Nigeria, the federal government and

the Lagos State government for giving them such a rare opportunity to compete with some of the world’s best in long-distance races and for celebrating them with such a beautiful welcome despite not emerging winner at the 2016 Paris Marathon.

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu, who graced the occasion, reiterated the need to celebrate the success of Nigerian athletes in order to inspire them to do more.

He commended the athletes for their sterling performance at the Paris Marathon. “We commend Schneider Electric for their continuous partnership in support of our athletes.

Nigeria possesses great talents, and it is our collective responsibility to discover and celebrate them,” he said.

Lawal Leads New PGA Nigeria NPFL: Wolves Halt Abia Warriors’ Unbeaten Run Executive Committee L – R: Special Assistant on Sports to Lagos State Governor, Deji Tinubu; Schneider’s sponsored athletes to Paris Marathon, Yohanna Dinatu and Sharubutu Philibus; Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria, Walid Sheta; at the welcome ceremony for the road runners from France...recently

Abia Warriors yesterday stumbled for the first time this season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Warri Wolves.

The Umuahia club had gone 10 games unbeaten until former Nigeria Under-17 winger King Osanga scored the goal that ended that run.

Wolves gaffer, Ard Sluis, gave starts to the former FC Taraba centre-back duo of Kelvin Njoku and Obinna Nwokolo, who were the tallest pairing in the heart of defence in the

Nigerian top-flight last term.

Interestingly, Abia Warriors Head Coach Kennedy Boboye put out a defensive-looking side with the attacking trio of Chisom Chikatara, Bolaji Sakin and former Under-17 star Stanley Okoro all starting from the bench.

Twenty-three seconds into the game, Wolves should have scored but Efe Yarhere instead smashed the ball straight at Chinedu Anozie in Abia Warriors’ goal.

It was a performance of the goalkeepers. Wolves’ stopper,

Dele Ajiboye was forced into a double save midway into the first half.

Just before the break, Anozie saved a Wolves’ spot kick from Uzezi Oghenewo as it appeared Abia Warriors would keep their unbeaten streak running.

Two minutes after Boboye decided to send on Chikatara in place of Kabiru Ayinde, Wolves scored the goal that turned out to be the winner.

On 53 minutes, Osanga met Solomon Okpako’s sweetly delivered pass to score past Anozie.

Shedrack Asiegbu and Okoro were thrown into the fray to replace Essien Joseph and Godwin Effiong respectively by the Warriors trainer. Though the latter produced a glimpse of his mazy runs as an under-17, it proved too insufficient to knock off Wolves from their perch.

Despite the loss, Abia Warriors remain in second place with 20 points, one behind table-topping Enugu Rangers while Wolves move into the top-half and with four points less.

Renovation Work Begins at Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna Laleye Dipo in Minna

Work has commenced on the renovation of the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, Niger State.

The job which will cost the Niger State government over N31m is to be completed within six weeks.

As a result of the poor state of the stadium especially it playing

turf, the state’s darling team, Niger Tornadoes, had been consigned to playing its home matches outside Minna.

Flagging off the renovation work, the state’s Commissioner for Sport, Alhaji Mamman Musa, said N7.6m of the total contract sum had been released to the construction firm to enable it commence work immediately.

Musa warned the contractor

to meet up with the standard or face revocation because sub -standard job would not be tolerated.

Timely completion of the job the commissioner said would enable the state darling team Niger Tornadoes play their remaining home matches of the Nigeria Professional Football League at the ground before the end of season.

Musa stated that the first phase of the contract will include the expansion of the dressing room, re- grassing of the playing turf and reconstruction of VIP pavilion as required by the League Management Company.

Niger Tornadoes is now placed 11th on the professional league table and has been unable to win most of its home matches played in Lokoja.

Okpekpe Organisers Restate Commitment to Drug Free Road Race Organisers of the IAAF bronze label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have said that they will ensure all anti-doping rules are followed to the letter when the fourth edition holds next month.

Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan, revealed yesterday that provision has been made for a full doping control for the event which has become one of the most anticipated in the calendar of IAAF Label road races.

“All tests shall be conducted in accordance with the IAAF

anti-doping regulations. There will be mandatory and requested tests. The mandatory tests are those that the organisers must conduct at its expense and includes the minimum four that must be done as a bronze label event viz two men and two women as a mixed gender race and of course those that must be conducted in the event a world record or area record is broken,” Esan said.

“The requested tests will be at the athlete’s expense if he or she breaks a national record,” he

further said and added that the IAAF have specifically ordered that the doping control must be held in a neat environment while samples collected will be sent to IAAF accredited laboratories outside Nigeria.

“The laboratory in South Africa is temporarily closed and the IAAF has advised we send the samples to any of the three in Europe and the Middle East,” said Esan who insisted that the organisers of the only IAAF labeled 10km road race in Africa in 2016 have

to subscribed to the efforts to rid athletics of doping after the scandal involving Russia since last year.

Meanwhile, with over 3,000 runners expected to participate, organisers say they are now dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s as far as the technical and administrative organisation of the event is concerned.

“We are good to go, everything is set for another wonderful experience at the hilly town of Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State,”said Esan.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Samson Lawal has been elected as the Director of Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN) at the body’s Annual General Meeting held at Golden Palm Hotel, Otukpo, Benue State.

Lawal, the Resident Professional Golfer of Lamingo Golf Club, Jos was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, Mrs Ify Uba for polling 60 votes against 43 votes by Dominic Andrew from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

He took over from Festus Makelemi for a new term of two years.

Lawrence Matthew from Ikoyi Club 1938 defeated Segun Obamuwe and Martin Odoh to emerge as the Director of Operations, while Uche Eze

from IBB Club polled 69 votes at the expense of Mike Ubi of Air Assault, Port Harcourt (21 votes) and Ladi Jaiyeola (13 votes) for the post of Tournament Director.

Donatus Isuku was unopposed for the post of Finance Director, while Sunday J. Odegha and Kingsley Oparaku were elected as the ex-co members.

Lawal promised to improve on members’ welfare and secure more tournaments for the golf professional body through enhanced relations with corporate Nigeria.

Also at the AGM the family of the Late Henry George of Calabar Golf Club was given the death Insurance benefit of N1million from PGAN’s Life Assurance Policy fixed account.

The money was presented to George’s family represented

All Set for PwC Chess4Change Grand Slam The Second Edition of the PwC Chess4Change Grand Slam Tournament will hold from Tuesday, April 19th to Thursday, April 21st at the Molade OkoyaThomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. Lagos.

The Grand Slam Tournament, which is the climax of the PwC Chess4Change programme, will bring together chess prodigies in Public Secondary Schools across Lagos State over the course of three days to determine the champion.

The tournament is an integral part of the PwC Chess4Change programme - an initiative aimed at improving critical thinking among youths through the game of Chess.

Aside from determining

the top chess prodigies in secondary schools in Lagos State; the Grand Slam is also an avenue to expose the students to competitive chess competitions from an early age while also boosting the popularity of chess at the grassroots level.

Dignitaries from the sponsors – PwC, as well as from the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Lagos State Sports Commission and Lagos State Chess Association are expected to attend the 3-day event. The Chess4Change programme which commenced in 2014 started with six schools and has increased to 13 schools across the educational districts in Lagos State.

54

FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2016

55